Vets4Pets Irvine

16/10/2026

🐾 Cuteness incoming… and we’re not kitten‼️😉😻

We’ve had two absolutely paw-geous little visitors at Vets for Pets Irvine‼️Meet Jessie, 14 weeks old, and Millie, 10 weeks old, who each joined us for their first visit. 🥰💚

With autumn here and winter on the way, here are a few tips to keep your feline friends cosy and cared for… 🍂❄️

🏡 Make room for cosy catnaps: Give them a warm, dry bed away from draughts, with somewhere quiet to retreat when the house gets busy.

🧶 Bring the fun indoors: Short play sessions, puzzle feeders and scratching posts help keep curious paws occupied when the weather puts outdoor adventures on hold.

🚗 Check before you drive: Cats sometimes shelter beneath cars or around warm engines. Check your vehicle before setting off.

🎆 Prepare for noisy nights: During fireworks, keep cats safely indoors, close windows and curtains, and offer a hiding place where they can settle without being disturbed.

🧴 Keep winter chemicals out of reach: Antifreeze is highly poisonous to cats. Clean up spills promptly and contact your vet immediately if you suspect exposure.

11/10/2026

🎃 All treats, no tricks… but is your pet tipping the scales? 🤔🐾

It’s almost mid-October - Halloween will soon be upon us, with bowls of sweets and chocolate kicking off a whole season of parties and tempting treats‼️🍬 Remember to keep these safely out of paws’ reach - chocolate and some sweets can be poisonous to pets.

And while we’re talking treats, it’s a great time to think about our pets’ weight. Those little extras can soon add up, even when they’re given with love. 💚

⚖️ Pop into Vets for Pets for a weigh-in! We have pet scales in practice, and our friendly team is always happy to offer advice on feeding, portion sizes, and a tailored weight-loss plan if needed.

Keeping your pet at a healthy weight is about helping them feel comfortable, stay active and enjoy life to the fullest. Sometimes the kindest treat is an extra cuddle, a game, or a little more time together. 🐶🐱

Not sure what a healthy weight looks like for your pet? Come and have a chat - we’re here to help, without judgement. 💚

📍 Vets for Pets Irvine: 01294 322550
📍 Vets for Pets Ayr: 01292 430530
📍 Vets for Pets Kilmarnock: 01563 522225

07/10/2026

Our pleasure! 🥰 (Looking forward to next year already 😄)

02/10/2026

WALK YOUR DOG WEEK | 1–7 OCTOBER 🐾

Where better to get some fresh air and stretch those paws than ? 🌊🐕 With the beach, parks and plenty of great local walking routes on our doorstep, there are lots of opportunities to get outside with our four-legged friends.

(And Marion certainly knows a thing or two about keeping dogs active! She’s pictured here with one of her many Fern ❤️ )

A good walk supports cardiovascular health, helps with weight management and keeps muscles moving, but it’s just as valuable for their minds.

🐾 Let them sniff! Exploring different smells is fantastic mental enrichment and an important part of a dog’s walk.
🐶 Think age, not just energy. Puppies are still developing, so their exercise should be appropriate for their growing bones and joints.
🐕 Keep active dogs challenged. Younger and energetic dogs can benefit from varied routes, play and plenty of mental stimulation.
❤️ Go at their pace. Older dogs still love getting out, but shorter, gentler walks can often be more comfortable for ageing joints.

Ultimately, every dog is different. The perfect walk for a young collie could look very different from the ideal outing for a puppy or senior dog, so tailor their exercise to their age, breed, health, and individual needs.

Wherever your favourite Irvine walk takes you this week, give them plenty of time to explore and enjoy the adventure. 🐕🌊🐾

📸 Irvine Beach Park – Daniel Richardson / CC BY 2.0
*For more advice on exercise and keeping your dog happy and healthy, visit the Vets for Pets website.

📍 Vets for Pets Irvine
📞 01294 322 550

03/09/2026

*Full details can be found here - https://destinationsouthayrshire.co.uk/ayrshow/ ⚠👇

🚨 BE AWARE | Ayr Air Show & Your ✈️🐾

The International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight is back at Ayr shorefront this Friday 4th & Saturday 5th September 2026‼️🎆✈️

It’s an amazing event for people, but the sudden noise, low-flying aircraft and busy surroundings can be frightening for our furry friends. 🐶🐱🐰🐴

Flying displays begin from 6.10pm on Friday and 1.35pm on Saturday, so please plan ahead if you have pets who are sensitive to loud noises.

💚 Our top for this weekend:

🐾 Bring small furries such as rabbits and guinea pigs indoors where possible, or check them regularly.
🐾 Check horses and other larger outdoor animals regularly in fields and stables.
🐾 Leave dogs safely at home rather than taking them to the event – loud and unexpected noises can easily spook them.
🐾 Keep cats indoors where possible during display times.
🐾 At home, close curtains and windows, use TV, radio or other ambient noise to help mask the sounds outside, and offer a favourite chew, toy or treat for comfort and distraction.

🚗 Visiting one of our Vets for Pets Ayrshire practices?

If you’re travelling to our Ayr, Irvine OR Kilmarnock practice for an appointment or collection on Friday or Saturday, please allow extra travel time. The Air Show attracts huge crowds and increased traffic is expected across the area, particularly around Ayr and surrounding routes.

And remember, if your pet struggles badly with loud noises or becomes particularly distressed, our teams are here to offer advice and support. 💚🐾

📍 Vets for Pets Ayr – 01292 430530
📍 Vets for Pets Irvine – 01294 322550
📍 Vets for Pets Kilmarnock – 01563 522225

For the latest Air Show information, flying times, parking and travel updates, visit the official South Ayrshire Council Air Show information.

01/09/2026

If you're worried your pet might be in some sort of pain/discomfort - get in touch with Zy‼️👇

30/08/2026

🗣️ℹ Dr Kirstin Craig | Veterinary Director | BVMS MRCVS ⬇

26/08/2026

Are you all organised for the upcoming
ℹ👇

📣 Bank Holiday Reminder
Vets for Pets 🐾

A wee heads-up for our clients across Ayr, Irvine & Kilmarnock ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend‼️
If your pet is running low on food, repeat prescriptions, flea or worming treatments, please make sure you get your order in by the morning of Thursday 27th August.

Our supplier is closed on Monday 31st August, so anything ordered after our cut-off may not be available to collect until Tuesday 1st September afternoon.

Have a quick check of the pet cupboard and make sure you’ve got everything you need‼️🐶🐱💊

To place an order, contact your usual practice:

📍 Vets for Pets –
📞 01294 322550

📍 Vets for Pets –
📞 01292 430530

📍 Vets for Pets –
📞 01563 522225

23/08/2026

🐾 Good things really do come in small packages‼️🖤

Just look at little Rocky having a cuddle with our nurse Becky..😍🥰

*Small dogs might not take up much room, but they still have some big health needs. Smaller breeds can be more prone to dental problems, so regular checks and good dental care at home can make a real difference. 🦷🐶

(Why do smaller dogs sometimes have more dental issues? 🤔Because they have the same number of adult teeth as much larger dogs - 42 - packed into a much smaller mouth.)

Keep an eye out for bad breath, red or bleeding gums, tartar build-up, or any reluctance to eat - all can be signs that something isn’t quite right.

Tiny dog/big personality/very important teeth‼️😉💚

13/07/2026

🐾 MISSING CAT
PLEASE HELP US FIND PITCH 🖤

Have you seen Pitch?

Pitch is a 5-year-old female cat with a slim build, soft black fur, brown eyes, and weighs approximately 4.5kg. She’s a small black cat who is dearly missed by her family. (Last seen around 31 and 43 Scott Road.)

If you live locally, please take a few moments to check:
🏡 Sheds, garages and outbuildings
🚗 Under cars and in quiet hiding spots
🌿 Gardens and bushes where she may have sought shelter

If you think you’ve seen Pitch or have any information that could help, please get in touch with on 01294 322550 📲

Let’s help bring Pitch safely back home. 🐱💚

📍*Please share this post to help spread the word around the area.

25/02/2024

When Kelly from our Colton store's Pets Grooming salon discovered a lump on the tail of nine-year-old Rufus she suspected something wasn't right, so alerted his owners Les and Andrea so they could get it checked out. They brought him to Vets for Pets Leeds Colton where it was confirmed he had a cancerous tumour which needed surgery.

Les, who adopted Rufus from Dogs Trust in Leeds as a puppy, said: “Rufus is such a big part of our life; we’re absolutely besotted with him. We probably wouldn’t have noticed the lump if not at the groomers as the tail isn’t somewhere you would usually stroke and feel. Kelly loves Rufus and really looks after him, so we want to say a big thanks for spotting it. Who'd have known what would have happened if she hadn’t noticed.”

Rufus had to have his tail removed, but is now making a good recovery. He's been visiting Kelly for a groom every six weeks for the last three years. She said: “You get to know everything about a dog as you groom them. I’ve discovered similar things before on other dogs so I mentioned it to the owners so they could get it checked out. Dogs are my life and you do worry; I’m so pleased they caught it. Now he’s got a fully docked tail like a little bunny rabbit. It’s lovely and suits him – when he gets washed he wiggles his bum.”

21/02/2024

Arthur's owner Louise says he "looked like a brand-new tortoise" after having his beak filed at Sutton in Ashfield Vets4Pets.

Louise adopted the four-year-old Horsefield Tortoise from a family member in October. Although she has had other pets, Arthur is her first tortoise, so she has been doing some research on how to best care for him.

Louise said: "I noticed Arthur's beak was unusually long, so I brought him in to Vets for Pets; I bring all my pets there. When he came out, I thought 'you beautiful boy, look at you – you look so handsome!"

Vet Steph, who looked after Arthur, says that tortoise beaks continuously grow and normally grind down themselves while they're eating. She said: "Arthur needed a little help as his jaw isn't perfectly aligned; his lower jaw is further out than his top jaw, so I filed it around half a centimetre. He was really good; a real cutie."

18/02/2024

Owner Claire says she couldn't be more grateful to Vets4Pets Hamilton after their quick diagnosis saved the sight of six-year-old Alba.

Claire knew there was something terribly wrong with her miniature dachshund cross when she called her in from the back garden last summer and Alba ran headfirst into a closed patio door. She rushed her to the vets, where investigations led the team to diagnose her with uveitis – an eye condition which causes inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.

Claire said: "It all happened so suddenly; Alba must have heard my voice and guessed where to go. It was quite scary seeing how bad she was. We couldn't be more grateful for the team in Hamilton spotting the uveitis as quickly as they did, otherwise Alba would have gone blind within a matter of days. Their knowledge saved Alba's sight. I still can't believe it happened. It's taken months of treatments, but it's such a relief to have our girl back to being her funny, bossy self."

Vet Neil, one of the team who treated Alba, said: "Alba's pupil was really narrow and wouldn't respond to light properly, which can be a sign of uveitis. Once we had ruled out other conditions, we were able to get her to an eye specialist for ongoing treatment. She's now doing really well."

16/02/2024

Ducky's owner Antonia was in a state of panic when she saw a fox had dug its way into the field where she keeps him – killing two of her other ducks and chickens.

Antonia was about to move her brood into their pen for the evening when she saw what had happened and noticed that Ducky had severe bite wounds under his wing. She rushed him to Vets4Pets Vets Milton Keynes for emergency surgery – and after having his wound stitched up the one-year-old duck is now making a good recovery.

Antonia said: "I was so worried. You don’t often hear of ducks recovering from fox attacks, but there is something about Ducky and the way he was so brave. I'm sure he was protecting a lady duck, as he's a bit of a romantic. It's the first time we've gone to Vets for Pets, and the team were amazing; they've done an incredible job."

Vet Becca, who treated Ducky, said: "He's a really lucky duck, as it was quite a big wound. When he first came in, he was understandably subdued and quiet but when he came back for his stitches to be taken out, he wanted to explore and tuck his head into everyone’s shoulders."

07/02/2024

Well done to the team at Vets4Pets Guildford who've been awarded a silver level certificate for being a rabbit-friendly clinic.

After head veterinary nurse Ella noticed that more customers were bringing in rabbits the practice took a series of steps to give them as stress-free an experience as possible. Ella, who also fosters rescue dogs in her spare time, said: "There was a long list of things that we needed to prove that we did from making sure the rabbits are kept separate from other animals and not booked in at the same time as barking dogs, to providing heated kennels for those who need to stay in, and using special equipment made especially for rabbits."

Practice manager Kevin said: "All of our vets have plenty of experience with rabbits we have some real rabbit geeks here, so it was a big thing to us. There are so many good people in this world and I'm so proud to be around them."

28/01/2024

Beautiful Bear was born deaf, so he's learned to follow his owner Lisa's visual commands.

Lisa, who shops at our Tamworth store – "it's my second home!" – got two-year-old Bear as a kitten and suspected he was deaf when he didn't respond to her voice. She had it confirmed by her vet soon after. She said: "He was very scatty, and scared of people he didn’t recognise. He wasn’t bothered by loud noises like my other cat Emily and when I came home from work he wouldn’t hear the door open.

"He's doing really well though. I try to do some sign language with him – I point at him and do a solid hand sign at him to stop. He picks up on vibrations and scents too. He meows, making a really loud chirping sound which I’ve never heard a cat do before, and he’s always rubbing his head against my legs and following me everywhere. I was advised not to let him out because he wouldn’t hear cars or other dangers, so he comes outside with me every morning to have a sniff around the garden and always comes straight back in." Bear and Lisa's other cat Emily are on Instagram as

27/01/2024

Ten-year-old Dutch rabbit Alfie has been visiting vet Kate at Vets4pets Wolverhampton for dental treatment for the last eight years – and she says he's such a loveable character that he's become "part of the family".

He's one of the oldest rabbits treated by Kate and the team, and she says his longevity is down to the care and love he gets from his owner Tracy and her family. Kate said: "Alfie is famous in this practice – everyone knows him. We and his family are dedicated to making sure her little old man is happy. The beautiful thing about being a vet or vet nurse is you build these relationships with the owners and their pets – they become your surrogate pets."

Tracy's been keeping rabbits all her life, and says that having space and routine is key. She said: "Alfie is an old man now and has a routine. He goes into a hutch at night and is let out in the morning. He's out all day and has his favourite spots in the house. We clean him out every day and give him a lot of attention. When he was younger he would follow us around; if I was clearing a cupboard out he would be in the cupboard to help. Now he's old and wants to be warm and watch instead. I can't thank Kate and the practice enough. Kate's been fantastic with him."

26/01/2024

Eight-year-old Winnie the Schnauzer cross is running around like a puppy again thanks to laser treatment and physiotherapy after two successful knee operations at Vets for Pets Basildon.

Worried owner Tracy brought Winnie in to the practice after she collapsed on a walk last year – and the team discovered the cruciate ligament in a knee had ruptured. She’s since had ops on two knees and is on a recovery plan led by vet physiotherapist Izzy.

Tracy said: "Winnie has had a tough year with 15 teeth removed, two cruciate ligament operations and two bouts of pancreatitis but thankfully she's hardy. She’s treated fabulously at the Basildon practice. Izzy is great with her – she totally relaxes in her hands and does little snores with her eyes open. Winnie has a new lease of life again and is running around like a puppy."

Izzy said: "When pets have surgery or injure themselves they move differently which causes them to be sore in other places. Winnie has laser therapy then a massage to help the healing process. Laser treatment is a specialist service that not enough people know about – it can help in so many ways after an operation.”

19/01/2024

The team at Vets4Pets Cramlington say greyhound Frank was "an absolute gentleman" when he came in for some dental work.

Seven-year-old Frank was brought in by owner Harriet to get rid of some plaque which had built up and to treat a gum inflammation. Veterinary nurse Vicki said: "Frank was a very good boy and left with clean, fresh and sparkly teeth. It's so very important to get your dog's teeth checked and we advise pets to have an annual dental check. Eighty per cent of dogs over the age of three have dental disease. Prevention is much better than cure and regular checks and routine cleaning keep your pet's mouth healthier for longer and can help to prevent extensive extractions later in life. We are always happy to offer advice on maintenance and dental care at home such as teeth brushing or dental supplements."

18/01/2024

Veterinary nurse Mel from Vets4Pets Bristol Longwell Green loves cats so much she's helped the practice make a number of improvements to give cats as stress-free an experience as possible when they're brought in.

Mel, who has an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour for Veterinary Professionals, helped introduce facilities like a separate feline waiting area and cattery and the use of quiet clippers – and the practice now has a silver level certificate for being a cat-friendly clinic. She said: "I love dogs but I'm really a cat person. Cats can be misunderstood which can lead to them having quite a stressful life, so if we can make things easier for them and help people understand what cats need then everyone will be happier.

"As animal lovers there's always more to learn and understand about what makes them happy. Enrichment at the home is important for a happy cat – and as cats are naturally solitary animals if you live in a multi-cat household it's important to understand what they need. The rule is to have a resource per cat, plus one spare. So if you have two cats you should have three feeding stations, three litter trays and three scratch posts spread around the house so they have the opportunity to move around to wherever they want to go. Scratching is as natural a thing for cats to do as going out hunting is, so if they're unable to go out it's about providing the chance for them to behave as naturally as possible."