Small Animals

Vet services and information for pet and small animal owners

We provide a full range of vet services for pets and small animals across Norfolk and Suffolk. Please use the links below to learn more about veterinary services and our facilities in your area.

Contact us for more information about vet services in your area or register your pets with a practice online.

FAQs
Practice Facilities
Nurse/Behaviour Clinics
On-Site Crematorium
Videos
CT Scanning
K-Laser

Animal Health Certificates

Taking your pet abroad 

Jumping through all the legal hoops and certification correctly can be very daunting. There are also additional risks to your pet from parasites and diseases that can be encountered abroad that are not in the UK. For more information on the parasites, diseases and recommended treatments of the country or region you are travelling to we recommend you visit the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites Map (ESCCAP) here.

The rules have changed post BREXIT and the requirements vary depending on where you are travelling to. We would recommend downloading and reading our travel clinic leaflet here before you go.

If you require an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) we can offer this service to you, please call our friendly reception team on 01603 765897 to request an application form in good time of travel or you can download the form here and email it back to reception.norwich@threeriversvetgroup.co.uk  this will then be sent to our Official Veterinarian. An appointment will then be made for you to collect your AHC within 10 days of travel.

You can save 10% on the cost of Animal Health Certificates by joining our Pet Health Club. Click here to find out more.

Being well informed is vital, it is your own responsibility to ensure that you comply with all requirements and regulations for each country you visit but we will be here to help you navigate these requirements.  More information can be found via the links below:

Further information

PETS (Pet Travel Scheme) Helpline: 0370 241 1710,

email pettravel@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk or the DEFRA website.

Puppy Classes

Lucy has been running Puppy Classes at the Three Rivers Vets since 2006

The classes aim to provide a relaxed and friendly environment for puppies and their owners to mix and learn.

It is very important for puppies to start socializing with people and other dogs at a young age so we allow puppies to start the classes a week after their first vaccination. There is an upper age limit of 14 weeks to ensure that young ones are not overwhelmed by bigger older puppies. We also restrict numbers to enable everyone to receive individual attention.

Over the course of four lessons we:

  • Discuss a range of puppy ‘issues’ such as biting and toilet training
  • Allow the puppies to socialize in a safe and appropriate way
  • Start basic training including: come, sit, down, leave, stay, and walking on a loose lead
  • Practice handling exercises including grooming and teeth cleaning.
  • The classes are very popular with both puppies and owners. One of the main benefits is that the puppies who attend the classes usually love coming to the vets!

For more information and to make a booking please email reception.loddon@threeriversvetgroup.co.uk

Dental Treatment

Our pets, like us, can suffer from dental disease and tooth ache.

At Three Rivers we try to ensure that your pet’s teeth receive the care needed to keep them free of disease.

Free dental checks are performed by our nurses at their Dental clinics. They can give you advice on the best ways to clean your pet’s teeth and special diets to help keep them clean. If your pet has a more severe dental problem they will suggest a referral for you to see a veterinary surgeon. Should you wish to make an appointment to see a nurse to discuss your pet’s teeth please ring reception to arrange one.

We perform routine dental procedures on most species including dogs, cats, rabbits and small furries’ such as guinea pigs and chinchillas at all our surgeries.

Microchip Implantation

We strongly recommend the use of microchips to identify cats and dogs if they get lost.

An identichip is a tiny microchip with an identification code unique to you and your pet. It is injected under the skin in the same way that the vet regularly vaccinates against disease.

A widely available scanner is used to detect the identichip and read the unique code. All your details are recorded on a computer database which is available 24 hours per day.

Scanners are routinely used by rescue kennels, vets and dog wardens all over the country.

If you would like your pet to have an idchip please contact the surgery to make an appointment.

BVA Hip & Elbow Scoring

British Veterinary Association (BVA) / Kennel Club (KC) Hip Dysplasia Scheme

Hip dysplasia is a genetically transmitted condition which can affect the hips of many pedigree breeds of dogs causing them to have mal formed hips which can lead to arthritis later in life.

The BVA and KC have organised a scheme whereby radiographs (x-rays) of dogs are assessed (scored) for anatomical and pathological changes to the hips. The score for a pair of hips may range from 0 (very good) to 106 (very bad). This score in association with the Breed Mean Score (the average hip score for that particular breed) is intended to help breeders in choosing their breeding stock.

The hip score of parents can also be an aid in the purchase of a puppy, as puppies which are bred from parents with low hip scores are more likely to have good hips. It must however be remembered that there are factors affecting hip scores other than the genetics of the parents and the parents’ hip score should only be used as a guide and does not necessarily mean that a puppy will have good hips if their scores are good.

BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme

Elbow dysplasia is a common multi factorial condition resulting in a variety of developmental disorders of the canine elbow leading to lameness and arthritis of the elbow joint. There is a strong genetic component to this condition so radiographic grading of the changes can help breeders to choose the most suitable dogs to use as parents.

Again as with hip dysplasia the examination is conducted by evaluation of radiographs of the elbow joint for any anatomical or pathological changes associated with this condition. The appearance of the elbow joint is graded from 0 (good) to 3 (bad). It must be remembered that lameness is often a poor indicator of elbow dysplasia as many dogs can have radiographic changes associated with this condition but are clinically sound.

Procedure to get your dog hip or elbow scored

Should you require your dog’s hips and or elbows to be scored please contact our Beccles Surgery for advice and relevant charges.

Your dog must be a minimum of 1 year of age, you will need to present us with the following documents, the KC Registration Certificate if it is registered with the KC and any related transfer or change of name certificate. At admission you will be asked to complete and sign the first section of the certificate (Owners Declaration) to verify that the details given in that section relate to the dog being submitted.

Once we have an x-ray of your dogs hips/elbows we will submit it along with the certificate that you filled in to the BVA for a panel of experts to Score. As the panel only meet once a fortnight it can take up to 3 weeks for us to receive the results for your dog, so please don’t panic if you are waiting for them, we are too.