Services

List of services we offer:

• Consultations
• ECG (Electrocardiogram) in all species
• Chemotherapy for certain types of tumour (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Abscess Treatments (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Fracture Repairs (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Dental Procedures in all species including sonic scaling, polishing and extractions
• Cat full vaccination course (including free application of parasite treatment)
• Cat Booster
• Dog full vaccination course (including free application of parasite treatment)
• Dog Booster
• Limb and Tail Amputations (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Neutering Procedures (in all species)
• X-Ray Examination of all species under GA or sedation (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• IV Fluid Therapy for dehydrated patients (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Treatment of Ear And Skin Disease, allergic and parasitic (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Complicated Diagnostics involving all types of blood investigation work sent to external laboratories (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Tumour Removals from all species (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Corneal Treatments for ulcers (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Skin Biopsy, Scrapes, Swabs (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Exploratory Laparotomy, examine abdominal contents under GA (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Eyelid Surgery (written estimate provided after investigation and consultation)
• Caesarean Section in all species
• Weight Clinics (free)

Consult our price guide here.

What happens at an appointment?

On entering the practice, you will be met by one of the friendly receptionists and be asked to provide your name and your animal's name. This information will passed to the vet who will call you for your appointment.

The vet will ask questions related to the illness of your pet prior to doing a clinical examination to find out what the problem seems to be.

Your pet will then be examined with special care to ascertain what the illness is by using the information you have provided and any past history notes. If it is an emergency, then the vet will diagnose the illness and take appropriate action.

A course of treatment, if indicated, will be prescribed. This may be injections, tablets, shampoos, creams or drops depending on what has been diagnosed.

When the medication has been prescribed the computer system will automatically inform reception of what needs to be dispensed and you will be instructed on what quantities and how the medication should be used by our knowledgeable staff.

Request an appointment here.

Please note: Payment is taken at the time of consultation.

We recommend vaccinations for all dogs, cats and rabbits

Puppies

• 1st vaccinations from 6 weeks old onwards
• 2nd vaccination 2 - 4 weeks later at a minimum of 10 weeks
• Puppies are allowed to mix with other dogs and go where other dogs have been 1 week after the 2nd vaccination
• Kennel cough vaccination is recommended, especially if your puppy is going to go into kennels or will attend puppy classes or will mix with many dogs in a confined area.

Kittens

• 1st vaccination at a minimum of 9 weeks old
• 2nd vaccination 3 - 4 weeks later
• Kittens are then allowed to go outside 1 week after the 2nd vaccination

Rabbits

It is important rabbits are vaccinated for both myxomatosis and VHD (Viral Haemorrhagic Disease). One injection will provide protection against both diseases in one annual vaccination.

Boosters

Boosters are recommended every 12 months for both cats and dogs. Puppies and dogs can also be vaccinated for kennel cough. This just consists of one vaccination a minimum of 72 hours before a dog goes into kennels or mixes with other dogs. It is best given 2 weeks prior to kennelling to offer the best level of protection and each single vaccination is licensed to protect against kennel cough for 12 months.

For rabbits, it is important that they are vaccinated for both myxomatosis and VHD (Viral Haemorrhagic Disease). Each of these consists of just one vaccination but they cannot be given at the same time, there must be 2 weeks between each injection.

All kennels require animals to have an up to date vaccination record prior to them being kennelled.

The practice is fully prepared for a range of surgical and diagnostic procedures. We have a dedicated x-ray room, preparation area and sterile operating theatre. We have the ability, with our sophisticated blood analysers, to diagnose a range of metabolic diseases without needing to use an external laboratory. This means we can have results the same day and even within 15 minutes in a emergency situation. These facilities can, and often do, mean the difference between life and death.

If an external laboratory is required to diagnose or help monitor your pet then we will use IDEXX reference laboratories.

We employ a courier service for this lab to ensure the safe and correct transportation of samples and to enable us to receive the results as soon as possible.

The most important thing about any surgical procedures is the surgeon carrying out the operation.

All our vets have been practising in either mixed practices or solely small animal practice since qualifying. Our vets have a combined experience of over 55 years. All the vets operate on a daily basis and so are very experienced in a huge range of surgical and diagnostic procedures.

How do I know it is time?

As pet owners, we endeavour to make sure that our faithful companions stay fit and healthy, enabling them to live to an old age. Unfortunately, our pets do not live as long as us and at some point, we will have to prepare to let them go. Sadly, few of our pets pass peacefully away in their sleep. Therefore, we all wish to do the right thing at the right time, fulfilling our responsibility and commitment in their final days. We hope these words will help you and your family in a time of conflicting emotions.

Nobody knows their pet better than you and your closest family and friends, so let them help and share in making a reasoned judgement on your pet’s quality of life.
 
Indications that things may not be well may include:

• Loss of appetite
• A reluctance to play and move around as normal
• Restlessness or becoming withdrawn from you

When the time is right to put your pet to sleep, you may see evidence of a combination of all the above indicators and your pet may seem distressed, uncomfortable or disorientated within your home.
 
Is there nothing more I can do?

As your vet, we will discuss all treatment options available for your pet to relieve their symptoms, but there will come a time when all forms of treatment have been exhausted, we have discovered the disease is incurable, or you feel your pet is suffering too much. You and your family may wish to talk with your Veterinary Surgeon to help you all come to this final decision; in this case, we will arrange an appointment for you.
 
When and where can we say goodbye?

We hope this section will help you and your family understand your pet’s end-of-life journey. This is known as ‘euthanasia’ but often referred to as ‘putting to sleep’. After discussing with your family and your vet, and having decided that the time has come, you can contact your surgery and make an appointment. We will always try to make this appointment at a time that is convenient for you – usually at a quieter time of the day.
 
It is also possible to arrange this appointment to be performed in the comfort of your own home. If this is an option you would like, we will do our best to arrange a home visit. In these cases, a vet and a nurse will visit your home. When they have put your pet to sleep, they will either take the body back to the surgery for cremation or leave them with you to bury at home. Additional charges will apply for this service and certain times of day may be restricted.
 
Will I be able to stay with my pet?

Being present when your pet is put to sleep will be both emotional and distressing, but the majority of owners feel that they give comfort to their pet during their last moments, and can make their final goodbyes. But this is not comfortable for everyone; we understand if you do not want to stay in the room with your pet but make your goodbyes afterwards. We will always make time for you and your family to do this.
 
What will happen?

Initially, your vet or another member of our team will ask you to sign a consent form to give us permission to put your pet to sleep. You may have already discussed with your vet what you then wish to do with your pet’s body, but we will confirm this on the consent form.
 
Many owners are surprised by how peaceful euthanasia can be. Euthanasia involves injecting an overdose of anaesthetic into the vein of your pet’s front leg. Some of our vets would have previously inserted a catheter into the vein or sedated your pet if they are particularly nervous or uncomfortable.
 
After the anaesthetic has been injected, your pet’s heart will stop beating and they will rapidly lose consciousness and stop breathing. Your vet will check that their heart has stopped beating and confirm that they have passed away. On occasion, the pet’s muscles and limbs may tremble and they may gasp a few times, these are reflex actions only – not signs of life – but may be upsetting. If they occur, they are unavoidable. Your pet’s eyes will remain open and it is normal for them to empty their bowel or bladder as the body shuts down.

Afterwards

What happens next?

There are several options available for your pet. Your Veterinary team can discuss these with you and give you an idea of costs involved.

• Communal Cremation – Leave your pet with us to be cremated with other pets. With this type of cremation, no ashes will be returned to you. For the majority of our clients, this is the most appropriate form of closure.
• Individual Cremation – A private cremation for your pet at our nominated crematorium company, Pet Cremation Services (PCS). Your pet’s ashes will then be returned to you in either a sealed casket of your choice or a scatter box, for you and your family to scatter their ashes in a location of your choice. Our team will have several options you can choose from.
• ‘Taking them home’ – You can also take your pet home for burial, but please bear in mind this may not always be practical. We can provide coffins for home burial. Please ask any of our team.
• Some surgeries also have a local pet cemetery company that will arrange everything from collecting your pet from the vet, preparing a grave and performing the burial. Our practice team will be able to give you further information.

When will I need to decide?

We would encourage you and your family to discuss these options before your pet is put to sleep, and to let your vet know. We will keep a note of your wishes with pet’s notes. However, in some cases the euthanasia may have occurred after an accident and you will need more time to make this decision. It is possible for us to keep your pet for a short time afterwards, to give you and your family time to reflect before making a decision.
 
Coping with the loss

Everyone deals with grief in different ways. When grieving for a much-loved pet, you or other members of your family may experience a range of emotions from shock, denial, disbelief and, very often, guilt. Should you wish to talk to anyone at your Veterinary surgery, we can offer support and advice.
If, after reading these pages, there are still facts you would like to know, we will be more than happy to help. Please contact us at the surgery.

The following organisations can provide further help and support:

My Family Pet - Coping with the Death of Your Pet

My Family Pet - Helping Children Understand Pet Loss

The Blue Cross also offer a bereavement support line if you would like to talk to someone. The number is 0800 0966606.