01472 240422 / 01472 362821

01472 347054 (24 hour emergencies)

Tips & FAQs

Dog FAQs

We can vaccinate your dog against Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis and Infectious Canine Hepatitis. We can vaccinate your puppy from 6 weeks old. Your puppy will initially require two vaccinations, given four weeks apart to maximise immunity. After this, your dog will require a yearly booster for continued protection. We also vaccinate against Kennel Cough and Rabies at request.

We can dispense Prinovox spot-on drops for your dog, which kill fleas, mites and biting lice. Prinovox also kills lungworm, which is carried by slugs and snails and is becoming increasingly common in the UK. This is applied every 4 weeks in dogs for maximum effectiveness. It is recommended that if your animal has fleas, then you should consider an environmental spray to kill any eggs in the environment.

We can dispense wormer for your dog without needing to see it for a consultation. We will however need an up-to-date weight for your animal to supply the correct dosage. Our worming tablets will treat against all British worms except lungworm if given every 3-6 months. To treat for lungworm, you must give the tablets monthly or give Prinovox spot-on every month, although please ask for information on the best option for your dog before deciding what to use.

Both male and female dogs are able to be neutered from six months old. This avoids unwanted pregnancies and can reduce wandering behaviour. Female dogs can be spayed 2 months after their season. Please call the surgery to discuss the best option with a member of staff

Your dog will need to be up to date with its yearly booster. Most kennels also require a kennel cough vaccination before allowing your dog to board, which we can give. Please check with your kennel beforehand.

Microchipping your dog means that if it goes missing and someone finds it, anyone with a microchip scanner (vets, kennels, police etc) can scan it and retrieve its microchip number. They can then call the microchip database and obtain contact details for the owner. The procedure involves placing a small chip in the scruff of the dog’s neck, and is quick and relatively painless. Once implanted, you fill in your contact details and send them to be registered at the microchip database.

We ask that if this is the case, please muzzle your dog appropriately before entering the surgery. This is both for the safety of our staff, and the safety of our other clients and their animals. If we have available space, we may be able to allow you to wait in a consultation room away from other dogs. If none are available, then you may be asked to wait outside until a room becomes free.

We stock a small amount of specially formulated prescription diets at the surgery. If your animal requires such a diet, please phone us beforehand, and we can usually order food in within 24 hours. We do not sell commercial diets.

Cat FAQs

We can vaccinate your cat against feline panleucopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and leukaemia. The primary vaccine can be given at 9 weeks of age. This is followed by a second vaccine 3 weeks later. Your cat will then be able to go outside a week after this point. Although we standardly vaccinate against leukaemia, we can offer a blood test for the virus prior to giving this. Please contact the surgery for more information.

We can dispense Stronghold spot-on drops for your cat, which kill fleas, mites and biting lice. This is applied every 4 weeks in cats for maximum effectiveness. It is recommended that if your animal has fleas, then you should consider an environmental spray to kill any eggs in the environment.

We can dispense wormer for your cat without needing to see it for a consultation. We will however need an up-to-date weight for your animal to supply the correct dosage. Our worming tablets will treat against all British worms for up to six months. Keen hunters should ideally be wormed every three months.

Male cats can be castrated from 6 months of age. Uncastrated male cats tend to wander, fight and smell. They are very fertile and will be a source of unwanted kittens, so castrating your cat is also a socially responsible thing to do. Female cats can be spayed from 6 months of age. Female cats which are not neutered are the main source of unwanted kittens.

Microchipping your cat means that if it goes missing and someone finds it, anyone with a microchip scanner (vets, kennels, police etc) can scan it and retrieve its microchip number. They can then call the microchip database and obtain contact details for the owner. The procedure involves placing a small chip in the scruff of the cat’s neck, and is quick and relatively painless. Once implanted, you fill in your contact details and send them to be registered at the microchip database.

Cats should be brought in a secure, lockable carrier. Cats can be unpredictable, and a relatively calm cat may become stressed in our waiting room when there are other animals present. Please take this into account when bringing your cat in. If you do not have a carrier, please inform us before bringing the animal into the surgery so we can prepare one for you.

We stock a small amount of specially formulated prescription diets at the surgery. If your animal requires such a diet, please phone us beforehand, and we can usually order food in within 24 hours. We do not sell commercial diets.

We would recommend easy-release collars for your cat if they go outside. This is because they detach easily if they get caught on objects such as branches, causing no harm to your animal. If your cat is a keen hunter, a bell may be advised prevent them being able to catch local wildlife.

Exotic FAQs

We do treat exotic animals. This includes small mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Whilst we do have hospitalisation facilities for exotic animals, we may advise a referral to a specialist for more severe cases.

We can vaccinate your rabbit from 6 weeks of age against myxomatosis. This is effective for 6 months. We can also vaccinate against viral haemorrhagic disease, which is effective for 12 months, and can be given at 10 weeks. We can also vaccinate ferrets against distemper, please contact the surgery to discuss.

Neutering is available for certain species. We are able to neuter rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats and ferrets. Please contact the surgery to discuss neutering options.

We offer treatment for the prevention of E. cuniculi in rabbits, in the form of an oral paste which is repeated 2-4 times yearly. For protection against common internal and external parasites in rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, ferrets, birds and reptiles, we can offer a spray or spot-on treatment.

Yes, we can microchip your pet. In some cases, you may be asked to leave your pet (such as parrots and reptiles) for the procedure to be carried out, and to allow the animal to be monitored afterwards.

Please phone the practice to discuss breeding, sexual maturity, prevention of pregnancy and neonatal care, as this varies widely between exotic species.

Practice Information & Protocol

Yes, we work on an appointments basis at our Grimsby main surgery and both branch surgeries. This is to ensure you are seen promptly and are not kept waiting. This also applies when you are collecting your animal, as it is likely the vet or nurse will have treatment and care instructions to discuss with you.

We ask for payment at the end of your animal’s consultation/treatment. Once we have been paid, if your animal is insured, you may be able to claim back through your insurer the costs of treatment. You will need to fill in a claim form with relevant details, then bring it to us for completion by the vet. We will then send the completed claim to the insurer, and you should receive payment from them.

If your animal requires a repeat prescription, please inform us at least 24 hours before it is required, as all prescriptions need to be checked by a vet. This also gives us time to order in any drugs which may be out of stock. Please be aware that by law, we must see your animal every six months in order to be able to dispense medications. If it has been longer than six months since we last saw your animal, we will ask you to come in for a consultation before we are able dispense any further treatment. This will be at the current consultation rate.

If we think it is necessary, we will arrange to refer your pet to a specialist. Before you go, you will have to pay us a £200 excess. You will then have to pay the specialist’s fees at the time directly to the specialist, but if you bring us your receipts we will issue you with a cheque for up to £1000, as long as that is within your lifetime limit. You would have to pay any of the specialist’s fees in excess of £1000. However, we have a number of specialist facilities within our practice which allow us to perform advanced surgical procedures such as spinal and middle ear surgery. If these advanced procedures are performed within our practice rather than at a referral specialist, after you have paid the usual excess charge you are covered for the full remaining costs up to your pet’s available lifetime limit. What happens if my vet is taken ill on holiday and has to go to a local vet? This is not covered by the Healthcare Plan.

We accept cash and major debit/credit cards (VISA/MAESTRO/MASTERCARD). We unfortunately do not accept cheques as a form of payment. We ask for payment at the time of treatment in all circumstances. All charges are subject to change, please phone the surgery for current prices.

If your animal needs to be seen out of hours, please phone the surgery and you will be able to contact the vet on-call. They will advise the best course of action for your animal, and see it at the surgery if necessary. Out-of-hours consultations are charged at a higher rate, which you will be warned about before you come down to the surgery. If you are a member of our healthcare plan, you will be charged an out-of-hours excess in addition to your normal excess.

We encourage you to bring your animal in regularly to be weighed on our scales. We will record its weight on our clinical records, and inform you of any changes and how to manage your pet’s ideal weight. Weight checks require no appointment.

Please phone the practice to register your details. We will need your name, address and a contact telephone number, as well as your animal’s details before we are able to make you an appointment. If your animal has been to another vets previously, please inform us, as we will have to ring them to obtain its previous clinical history.

Yes, we accept work experience placements arranged though the students career officer at their school. Only one student place is available at any one time, and students are advised to make arrangements as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Treatment is always limited within the home, so it is always advisable to treat your animal at the practice. If you are unable to bring your animal to the surgery, please phone us to discuss options for transportation. In exceptional circumstances, we will arrange home visits, which carry additional charges.

We have a large car park at the front of our main practice.

The RSPCA should initially be informed of any injured wildlife (see below for number). They may then ask you to take the animal to a local vet for primary treatment. If this is the case, please ring us beforehand to give details of the animal and its condition. We will then treat the animal and refer it to the RSPCA for collection.

Pets Courier (Bonnie Taylor) – 07711 505 770

RSPCA – Head Office – 0300 123 4999

Second Chance Cat Rescue – 01469 561 000

Stray Dogs (Council) – 01472 313 131

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