Small Animal Services

Veterinary consultations are available daily Monday – Friday by appointment. Please contact reception to arrange an appointment to suit your needs. If you would like to see a specific vet then please indicate this at the time of booking. We try our very best to see you at your allotted time but the nature of the job means that sometimes emergency cases will come in that require urgent attention. We will aim to let you know if we are running late and how long you may need to wait.

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Your pet needs a regular check-up with one of our vets to make sure they’re growing healthily and aren’t showing signs of any potential problems. Animals less than six months old should come to see us every month, but after that, a visit once or twice a year suffices.

During a routine health check, your pet will have their eyes, ears, teeth, skin, coat and nails checked. The vet will also listen to their heart and lungs and feel their abdomen for any unusual lumps.

Health check appointments are the perfect chance for you to ask your vet any questions about your pet’s health or behaviour – we’re always happy to help.

Dogs

Puppies can be vaccinated from 8 weeks of age onwards with a second innoculation 2-4 weeks later.  The core vaccine protects against Canine Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis. To maintain lifelong immunity a booster is required every 12 months. Since the increased incidence of parvovirus in Hawick, we also recommend an additional parvovirus vaccine when the puppy is more than 16weeks old to ensure maximum protection until their first booster.

Kennel cough (or infectious canine tracheitis) is a very contagious disease of the respiratory system. Kennel cough vaccination is often required if your animal is going into boarding kennels. However, despite the deceiving name, kennel cough can be transmitted anywhere that dogs mix. Vaccination will not always completely prevent your dog from catching kennel cough but the symptoms tend to be milder and recovery is swifter. We offer a discount to dogs receiving the kennel cough vaccine along with their vaccine course or booster.

Rabies vaccination is only required for those animal travelling abroad under the Pet Passport scheme.  The vaccine we use is licensed for 3 years but if you are spending more than 3 months in a country please check local regulations.

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Antibody testing

Our current knowledge of these diseases means that annual boosters are required to ensure that a high level of immunity is maintained. However, some animals will have immunity that extends beyond this. The only way to know is to test for antibody levels to the individual diseases. If you would like to discuss this further please contact the surgery to speak to one of the veterinary staff.

Cats

Kittens can be vaccinated from 9 weeks onwards.  Cats require two inoculations 3 weeks apart, which will provide immunity against Cat flu, enteritis and Feline Leukaemia. Your cat will not be fully protected until 2 weeks after their 2nd inoculation. Feline leukaemia virus is spread by sexual contact or fighting so indoor cats do not require this vaccine.  Booster vaccinations are required annually to maintain lifelong immunity.

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Rabbits

Rabbits can be vaccinated from 5 weeks of age and we use a combined vaccine which protects your rabbits from myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VMD).  A single vaccine provides 12 months protection.  Both of these diseases can be fatal so we highly recommend vaccinating your rabbit.

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Our nurses are happy to see your dog for a free appointment to discuss neutering and ensure there are no reasons why neutering should be delayed in your pet.

Read our guide to neutering for dog, cats and rabbits.

Dogs

We can castrate dogs from 5-6months old

Benefits

• Reduced risk or treatment of prostatic disease and perianal adenomas
• Removes risk of testicular tumours
• Reduced wandering episodes and sexually motivated behaviours

Drawbacks

• Metabolism slows, therefore some dog may gain weight if food intake is not adjusted
• Coat may change

Bitches: We can spay bitches from 6 months of age.

Benefits

• Reduced risk of mammary tumours.
• Removes risk of ovarian and uterine tumours
• No seasons and no risk of becoming pregnant
• They don’t suffer from false pregnancies
• Can’t develop a life threatening condition called pyometra (pus in the womb)

Drawbacks

• Metabolism slows, therefore tendency to gain weight if food intake is not adjusted
• Coat may change
• Risk of urinary incontinence in later life can be increased

Cats

In line with the BSAVA, we strongly support the practice of neutering cats to prevent unwanted kittens and the problems associated with finding them homes and increasing the stray population.

Queens: We usually spay cats from 5 months onwards. Unless you plan to breed we would highly recommend that you spay your cat to remove the risks of pregnancy, its complications and also ovarian and uterine disease. Spaying also reduces the risk of mammary tumours.

Toms: We can castrate male cats from 4-5months old. We strongly recommend that you castrate your cat to reduce urine spraying in the house, reduce the likelihood of fighting and reduce roaming.

Rabbits

We recommend that all non-breeding rabbits should be neutered soon after they attain sexual maturity to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The exact ages varies with breed from 4 months up to 9 months in giant breeds.

Additional benefits include

• reduced sexual mounting behaviour and hormonally related aggression
• prevention of false pregnancies
• medical reasons including prevention and treatment of uterine cancers and other uterine disease.

Microchipping your pet involves inserting a small microchip under the skin using a specially designed needle. Each chip has a unique number which is logged on a national database linked to your details. If your pet is lost or injured and presented to a vets then a microchip allows quickly identification of the owner so that you can be reunited and the pet can be treated.

As of April 2016 it became a legal requirement to have all dogs microchipped and to keep the registration details up to date. Please remember to update the data base if contact details change.

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After a consultation our vets will dispense any medication which your pet requires. We carry a wide stock of medications but occasionally we will need to order an item in. Orders for collection are usually available by 1pm the next working day as we have daily deliveries.

If your animal is on long term treatment then we can provide medication on repeat prescription. Please give us 24 hours’ notice so that the medication can be dispensed and authorised by one of the veterinary staff.  We are required to ensure that we are only treating ‘animals under our care’ so your pet will require a check-up every 6 months, or more frequently if clinically necessary.

Blood pressure monitoring may be required if your animal has certain medical conditions or to monitor the response to some medications. We can carry out blood pressure testing in the consult room but try to do it during a quiet time so that your animal does not become too stressed before testing.  It can take some time to allow your pet to become familiar with the surroundings and relax so please ask for a double appointment.

Radiography (X-rays)

Radiography allows us to look at the organs and bones inside your animals body. We have a dedicated x-ray room and our x-ray machine is capable of taking images of all sizes of pet from tiny hamsters to giant Great Dane dogs. Your pet will usually require some sedation or anaesthetic as it is important that they lie completely still. Digital processing means that images are available to view within minutes and if required images can be e-mailed to a specialist for a second opinion.

Ultrasonography

We have a high-quality ultrasound machine allowing detailed imaging of your pets internal organs, ultrasound guided biopsies and pregnancy diagnosis. Ultrasound is not a painful procedure but your pet may require a light sedation to relax your pet and allow us to visualise the organs more fully.

Endoscopy

We have different sized endoscopes to allow us to visualise the inside of your pets respiratory or gastrointestinal tract.

Depending on your pet’s individual circumstances, sometimes conventional medicine doesn’t have the desired effect when it comes to treating a particular illness.

In these cases, acupuncture can be useful complimentary therapy.

It‘s effective for conditions like chronic pain, arthritis, musculoskeletal problems, skin conditions and allergies and respiratory issues. Your pet’s acupuncture session will be carried out by our qualified vet Catharine Gale,

We have a special dental table and all the equipment required to scale, polish and extract your pets teeth. Just like people, pets require regular dental check-ups and our nurses are happy to check your dog’s teeth or advise on brushing and prophylaxis at one of our free clinics. Unlike people, we cannot expect our patients to sit back and say ah so if your pet requires attention to its teeth it will require an anaesthetic. Our vets are happy to discuss this with you.

Scheduled operations are carried out in the mornings Monday-Friday. We carry out a variety of different surgical operations and our vets will be happy to discuss the procedure with you beforehand. Most surgical procedures will require a general anaesthetic and we will formulate an anaesthetic regime that best suits your pet. We have a fully equipped operating theatre with gaseous anaesthetic and your pet will be monitored throughout by one of our nursing team.

Appointments for admission of animals for surgery are between 8.50 and 9.30am.

Cats and dogs should be starved from 8pm the night before (unless otherwise advised) but please leave with water overnight. Please take dogs for a short walk beforehand so they can empty their bowels.

Rabbits and guinea pigs should not be starved before an operation so please feed them as normal the night before and bring a small amount of their normal food with you on the day.

Fleas and worms are the most common pet parasites. Fleas live in your pet’s fur, while worms live in your pet’s intestines, but both can make them very poorly.

Fleas reproduce and spread very quickly, so are hard to get rid of once an infestation has taken hold. Certain worms can also cause health problems in humans.

This is why it’s essential to ensure that your pet has regular parasite prevention treatment. There are several different types of parasite control available and the dosage will depend on your pet’s size and weight. If you’re unsure about your pet’s weight please pop in for a free weight check. Our staff will be more than happy to advise you on the best products and correct dosage for your pet.

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Please bring your dog on a lead, we can lend you a lead if required. This is for the safety of others with cats and dogs as well as to prevent your dog escaping from you in the car park or waiting room. Dogs are often anxious at the vets and even the most well trained animal can behave unpredictably when they visit the surgery. If your dog passes faeces in the car park or urinates in the waiting room please let us know and one of the nursing staff will clean it up.

Please bring cats in a secure basket to prevent escape. We have a separate cat waiting area to help cats avoid eye contact with dogs and help reduce the stress of visiting.
Rabbits, Guinea pigs, rodents, bird and reptiles should be transported in a suitable secure basket or box with minimal loose bedding material. We are happy to lend you a carrier for your visit if required.

Many cats are free to roam and some cats by nature are inclined to wander further and for longer than others.  Cats that appear lost and looking for food may have a home, especially if it appears a healthy weight and is well groomed.  Feeding the cat can encourage it to stay or visit more often rather than go home.  The visiting cat may be on a specialist diet or medication and feeding it may be detrimental to its health.  Provide water and a temporary shelter but do not take it in and feed it unless you are confident that it is a stray.

Ask your neighbours if they recognise the cat and check for posters and on social media.  We keep a lost and found book at reception so you can report the animal to us with a brief description and the area that it has been found and we can see if their are any lost animals which match or keep the details on file in case a worried owner phones in looking for their pet.  If the cat is friendly to approach then check for a collar or ID tags.  We suggest putting a paper collar on the cat that you think might be a stray and writing a message saying you are concerned about the cat and leaving a contact telephone number.  You can download a template from Cats Protection www.cats.org.uk.  We can also check for a microchip and if present they will be able to contact the owners.

If you are concerned that the cat is injured or ill then contact the SSPCA in the first instance on 03000 999 999 and then contact the surgery on 01450 372038 and we will check it for a microchip and give initial emergency assessment and care.  If no owner comes forward then the SSPCA will arrange further treatment for the cat.

Stray dogs can be reported to the council on 0300 100 1800 Monday to Friday who will arrange for the dog warden to collect them.  Out with these hours you can take stray dogs to the local police station.  If you find a stray dog and it is friendly to approach we can check for a microchip and hopefully reunite them with their owner.

If the dog is ill or injured again report to the SSPCA on 03000 999 999 in the first instance and then contact the surgery on 01450 372038.

Microchipping is a legal requirement for all dogs but this law doesn’t affect cats.  However, we would recommend microchipping of all animals as it allows us to quickly and efficiently locate an owner should the animal become lost or be presented injured and is a permanent form of identification unlike a collar and tag.