Category: Newsletter

October Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter

 Autumn News from Paws Indoors!

I don’t know about you but I’m quite enjoying the rain and have rediscovered my wellies for early morning dog walks.

This month we have as usual, a few tips to keep pets safe, outdoors and when the fireworks come, some money saving offers and some new social media material for you to look out for.

Read to the end to find out about next month’s free giveaway!

 

Fireworks – get ready to protect your pets.

Bonfire Night is approaching, and for many pets, fireworks are anything but fun. Creating a cosy hiding place now can help your pet feel safer when the bangs begin. It’s good to start getting your pet used to their new den before the actual night. Tempt them in with treats, a chew or a new toy. Cats will like hiding in a cardboard box with scrunched up paper and cat treats in.

Easy steps to a fireworks den:

Start now! Your pet needs time to associate their den with safety and relaxation before the fireworks begin.

  1. Find a quiet corner, ideally away from windows, where your pet likes to relax. If your pet already has a favourite hiding place – under the table , or under the spare bed, then use this as the basis for the den.
  2. Make a hideaway  -use a table  or arm chair covered with blankets, or an open crate with a blanket draped over it. A carboard box with an entry hole is good for cats.  Ensure good ventilation and easy access.
  3. Add home comforts – their favourite bedding, toys and perhaps something that smells of you. By making it extra appealing, and relaxing there before they are scared, they will be more reassured that they are safe when they need it, then use this as the basis for the den. If your cat usually goes outside to toilet, get them used to a litter tray now so that they are not so distressed when they’re shut in.
  4. Make it a happy place by leaving treats or a new toy inside and allowing your pet to explore in their own time. Don’t force them to go in.
  5. Reduce outside noise by closing curtains and putting on the television or some gentle music.
  6. Check microchip details are up to date in case anyone escapes and panics.

Never force your pet into their den, and if they seek reassurance from you, it’s absolutely fine to comfort them. Try and act normally, as they will be reassured by your normal behaviour that there is nothing to worry about.

If your pet is particularly frightened of fireworks, please contact us in advance. We have several medications and other treatments that can help reduce anxiety and noise phobias.

 

Mushrooms, conkers and acorns

are this month’s toxic hazards to look out for. They can all cause stomach upsets if eaten in quantity and can, in extreme cases, cause fatalities – conkers by causing an obstruction and mushrooms because some are extremely toxic. If your pup eats some mushrooms, try and get a photo of those nearby to help with identification.

 Vaccination Amnesty – Has Your Pet Fallen Behind?

With the welcome rain comes damper ground and mud, ideal for the leptospirosis bug. This raises the risk of your dog coming into contact with the disease. We all have busy lives and it’s easy for annual vaccinations to slip down the to-do list.

We don’t want to see anyone go unprotected so from now until the end of the year we are offering a vaccination amnesty for dogs and cats. This means that we  will be offering a restart course for the price of a booster vaccination, saving you £80.

Vaccinations protect dogs and cats against serious, potentially life-threatening diseases, some of which have no effective cure. Keeping vaccinations up to date not only protects your own pet but is often a condition of pet insurance policies or putting your pet into pet care settings. As well as sparing pets and their owners the distress of a serious illness, vaccination is also a much more affordable way of protecting your pet than treating a disease that could have been prevented.

Last call for our Pet Health Plan offer

Your first month FREE

Our 2026 plan prices, before they go up at the end of the year

A FREE pet first aid kit

Read the full details, ts and cs, here.

If you’re not sure which plan would suit your pet, please ask us – we’re very happy to talk you through the choices.

Offer ends 31st October 2026. *Terms and conditions apply.

For people already on a health plan, prices increase on the anniversary of your subscription, so they won’t necessarily go up next month and you will receive an email notification 30 days before the subscription renews.

Medication Amnesty – Time for a Medicine Cupboard Clear-Out!

Do you have old, unused or out-of-date pet medication lurking in a cupboard? If so please hand them back to one of our clinicians or drop them off at the surgery. We’re more than happy to dispose of these safely for you at no charge.

By doing this you

  • free up space in your cupboards!
  • prevent accidental ingestion by children or other pets ( or even adults!)
  • help us in our efforts at antimicrobial stewardship ( reducing the risk of resistance to antibiotics and other medications)
  • protect the environment – so that medicines don’t end up in watercourses

Look Out for Our New Facebook and Instagram content!

We’ve been busy making some short videos to give you a little more insight into life at Paws Indoors!

From behind-the-scenes glimpses of our team to useful pet care tips, we hope they’ll help you get to know us a little better and see what makes our independent mobile veterinary practice special.

Next month we will also be running a ❤️free giveaway❤️ for our social media followers!

We’d really love your feedback!

👀 Keep an eye on our Facebook  and Instagram pages.

❤️ Give them a like if you enjoy them.

💬 Let us know what you think in the comments – and tell us what you’d like to see next!

Please share them with your friends and family! Every share helps more local pet owners discover Paws Indoors, and as a small independent practice, your support really does make a difference.

🐾 Here for You and Your Pets

Whether it’s a routine health check, a pet health concern on your mind or simply some friendly advice, we’re here to help.

The Paws Indoors Team 🐾

☎️ 01508 498718
📧 info@pawsindoors.co.uk
🌐 www.pawsindoors.co.uk

 

September Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter, Uncategorised

September Newsletter

Hello everyone. As usual there’s lots happening at Paws Indoors – including a new face, a successful weekend at the All About Dogs Show, a special Pet Health Plan offer and some useful updates for pet owners.

Welcome to Melissa!

We’re delighted to welcome Melissa Keeler MRCVS to the Paws Indoors team.

Melissa is an experienced, caring vet who also holds an additional certificate in emergency medicine. Most importantly for us, she shares our belief that good veterinary care is about treating every pet and owner as an individual – taking time to listen, explain and work out the best approach together.

Melissa will gradually be getting out and about meeting our lovely clients over the coming weeks.

There is one additional challenge to joining a mobile veterinary practice: learning the intricacies of Norfolk’s roads, roadworks and diversions! Please bear with her while she gets to know her way around. As always, we’ll do our best to keep you updated if any of our vets are delayed.

Welcome to the team, Melissa! 

We survived the All About Dogs Show!

We had a fantastic time at the All About Dogs Show and loved meeting so many dogs – and their humans!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand for a chat, entered our competitions, picked up information or simply introduced us to their gorgeous dogs. We learnt so much from all the visitors about what they need from a vet, what worries they have, as well as what joy their dogs bring them.

It was lovely to be able to explain a little more about how our mobile veterinary service works and why we think veterinary care at home can make such a difference, especially for anxious and reactive dogs, as well as all the princesses. divas and doofuses out there!!

We also ran a special Pet Health Plan offer at the show. It proved so popular that we’re repeating it here.

Join a Paws Indoors Pet Health Plan by 31st October 2026 and receive:

Your first month FREE

Our 2026 plan prices, before they go up at the end of the year

A FREE pet first aid kit

Our plans are designed to make routine preventative healthcare and accessing a vet when you need one, easier to budget for, as well as saving you money, with different options depending on the needs of you and your pet. The aim is to give you peace of mind, knowing that we can be there when you need us.

Of course, none of us expects our pet to become unwell – but that’s rather the point of a health plan. Just a couple of unexpected veterinary call-outs during the year could add up to as much as the cost of the plan itself. If you’re on our Consultations Included Plan, those consultations are already covered.*

That means you don’t have to think twice about whether something is worth getting checked. You can simply give us a call and arrange for one of our vets to come to you.

For many owners, that peace of mind is one of the biggest benefits of being on the plan.

Read the full details, ts and cs, here.

If you’re not sure which plan would suit your pet, please ask us – we’re very happy to talk you through the choices.

Offer ends 31st October 2026. *Terms and conditions apply.

A change to worming tablets for dogs on our Health Plans

If your dog is on one of our Pet Health Plans, you may notice a change to their worming treatment.

The product we have previously supplied is no longer being manufactured, so we are moving dogs onto a similar product from a different manufacturer.

The active ingredients and strengths are the same, so for most dogs the change will simply mean that the box and tablet look a little different.

You don’t need to do anything. You may receive an update text from Vet Success, the plan provider to say that your plan has been updated – this is just us tidying up behind the scenes! If there is anything particular that we need to discuss with you about your dog’s treatment, we will contact you.

So please don’t worry if the next worming treatment arriving through your door looks a little different!

Helping children when a pet dies

One of the hardest parts of sharing our lives with animals is eventually having to say goodbye.

For children, the death of a much-loved pet can be particularly significant. A family pet may have been there for as long as they can remember, and losing them may be a child’s first real experience of bereavement. The RSPCA has recently released guidance on helping children to grieve the loss of a pet.

Read the RSPCA’s full guidance on children and pet loss

Some of their key advice, which we would echo,  is reassuringly simple:

  • Be honest and use straightforward, age-appropriate language. Euphemisms such as saying a pet has “gone away” can be confusing, particularly for younger children.
  • Let children ask questions, even if they ask the same question several times.
  • Don’t feel that you have to hide your own sadness. Seeing adults grieve and cope with grief can help children understand their own feelings.
  • Keep talking about their pet. Use their name, look at photographs and tell stories about the things you remember.
  • Create something to remember them by. A photo book, memory box, drawing, planting something in the garden or visiting a favourite walking place can all help.

Children react to loss in very different ways. Some may be extremely upset, while others may seem relatively unaffected and then return to the subject weeks or months later. There isn’t a single “correct” way for a child to grieve.

At Paws Indoors, we know that saying goodbye to a pet affects the whole family. One of the advantages of providing end-of-life care at home is that families can make decisions about saying goodbye in familiar surroundings and in the way that feels right for them.

If you know that the time to say goodbye to a much-loved pet is approaching and you’re worried about how to involve or prepare your children, please talk to us. We have a lot of experience in this area and are always happy to help.

And finally…

Thank you, as always, for supporting an independent local veterinary practice.

Whether we’re visiting you at home, carrying out a procedure at our Hempnall base, answering a question on the phone or simply offering some reassurance, our aim remains the same: to provide veterinary care that works for your individual pet and your individual circumstances.

Rosie and all the Paws Indoors team

01508 498718

07986933849

info@pawsindoors.co.uk

August Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter, Uncategorised

We do hope that everyone is enjoying the Summer,

and enjoying the respite from the heatwaves. This month we have some useful first aid advice, a discussion about pet parasite treatments — and an invitation to come and see us at the All About Dogs Show!

All About Dogs

We will be at the all about dogs show at the Norfolk showground this Sunday 30th and Bank Holiday Monday 31st August.  Do come and say hello. The All about dogs show is great fun for people and dogs – so far it looks like the weather won’t be too hot for them, thank goodness!

We are running a fete themed stall and will have a spin the wheel competition with prizes for everyone. Prizes include subscriptions to our Consultations Included plans , first aid kits, nose and paw balm and, of course, home made dog biscuits.

For 10% off tickets go to All About Dogs show website and use the code AZTEC at checkout.

We are very pleased with out first aid kits, which will be available as prizes at the show or from the surgery at a cost of £25. They include everything you may need to treat a minor injury or an emergency situation when at home with your pet or out and about.

🐾 Pet First Aid – Essential Tips

If your pet has an accident:

  • Stay safe – frightened or injured pets may bite or scratch.
  • Keep them calm and still – especially if you suspect a fracture or serious injury.
  • Check breathing and responsiveness and look for obvious injuries.
  • Stop bleeding – apply firm, continuous pressure with a clean dressing.
  • Protect wounds – rinse minor wounds with clean water or saline and cover with a clean dressing.
  • Don’t remove embedded objects – leave them in place and seek veterinary help.
  • Keep them warm – use a blanket or foil blanket if necessary.
  • Move them carefully – a towel or blanket can be used as a makeshift stretcher.
  • Call a vet for significant injuries or if you are unsure what to do.

🚨 Seek urgent veterinary help for: difficulty breathing, collapse, severe bleeding, seizures, poisoning, severe pain, suspected fractures, eye injuries or road traffic accidents.

First aid helps keep your pet safe until veterinary treatment is available.

 

🪲 Does my pet need year-round parasite treatment?

There has been increasing discussion about the use of parasite treatments and the risks and benefits of treatment compared with the harm some of these products pose to the environment..

🐾 Our approach at Paws Indoors

We are very happy to discuss your pet’s lifestyle with you and assess their individual risk. We can then recommend a parasite-control plan that provides the protection they actually need, while avoiding unnecessary treatment where the risk is sufficiently low.

Current veterinary guidance supports a risk-based approach: looking at an individual pet’s lifestyle, environment, health and exposure to parasites and then deciding what level of protection is appropriate.

Why might year-round protection be beneficial?

Parasites don’t necessarily disappear when summer ends. Fleas can survive and reproduce indoors throughout the winter, particularly in centrally heated homes, and flea infestations can occur at any time of year.

Regular parasite control can:

  • prevent the discomfort and skin disease caused by fleas
  • reduce the risk of flea allergy dermatitis in susceptible pets
  • protect against worms that may cause illness
  • reduce environmental contamination with worm eggs and larvae
  • reduce the risk from certain parasites that can also infect people
  • protect pets exposed to ticks and some tick-borne diseases
  • prevent an infestation becoming established in your home, when it can be much harder to eradicate.

🐕🐈 Which pets are at greater risk?

Some pets have significantly greater parasite exposure risk  than others. Do any of these apply to your pet?

  • Regular outdoor access
  • Dogs or cats with access to woodland, long grass or areas with lots of wildlife
  • Cats that hunt
  • Dogs that scavenge or eat things they find outdoors
  • Eating a raw meat diet, particularly raw offal
  • Dogs that eat slugs or snails, or regularly chew grass and objects outside
  • Living with several other dogs or cats
  • Regular contact with other animals, e.g. dog fields, day care,  or shows
  • A history of flea allergy or allergic skin disease.
  • Puppies and kittens, which have particular parasite risks
  • Pets that travel abroad
  • Pets living with or regularly visiting people for whom some zoonotic infections could be of particular concern. These include young children, toddlers and babies and people undergoing immunosuppressive or chemotherapy.

These factors can affect not only whether treatment is advisable but also which parasites we need to protect against and how frequently treatment should be given.

If you’d like more detailed information on parasite risks, please call us or visit BSAVA parasite control position statement

 

🍺 Is your dog a good pub companion?

Long summer evenings, a shady beer garden and the dog snoozing peacefully underneath the table. Perfect.

Or perhaps yours is the one enthusiastically greeting every new arrival, staring hopefully at everyone’s lunch and somehow managing to position themselves directly in the path of every passing waiter…

If your dog enjoys coming to the pub with you, remember to give them access to water and shade, watch the temperature and make sure they’re enjoying the outing as much as you are.

And go easy on the pub snacks — however convincing those eyes may be!

Enjoy the rest of the Summer and don’t forget to come and see us at the All About Dogs show!!

 

Best wishes from all the team at Paws Indoors.

Contact us on 01508 498718 or email info@pawsindoors.co.uk

 

 

June Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter

We Need Your Help This Month 💙

At Paws Indoors, we are incredibly grateful for the support our clients show us every day. As a small independent veterinary practice, word of mouth and personal recommendations make an enormous difference to helping us grow and continue providing the personalised care that we believe pets deserve. ( Don’t forget, we will credit your account with £50 for every new client you recommend who books an appointment with us!)

In today’s digital world, many people find businesses through online searches — and before making a decision, most will look at reviews and recommendations to help them choose a service they can trust.

If you have been happy with the care we have provided for you and your pets, we would be hugely grateful if you could support us in any (or all!) of the following ways:

⭐ Leave Us a Google Review

 

Positive reviews help other pet owners discover us and give them confidence in choosing a veterinary practice that truly puts pets first.

 

Simply scan the QR code opposite

A few kind words really do make a big difference.

🏆 Nominate Us for the PetPlan Veterinary Awards

Each year the  Pet Plan Veterinary Awards recognise veterinary practices and teams who have made a real difference to the lives of pets and their owners.

As a small independent practice, receiving a nomination means a great deal to our whole team. It is a wonderful morale boost and reminds us that the care and effort we put into every visit is appreciated.

If you feel we have helped make a difference to you or your pet, we would be incredibly honoured if you would consider nominating us.

👍 Follow Us on Facebook

Following us on Facebook  helps you stay updated with pet health advice, practice news, helpful tips and patient stories.

If you enjoy our content, sharing our posts helps spread the word and introduces more local pet owners to a different kind of veterinary care. We currently have nearly 2000 followers and would like to spread our positive pet health care message to many more.

Every share genuinely helps support our small independent business.

Thank You

We know you have choices when it comes to caring for your pets, and we never take for granted the trust you place in us.

Thank you for being part of the Paws Indoors family — and for helping us continue doing what we love most: caring for pets in the comfort of their own homes.

🐾 Your support means more than you know.

Is Your Senior Cat Hiding High Blood Pressure?

Did you know that around 1 in 3 cats over the age of 9 may have high blood pressure?

It’s a surprisingly common condition, and one that many cat owners — and even veterinary professionals — often underestimate.

Much like in humans, high blood pressure (hypertension) doesn’t usually cause obvious symptoms in its early stages. Cats won’t tell us when something feels wrong, and outwardly they can appear perfectly well. The only reliable way to detect high blood pressure is to measure it.

Left untreated, hypertension can have serious consequences for your cat’s health and quality of life. It can contribute to:

• Kidney disease
• Fits, strokes and cognitive decline
• Damage to the eyes, which can lead to permanent blindness

The reassuring news is that, when detected early, high blood pressure can usually be managed very effectively. Regular monitoring and simple treatment — often with easy-to-administer, cat-friendly medication — can help prevent these complications and keep your cat feeling their best.

Because we know how important early detection can be, we are extending our FREE Senior Cat Health Checks with one of our veterinary nurses, throughout July. These checks are free for registered clients.

During the appointment we can:

✓ Check your cat’s blood pressure
✓ Monitor weight and body condition
✓ Assess coat condition and grooming
✓ Look at mobility and signs of arthritis
✓ Check teeth and oral health
✓ Discuss any concerns you may have about your cat as they get older

Blood pressure measurements are quick, gentle and generally cause very little discomfort, making them an easy but valuable part of monitoring your cat’s long-term health.

As our cats enter their senior years, subtle changes can easily go unnoticed. A simple check-up can help identify problems early — often before your cat shows any signs at all.

If your cat is 9 years or older, why not take advantage of this free health check and give them the extra support they deserve?

To book, call us on 01508 498718 or email info@pawsindoors.co.uk

Because growing older should never stop our feline friends enjoying life in comfort. 🐾

Supporting the Community That Supports Us

At Paws Indoors, we’ve always believed that being a local independent business means being part of something bigger than simply providing a service. We are incredibly proud to be part of our vibrant village community, here in Hempnall, and we know that the success of small businesses like ours is built on the support, trust and loyalty of local people.

That’s why we feel it’s so important to give something back wherever we can.

This year, we’re delighted to be sponsoring our local Beer Festival at the Mill Bar, Hempnall — a fantastic community event that brings people together, supports local businesses and creates the kind of community spirit that makes living and working in our area so special.

If you’re heading along, we hope you have a fantastic time… and remember to raise a glass to supporting local! 🍻🐾

Best wishes from all of us at Paws Indoors. Stay safe in the heat!

Email: info@pawsindoors.co.uk

Tel: 01508 498718

 

 

May Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter, Uncategorised

Here comes Mabel!

The latest addition to the Paws Indoors family is Emmaly’s new puppy Mabel. Isn’t she gorgeous!

Mabel is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She comes from parents who have had extensive health testing as we know that this breed can suffer from several inherited conditions. Having had all of her vaccinations she is heading to the beach for the first time this weekend!

…and the sun!

As we are being forecast high temperatures, here are our tips for keeping your pet’s safe in the heat.

  • Heading to the beach with your dog? Take plenty of fresh water for them, sea water will make them ill.
  • If you think your dog has become too hot – the best advice is to SOAK them with COLD water ,(from the kitchen tap is fine, or buckets of sea water) without delay. Remember WET then VET!  You may see a lot of conflicting advice about this online. Please be assured that soaking your dog is the best way to avoid shock and damage to internal organs from excessive heat.
  • Pets can get skin cancer too – especially white coated cats and dogs – on ear tips, noses and bellies where the hair coat is thin. Keep them out of the sun between 10 am and 4 pm.
  • If you’re travelling with your pet, make sure they have an up to date collar tag and microchip details.
  • Holidays abroad. There are new rules about the documents your pet needs, check with your vet well in advance of your travel plans. Also good to ask about protection from parasites that are not found in the UK.
  • Protect your pet from fleas and ticks, which carry nasty diseases – for pets and people. They are more commonly encountered as the weather gets warmer.
  • Like people, very young and very old pets need to be protected from excessive heat.
  • Pets with a heart condition and flat faced breeds, such as bulldogs and frenchies, will also find it more difficult to cope with heat and should be kept cool.
  • Cooling mats and jackets only work if they are wet. A soaked bandana is a good idea but remember to resoak it frequently.

Friends of Hempnall School Fete

Saturday 6th June 12 midday til 4pm.

We are pleased to be sponsoring the fete and also attending with a Teddy Bear Hospital, so that the children can play at being vets, nurses, doctors and even taxidermists! This is always a good, fun family and community event so do come along and support the school. You don’t need to have children to enjoy it!

Mill Bar Beer Festival

We are also sponsoring the Hempnall Mill Bar Beer Festival.  Come and enjoy the sun with local craft beers and delicious food including gourmet burgers, pizzas, waffles and more…

Further details on the Mill Bar Facebook Page.

Friday 3rd July from 5-11 pm and Saturday 4th July 2-11pm

 

 

Flea and Tick protection

If you are looking for reliable flea and tick protection, please ask us about our annual injection for dogs. One injection protects them from fleas and ticks for a whole year. This is included in our Pet Health Plan provisions, if you would prefer it to three monthly treatments.

Travelling to the EU?

The EU has recently changed its requirements for pets travelling to the EU from the UK. People who are not resident in the EU will no longer be able to use an EU pet passport  to travel into the EU. Please call us if you need help with this or check the government website here.

 

Bank Holiday Monday

We will be closed from 12.30 pm on Saturday 23rd May until 9.00am on Tuesday 26th May.  If you have a veterinary emergency or need urgent advice during this time , please call Norwich Night Vet on 01603 867330.

Enjoy the bank holiday! All at Paws Indoors

 

 

 

 

March Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter, Uncategorised

Latest updates from Paws Indoors.                                                                                                            Easter Hazards

Easter treats are tempting to dogs

As the warm weather and daffodils remind us that Easter is almost here, please be mindful of all the treats that we love, that aren’t so good for pets.

Chocolate, hot cross buns, rich fruit cakes, flower bulbs and some flowers, notably lilies, can be toxic to our dogs and cats. Keep them all well out of reach.

If your pooch does get hold of an easter egg, here is a handy tool to help you decide whether you need to call us. Most eggs meant for children have very little actual cocoa in them and are more likely to cause an upset tummy. More expensive eggs containing dark chocolate are more dangerous. Chocolate toxicity calculator . If in doubt, always call for advice.

 

Last dates for prescription meds.

Please could we have your requests for medications by Monday 23rd March to ensure that there is enough time for the vets to approve and order in meds and for them to be posted out to you.

Opening hours over Easter

Thursday 2nd April – Open as normal 9.00am to 6,00pm

Good Friday 3rd April – Closed

Saturday 4th April – Open 8.30am til 12.30pm for emergencies only. Please contact the duty vet on 07986 933849

Easter Sunday – Closed

Easter Monday – Closed

Tuesday 7th April – Open as normal  9.00am to 6.00pm

When we are closed, emergency consultations and advice are available through Norwich Night Vet at Taverham their contact number is 01603 867330

Talks at the Cat House

Rosie will be talking at the Cat House again this month. The Cat House is a lovely café with lots of very friendly cats, some pedigree and some moggies. If you love cats you will certainly enjoy a visit.  If you would like  to hear some tips on keeping your senior cats in tip top shape, join us on the 29th of March. Open to all. To purchase tickets please visit The Cat House – Norwich

Pet First Aid Tip

What can you safely use on a cut or a graze?

small surface wounds can be treated with the following – a strong salt solution ( two tablespoons of table salt in half a pint/ 500ml of water), leucillin spray – available online, manuka honey ( or ordinary honey if you don’t have manuka). All these preparations have anit bacterial effects and will keep the owund moist to help encourage healing.

Good Business Charter

We are always looking for ways to improve our staff and our business. To this end we a member of the Good Business Charter. One of the commitments of the charter is a responsibility to the environment.  As part of this commitment we have installed solar panels on our roof. We would like to thank Prospect Renewables for the installation, for their professional service and also for dedicating time out of working hour to complete the installation so that the practice could continue to offer our service as normal.

Veterinary costs for services and medications.

There has been a lot of talk in the media recently about the costs of veterinary fees and particularly medicines.

Many prescription medicines for pets can now be bought from online pharmacies. These pharmacies buy medicines directly from the manufacturers in large amounts, which allows them to sell them to pet owners at lower prices than veterinary practices, such as ours, are able to buy them for from our suppliers. We are aware of this issue and always try to source medicines at the best possible price.

Transparency has always been very important to us. Our basic pricing is clearly displayed on our website and we we provide detailed estimates before treatment. We try to do comprehensive estimates so there are no unpleasant surprises at the end of your pet’s care. If , during treatment we feel that additional work is needed, we will always contact you first to discuss this – unless it is an emergency situation where immediate action is required in your pet’s best interests.

If you would prefer to buy your pet’s medication online, we are happy to provide you with a prescription. Our current prescription fee is £29. This covers one medication for one pet and allows you to buy up to six months’ supply. Of course, we are also happy to supply medicines directly from the practice. In urgent situations, or when an injectable medicine is needed, this is often the quickest and simplest option. 😊

Prescriptions are legal documents, so they need to be written carefully and accurately. To write a prescription the pet needs to be under our care. This means that we will need to regularly re-examine any pet that is on long term prescription medication. While we don’t control how medicines are priced in the wider market, we do have to follow strict rules to make sure medicines are used safely and correctly.

We welcome open conversations about costs, options and treatment and will work with you to help you find the option that works best for you and your pet. Your pet’s health and wellbeing always come first. 🐾

Year round flea protection

We now have an injectable product that offers year round flea protection. It is given as an injection . All the staff dogs have been treated and the general opinion is that it is lovely to know that they are protected for a year. If you are interested in getting year round flea protection for your dog, please give us a call.

 

 

Happy Easter to all of us from Paws Indoors.

Tel 01508 498718,     email: info@pawsindoors.co.uk

November Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter

Wishing all our wonderful clients — and their much-loved pets — a very Merry Christmas and a bright, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Winner – Our Bond, Wiggly Snuggles with Dad

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support this year. It has truly been a joy to care for each and every one of you. Santa will definitely be popping a few extra treats your way for all the smiles you and your pets have given us — even (and especially!) our delightfully spicy ones!

We look forward to supporting you throughout the year ahead. As always, we’re committed to growing and improving, so your feedback and suggestions are warmly welcomed.

Opening dates for Christmas

Winner – Family Portrait – Me and My Girl

Tuesday 23rd December – 9.00am – 6.00pm.

Wednesday 24th December – 9.00am. to 2.00 pm

Christmas Day  – Closed

Boxing Day –  Closed

Saturday 27th December  – Open 8.30-12.30, on the day emergencies only. Please call the mobile 07986 933849

Sunday 28th December –  Closed.

Monday 29th – 9.00am – 6.00pm

                                       Tuesday 30th – 9.00am – 6.00pm

                                Wednesday 31st – 9.00am -4.00pm

                                      Thursday January 1st 2026 – Closed

                                               Friday 2nd – 9.00am – 6.00pm.

Last dates for prescriptions

Winner – Just for Fun – All Ears!

Please could we have prescription orders in by Friday 12th December. This will give us time to process and order the requests and get them out in the post by Wednesday 17th December. This will be the last posting date for prescriptions. We can continue to fulfil prescriptions after this  but they will need to be delivered ( £11 delivery charge) or collected from the surgery.

Photo Competition Winners.

Overall Winner – Salvatore

Thank you to everyone who entered our competition. The Winners are spread through the newsletter. We had such fun seeing all the entries. It was very hard to pick winners – glad it wasn’t my job! However, the overall winner was a firm favourite with all the judges as it represents the connection that every pet owner holds dear. Many congratulations to Claire Parkin and her cat Salvatore.

Top Tips to help everyone enjoy a peaceful festive season.

Keep festive food out of reach. Chocolate, mince pies/puddings, nuts and cake as well as turkey leftovers and sweets containing artificial sweeteners, can make pets very sick. Keep holiday food and drink well out of reach.

Keep your vet’s phone number handy, in case of emergencies, and ensure that you have enough of your pet’s medication to see them over the holiday period. Make sure microchip details are up to date as pets often slip out during all the comings and goings.
Beware tinsel, decorations, electric cords and candles, which can all be attractive to pets but can cause accident and injury. Do not leave your pets unattended.
In between all the festivities, try and stick to your pet’s routine as much as possible. Ensure they have enough quiet time and a safe room or space to use as a refuge, so that they can chose whether or not to join in.
In cold weather, check under your car and bang the bonnet before starting, as cats often climb onto engines for warmth. Mop up all antifreeze spills. This is sweet tasting to pets and highly toxic.
In snow, use coconut oil on paws and fur to avoid snowballs clinging to fur and to protect against salt and grit. Wash paws on returning home.
New years resolutions such as loosing weight and taking more exercise are great for pets too!

A Little Bit of Politics

For those following the ongoing CMA investigations, we wanted to share a few thoughts.

First, we’d like to reassure you that we are an independent practice. Our priority is – and always has been – to support you and your pets with the best care we can provide. At the same time, we are a small, highly regulated business delivering private healthcare for animals. High-quality veterinary care is, unfortunately, inherently costly, and unlike human private healthcare, veterinary services are also subject to VAT.

Some of the CMA’s proposals, such as updating the very out-of-date Veterinary Surgeons Act, ( brought in the year I was born!), are long overdue and would be welcome.

However, other suggested “remedies” would simply add layers of regulation and administrative work. In reality, this would increase our running costs and ultimately raise the prices we would need to charge in order to continue providing a safe and reliable service.

On the Plus Side

We’re always happy to work with you to find options that fit both your needs and your budget. We follow the principles of contextualised care, and we are more than willing to provide a written prescription if you prefer to purchase medications from an online pharmacy (which can often sell them for less than we can buy them from wholesalers).

We also offer health plans designed to make it easier to budget for routine care and to soften the impact of unexpected or urgent situations. If you’d like to know more, please take a look at our website or give our reception team a call.

best wishes for Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year to all

Rosie, and all the team at Paws Indoors

August Newsletter

Posted in Newsletter

Have you entered our Pet Photo Competition yet?

For the winner, local artist Ani Bee will make a portrait of your pet.

Caroline has also been shopping for some thrifted items, including a Ronaldo shirt, see social posts for more details.

We have had some super submissions so far. We are looking for photos that fall into one of these three categories – Family Portrait  – animal family or animal and hooman family, Our bond – animal and hooman, Just for fun – anything that your pet does that makes you smile!

For all the details on how to enter, scan the QR code on the picture to the left or click here

The Photo Competition is raising money in aid of PACT, so please make a donation on our JustGivingpage

 

Breast Cancer Now

Still on a charity theme, we will be hosting afternoon tea at the surgery, Broaden Lane, Hempnall, NR15 2LU in aid of Breast Cancer Now.

Tuesday September 16th

12noon til 4pm.

This is a charity close to our hearts as we lost a very dear colleague, April Caton, to breast cancer.

Please drop in for tea/ coffee, cake and pupcakes and a chat. The theatre will be open ( as long as there are no emergencies!) so feel free to have a look around at the equipment.

All About Dogs

The annual dog festival will be at the Norfolk showground on Sunday August 24th and Monday August 25th. We will be there with home made

peanut butter and honey dog biscuits so do come along and say hello! We have home made peanut butter dog biscuits to give away!

 

We are partnering on the stand with lovely Lizette from  Pet Estate Planning Cross-Border World Wide.

Do you worry about what would happen to your pet if you were no longer able to take care of them due to ill health or incapacity? Lizette can help you think through the steps needed and put the paperwork in place so that

James Ayres, from Luna and co will also be there to answer any questions about training and behaviour.

 

Cattitude

A cat showing predatory play behaviour
Play is especially important for indoor cats

We have been helping several families with behavioural problems with their indoor cats. While the image of a sleek well groomed cat atop  a luxury sofa, reclining in minimalist splendour can be very alluring, in most cases, this is not what a cat would naturally chose. Cats are still, evolutionarily and behaviourally close to their wild ancestors.

Here are our top tips for making indoor cats feel at home.

  1. Scent. Cats, even more than dogs, are influenced by smells, their own and others. Try not to use too many diffusers or strong smelling cleaning products.
  2. Leave cat blankets/beds around for several weeks. Wash in rotation so that there is always some of the cat’s own scent nearby.
  3. Separate feeding, watering and toileting stations. Have at least one per cat in the household and one extra.
  4. Think in three dimensions – cats like to climb. Being high makes them feel safe. Where in your house can your cat get up high to hide? Think kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, shelving, cat trees, cat furniture.
  5. Cats in the wild are prey as well as predator so they like to hide. Use cardboard boxes, throws over furniture, cupboards with a secret entrance- at the side or the back.
  6. Lines of sight. In open plan, tidy houses , there are often many long clear lines of sight, especially at floor level – so the cat under the sofa still feels exposed. Break them up with throws/ blankets that trail to the floor, cat-safe indoor plants, bead curtains in doorways and well placed furniture.
  7. Patio doors and bay windows mark the threshold of the cat’s territory. For cats who find such an expansive vista too overwhelming, putting opaque film or cardboard, or a row of pot plants or net curtains can help provide a barrier, to help your cat feel more secure.
  8. Music. While some cats prefer classic fm or radio Norfolk, try experimenting with natural sounds – rainforests or birdsong may be appealing.
  9. Environmental enrichment. Provide new toys on a regular basis – old toys can be put away for a while and then brought out again as new. Provide a variety of scratching surfaces, mats, carpet squares.
  10. Although fleas and worms may be less of a worry, indoor cats still need regular health checks, to keep an eye on their weight, their teeth and any signs of stress related behaviours.                                                                                                                                                                                              For further advice, search online. We like International Cat Care who give great advice on everything cat.

 

 

Thanks everyone!

All the team at Paws Indoors