Other Services Provided
Veterinary care is constantly evolving. As knowledge advances, so does the range of possible treatments. Equally important is our increasing understanding of how to help healthy animals stay that way. Prevention is better than cure, and in a variety of ways it is possible to do more than just treat illness when it occurs. See the Preventative Healthcare section to learn a little more about what we have available.
Surgical Procedures
We regularly undertake a large variety of routine and emergency surgical procedures. We choose from the latest and safest anaesthetic drugs and techniques, while our surgeons are trained and experienced to perform operations to the highest possible standards. We regularly perform a wide variety of operations, such as tumour removal, fracture repair and of course routine neutering. Where it is needed, same day or next day surgery can usually be arranged.
We are also able to advise on those situations where surgery by a specialist might be helpful. There are a variety of centres located not too far away, where specialist treatments and facilities are available if needed.
Repeat Prescriptions
We stock a large selection of medicines so that we can provide the best medical treatments without delay. For animals requiring long-term medication, we can prepare repeat prescriptions on request. We need to have examined your pet within the last 6 months for these and we appreciate 24 hours notice.
For the majority of animals, the medicines most commonly used are for routine flea and worm control. We stock the best products available, both in terms of safety and effectiveness. We strongly recommend that you use these rather than the products available from pet shops and other outlets. Very often pet shop products are similar in price but less effective as medicines, and might well be less safe for you or your pet.
Microchips
These are tiny implants (about the size of a grain of rice) which can be easily placed under the skin of the back of the neck. Each microchip carries a unique code which can be recognised by a hand-held reader passed near the neck. This provides an effective way of identifying an individual animal, which remains with the animal at all times, unlike collars etc which can be lost. There are two main functions of the microchip:
Pet Travel Scheme and Pet Passports
We have vets authorised by the government Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to help you fulfil the requirements for pets to travel to and from this country, including "Pet Passports". The regulations regarding the Pet Travel Scheme are very strict, but as long as they are followed correctly, pet dogs and cats can travel to and from many different countries with minimal difficulty. Full details of the arrangements and costs can be supplied on request. (Essentially this involves a pet being "microchipped", vaccinated for rabies and having a blood test. The whole procedure costs about £150 currently. From starting the procedure it takes about 7 months before the animal is allowed to return to the UK from abroad, though travel out of this country is possible much sooner.)
Referral to Specialists
We are a dedicated, high quality, "first opinion" practice. Most medical and surgical treatments are appropriate to be performed by us. However there will always be some cases where the expertise and facilities provided by specialist centres might be more appropriate. To attempt to undertake everything at a local practice might be like asking your own regular doctor to perform brain surgery for you. It is simply not sensible to do this, and many local veterinary practices are tempted to undertake procedures which should really be done by a surgeon, or at a place, where they are routine. We will always advise where this might apply and can discus the implications and alternatives, and make arrangements as required.
Diets
It has been said that "We are what we eat" and this is just as true of our pets. Health and vitality can be much improved by optimum nutrition. These days there are a huge variety of very carefully made diets, designed to suit particular animals or conditions. This includes the "life stage" diets, which recognise that young growing animals, normal adults, and "older" individuals, have subtly different nutritional requirements. There are also a huge variety of diets formulated specifically to suit animals with particular medical conditions, such as kidney disease, allergic problems, sensitive digestions etc. These veterinary or "prescription" diets are not on general sale, and they do cost a little more than the standard diets available in pet shops and supermarkets. However they can make a substantial difference to the health of our pets, and we keep a comprehensive range in stock at all times.
Insurance
Pet health insurance can be extremely helpful when dealing with the unexpected. It does not cover routine items such as vaccinations, neutering and preventative treatments. However it can make all the difference when an unexpected illness or accident occurs. Advances in modern medicine and surgery mean that many conditions which would have been untreatable in the past can now be dealt with very satisfactorily. The financial cost though can be significant, and it is much better if this is not a consideration when deciding on the treatment to be given. We provide information about a number of different insurance schemes for you to choose the one which best suits your situation.
(Please note that we have no ties to any particular insurance company, and we are not trained to give insurance advice. Legislation requires therefore that we do not recommend any particular company, and we have to leave the choice to you. We can however explain some of the differences to look for when comparing policies.)
Cat's Whiskers Boarding Cattery
We are pleased to be able to offer the services of The Cat's Whiskers Boarding Cattery on site (www.catswhiskers-cattery.co.uk). Luxury accommodation under veterinary supervision is provided, with cats requiring medication or other treatment being more than welcome. Early booking in peak season is essential. Enquires can be made by telephoning 01727 851817 or by just dropping in, talking to the staff and looking around for yourself.
Veterinary care is constantly evolving. As knowledge advances, so does the range of possible treatments. Equally important is our increasing understanding of how to help healthy animals stay that way. Prevention is better than cure, and in a variety of ways it is possible to do more than just treat illness when it occurs. See the Preventative Healthcare section to learn a little more about what we have available.
Surgical Procedures
We regularly undertake a large variety of routine and emergency surgical procedures. We choose from the latest and safest anaesthetic drugs and techniques, while our surgeons are trained and experienced to perform operations to the highest possible standards. We regularly perform a wide variety of operations, such as tumour removal, fracture repair and of course routine neutering. Where it is needed, same day or next day surgery can usually be arranged.
We are also able to advise on those situations where surgery by a specialist might be helpful. There are a variety of centres located not too far away, where specialist treatments and facilities are available if needed.
Repeat Prescriptions
We stock a large selection of medicines so that we can provide the best medical treatments without delay. For animals requiring long-term medication, we can prepare repeat prescriptions on request. We need to have examined your pet within the last 6 months for these and we appreciate 24 hours notice.
For the majority of animals, the medicines most commonly used are for routine flea and worm control. We stock the best products available, both in terms of safety and effectiveness. We strongly recommend that you use these rather than the products available from pet shops and other outlets. Very often pet shop products are similar in price but less effective as medicines, and might well be less safe for you or your pet.
Microchips
These are tiny implants (about the size of a grain of rice) which can be easily placed under the skin of the back of the neck. Each microchip carries a unique code which can be recognised by a hand-held reader passed near the neck. This provides an effective way of identifying an individual animal, which remains with the animal at all times, unlike collars etc which can be lost. There are two main functions of the microchip:
- They are part of the Pet Travel Scheme where animals are issued with "passports". The microchip provides the security of knowing that a particular passport was issued for a given animal.
- The microchip numbers can be stored in a national computer database along with contact details of its owners. Hence if an animal is lost, or there is a dispute over ownership, the owners can be found.
Pet Travel Scheme and Pet Passports
We have vets authorised by the government Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to help you fulfil the requirements for pets to travel to and from this country, including "Pet Passports". The regulations regarding the Pet Travel Scheme are very strict, but as long as they are followed correctly, pet dogs and cats can travel to and from many different countries with minimal difficulty. Full details of the arrangements and costs can be supplied on request. (Essentially this involves a pet being "microchipped", vaccinated for rabies and having a blood test. The whole procedure costs about £150 currently. From starting the procedure it takes about 7 months before the animal is allowed to return to the UK from abroad, though travel out of this country is possible much sooner.)
Referral to Specialists
We are a dedicated, high quality, "first opinion" practice. Most medical and surgical treatments are appropriate to be performed by us. However there will always be some cases where the expertise and facilities provided by specialist centres might be more appropriate. To attempt to undertake everything at a local practice might be like asking your own regular doctor to perform brain surgery for you. It is simply not sensible to do this, and many local veterinary practices are tempted to undertake procedures which should really be done by a surgeon, or at a place, where they are routine. We will always advise where this might apply and can discus the implications and alternatives, and make arrangements as required.
Diets
It has been said that "We are what we eat" and this is just as true of our pets. Health and vitality can be much improved by optimum nutrition. These days there are a huge variety of very carefully made diets, designed to suit particular animals or conditions. This includes the "life stage" diets, which recognise that young growing animals, normal adults, and "older" individuals, have subtly different nutritional requirements. There are also a huge variety of diets formulated specifically to suit animals with particular medical conditions, such as kidney disease, allergic problems, sensitive digestions etc. These veterinary or "prescription" diets are not on general sale, and they do cost a little more than the standard diets available in pet shops and supermarkets. However they can make a substantial difference to the health of our pets, and we keep a comprehensive range in stock at all times.
Insurance
Pet health insurance can be extremely helpful when dealing with the unexpected. It does not cover routine items such as vaccinations, neutering and preventative treatments. However it can make all the difference when an unexpected illness or accident occurs. Advances in modern medicine and surgery mean that many conditions which would have been untreatable in the past can now be dealt with very satisfactorily. The financial cost though can be significant, and it is much better if this is not a consideration when deciding on the treatment to be given. We provide information about a number of different insurance schemes for you to choose the one which best suits your situation.
(Please note that we have no ties to any particular insurance company, and we are not trained to give insurance advice. Legislation requires therefore that we do not recommend any particular company, and we have to leave the choice to you. We can however explain some of the differences to look for when comparing policies.)
Cat's Whiskers Boarding Cattery
We are pleased to be able to offer the services of The Cat's Whiskers Boarding Cattery on site (www.catswhiskers-cattery.co.uk). Luxury accommodation under veterinary supervision is provided, with cats requiring medication or other treatment being more than welcome. Early booking in peak season is essential. Enquires can be made by telephoning 01727 851817 or by just dropping in, talking to the staff and looking around for yourself.