Vetcare Tour

The images show the Main reception buildings at each of our three sites. Generous car-parking facilities are available at each of the three surgeries. In 1999 the interior of the Tonge Moor site was redecorated. The Pennington Surgery has been ambitiously redeveloped and extended to improve the reception, operating and hospitalization facilities for the benefit of patients, clients and staff alike. The Ladies Lane Surgery has been totally refurbished in 1999 to achieve similar ends. From time to time ‘Open Days’ are held to allow clients to view the areas of our surgeries that are normally off-limits to the public. The following tour highlights most of our main facilities and equipment.

Click below to read about any area of Vetcare's surgeries

reception | consulting rooms | pet health counsellor clinic | pharmacy | hospital kennels | isolation | laboratory | preparation rooms | xray rooms | operating theatre | office & library | kitchen & laundry

Reception

The inviting reception area at Leigh runs the length of the image depicted. Various displays are present in the waiting rooms including themed notice boards, a who’s who board, information leaflets (including pet insurance, promotional events and animal charities) and a comprehensive range of products for sale including pet foods, toys, grooming equipment, collars and leads etc.

The reception areas are kept clean, hygienic and uncluttered. W are developing separate waiting areas for dogs and cats and the layout gives a continuous flow-through system, so you are unlikely to be left queuing at the reception desks, which have separate areas for registering and making payments, or get caught in a tight squeeze going to and from the consulting rooms. Public toilets are also available.

Trained staff are always on hand to deal with your requests. A quiet room is available to discuss delicate financial or emotional matters.

Scales - use to weigh your pet so that we can accurately prescribe the appropriate dose of medications and monitor weight changes in certain conditions. A lot of use is made of this in the Pet Health Counsellors’ weight control clinic.

Consulting Rooms

The consultation rooms allow private one-to-one discussion between you and the Veterinary Surgeon. They are fully equipped to carrying out most of the tests or examinations that need to be carried out on your pet at the first consultation and a Nurse is always on hand to assist if appropriate. After listening carefully to the history that you give the Vet then at each consultation they will usually carry out a full clinical examination of your pet. Once a diagnosis is reached the Vet will then explain fully to you what he/she has found and discusses the various treatment options that are available. They should also be able to give an indication on likely prognosis (outcome) and what costs will be involved in treatment.

Euthanasia is the most difficult and emotionally charged issue that both you and we are likely to face. When that sad time comes we will endeavour to ensure that your pet and you are dealt with as compassionately as possible. Letting your pet go when they are starting to suffer is one of the most loving acts that you can do for your companion. We will explain the procedure to you thoroughly, ensure you have privacy and time alone with them if you require, and arrange whichever requests you may have for cremation, burial or ashes returned. Please discuss any concerns you may have about this sensitive subject whenever you desire.

Auriscope/Otoscope - instrument for examining the ear

Stethoscope - instrument used to hear and amplify the sounds produced by the heart, lungs and other internal organs

Ophthalmoscope - instrument for examining the eye. It sends a bright, narrow beam of light through the lens of the eye, and contains a perforated mirror and lens through which the veterinarian can examine interior parts of the eye. It is helpful in detecting possible disorders of the eyes, as well as disorders of other organs that are reflected in the condition of the eyes

Wood’s Lamp - produces ultraviolet light used in the diagnosis of fungal infections of the skin

Clinical Thermometer - Used to measure your pet’s body temperature.

Identichip Reader - Used to identify your pet when lost etc. A chip is implanted under the skin in your pet’s neck. Police Stations, Veterinary Surgeons, Dog Wardens etc have readers to enable them to identify your pet and locate you through a central database.

Pet Health Counsellor Clinic

The latter are available to anybody but particularly to those owning their first pet whatever the age. Subjects covered include Obedience and house training, dental care, spaying and castration, nutrition, parasite control (worms, fleas etc), reasons for vaccination, pet insurance, Identification chips, first aid, bathing and general coat care, any specific queries you may have and advice on the services that we offer.

Pharmacy

This is where we store, prepare and dispense all our drugs and medications. Some products on the general sales list we are allowed to dispense over-the counter without seeing your animal. Other products may be only available on prescription to animals under our care. In these cases the Vet will need to see your animal before prescribing these products. This is the law but also ensures we are able to check your pet is healthy before administering such products. We do not usually charge for the consultation for routine preventative health products such as flea control agents or wormers.

Our main supplier is National Veterinary Supplies whom we have a dedicated modem link with. Orders are usually delivered to us within 24 hours. Many clients order their pet foods from us for which we arrange next day collection or delivery.

Hospital Kennels

We have facilities to hospitalise up to 30 cats or dogs and small furries from mice to giant breeds. All of the kennels are of stainless steel allowing easy cleaning and disinfection. The kennels are heated (with extra heat pads and an incubator available for hypothermic animals), well ventilated (with piped oxygen, intravenous fluid therapy and blood transfusion facilities available for those that need it) and lighted. All animals are bedded on Thick piled, comfortable ‘Vetbed’ that is regularly changed and washed. Facilities are present enabling bathing, grooming and drying of in-patients.

A ward round is generally carried out three times daily by the Veterinary Surgeons, while those in intensive care are monitored hourly or more frequently as required. Each in-patient has a dedicated Nurse administering treatment, physiotherapy, exercise, food and water and tending to each animals individual needs as dictated by the Veterinary Surgeon whose care he or she is under. Kennel sheets are completed for each case recording progress, vital signs, medication given etc.

We are in contact by telephone two or three times daily with most clients whose animals are hospitalised with us. These calls allow us to update you on progress and cost and discuss test results and whatever further treatment may be required. In certain circumstances we allow visiting but usually do not encourage it as pets are often upset when their owner has to leave them again. Nursing and Veterinary care is available 24 hours per day all year round.

Isolation

The kennels here are equipped for the intensive treatment of infectious diseases e.g. cat flu and canine parvovirus and diseases that may be damaging to human health (zoonoses) e.g. Leptospirosis. The isolation unit is separate and away from the rest of the Practice buildings to prevent spread of infection. The staff here wear protective clothes to prevent contamination with disease causing organisms and a v high priority is given to appropriate disinfection.

Laboratory

Our in-house Laboratory allows us to gain almost immediate results on a range of diagnostic tests including: Haematology, Biochemistry, Parasitology, Breeding support, viral assays, electrolytes etc. Other, more specialized tests are carried out at external laboratories including hormone assays, histopathology, cytology etc. Results are available within days utilizing courier and fax. We only send external laboratory tests to qualified Veterinary Investigation centres such as the University of Liverpool Veterinary Pathology Department and North Western Laboratories.

Vettest 8008 Biochemistry Analyzer – measures e.g. liver enzymes, cholesterol, calcium etc and performs kidney function tests

Vettest Autoreader Haematology Analyzer – counts different red and white blood cells and examines their morphology

Vettest electrolyte analyzer – measures ions such as sodium and potassium dissolved in body fluids

Microscope – allows us to see small objects and their detailed structure, used to look for bacteria, identify cells, search for crystals in urine, identify worm eggs and small parasites etc

Urine test sticks – quick analysis of urine – pH, presence of glucose/protein/blood etc

Refractometer – measures concentration or specific gravity of plasma or urine

picture

Centrifuge – subjects substances to centrifugal forces up to 25000 x gravity to separate lighter portions or solids from solutions

Vettest T4 analyzer – tests for thyroid hormone levels when we suspect thyroid gland is under or over active

Preparation Rooms

Animals are examined here as part of pre-anaesthetic regime, anaesthetized and prepared for surgery before being moved into the operating theatre or X-ray room. We stock a wide range of anaesthetic agents such that regimes can be tailored to suit the needs of each individual case or to satisfy each Veterinary Surgeons individual preference. The most up to date agents are used as would be found in a human hospital, for example propofol and isoflurane. We always aim to achieve balanced anaesthesia utilizing premedicant drugs, intravenous induction and gaseous maintenance.

X-ray Rooms

Automatic film processor Develops, fixes and dries x-ray film so that we can view the image minutes after exposure

There are many procedures that we carry out including spays (ovarohysterectomy), castration, bone pinning and plating, wound repairs and reconstructive surgery, tumour removal, tissue grafting, amputations, exploratory laparotomy or thoracotomy etc. The following is a list of many of the facilities we have at our disposal:

The kitchen is where all patients’ meals are prepared. Some may be having normal pet foods, other may require specific prescription diets as part of their treatment, for example low calorie diets for obesity, low sodium for cardiac patients, high protein and energy after surgical treatments to help aid recovery. Some patients may be on liquid diets given by nasogastric or pharyngostomy tube.