ONE of the UK’s leading centres for the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism has joined UK veterinary group, VetPartners.
The Hyperthyroid Cat Centre, near Wetherby, West Yorkshire, which cures cats from all over the UK, has become part of VetPartners, one of the UK’s biggest veterinary groups, which has 140 small animal, equine, farm and mixed veterinary practices, with 5,514 employees working across more than 450 sites and from its headquarters in York.
Andrew Bodey, who established The Hyperthyroid Cat Centre in 2013, will continue as Clinical Director, supported by his veterinary, veterinary nurse, animal care assistant and client care colleagues.
The Hyperthyroid Cat Centre has some of the UK’s leading experts on feline hyperthyroidism, a condition that causes weight loss, increased appetite, restlessness and heart disease, and between them the team has managed more than 2,000 hyperthyroid cats, using radio-iodine treatment. In approximately 99% of cases, the treatment provides a permanent cure and cats can return home from as early as four days after treatment, the shortest minimum hospitalisation period in the UK.
The practice, which operates from a single site near Wetherby, is one of only a few centres in the UK licensed to offer radioactive iodine to treat feline hyperthyroidism – the gold standard cure for the condition. The Hyperthyroid Cat Centre is the first large-scale standalone facility in Europe.
Mr Bodey said: “We are delighted to join with VetPartners, who share our vision to make radio-iodine treatment the first-choice for hyperthyroid cats, not the last resort. As far as we know we are already Europe’s largest provider of radio-iodine treatment and within VetPartners we look forward to making our clinical experience more easily available to more hyperthyroid cats, not just in the UK but across Europe.”
VetPartners CEO Jo Malone said: “We are delighted to welcome The Hyperthyroid Cat Centre to our family of practices. Their decision to join VetPartners shows we are committed to attracting some of the best veterinary businesses to the group.
“Andrew and his team are highly respected within the veterinary profession for the incredible work they do and the outstanding care they give their patients.”
VetPartners, which is one of the UK’s major veterinary groups, also has five practices in Italy, and diversified to include a small animal veterinary nursing school, an equine nursing school, research dairy, laboratory and locum agency.
VetPartners were advised by Leeds-based legal firm Lupton Fawcett.
Lupton Fawcett Head of Corporate Finance Giles Clegg said: “VetPartners is home to some of the most trusted and respected vet practices and they are a pleasure to work with. It is great to see another Yorkshire-based deal complete and for this practice to become part of the VetPartners family with all the support and future investment that entails.”
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Senior PR and Communications Manager, on 07970 198 492 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk