Routine Healthcare
Services
Our purpose built premises is designed to be welcoming for you and your pet with the aim of taking some of the stress out of your veterinary visit.
We provide all routine services including
Out of Hours emergencies
We are committed to providing a 24 hour emergency service in house for our registered clients so you can always see one of our vets when needed. Though we can’t have staff in the building at all times, in situations where it is necessary for your pet to stay with us overnight we will ensure we are there as often as they need us. We have bedsits available to allow our staff to stay on the premises when the needs of the patients require it.
Consultation
Your vet will listen and discuss your concerns, examine your animal and depending on what they find design a treatment plan with you. We always aim for continuity with ongoing cases – seeing the same vet for an ongoing condition allows for your animals best care. Rest assured however we make detailed notes so wherever this isn’t possible (due to your scheduling commitments or emergency or staff absence on our side) someone else can step in where necessary.
Nurse consultation
It may be that seeing our nursing team is appropriate and cost effective in some circumstances (e.g. for repeat injections or nail clipping)
Diagnostics and surgery
We have invested heavily in modern equipment to help us take care of your pet in house to the best of our ability. We have two surgical theatres, digital xray, ultrasound and endoscopy and an in house laboratory.
Whilst staying with us for their procedure your pet will be looked after and comfortable in our separate kennels or cattery, including large walk in kennels for our bigger patients to help minimise stress during their stay.
End of life care
Saying goodbye to a much loved pet is a very difficult time. We believe one of the most important things we can do as a veterinary practice is try to ease this for our clients and will therefore do our best to work around what your preferences may be when the time comes. This may be visiting you at home or allowing plenty of time to say goodbye in our dedicated room.
What to expect: Your vet will talk you through what is going to happen (which may vary depending on your pet/situation). You will always have the option to stay with your pet, but we understand sometimes you may wish not to.
What happens after: You may choose to bury your pet at home. Alternatively, cremation is an option. We can arrange this for you if you wish – we work with and highly recommend local company Speyside Cremations, based in Portgordon. Jo who owns the business is extremely professional and empathetic and we know will take exceptional care of your pet on their final journey. You are welcome to attend the crematorium with your pet, or we can arrange to take them or have them collected for you.
PET INSURANCE
Whilst we will always work with you to find the best options for your pet we recognise that some vet treatments can unfortunately be prohibitively expensive – health care has progressed for our pets the same way it has for humans and so there is now a wider variety of options available than ever before. In order to access the full range of options without added financial concern we recommend pet insurance.
We don’t recommend a particular insurance company and advise that you shop around for the option best suited to you. Please bear the following in mind and make sure you fully understand what is and isn’t covered (and for how long) by the policy you choose:
Types of Policy:
covers vets fees up to a yearly amount which replenishes each year
Covers conditions up to a set amount for a specific period of time (usually 12 months) before then excluding that condition
Excess and co-payment:
All policies will have an excess that you are required to pay when submitting a claim. Also, some policies (particularly for older animals) come with a copayment requirement, e.g. the owner pays 10% of the total treatment amount. Higher excess and copayment amounts will reduce the monthly cost of your policy though require a higher contribution to each claim – what is best for you will depend on your personal situation.
Changing insurance companies:
It may be tempting to shop around for another insurance company if your premiums rise. Whether this is the best course of action for you will depend on your individual situation, but please remember that swapping your policy may result in pre-existing conditions not being covered by your new policy so be clear on this before making any decisions.
