General Services
Consultations and Appointments
This means we have enough time to fully examine your pet, listen to any concerns, decide on a treatment plan and answer any questions.
It also allows us to go slowly with pets who are nervous or anxious and gives them the time they need to relax.
Some of our general services:
Vaccinations
Annual vaccinations for your pet are very important. Not only do they protect against some very serious diseases but it means they have a full health check from our vets.
Protect Dogs against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis and Kennel Cough; Cats against Flu, Enteritis and Leukaemia and Rabbits against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease.
Do I need to vaccinate my pet every year?
Yes, you need to get annual booster vaccinations for your pets once they have had their initial vaccinations. This maintain’s your pet’s protection from harmful disease.
Not all vaccinations are required every year, as some are needed every three. This is why it is important to keep up to date with vaccinations and ensure you maintain a record of them.
Is it okay not to vaccinate your pet?
Not vaccinating your pet means that they are unprotected against infectious diseases. If you don’t vaccinate your pet and fail to keep up with their boosters, it means they are at risk of catching dangerous bacterial and viral illnesses. This is why it is recommended that puppies, kittens and young animals are not allowed out until they have been vaccinated.
What happens if you miss a pet’s booster?
If your pet misses their annual booster vaccination, they may need to re-start their primary vaccinations again by undergoing a course of two injections. It may be possible to give your pet their booster still, but it will depend on how late it is.
When should I get my pet vaccinated?
Initial vaccinations should be given when your pet is 6 to 8 weeks old. This will involve two injections, 2 to 4 weeks apart. After this, they should get their annual booster to maintain their protection.
How much do pet vaccinations cost?
The cost of vaccinations will depend on your pet and whether they are getting their initial vaccinations or their boosters. We can discuss the cost with you prior to booking. We also offer a pet health plan that includes the cost of your pet’s booster vaccinations to help you spread the cost of preventative treatment.
Nurse Clinics
Pet health and care advice is also on offer with our nurses, and we offer many regular routine pet care services. Some clinics do require a small charge.
While our nurse team are unable to make a definitive diagnosis, they can refer you to a veterinary surgeon if a problem is noted, by having regular free appointments with our nurse problems can be caught early.
What is a vet nurse clinic?
Vet nurse clinics are a great way to get advice about your pets and to have them checked over for more routine things. Vet clinics can cover weight checks, dental care and other routine procedures that help to keep your pets happy and healthy.
What services can veterinary nurses provide?
Veterinary nurses can provide a range of treatments and services for your pets, including:
- Administering medications
- Providing behaviour and training advice
- Weight checks and weight management
- Worming and flea treatments
- Vaccinations
- Microchip implantation and information
Parasite Control
We have a wide range of products that will prevent both internal and external parasitic infestations in your pets including treatments for fleas, ticks, worms and many more. They are all extremely effective, very safe, and easy to give!
Every pet is an individual when it comes to parasite control and what they need will depend on their lifestyle and habits. So please ask us during a consultation, or at reception, and we can create a program tailored just for them!
How do you control parasites in pets?
Regular preventative treatment is key for controlling parasites like fleas, worms and ticks in pets. If a treatment hasn’t been used or is not effective, treatment by your vet may be required to remove parasites before preventative treatment can be used in the future.
What is a common parasite for animals?
There are several parasites that can affect your pets, which is why preventative treatment is important and why you should seek vet treatment if you suspect an infection. Common parasites include:
- Fleas
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
- Tapeworms
- Coccidia
- Giardia
- Ticks
How often should you deworm your pet?
Typically, you should deworm your pet every three months. However, certain lifestyles may mean you need to provide deworming treatments more regularly. Your vet will be able to tell you the best course of treatment.
Where do pets get parasites from?
Pets can get fleas from other animals and can get intestinal worms when they ingest faeces or soil that contains eggs or larvae that have been passed from infected animals. As you can’t be sure if your pet has eaten something infected, regular preventative treatment is important.
Illness and Disease
When your pet is poorly, our long consultation times mean we can take a thorough history and perform a complete ‘nose-to-tail’ examination to help decide what is wrong.
We have a large selection of medications on hand in the practice so treatment can be started straight away and we are able to run many different diagnostic tests in-house, meaning if the problem isn’t obvious, we can start getting to the bottom straight away.
What does a vet treat?
Vets can treat a lot of illnesses and injuries, diagnose health problems, provide preventative treatments and perform surgeries. Our skilled vet team is here to look after your pets at all times, helping to keep them healthy and deal with any injuries or problems that arise.
How do vets treat pets?
The treatment that vets provide for your pets depends entirely on the injury, illness or disease they are diagnosed with. Vets will start by performing a health check and looking at any areas of concern. They may perform tests to get a clearer idea of what the issue is and will then discuss the treatment options available with you before moving forward.
Behaviour and Training
Whether young or old – all dogs can benefit from learning some basic commands. Our staff can help you with the basics of how to train your dog but we also recommend dog training classes, especially for more advanced methods such as clicker and cognitive training.
What is the best way to train a dog?
The best way to train a dog is with lots of patience and positive reinforcement. Rewarding and praising them for doing what you want them to do will reinforce good behaviour. It is important not to get angry when they don’t do the right thing.
If you need some advice on training your dog, our team can help. Training classes can also be beneficial, especially if you don’t have experience with dog training.
What is the best age to train a dog?
The best time to start training your dog is when they are 7 to 8 weeks old. However, you can train dogs at any age. You may find that training takes longer at certain ages (such as when dogs reach their teenage phase) but using the right techniques will get results.
Do all dogs need training?
Training is important for all dogs as it ensures they understand how to act around people and other animals. Training also provides mental stimulation for your dog, which is important for their happiness. All dogs are trainable and training is the best way to ensure they learn positive behaviours.
Is it ever too late to start training a dog?
No, it’s never too late to start training your dog. Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, they will benefit from training. With plenty of patience, you will be able to train them. While puppies will often pick things up faster, older dogs tend to have more self-control and a longer attention span so can also learn.
Keep your pet healthy and happy.
Laboratory
Our extensive onsite laboratory allows us to get vital test results within 15 minutes and this can often prove to be lifesaving in an emergency situation.
We are able to run blood and urine tests looking for a wide range of problems and diseases. We also have an in-house microscope that allows us to examine a wide range of samples.
We also work closely with one of the leading veterinary laboratories in the UK. If we run tests that need more specialist analysis, a courier will collect them the same day and most results are back within 48 hours. We are also able to discuss the results with the experts at the lab, to ensure your pet receives the very best, and most appropriate, treatment.
Our Facilities
The facilities include; full range of blood analysis machines (biochemistry, electrolytes and haematology) and in-house tests for common infectious diseases such as lungworm infection.
Microscopes are available for “on the spot analysis” of samples from our patients.
Our Advice
We advise that animals who are to undergo a non-routine procedure have a pre-anaesthetic blood test on the day of surgery.
This gives us an extra margin of safety, guiding us if increased support will be needed during the anaesthetic procedure.
Microchipping
Microchipping your pet gives them the best chance of being correctly identified and reunited with you if they were to become lost or stolen. Dogs, Cats and Rabbits can all be microchipped. Since April 2016 it has been a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped with the owner’s details up to date at all times.
What is a pet microchip?
How do microchips work?
When the microchip scanner is passed over the animal’s back radio waves from the scanner activate the microchip allowing its unique number to be read. This unique identification number is registered alongside all of your details on the national computer database.
What are the benefits of microchipping?
- It is the most effective and secure way to permanently identify your pet.
- All stray pets are routinely scanned for microchips by Vets, Dog wardens, RSPCA officers etc. The presence of a chip ensures their quick return home.
- Although some requirement for travelling with your pet to an EU country or Northern Ireland have changed it is still a requirement to have a microchip. For further details please call us for any guidance and support needed in relation to these changes.
How long do microchips last in pets?
Microchips are permanent and will last for the whole of your pet’s life. This means that so long as you keep your contact details up to date in the database, the microchip can also be used to find you if your pet ever gets lost.
Do microchips have GPS?
No, your pet’s microchips do not have GPS or any form of tracking. When scanned, they will provide a number that can be entered into a database to find their owner’s details. This is why it is important to keep the details up to date. You can get GPS animal collars and pet trackers if you want to track your pet’s location.
What are the side effects of microchipping pets?
In most cases, there are no side effects when having a pet microchipped. In a very small number of cases, pets can experience hair loss at the implantation site, experience swelling or get an infection. If your pet shows any signs of these issues after getting their microchip, your vet will be able to advise on how to deal with them.
What information is stored on a pet’s microchip?
The only information stored on your pet’s microchip is an identity number. All of the owner’s details are found in a database once you register the microchip and add your details. You have access to your information held on the database so can update it easily if you move or if there is a change of ownership.
Does it hurt to microchip a pet?
Microchipping your pet is quick and painless. The small microchip is injected under their skin using a sterile needle, so won’t cause any more discomfort than their vaccinations. There is not usually any pain after having the microchip implanted and your pet won’t be able to feel it.
Prescriptions
We keep a wide range of medications and food in stock, so your pet doesn’t have to wait to start the vital treatment they need.
However, for some of our patients on long-term medications, owners prefer to source drugs from online pharmacies. We understand this and are happy to write a prescription for you. We simply cannot compete with the prices on the internet, they are able to buy in massive bulk and have extremely low overheads.
Pets who are on long-term medications need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are healthy and that the drugs are working as they should.
The frequency of these consultations is decided by our vets but the average is once every 3 months. If your pet comes in for another reason, for example, a vaccination, during this time, this counts as a check-up. They will not need to be seen again for a specific medication consultation.
Prescription Charges
There is a charge of £16.50 per written prescription and this reflects the time it takes our vets to check your pet’s history, ensure the medications are still the right ones and they are working properly, check the dosages and complete and sign the forms.
Generic
For more generic medication such as flea and worming treatments, the frequency for checks is every 6 months provided your pet is well, which fits nicely with annual vaccinations and an additional 6-month check.
Keep your pet healthy and happy.
Blood Pressure
Croft Veterinary has various blood pressure machines including the latest veterinary technology – High Definition Oscillometric (HDO). There are various underlying diseases that can alter an animal’s blood pressure, which in turn can lead to damage of the internal organs.
How do you measure blood pressure in a pet?
Your pet can have their blood pressure measured using a cuff, just like people do when they go to the doctor. When your pet is nice and calm, we’ll put the cuff on one of their legs and measure their blood pressure. This can be done fairly quickly and won’t cause distress to your pet.
Why do we monitor blood pressure in animals?
Blood pressure can be a good indication as to whether there is an underlying illness that needs to be treated. High blood pressure can be a result of several illnesses that require treatment. Monitoring blood pressure can help with diagnosis but is also important after diagnosis to avoid additional health problems.
Electrocardiographs (ECGs)
The Clinic utilises several ECG machines including a digital PC based 6 lead system which allows immediate access to specialist opinions via telemedicine. An ECG is performed to monitor the electrical activity of the heart.
How is an ECG done on an animal?
Just as with people, performing an ECG on a pet requires electrodes to be placed in certain positions on their skin. This will measure the electrical activity of their heart.
Are pets sedated for an ECG?
Usually, your pet doesn’t need to be sedated in order to have an ECG performed.
How long does an ECG take?
An ECG is a relatively routine procedure that can be performed quite quickly. Typically, it should only take 5 to 10 minutes to perform an ECG and interpret the results.
Why is an ECG needed?
An ECG lets us see your pet’s heart rate, which will show if their heart is beating too quickly, too slowly or at a normal pace. An irregular heartbeat or their heating beating quickly or slowly can be a sign of an underlying illness that needs to be diagnosed and treated.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound scan, which can sometimes be called a sonogram in the human field, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a computer image of the tissues of the body. We can then use these images to assess the condition of the internal organs such as the heart or kidneys or sometimes to look if one of our patients has swallowed something that they shouldn’t have.
We have a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine that we are able to use to diagnose many different problems in pets. Scans can be performed at either of our branches and we can look at internal organs, diagnose pregnancies and perform heart examinations.
If your pet has a scan, the hair will be clipped away from the relevant area of the body and in some cases they may need a mild sedation. It is important to remove the hair because otherwise we can’t get a good contact and picture from the scan.
Digital Radiography
We have advanced digital x-ray machines at both our practices. This means we are able to quickly and safely take x-rays of your pet to diagnose a wide range of conditions, from broken bones to tumours.
Your pet will need to be either sedated or under a general anaesthetic for x-rays because we need them to stay extremely still and they often need to be positioned very carefully to ensure we get the right views.
We are also able to send these x-rays to world leading experts, if required, for their analysis and opinions. This is often extremely useful for your pet’s diagnosis, as it means we are able to have an assessment and start appropriate treatment straight away.