Cornwall Veterinary Referrals

17/04/2026

🩵 What a busy week at Cornwall Veterinary Referrals! 🩵

Our team has been hard at work caring for a wide variety of complex and rewarding cases, from advanced diagnostic work-ups to specialist surgical procedures. It’s been a week filled with collaboration, dedication, and a shared commitment to providing the very best care for our patients.

A big thank you to our referring vets, clients, and of course our amazing team for making everything run smoothly throughout such a full schedule✨

As we head into the weekend, we hope you all get a chance to slow down and enjoy some well-earned rest with your two- and four-legged companions. Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy weekend ahead! 🐾

14/04/2026

Head over to our Penmellyn Vets page to see how we can help detect early signs of pre-clinical diseases🩺

Wellness Screens 🤝🏽 Pre-clinical Diseases

Let’s talk Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ❤️

Also known as HCM is the most common heart disease in cats - especially in our lovely Maine C***s because they have a known genetic risk.

HCM is a condition where the heart muscle (usually the left ventricle) becomes abnormally thick. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively.

Maine c***s carry a mutation in the gene which is linked to inherited HCM, making them more at risk of developing the disease, although not all.

Our wellness screens may pick up things like heart murmurs or irregular rhythms which can allow us to act fast on pre clinical diseases like HCM.🐱

*our wellness screens are designed for healthy animals, if you feel your animal is showing clinical signs please book a consultation with a Vet.

11/04/2026

Happy National Pet Day from all of us at Cornwall Veterinary Referrals 🐾🩵

Here’s the lovely Rosie, who was recovering beautifully after her laparoscopic spay, enjoying some well-deserved cuddles with our amazing nurse Holly 🥰

She was an absolute superstar and soaked up all the love and attention!

Today we’re celebrating all the incredible pets who bring so much joy, comfort, and companionship into our lives 🐶🐱

Give your furry friends an extra cuddle from us!

05/04/2026

Happy Easter🐣🐰🥚🍫🌷

02/04/2026

⭐️ 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ⭐️

We’re delighted to welcome 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗲𝘆 to work alongside our team at Cornwall Veterinary Referrals and Penmellyn Vets as a 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁.

Tracey is a dual-qualified human and veterinary physiotherapist who provides evidence-based rehabilitation to help pets recover from injury or surgery, improve mobility, manage chronic pain, and support long-term musculoskeletal health. 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝗦𝗰 (𝗛𝗼𝗻𝘀) 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗣𝗴𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺. She has also gained valuable experience working with complex orthopaedic and neurological cases during placements at leading referral centres all over the country!

We’re super excited to have Tracey’s expertise on board. Working closely with our vets and nurses, 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆, 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 🩵

If you’d like to find out whether physiotherapy or hydrotherapy could benefit your pet, please get in touch with our team 🐾

📞01637 880307

27/03/2026

Who remembers the lovely Daisy?🌼

Daisy was in with us 6 weeks ago for TPLO surgery on her right leg and came back to us last week for us to operate on her left leg🦴

Unfortunately around 50-60% of dogs require this surgery on the other leg within a year.

Daisy recovered so well after her first so we’re hoping this continues🤍

24/03/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝘀 & 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹 🩵

We were delighted to host a fantastic evening CPD event at St Columb, bringing together vets and nurses from across Cornwall for an engaging and informative session.

A huge thank you to two of our experienced referral vets:
𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝘁𝘆 BVSc CertAVP (SACP) CertAVP (VC) MRCVS & 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 BVetMed PgC(SAS) MRCVS for delivering excellent talks.

Cassie shared insights on transient myocardial thickening in cats – a condition where the heart muscle can temporarily thicken, sometimes making cats appear seriously unwell, but which in some cases can improve significantly with the right care.

Helen explored nursing care in brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds, including BOAS – focusing on how these pets can struggle with breathing and how veterinary teams can support them before, during, and after treatment to keep them comfortable and safe.

It was wonderful to see such a great turnout and so much enthusiasm for continued learning within our local veterinary community. We look forward to welcoming you to more CPD events in the future!

21/03/2026

The most special boy, Alfie ✨

Alfie came to see us after suddenly developing hindlimb lameness, within his own home, with no known trauma. Following his initial examination, he underwent imaging that revealed a tibial fracture in his left leg.

The fracture was very low down, likely caused by falling and getting his leg stuck during the fall. This also meant very little bone available to repair.

Our orthopaedic surgeon, Christian, and his team carried out the fracture fixation, using 2 plates to accommodate this small bone fragment. Post-operative X-rays showed excellent implant positioning and alignment — just what we hoped for 🤍

Alfie stayed with us afterwards, receiving lots of care (and plenty of love) from our hospital team until he was comfortable and ready to return home to his wonderful owners.

Wishing this brave and loveable boy a smooth and speedy recovery 🐾

17/03/2026

🐾 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲 🐾

Tongue out Tuesday with this incredibly handsome chap! 👅💙

Charlie recently came to see us after his owner noticed a lump on his chest. After performing FNAs (fine needle aspirates), the results suggested it could possibly be a low-grade mast cell tumour.

To make sure there was no sign of spread, an ultrasound scan was recommended. The good news was that the scan came back clear, which meant our vet, Helen Wood — a skilled Certificate holder in small animal surgery — was able to proceed with surgery to remove the tumour and help prevent it from spreading.

The surgery itself was intricate, requiring careful removal of the tumour with appropriate margins to give Charlie the very best outcome. After a long healing process (and 40 staples later! 😮), we’re delighted to say he’s now back to being his happy, bouncy self! 🐶💙

Charlie was a very brave boy throughout, and we’re so pleased we were able to help him get the treatment he needed.

💡 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 — if you ever notice a new lump or bump on your pet, it’s always best to get it checked sooner rather than later. Early detection can make all the difference.

14/03/2026

Patient Success Story🤍

Poppy was rushed to us out of hours after ingesting metaldehyde (slug bait). She arrived collapsed with severe tremors, a very high temperature and a dangerously fast heart rate.

Poppy was instantly placed under anaesthetic with continuous monitoring so we could keep on top of her condition. She initially received bolus fluids and an e***a and Gastric lavage using cool water to reduce core temperature and remove any slug bait, a significant amount was removed from both.

After a significant amount of time Poppy came out of the anaesthetic and things began to stable however she had extreme petechiae and intestinal bleeding and showing signs of DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation), this is a condition that means the body is unable to clot and Poppy was in a life threatening state.

Poppy’s owners were incredibly dedicated to getting her through this, and Poppy received a Fresh Frozen Plasma transfusion with another one being administered 12 hours later. After a long stay in hospital and with multiple organ dysfunctions (renal impairment, gastrointestinal issues, raised liver enzyme activity, high blood pressure and reduced cardiac contractility) Poppy eventually made a remarkable improvement and was able to be discharged to her family after 6 days.

Poppy was an extremely stoic and brave patient, who along with the help of our team and her invested owners fought hard to get better🤍

06/03/2026

Meet Ruby! 🐾❤️

Ruby visited us for her annual health check and vaccinations, where it was recommended she undergo a dental procedure. During her examination, our vet also detected a grade 1 heart murmur — so we took extra precautions to ensure her safety before proceeding.

Due to the potential anaesthetic risks, Ruby had an echocardiogram performed prior to her dental treatment. This was carried out by our highly skilled vet, Cassie, who holds multiple certifications and is currently working towards advanced practitioner status in cardiology.

The ultrasound revealed Ruby has degenerative mitral valve disease at preclinical stage B1. The great news is that no treatment is required at this stage — but she will need ongoing monitoring with repeat scans to keep a close eye on her heart health.

Ruby then went into the capable hands of our operations team for her dental procedure, where 13 teeth were removed. Following her treatment, she was monitored closely by our day patient nurse throughout her recovery until she was fully awake and ready to head home.

Ruby recovered beautifully and was soon back to enjoying snacks!

This case highlights the incredible collaboration between our multidisciplinary team to ensure every pet receives the safest and highest standard of care. 🐾✨