At Hook Norton Veterinary Group, our practices in Hook Norton, Charlbury, Deddington and Moreton-in-Marsh are accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, providing independent reassurance about the standards behind the veterinary care we provide. Our White Hills Surgery holds Small […]
As the breeding season approaches, now is the ideal time to prepare your flock. One management tool that can help improve breeding efficiency is the use of teaser rams. At Hook Norton Veterinary Group, we’re holding a dedicated Teaser Ram […]
Laser Treatment for Bladder Cancer in Dogs: Bella’s Story Minimally Invasive Laser Endoscopy for Canine Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC) Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC) is a common bladder cancer in dogs and can cause severe difficulty urinating when the tumour blocks the […]
Understanding Bovine TB Testing: How the Skin Test Protects Cattle, Farms and Public Health Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) remains one of the biggest disease challenges facing the UK cattle industry. Regular testing is an essential part of controlling the disease, helping […]
Rabbit Awareness Week 2026 Rabbit Awareness Week is the perfect time to brush up on the basics of rabbit care, and one of the most important aspects of keeping your bunny healthy is getting their diet right. A proper rabbit […]
Welcoming Your Puppy to Their First Vet Visit Bringing your puppy for their first vet visit is an exciting milestone – and an important step in setting them up for a healthy life. This first vaccination consultation, typically held when […]
Essential Guide to Travelling Abroad with Your Pet: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go Planning a holiday with your pet? Whether you’re taking your dog or cat to Europe, Ireland, or beyond, it’s important to understand the latest […]
Case Spotlight: Rooster the Cocker Spaniel Rooster came to us due to vomiting and not wanting to eat. The culprit? A cotton reel with thread that he had stolen and swallowed a week previously! Ultrasound confirmed a foreign object in […]
Join our Small Animal Team for an interactive pet first aid evening, including practical demonstrations and expert advice. Topics Covered:– First aid kit essentials– Recognising an emergency– When to call the vet– Treating minor injuries 20th May 20266pm startSibford Village […]
The Dog (Protection of Livestock) Act has been updated for the first time since 1953. Passed on 5 December 2025, the law will come into effect on 18 March 2026. These changes aim to protect livestock from dog attacks and […]
Lifetime Care Club members (dogs only) The product included in your dog’s prescription will be changing from NexGard Spectra to Simparica Trio. Simparica Trio is an equally superior product, covering all the same parasites in a monthly chewable tablet. This […]
The Importance of Pet Dental Health As we head into 2026, many of us are setting health goals for ourselves, and it’s the perfect time to think about your pet’s health, too. One area often overlooked is dental care; good oral hygiene […]
On behalf of the HNVG Farm Team, we want to extend our sincerest thanks to everyone who joined us, donated, and supported our first Harvest Supper charity event. Your generosity and community spirit made the evening truly special and took […]
The Christmas and New Year period is nearly here! While we’ll be enjoying some festive treats ourselves, our top priority is keeping your pets, horses and livestock safe, healthy, and well cared for. To help you plan ahead, here’s a […]
Cases of avian influenza continue to rise across the UK, and with sustained circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in both commercial and backyard settings, strict disease control measures are now in force. From 00:01 on 6 […]
CMA Veterinary Investigation Findings The provisional findings of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) ongoing investigation into the veterinary market were released yesterday. As an independent practice, we fully support the CMA veterinary investigation and its focus on improving transparency, […]
Did you know that buying medications, supplements, or treatments from unverified sources can put your pet’s health at serious risk? Let’s look at how you can buy safe pet medication. Why Counterfeit Pet Medicines Are Dangerous Counterfeit or sub-standard […]
What is FAMACHA? A quick on-farm tool to assess anaemia in sheep and goats by checking the colour of the lower eyelid. > Developed to detect barber’s pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), which causes blood loss. > In the UK, Haemonchus […]
Acorn Poisoning in Livestock: What You Need to Know This Autumn This autumn, vets across the UK are reporting an increase in cases of acorn poisoning in cattle and sheep, with several confirmed diagnoses from laboratories. The Animal & Plant […]
Autumn Food Safety for Pets. As the weather cools and we swap BBQs for hearty stews, Sunday roasts, and autumn treats, new food-related risks for our pets begin to appear. Many human favourites can be harmful, or even dangerous, for […]
Sheep Abortion: Causes, Management and Prevention Sheep abortion is one of the most common causes of lost lambs in UK flocks. It reduces lambing percentages, impacts profitability, and can be stressful to manage. Our upcoming free flock health meeting will […]
Following a number of cases of slaughterhouse reports of receiving cattle that are shackled and unable to stand when arriving, APHA have asked for a reminder of the transport regulations in GB. In short, it is an offence to transport […]
It is not just the lack of grass that is a concern; the quality of the forage is also highly lacking. Support your livestock in their hardship by ensuring they have enough water, salt licks and trace elements. Not only […]
With tupping time just around the corner, no doubt you will be selecting your ewe lambs/shearlings or buying in replacements imminently. With a new crop of reproductive ewes on the scene, you’ll need to consider what cover they have against […]
With the perfect weather for the development of lungworm and cases rising simultaneously, it seems fitting that a new test has been validated for lungworm in cattle. A new PCR test is available on fresh faeces with the option to […]
Aside from the difficult harvest, hot, dry weather and limited grass mean animals will be grazing a lot closer to the soil. Followed by intermittent heavy rainfall washing the soil to the surface, the risk of Clostridial presence is higher […]
A new pheromone spray, FerAppease, can be utilised for its calming effect when animals are exposed to any management or physiological stressor. The decreased stress on the animals not only aids with handling but also in maintaining daily live weight […]
17.11.2025 A total of 180 cases of bluetongue have been reported in England during the 2025–2026 vector season, predominantly BTV-3, although BTV-8 (endemic in France) has also been detected. There have been cases where BTV-3 and BTV-8 have been diagnosed […]
Summer can be a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors with your pets, but as temperatures rise, so does the risk of heatstroke in pets. While most of us are aware of the dangers to dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea […]
Brucella canis in imported dogs UK. Thinking of Adopting or Have You Already Welcomed an Imported Dog to the UK? Bringing a rescue dog into your home is an incredibly rewarding experience—especially when you’re offering a second chance to a […]
Join our Farm Team at Chiltern Farms for our next Dairy Discussion Meeting, where we’ll be focusing on a key health challenge: Cryptosporidium. 🦠 Topic: Preventing Cryptosporidium – Planning Ahead to Protect Your Herd🚶♂️ What to Expect: A guided farm […]
Thinking about taking your pet on holiday to Europe? Here is all you need to know. Are you planning on a trip to mainland Europe or Ireland this summer and thinking about taking your pet(s) with you? Many countries in […]
Do you have an anxious cat? Over 4 million cats are missing out on basic veterinary health checks each year. When asked why, 26% of owners said it was too stressful for them and their cats*. We know it isn’t […]
Herbal Leys: Healthier Livestock and Sustainable Grazing Herbal leys are designed to: > Improve soil structure due to the combination of diverse growth habits of species, which enhances soil aeration and microbial activity, key for supporting healthy livestock pasture. > […]
Haemonchus The barber pole worm, haemonchus contortus, is an extremely nasty parasite that does not cause scours. It sits in the abomasum, where it latches onto the wall and feeds on the blood of the sheep. As a result, haemonchus […]
NEMATODIRUS Although we are now considered a low-risk area, geographically, young lambs are still naïve from around 6 weeks of age. It is a very rapid-acting parasite, which can cause severe black scours and death in worst cases or ill […]
We have been so lucky to have such a warm spring, but the weather conditions have inevitably led to a spike in worm egg counts. Coccidiosis Coccidiosis (Cocci) can be a problem in lambs and calves from around 3 weeks […]
Spring Performance Check – Save over £150 with our April Offer! Throughout April, we’re offering a Spring Performance Check at our in-house Equine Clinic, ensuring your horse is in top condition for the season ahead. Gastroscopy – Check for […]
Join the Hill’s Loyalty Scheme to earn rewards on every Hill’s pet food purchase you make from Hook Norton Veterinary Group. Simply register your purchase on the Hill’s loyalty scheme website using our clinic ID (18199) and get started How […]
Equine Winter Talks Series The last talk in our 2024/25 Winter Talk Series, will be hosted by Senior Vet, Sally Hodgson, BSc (Hons), MA, VetMB, Cert AVP (EM), MRCVS. Sally will be delving into the world of Equine Behaviour & […]
Join us for a free informative evening all about equine euthanasia, presented by: HNVG Equine Vet Sally Hodgson BSc(Hons), MA, VetMB, CertAVP(EM), MRCVS Hannah Marsh, British Horse Society Regional Manager Sophie Cookson-King, Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Service We will talk […]
HILL’S PET NUTRITION: PREMIUM PET FOOD BACKED BY SCIENCE From their days as puppies and kittens to their years as senior dogs and cats, our biology-based nutrition stays a step ahead of differences you can see, feel and trust. We […]
As lambing season approaches, we’re excited to offer two tailored FarmSkills courses to help you develop the skills and knowledge you need—whether you’re new to lambing or looking to refine your expertise. 1️⃣ Practical Lambing Course – Ideal for Beginners […]
We are really excited to be able to offer a brand new course for 2025, an experienced lambing course! For those of you with more experience in lambing, we will be running an advanced course aimed at those who have […]
How are your alpaca’s feet looking? Overgrown toenails are very common in alpacas, particularly in white animals, as they grow faster than their black and brown field mates. Soft ground that is ever present in the winter reduces the natural […]
Horse & Hound Article January 2025 We are delighted to be featured in this month’s Horse & Hound magazine this month, as well as online! HNVG Equine vet and director, Sam Cutts discusses our amazing Equiplan preventative health care plan […]
Beef Farmer Meeting – Neospora and Johnes On Thursday, 23rd January, we’ll be holding a free evening workshop for our beef clients to talk all about two important diseases, Neospora and Johnes. These diseases often lie undetected in herds, harming […]
Small Animal First Aid Talk Join us for a pet first aid evening with our HNVG Small Animal Team. The evening will include a talk and practical demonstration, with vets and nurses on hand to answer any questions you may […]
Equine Winter Talk Series We have 3 fantastic talks lined up over the coming months, and we would encourage everyone to come. They are suitable for all knowledge bases, and you don’t need to be a client of HNVG. So, […]
On Saturday 14th December, we were proud to sponsor a tractor for the BRILLIANT Banbury Christmas Tractor Run in aid of Katharine House Hospice. A charity dear to our hearts. We’ve been raising funds all year for them and this was […]
Winter cattle management All cattle are now housed; below are some of the jobs that should have been done or will need to be completed soon. 1. Worm & Fluke Treatment It’s essential to administer a worm and fluke treatment […]
Winter sheep management. Most of the tupping is finished by now, so it is important to try and maintain healthy sheep and lambs throughout the pregnancy. As you are aware, Blue Tongue is in our area, so please take preventive […]
Improve Animal Health and Welfare (IAHW) Grants for sheep and beef farmers Have you had an Animal Health and Welfare Review in the last 10 months for cattle or sheep? If so, you will be eligible for an endemic disease […]
It’s that time of year again—the Christmas open hours are here! Of course, we are here for you 24/7 throughout the Christmas period as ever; please see the practice opening times below. 24/12 Christmas Eve, phones switch to out-of-hours […]
Laparoscopic-assisted Gastropexy This is Carman 2 days after her laparoscopic spay and laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy. Her owner opted for a preventative gastropexy to be performed at the same time as her spay to prevent the life-threatening condition of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), […]
Vitamin D deficiency in Camelids South American camelids are susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. As we come into winter there is very little production of vitamin D in the skin since the UV light is greatly reduced at low altitude […]
LATEST UPDATE: Another case of bluetongue was identified in cattle on the Leicestershire and Warwickshire border. Following this, the restricted zone was extended on 1 November 2024 to include part of Warwickshire. The zone now covers Bedfordshire, Berkshire (part), Buckinghamshire, […]
November is Antibiotic Amnesty Month Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing problem worldwide, affecting both human and animal health. But what is AMR? Antibiotics are essential when treating many conditions in animals and people, but bacteria are becoming resistant to many […]
Beef KPI Project up-date We would like to thank Kate for the excellent talk she gave at our client evening on 26 September, introducing our exciting new Beef KPI Project. We’d also like to say a big thank you to […]
No Foot, No Cow. Housing time is just round the corner, which is a good time to investigate any cattle that might not be moving perfectly. Even mild lameness can have a significant effect on fertility in suckler cows and […]
In the past, farmers had to base their ram choice entirely on what the animal looks like – conformation, length, flesh cover, muscularity etc, with the hope that a good-looking ram will pass these traits to his off-spring. However, we […]
Independent Vet Practice in Oxfordshire is the first to offer free routine horse examinations. Hook Norton Veterinary Group (HNVG Ltd) is this month launching Equiplan Gold*, a new preventative health care scheme which will be the first in the UK […]
Undesired weight loss Whilst many horse owners are battling to get their horses to lose weight, we are sometimes presented with cases of undesired weight loss and poor body condition scores. There are many factors which can lead to weight […]
Due to this year’s weather conditions, we anticipate seeing more lungworm cases than usual, and our Farm Vets have already diagnosed multiple cases of lungworm in cattle. While cases tend to peak around September, they are unpredictable and can occur […]
Our most recent farm newsletter made you aware of the batch failure of the abortion vaccine Cevac® Chlamydia. Our fantastic Pharmacy team has sourced a limited supply of the Hipra vaccine INMEVA®. INMEVA® Due to stock limitations, we are advising […]
Interview with Charlotte Harrison, Senior Farm Vet at HNVG Hi Charlotte! Thanks for chatting with me today. So how long have you been a Vet? So I graduated as a vet from University of Budapest in 2019, and I […]
The TB Advisory Service is a DEFRA-funded project that offers FREE, bespoke, practical, and cost-effective advice to all eligible farmers in England to help reduce the risks associated with TB. If you are a farmer of cattle, deer, goats, camelids, […]
We have now completed a year of helping you take advantage of the current funding for the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway for your farms. Funding is still available that will enable us to assist you with farm animal health […]
Taking Your Dog on Holiday? Here are some handy tips & links! If you are thinking of taking your dog on holiday, here are some useful things to pack to take! Bowls for food & water Microchip number & details […]
As show season approaches, we look forward to seeing the best of British livestock being paraded for all to admire. Agricultural shows are a fantastic opportunity for farmers to demonstrate the top-quality animals they work so hard to produce, meet […]
Worm Management in Horses is Changing – Here’s Why Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is something that everyone has heard about – antibiotics are becoming less effective as bacteria develop ways to avoid their effects. But what you may not have […]
Are Fleas & Ticks bothering your pet? Read on for handy tips on how best to pre-empt a problem with fleas and ticks It’s warm and it’s wet, which means fleas and ticks are rife among the long grass. Here […]
We are really pleased to offer PetsApp to our HNVG clients. An easy, convenient way for you to be able to contact us! Use PetsApp to chat with us, order repeat prescriptions, book appointments, receive reminders, do video consultations and […]
AHDB funds carbon-measuring project to back British farming Farmers are frequently the subject of public criticism around carbon emissions and environmental “damage”. This is amplified by the fact most farms do not have the means to accurately measure carbon output […]
Rabbit Awareness Week During the week of June 26th this year, we celebrated Rabbit Awareness Week! Below are the subjects we covered to help you look after your little furry friend! Gut Stasis Gut stasis is one of the main […]
Practical tips for controlling Johnes & Neosporosis in your dairy herd Join us on the 20th June for practical tips for controlling Johnes & Neosporosis On the 20th of June, we are holding a dedicated dairy farm client meeting, discussing […]
Canine Brucellosis Information for pet owners: In recent years there has been an increased incidence of dogs presenting with Brucellosis. Infection is rare in the UK but Brucella Canis is endemic in various countries including parts of the EU. A […]
Small Holder Course 2024 Do you keep a small herd of goats or flock sheep? A couple of pigs and alpacas? Have a flock of chickens in your back garden? Or just want to know more about setting up a […]
Join us for our 2024 TB Knowledge Transfer Meeting Join our HNVG TB team looking at all aspects of TB testing along with a presentation from Keith Cutler with research on the bovine lump reactions and the traits this […]
Let’s talk Laminitis… As the weather has now improved and horses are being turned out for longer, we need to think about laminitis. There are a number of causes of laminitis – inflammatory (retained foetal membranes, systemic disease, grain overload), […]
Laser Therapy We are delighted to now be able to offer laser therapy at our Hook Norton Branch. Laser Therapy is pain-free, non-invasive and safe way to help benefit your pet’s health How does it work? Laser therapy uses […]
Worming Sheep We are at the beginning of our summer grazing period, so it is important that we keep on top of worming sheep burdens to minimise production and life losses. Here are our top tips for a successful worming […]
Don’t forget our Easter Opening Hours this weekend! Good Friday, 29th March – EMERGENCY SERVICE ONLY Saturday 30th March – Normal Saturday hours Sunday 31st March – EMERGENCY SERVICE ONLY Monday 1st April – EMERGENCY SERVICE ONLY Tuesday 2nd April […]
Please note, from Monday 24th March we are having workmen do some urgent drive repairs and this will cause some disruption for the next 10-12 days. A section of the drive will be closed off, but our Hook Norton branch […]
Schmallenberg Schmallenberg rears its ugly head again. This nasty virus is spread by midges and is usually seen in 4 yearly cycles, like most midge borne diseases. Unfortunately, ewes will have been infected in summer, just as, or before, they […]
“My horse is footy… how to recognise & manage LAMINITIS” – A HNVG Client Talks Evening. On March 18th, two of our equine vets, Zuzana & Mary, will be talking all things laminitis & cushings. Pop along for this FREE […]
Equine Cushings Has your horse/pony recently (ie: within the last month) been tested for PPID/Equine Cushing’s? (Regardless of the outcome). The Royal Veterinary College have recently developed a novel health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) tool to aid assessment of equines with PPID […]
Cat Microchipping – Important information From the 10th June 2024 it will become a legal requirement to get your cat microchipped. Make sure you are ahead of the game by booking your cat in with us. Please make a booking […]
Watery Mouth (E. coli) – Bovigen Scour As a practice we have been trialling the use of Bovigen Scour, a cattle vaccine, in pre-lambing ewes to aid in the fight against Watery Mouth (E. coli). Each ewe is given 1ml […]
We have been contacted by a PhD student from Northumbria University, Newcastle. Her research focuses on how we can build resilience in members of the farming community to improve their mental wellbeing. Details of the survey are below. “As part […]
Posions and Toxins to keep your furry friends away from Human Medication Toxicities Paracetamol: Paracetamol is poisonous to cats and is rapidly absorbed and signs of paracetamol ingestion may occur within 4 hours in cats, but almost always within 6-24 […]
Rain Scald Rain scald is a skin condition that affects horses mostly during autumn and winter months. It is caused by bacteria called Dermatophilus congolensis, which can live quietly in the skin but prolonged wetting by rain, high humidity, and […]
Lambing 2024 It’s the most wonderful time of the year… lambing! As lambing creeps closer (or has already begun for the early flocks) here’s a reminder of things to be done: • Vaccinate! Ewes should be vaccinated with a Clostridial […]
Scour in calves & lambs Milk matters to your young calves and lambs, it is the best source of energy and other essential nutrients. Withdrawing milk feeds has been shown to have NO IMPACT on the resolution of scour in […]
On Thursday 15th February, we will proudly be supporting this years The Big Farming Tea-break in conjunction with LEN’S LIGHT, a legacy for Len Eadon, shining a light on mental health issues in the rural community and raising funds to […]
Nurse Clinic Consults From the 5th February all non Lifetime Care Club members will be charged a nurse consulting fee of £20 for the following clinics: – Weight clinics – Senior health checks – 7 month health checks – Pregnancy […]
Equine Zone Visits Our equine zone visits map has recently changed. Please watch the video below for more information on our zone visits. Clients registered at the practice must book no later than 48 hours prior to their Zone Visit […]
On Tuesday 13th February Beky will be hosting a fun-filled charity quiz on Tuesday 13th February, so get those team names thought of! Teams of up to 4 people, £5pp. Tea, coffee and cake will be provided. BYOB if you’d […]
Practical Lambing Dates: 28th February 2024 29th February 2024 1st March 2024 We are delighted to be running our Practical Lambing courses again this year. You will spend the day with one of our specialist Farm vets who will take […]
