Downs Link Veterinary Surgery

19/06/2026

💚🐾 Meet Whiskey and Nutmeg 🐾💚

These lovely sisters, both nearly 6 years old, came in for dental treatment this week and each needed seven teeth extracted due to feline tooth resorption.

Tooth resorption is a common and painful condition where the body starts to break down the teeth. Many cats continue eating normally despite significant discomfort, so the signs can be easy to miss.

There is thought to be a genetic component to this disease, and seeing it affect siblings highlights the importance of regular dental checks. Dental X-rays are essential, as affected teeth can look much better above the gumline than they really are.

The good news is that after removing these painful teeth, cats are often much happier and more comfortable. 💚

18/06/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Nellie! 🎉

A huge well done to Nellie, who correctly guessed the name of our giant teddy bear, Cody, at the Southwater Academies Summer Fair this weekend! 🧸💚

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stall, said hello and took part in the competition. It was fantastic to meet so many local families and support such a wonderful community event.

We hope you enjoy your new cuddly friend, Nellie! 🐾✨

17/06/2026

💚🦷 Lucy’s Hidden Dental Disease 🦷💚

Meet Lucy, a lovely 10-year-old cat who recently came to see us for a dental procedure.

Although her mouth didn't look too concerning on initial examination, dental X-rays revealed a very different story. Lucy was suffering from extensive tooth resorption, a painful condition where the body gradually destroys the tooth structure. In total, she required 10 extractions to remove affected teeth and make her comfortable again.

The circled canine teeth on these X-rays show Type II tooth resorption, where the roots are gradually being replaced by bone. These changes can be impossible to fully assess without dental radiography, highlighting why dental X-rays are such an important part of modern veterinary dentistry.

Cats are incredibly good at hiding pain and will often continue eating despite significant dental disease. This means the severity of the problem can easily be underestimated if we rely on visual examination alone.

Lucy recovered well from her procedure and is now on the road to a much more comfortable future. 💚🐱

16/06/2026

💚🐾 Max's Eye Mystery! 🐾💚

Max, a 20-month-old Labrador and one of our regular visitors, came in to see us after developing a sore eye.

On examination, we found the culprit — a tiny grass seed tucked away under his third eyelid causing irritation. 🌾👀

Grass seeds can be surprisingly troublesome and don't need to be very large to cause discomfort. Thankfully, Max was very brave while we removed it, and he was soon feeling much more comfortable.

We hope your eye is feeling much better already, Max! 💚🐶

15/06/2026

💚🐾 Bella's Big Day! 🐾💚

Bella, an 18-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, visited us today for her neutering procedure.

She was a superstar throughout the day and recovered beautifully from her anaesthetic. After plenty of cuddles from the team, Bella was soon ready to head home for some well-earned rest and TLC.

We hope you have a speedy recovery, Bella! 💚🐶

12/06/2026

💚💚 Grace's Follow-Up Visit 💚💚

Some of you may remember Grace, our lovely 16-year-old Ragdoll cross, who recently visited us for a much-needed de-matting procedure.

We're pleased to report that Grace returned this week for her vaccination and is doing very well.

Her new haircut is helping keep her comfortable, and she was bright, alert and enjoying plenty of fuss from the team during her visit.

As cats get older, grooming themselves can become more difficult due to arthritis, reduced mobility or other age-related changes. Regular checks at home can help spot mats early before they become uncomfortable.

It's always lovely to see our patients back looking happy and feeling much more comfortable. Keep enjoying your retirement years, Grace! 🐱💚

11/06/2026

🎉 We're looking forward to seeing everyone at the Southwater Academies Summer Fair this Saturday! 🎉

Come along and say hello to the team from Downslink Veterinary Surgery. Mandy (Practice Manager), Jo (Lead Nurse) and Ben (Veterinary Surgeon) will be there throughout the afternoon.

Whether you'd like to ask us a question, meet the team, or simply stop by for a chat, we'd love to see you. 🐾💚

There will be plenty of fun for the whole family, including inflatables, face painting, games, food stalls and much more.

📍 Southwater Junior Academy 📅 Saturday 13th June ⏰ 12pm–4pm
We hope to see lots of familiar faces there! 💚🐶🐱

✨𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 - 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲✨

We are delighted to announce that At Home Estate and Lettings Agency and About Mortgages will be the headline sponsors of this year’s Southwater Infant & Junior Academies Summer Fair 2026.

📌Southwater Junior Academy
📅 Saturday 13th June
⏰ 12-4pm

Interested in being involved?
📩Email [email protected] to apply!

11/06/2026

💚💚💚 Meet Louie 💚💚💚

Louie, a 5½-year-old Terrier, recently came to see us after a game of fetch went a little wrong. 🎾

While chasing a ball, Louie fractured one of his incisors and traumatised a neighbouring incisor, leaving it mobile and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, both teeth needed to be removed to prevent ongoing pain and future problems.

Thankfully, dogs adapt incredibly well to missing incisors, and Louie recovered smoothly from his procedure.

We hope you're feeling much more comfortable now, Louie! 🐾

💚💚💚

10/06/2026

🦷 Alan's Dental Adventure 🦷

Alan, a 10-month-old crossbreed, recently visited us after a fractured upper cheek tooth was identified.

Although he is still very young, dental fractures can expose the sensitive inner structures of the tooth, allowing bacteria to enter and travel down into the root. Dental radiographs revealed a significant area of bone loss around the root tip (the dark circled area), consistent with a tooth root abscess.

As the tooth was no longer healthy, it was extracted to remove the source of infection and prevent ongoing discomfort.

The good news is that Alan recovered well from his procedure and is now on the road to a much more comfortable mouth. 🐾💚

This case is a great reminder that even young dogs can develop painful dental disease, particularly following tooth fractures. If you notice a chipped, worn or discoloured tooth, it's always worth having it checked.

09/06/2026

🐾 Frankie's big day! 🐾

Frankie, a nearly 2-year-old Siberian cat, visited us today for his neutering procedure.

Neutering helps prevent unwanted litters and can reduce the risk of certain health and behavioural problems later in life. It's one of the most common procedures we perform and most cats are back to their usual selves very quickly.

Frankie was a lovely patient throughout the day and recovered well from his anaesthetic before heading home for some well-earned rest and cuddles.

We hope you're feeling back to your mischievous self soon, Frankie! 💚🐱