I've detected a murmur - What should be my next step?   One of the most common inquiries I receive pertains to when an animal with a murmur should be referred. Consequently, I've compiled a concise blog post on the subject. Let's start by understanding what a murmur actually signifies. Under normal circumstances, blood flow through the heart is smooth (laminar). However, any disruption to this flow causes it to become turbulent (non-laminar), resulting in vibrations that manifest as sounds—these are the murmurs we detect on the surface of our patients. Therefore, it's crucial to identify what could cause such…

Cataracts, what are they? Our Ophthalmic team at Bridge Referrals have created a Cataracts blog providing valuable information and support to give to pet owners facing this issue. What is a cataract?  A cataract is an abnormal opacity or clouding of the lens or lens capsule which can give the eye a white appearance. They are caused by a change in the structure of the lens material. Normally the lens is a transparent structure which enables light to pass to the back of the eye to form an image on the retina. When a cataract develops light can no longer…

Bridge Referrals are delighted to announce that they carried out a successful treatment for a brain tumour in a cat by performing an Craniectomy. This procedure was the accumulation of a treatment plan that involved a multidisciplinary approach from six departments (Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine, Soft Tissue Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging). A craniectomy is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the skull is removed temporarily or permanently to allow access to the brain. This procedure is not often performed in the veterinary world. Violet Meet the splendid Violet. She presented to our Neurology Department with sudden onset…

We are thrilled to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to Olivia Grice, our new ophthalmology vet.  Olivia Grice PGCertSAOphthal MRCVS Olivia starts on this exciting journey with us here at Bridge Referrals as we expand our Ophthalmology department. Already a valued addition to our team, we are eager to continue to build upon exceptional care we offer to our ophthalmology patients and their devoted owners. As a member of our hospital family, Olivia’s dedication to enhancing animal welfare will be a great addition. Olivia’s passion for ophthalmology will undoubtedly make a significant difference in the lives of our patients,…

Mitral Valve disease (MVD) is the most common heart disease we see in dogs, primarily affecting small breed dogs with some breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Miniature Poodles and Shih Tzus highly represented. In 2009 the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) created a staging protocol for the disease based on the equivalent in human medicine. This was updated in 2019 to take account of changes in diagnosis, treatment and our knowledge of the disease.   In this blog I’d like to go through the categorisation of stages and what differentiates them, particularly B1 and B2, and…