Coronavirus and Bridge Vets Update 23 July 2020

We are open and have resumed most services.

We have various social distancing measures in place for the safety of both you and our team. Although we are currently unable to allow clients into the practice, we are making the final arrangements to allow you in soon!

Currently to allow for social distancing, when attending for an appointment, first let us know you have arrived by telephoning the reception team. Your pet will be collected from the car – you will be unable to accompany your pet into the building. Your pet will have a full health check and the vet will discuss your concerns and their findings with you as usual, before your pet is returned to you. Please bring a face covering with you for any interations with our team.

If you are collecting medications or foods, we are still asking you to call us and let us know you are here, then we will place the items outside the main door for you to collect.

When we are able to allow clients into the practice, one of the measures we will be asking is that only one owner comes into the building with their pet. We will ask that you wear a face covering in line with current government guidelines. Any clients without suitable face coverings may be asked to remain outside.

When meeting a member of our team, please remember to maintain your distance from us at all times – whether inside or out.

Extra hand hygiene stations will be available. To allow a more normal service, screens are being installed within the reception and consulting rooms.

  • displaying new reception screens covid-19

We will be asking owners waiting for appointments to remain in designated areas within the waiting room. In addition we will be limiting the overall number of clients within the building at any one time.

We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding of the restrictions in place.  Due to the new way of working to keep our staff, you and your pets safe, everything takes longer. This reduces the number of pets we can see in practice every day. Please bear with us while we continue to prioritise emergency appointments and operations.

Our opening hours are starting to return to normal. Our full opening hours can be found here.

Services Available:
  • Vaccinations – all primary vaccinations and boosters for dogs, cats and rabbits can now be booked, We have been safely postponing dog and cat vaccines for up to 3 months after the due date without requiring a restart due to COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, we are now prioritising those most overdue. Please contact us to arrange an appointment. If your pet’s booster is only just due, you may be asked to wait whilst we prioritise those that are overdue.
  • Neutering – we are now undertaking neutering. Please contact us for more details.
  • Operations and dentals – We are able to book any procedure that is needed by your pet as advised by one of our team of vets, including investigations into diseases.
  • Laboratory tests – All blood tests, urine tests and laboratory tests can be performed safely. Contact us if you wish to have any investigations performed.
  • Routine appointments – We are currently prioritising ‘in person’ consultations for all urgent and emergency appointments, so please bear with us if we are unable to offer a same-day appointment for some routine procedures. We are still offering telemedicine (video and phone) appointments for routine and non-urgent consultations such as medicine reviews and for general health advice. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has advised that we are able to remotely prescribe any medications your pets may need during the pandemic. All appointments can be booked by contacting reception on 01603 783920
  • Nail Clips and Anal Glands – These should be postponed unless your pet is distressed or at risk of discomfort. These issues may be assessed via a telemedicine appointment with a vet or nurse in the first instance.
  • Weighing pets – This is possible, by prior appointment only. Contact us for details.
  • Food and medicine collections – please pre-order here, or by calling us on 01603 783920. Please give us two working days before contacting us again to arrange payment and collection.
  • Euthanasia – when the time comes, we are able to allow one member of the household in to the practice to be with their pet. We will require you to wear a face covering, so please bring one with you. Call us and we will discuss the full procedure with you.

I AM SELF ISOLATING, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Don’t walk to the practice. We need to keep everyone safe. Phone us on 01603 783920 and explain your situation. We’ll arrange a suitable way of conducting your appointment that is safe. There are a variety of options available to everyone – the important thing is to let us know and we’ll work together to ensure you and your pet receive the care and attention needed safely!

Thank you all again for your patience, please stay safe, from us all at Bridge Vets!

Coronavirus and Bridge Vets Update 24 March 2020

Coronavirus COVID-19 Update 24-03-2020

Due to the current situation with Covid-19 in the UK and the governments lockdown announcement last night, we have had to review and amend the services we are able to offer once again during this pandemic. We are now running an EMERGENCY ONLY service, all non-essential visits will be cancelled. We are working hard to reach everyone to advise of these changes.

Our governing bodies the RCVS and BVA have issued this statement overnight;
‘Following the Prime Minister’s statement this evening, the RCVS and BVA are seeking urgent clarification from Government.
Current advice is that Veterinary practices must reduce face-to-face contact immediately, switching to providing emergency care only, fulfilment of urgent prescriptions and maintaining the food supply chain’

The RCVS have issued guidance for pet owners which you can access here.

We have taken measures within our team to ensure we are able to continue to offer our the best possible veterinary care for your pets. The steps we have taken include adding provision for telephone and video consultation where appropriate and dividing our team into two halves, to ensure we can continue to provide emergency care.

From Wednesday 25th March 2020, our opening hours have been altered temporarily to:
Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 6pm,
Saturday 8:30am to 3:30pm.
Until further notice.

We also request that all clients provide us with at least 3 working days’ notice for all urgent repeat prescriptions and food orders, whenever possible.  Please click here to be directed to our online ordering system, alternatively you can place an order by email – – please include your name, your pets name, your contact telephone number and details of the medication you require, finally you can call the practice and leave a message on our designated prescription line.

We would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding at this difficult time, but rest assured we will be here for you and your pets when you need us most.

Thank you and best wishes from the Bridge Vets team.

Coronavirus and Bridge Vets

We are closely monitoring the current situation regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic and have implemented the following precautionary measures to reduce the risk to our visitors and team.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) have provided guidance to pet owners during the coronavirus pandemic which you can read by clicking here.
Please follow our precautions to help protect you our clients and our team:
  • If you are feeling unwell, exhibiting symptoms associated with the Coronavirus such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath, or if you have been in close contact with someone showing these signs, please do not visit the practice. However if you need veterinary assistance, please call our reception team and we will ensure that your pet receives the treatment needed.
  • Any people who have recently travelled to a high risk location we request that you do not visit the practice. For veterinary assistance please call the reception team and we will ensure that your pet receives the treatment they need.
  • When you arrive at the practice, please remain in your car and telephone reception to let us know you are here.
  • The veterinary surgeon will call you to discuss the case, and a member of the team will come out to the car to collect your pet. (We are unable to allow clients into the building during the government lockdown, with the exception for euthanasia when we will allow one member of the family to be present, provided they have no symptoms of Coronavirus and have not been in contact with anyone who has).
  • Your pet will be examined by the vet who will then call you again to discuss the case and recommend any treatment. The call will be transferred to reception for any payment whilst your pet is returned to you. Any treatment that needs to be dispensed will then be placed on the bench outside the practice for you to collect.
  • Please help with social distancing by remaining in your car at all other times.
  • Following the World Health Organisation guidelines, we ask all visitors to pay by card rather than cash.
  • In line with government and RCVS guidelines we are only able to see urgent or emergency patients. We are however conducting telephone and video consultations for any client with any concerns, and for medication reviews. These are chargeable at the usual rate, if after this the vet decides your pet needs to be seen then there will be no additional consultation fee.
Thank you, from the Bridge Vets Team
Bridge Veterinary Practice Ltd
01603 783920

KEYHOLE SURGERY AVAILABLE AT BRIDGE VETS

David in theatre using keyhole surgery to spay a dog
David performing keyhole surgery at Bridge Vets

Laparoscopic surgery – commonly called ‘keyhole surgery’

We are continually striving to offer your pets the very best standards of care. In 2018 we invested in state of the art equipment enabling us to be one of the few practices in Norfolk to offer it.

Many of us are familiar with it as it is routinely chosen over open surgery in man. Benefits include improved recovery times with reduced pain. The same is true when used by vets. In addition you also have better visibility of the organs compared to open surgery.

Delyth and David in theatre at Bridge performing a laparoscopic procedure
Del and David operating

Commonly we use keyhole to neuter dogs, both spays and abdominal castrates (when the testicles are still in the abdomen). We can also use it to biopsy internal organs or perform preventative procedures . It can even assist in bladder stone removal.

This recent addition complements our existing equipment therefore expanding the healthcare options for your pets.

If you are interested in having keyhole surgery for your pet or have any questions call the team on 01603 783920.