HOW TO GET REFERRED TO FOUR SEASONS HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE
STEP 1
Email health@holisticvetsussex.co.uk for a referral form and price list.
It helps if you can include a brief desciption of the problem, and your location.
STEP 2
Ensure health@holisticvetsussex is marked as a safe address so that the reply does not end up in spam!
STEP 3
Fill out the owner section of the referral form, then ask you primary care vet to complete the rest, and email it to health@holisticvetsussex.co.uk with relevant history.
STEP 4
When the referral form and history are recieved you will be contacted with a choice of home visit appointment times by email.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A ONE-PERSON PRACTICE. I AIM TO REPLY WITHIN 48 HOURS, EXCEPT AT WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. IN AN EMERGENCY CONTACT YOUR PRIMARY CARE VET.
Alternatively, download the referral form here https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:0e7487e4-7af5-4552-a672-4b6473ad85c3
WHY DOES MY PET HAVE TO BE REFERRED?
Why does your pet need to be registered with a primary care vet, and why does that vet need to refer them before a consultation can take place?
Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care offers complementary therapies for your pet in your home. We do not have a clinic where we can offer routine treatments, diagnostic testing, or emergency care.
To meet RCVS requirements, your pet must have access to emergency care via your primary care practice.
I need to work with primary care vets, as patients often need radiography, blood tests, or conventional medications as part of their Holistic care, and I value the work the primary care vet has done with your pet.
Referral is simple! Request a referral form, fill out the owner section, then pass to your vet to complete. Your vet should email the form to me with any relevant clinical history. In return, I email your vet a copy of each consultation we have so that they are kept up to date with progress.
As I am usually on the road or treating pets, I prefer contact by text (07958142959) or email (health@holisticvetsussex.co.uk)
I am unable to discuss a case by phone until I have a referral form.
FULLY BOOKED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2022
FOUR SEASONS HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE WILL TAKE NEW CLIENTS FROM 15TH FEBRUARY 2022
We will not be taking on any new clients or patients until 15th February 2022. We are busy in January with existing clients, covering at Companion Care Vets in Eastbourne, and making time for our own dogs. We will be closed completely between January 29th and February 13th for a well earned break.
No apologies… we can’t pour from an empty cup.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
We only treat animals on referral from your primary care vet. Although most owners contact us directly, your vet will be asked to complete the referral form, and to email all relevant clinical history. Your pet must be a registered and active client of a veterinary practice which offers 24hour emergency care (on or off site) in order to use the services of Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care.
We offer home visits in the Hastings, Bexhill, Battle, and Eastbourne areas. We do not have a practice building!
Our vet Vicky has a regular clinic at Companion Care Vets in Eastbourne.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that jazz…
COVID – 19 UPDATE
We are pleased that there is finally a roadmap for England to come out of lockdown. However, this does not mean we are back to business as usual and will not be for some time.
We do not plan to take on new clients for home visit acupuncture, problem behaviours, or herbal medicine until June 2021.
We will be continuing to support our existing clients taking the precautions which have kept us safe over the past 12 months.
Limited appointments are available on Wednesday mornings at Companion Care Vets in Eastbourne. Please contact the practice directly on 10232 649315 (be patient, they are very busy!).
We will also continue to offer a phone/ Whatsapp consulting service where this is appropriate.
Thank you for your understanding during what has a been a prolonged difficult time for us all.
WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT!
People can be confused by the term ‘holistic’, especially as it seems to be used to sell just about everything. So what does it mean at Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care?
HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE
Holistic care is characterized by the treatment of the whole animal, taking into account mental and environmental factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
Animals are usually referred for holistic assessment and treatment because they have complex, multiple, or chronic conditions.
We will ask questions about your pet’s diet, exercise, and mood state as well as the main symptoms. All too often a chronic illness means a pet can’t take part in the activities it used to enjoy and a low mood state or poor quality of life can make managing a disease more difficult. We often make changes to what,or how a pet is fed as well as using appropriate games, training and exercise to improve their mood as well as using acupuncture or herbal medicine.
Holistic also means that we use a wider variety of treatments than most primary care practices; we offer herbal medicine, acupuncture, and physical therapy as well as advising on diet, lifestyle, supplements, and behavioural modifications.
HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE CASE STUDY: THE DEPRESSED PUG
A pug was referred to Four Seasons after diagnosis of a degenerative spinal condition. His pain was well controlled but he seemed to have lost all his spark and his owners were considering euthanasia. A detailed discussion revealed that as his mobility was poor the owners were taking this pug out on his own, then taking the other pugs for their usual walks. It seemed that the pug had a low mood state because he was missing out on walks with his friends. The solution was two-fold; herbs with a proven effect on improving mood and perhaps more importantly getting the pug back with his mates. His owners bought a ‘dog pushchair’ so he didn’t have to do the whole walk and let him out to sniff around with the others. In no time at all his cheerful personality was back and an integrated approach from his referring vet and our vet made a huge difference.
A DAY IN THE LIFE…
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY FOR A HOLISTIC VET?
“I’m not sure there is a typical day!” says Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care’s Vet Vicky Payne. “I work three days a week at Companion Care Vets Eastbourne which is a first opinion general practice where I will be doing vaccinations, examining sick pets, performing diagnostic work ups and doing surgery as well as any Holistic or Acupuncture referrals.
WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER DAYS LIKE?
“Thursday is a really busy day for me. I usually get up before 7 to train and exercise my dogs. I often visit a trainer near Tonbridge and combine this with doing routine health checks and vaccinations for his kennels. Then I hold a clinic at Goudhurst Vets where I see referrals from within the practice and from other practices in Kent. Today I had a lovely cat in for acupuncture. In the afternoon and evening I may have home visits as well, but not today.”
“The rest of the week will be taken up with a mixture of home visits and paperwork. I write for magazines including Your Dog magazine and give veterinary advice on several internet forums. I may also be preparing for First Aid talks or other lectures.”
SOUNDS BUSY! DO YOU GET ANY TIME OFF?!
“Oh yes! Clients often request visits after work which I am happy to offer and this allows me time off in the day to exercise and train my dogs.” Vicky has three English Springer Spaniels to keep her on her toes.
“I’m also lucky enough to ride a friends horse in the summer; that really is a great way to relax. ”
If you want to keep our Vet busy, busy, busy contact us to make an appointment!