Services

1. Booking appointments

• Book cats in the Cat Clinic if possible (weekdays 2-3pm).
• Or else book at the beginning or end of a consultation period, so that the waiting room is not as busy or full.

2. Waiting to be seen

• We have separate cat and dog waiting areas.
• The cat barrier in the waiting room helps shield cats from dogs.
• We have provided Cat Stands for clients to place their cat baskets on. This allows the cat to sit higher up, which increases their sense of security and well-being.
• There are blankets available so that cat baskets can be covered whilst they wait, which further reduces their anxiety and stress.
• Clients with cats should be invited to wait in a free consulting room if there are boisterous and barking dogs in reception.

3. In the consultation room

• We are trained to handle cats in a friendly and sensitive manner, which means we avoid scruffing at all costs.
• Cats are encouraged to wander around the consultation room to acclimatise to the surroundings and environment
• Treats are on hand to make the visit a positive experience for our feline patients.
• Feline pheromone spray (Feliway®) is sprayed to help relax anxious or nervous cats.
• Cat carriers that have a detachable lid or those that can be fully unzipped are recommended, to avoid having to tip cats out and risk adding to their stress.

4. Hospitilisation

• We have separate cat kennels away from dogs.
• Our aim is to make each cat’s stay as comfortable as possible. Ask the client;
• What is your cat’s normal food? Can you bring some in for when they recover?
• Do they have a preferred cat litter? Sand, compressed paper, etc.
• What type of bowl do they eat and drink from at home? Is it metal, ceramic, deep, shallow, etc.
• Finally, we have recently invested in dental radiography. This is vital when performing dentistry on cats to avoid missing disease that is occurring below the gum line, at root level.

In an effort to cater for all of our patients (as well as their owners!) we are pleased to offer a Community Veterinary Nursing Service (CVNS).

CVNS Features:

• Consultations for specific procedures performed in the comfort of your home by one of our Registered Veterinary Nurses.
• Available at a mutually convenient time scheduled in advance.
• Specific procedures including (but not limited to);
• Advice on introducing your new kitten or puppy to your home
• Assessment of your garden to help identify any hidden dangers
• Nail clipping
• Anal gland expression
• Administration of medication prescribed by us (oral, injectable, or topical)
• Post-operative check-ups
• Ear cleaning
• Clipping of isolated matts from compliant patients
• Bathing your pet with medicated shampoo prescribed by us
• Collection and/or delivery after surgery
• Dressing checks and re-bandaging if applicable
• Second vaccinations
• Blood pressure measurements
• Urine and/or blood sample collection as directed by the vet
• Blood glucose checks
• Intraocular pressure measurement
• Physiotherapy and senior pet care advice specific to your home
• Weight clinics and dietary advice
• Application of flea and/or worming treatment provided by us
• Discussions prior to euthanasia appointments and/or bereavement support
• Food and/or medication delivery

Cost

• Nurse visit and ambulance - please enquire for current fee.
• 20% off for Pet Health Club members.
• Payment in full at time of booking (Online, or in person/over the phone).

Helping you and your pets on-site and within the community!

On the first Tuesday of each month, we run a puppy socialisation evening. These are held from 7pm, and involve our nurses and Jez Firth, an experienced animal behaviourist who we are lucky enough to have in our local area.  

During these sessions, Jez provides valuable information to help you and your puppy cope with your first weeks together and beyond, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Our nurse will also provide your puppy with a one-on-one examination and desensitisation session, and will happily answer any medical questions that you may have.  

To cover Jez’s time, the cost is £15 per puppy. Puppies should have received their first vaccination before attending, and should be no older than 14 weeks of age. Maximum of 6 puppies per session.

If you would like any further information on these sessions, or would like to book your puppy in to the next one, then please speak to a member of staff. All of our contact information can be found here.

Click here to view a short action video of one of our puppy sessions in progress!

Jez has provided us with the following information about himself:

Hello, my name is Jez Frith and I run the Animal Behaviour Clinic, helping dog owners across the North West deal with both behavioural and training issues. I have worked with owners and their dogs for the past 20 years, since graduating from university having studied Animal Behaviour. Working on a one to one basis, generally in the clients own home, I help owners to understand why their dog demonstrates a given behaviour, how it has developed then explaining and demonstrating an appropriate, positively reinforced training routine to develop a desired outcome. Over 20 years I have worked with a vast range of dog breeds with an even wider range of behavioural issues and training needs, whether it be an 8-week old puppy needing house training or a 12-year old Labrador showing aggression to the post man - I am here to help.

Many behavioural issues are attributed to a lack puppy socialization and basic training; this was when in consultation with a number of vet practices that we developed a puppy socialisation class. These are one off sessions that inform owners about the importance of puppy socialisation, the do’s and don’ts and how to deal with issues should they arise, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

I am always happy to chat about any behavioural issue or training requirements you may have. Click here to view my website.

• Sedation and general anaesthesia are not procedures that we undertake lightly, and are only recommended/performed when clinically necessary.

Purchasing from the practice

• Recommended when treating acute, short-term illnesses, and when the start of treatment is required immediately.
• Guarantees that the correct medication is dispensed, and at the correct dose.
• Allows us to discuss with you in person how to administer the medication, and even show you what the dose correlates to on the syringe (in the case of liquid medications), or how much to apply (in the case of topical creams and lotions).
• Supports the practice and allows investments to be made towards staff, equipment, and the clinic building – all of which mean better care for your pet, and a better service for you! 
• Sales of medications allow us to maintain surgical and investigation fees at as reasonable a price as possible. Without these sales, then our prices would have to be significantly increased in order to cover our daily running costs.
• Requires a check-up with one of our vets a minimum of every 6 months, where chronic medications are concerned.
• When ordering repeat medications, please order by 1pm (weekdays) for next day delivery. Please note that out of stock items will need to be ordered from our wholesaler (weekday deliveries on Wednesdays and Fridays only). Special veterinary items and controlled drugs take longer (5-7 working days). So, to avoid disappointment, please order well in advance.
• Patients on our Pet Health Club benefit from 10% off the purchase of Pet Shop Products, and 20% off selected Lifetime Care Medications. Many products also come with manufacturer Loyalty Schemes, when purchased from the practice.  

Purchasing from an external pharmacy

• Requires a written prescription from us, for which we require 48 hours’ notice.
• Incurs a written prescription fee for the first medication requested. 
• Subsequent medications ordered at the same time as the first medication, each incur an additional fee, which is 50% that of the first medication fee. 
• If a subsequent medication is ordered on a separate day, then the first medication fee applies. 
• The maximal interval between Prescription Reviews is 6-months (for chronic medications), or 12-months (for flea and/or worming preparations).
• This is to ensure that the medications which we are prescribing to your pet are not causing harm, and that doses do not need to be adjusted. 
• Each fee is valid until the date of prescription expiry, as authorised by the prescribing vet.  This is likely to be dictated by your pet’s underlying disease and health status, in accordance with the frequency of check-ups recommended by the vet (Prescription Reviews).  
• In many cases, monitoring blood and/or urine tests will be required at the time of Prescription Reviews, so that the effects of drugs on your pet’s vital organs can be assessed.  This is recommended to improve the health and lifespan of your pet, and to prevent any unnecessary risks being taken.  
• It is illegal to buy a Prescription Only Medication without a prescription. Pharmacies that claim no prescription is required are breaking the law, and so are you if you proceed with the purchase.  As such, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate may seek prosecution.  
• In the case of more than one pet requiring a written prescription, then a first medication fee applies for each pet.  Please be cautious when purchasing medications on line, as not all sellers supply legitimate products. We can advise on reputable UK-based on line pharmacies.
• Extended expiry date intervals on written prescriptions (if applicable) shall resume following completion of the Prescription Review. 
• In the case of overdue Prescription Reviews, then written prescriptions will only be valid for 1 month, with each incurring a written prescription fee(s). 
• Our standard consultation fee applies for Prescription Reviews, and additional tests are charged on top of this.  These fees do not include the written prescription fee(s). 
• Note that reputable sellers will be aware of your need for a prescription and the fact that you will have been charged for this, so their medication price will be set with this in mind. Postage and packing fees may also apply. Therefore, what appears to be a substantial difference in price initially, may not be so significant once these added fees are taken in to account.
• For controlled drugs (e.g. Epiphen, gabapentin) the legal maximum permissible amount to be dispensed is one month. Furthermore, these prescriptions cannot be emailed. The hardcopy must be posted, and in this instance we shall prepare/sign/stamp the prescription for you to collect from the practice and post yourself. A single prescription fee every 6 months per drug is applicable.

In-house laboratory features;

•   We have a well-equipped laboratory on-site, allowing us to perform microscopy, urinalysis, haematology, and biochemistry.  We also have separate analysers for measurement of blood glucose, lactate, and clotting times (APPT and PT), as well as SNAP tests for specific diseases including pancreatitis, feline AIDS and leukaemia viruses, and canine parvovirus.

•   In-house analysers allow us to obtain results very rapidly, and these will be reported within 24 hours of sampling. 

•   These tests can be run every day of the week.

External laboratory features;

•   More specific blood and urine tests, as well as in-depth cytology, culture and sensitivity, and histopathology are performed using an external lab (Idexx), based in Yorkshire. 

•   Samples are collected each weekday evening (weather permitting!) by an overnight courier.

•   Results are processed with variable turnaround times depending on the requested test.  This can vary from 1 day to 3-4 weeks.  Additionally, some tests are only performed on certain days of the week (e.g. canine/feline proBNP). 

•   Your pet’s vet will indicate when results are to be expected. 

Interpretation and reporting of results;

•   Once results are received, for both in-house and external samples, then your pet’s vet will call you to discuss them with you.  Please ensure that we have your correct contact details in order for them to do this. 

•   If you haven’t heard back from the vet within the estimated turnaround time, then please call to request a telephone appointment, and they will call you back when available.

•   Please note that results may not be sent through from the lab until the end of the day (6pm). 

•   Additionally, due to our evening consultation times and vets dealing with other patients, your pet’s vet may not be able to ring you until the end of their working day (7pm), or potentially the following day if they are dealing with an emergency. 

•   In the case of complex results or late receipt, then the vet may prefer to email you their interpretation with a copy of the results, as well as the recommended plan going forward.  Consequently, please also ensure that we have your email address on file.

Read more about Lab Samples on our FAQs page!

Read our Dental Staging Guide.

Helping you to keep your pet(s) healthy is our aim! 

Two important aspects of this are diet and exercise. 

For multiple reasons, excessive body weight is very common amongst the UK pet population. However, achieving and maintaining a lean body weight has many health benefits for your pet. These include improved mobility and reduced impact on their joints, reduced risks of diabetes and pancreatitis, and improve heart function, to name but a few.

There are certain factors which contribute to your pet’s likelihood to gain weight, including neutering and ageing. Seasonality can also play a role in weight gain, as exercise often takes a back seat during the shorter and colder winter months.

But you don’t have to battle this complex mine field on your own. We’re here to help!

Introducing … our Nurse 'Weight Clinic’ package!

Our nurse-led Weight Clinic package is held over a period of six months.

First Appointment (all those involved in caring for your pet are encouraged to attend!):

• Extended 30-minute appointment, to include;
• Detailed diet and lifestyle questionnaire for your pet
• Examination and body measurements of your pet
• Establishment of your pet’s current body condition score
• Plan of targets together
• Calculation of daily costs of feeding recommended diet
• Discussion of calorie content of certain treats, and how these will affect your pet’s progress
• Day One photographs, so that we can fully appreciate their progress over the 6-month period

Subsequent Appointments x 5 (one per month):

• Double nurse appointment (20-minutes)
• Weigh-in and taking measurements
• Discussion of any issues that you’re having, either with their diet or exercise (or both!) 
• Repeat photographs to document all your hard work!

What does it cost?

The cost of the clinic is £60.00, payable at the time of your pet’s first appointment.

Duration is six-months (one visit per month). 

At the end of this period, should your pet require ongoing weight management, then you can purchase another six-months Weight Clinic package. 

The face value of this number of nurse consultations is £200!

To be eligible for the clinic and these subsidised consult fees, you must buy your pet’s food from us, and agree to the terms and conditions of the clinic by signing our ’Weight Clinic Consent Form’.

An additional saving, if you are a member of our Pet Health Club, is that all recommended food is available to you at COST PRICE! Loyalty schemes on recommended food are also available.

Please complete our Weight Clinic Questionnaire prior to your consultation.

Information, advice and support to help during this very difficult time.

We're also a Platinum accredited practice in terms of dealing with pet bereavement, as awarded by Compassion Understood. 

Find Vets - Compassion Understood

Find out more here