Services
At Ashgrove, we have 3 linked sites. These are all equipped to provide for all your pets needs. Both Belmont Road and Peterculter have full surgical facilities and Portlethen can deal with more minor operations, with the more complex ones being sent to our larger practices. Our friendly team of 12 experienced vets, 14 fully qualified registered veterinary nurses and 2 veterinary care assistants offer your pet an extensive range of services. We aim to provide modern veterinary care for all pets in full consultation with owners. We utilise a diverse range of options for preventative medicine, diagnosis and treatment. Our practice is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). This means we have achieved a set of rigorous standards, stipulated by the RCVS. Our approach is preventative medicine, but when problems do arise we have the facilities and expertise to deal with these.
Vet Consultations
Our vets run consultations throughout the day and on a Saturday morning at all practices. These are by appointment only, which allows our vet time to deal with your pet. You can book appointments by calling our clinics or by using pets-app to book online.
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
- Nutrition clinic
Surgery
We offer a large range of surgical options for your pet. We have dedicated sterile operating theatres at both the Belmont Road and Peterculter Branches with 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. At Portlethen we can currently carry out minor procedures, with more complex operations being referred to the larger sites. We have plans to extend this in the near future to provide more operations.
Acupuncture & Pain Management
Our veterinary acupuncture services provide a gentle, effective approach to managing pain and improving quality of life for pets with a variety of conditions. This ancient technique has been adapted specifically for veterinary medicine, offering a complementary therapy that works alongside conventional treatments.
Benefits of Veterinary Acupuncture
- Non-pharmaceutical pain relief
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved mobility and function
- Enhanced recovery from surgery or injury
- Minimal side effects
- Improved quality of life for senior pets
Conditions We Treat
Arthritis & Joint Pain
Acupuncture can significantly reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, helping pets maintain mobility and comfort without relying solely on medications.
Post-Surgical Recovery
Accelerate healing and reduce pain after surgical procedures with targeted acupuncture treatments designed to complement your pet's recovery plan.
Neurological Disorders
From intervertebral disc disease to degenerative myelopathy, acupuncture can help manage pain and potentially improve function in pets with neurological conditions.
Chronic Pain Conditions
For pets with ongoing pain from various sources, acupuncture offers a gentle alternative that can reduce reliance on long-term medication.
What to Expect During Treatment
Most pets tolerate acupuncture extremely well. The insertion of the ultra-thin needles causes minimal discomfort, and many animals become relaxed during their treatment session. A typical appointment lasts 20-40 minutes, with the actual needle placement taking only a portion of that time.
Our veterinarians are certified in veterinary acupuncture and will develop a customised treatment plan based on your pet's needs. Many pets show improvement after 1-3 sessions, though chronic conditions typically require ongoing maintenance treatments.
Veterinary Dermatology
Skin conditions are among the most common health issues affecting pets. Our veterinary dermatology services provide specialised diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of skin, ear, and allergy-related problems to help your pet find relief from uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptoms.
Common Dermatological Conditions We Treat
Allergies
Environmental, food, and flea allergies can cause intense itching, redness, and discomfort. We offer comprehensive allergy testing and management strategies tailored to your pet's specific triggers.
Ear Infections
Chronic or recurring ear infections often have an underlying cause related to allergies or skin conditions. Our approach targets both immediate relief and long-term prevention.
Bacterial & Fungal Infections
From hot spots to yeast dermatitis, we accurately diagnose and treat the specific infections affecting your pet's skin to provide fast relief and prevent recurrence.
Parasitic Conditions
Mange, fleas, and other parasites can cause severe skin problems. We offer effective treatments and preventative strategies to keep your pet comfortable and parasite-free.
Our Diagnostic Approach
Proper diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment of dermatological conditions. Our clinic utilises a range of diagnostic tools including:
Detailed dermatological examinations
Skin scrapings and cytology
Fungal cultures
Allergy testing
Food elimination trials
Biopsy when necessary
Treatment Options
We develop customised treatment plans that may include:
Medicated shampoos and topical treatments
Oral medications to control infection and inflammation
Allergy management protocols
Nutritional recommendations and prescription diets
Immunotherapy for environmental allergies
Long-term management strategies for chronic conditions
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:
- Does this policy cover congenital, hereditary, hip-related, dental and behavioural conditions?
- Is there a time or monetary limit on how long this policy will cover ongoing conditions for?
- 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. We will text you when your medication is ready for collection.
Under the UK guidelines, all pets on repeat medication need checked at least every 6 months (often more regularly). You will be charged a consultation fee. If you join our Happy Pet Club, this 6 monthly medicine check up is free. New guidelines mean we can not lay out any antibiotics of any sort without seeing your pet. 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.
Nutrition
At Ashgrove we are happy to advise on all aspects of your pets healthy. This includes nutrition advise and we are have a qualified animal nutrition adviser ( Marta) to help with all your nutrition queries. Ashgrove offers a range of animal foods. We carry a range of Virbac, Hills, Royal Canin and Purina foods but can order in any other foods you require. Please contact us for more details.
Exotics
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.
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 inside 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 22 day waiting period before travel. Within the EU we can issue AHC’s and ask you fill in all the paperwork well before the travel date. We can also help with exporting animals out-with the EU. The regulations vary widely between countries and are also changed regularly. We therefore recommend that owners contact :
Pet Travel Scheme helpline: pettravel@apha.gov.uk
Telephone: 0370 241 1710, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (closed on bank holidays)
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.
Some countries can be more complicated so in addition we do have LVI’s with the OV66 qualification for travel to Australia. Please contact the practice if you need more details.
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.
Parasite Prevention
At Ashgrove, we provide worming and flea/ tick treatment for dogs and cats.
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.
Out of hours Care
Like all 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. We do provide an overnight facility for inpatients. This involves a nurse staying with the inpatients and a vet being on call to come in if required.
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.
At Ashgrove, we are happy to treat all types of family pet. We have vets with an interest in exotic pets but we do not have any specialists. We work along side more specialist vets and laboratories, to give you a good level of first opinion care for most species.