I want to bring my pet to you, do I have to register?

Yes, though this can be done over the phone. We will need a few details about you and your dog or cat and, if they have recently been to another vet, we’ll need to call them to get them to send the records over to us.

How do I register with your practice?

Simply call us on 01275 343457 (Clevedon) or 01934 843381 (Winscombe) and we can take you and your pet's details over the phone, if you wish you can also book an appointment at the same time. We can usually fit you in the same day.

My pet has fleas but I have been using a shop bought flea control product. What can you recommend?

We always advise that you use a comprehensive product with residual action. The products we stock are mainly prescription only products that you cannot find in shops. We guarantee they will kill fleas consistently and we can offer advice about a comprehensive flea control strategy if required. With parasite control you get what you pay for!

Does my pet need to be vaccinated every year?

Yes, it is the responsible thing to do to protect your dog, cat or rabbit from infectious diseases. Most of the disease we vaccinate against cannot be treated and often can be fatal. We do not see these diseases very often because responsible dog and cat and rabbit owners vaccinate their pets regularly. This keeps disease levels down and so those who do not vaccinate benefit from the fact that others do. If your pet is unvaccinated they are at risk from serious diseases from which they may not be able to recover. We use a specifically designed vaccination regime which gives good protection but at the same time does not over-vaccinate your pet. For example in dogs, a full booster is only given every 3rd year. In addition to this your pet will receive a thorough general health check at the annual vaccination appointment which can highlight previously unknown problems and allow them to be treated t an early stage.

Why are your professional fees a little higher than other practices?

We believe our consultation fees are a fair reflection of the high quality of service that we give our clients. We have longer consultation times than most practices so that clients are not rushed through during surgery times. This allows us to be as thorough as possible with every consultation and allows time to discuss your pets’ problem in as much detail as is necessary. We also only employ qualified, registered Veterinary Nurses so that every contact with our practice is with a knowledgeable qualified person who can give good advice from the start. We are confident that our level of service is better than our competitors and we constantly strive to exceed client expectations. Thus our consultation fees are good value for the service we provide. In addition, fees are higher because the price for our stock (pet food and drugs etc.) is lower. We feel it is more honest to charge for our time rather than “hide” costs in high mark-ups. This also makes long-term treatment of chronic conditions more economical.

How often should I worm my pet?

The standard period accepted to prevent a worm infestation is every 3 months. We recommend a prescription worming tablet which is easy to give, provides an accurate dose and is a very comprehensive tape- and round-wormer. This provides much more reliable worm control than many shop products. Worm eggs can be found in soil everywhere and even if your cat does not go out you can bring eggs in on your shoes or your pet may pick them up by washing their feet or grooming themselves. If you have a cat which is a keen hunter you may want to consider worming as often as every month. Remember worms can infest humans and children especially can be at risk from damage to their eye sight, neurological disorders and lesions within the abdomen.

Will my pet be taken to another building to have his operation?

NO, we have 2 premises and they are both run independently of each other. Both premises have the facilities required for most first opinion investigations and operations on-site.

What food do you recommend?

We recommend Purina Pro Plan diets. These are highly palatable, good quality but competitively priced diets made from fresh meat ingredients. They have high levels of fish oils so will give your pets coat a very healthy gloss and they are very digestible so that most of what you pay for goes towards maintaining or growing your pet rather than being passed out the other end! The Pro Plan range is very varied and can provide diets to suit every type of dog or cat from a Great Dane to a Yorkie and from an ‘out on the tiles’ independent hunting Moggy to the most refined and discerning Persian.

What pet health care insurance company do you recommend?

We always recommend PETPLAN; they give the best value insurance for your pet as they specialise only in pet health insurance and give cover for life for each condition claimable. They pride themselves on the fact that they will never stop paying for your pet's condition providing your policy is kept up to date.

Why not try before you buy? For 4 weeks free Petplan insurance simply click here and quote our practice reference number 1100180115.

My pet needs an operation but I am worried about the anaesthetic. Will he be ok?

We use the most up-to-date drug protocols for our general anaesthesia. The drugs we use are from the human medical field and have been licensed for veterinary use. The maintenance gas we use is very safe. It gives very rapid and easy control and very little hangover effect. Most day patients are able to walk out and go home by the middle of the afternoon. No anaesthetic procedure is 100% safe, but we do every thing we can to minimise risk. If you are very concerned it is best to discuss this with one of our vets or nurses.