Ryder-Davies and Partners Veterinary Surgeons Small Animal Page

01/09/2026

On 27th September, three members of our team — vets Holly and Andy, along with veterinary nurse Emma — will be taking on the Ipswich Half Marathon to raise money for our fantastic local RSPCA branch, RSPCA Suffolk Central.
Their Martlesham Animal Centre rehomes more than 200 animals every year and supports over 2,000 pets through welfare clinics, financial assistance for low-income families, microchipping initiatives and pop-up pet food banks.
Although affiliated with the national RSPCA, Suffolk Central is an independent charity that must raise around £1.2 million every year to continue providing these vital services across Suffolk.
If you’d like to support Holly, Andy and Emma, we’d be incredibly grateful if you could sponsor them using the JustGiving link below.
Thank you, and good luck team!

https://www.justgiving.com/team/rdipswichhalf?utm_medium=team&utm_content=rdipswichhalf&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

31/08/2026

Update- Owner has been found.

Rough coated Collie brought into our Woodbridge branch this evening.
Male, wearing a harness with a broken lead.
Microchipped but details incorrect.

Found on the A12 southbound before the junction to Ufford.

If you think he may be yours, please contact our Woodbridge branch 01394 380083.

Proof of ownership will be required.

31/08/2026

We are heading towards the time of year where we may start seeing cases of Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI).

For those who aren’t familiar with SCI, it is rare condition, characterised by rapid onset vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. Signs usually start within 24-48 hours of being walked in a woodland area. With prompt treatment most dogs recover but without supportive care dogs can rapidly become dehydrated which in severe cases may be life threatening.

Cases are seen most commonly through the autumn months. Puppies and older dogs are often more severely affected. Whilst not every woodland area in the UK is affected, unfortunately Rendlesham and Tunstall Forests are known hotspots. Frustratingly the definitive cause of SCI is unknown, but research suggests harvest mites may play a role.

To the naked eye harvest mites look like very tiny orange dots. They are most often found right up between your dog’s toes and in a small pocket in their ear flap. Whilst not every dog who has harvest mites will get SCI we recommend checking your dog regularly for harvest mites, especially if walking in woodland areas. Harvest mites may be prevented/treated with a Fipronil spray. If you would like further information on this please call your local branch for further advice.

However it’s important to note, whilst harvest mites may be involved the research is inconclusive, so during the autumn months we would still advise owners exercise caution when considering walking in Rendlesham or Tunstall forests, especially if your dog is under a year old, elderly, or suffering with other health issues. If possible, it is recommended to avoid the forests altogether until after the first frost.

If you have any further questions on seasonal canine illness please call your local branch on the numbers below:

Woodbridge: 01394 380083
Ipswich: 01473 274040
Felixstowe: 01394 284554
Rendlesham: 01394 420964

28/08/2026

Meet the very handsome Hudson, an 8-week-old Dalmatian puppy🐾

Just three days after arriving in his new home, Hudson became very unwell. He was lethargic and developed bloody diarrhoea, so his owners brought him straight in to see us.

On examination, Hudson had a high temperature and was already becoming dehydrated - something that can happen very quickly in young puppies. Because of the blood in his diarrhoea, we were particularly concerned about parvovirus, a potentially life-threatening disease in unvaccinated puppies.

Hudson was admitted immediately and started on intravenous fluids while we carried out further tests. Thankfully, parvovirus was ruled out, and Hudson was diagnosed with a severe gastrointestinal infection.

After supportive treatment from both our out-of-hours and our Ipswich teams, Hudson made an excellent recovery and is now back to his happy, playful self.

A huge well done to his owners for recognising the signs early and seeking veterinary care so quickly. Early treatment really can make all the difference.

27/08/2026

We are currently seeking a friendly, confident receptionist to join our team😊
Please see the link below for full details and to apply:

https://uk.indeed.com/job/veterinary-receptionist-a67cbb3a0695ee47

27/08/2026

25/08/2026

Meet the gorgeous Bear🐻‍

Poor Bear had had an eventful few days before visiting our out-of-hours team.
Not only had she developed an abscess following a cat bite to her back, but she also had a grass seed trapped beneath her third eyelid, which had caused a painful scratch to the surface of her eye.

Thankfully, night vet Ana, alongside night nurses Harriet and Ali, were on hand to help. Thanks to Bear’s gentle nature and the team’s calm, cat friendly handling, they were able to treat the abscess and remove the grass seed without the need for sedation.

Bear went home with plenty of medication to help her recover, and we’re delighted to say she’s now back to her normal self—and hopefully enjoying far less eventful adventures.

Yet another fantastic example of the invaluable work carried out by our wonderful night team👏

20/08/2026

Unfortunately we have had a deceased female cat brought into our Woodbridge branch.
Found near Rushmere road, Ipswich.
Semi- long haired, middle aged.
No collar and no microchip present.

If you think this may be your cat, please contact our Woodbridge branch 01394 380083.

18/08/2026

Meet the gorgeous Darcy, a 12-year-old Dalmatian🐾

Darcy came to see us after her owners noticed she wasn’t herself. She had become lethargic, wasn’t eating well and generally seemed unwell.
Vet Katherine performed blood tests, which revealed that Darcy was anaemic. Concerned about possible internal bleeding, vet Sam carried out an abdominal ultrasound.
Unfortunately, the scan revealed the cause—a large bleeding tumour on Darcy’s spleen.
Splenic tumours are a common cause of blood-loss anaemia in older dogs. Studies suggest that around two-thirds are cancerous, while the remaining third are benign. Regardless of whether they are benign or malignant, a bleeding splenic tumour is life-threatening and requires removal of the spleen (a splenectomy) to stop the bleeding.
The surgery proved particularly challenging. The tumour was so large that it had become attached to part of Darcy’s gut, meaning vets Katherine and Heather worked together to remove both her spleen and a section of her intestine.
We’re incredibly fortunate to have such talented surgeons on our team, and Darcy’s recovery was a testament to both their skill and the dedication of our nursing staff. She was up and walking just a few hours after surgery and was able to go home the following day.
The best news came a few days later when the laboratory confirmed that Darcy’s tumour was benign. Although it had been bleeding, it was not cancerous, meaning that removing her spleen is expected to be curative.
These photos were taken at Darcy’s final post-operative check. Her owner tells us she’s now completely back to her normal self—a wonderful reminder that old age itself is not a disease.
Well done to Darcy, her wonderful owners, and everyone involved in her care 👏

14/08/2026

Meet the lovely Roro, a four-month-old miniature dachshund🐾
Roro was rushed to our Ipswich branch after managing to steal and swallow an elastic hair tie.
Thankfully, because his owners acted so quickly, we were able to safely induce vomiting, and the hair tie was retrieved before it could cause any problems.
Elastic hair ties and bands can be particularly dangerous foreign bodies, especially in tiny puppies like Roro, as they can cause serious intestinal obstruction if left untreated.
A huge well done to Roro’s quick-thinking owners for recognising the risk and bringing him to us so promptly—and to Roro for making a full recovery👏