Services We Provide
Dental Treatment
Once tartar has started to form on your pets teeth even brushing will not remove it and dental treatment will be required to prevent the progression of periodontal disease. All dental treatment is carried out under general anaesthetic to allow thorough examination and treatment without causing stress or pain.
Tartar is removed using an ultrasonic descaler which then allows assessment of the gum-tooth margin and exploration of dental pockets. X-rays are taken as needed. Where there is advanced disease with decay, cavities or tooth-loosening, then tooth extraction is carried out using modern extraction techniques.
The teeth are then polished using an air-driven polisher and paste to smooth the surface of the teeth and reduce the rate at which tartar will reform. Following dental treatment our nurses will discuss the best options to help keep your pet’s teeth healthy.
Diets and chews can be useful but if your pet is amenable then daily brushing is the gold standard of preventative care and our nurses will show you how to clean your pet’s teeth.
Bromyard Vets have a fully equipped dental facility using state-of-the-art equipment which allows us to take first class care of your pet’s teeth.
In 2020 we purchased the latest technology in dental radiographic imaging. This means we now can take much better images and in a fraction the time. Dental x-rays, similar to human dental x-rays, are a vital part in assessing how healthy the teeth are.
It is important to treat dental disease in your pet, not only because animals can’t tell their owners when their teeth hurt, but also because advanced dental disease causes bacteria to get into the bloodstream which can cause damage to other organs, particularly renal (kidney) damage.
Dental disease is also very common in rabbits and other small mammals, mainly due to overgrowth of teeth which is exacerbated by poor diet. We will be able to advise you on the best diet and dental care tips for your rabbit and we also have specialist equipment for trimming overgrown incisors and molar teeth as needed.
An electrocardiograph gives a graphic representation and a print out of the changing electrical activity in the heart. The main use of ECG in our practice is for the diagnosis and investigation of arrhythmias, that is the change to the normal heart rhythm, and the ECG gives much more information on the type of arrhythmia and the likely cause can then be gained by listening with a stethoscope. This information is important in the correct treatment of many heart problems and the ECG can also aid the diagnosis of other electrolyte and hormonal imbalances and diseases.
This extended appointment allows the vet to conduct a thorough examination whilst also having the time to gain important information from you about your pet’s condition. Aside from seeing your pet when he/she is ill, we recommend that your pet has a thorough health check every year (but ideally every 6 months as 1 year of a dog or cat’s life is roughly equivalent to 7 of our years!). Whilst clearly very important, the annual vaccination that your pet receives is only a small part of the health check. The examination we carry out before the vaccine is given is actually a very important part of preventative health care for your pet. Pets aren’t always able to tell us when they are feeling unwell. It is for this reason that your pet should receive regular health checks to help detect abnormalities or conditions that might otherwise be missed by even the most experienced owner.
This ward is completely separate from the others and houses patients who we suspect or have confirmed them to be suffering from an infectious disease. We adhere to strict barrier nursing protocols to prevent the spread of diseases and routinely use alcohol hand gels in all areas of the practice. We minimise the stress felt by rabbits, guinea pigs and other small mammals by hospitalising them in their own area away from barking dogs and the prying eyes of cats.
Laser therapy is a drug-free, non-invasive treatment to reduce pain and inflammation and to speed up the rate of healing. The Class IV Deep Tissue Laser that we have (LiteCure) uses a beam of laser light to deeply penetrate tissue without damaging it. Laser energy induces a biological response in the cells called a “photo-bio-modulation” which leads to reduced pain, inflammation and increased healing speed. Laser therapy has been scientifically proven to be successful in treating post-surgical pain and many other acute and chronic conditions such as wounds, sprains & strains, arthritis and periodontal disease to name just a few. Please make an appointment to see one of the vets or nurses who will assess your pet, devise a treatment protocol and advise you of costs.
Our team of nurses are available to offer advice on a range of animal health topics such as puppy & kitten development, flea and worm control, vaccinations, insurance, dental care, hypertension, diabetes & arthritis to name a few. Contact reception to book your FREE* consultation.
(* any treatments, investigations or medication will be subject to the usual charges)Whether for routine surgery or in more of an emergency situation, it is always a worrying time for a pet owner when a general anaesthetic is required. As with humans, every general anaesthetic carries some risk to the patient. At Bromyard Vets, we use modern drugs and techniques and have a full range of monitoring equipment to do all we can to minimise this risk.
All of our patients are risk assessed and our anaesthetic protocols are tailored to the individual and their needs.
All patients undergo complex monitoring while under general anaesthetic. This includes ECG, capnography (To monitor breathing and metabolic function) and blood pressure as well as more basic monitoring of heart rate and temperature.
Every anaesthetised patient is assigned a Registered Veterinary Nurse who is constantly monitoring the patient’s vital parameters and steering them safely through the anaesthetic. All of our nurses are highly trained and Lisa our Nurse Manager holds a Nurses Certificate in Anaesthesia.
We have recently invested in a state of the art patient warming system to prevent patients becoming cold whilst anaesthetised, which ultimately leads to a faster recovery time from anaesthetic.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding anaesthesia, please contact one of our Registered Veterinary Nurses at the surgery.
Puppy package
For any new puppy owner, there is a lot to think about! We have developed our puppy package to help make life simpler for you.
Our primary vaccination course includes:
- Vaccination against Distemper, Parvo-virus, Hepatits and Leptospirosis
- 4 weeks free instant cover insurance to get you started
- Complimentary dose of flea and worm treatment
- Bag of high-quality puppy food to suit your puppy’s breed.
- Free monthly weight check/socialisation visits with our nurses.
This package is available for half price to members of our healthcare plan. See Pet Health Plan for more details.
Our Veterinary Nurses are always on hand to support you and answer any questions you may have. We will usually recommend monthly visits with them whilst your puppy is growing. This allows us to weigh them and dose accurately with flea and worm treatments, as well as building up a good positive relationship with them.
Kitten package
We have everything in place to keep your new bundle of fluff in good health.
Our primary vaccination package includes-
- Vaccination against Herpes virus, Calicivirus, Panleucopaenia and feline leukaemia.
- 4 weeks free instant cover insurance to get you started
- Complimentary flea and worm treatment (This treatment may be delayed if your kitten is too small at first vaccination)
- A bag of high-quality dried kitten food.
This package is available for half price to members of our healthcare plan. See Pet Health Plan for more details.
Worming & Flea Treatment
It is vital to guard against burden that can damage internal structures & pose a health risk to your family.
Puppies & kittens are often infested with roundworms from birth and regular worming is essential both for their health and also to reduce the risk of human toxocariasis. Many over the counter products available contain outdated drugs which are not very effective. Please contact the practice for a free weigh and worm appointment and we will tailor a protocol for your new puppy or kitten.
Adult dogs & cats need not only regular treatment for roundworms, tapeworms and lungworms but also for external parasites like fleas, mites, lice and ticks. Again, it is best to book a weigh and worm appointment which will allow us to discuss your pet’s lifestyle and tailor the most appropriate protocol.
Regular preventative treatment is one of the reasons we have set up our Pet Health Club. You can get more information by visiting our PHC page.
PHC page
We request at least 24 hours notice for repeat prescriptions of drugs and food. All prescriptions have to be checked by a veterinary surgeon and we may have to order in new stock to meet your pets requirements.
In accordance with RCVS and Veterinary Medicines Directorate recommendations, all pets receiving prescription medicines need to be regularly re-examined by a veterinary surgeon. The policy of this practice is to re-assess an animal requiring prescriptions every three months, but this may vary with individual circumstances. The charge for this re-examination is our standard consultation fee which is displayed in reception. Flea and worm treatments can however be dispensed without examination as part of a preventative healthcare plan agreed at the annual health check.
Puppy parties are held every month and are open to all puppies under the age of 16 weeks that have had their first vaccination.
This is an ideal opportunity to socialise your puppy and the nurses will be available to give advice on feeding, toilet training, exercise and basic training.
The parties are held after hours and the cost is £5 per puppy which includes a goody bag with treats and a toy.
Please enquire at the practice for more details and dates of future parties.
Thinking about euthanasia is something that no pet owner likes to dwell on, but sadly it is a decision that many of us eventually have to face.
We can help to support you when the time comes about, what to expect and the options available to you for your pet afterward; for some, home burial is the preferred choice, for others, cremation.
If you would like, we can take a paw print impression of your pet for you to have as a treasured keepsake.
This is for sterile procedures. We have a preparation area separate to the main theatre where, once anaesthetised, the patient is clipped, cleaned and prepared for surgery. Once this stage is complete, the patient is transferred to the main theatre. Non-sterile procedures such as lancing an abscess are carried out in the preparation area. Dentistry is performed on a separate tub-table.
We are incredibly lucky to have a spacious and well-equipped surgical theatre at Bromyard Vets. This area is used for sterile procedures only to allow us to maintain a sterile environment.
It is equipped with a full selection of surgical kits and equipment as well as suction and electrocautery to assist with surgery.
We are lucky to have a visiting orthopaedic service for patients requiring procedures such as fracture repairs or techniques for cruciate rupture.
Sally our RVN is responsible for theatre maintenance and holds an advanced diploma in surgical nursing.
Puppies are routinely vaccinated against Parvovirus, Distemper, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis and Parainfluenza. This can be given from 8 weeks of age with the second dose four weeks later; an interim injection can be just 2 weeks after the first to allow earlier socialisation. Annual boosters are given following the puppy course. We also recommend annual vaccination against kennel cough, and particularly before higher challenge environments such as kennels and training classes.
Kittens are routinely vaccinated at 9 and 12 weeks against cat flu, enteritis and feline leukaemia. Again, annual booster vaccinations are given.
Rabbits can be vaccinated against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease type 1 and type 2 from 8 weeks of age. The vaccines are given separately 2 weeks apart and annual booster vaccinations are given.
X-ray & Ultrasound
We have a modern digital x-ray system. This means x-ray images are no longer stored on an old-fashioned film but are in a digital format. This has improved image quality and also makes sending images to specialists for referrals much easier.
Pet Travel
Please visit the following government page for more information taking effect on December 31st 2020 at 23:00 GMT.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-from-1-january-2021
Old UK issued EU Pet Passports will no longer be valid!
From 1 January 2021 Great Britain (GB) will become a third country with respect to the EU Pet Travel Scheme. On 3 December 2020 the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) of the EU voted in favour of giving Great Britain and the Crown Dependencies Part 2 listed status for the purposes of non-commercial pet travel after the Transition Period. This listed status will be formally adopted by the EU in due course.