Sarah Bignell-Howse
I am a Veterinary Surgeon who is passionate about improving the quality of life of animals, no matter what stage in their life they are at.
I qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2000 and I cared for patients of all shapes and sizes; continuing with my studies to gain a certificate in GP small animal medicine in 2005.
Out of the blue in 2011 I contracted Lyme disease. Within a year I was too unwell to work so I had to step away from my patients and focus on recovery.
Over this time I obtained valuable experience of how important a holistic view is in managing chronic diseases and in the recovery of health. I utilised many rehabilitation modalities to restore myself to wellness. It was these experiences that were the inspiration for me to refocus the direction of my clinical work towards addressing chronic pain, chronic disease, rehabilitation and preventative medicine.
To expand the services that I could offer my patients I completed the foundation course run by the Western Veterinary Acupuncture Group which has taught vets all around the globe how to use acupuncture applying scientific principles and prioritising safety. I am undertaking the certificate in Chronic Pain Management for animals and am a member of the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists.
I completed the foundation training in Western Veterinary Herbal medicine in 2021 and have found the use of medical grade herbs to be a very helpful addition to treatment plans. I am a member of the British Association of Veterinary Herbalists.
I am a registered Galen myotherapist and use targeted massage techniques to manage chronic muscular pain and other conditions and it’s use is not just restricted to dogs, I commonly teach people how to massage their cats and rabbits !
I am also a member of the British Veterinary Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine association and work alongside local physiotherapists and hydrotherapists when a multidisciplinary approach is required- which is most of the time.
I am a member of Canine Arthritis Management and send most-if not all- my patients over to their website as it is full of very important information.
In 2024 I was invited to take my acupuncture to the next stage with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). This involves every 6-8 weeks heading over to Denmark for further training and will ultimately result in a further qualification and more importantly, helping more animals.
Being able to utilise these different techniques means that I can tailor treatment to the individual, depending on their condition.
Metta is the practice of loving kindness and compassion to all beings and signifies everything I want to offer to my patients and their care givers.
The beautiful logo was created by my talented friend, the artist Emma Coletti. I knew that I needed both my beloved dog and cat to become part of Metta as they taught me so much, and I wanted to incorporate a Koru, which symbolises new life and growth. Emma took those ideas and the Metta logo was born. Emma very sadly died in 2024. She is with me always in my heart, with Matty my dog and Muggins my cat.
I consider myself very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to create a tranquil space where I can give my sole attention to you and your pet’s pain and mobility needs.
Lorraine
I have been a qualified Veterinary Nurse for 20yrs now, mainly working in 2 of the big hospitals in Ashford. I have also worked in referral ophthalmology. I have known Sarah for 20years when we met at work and became friends and I am excited to be working with her again at Metta. As well as a passion for pain management I also have a strong interest in Feline Behaviour and complementary therapies. In my spare time I am ruled over by my cat Crowley.
I have many roles at Metta- one of my favourites is getting to know you and your pet during the initial consultation. Sarah and I then work together creating a individualised plan to support you moving forward. It is a very satisfying vocation!