Committed to you and your pets to offer you excellent service

RCVS Accredited practice

The RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) is a voluntary initiative to accredit veterinary practices in the UK. By the setting of standards and the carrying out of regular inspections, the scheme aims to promote and maintain the highest standards of veterinary care.

It offers peace of mind to clients of accredited practices and more informed choice to the animal-owning public.

To become accredited, practices volunteer for vigorous inspection every four years and will have met a range of minimum standards.

We are proud that The Veterinary Centre provides the highest level of care and has therefore been awarded as a RCVS accredited Practice.

Vaccinations

Why are vaccinations important?

Pets can and do become seriously ill or die from infectious diseases that could have been prevented through vaccination every year, for example we see dogs with parvo virus 3-4 times per year and cats with cat flu every month.

Regular vaccination can prevent your dog from infectious diseases such as canine Parvovirus, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, canine parainfluenza and rabies, your cat from infectious diseases such as cat ‘flu’, feline leukemia virus and feline infectious enteritis, your rabbit from myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD).

Primary Vaccination

For the first few weeks of life, your pet is usually protected against disease by the immunity they receive in their mother´s milk. Gradually this protection decreases, and the maternal immunity declines to a sufficiently low level for the animal to no longer be protected. This allows the animal to respond to vaccination and so at this stage it is possible to start the vaccination programme. At The Veterinary Centre, we recommend a puppy is vaccinated from the age of 8 weeks, a kitten from the age of 9 weeks and a rabbit from the age of 6 weeks.

Annual Vaccination

Many people believe that if they have their pet vaccinated when they are young the immunity they receive will protect them for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately this is not always the case. After the last injection, the immune level reaches a peak and then begins to decline. After a year, the level of protection offered to you and your pet may no longer be sufficient, particularly against leptospirosis. Re-vaccination stimulates the immune response so that protection is maintained for another year. Without these yearly vaccinations, your pet�s immune system may not be able to protect from serious, often fatal disease. Therefore, maintaining your pet´s annual booster vaccination is vital.

Consultations

Consultations are offered by appointment, throughout the day with a Veterinary Surgeon. Our experienced Veterinary Surgeons are able to advise you on all aspects of your pet´s health as well as diagnosing their illness.

Nurse Clinics

Our qualified nurses receive extra training to provide a range of services.

These include flea/worming treatments, dressing changes, post-operative checks and suture removal. They are also happy to provide advice on dental care, nutrition, grooming, puppy training and micro-chipping Nurses also hold special clinics, which include, weight care, diabetic clinic, adolescent and geriatric clinics.

Micro chipping

This is a permanent form of pet identification. It involves a tiny chip (no bigger than a grain of rice) being injected under the skin in the same way that your pet is vaccinated. It is completely safe and causes no discomfort to your pet. Your pet can be micro chipped from 8 weeks of age. We recommend that all pets no matter what species, are micro chipped as it greatly increases the chance of your pet being reunited with his family should he stray or get lost.

Neutering

At The Veterinary Centre, we recommend your pet is neutered as soon as he/she is physically mature. We can neuter female dogs from 5 months of age, greatly reducing the risk of unwanted or false pregnancies, mammary tumours and serious womb infections called pyometra. Male dogs can be neutered from 6 months of age; this can help with dominance issues, straying and reduce the risk of your dog developing prostate problems when he is older.

Both male and female cats can be neutered from 4 months of age. In male cats this can help reduce the desire to stray, urine spray marking and fighting with other tomcats, and the risk of unwanted litters with females.

Pet Travel Scheme

PETS was set up to allow cats/dogs and ferrets to visit certain countries, with a passport, without the need for quarantine on their return. All EU and many non-EU countries are included in the PETS scheme.

Please call our receptionists for further information or call PETS helpline Tel: 0870241 1710

Worming and Flea control

At The Veterinary Centre we offer a variety of safe, effective products to meet your needs in protecting your pet against parasites. Our reception staff and nurses can give you free advice on all our products.