Welcome to Nicky !

Nicky has just joined the practice.

She is a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse and will be based mainly at Roydon.

She qualified in 2009 via the degree route at the University of Bristol, which included the VPMAs certificate in veterinary practice administration.

During her training, Nicky completed placements at several practices in and around King’s Lynn, and when she graduated she returned home to this area to start her first job here at Sunnyside.

Her main interests are surgery and anaesthesia, and she hopes to complete a surgical nursing diploma in the future.


Nicky enjoys assisting with the operations and dentistry at our Roydon clinic, which is a nurse training centre.

In her spare time, Nicky is kept very busy looking after her two naughty Shetland ponies, Jasper and Dennis!

She looks forward to meeting you all!

Itchy Ears ?

My daughter was overjoyed when she saw her new puppy.

She spent the first few days carrying her new playmate around the house everywhere she went.

However we noticed that 'Fuzz Bud' had very smelly ears and when I examined them they were full of thick brown wax.

I took a cotton bud and collected a small sample of the discharge from both ears and smeared it onto a microscope slide.

The result can be viewed below - not for the squeamish !

Otodectes ear mites are the cause of around half of the canker or ear disease in dogs.



If your dog has waxy ears please feel free to bring them in to the surgery and we will check to see if they have any tiny friends living in there.

You only pay for any treatment.


Hopefully, we will get some idea of the incidence of Otodectes in our patients.

Happy New Year from all the staff at Sunnyside !

We would like to wish all of our clients a prosperous 2010 and thank all of you for supporting Sunnyside throughout 2009.

We look foward to offering new services and treatments in the year ahead and further improving the service we provide to you and your pets.

Justin Kirkland BVMS MRCVS

Summer Flea and Tick Patrol

Fleas and ticks are very common parasites of dogs and cats as most pet owner know well. What is less well known is the health risks they pose to both pets and their humans.

Fleas are prolific breeders, in fact one female flea can produce 2000 eggs in her lifetime.
Since fleas can often cause allergic skin disease in humans and pets, and transmit infectious disease and even tapeworm, controlling them is paramount.

Ticks can also carry infectious diseases that afflict humans as well as animals.

From 27th July to 28th August Sunnyside is running a flea and tick awareness inititive.
You can pop in and talk to our Flea and Tick Patrol.

We are offering a extra pack of flea and tick treatment free when you buy our
excellent new spot on product for dogs from Novartis.

Our trained practice staff will remind you about flea and tick treatments and give you guidance on how to treat your pet.

Alternatively, why not phone the practice on 01485 600022 at Roydon and 01485 535950 at Hunstanton.

Sunnyside is also offering 25% off a years supply of wormers and if you have a new puppy or kitten we can offer them a free wormer.

Open Day Success !

This year’s Open Day at Roydon was a great success.

All of the staff at Sunnyside would like to thank everyone who came on Saturday the 6th of June.

Fortunately the weather was fine despite the forecast. The fun dog show was very popular and Simon Rowe and the KLFM team for entertained us all throughout the day.

We would also like to thank the charities and businesses who took part; Cats Protection, PACT, Paws and Pets as Therapy, Paddling Paws, Royal Canin, Novartis and Animalcare.

Special thanks to Rex Makemson who judged the Fun Dog Show (above)

If you missed Roydon's Open Day watch out for Hunstanton’s Open Day later in the year !

Don't Let Fleas and Ticks Bite !

Did you know that both ticks and fleas can present a threat to the health of you as well as your pet?

Norfolk is one the UK hotspots for Lyme Disease according to the Health Protection Agency.
Lyme disease is a serious and debilitating disease that in severe cases can cause paralysis, blindness and even death.

The Health Protection Agency reported 768 cases of human Lyme disease in the UK in 2006 and estimates give a further 1000-2000 cases which go unreported annually.

Lyme disease can also affect cats and dogs, and may result in fever, loss of appetite, lameness, joint problems, and in severe cases can cause kidney failure.
Simply removing the ticks after they have attached and fed does not prevent infection because they will have already introduced the organisms into the host’s bloodstream.

Fleas also represent a threat to both you
and your pet.

They can transmit “cat scratch disease” and Rickettsia felis, both causing fever. Fleas also transmit the intermediate stage of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum.

Fleas can often trigger allergic skin disease when they inject their saliva before feeding on the host’s blood.

Call us today for your FREE parasite control consultation at Sunnyside and we will advise you on what to do and which product will best suit your pet and your lifestyle.

Pets Have Teeth Too

Sunnyside will be taking part in Pet Smile Month in September.

For over a decade now this national pet health promotion has been helping to reduce the incidence of dental disease in pets.
Dental disease is by far the most prevalent infectious disease we see in pets.

Most dogs and cats over the age of three years have some degree of periodontal disease.
Dental disease doesn’t just mean smelly breath; it’s a whole body disease affecting the kidneys, liver, lungs, throat and heart.

We often find signs of damage to the liver and kidneys in blood tests performed before dental surgery. These organs are targeted by bacteria growing under the gum margin and beneath the hard yellow stone-like material called calculus or tartar.

Regular dental check-ups every six months are required, and descaling must be done as soon as any tartar forms on the teeth.

Daily brushing can easily prevent tartar forming, avoiding the need for descaling. Some diets, chews and food additives can also help.

During Pet Smile Month we are offering FREE dental checks and there will be a 15% discount on ANY dental treatment required.