Our Services

Vet Consultations

Our vets run consultations throughout the day and on a Saturday morning. These are by appointment only, which allows our vet time to deal with your pet.

Our consulting times are:

Nurse Consultations

Our nurses run an extensive range of clinics including:

• Nail clips
• Anal glands
• Dental checks
• Senior health checks
• Obesity clinics
• Microchip implantation
• Stitch removal and post operation checks
• Behaviour advice
• Second vaccinations
• Puppy and Kitten checks

Surgery

We offer a full range of surgical options for your pet. We have a dedicated sterile operating theatre, boasting a heated table and multi parameter monitoring for your pets safety. We use modern balanced general anaesthesia, that is monitored by our fully qualified vet nurses. We offer a broad range of surgical procedures from routine procedures like neutering to soft tissue surgery and many orthopaedic procedures.

Diagnostics

We have a wide range of in house diagnostic tools at our disposal. These include

• Blood test analysis, with most results available on the same day (including haematology, electrolytes, biochemistry, infectious disease and hormone assays)
• Digital radiography (x-rays)
• Ultrasound for pregnancy and diagnostics
• Video endoscopy – to allow visualisation and biopsy inside body cavities without the need for exploratory surgery
• Digital microscopy
• ECG
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Urinalysis
• Ultraviolet (woods) lamp

To complement these we do use many commercial laboratories for further diagnosis including histopathology, bloods and bacteriology.

Pet Insurance

People tend to think it’s only older pets that get ill and therefore younger pets don’t need pet insurance but we know from the patients we see each day that that is not the case.

In fact, the younger your pet is when you insure them the better as it means you are less likely to have any existing conditions, which may not be covered by the policy and you can then receive more help covering the cost of any future treatment your pet needs.

It is important to note that not all pet insurance is the same. There are many different types of policy available and the level of cover provided can vary considerably. The four main types of policy are as follows:

Accident: provides cover for accidents only and no cover for illness
Time-Limited: provides cover for a set amount of time (usually 12 months) and after this period the condition is excluded
Maximum Benefit: provides cover up to a maximum amount of money per condition and once this limit is reached the condition is excluded
Lifetime: provides a set amount of money each year which is refreshed each time you renew your policy allowing you to continue to claim for ongoing conditions provides cover for accidents only and no cover for illness

As you can see from the information above, the type of policy you choose can have implications for the veterinary care of your pet and the costs you will face so it’s important to choose the right cover. Sometimes, the cheapest insurance can cost you more in the long run.

When shopping around for a policy, we suggest that you ask the following questions to allow you to compare the overall value you are getting, not just the price:

1. Does this policy cover congenital, hereditary, hip-related, dental and behavioural conditions?
2. Is there a time or monetary limit on how long this policy will cover ongoing conditions for?
3. If I claim, will my premium increase?

Unlike other forms of insurance it is not easy to switch pet insurance in the future as any pre-existing conditions your pet has are likely to be excluded so it’s important to do your research and choose the right cover from the start.

Repeat prescription

We stock a wide range of medications. You can order a repeat prescription online or by phone. Please give at least 24 hours notice for repeat prescriptions (some items require 48 hours) to allow us to order any medication that we do not have in stock.
Under the UK guidelines, all pets on repeat medication must be checked at least every 6 months (often more regularly).You will be charged a consultation fee of £26.50. If you join our Happy Pet Club, this 6 monthly medicine check up is free. Written prescriptions are available and a fee will be charged per prescription. 24 hours notice is required for a written prescription. A written prescription may not be appropriate if your animal is an in patient or immediate treatment is required. You will be informed, on request, of the price of any medication that may be dispensed for your animal.

Prescription Food

Ashgrove offers a range of prescription foods. We carry a range of Hills, Royal Canin and Purina foods but can order in any other foods you require. Please contact us for more details.

Exotics

At Ashgrove, we are happy to treat most exotic animals. Kevin and Scott are happy to offer a first opinion service for all species and we use Pinmoore Laboratories for all exotics diagnostic work.

Dentistry

Dental health plays a very important role in our pets lives. Dental problems cause pain and can lead to the development of other health issues, like heart and kidney disease.

At Ashgrove, we take a pro active approach to prevention of dental disease. We offer a full range of preventative options to all pets, including tartar prevention diet, toothpastes, mouthwashes and supplements to prevent plaque build up.

We also offer dental services for those occasions where prevention has not been enough. We have state of the art dental equipment and offer a range of treatments including scale and polish, extractions, burring front and back teeth for rabbits and small furries, as well as some endodontic procedures.

Puppy Parties

Our Veterinary Nurses run free puppy parties for your puppy to attend. Your puppy will be invited to one of our parties following their second vaccinations. The parties are a fun way for puppies of a similar age to learn important social skills whilst familiarising themselves with the sights and smells of a veterinary practice. Being run by our veterinary nurses also gives you an opportunity to discuss general puppy care and health as well as training hints and tips. For more information or to book your place at our next party please contact reception or speak to Fiona!

Pet Travel Scheme

Most of our vets are Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVI’s). This allows them to help with Animal Health Certificates / Export Health Certificates. We are able to issue documentation that is required for travel within and outwith the European Union. The regulations for travel vary, depending on which country you are travelling to. The basic needs are a microchip, rabies vaccination and 3 week waiting period before being able to leave the country, however rabies blood results are often asked for. We can also help with exporting animals. The regulations vary widely between countries and are also changed regularly . We therefore recommend that owners contact the ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY on 0370 241 1710 or email ‘pettravel@apha.gsi.gov.uk giving their postal address and a daytime telephone number in the first instance for country specific information and allow plenty of time before travel is planned to ensure the paperwork and any vaccinations or tests required are completed ahead of planned travel dates.

Vaccinations

At Ashgrove we promote a pro active approach to pet health. This involves annual vaccinations for all cats, dogs and rabbits. These vaccinations are very important for your pet’s health and in many cases can prevent death if diseases are encountered. Many of the diseases are becoming more prominent in the last few years, making vaccinations one of the most important parts of our practice.

Our current recommendations are to vaccinate all dogs for Distemper, hepatitis, parvo virus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis. In addition, some dogs require kennel cough vaccination. In dogs vaccinations require 2 injections and can be started at 8 weeks. These require yearly boosters
In cats we recommend vaccination for feline enteritis (panleukopaenia), feline rhinotracheitis virus and feline calicivirus. In most cats we also recommend vaccination for feline leukaemia virus. Feline vaccines involve 2 injections 3 weeks apart and can be started at 9 weeks. These also require single yearly boosters.

In rabbits we recommend vaccination for myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease. This is a single yearly inoculation, that can be started anytime from 5 weeks old. We also offer the new vaccine Filavac which covers a new strain of RHD2 – please ask us if you are unsure about this vaccination.

For more information please see the puppy/kitten/rabbit information sheets in the resources section or contact the practice.

Worming and Fleas

At Ashgrove, we provide worming and flea treatment for dogs and cats.

Depending on the risks your pet may be exposed to, we can tailor the correct approach to your pets needs.

We also offer a practice health plan (Happy Pet Club) for all your pets preventative health needs. This includes annual vaccinations, as well as all worm, flea and tick treatments for the year. For more information see Happy Pet Club section (LINK)

A new threat that now has to be considered is lungworm. This is a dog parasite that is spread by slugs and snails. It is potentially life threatening for dogs and very few conventional wormers have any effect of this parasite. It does not affect cats. For more information on how to prevent lungworm infection, or on any other aspects of your pets treatment please contact the practice.

Acupuncture

Kevin and Anne are both trained to use acupuncture as a method of pain control in dogs and cats. Initially weekly appointments are required, but as the treatment is cumulative, appointment frequency can be reduced after 4 – 6 weeks.

This form of treatment is becoming increasingly popular. It is effective in approximately 4 out of 5 cases and we have seen some great responses in terms of mobility and pain relief. We also accept referrals from other local practices for this treatment.

Out of hours Care

Like most other practices in Aberdeen, our out of hours provision is provided by an external company called Vets Now. This allows our vets to work during the days and be on top form when treating your pet. On the few occasions that a pet requires overnight care, the Vets Now service means that your ill pet is cared for by a Vet and Vet Nurse that are on site for the entire overnight period, ensuring your sick pet gets the care he or she deserves.

If you need advice or to see a vet overnight, please phone the practice and you will be transferred to the Vets Now service. In case of emergency contact Vets Now on 01224 486 444.

When your pet is treated out of hours, all the clinical notes from Vets Now will be transferred to us the next working day. If your pet is seen out of hours then subsequently by ourselves and you are insured there will normally only be one excess to pay however two claim forms are required for claiming. We have limited facilities for keeping in patients over night and in some of the less severe cases, we can keep in- patients when we are not open.

If you unsure if your pet might need to be seen please see our symptom checker for some basic help and advice