Practice Guide
Index
Your Pet's Health
We are pleased to welcome you and your pet to Lincvet and to provide you with this online guide to assist you in caring for your pet throughout its life. The contents include information on the many veterinary services we are able to provide and general advice on most of the main issues affecting the health and welfare of your pet.
Our aim is to provide the best possible healthcare and treatment for companion animals in a friendly and supportive environment. We are as concerned to prevent disease or spot it early, as we are to treat problems when they occur.
The prime message of this guide is to emphasise the importance of bringing your pet to us for the annual vaccination booster which includes a complete physical examination and health check. This is an important opportunity for you to discuss routine health issues such as worming, flea control, dental care, diet and any other health worries you have experienced with your pet over the previous twelve months.
If your pet has passed middle age, please ask us about routine health screening for older pets. Modern technology has enabled us to perform these tests in our own laboratory rapidly, accurately and at a very reasonable cost. Whilst we always hope to report a clean bill of health these tests can sometimes reveal significant problems developing in an apparently healthy pet. (top)
Spotting health problems
Pets cannot tell us when they are feeling unwell.
Many serious problems begin as subtle changes of behaviour such as;- increased thirst, reluctance to exercise, moping about the house and many more. Cats in particular will often only show signs of chronic pain by becoming quiet and withdrawn. Most changes of behaviour occur for a reason and may indicate a health problem.
The moral is, if you are worried that your pet is "just not right", get your pet checked. It may be ill and the illness will probably be treatable (top)
Speaking to your vet
If you wish to speak to your vet on the telephone, it is normally possible to do this by arrangement with the Receptionist. It would be extremely helpful when you ring to tell the Receptionist the nature and urgency of your call because the Receptionists are unable to interrupt consultations and operations with non-urgent telephone calls. In such cases a more convenient time for you to ring will be suggested. (top)
Ringing for test results
When ringing for results, it is best if you ring in the afternoon after 3-00pm. In most cases the Receptionists can not give you the results over the telephone, this is because your vet usually needs to discuss not only the results, but also their significance, with you personally.
In most cases your vet will give you an indication when the results will be available when the samples are collected.(top)
Repeat Prescriptions & the Dispensing of Medicines
Lincvet Prescribing Policy As an alternative to medication dispensed by this practice, clients may request a written prescription and purchase the medication from another supplier. (This may not be appropriate if your pet is acutely ill or receiving in patient treatment) We are happy to inform you of the price of any medication that may be prescribed for your pet. We are only allowed to prescribe prescription only drugs (POM-Vs) for pets which are “under our care”, this means that we have to re- examine pets on long term treatment at regular intervals to fulfil this legal requirement. The length of the interval will depend on how ill the pet is and the type of medication it is receiving. The standard interval is 3 months but this may be varied depending on the nature of the medication and the stability of your pet’s condition. When the pet is re-examined a re-examination fee of £17 will be charged. The fee for writing a prescription to purchase the medication elsewhere will be £9.40. The current prices for the ten POM V veterinary products most commonly prescribed or supplied during August to November 2008 were: £ PLT tablet 0.63 Epiphen 60mg tablet 0.32 Prednisolone 5mg tablet 0.08 Rimadyl 50mg tablet 1.00 Felimazole 2.5mg tablet 0.33 Clavaseptin 50mg tablet 0.47 Ampicare 250mg capsule 0.22 Frusemide 40mg tablet 0.09 Norocarp 50mg 1.03 Epiphen 30mg tablet 0.16 All prices are per tablet (unless indicated otherwise) and include VAT which is currently 17.5% All prescribed drugs are subject to a dispensing fee of £3.53 per item to cover the cost of preparation, labelling and packaging. Further information on the price of medicines is available on request .
In order to avoid unnecessary journeys and possible long waits when you arrive, we strongly advise clients to order repeat prescriptions at least 24 hours in advance. (top)
Home Visits
We can arrange home visits where necessary and if a veterinary surgeon is available. Usually, however, treatment is more easily and effectively carried out at the clinic where the correct equipment and more staff are on hand. This is especially true in emergencies, such as road accidents, when prompt hospitalisation is essential and could be life saving. It takes twice as long to visit the scene of an accident and return to the surgery with the injured animal as it does for the owner to transport the pet straight to the surgery, if necessary using a blanket as a stretcher. During surgery hours we may be able to collect pets from home to be examined at one of the surgeries using our practice van service. (top)
Microchipping
The permanent identification of a pet may prove vital if it becomes lost or is stolen. The best method of permanent identification available at the moment is in the form of a small microchip implant which is injected under the skin on the back of a pet's neck and which can be read with a scanning device. The implant has a unique number which can be used to retrieve the pet's owner's name and address which are held on a national database, accessible 24 hours a day. We can implant your pet whilst you wait, the procedure can be performed quickly, painlessly and without the need for anaesthesia. The fee that you pay is both for the implant itself and for lifetime registration of the pet on the national database. This method of identification has been approved for use in the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) to enable dogs and cats to travel to and from certain European countries without the need to enter quarantine on their return to the UK.(top)
Pet Passports and the PETS scheme
It is now possible to take your pet abroad using a "Pet Passport". A "Pet Passport" acts as a travel document for your dog, cat or ferret when you travel within the European Community and some other countries. In all cases you are strongly advised to check that that the country you are travelling to, or through, is part of the scheme. If in doubt you should contact DEFRA ( www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm) or the authorities of the country you are hoping to enter. To get a "Pet Passport" a pet must be permanently identified with a microchip and then vaccinated against rabies a minimum of 21 days before the intended date of travel. Please note different rules apply outside the EC and you should get advice when travelling elsewhere.
A "Pet Passport" on its own is insufficient to re-import your pet back into the United Kingdom: dogs, cats and ferrets returning to the UK from abroad are required to spend 6 months in quarantine unless they can fulfil the additional requirements of the PETS scheme. To fulfil these requirements a pet must;- be permanently identified with a microchip and then vaccinated against rabies, 3-4 weeks after vaccination the pet has to be blood tested to check that vaccination has been effective. When the result is known the pet is issued with a "Pet Passport" proving that it has been both vaccinated and that it has passed the blood test. The PETS scheme operates within the EC and some other countries, see the DEFRA website ( www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm ) to check the list of participating countries as the list changes regularly.
There is a six month wait between the date the blood test is performed and the first day the pet can be re imported into the UK. The right to re-import a pet without it needing to go into quarantine lasts until the rabies booster vaccination date. If the rabies booster is given in time the pet can continue to re enter the UK indefinitely as long as its rabies boosters are kept up to date. If however a pet misses its rabies booster by as little as one day it has to have a rabies blood test 3-4 weeks after its late booster and it can't enter the UK without entering quarantine for 6 months after the date of this blood test.
All pets re-entering the UK under the PETS scheme must be treated by a vet against ticks and tapeworms, this treatment must take place between 24 and 48 hours before your pet is checked-in to travel on an approved route into the UK.
Facilities
It is our policy to provide continuing improvement in our facilities and in the standards of care available for your pet. All veterinary surgeons and nurses attend regular courses to increase their knowledge and keep themselves up to date with the most modern developments. We are fortunate to have nursing staff on the premises overnight to supervise the care of seriously ill in-patients.
The practice has a well equipped laboratory that is able to give rapid accurate results at all times of the day and night, routine test results are usually available on the same day.
Our main surgery at Friars Lane is well equipped with a wide range of modern diagnostic equipment including X Rays, ultrasound and ECG (electrocardiograph). (top)
Fees
Health care for animals requires a similar level of training, skill and hygiene as for humans. In addition to the normal costs of running a business, the costs of training and new equipment, as well as drugs, are extremely high. The diagnostic procedures and treatments available today are far in advance of even a few years ago but they are not cheap.
The level of service we provide can only be maintained by charging realistic fees.
In order to keep administrative costs under control we must insist that all fees are paid at the time of consultations or visits, or in the case of a pet requiring in-patient treatment at the time it is collected. Before expensive surgery is undertaken you may be asked for a deposit when your pet is admitted.
Please feel free to ask for an estimate of the costs for any procedure we have recommended for your pet. We are very happy to do this for you, but please remember that it is not always possible to foresee the exact nature and extent of the treatment required before it has been completed. All our estimates include VAT which is chargeable on all services and drugs.
We are happy to accept cash, cheques with a cheque guarantee card, most debit cards and most types of credit cards. (top)
Pet Health Insurance
Fees can mount up for complex surgery or long periods of treatment. We strongly recommend that all out clients take out pet insurance which will help to pay for veterinary fees if your pet is injured or becomes ill. Many pet insurance policies also offer other related cover, for example third party insurance, loss or theft etc. The cost per week is far less than the cost of feeding your pet and ideally insurance should be taken out early in your pet's life. Cover is usually possible throughout a pet's life but insurance companies are reluctant to take on elderly pets that were previously uninsured. If you have to make a claim, the insurance company will usually expect you to pay for some of the veterinary fees, this is known as the excess charge and will vary from policy to policy. Some companies now offer reductions for multi-pet households.
Our endeavour is to provide the best possible standard of care for all our patients insured or not. Realistically, however, we appreciate that this can be expensive and that it can be traumatic for all concerned when a pet's health is compromised by financial considerations. We sincerely believe that pet health insurance makes very good sense and does offer value for money.
Although we are not directly involved in the selling of insurance, proposal leaflets are available at reception. (top)
PDSA
Lincvet is a PDSA Pet Aid Practice which means we are able to offer free treatment to clients who are in receipt of either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. Clients who qualify can complete an application form nominating one of their pets to receive free treatment under the Pet Aid scheme. Unfortunately only one pet per household can receive free treatment and the range of treatments available is limited. A full list of treatments that are not included is sent to all applicants. Generally speaking routine preventative treatments are not included i.e. neutering, teeth cleaning and vaccinations.
Application forms are available at all our surgeries.
The PDSA is a national charity whose aim is to provide veterinary treatment for pets whose owners would not otherwise be able to afford it. It is wholly reliant on donations from the general public and pet owners who use their facilities. (top)
Vaccinating your pet
There are several preventable dangerous diseases that can infect our pets and most of them can be fatal. All of them may cause great suffering and can result in permanent health problems or even death.
Due to widespread vaccination, outbreaks of these diseases are now seen less frequently but the diseases have not died out.
Where as it is true that a pet's immunity to a disease may last beyond the recommended booster date, there is no quick and easy way to monitor that immunity. NOT vaccinating regularly is a recipe for disaster. (top)
Vaccinating your dog or puppy
We strongly recommend that all puppies are vaccinated against a combination of;
1.Distemper (Hardpad)
2.Parvo virus
3.Hepatitis
4.Leptospirosis
5.Parainfluenza
The sooner you start vaccinating your puppy the better because the earlier it can go out, safely, to socialise with people and other dogs the easier it will be to train later. The first vaccination is also an important chance for us to examine your new puppy to check for any defects or problems that could affect its health in the future.
Vaccination consists of a course of two injections. The first injection can be given from six weeks of age. The second injection is given two to three weeks later when the puppy is at least ten weeks old.
Once the puppy has received both injections it should be confined at home for at least fourteen days to give the vaccine time to work. Unvaccinated puppies should be kept away from other dogs as much as possible. Adult dogs in the same household are unlikely to be a source of infection but even they should be kept away from strange dogs to avoid bringing infections home.
Dogs of all ages need an annual booster vaccination to keep their protection up to full strength. The annual booster is a good chance for us to give your dog a thorough check up, often we can spot and prevent problems before they become serious. (top)
Kennel Cough Vaccination
Kennel cough is not one disease, it embodies a large number of different infections all causing very similar symptoms. Typical kennel cough causes a dry hacking cough which is made worse by excitement.
The commonest cause of kennel cough is a bacteria, Bordetella bronchiseptica. Many boarding kennels require vaccination against kennel cough before they will accept a dog for boarding.
Dogs are routinely vaccinated against kennel cough using Nobivac KC which is applied as nose drops rather than as a conventional injection.
Dogs should be vaccinated at least five days before they are due in kennels. If your dog is in kennels regularly an annual booster is required.
Vaccination does not give protection against all the causes of kennel cough, only the most common cause. (top)
Vaccinating your cat or kitten
Cat Flu and Feline Enteritis
Most kittens are routinely vaccinated against cat flu and feline enteritis. Vaccination against these diseases is usually a minimum requirement for any cat about to enter a cattery.
Cat flu is not one disease but two; Feline Viral Rhinitis and Feline Calici Virus. Both viruses cause severe cold-like symptoms. Cats that contract cat flu are often quite ill but few die of it. Cat flu is a significant problem because it is very common and very infectious.
Feline enteritis is much less common than cat flu, however it is a severe and frequently fatal infection that can affect cats of all ages but particularly kittens.
Both diseases can be prevented by an initial course of two injections followed by regular yearly boosters. Kittens can have their first injection from 9 weeks of age. The second injection is given 3 to 4 weeks later.
It takes about 7 days for the vaccine to work therefore kittens must be kept indoors away from other cats for that time.
An annual booster injection is essential to keep your cat's immunity up to scratch. (top)
Feline Leukaemia Virus
A recent survey in Britain revealed that nearly 25% of ill cats and 10% of apparently healthy cats were infected with the Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV).
· FeLV causes a number of disease problems in pet cats;
· Leukaemia
· Malignant tumours
· Anaemia
· Immuno-suppression
Feline Leukaemia is a difficult disease to diagnose because many infected cats will appear healthy for several years before they become ill. During this time these cats are infectious to other cats and the infection may spread rapidly through a neighbourhood or household. FeLV is not transmissible to humans. FeLV infection has no treatment and is eventually fatal.
FeLV can be tested for by a blood test that can be performed rapidly and is extremely accurate, the results are usually available within 24 hours.
Although FeLV is incurable it is preventable by vaccination
Cats of all ages can be vaccinated against FeLV.
The vaccine will not harm cats that have already contracted the infection but it will not cure them or prevent the eventual onset of the disease. Therefore we strongly recommend that cats are blood tested before vaccination especially adult cats of unknown medical history.
An initial course of two injections with 15 to 21 days between them is followed by annual booster vaccinations. (top)
Vaccinating rabbits
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis has been present in wild rabbits for many years but it is now becoming much more common in pet rabbits.
The virus that causes myxomatosis is spread by the rabbit flea and other biting insects, pet rabbits don't have to come into direct contact with wild rabbits in order to become infected.
The disease is mainly seen in the summer and early autumn when the weather is warm enough for the insects that spread it to be active.
The symptoms of myxomatosis are characteristic; a snuffly nose and runny eyes change over the course of a few days to become severe breathing problems and swelling of the head and genitals. The disease is incurable even if it is diagnosed very early. Most rabbits that become infected are humanely destroyed to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Myxomatosis is preventable... by vaccination. Rabbits from 6 weeks of age may be vaccinated once a year in the spring or early summer to gain full protection for the time of greatest risk, or twice a year to ensure full protection all year round in areas of high risk. (top)
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease of Rabbits
Viral haemorrhagic disease is a rapidly fatal infection that affects all rabbits over weaning age.
VHD was first introduced into the UK in 1993, since then it has spread throughout the country. The commonest symptoms are a high temperature, not eating, collapse and bleeding from body openings. Death is inevitable and usually occurs within 12 hours.
There is no treatment, the only protection is vaccination.
All types of rabbits over 8 weeks of age, except pregnant does, can be vaccinated. An initial vaccination is followed by a booster once a year. (top)
Important notes about all vaccinations
Immunity following the first vaccination does not last for life. Re vaccination is vital.
A small number of animals may fail to respond to vaccination
Occasional hypersensitivity reactions may occur. If you pet becomes ill soon after vaccination seek immediate veterinary advice.
Some pets may feel "off colour" for a day or two, 2 - 3 days after vaccination and a few animals may show some mild reaction at the site of the injection. If such signs are severe or prolonged let us know. (top)
Worms
Regular worming is not only good for your pet's health but is essential in the fight to prevent people, especially children, from becoming infected with potentially harmful parasites.
Adult dogs and cats should be wormed every three months with a good quality wormer that kills both roundworms and tapeworms, we currently recommend Drontal Plus for dogs and Drontal Cat for cats.
Puppies and kittens should be wormed more frequently for the first six months of their lives starting at about 3-4 weeks of age. This is particularly the case for puppies as these are frequently infested with the dog roundworm Toxocara canis which can infect humans, especially children. (top)
Fleas
Many people experience difficulty with eradicating fleas from their pets and their home. There are a number of very effective and safe products available to combat the problem. The most effective products for use on your pet are only available on prescription. This means that you and your pet may need an appointment before these products can be prescribed for the first time. In most cases repeat prescriptions are possible without us seeing the pet again subject to the limits outlined in the part of this booklet entitled "Repeat prescriptions".
Most people who have a problem with fleas infesting their pet will also have flea eggs and larvae in their carpets and furniture. In order for treatment of the pet to succeed, treatment of the family home may well be necessary. We stock a range of products for treating your house too and we would be happy to advise you on a product suitable for solving your particular problem. (top)
Operations
Animals for routine operations are usually admitted between 8-30 and 9-30 am at Friars Lane. (8-00 and 9-30 am at Birchwood and Wragby Road). We can admit animals at other times by arrangement. At this time you will be asked to read and sign a consent form. If there is anything on the form you do not understand or disagree with please tell us immediately. If you have any questions, or would like a detailed estimate of costs, please feel free to ask the vet or nurse at this time.
Most animals have their operations in the morning and will be ready to go home the same day. Please ring the surgery to check whether your pet is ready before you come to collect him or her. The best time to ring is after 2-00pm.
Animals may be collected up to 6-30pm each evening although you may be asked to come earlier if your vet needs to discuss any findings or results with you.
Most routine operations are performed under general anaesthesia and this requires starvation of your pet prior to its admission. Unless advised by your vet differently, you should not feed your pet after 7-00pm the night before it is to be admitted, take its water bowl away before you go to bed and give it nothing to eat or drink in the morning.
In the case of cats you must keep them indoors the night before their operation and supply them with a litter tray if necessary. If you have a dog please take it for a short walk to encourage it to empty its bowels and bladder before you bring it to the surgery.
We do expect payment of the account for any work done at the time that you collect your pet. (See section on payment)(top)
After an operation: Most pets will be well enough to go home on the same day as their operation. They will be conscious but often a bit sleepy. It would be unwise to offer your pet a heavy meal as soon as you get it home. Offer it water initially and if this causes no problems give it a small meal of its usual food, unless you have been given more specific advice about feeding.
Keep your pet quiet and warm, but not hot. Take a dog out to the toilet but keep it on a lead and only walk the minimum distance to achieve the purpose of the outing. Keep all cats in overnight until they have fully recovered; you may have to provide a litter tray.
All pets with stitches go home wearing an elizabethan collar to prevent them damaging their wounds or eating their stitches. Please try to be patient whilst your pet gets used to the collar.
Try to keep bandages and dressings clean and dry, sometimes you might have to put a bandaged foot in a plastic bag if the grass is wet. Check all bandages and dressings daily for signs of chafing, movement, swelling of the tissues around it or nasty smells. If in doubt make an appointment to have the bandage checked as soon as possible. (top)
Neutering
Bitches: Spaying has many positive health benefits for your pet. Early spaying can almost eliminate the chances of mammary (breast) cancer in later life. Serious uterine diseases, which are common in older bitches, and can be life threatening are also prevented.
The most obvious advantage is of course that it prevents unwanted pregnancies and the inconvenience of your bitch coming into season twice a year.
We like to spay bitches at six months of age or three months after any season. (top)
Dog castration: Dogs can be castrated at any time after they are six months of age. Castration is often helpful in reducing certain types of aggression, urine marking and unwanted displays of male dog sexual behaviour. Castration may also reduce the possibility of prostatic disease in later life.
A male dog does not become sterile the moment it is castrated, live sperm can be stored in the dog for some weeks after the operation. This should be borne in mind if you decide to use castration as a means of family planning when you own both a dog and a bitch.
This practice will not perform vasectomies on male dogs as a means of family planning. (top)
Cats: Cats, both male and female, can be neutered from the age of six months. Spaying female cats prevents pregnancy and also saves them the distress of being in season every three weeks throughout the spring and summer months.
Castrating male cats has a number of benefits. Uncastrated cats' urine is extremely pungent which, added to the tendency of uncastrated tom cats to “spray” in the house, can make them difficult to live with. In addition uncastrated tom cats have more fights and more road accidents and as a consequence have a significantly poorer life expectancy compared with other cats. (top)
Rabbits: Neutering male and female rabbits aids in the prevention of antisocial behaviour such as fighting and aggression. Unneutered female rabbits have a high incidence of cancer of the ovaries and uterus. (top)
Neutering and weight gain: It is quite common for neutered animals to put on weight, sometimes startling amounts. This gain is due to them having a lower metabolic rate after the operation. This weight gain is not inevitable if you reduce your pet's daily food intake by at least 25% from the day it comes home from the surgery. Monitoring your pet's weight in the weeks after will enable you to make any necessary adjustments. (top)
Pregnancy diagnosis in bitches
Pregnancy in bitches can often be confirmed by a physical examination between 3 and 4 weeks after mating. Later in pregnancy, or if confirmation is necessary, pregnancy can be detected using ultrasound. We have a modern veterinary ultrasound machine which can both detect pregnancy and confirm that the puppies are alive and well. Ultrasound is extremely safe for both the bitch and her puppies. We are happy to examine bitches for pregnancy using ultrasound from the sixth week of pregnancy onwards.
Ultrasound examinations are not an accurate method of determining how many puppies are present. (top)
Dental care
Dental care for your pet is as important as for yourself. We recommend regular check ups of teeth and gums for all pets. Most dental disease is avoidable and bad breath is not normal: it usually indicates a build up of tartar, with associated infection and gum disease, which can cause discomfort and pain. Ultimately serious gum disease will lead to wholesale loss of teeth. Whilst dental decay (caries) is rare in cats and dogs, a build up of tartar on the teeth is inevitable and dental treatment will required sooner or later in most animals. We are well equipped to provide a range of dental services including ultrasonic cleaning, polishing, X ray investigations and extractions under general anaesthesia. We also stock a range of products to help in the prevention of further dental problems. (top)
Elderly pets
It is normal for pets to slow down as they get older.
It is hard to say when a pet becomes elderly, it varies widely from individual to individual, from species to species and from breed to breed. As a rule of thumb we can class dogs over 10 years and cats over 12 years as "elderly". Many elderly animals will suffer from the gradual onset of organ failure although they will appear perfectly normal on the outside. Often by the time they become ill it is too late to do anything to prolong their lives.
On the principle that prevention is better than a cure we are able to offer routine blood screening to older pets. These tests might show up signs of preventable or treatable diseases long before the pet becomes ill. The tests are particularly useful prior to performing surgery on older patients so that we can take extra precautions with pets we know to be unwell.
Arthritis is particularly common, especially in dogs. Arthritis due to age cannot be cured but it can be made much less painful for the sufferer by the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Modern anti-inflammatory drugs are very safe and effective and can considerably improve an elderly pet's quality of life.
Our primary aim when treating older pets is to improve their quality of life whilst causing as little distress to them as possible. We will always try to do what is best for both you and your pet by offering and discussing as wide a range of options as possible. (top)
Final care
In many elderly pets' lives there comes a point at which, despite everyone’s best efforts, their quality of life becomes too poor for them to continue. At this time a decision has to be made to bring their lives to an end in order to prevent them suffering. Making this decision is always going to be difficult even when an animal is clearly very ill.
In all cases if you are considering this course of action you should make an appointment to discuss it with us first. Not everything is as bad as it seems and a problem shared very often can be a problem halved.
Please tell the receptionist the reason for making your appointment, we usually endeavour to make such appointments when we will not be busy. Then we will have more time to discuss things with you and hopefully you will not be kept waiting in a crowded room full of people and pets.
Another question you will have to face at this difficult time is what to do with your pet's remains. It is often extremely difficult to make a decision of this nature at a time of great emotional upheaval. However it is possible, especially in the case of an elderly pet, to consider the question beforehand. We are always available to give advice and help you in this matter. The main options available to you are; burial at home or cremation. The pet crematorium is able to offer two levels of service; simple cremation without return of your pet's ashes or cremation with return of your pet's ashes in an appropriate urn or wood casket.
Finally it is important to know that it is normal, acceptable and healthy to grieve for the loss of a pet that you have loved and cared for over the years. Every one who works at Lincvet knows and respects this, not least because we all have pets of our own. (top)
Complaints
We aim to provide a high standard of pet health care that closely matches the expectations of our clients. However if you are dissatisfied with the service you receive from any member of the practice team please contact one of the partners either by writing or by telephone. We aim to investigate your complaint properly and give an appropriate response as soon as possible, usually within a week. (top)
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Practice Standards Scheme
This practice is proud to be an approved member of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme. We have been accredited as a RCVS General Practice - Small Animal. This means that we have achieved high standards of hygiene, health and safety, clinical governance and the facilities we provide to name just a few of the many criteria.
The practice will be reinspected every four years and we will be subject to spot checks in the meantime, so we have have to keep on our toes.
The Practice Standards Scheme is a voluntary initiative- not all practices are part of it yet. RCVS accreditation means that as a client you can rest assured hat our practice offers a high quality of care- in those bits of the practice you can see- and in those that you can't