Services We Offer

We are proud to offer our clients and their pets a broad range of services.

Referral
We accept referrals for Homoeopathy. Every three weeks we have a qualified Ophthalmologist (eye specialist) come to the practice, and a Behaviourist every fortnight – for further information on these please contact the practice.

Rescue
We work closely with several local rescue services.

Weight Watchers Clinic
Obesity is a common problem in both cats and dogs and can contribute to several health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, heart and respiratory conditions. We all know how important it is not to allow our pets to gain weight but sometimes the waistline of your pet can increase over time and it’s these slow changes that are less easy to spot. Most overweight patients simply need a more suitable diet in order to lead a slimmer, healthier life. At the Practice we offer a weight clinic, run by one of our nurses, to provide advice on suitable diets, target weights, and a timescale for losing weight. Regular weighings will encourage and support you and your pet’s efforts to slim and trim. The clinics are free of charge, so why not book in for a weight check.

Homoeopathy
We have a few special interests within the practice. Neil is a qualified Homoeopath, and is also educated in Acupuncture.

What is Homoeopathy?
Homoeopathy has been known since the time of the ancient Greeks, but was not put on a scientific footing until the mid 18th Century. The basic tenet is that patients can be cured by giving a substance that would mimic their disease in a healthy patient. The match between remedy and patient must be as close as possible. We would need to know not only the symptoms, but more importantly any factors which modify them (e.g. times of day, weather conditions). Odd or unusual symptoms or behaviour traits are also very important to the homoeopath, as are general features, such as whether the patient is thirsty or not, and food likes and dislikes.

Conventional medication will often produce its own symptoms or mask those of a patient. For this reason it is best if such medication is reduced to the absolute minimum before starting homeopathic treatment. However, if this would be dangerous, or would give your pet discomfort we would try to start homeopathic treatment first. You would need to discuss this with your usual vet before making any changes to any current medication. Please also stop any herbal food supplements (e.g. garlic) before starting homoeopathic therapy.

Please note that homoeopathy is rarely an instant miracle cure. Animals with long standing problems may take some time to recover. If they have had long-term suppressive medication (especially corticosteroids) they may well get worse before they get better. At all times your pet’s welfare must be given priority. For any further information on homoeopathy please do not hesitate to contact the surgery.

Microchipping
Microchipping is a modern way of identifying your pet and helps to reunite lost pets with their owners. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted with a needle under the skin. No anaesthetic is required. Any species of animal can be chipped including birds and reptiles. The chip holds a unique number and this number is linked to information on a central computer, including your pet’s name, address and phone number. Most vets and almost all rescue centres and local authorities have scanners that will detect a chip and find the number. Our practice has already used the system to return several lost pets to their owners. For more information or to book your pet in for chipping please contact the Practice.

Health Care
A Healthy Pet is a Happy Pet, and a regular check-up will help us ensure that your pet will stay that way. It is our normal procedure to conduct the health check at the same time as the annual booster vaccinations. This is the ideal time for us to advise you of any actual or impending health problems. Dogs and cats become more prone to ill health as they get older, and we recommend that your elderly pet has a more regular check-up, as he gets older. A blood test to screen for underlying disease in the major organs of the body may be recommended as part of your pet’s geriatric check-up.

Vaccinations
Dogs can be vaccinated against canine distemper, canine parvovirus, part of the kennel cough complex, hepatitis and leptospirosis. An initial course of vaccination for puppies comprises two injections two to four weeks apart. The last of these must be when or after the pup is 12 weeks old. In the adult dog yearly vaccination is necessary to maintain immunity. Some kennels also require vaccination against Bordetella – another form of kennel cough. This vaccine is given up the dog’s nose, and is valid for six months.

Cats are vaccinated routinely against cat ‘flu’ and enteritis. In addition, we recommend that you consider having your cat protected against feline leukaemia. Annual boosters follow an initial course of two injections (or pairs of injections if leukaemia is included) three to four weeks apart.

There is currently much debate in the veterinary world, as in the human medical world, regarding the safety and necessity of regular vaccination. If you have any concerns on this subject, please contact the surgery.

Dentistry
We recommend regular checks of teeth and mouth of all dogs, cats and other pets from their first visit to the surgery to old age. We have new equipment not only for scaling and polishing of teeth but also for radiography, extractions and other forms of mouth and dental surgery. While dental decay is unusual in our pets build up of tartar on the teeth is common and can lead to serious health (and social!) problems. Some dental attention is required sooner or later in a high proportion of animals.

Passports for Pets

What you need to know
The “Pet’s Passport” allows you to bring an animal back into Britain after travelling abroad in certain countries. All European countries are covered, plus some colonies.
NB If you visit or travel through any country not on the scheme (the most notable being the USA) your pet will still have to go through quarantine.
In order to obtain a passport your pet will have to go through several preparatory steps:

• A microchip must be implanted. (See our section on microchipping).
• Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. We recommend two injections, two weeks apart. One injection will confer immunity in the vast majority of animals, but may not produce sufficient antibody to pass the blood test.
• 30 days or more after the SECOND rabies injection your pet will need a blood test to ensure that the rabies vaccination has worked.
• Providing the blood result is ok, a passport is issued. This is valid from six months after the blood test was taken until the next rabies vaccination is due. In the case of the vaccination we use, boosters are required annually for cats and every two years for dogs. NB some countries, notably France, require annual rabies injections for all animals, irrespective of the manufacturer's recommendation. Providing the rabies injections are kept up to date, a new passport can be issued when each injection is done. If you allow the rabies injections to lapse a fresh blood sample will be needed and a further six-month's delay will ensue.
• Between 24 and 48 hours before you return to Britain you must have your pet treated against tapeworms and ticks by a vet in the country that you visit. They will give you a certificate to state that this has been done.
• When you return you will have to sign a form stating that your animals have not been outside qualifying countries in the previous six months.

It should be noted that you can only return your pets to Britain via certain named carriers. At present these include Eurostar, most ferry companies and a few airlines operating from Heathrow. It is also worth noting that the passport only covers return to Britain. Some countries have extra requirements (e.g. a ministry health certificate). Most European countries will now accept the passport, or a French language version (which we issue automatically with the English one). Do check with the appropriate Ministry, at least one month before you leave, that no other criteria must be met.

If you have any questions, please call the surgery. There is also a Government helpline number – 0870 2411 710.

BON VOYAGE!