You can help your pet have a stress free visit to the vet by doing a few things. Cats should be placed in a secure cat cage. If you do not have a cat cage ask us about using a loan cage. Dogs should always be placed on a lead before entering the clinic. If you arrive at our carpark and realise you have left your dog's lead at home, just pop in to see our receptionist and we will provide you with a lead. If you are concerned about how your pet may interact with others just let us know before hand and we can arrange for your pet to wait in a private area of our clinic.

If your pet is unwell, please observe them as closely as possible prior to your visit. Take notice of any changes in their behaviour, in appetite, difficulties getting around, odours, excessive drinking or urination, coughing, weight changes, disorientation, new lumps or bumps, excessive scratching, vomiting or diarrhoea.

We have 24 hour vet assistance available. If your pet becomes ill or is injured outside of our normal business hours, just call our regular clinic number (03 2159237) and you will speak to our answer service, who will put you through to the appropriate on call vet.

Sometimes I feel like I spend more on my pet's healthcare than on my own.

Bear in mind that your veterinarian is not only your pet's general physician, but also its surgeon, radiologist, dentist, dermatologist, neurologist, opthalmologist, psychiatrist, ears/nose/throat doctor, and Veterinary pharmacist. Your veterinary bill is a reflection of the costs of maintaining suitable facilities, equipment, and trained and experienced staff to provide the level of care that is expected in animal medicine today.

The cost of veterinary care has actually risen very little during the last 20 to 30 years. However advancements in both research and technology have allowed us to offer your pet better healthcare and prolong their life through surgical procedures and drugs. When compared to the rising cost of human health care, pet care is not at all unreasonable.

Although it may feel as if you are paying more for your pet's health care than your own, chances are you may be used to Government subsidies, Community Services Card discounts and health care insurance for your own medical services. Consequently, you often do not see the total bottom-line figure for your own bills. When human health care costs are added up - there is no comparison to the much lower veterinary care costs.

For the same reason a medical doctor won't, it's both unethical and illegal. Without physically examining an animal, it's impossible for the veterinarian to come up with an accurate diagnosis and rational plan of treatment.

A veterinarian can't make a diagnosis based on symptoms only as observed by an owner. The outward signs may be an indication of any number of internal causes with a wide variety of clinical treatments. A complete physical examination and possibly other diagnostic tests are required to determine the cause of the symptoms and best course of treatment. And some medications are considered prescription medicines and it is illegal to dispense such items without a physical consultation.

The extent of care given to any animal is ultimately determined by its owner. As a responsible pet owner, you place a high value on your animal and will want to consider what's best for your pet.

Every pet owner has different ideas about what is acceptable pet care and how much they are willing to spend on their pets healthcare needs. We can only make the owner aware of the services and products that are available and then provide guidance in their choices and decisions. The owner is given options; the owner makes the call.

It's important to understand that our veterinarians can and will go the extra mile for their clients, but they simply cannot jeopardize the quality of our practice by discounting or waiving fees. We must cover our employees' salaries, costly equipment, the expense of years of professional training, and the expense of continuing education for staying up-to-date on the latest research.

The prices we charge for desexing cats and dogs are based on the quality and amount of services we provide for your pet.

We strive to ensure that your pet's surgery is as safe as possible. We use the best quality anaesthesia presently available to veterinarians, similar to that used for human anaesthesia. A pulse oximeter, and respiratory monitor is attached to your pet during the entire surgical procedure.

We use high quality suture material. Sterile gloves, drapes and surgical instruments ensure the cleanest, germ-free operating area. On a one-to-one basis, our qualified nursing team monitors your pet's post-operative recovery until your pet is breathing safely on their own.

The surgery fee includes a pre-surgical exam, a one day stay in our hospital, post-operative pain medications and a post-surgical check before discharge. Optional services include pre-anaesthetic blood work to more thoroughly examine your pet's health status before surgery.

We are very proud of the high quality of service we offer pets and their families.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds and some of these are chemicals commonly used as ingredients in mothballs, floor cleaners, pesticides and paint strippers. While many studies have shown that exposure to these chemicals can increase humans' chances of heart disease, lung cancer and other cancers, some recent animal studies have shown that exposure to these chemicals can also increase the risk of these diseases in pets.

Dogs with long noses are at an even greater risk of developing certain nasal and sinus cancers, as they expose more tissue to the carcinogens when they inhale. Following known exposure, chemicals from cigarette smoke can be found in animals' bodies for a long period of time. In fact, measurable levels of carcinogens can be found in dogs' hair and urine for several months after exposure.

Cats exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma, a type of oral cancer commonly found in humans that smoke tobacco, possibly because the carcinogens in tobacco smoke can settle on a cat's fur and be ingested when the cat grooms itself.

Pets can also have strong reactions to smoke particles in the air. Just like members of their human families, pets can develop respiratory infections, lung inflammation and asthma when exposed to secondhand smoke.