FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is
a Veterinary Hospital ?
Do I
Need to Make an Appointment ?
Can I
Have a Home Visit ?
What Do I Do
if my Pet is Ill Overnight or at Weekends ?
Can I
Visit my Pet in Hospital ?
What Vaccinations Does my Dog Need ?
What
Vaccinations Does my Cat Need ?
What
Vaccinations Does my Rabbit Need ?
What
are the Benefits of Having my Pet Neutered ?
What
is Pet Insurance ?
How Do I Take My Pet Abroad ?
What
Should I do if my Pet Has Fleas ?
How Often
Should I Worm my Pet ?
What Fees
can I Expect and How can I Pay ?
What Are Second Opinions ?
What Are Referrals?
What is a Veterinary Hospital ?
In order to be granted the title "Veterinary Hospital" a surgery must be
inspected regularly and meet strict criteria laid down by the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Hospital
Association. These include rules governing the structure and design of
the building (e.g. separate kennelling facilities for dogs and cats,
suitable flooring, disabled access, emergency power and lighting etc.),
the equipment provided (x-ray facilities, endoscopes etc.) and the
provision of nursing care for in-patients 24 hours a day. The Walnut
Tree Hospital was opened in October 1999 and was the first veterinary
surgery in Milton Keynes to be granted hospital status. It is at present
the only veterinary premises in, or about Milton Keynes which has
passed these very strict standards. This enables us to call ourselves a
Veterinary Hospital.
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Do I need to make an appointment?
Yes. We run all of our surgeries by
appointments only. This helps to reduce owner waiting times that
can also be stressful to their pets. Genuine emergencies will be
treated without an appointment.
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Can I have a home visit ?
Yes. Home visits can be arranged where
necessary. It is important to remember that essential facilities
are kept at the surgeries and it may be necessary to transport your pet
to one of them for treatment. We arrange most visits around
consultation times so we are unable to always provide exact visit times.
Due to time spent travelling, home visits are more expensive than
surgery appointments. In most cases we believe it is preferable
for an owner and their pet to try to arrange transport to one of our surgeries
whenever possible. Many taxi companies will transport pets with owners if pre-warned.
Milton Keynes is currently lucky to have a
voluntary Animal Ambulance Service running to help people who do not
have transport to our surgeries. Donations are made directly to
the animal ambulance staff to help provide petrol and maintenance for
this generous service.
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What do I do if my pet is ill overnight or at weekends ?
You can contact emergency veterinary
staff out of normal working hours by initially telephoning any of our
surgeries. You will be given the telephone number for the duty
veterinary surgeon to contact.
ALL out of hours work is carried out at our
Veterinary Hospital in Walnut Tree which is permanently staffed.
The Emergency
Service is now run by an independent provider called VETS NOW. Out of normal hours,
our telephones provide you with details of how to contact their duty
Veterinary Surgeon. Vets Now will be using our Hospital at
Walnut Tree.
As they are independent, Vets Now will charge
clients separately from us for any work they carry out on your pet.
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Can I visit my pet in hospital ?
Animals that are hospitalised for treatment can be
visited by prior arrangement. During busy periods, such as weekday
mornings when animals are recovering from anaesthetics, it is not always
possible to arrange visits. It is best to arrange visiting times
with the kennel nurses or veterinary surgeon taking care of your pet.
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What vaccinations does my dog need ?
We recommend starting puppy vaccinations at 8 or 9
weeks old. The first vaccination provides cover against canine
Parvovirus and Leptospirosis. A second injection is required two
to four weeks later and this "tops-up" the previous vaccine and adds
protection against canine Distemper and Hepatitis.
Annual booster vaccinations are required. We
no longer vaccinate against all of the diseases each year as some parts
of the vaccine have been shown to last up to 3 years.
Adult dogs starting a new course of vaccinations
or who have lapsed overdue from previous vaccinations require a full
booster vaccination followed by a Leptospirosis booster 2 to 4 weeks
later. We recommend a second Leptospirosis vaccination if annual
boosters are over-due by more than 1 month.
In addition, dogs entering kennels should be
vaccinated against Infectious Tracheitis or "Kennel Cough" as it is
commonly known. Unfortunately this vaccine needs administering as a
nasal spray. It is now licensed for yearly boosters.
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What vaccinations does my cat need
?
We recommend that cats are vaccinated against
Feline Influenza (Cat Flu), Feline Enteritis and Feline Leukaemia virus.
The primary course of vaccinations can start from
9 weeks old and require a second injection 3 to 4 weeks later.
Annual booster vaccinations are required to keep
full protection against these illnesses.
Cats can be given the vaccinations as just
Influenza and Enteritis protection OR as just Feline Leukaemia virus
protection. Catteries will not admit cats who are not fully
protected against cat flu.
Feline Leukaemia is caused by a virus that can be
spread from cat to cat by mating, fighting or from mother to kitten. It
can remain dormant in the body for several years before the animal
succumbs to the disease which is fatal. Indoor cats that never
come into direct contact with other cats are unlikely to catch the
Feline Leukaemia virus.
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What vaccinations
does my rabbit need ?
Rabbits should be vaccinated against Myxomatosis and HVD (Haemorrhagic
Viral Disease). A gap of two weeks is recommended between
administering vaccines against these diseases.
Only one dose of each vaccine is required but annual revaccination is
essential. At times of Myxomatosis outbreaks, we recommend 6
monthly booster vaccinations against this disease.
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What are the benefits of having my pet neutered?
Female cats
can have 2-3 litters a year and rescue
societies such as the RSPCA already have vast numbers of unwanted cats
and kittens requiring homes – make sure you have homes for any kittens
before allowing your cat to become pregnant.
Entire
male cats
defend
very large areas of territory and are more likely to fight and get
injured. They are also more likely to mark their territories by spraying
urine indoors. They can be at higher risk from diseases such as feline
leukaemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV or"cat AIDS") which are
spread by mating and fighting.
Female dogs
usually come into season twice a year. At this
time they will bleed from the vulva and attract male dogs. Spaying stops
these seasons and makes it impossible for your bitch to become pregnant.
In addition it prevents pyometra (a potentially fatal womb infection)
and false pregnancies caused by a hormonal imbalance.
If
female dogs
are spayed at a
young age, neutering also considerably reduces the risk of developing
mammary tumours in later life.
Castration of
male dogs
can help with behavioural
problems (aggression, territorial behaviour, "mounting") as it removes
the male hormone testosterone. It also prevents testicular tumours and
reduces the incidence of prostate disease and certain
tumours.
Male rabbits
cannot usually be kept together
unless they have been neutered as they will become aggressive and fight.
Female rabbits
have an exceptionally high
incidence of uterine cancer which reduces life expectancy in 80% of
female rabbits. Spaying removes the ovaries and uterus to stop this disease developing
and also means that rabbits can be kept together without the risk of
pregnancy.
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What is Pet Insurance ?
It is now possible to pay a monthly premium to
insure your pet against veterinary fees. Several insurance companies run
schemes offering this and so it is important to choose the right one for
you. All insurance companies have an excess charge so that you pay the
first part of any claim and they will then pay the rest. Typical excess
charges are from £30-50 but some insurance policies have higher excesses
in return for a lower monthly premium. It is often difficult to get
insurance for older pets and pre-existing illnesses will not be covered
so it is important to think about insurance as soon as possible. With
more and more advances in pet healthcare and the increasing level of
referrals to specialist centres for major operations (artificial hip
joints, cataract surgery, radiation therapy etc) pet insurance can take
away the financial worries when a pet is seriously ill.
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How
Do I Take My Pet Abroad ?
Click Here For
Direct Link to DEFRA
It is
now possible for you to take most pets on holiday with you to many destinations
providing you follow strict guide lines.
We strongly recommend that you check with DEFRA
regarding the latest information available prior to embarking on the expensive
process. It is especially important to check you know the rules for ALL
countries you will be travelling through
as well as the final destination. Rules vary between countries and you may
require specific Certificates to be completed prior to embarking on travelling.
It can
take a long time to complete the work required to export an animal and/or permit
it re-entry to the UK. The PET PASSPORT SCHEME takes a MINIMUM of 7 months
from the date of starting the process to the date an animal will be permitted
entry/re-entry into the UK. We advise you to contact your veterinary
surgeon as soon as possible to help gather the necessary information and make
them aware of your wish to travel.
The
main requirements for the Pet Health Travel Scheme are:
Animals must initially have a microchip implanted that confirms the identity of
the pet.
A
vaccination must be administered against Rabies.
A blood sample needs to be taken approximately 3 weeks after the date of the
vaccination. This needs to be taken by a veterinary surgeon and be
submitted to a Government approved laboratory to check that the animal has
responded suitably to the vaccination.
Assuming the Rabies blood test is acceptable, a Pet Passport can then be
obtained. You will need to make an appointment with one of our Local
Veterinary Inspector veterinary surgeons for this.
The
Pet Passport will be valid for re-entry into the UK from 6 months after the date
of the blood test.
The
current guideline for Rabies booster vaccinations in the UK is that they must be
given not more than 3 years (to the day!) of the previous vaccination.
NB some animals who were vaccinated before 2006 may require their next booster
not more than 2 years (to the day) of the previous vaccination.
Guidelines for some countries vary so BEWARE! If you fail to keep
vaccinations boosted correctly you will have to restart the WHOLE process.
To
gain re-entry to the UK you must also perform specific tasks at least 24 hours
but not more than 48 hours before the return date/time. These are to have a
treatment administered by a veterinary surgeon against ticks and specific worms.
We actually recommend taking precautions against ticks and worms throughout your
pets time abroad- please ask us for advice.
DEFRA –
Telephone 0118 959 6695. Ask for dog/cat export
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What should I do if my pet has fleas ?
Almost all animals with access to outdoors will
pick up fleas at some stage. There are many different flea
treatments available for cats, dogs and rabbits. Many of the more
effective products are classified as Prescription Only Medicines meaning
you will only be able to obtain these products through a veterinary
practice. We recommend talking to a member of our staff to discuss
the benefits of the products we sell. Products available from pet
shops and supermarkets may appear to act in a similar manner to those
sold through veterinary sources but in fact a large number of them
contain inferior chemicals, some of which are actually toxic to certain
pets.
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How often should I worm my pet?
Adult dogs and cats should be wormed every 3
months against roundworm and tapeworm.
We sell very effective worming products for your
pets. These range from tablets active against both roundworm and
tapeworm, powders to sprinkle on food to combined flea and worm
treatments such as a liquid that can be applied to the skin on the back
of the animals neck.
Roundworms (Toxocara spp.) can cause illness
(including blindness) in people so regular worming is very important,
particularly if children will handle the pet or play where animals may
mess.
Puppies and kittens tend to have a heavy roundworm
infestation and so worming is recommended every 2-4 weeks until at least
6 months of age.
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What fees can I expect and how can I pay?
It is not possible to give estimates or quotes here for all operations and
treatments as these will vary widely depending on the illness and
treatment or surgery required.
We are happy to provide estimates for specific procedures on request.
If your animal requires treatment out of normal surgery hours, the
service is soon to be provided by an independent veterinary provider
called VETS NOW. They will bill you independently of us for any
services they provide to you.
Click here for a guide to fees for some of our
common procedures
We accept cash, cheques (supported by a cheque guarantee card), Visa,
Mastercard, Switch, Solo and Electron.
All payment is due at the time of treatment – prompt payment helps keep
our costs, and therefore our prices, as low as possible.
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What Are Second Opinions ?
Some cases are complex and confirmation of a diagnosis may be
requested from a worried owner. This is often achieved by seeking
another (or second) opinion from a different veterinary surgeon.
This could be a veterinary surgeon within the same practice or from
visiting an independent veterinary practice.
Our practice has a large number of veterinary surgeons with a wide
range of experience and interests. In certain cases we may
recommend that you take your pet to see a particular veterinary surgeon
within the practice who has a special interest in the type of problem
your pet is showing signs of. There may also be times when you
would like another opinion to confirm what you have already been told.
If your pet is already under treatment at a different veterinary
practice we are also happy to provide an independent second opinion for
you.
We always contact your own veterinary practice for a history so that
we know what has been carried out and what treatments are being taken at
that time. After providing a second opinion, you should return to
your original practice for ongoing care. We will gladly forward a
copy of our history/opinion to your original practice.
A second opinion is DIFFERENT from changing practices. In these
circumstances we will also obtain a history from your original practice
but will be responsible for providing ongoing care for your pet.
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What Are Referrals ?
A referral is very different from a second opinion. Referrals
are made to a veterinary surgeon who has experience in dealing with a
particular condition. They are generally made to specialised
referral practices in which the veterinary surgeons have post-graduate
qualifications, (usually the veterinary surgeons will hold or be working
towards a RCVS, European or American Diploma.
Click Here for information on
post-graduate qualifications).
The animal remains under the care of the referring practice as well
as the referral centre and prolonged treatment may be carried out at
either centre.
We are happy to provide referrals for animals that we believe require
specialised treatments or further investigations.
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