While in some ways a veterinary hospital may seem a bit like your GPs surgery in fact it is very different. We are more like a GP, a dentists surgery, a psychiatrist, a hospital, a nursing home and much more all rolled into one. Mostly clients do not get to see all that goes on behind the scenes, though we do occasionally have open days, when you have a chance to look around. If you would like to be notified about our next open day, subscribe to our Abbey Pets magazine, where we will have all the information.
This page will give you an idea of just some of the services of Abbeyside Veterinary Hospital of which you may not be aware.
- Out Patient Services
- In Patient Facilities
- Diagnostic Services
- Surgery
- Dentistry
- Special Health Programmes
- Veterinary Nurse Training
Out Patient Services
Much of the work of the hospital is carried out on an out patient basis. Our consulting area is equipped with all the diagnostic tools necessary to ensure that your pet receives a thorough examination.
Vaccinations, minor illnesses and injuries, even some more serious ones can be dealt with on an outpatient basis.
Services you may be unaware of include behavioral therapy, physiotherapy and grief counseling for those who have lost their pets.
We schedule appointments at 20 minute intervals to ensure that you have plenty of time to discuss your pets health with us and ask any questions you may need answered. We have over 200 leaflets available with information on just about every possible condition -so when you go home you will have all the information to enable you to carry on treatments in a convenient written form.
In Patient Facilities
When pets are hospitalised, either for routine procedures or due to illness, we aim to look after them as though they were our own. Our kennels (right) are comfortable and warm and located in a centrally heated room. All pets are given cosy polyester fur bedding to sleep on and dogs who are able to get around are taken out regularly for short walks. Cats are exercised twice daily in a secure indoor area. In patients are checked regularly during the night and if they require intensive care will have a nurse with them around the clock.
We are fully equipped to provide intensive care support, with fluids, oxygen, blood products and monitoring equipment. However for many patients the most important aspect of their treatment is TLC – as was the case with the little puppy above, cuddling up to his stuffed toy!
Diagnostic Services
We have extensive in house laboratory facilities with automated hematology and biochemistry equipment, facilities for microscopic examination of tissue, for bacterial and fungal culture and urine testing. This means that we can have results of many tests very rapidly, often within a hour.
We also have full radiology and electrocardiography (ECG) facilities. Our ECG machine can send its results down the line to an experienced veterinary cardiologist whose report we will have within hours; this means a sick dog or cat will not have to undergo a stressful journey to get a specialist opinion.
We also have an Ultrasound machine to enable detailed internal examination of pets without the need for surgery.
Since quicker diagnosis means that appropriate treatment can be started rapidly we consider these services to be a very important aspect of our hospital.
Surgery
We are fully equipped for most types of surgery, including Orthopaedics, ophthalmic and soft tissue surgery. The safety of our surgical patients is our prime concern and so we have modern anaesthetic equipment, with facilities for gas anaesthesia and artificial ventilation and excellent monitoring equipment and procedures. During all anesthetics our patients are constantly monitored so that if problems arise we can deal with them immediately.
For major surgical procedures all patients are on fluids throughout. We also have full facilities to allow us to safely anaesthetise smaller pets such as rabbits, hamsters and birds.
This dog (above) was admitted for surgery to have a growth removed from his mouth. Fortunately the growth proved not to be malignant and he made a full and uneventful recovery.
Dentistry
We have high powered dental equipment for both routine scaling and polishing (right) and for extractions as well as for more extensive dental work including crowns and fillings.
All our nurses are trained in dental care procedures and can show you how to care for your dogs teeth at home. We also stock a range of products, including tooth brushes and toothpastes, for dogs and cats.You can read more about the importance of good dental hygiene for you pet here.
Veterinary Nurse Training
If human nurses are versatile then veterinary nurses are more so. As well as general, surgical and intensive care nursing they are laboratory technicians, radiographers, receptionists, stock controllers, nutritionists, behaviorists and more. No veterinary hospital could work without them and at Abbeyside we have a great nursing team. We are recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as having the facilities and experience required to be a nurse training centre.
Special Health Programmes
These programmes have been started in response to the need we saw to help those pets whose age or condition made them more likely to suffer from disease.
The Weight Loss Programme
Is a managed programme of dieting and exercise for pets which is very successful. Owners work with a nurse, with input as required from a vet, to devise a system to shift those pounds.
A cornerstone of the programmes success is the regular weigh ins, where weight loss is monitored and problems can be resolved before things go too wrong. And it works: believe it or not the pictures here are of the same dog before and towards the end of a weight loss programme! For more details contact us.
The Older Pets Programme
Is aimed at dogs and cats over seven years old. Many older pets suffer from diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, kidney and liver disease, failing sight and hearing and poor coat condition. They are also more prone to many forms of cancer. This programme aims to identify these problems at a very early stage where treatment is more likely to effective or when the conditions can be successfully resolved with treatment.
If you are interested in either of these programmes, please let us know.