The Woodbridge Vets August Newsletter!

The Woodbridge Vets
Aug 5
5 min read

Updated: Aug 7

Hello everyone, and welcome to our August newsletter!We hope you're keeping well and managing to stay dry - it’s certainly been a wetter summer than usual! Despite the frequent rain, we're still holding out hope for a few more sunny days.

This month’s newsletter includes some exciting updates from The Woodbridge Vets: we’re welcoming a new veterinary surgeon, celebrating International Cat Day, sharing news about a recent award for the practice, and highlighting a few interesting stories from our in-patients that we think you’ll enjoy.

Meet The Team

We’re delighted to welcome Christiaan as our newest vet team and a great addition to our team at The Woodbridge Vets.

Christiaan grew up in Jeffreys Bay, a coastal town in South Africa known for its surf and relaxed lifestyle. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria, in 2021. After graduating, Christiaan worked as the sole vet in a rural practice, treating a wide range of animals - from dogs and cats to buffalo, meerkats, ostriches, and parrots.

In April 2023, Christiaan moved to the UK and worked in Portsmouth, focusing on dogs, cats, and small furries. Although he initially planned to work in large animal practice, he discovered a passion for small animal surgery, which has since become his main professional focus. He is currently completing a postgraduate certificate in this field and is set to finish later this year.

Christiaan joined The Woodbridge Vets to refine his surgical skills and learn from a team known for advanced procedures. He particularly enjoys BOAS surgery and finds it rewarding to see the dramatic improvement it brings to a patient's quality of life.

Outside of work, he enjoys videography, photography, and being outdoors. He leads an active lifestyle and also keeps his South African roots close with a love for biltong and droëwors.

Pet Travel Made Simple - Animal Health Certificate (AHC) and

Rabies Vaccination

Summer is a time for holidays and fun in the sun, and as a result we have already had lots of people asking us about what they need to do before they can take their furry family member on holiday with them. As travelling abroad with a pet isn’t the most straightforward process, we thought we would try to simplify it for you here.

When the UK left the EU we moved away from the old Pet Passport system at which point all Pet Passports issued in the UK became invalid. If you have a Pet Passport that was issued in a country which still uses and issues new Pet Passports then it is still a valid document (provided all necessary vaccinations etc are up to date) and can therefore be used, including for entry back into the UK.

For the purposes of this guide we will focus on travelling to the EU or Northern Ireland which is generally a two step process, each with very specific timing requirements, beginning with a Rabies vaccination and followed up with an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). If you are planning on heading further afield (outside the EU) things can get a bit more complicated so please do get in touch with us if you have any questions in that respect.

Step 1: Rabies Vaccination – What You Need to Know

Your pet must have a valid rabies vaccination before any Animal Health Certificate can be issued. From the date when your pet has their rabies vaccination it will be a further 21 days before it becomes valid. In other words if your pet’s rabies vaccination is not current, or has never been done, they’ll need to be vaccinated at least 21 days before you intend to book in to get your AHC. This waiting period is a strict requirement under EU and Northern Ireland travel rules - so missing it could delay your trip or mean your pet would be unable to travel with you so please be careful! Unlike other vaccinations which may need a booster every year to stay up to date, the Rabies vaccination we use lasts for 3 years. As such our advice is to get it done as soon as you start thinking about going abroad to save any worries surrounding the timings for your AHC.

Step 2: AHC - What is an AHC?

An AHC is an official document required for pet travel to the EU and Northern Ireland. It confirms that your pet is microchipped, has a valid rabies vaccination, and is otherwise fit to travel. Not all vets can issue an AHC but as Kyle and Laurie both have the required OCQ(V)-CA certification, we could book you in with either one of them to help guide you through the whole process and issue your AHC.

What you need to know?

Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) must be issued within 10 days prior to travel but not within 24 hours of your departure time.

Once issued, the AHC is valid for:

Entry into the EU or Northern Ireland within 10 days
Travel within the EU for up to 4 months
Re-entry into the UK for up to 4 months
Single use only! - An AHC is valid for one trip so if you intend to travel again next year for instance, you would need a new AHC

What you'll need for your AHC appointment:

An AHC is a lengthy document which must be thoroughly checked and stamped page by page. As such we like to allow at least 45 minutes to make sure everything is done correctly. During your appointment the vet will check your pet’s microchip (and confirm the number), make sure the rabies vaccination is valid and fill in all of the other necessary details including destination, port of entry and dates. The vet may get in touch ahead of your appointment to confirm some of these details.

Any questions?

To avoid any last-minute stress, please check your pet’s vaccination status well in advance of your trip. If you're unsure, give us a call - we're happy to help.

If you're travelling with your pet soon, give us a call or pop in - Kyle and Laurie are happy to guide you through the AHC process step by step.

More information can be found: https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/getting-an-animal-health-certificate

International Cat Day

International Cat Day is celebrated every year on 8th August. It was established in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), one of the world’s largest animal welfare and conservation charities. IFAW works globally to rescue individual animals, protect entire species, preserve natural habitats, and advocate for stronger animal protections.

Since 2020, the custodianship of International Cat Day has been passed to International Cat Care, a British not-for-profit organisation that has been dedicated to improving the health and welfare of domestic cats around the world since 1958.

This special day is all about raising awareness for our feline friends and learning more about how we can support and care for them.

At The Woodbridge Vets, while we typically see lots more dogs than cats (purely because of the numbers of each we have registered with us!), we always enjoy seeing cats come through our doors! We understand that cats are unique in both their personalities and their needs, and we’re committed to ensuring they receive the highest standard of care in a calm, stress-free environment.

We’re proud to share that we have recently gained Cat Friendly Clinic Accreditation, a recognition awarded by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM). This means our team has taken extra steps to understand feline behavior, reduce stress during visits, and tailor our environment and approach specifically for cats. From dedicated cat-only waiting areas to handling techniques designed to keep them calm and comfortable, we’re continually working to improve the experience for our feline patients and their owners.

Whether it’s a routine check-up, a health concern, or just advice on how to care for your cat at home, we’re here to help. Every cat that comes through our door is treated with the respect and gentle care they deserve.

If you would like to read more on patient's stories and get a glimpse of what's happening behind the scene at The Woodbridge Vets, please give us a follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.