Category: News

Here at Willows, we have signalled our intent to continue leading the veterinary industry with a significant investment in a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner to complement our world-class team and deliver the best in class diagnostic imaging for pets.

We have just invested more than £1.4 million in a high-specification Siemens Magnetom Sola 1.5 magnet scanner, which we believe to be the first of its kind in the UK Veterinary market.

Head of imaging here at Willows, Andrew Parry, an RCVS and European Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging, says it is a significant and remarkable move, which ensures Willows stays at the forefront of the veterinary industry throughout Europe.

He said: “There are very few veterinary hospitals anywhere in the country which would have the case-load or the complexity of cases to justify such a sizeable investment. Additionally, this magnet will bring multiple opportunities for clinical research which could ultimately lead to improvements in animal health.

“Willows is home to one of the UK’s largest teams of Specialist Radiologists, offering unrivalled diagnostic imaging and outstanding clinical expertise to support our team of board-certified specialists across a full range of disciplines, for which imaging forms the cornerstone of our multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

“The arrival of this Siemens scanner is the latest example of an ongoing investment at Willows to ensure we stay at the vanguard of veterinary care.”

Led by Andrew, our highly-qualified diagnostic imaging team includes Ines Carrera, Sally Griffin and Elizabeth Baines, all of whom are RCVS and European Specialists; European Specialists Luis Mesquita and Amy Ferreira; Resident in training Philippa Weston and Radiographer Andrew Tanner, who graduated in diagnostic radiography from King’s College London and spent 13 years working as a radiographer in the NHS before moving to the veterinary sector.

Generally, veterinary practices choose to upgrade existing high-field MRI equipment, rather than investing in a new product, however, Andrew said we are bucking the trend here at Willows: “To my knowledge, we are the only centre in the UK that has fully replaced a high-field magnet MRI with a complete new solution.

“This is very unusual as scanners tend to be upgraded from a high field to higher field, rather than replaced altogether.

“However, our aim wasn’t to purely upgrade the equipment, it was to have access to the best diagnostic imaging equipment available, in order to ensure high-quality images are obtained and interpreted, providing the most accurate and rapid diagnosis for our patients. This can make a significant difference to the level of care we are able to provide for pets.”

Our continued commitment to delivering the best diagnostic imaging possible has also included more than £300,000 of additional investment to adapt and improve their diagnostic imaging suite in order to house the new Siemens MRI.

Andrew said: “This has been a complex building project, and the cost of adapting the imaging room for the new scanner was significant. The gradient coils of the new machine are much more powerful and generate heat, which means we needed to add a much larger chiller as well as all the pipe work which had to be replaced.

“It all represents a bold and pioneering approach which will see a quantum leap forward in our ability to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate our pet patients.

“It’s hugely exciting. We will begin training shortly and are aiming to be fully operational soon after. It will take quite some time for us to learn all that the new scanner is capable of. We are fortunate to have a large amount of on-site training from Siemens applications specialists.

“I’m thoroughly looking forward to taking our imaging service to an even higher level.”

At Willows we pride ourselves on being Veterinary industry trailblazers and we are delighted to announce the launch of the World’s first nursing residency to offer Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) specialist training.

We will welcome our first intake of Veterinary Nursing Residents to begin a three-year, industry-leading programme in September ’20.

To launch this unique training scheme, we are offering positions for experienced veterinary nurses in the specialisms of Emergency and Critical Care and Internal Medicine.

This pioneering programme will be run from, and based at, our state-of-the-art small animal hospital in Solihull, allowing successful candidates an unrivalled opportunity to train alongside our World-leading Specialists, highly-trained and experienced specialist RVNs.

Tracey Morley Jewkes, Managing Director at Willows, said the innovative development programme would lead the way for progression of veterinary nurses within the industry.

She said: “We intend this to be a professionally-rounded training programme which offers opportunities not only to work alongside the world-renowned specialist vets and highly-skilled referral nurses here at Willows but to also cover areas such as public speaking development and article writing.”

Tom Reilly, Head of Clinical Support Services, spearheaded the design of the residency programme and is hoping this will help to provide much-needed pathways of professional progression for RVNs and retention of talent within veterinary nursing.

Tom said: “This residency is a three-year programme which follows a similar pattern to the veterinary surgeons’ specialist residency programme.

“Each resident nurse will have a specialist vet or nurse mentor and will spend the first year working solely in the area of their chosen discipline.

“The second year will see our resident nurses undergo Specialist training mastering the skills that they have worked on whilst benefiting from the volume and complexity of cases within the working environment at Willows.

“In the final year, once they have successfully passed the designated requirements of the Specialist academies , our residents will attend an international conference in the US in their area of specialism where they will also sit their internationally recognised exams to complete their residency.

“The residency will also provide tutoring support for writing veterinary articles for publication, and public speaking skills, with residents encouraged to share their specialist training with their industry peers.”

If you’re planning on taking your pet to an EU Country after 1st January 2021, there’s some important information you need to know to make sure your travel plans go as smoothly as possible for you and your pet.

Before you travel

We are over the moon to announce that two Willows Specialists have been honoured with Fellowships by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

The RCVS has recognised Toby Gemmill and Andrew Parry for their meritorious contributions to clinical practice.

Tracey Morley Jewkes, Managing Director said: “To be made a Fellow of the RCVS is an extremely prestigious achievement, so we are delighted for Toby and Andrew.

“The Fellowship dates back more than 140 years and is committed to advancing veterinary standards for the benefit of the profession.

“It recognises veterinary surgeons whose activities demonstrate excellence across the entire veterinary landscape and who have distinguished themselves on account of their ongoing commitment to using their experience and knowledge to enhance the profession.

“For two of our specialists to be recognised is a glowing tribute to both the talents and dedication of Toby and Andrew, and the excellent care and treatment we offer here at Willows.”

Toby, BVSc MVM DSAS(Orth) DipECVS FRCVS, RCVS and ECVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, and Clinical Director at Willows, and has been a Specialist in small animal surgery for more than 15 years.

He said: “A Fellowship is the most prestigious status that can be awarded by the RCVS, so naturally I am personally delighted with this recognition.

“However, I also regard it as recognition for Willows, I’m extremely fortunate to work at a world leading centre of excellence where there is such a focus on encouraging team members to develop, improve and achieve.”

Away from Willows, Toby is a Trustee of AOVET, a global organisation dedicated to improving outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, and is the current Chair of the AOVET European board (AOVET is a global organisation dedicated to improving patient outcomes in the field of musculoskeletal disorders). He has also been an examiner for the RCVS at both Certificate and Diploma levels.

Toby has produced more than 40 peer reviewed publications on small animal Orthopaedics and Spinal surgery and delivered numerous presentations, lectures and CPD courses locally, nationally and internationally.

Andrew, MA VetMB CertVDI DipECVDI FRCVS, RCVS and EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, is Head of Imaging at Willows and has specialised in diagnostic imaging for more than 10 years.

Andrew, a Cambridge graduate said: “Becoming a Fellow of the RCVS is a huge honour for me and I’m very pleased to receive this important recognition of my work and contribution to the profession.

“I must also pay tribute to all my colleagues at Willows. I feel incredibly privileged to work with some of the most talented and highly-motivated veterinary professionals in the world , with access to leading edge equipment and facilities which enables our multidisciplinary team to deliver the best possible patient care.

Outside Willows, Andrew is the current president of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI). He has held a number of RCVS and ECVDI committee positions in his career, including being an examiner for the ECVDI diploma which is responsible for setting standards in Diagnostic Imaging across Europe, as well as increasing competence of those in this field.

Andrew has multiple publications in peer reviewed journals. His research interests include computed tomography angiography and in particular, morphology of portosystemic shunts.

Congratulations Toby and Andrew!

Every summer many different grasses will shed barb-like seeds that can stick to the coat of an animal’s body and range in size from a couple of centimetres to only a few millimetres. In some cases, the dart shaped seeds will burrow into the body.

What are the signs that my pet may have been affected by grass seed?

Head shaking: The seeds can enter the ears often causing a sudden onset of head shaking on a walk. Sometimes the seeds will get caught in the hair around the ear and then slowly migrate into the ear canal at a later date causing intense irritation and infection to develop.

Sneezing: Seeds can be inhaled into the nose resulting in a sudden onset of sneezing and pawing at the nose.

Coughing: Occasionally, seeds may be inhaled into the lungs and result in a cough that fails to be resolved with antibiotics.

Sore eyes: Seeds can sometimes lodge in the corner of the eye, between the third eye lid and the surface of the eye. This causes intense pain and can result in an ulcer on the surface of the eye. The eye may water and appear sore and the dog will hold the eye closed, blink repeatedly and may rub the eye. The seeds can even end up tracking into the tear ducts.

Foot licking: Sometimes seeds can lodge in the hair between the toes. If the seeds are not removed, they will migrate under the skin and this may result in a small abscess in the form of a red lump between the toes, at which the animal will lick. In some cases the seeds can start to migrate up the leg, under the skin.

Swelling in the neck or mouth: In some patients that have removed seeds from their coat through grooming, the seeds may lodge in the mouth between the teeth or may be swallowed and migrate into the tissues around the throat and neck causing an abscess to form.

Why should grass seeds be removed?

It is important to remove seeds, not only because they can cause a lot irritation and pain to the animal but also because, in some cases, they can migrate internally. Deep migration may lead to infections within the chest cavity (pyothorax) or abdominal cavity (peritonitis), both of which are life-threatening conditions often requiring specialist treatment. They can also migrate to places like the spine, causing severe pain and debilitation.

How is the grass seed removed?

In most simple cases the animal will require a sedation or an anaesthetic for the Vet to remove the seed. However, grass seeds can cause serious life-threatening disease and can require major investigations and surgery – it may not be at all obvious at the outset that the problems that a pet has developed are actually being caused by a grass seed (or in some even more challenging cases, several grass seeds)

Grass seeds in the:

• Ears can generally be relatively readily removed using a long pair of crocodile-type forceps
• Eyes can sometimes be removed gently with forceps under local anaesthetic or sedation. More serious grass seed injuries may require a general anaesthetic and, in some cases, more extensive surgery for corneal ulcers etc.
• Feet will need to be removed by lancing the abscess and exploring the cavity between the toes – these can be tricky to find, particularly if they are small and it is not unusual for several holes to be made in the skin to locate the seed
• Nose can be removed with crocodile forceps if they are easy to reach, but in some cases, e.g. if they have migrated deep into the nostril, they may require the use of a special rigid camera (rhinoscopy) or flexible camera (bronchoscopy) to locate them and flush them out
• Lungs are more complicated and may require specialist investigation and treatment in the form of a CT scan and removal using the flexible bronchoscope. Occasionally these cases may require major surgery to open the chest and remove an entire affected lung lobe
• in the mouth and neck require surgery.

How can I help to prevent problems with grass seeds?

Grass seed problems can be avoided by:

• avoiding walks through fields where seeds are being shed, particularly those with long grass
• checking the underside of the ear flap and hair around the ears and toes daily for seeds, particularly in long haired breeds like spaniels
• regular combing/grooming to help remove seeds
• asking the groomer to clip the hair from the underside of the ear or between the toes during the summer months, remembering to never use scissors because these may inadvertently cut the skin of your dog’s ears or feet.

If you suspect your dog may have a grass seed, then do make an appointment with the vet – the earlier these problems are dealt with, before the seed has had time to migrate around the body, the better it can usually be dealt with. There are many other conditions that can cause similar symptoms to those of grass seeds, so the vet will perform a thorough examination before deciding how best to investigate and treat the problem.

CT scans showing different views of the same dog’s chest with a grass seed lodged in the lungs (the grass seed is arrowed)

Willows is very happy to announce that we now have an expert team of five Orthopaedic Surgeons who are certified to carry out the complex Total Hip Replacement (THR) operation.
Alexis Bilmont, European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, is the latest in the Specialist Orthopaedic Team to gain his THR accreditation.
Alexis now joins fellow Specialists, Toby Gemmill, Jonathan Pink, Steve Clarke and Kinley Smith, in one of the largest and most experienced teams in the country.
Toby Gemmill, who is also Clinical Director at Willows, said: “Everyone is delighted Alexis has joined the team and earned his THR accreditation, as it means we can offer even more high-quality care and treatment to our patients.”
The Orthopaedic Team is able to perform total hip replacements on all patients from the smallest dog or cat, weighing only a couple of kilos, right up to the largest dogs weighing more than 100kg.
The skills of the THR Team are also complimented by the support and assistance of on-site Specialists in Diagnostic Imaging, Anaesthesia and Emergency and Critical Care and is committed to providing the best level of care to patients as well as an excellent service to our clients and referring Veterinary Surgeons.
Toby also said “Willows is widely recognised for its ground-breaking work in the THR field and the addition of Alexis will further strengthen this. We are proud of our 20 years’ experience of performing hip replacements, in which time we have improved the quality of life for hundreds of dogs and cats. We are also happy to share our knowledge and experience in this discipline with others in the industry. Our Vets have published scientific papers on total hip replacements and given presentations at conferences and meetings around the world.”

Beautiful cat, Archie, was referred to our Soft Tissue Specialist Team at the end of 2018 as he was having severe problems with his breathing. His usual primary Vets were able to see that his larynx wasn’t working as it should and referred him to Willows for urgent assessment.
On arrival, Archie was admitted to our Intensive Care Unit for further assessment and stabilisation. Later the same day, Archie had surgery with our Soft Tissue Specialist, Chris Shales. Archie had paralysis of his larynx which was causing his breathing difficulties. This type of surgery is more commonly carried out in larger dogs and the size of the larynx in cats makes this procedure much more challenging!
Archie spent time in our hospital recovering and we are very pleased to say that he is now at home and back to his usual self!

Romeo, an adorable one year old Cocker Spaniel, was presented to the primary team with a non-painful swelling in his neck. He was normally a very lively and otherwise fit and healthy young dog. Will Robinson, Primary Veterinary Surgeon, discussed with Romeo’s owners the possible reasons for a lump in his neck, the most likely cause being a salivary mucocele or less likely, an abscess or tumour.

Most dogs have four pairs of salivary glands each with a duct that joins their mouth (oral cavity) with the salivary gland itself. Sometimes these glands/ducts can be damaged by trauma which causes an accumulation of saliva under the skin. These are called salivary mucoceles. They can also occur due to salivary stones (sialoliths), foreign bodies or cancer but, in many of these cases the cause is not known.

Romeo had a CT scan of his head and neck to highlight which tissue the swelling was associated with. He also had a needle biopsy of the lump whilst he was sedated. The CT scan showed a close association of the swelling to one of his salivary glands and when the needle sample was performed, a large amount of saliva was obtained. This confirmed the diagnosis of a salivary mucocele.

The best treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the affected salivary gland or glands and the associated ducts. Non-surgical management by making an incision into the mucocele allowing drainage or draining the swelling with a needle is not recommended, as it will often reoccur.

Will performed Romeo’s delicate surgery with Chris Shales, one of Willows’ Specialist Soft Tissue Surgeons and we are very pleased to report that he recovered really well and is back to his old self with no sign of his swelling recurring.

Earlier this year, 4 year old Akita, Cassie, developed an unusual problem. She suddenly developed sores inside her mouth and around her lips which were causing her to drool excessively and have bad breath. She also had some sores on her bottom.

Cassie had some biopsies taken which suggested an immune-mediated disease called Erythema Multiform, a rare condition that affects humans too.

In February, Cassie was referred to Willows to see Dermatology Specialist, Jon Hardy. Jon explained that there are numerous possible triggers for this condition. Investigations of the triggers were performed but nothing was found, so medication with high doses of anti-inflammatory medication was started.

Cassie is doing really well and the medication doses are now being reduced. Cassie very recently came in for her recheck and her lesions are in remission, as you can see from the photos.

The Specialist vets working at here at Willows provide the highest levels of care for dogs and cats referred to us by veterinary surgeons across the UK. Within the practice we have a large team of highly trained and skilled veterinary Specialists working in a number of disciplines. If your dog or cat is being referred to us by your veterinary surgeon, you can rest assured that our team of Specialist vets will provide the best care possible, whatever the problem may be.

An officially recognised veterinary Specialist is an individual who has had advanced training leading to Diploma status in their field of expertise and who also fulfils other stringent criteria, such as those regarding their involvement in clinical work and research, as well as other responsibilities including the training of others involved in the veterinary profession. Specialist vet status is extremely difficult both to achieve and to maintain, and it is the highest level of recognition of expertise that can be attained in clinical veterinary work.

Willows personnel have been actively involved in clinical research and continuing professional development for nearly 30 years. This activity, along with the training of Residents, Interns and visiting veterinary professionals has helped to keep Willows Referral Service at the forefront of small animal healthcare provision over that time. Our Specialist vets have national and international reputations and most have written scientific papers, published in text books and regularly speak at local, national and international meetings. http://79.170.43.200/chameleontesting.co.uk/willowsoldsite/en-GB/veterinary-professionals/scientific-publications

If your dog or cat is being referred to us by your veterinary surgeon, you can rest assured that our team of Specialist vets will provide the best care possible, whatever the problem may be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.