Polden Hills Veterinary Centre is our home (we live on the premises) and when your pet has to stay over, the pet become part of our family. We want clients who care about their pets to also care about the quality of the veterinary practise they go to.   Since purchasing the practise in December 2009 we have invested a significant amount of money and effort into purchasing equipment and generally upgrading the facilities, whilst improving the veterinary practices and implementing standards and policies.

Click here for our floor plan and map of the practice   Please call 01278 722088 to arrange a visit to meet us and ask for a tour before making your decision about your veterinary practice!

IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A VETERINARY PRACTICE:

We feel it is important for you to know what goes on behind the scenes once your pet is admitted and what happens to your pet when the surgery closes. Like us, you would be shocked to learn that even reputable veterinary practices and veterinary surgeons (even those you have known and trusted for years) may not be adhering to the standards required, or providing the kindest treatment to your pet - especially as recent TV documentaries have exposed some issues occurring at reputable veterinary practices. Our goal is to help you know what to ask about and what warning signs to look out for so that you can make the best possible decision

Tour of facilities: Insist on being taken on a tour of ALL the facilities and see first hand what your pet will experience. We believe this is important because it is your right and you should know what occurs behind the scenes. It is not advisable to take your pet to a practise that does not offer to give you a full and detailed tour of the premises.

Consultation appointments: Consultation appointments should not be so brief that you are left feeling hurried out as if you are ‘wasting their billable time’. Your veterinary surgeon should take the time to answer all of your questions. There is pressure at many veterinary practices to fit as many appointments in as possible as a way to increase profits. Your pet is unique and deserves the appropriate attention.

Surgery practices and standards: Ask specific questions about all aspects of the care involved, including e.g. medical, surgical and anaesthesia practices, monitoring procedures, recovery areas, overnight/after hours care, and euthanasia procedures. Clients often assume all surgery practices are equal in following high standards but often corners are cut to save money and time. Even if you have known and trusted a veterinary surgeon for a long time it does not guarantee that he/she follows the best practices and standards.

Recovery area/care: Ask to see the recovery area/kennels (comfort, lighting, noise, bedding, safety, etc.) and ask about the attention provided to your pet. Don’t be afraid to probe for specifics – it is in your pets’ best interest as frequently this is where neglect occurs. Pets feel very stressed when left behind or recovering from surgery/treatment and this is when they need additional care, such as comfortable bedding and allowing dogs to have frequent urination relief.

After hours care: Investigate the after hours care and comfort your pet receives. Ask who sees to your pet, how frequently dogs are taken out to relieve themselves; how often the small pet cages are cleaned out; how often they are seen by a vet during the night/weekend; what safety plans are in place; what noise (such as alarms) or disturbances they will experience while unsupervised, and so forth.

Hygiene and pain management: Unfortunately hygiene and pain management are often areas of weakness at practices and it happens for two main reasons: laziness/unprofessional people, and profit increase. You might think that veterinary surgeons and nursing staff would always wear appropriate operating clothes and always keep instruments/surfaces sterilised (just like in human surgery) and you should never need to question this. You would be wrong!

• Ask some pointed questions about surgery and hygiene standards.
• Ask about pain management and safety standards before, during, and after surgery.

ABOUT YOUR FIRST VISIT TO POLDEN HILLS VETERINARY CENTRE

We are happy to take the time before your pet’s first visit to learn more about you and your pet and to answer your questions. You will be given a tour of the facilities and shown what your pet will experience at our practice.
To make your first visit a pleasant experience, here are some tips to assist you.

• Call for an appointment
• Arrive 10 minutes early, this will give our staff time to verify your information and enter it on the computer.
• If possible, fill out the Pet/Client information sheet in advance. You can either bring it with you at the time of your appointment or fax it back to us at 01278 723364.
• If your pet has received medical care at another veterinary practice, please have the previous veterinary surgeon fax a copy of his or her medical records to 01278 723364, so that we may review them in advance.