Severn Veterinary Centre
Berkeley House, Berkeley Way, Warndon Villages, Worcester, WR4 9UP United Kingdom
Tel: 01905 756156
Routine Services
* Health Checks
* New Puppies & Kittens
* Breeding
* Ageing Pets
* Inoculations
* Weight Watcher and Dietary Advice
* Cat spays / Castrations
* Dog spays / Castrations
* Dental Hygiene
* Blood Tests
* Micro Chipping
* Pet Passports
* Pet Insurance
* Pet Cremation
Special Services
* Radiography
* Haematology
* Biochemistry
* Bacteriology
* Orthopaedics
* Abdominal
* Thoracic
* Tumour
* Fertility
* Cardiology - routine
* Ultrasound service available
* Radiology specialist available
* Endoscopy specialist available
* In House Laboratory
Referral services
We provide a small animal orthopaedic, spinal and soft tissue referral service - see the "welcome page" for details on this.
Vaccination and annual health checks
Regular health check-ups are important for the long-term health and welfare of all pets. Routine examinations allow us to take a pro-active role in preventive health care. Actual or imminent health problems will hopefully be spotted earlier and appropriate treatment or preventive action taken. We normally carry out regular check-ups as part of the annual booster vaccinations that are recommended for all dogs, cats and rabbits. This is an ideal opportunity to discuss any aspect of your pet’s health or well-being (eg, weight problems) that is of concern to you. If appropriate further investigation (eg, blood tests, xrays, etc) may be suggested. It is of course possible to perform health examinations at times other than the annual vaccination. We often recommend more frequent check-ups for pets with chronic problems (eg, heart disease, arthritis). Remember one human year is considered equivalent to seven for a dog or cat.
Vaccination protocols
Puppies
Are routinely vaccinated against Distemper, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Hepatitis and Parainfluenza. The initial course is two injections two weeks apart. The first injection can now be given at eight weeks of age allowing the puppy to “socialise” from twelve weeks of age. Annual booster vaccinations are given.
Dogs can also be given vaccination against kennel cough (Bordetella bronchiseptica). This is most effective if given one to two weeks before going into a “high-risk” situation – most often kennels, but also pet-shows, training classes, etc.
Kittens
We routinely vaccinate against “cat flu”, enteritis and feline leukaemia. These can all be given together as a single injection at nine weeks and then again at twelve weeks, allowing the kitten to “socialise” from fourteen weeks of age. Annual booster vaccinations are given.
Rabbits
Rabbits can be vaccinated from six weeks of age against Myxomatosis and from twelve weeks against viral haemorrhagic disease. Both are very serious and fatal diseases and vaccination is highly recommended. Annual booster vaccinations are given.
Costs
Many people consider the cost of booster vaccinations an unnecessary expense. This is a risky strategy. The widespread reduction in the levels of these largely fatal diseases as arisen from the use of vaccination protocols and is only maintained by their continued use. Reduction in the use of vaccination protocols will lead to increased outbreaks (as is currently occurring with TB in humans). The annual cost of vaccinating pets is pence per week and is insignificant compared with the cost of feeding them. Or to look at it another way we can vaccinate our pets for the cost of two to three cigarettes a week, or one can of “pop”, etc.
Worming
Puppies and Kittens
They are often infested with roundworms from birth and can re-infest their mother from about three weeks of age. This is via the passage of eggs within the faeces from the puppy or kitten. In the young worms can inhibit growth and in severe cases result in “stunting”. It is also possible for some worms to migrate through body tissue causing damage on route. Tapeworms are less of a problem in young animals. The commonest sources of tapeworm infestation are from fleas (thus flea control is important), eating raw meat and wild animals. Thus tapeworm infestation is more likely to be associated with adult dog and cat lifestyles. Nevertheless puppies and kittens can be infested with tapeworm.
There are many worming products on the market with different protocols depending on the active ingredient and the age of the pet. Many products contain very old drugs and are not very effective. More modern products are usually more effective, easier to administer, safer and need less frequent dosing. Please ask for our advice on the best current products to use (as a guide puppies and kittens will usually need worming approximately every four weeks).
Adult dogs and cats
Can be infested with both roundworms and tapeworms. Modern multi-wormers will deal with both groups (and also lungworms – although this is not especially common in the UK). The current recommendation by the British Veterinary Association and the World Health Organization is to worm pets over 6 months of age four times per year (ie, every 3 months).
Human health
There is a risk to humans of being infested with worms from dogs and cats. This most commonly occurs in children and can be minimized by teaching children good pet hygiene practice (eg, washing hands before eating, not allowing the pet to lick their face, etc) and by regular worming – hence the recommendation by WHO to worm every three months.
Fleas and ear mites
These are far more common than most people realise. Fleas are the single largest cause of skin disease in dogs and cats and will also bite humans. The saliva deposited by the flea provokes an itch response that can be very intense. Scratching or nibbling at these itchy areas by the pet can cause severe skin damage and resultant bacterial dermatitis, etc. The fleas do not need to live on the pet and indeed lay most of their eggs in the environment (our houses!). It is thus possible for a pet to be itchy because of fleas without any obvious adult fleas running around in their coats. Flea control is recommended for all pet dog and cats. However as with worming products many of the available flea treatments are based on very old and ineffective drugs. Please seek our advise on the latest treatments.
Ear mites are also common, particularly in puppies and kittens. Any pet that is showing signs of ear irritation should be examined. As with fleas pets can very rapidly self-inflict severe damage on itchy ears.
Neutering
This is generally recommended for all dogs and cats not intended for breeding purposes. There are significant preventive health benefits to neutering for both male and female dogs and cats. For example reduced risk of mammary gland tumour, pyometra, prostatic disease, anal adenoma, perineal hernias, etc. Most significantly neutered male cats live on average two to three times longer than entire toms.
In general neutered animals also make more manageable pets – no seasons, less urine marking, less inclined to stray, often less aggressive, etc. We can discuss this in more depth with you and also advise you on the best timing for the procedure.
Anaesthesia and surgery
We are all naturally worried about anaesthesia and surgery. Anaesthesia is to some extent a suspension between life and death (similar to coma) and has thus some inherent risks. Whilst no-one has yet devised “risk-free anaesthesia” modern drugs, techniques and protocols can minimise these risks. We have access to the most modern human anaesthetic drugs and the equipment to administer them. We have monitoring equipment to record electrocardiography and pulse oximetry and trained staff to monitor our patients. We adjust our anaesthetic protocol to the needs of the individual patient and may also recommend / perform pre-anaesthetic tests, eg, blood tests, xrays, etc. we thus take every care to minimise anaesthetic and surgical risks to our patients.
Since in addition to our first opinion work we also provide a referral service in orthopaedics, spinal and soft tissue surgery we have a lot of very good instrumentation and “state-of-the-art” equipment. This, along with the expertise necessary to perform referral work, is available to all our patients through the first opinion clinics.
Acupuncture
We also provide an acupuncture service. This is used both to complement our current practices and as alternative medicine in the appropriate situations.
Dental hygiene
Pets have teeth too! Regular dental check-ups and preventive dental healthcare is an important part of maintaining health. We can provide routine dental healthcare and advice and recommendations for oral hygiene techniques in pets. In addition where more elaborate work may be necessary (eg, root canals, crowns, etc) we will refer you to an appropriate veterinary dentist.
Weight control and dietary advice
We all know the importance of eating sensibly and of avoiding obesity. We can provide comprehensive dietary advice and products to suit individual pets and owners. For pets that are overweight we run obesity clinics and we have full access to all the current prescription diets that are recommended for various ailments. All our food is sold at the manufacturers recommended retail price and is either held in stock or can be available next working day via our wholesaler. There is also a mail-order service available on the web site at very competitive prices.
Rescue
We are involved with Orthopaedic work for the RSPCA.
Cats Protection League and Damier Rescue.
Referral
In addition to providing our own referral services fro other veterinary practices we have access to an extensive range of referral services for those times when the situation demands.
Micro chipping
Micro Chipping is a modern way of identifying your pet and helps to reunite lost pets with their owners. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted with a needle. The chip holds a unique number and this number is used to store information about the pet and you, the owner. The number is registered on a central computer and is accessed if an animal is found. Any species of pet can be chipped including birds and reptiles! For more information or to book your pet in for chipping please contact the Practice.
Passports For Pets
What you need to know.
Microchips are required for every pet that you wish to take abroad. The process involves an injection to insert the chip between the shoulders and is relatively painless. A rabies vaccination will need to be administrated to your pet once a microchip has been inserted. This can be done during the same consultation and the vaccines are now routinely kept in stock at the Practice.
A blood test will need to be taken at least thirty days post rabies vaccination. The sample will be tested at a Ministry Approved Laboratory and results can take between four and six weeks to be returned. It will be six months from the date of the blood test before your pet will be able to re-enter the UK. It will be possible to travel out of the country earlier provided that your return date is six months post testing. The Passport can be issued as soon as a favourable blood result has been confirmed.
The expiry date for each Passport will be the date that a rabies vaccination booster is required (yearly boosters are needed). As long as your Pet’s vaccination is kept in date, further blood tests will not be required.
Individual countries will still have criteria that will need to be met to allow your pet admission. This is (in most cases) covered by a health certificate provided by the Ministry and issued by the Practice. We advise that you contact the Ministry (telephone: 0118 959 6695) as soon as you have firm arrangements and dates for your holiday.
How do I arrange these steps?
Due to the amount of paperwork involved with the Passport procedure an appointment is preferable. We request that you inform the Nursing staff of the nature of the appointment so that any paperwork can be prepared. For any further information or queries please contact one of our Nurses.
BON VOYAGE!
Severn Veterinary Centre
Berkeley House, Berkeley Way, Warndon Villages, Worcester, WR4 9UP United Kingdom
Tel: 01905 756156
Berkeley House, Berkeley Way, Warndon Villages, Worcester, WR4 9UP United Kingdom
Tel: 01905 756156
Our Facilities
Both practices are dedicated small animal practices, ie, dogs, cats, rabbits, and other domestic pets. Both are fully equipped with modern surgical, anaesthetic, radiography, laboratory and hospitalisation facilities to deal with all aspects of modern veterinary practice. We are accredited under Tier 2 of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Practice Standards Scheme. This is a voluntary scheme, and is aimed at practices wishing to attain very high standards.Routine Services
* Health Checks
* New Puppies & Kittens
* Breeding
* Ageing Pets
* Inoculations
* Weight Watcher and Dietary Advice
* Cat spays / Castrations
* Dog spays / Castrations
* Dental Hygiene
* Blood Tests
* Micro Chipping
* Pet Passports
* Pet Insurance
* Pet Cremation
Special Services
* Radiography
* Haematology
* Biochemistry
* Bacteriology
* Orthopaedics
* Abdominal
* Thoracic
* Tumour
* Fertility
* Cardiology - routine
* Ultrasound service available
* Radiology specialist available
* Endoscopy specialist available
* In House Laboratory
Referral services
We provide a small animal orthopaedic, spinal and soft tissue referral service - see the "welcome page" for details on this.
Vaccination and annual health checks
Regular health check-ups are important for the long-term health and welfare of all pets. Routine examinations allow us to take a pro-active role in preventive health care. Actual or imminent health problems will hopefully be spotted earlier and appropriate treatment or preventive action taken. We normally carry out regular check-ups as part of the annual booster vaccinations that are recommended for all dogs, cats and rabbits. This is an ideal opportunity to discuss any aspect of your pet’s health or well-being (eg, weight problems) that is of concern to you. If appropriate further investigation (eg, blood tests, xrays, etc) may be suggested. It is of course possible to perform health examinations at times other than the annual vaccination. We often recommend more frequent check-ups for pets with chronic problems (eg, heart disease, arthritis). Remember one human year is considered equivalent to seven for a dog or cat.
Vaccination protocols
Puppies
Are routinely vaccinated against Distemper, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Hepatitis and Parainfluenza. The initial course is two injections two weeks apart. The first injection can now be given at eight weeks of age allowing the puppy to “socialise” from twelve weeks of age. Annual booster vaccinations are given.
Dogs can also be given vaccination against kennel cough (Bordetella bronchiseptica). This is most effective if given one to two weeks before going into a “high-risk” situation – most often kennels, but also pet-shows, training classes, etc.
Kittens
We routinely vaccinate against “cat flu”, enteritis and feline leukaemia. These can all be given together as a single injection at nine weeks and then again at twelve weeks, allowing the kitten to “socialise” from fourteen weeks of age. Annual booster vaccinations are given.
Rabbits
Rabbits can be vaccinated from six weeks of age against Myxomatosis and from twelve weeks against viral haemorrhagic disease. Both are very serious and fatal diseases and vaccination is highly recommended. Annual booster vaccinations are given.
Costs
Many people consider the cost of booster vaccinations an unnecessary expense. This is a risky strategy. The widespread reduction in the levels of these largely fatal diseases as arisen from the use of vaccination protocols and is only maintained by their continued use. Reduction in the use of vaccination protocols will lead to increased outbreaks (as is currently occurring with TB in humans). The annual cost of vaccinating pets is pence per week and is insignificant compared with the cost of feeding them. Or to look at it another way we can vaccinate our pets for the cost of two to three cigarettes a week, or one can of “pop”, etc.
Worming
Puppies and Kittens
They are often infested with roundworms from birth and can re-infest their mother from about three weeks of age. This is via the passage of eggs within the faeces from the puppy or kitten. In the young worms can inhibit growth and in severe cases result in “stunting”. It is also possible for some worms to migrate through body tissue causing damage on route. Tapeworms are less of a problem in young animals. The commonest sources of tapeworm infestation are from fleas (thus flea control is important), eating raw meat and wild animals. Thus tapeworm infestation is more likely to be associated with adult dog and cat lifestyles. Nevertheless puppies and kittens can be infested with tapeworm.
There are many worming products on the market with different protocols depending on the active ingredient and the age of the pet. Many products contain very old drugs and are not very effective. More modern products are usually more effective, easier to administer, safer and need less frequent dosing. Please ask for our advice on the best current products to use (as a guide puppies and kittens will usually need worming approximately every four weeks).
Adult dogs and cats
Can be infested with both roundworms and tapeworms. Modern multi-wormers will deal with both groups (and also lungworms – although this is not especially common in the UK). The current recommendation by the British Veterinary Association and the World Health Organization is to worm pets over 6 months of age four times per year (ie, every 3 months).
Human health
There is a risk to humans of being infested with worms from dogs and cats. This most commonly occurs in children and can be minimized by teaching children good pet hygiene practice (eg, washing hands before eating, not allowing the pet to lick their face, etc) and by regular worming – hence the recommendation by WHO to worm every three months.
Fleas and ear mites
These are far more common than most people realise. Fleas are the single largest cause of skin disease in dogs and cats and will also bite humans. The saliva deposited by the flea provokes an itch response that can be very intense. Scratching or nibbling at these itchy areas by the pet can cause severe skin damage and resultant bacterial dermatitis, etc. The fleas do not need to live on the pet and indeed lay most of their eggs in the environment (our houses!). It is thus possible for a pet to be itchy because of fleas without any obvious adult fleas running around in their coats. Flea control is recommended for all pet dog and cats. However as with worming products many of the available flea treatments are based on very old and ineffective drugs. Please seek our advise on the latest treatments.
Ear mites are also common, particularly in puppies and kittens. Any pet that is showing signs of ear irritation should be examined. As with fleas pets can very rapidly self-inflict severe damage on itchy ears.
Neutering
This is generally recommended for all dogs and cats not intended for breeding purposes. There are significant preventive health benefits to neutering for both male and female dogs and cats. For example reduced risk of mammary gland tumour, pyometra, prostatic disease, anal adenoma, perineal hernias, etc. Most significantly neutered male cats live on average two to three times longer than entire toms.
In general neutered animals also make more manageable pets – no seasons, less urine marking, less inclined to stray, often less aggressive, etc. We can discuss this in more depth with you and also advise you on the best timing for the procedure.
Anaesthesia and surgery
We are all naturally worried about anaesthesia and surgery. Anaesthesia is to some extent a suspension between life and death (similar to coma) and has thus some inherent risks. Whilst no-one has yet devised “risk-free anaesthesia” modern drugs, techniques and protocols can minimise these risks. We have access to the most modern human anaesthetic drugs and the equipment to administer them. We have monitoring equipment to record electrocardiography and pulse oximetry and trained staff to monitor our patients. We adjust our anaesthetic protocol to the needs of the individual patient and may also recommend / perform pre-anaesthetic tests, eg, blood tests, xrays, etc. we thus take every care to minimise anaesthetic and surgical risks to our patients.
Since in addition to our first opinion work we also provide a referral service in orthopaedics, spinal and soft tissue surgery we have a lot of very good instrumentation and “state-of-the-art” equipment. This, along with the expertise necessary to perform referral work, is available to all our patients through the first opinion clinics.
Acupuncture
We also provide an acupuncture service. This is used both to complement our current practices and as alternative medicine in the appropriate situations.
Dental hygiene
Pets have teeth too! Regular dental check-ups and preventive dental healthcare is an important part of maintaining health. We can provide routine dental healthcare and advice and recommendations for oral hygiene techniques in pets. In addition where more elaborate work may be necessary (eg, root canals, crowns, etc) we will refer you to an appropriate veterinary dentist.
Weight control and dietary advice
We all know the importance of eating sensibly and of avoiding obesity. We can provide comprehensive dietary advice and products to suit individual pets and owners. For pets that are overweight we run obesity clinics and we have full access to all the current prescription diets that are recommended for various ailments. All our food is sold at the manufacturers recommended retail price and is either held in stock or can be available next working day via our wholesaler. There is also a mail-order service available on the web site at very competitive prices.
Rescue
We are involved with Orthopaedic work for the RSPCA.
Cats Protection League and Damier Rescue.
Referral
In addition to providing our own referral services fro other veterinary practices we have access to an extensive range of referral services for those times when the situation demands.
Micro chipping
Micro Chipping is a modern way of identifying your pet and helps to reunite lost pets with their owners. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted with a needle. The chip holds a unique number and this number is used to store information about the pet and you, the owner. The number is registered on a central computer and is accessed if an animal is found. Any species of pet can be chipped including birds and reptiles! For more information or to book your pet in for chipping please contact the Practice.
Passports For Pets
What you need to know.
Microchips are required for every pet that you wish to take abroad. The process involves an injection to insert the chip between the shoulders and is relatively painless. A rabies vaccination will need to be administrated to your pet once a microchip has been inserted. This can be done during the same consultation and the vaccines are now routinely kept in stock at the Practice.
A blood test will need to be taken at least thirty days post rabies vaccination. The sample will be tested at a Ministry Approved Laboratory and results can take between four and six weeks to be returned. It will be six months from the date of the blood test before your pet will be able to re-enter the UK. It will be possible to travel out of the country earlier provided that your return date is six months post testing. The Passport can be issued as soon as a favourable blood result has been confirmed.
The expiry date for each Passport will be the date that a rabies vaccination booster is required (yearly boosters are needed). As long as your Pet’s vaccination is kept in date, further blood tests will not be required.
Individual countries will still have criteria that will need to be met to allow your pet admission. This is (in most cases) covered by a health certificate provided by the Ministry and issued by the Practice. We advise that you contact the Ministry (telephone: 0118 959 6695) as soon as you have firm arrangements and dates for your holiday.
How do I arrange these steps?
Due to the amount of paperwork involved with the Passport procedure an appointment is preferable. We request that you inform the Nursing staff of the nature of the appointment so that any paperwork can be prepared. For any further information or queries please contact one of our Nurses.
BON VOYAGE!
Severn Veterinary Centre
Berkeley House, Berkeley Way, Warndon Villages, Worcester, WR4 9UP United Kingdom
Tel: 01905 756156
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The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is a system that allows people in the UK to take their dogs, cats and ferrets to other EU countries, and return with them to the UK without quarantine. More info...    |