Yorkshire Independent Referrals

04/09/2026

Meet Kirsten Pantenburg — Our New Dermatology Clinician!

Yorkshire Independent Referrals is expanding again, and we’re excited to offer a dedicated Dermatology Service for pets with itchy skin, sore ears, allergies and those stubborn conditions that just won’t resolve.

Kirsten can help with:
• Pruritus & allergies
• Alopecia
• Recurring skin infections & chronic otitis
• Endocrine, immune‑mediated & neoplastic skin disease
• Any skin condition not improving with first‑line treatment

What’s available:
• In‑house cytology & skin scrapings
• Full in‑house lab
• Intradermal & serological allergy testing
• Allergen‑specific immunotherapy
• Individualised management plans
• Dermatohistopathology
• CT & visiting MRI for complex cases

📞 Referrals & enquiries: 01484 404770
🐾 We’re here to support our local veterinary community — and help pets feel comfortable again.

01/09/2026

https://uk.indeed.com/job/veterinary-care-assistant-vca-e208594d17a59623

28/08/2026

18/08/2026

Our Next MRI availability 28th August.
Got a case that needs advanced imaging?
We are here to Help!
Sent your referral via our online referral portal
https://www.yirvet.co.uk/contact/

14/08/2026

Clinical Case Highlight: Unicondylar fractures are not only lateral 😊

Meet Nala, a 17‑week‑old Springer Spaniel that presented for a left forelimb lameness of acute onset and unknown trauma whilst being in the garden the day before. Radiographs at her primary care practice confirmed a left medial humeral condyle fracture.

To rule out underlying conditions that could have predisposed her to a condylar fracture with very little trauma, such as IOHC/HIF, a CT scan of her elbows was performed. The contralateral elbow didn’t present any humeral intracondylar fissure, and we focused on reducing and fixating the left humeral fracture surgically.

Nala underwent surgical repair of the right elbow using a transcondylar screw and a medial LC‑DCP plate. We will see her in 5 weeks for follow‑up radiographs.
We wish her a steady recovery and her owners a calm 5 weeks while resting her strictly.

Take‑home message for colleagues 🩺
IOHC/HIF can be bilateral and clinically silent until humeral condyle fractures occur — sometimes after minimal trauma, even in very young patients. Advanced imaging and contralateral screening are crucial, particularly in predisposed breeds like the "Spaniels" .
Early identification allows for preventive intervention, reduces morbidity, and can be career‑saving for both the patient and the client relationship.
Consider screening the other elbow — even when only one limb is symptomatic.

10/08/2026

Clinical case spotlight: Sunshine's tarsal instability

Meet Sunshine, a 5‑year‑9‑month‑old Jack Russell Terrier who presented with a left pelvic limb lameness and a lateral angular deformation of his left tarsus.

In 2021, he underwent surgery to repair a medial collateral ligament rupture of the tarsal-metartarsal region causing ligament instability. Internal fixation was achieved using suture anchor screws and orthopaedic wire. He recovered well, and for the last five years he became an avid runner, going out with his owner every week.

Two weeks ago, he became acutely lame and was referred to us. Radiographs confirmed that the proximal screw had become loose, and there was medial instability of the tarso‑metatarsal joint. A partial tarsal arthrodesis was discussed and performed under general anaesthetic.

He was discharged home and will be seen again soon for his post‑operative checks and follow‑up radiographs in a few weeks.

We wish him a full recovery and hope he can continue to run long distance with his owner just as he used to.

07/08/2026

Case Spotlight: Humphrey — Multiple Metacarpal Fractures in a Puppy

Meet Humphrey, a lively 15‑week‑old Border Terrier who came to see us in early July 2026 after an unknown mishap in the garden left him with a right forelimb lameness. His referring vets had already taken radiographs which showed right multiple metacarpal fractures and led to his referral for further care.

After reviewing the images and discussing all treatment options with his owners, we agreed that conservative management was the most suitable approach. Humphrey is young, the bone fragments were only minimally displaced, and puppies are brilliant healers.

Strict cage rest was advised for three weeks, and a padded support bandage was applied, which we changed every 5–7 days. His owners did an amazing job keeping the bandage clean and keeping him calm (no easy task for a terrier pup).He only developed a mild ulcer on the forearm during the healing period, and his owners managed it brilliantly.

Follow‑up radiographs showed callus formation at the fracture sites, and Humphrey is now comfortable and consistently using his limb.

We’ve advised a gradual return to normal activity over the next three weeks, with a bit of extra caution to avoid any sudden zoomies. We’ll keep our fingers crossed — Humphrey is definitely the type to get up to mischief the moment he’s back exploring the garden.

A big well done to his family for their dedication to his recovery, and we wish him a wonderful rest of the summer ahead!!

03/08/2026

Case Spotlight: Cubby - A Steady Path to Recovery

Meet Cubby, a beautiful 6‑year‑old Bernese Mountain Dog who came to us after developing lameness in his left hindlimb.
His symptoms began suddenly after a high‑speed dash from the garden into the house. Although the lameness initially eased with rest, it flared again after an enthusiastic beach day, and with Cubby’s love for sprinting around at full speed, his family seeked further assessment.

On examination, Cubby showed an effusive left stifle and a positive tibial compression test, indicating cranial cruciate ligament instability.
Radiographs confirmed mild osteophytosis along the femoral trochlear margins, and and his tibial plateau angle was quite steep: 38 degrees to start with!
To restore comfort and stability, Cubby underwent a Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) on his left stifle. This procedure will help protect his joint long‑term and support him on his journey back to full strength.

We’re wishing this big, gentle lad a smooth and steady recovery, and we look forward to seeing him again in six weeks for his follow‑up radiographs.

31/07/2026

Case Spotlight: Nellie's Radius Ulna Fracture

Meet Nellie, a cheeky and irresistibly lovable Italian Greyhound whose acrobatic ambitions recently got her into trouble. Last week, she arrived at Yorkshire Independent Referrals after her ninja skills proved… slightly less refined than she believed.

In a daring attempt to sneak onto the dining table and sample her owner’s tea, Nellie took a misjudged leap back to the floor and unfortunately sustained a fracture of both her radius and ulna.

Our surgical team repaired the fracture using a T‑plate and screws, restoring stability and alignment to her delicate limb. With a period of strict cage rest and some gentle convalescence, Nellie is expected to make an excellent recovery.

It won’t be long before she’s back to her usual antics—keeping her owners firmly on their toes and reminding everyone that even the smallest dogs can have the biggest personalities.

20/07/2026

Case Spotlight: Lizzie's Journey to Better Mobility

Meet Lizzie, a 4-year-old Romanian rescue crossbreed, who was referred to our orthopaedic team in September 2025 for investigation of a left forelimb lameness caused by an angular limb deformity.

Following assessment by one of our Clinicians, a CT scan was performed to accurately evaluate the deformity and allow detailed surgical planning. A few weeks later, Lizzie underwent corrective limb alignment surgery using patient-specific 3D-printed surgical guides, enabling precise correction of her limb alignment.

Since surgery, Lizzie has returned for regular follow-up appointments so we could carefully monitor her healing and rehabilitation. We were delighted to see her recently for her final assessment, where she has made excellent progress.

It has been a privilege to be part of Lizzie's journey, and we're so pleased to see her ready to enjoy an active, comfortable future.

We wish Lizzie and her family many happy, healthy adventures ahead!