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We have a wide range of expertise throughout the practice, with many vets having qualifications in areas of special interest including Ophthalmology, Spinal Surgery, Dentistry, Complementary Medicine, and Behaviour and Counselling to name a few
The extensively equipped hospital facilitates our Veterinary Surgeons to ensure that patients receive the best possible diagnostic investigation and treatment, whilst maintaining consideration and care at all times.
A wide range of appointment times are available to suit every client’s requirements from daytime appointments and nurse clinics to later evening and weekend appointments all available to book via phone or online via our online booking page.
We provide a compassionate and caring service for all pets, endeavouring to keep case continuity - so that one Vet deals with any one problem.
This not only enables a good relationship to develop between the Vet, Client and Pet, but also ensures that progress or problems can be accurately monitored.
We offer a Free Registration Consultation where we give a detailed examination and preventative health advice. A wide range of appointment times are available, please phone 01793 522483 or your local branch to book and appointment or click through to our on-line booking system.
Please see branch surgeries for detailed information on opening and consulting times.
Arthroscopy is a procedure used to look inside a joint, using an arthroscope. An arthroscope is like a thin telescope with a light source. It is used to light up and magnify the structures inside a joint. An arthroscope is passed through a small cut in the skin and into a joint.
Arthroscopy may be done to investigate symptoms such as pain, swelling, or instability of a joint. Arthroscopy may show damage to cartilage or ligaments within a joint, fragments of bone or cartilage which have broken off, or signs of arthritis.
In addition to simply looking inside, we can use fine instruments in the joint ('keyhole surgery').
These instruments are used to do a variety of procedures easily and safely.
Drove has full facilities available to investigate all types of heart and lung disease. New treatments available for heart conditions in pets can ensure that your pet can now live a happy life for years after diagnosis.
Signs can include:
If an abnormality is detected on examination of your pet, further tests may be suggested, such as:
A combination of some of the above tests may be used to discover any underlying diseases to give the most accurate diagnosis and assist in formulating the best treatment plan for your pet.
Chemotherapy can be an excellent treatment option that can increase the life of your pet whilst still maintaining quality of life, compared with no treatment at all.
Chemotherapy drugs are designed to kill rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. Compared to people who receive chemotherapy, pet animals experience fewer and less severe side effects because we use lower doses of drugs.
For more information please download Chemotherapy
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is often turned to when orthodox treatments fail, or are contra-indicated. However it can be used alongside such treatments as well.It is an excellent and invaluable tool for pain control for chronic conditions.
Most animals tolerate the needles well and often relax during treatment, it is an invaluable tool for pain relief in musculo-skeletal disease, but many other conditions are also treated successfully such as; Allergies, Arthritus, Skin Conditions, Digestive disorders, Respiratory conditions
We have Vets trained in acupuncture so it is a treatment option available to our clients.
Homeopathy
While we can advise on homeopathic treatments for Stress, e.g. Fireworks, Thunder etc., we currently cannot prescribe homeopathy for medical conditions. However we can seek further advice for you and organise a referral to a homeopathic vet if required.
Hydrotherapy
An excellent way to rehabilitate your pet after surgery or help in chronic arthritis cases and to also perform assisted walking within water following a neurological or spinal problem that may have left the animal with reduced or loss of use of one or more limb.
Muscle wastage (atrophy) within days of any period of immobilisation and it is very important to start rebuilding this muscle as soon as possible.
Sometimes standard physiotherapy is not appropriate and the properties of water mean that the water-based environment enables effective treatment and rehabilitation by reducing the load through joints and the resistance created by the water increases strength as the muscle have to work harder.
We have close ties with a local pool and can provide more information and referrals for you.
Physiotherapy
Animal physiotherapy (physical therapy) is a complementary therapy which is carried out at our practise under veterinary referral to a qualified physiotherapist. The most common areas of treatment are:
In optimum conditions nature will heal an injury in a particular time span. However, for many reasons, these conditions are not always readily available. In these circumstances the injury will take longer to heal than nature intended or at worst may not heal at all. The aim of the physiotherapist is to optimise these conditions so that the body can heal the injury in its natural time span.
Dental disease is an extremely common problem in the pet population. Not only does it result in unsightly tartar, smelly breath, infection, pain and loss of teeth, but it has far reaching implications on your dog & cats health.
Bacteria from infected teeth are released into the pets’ blood stream, where it travels to the rest of the body which can cause serious systemic disease.
A Free dental hygiene consultation with a Veterinary Nurse will individually assess the best prevention or treatment program for your pet.
For more information please download the following:
Dermatology involves the treatment of skin diseases. Skin problems are one of the most common reasons that clients bring their pets to the vet.
Problems can vary from straight forward infestations through to allergies and immune mediated skin diseases.
Many symptoms are clearly visible and include pustules, scabs, rashes and hair loss. This makes it very easy to treat most causes of skin disease.
Lots of skin diseases present with similar symptoms and to achieve a diagnosis tests are often necessary. Common tests performed include skin scrapes, tape strips, swabs, biopsies and blood tests.
Through doing these a diagnosis is usually reached and we can then start treatment. There is nothing more satisfying for pet, owner and vet than seeing a patient a few weeks into treatment and being able to physically see an improvement!
For more information please download:
At Drove we offer a variety of imaging tools to ensure your pet is diagnosed in a timely and efficient manner. This ensures that we are able to propose the most effective treatment options. None of these tests are painful, but do require a relaxed and co-operative patient, so sedation or general anaesthesia may be required.
Dave Rawlinson one of the partners, holds an RCVS Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging.
CT Scans
Drove is one of the few first opinion practices in the country that can offer CT scans. A computerised tomography (CT) or CAT scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed 3D images of the inside of the body. CT scans can produce detailed images of many structures inside the body, including the internal organs, blood vessels and bones. They can be used to:
Radiography
This involves the use of X-rays to create a 2 dimensional 'shadow' picture of tissues. X-rays are absorbed to different degrees by bodily structures, meaning that bone, tissue, fluid and air can be separately identified. Many views are often needed to allow this 2D image to be interpreted into a 3D picture.
Ultrasonography (Ultrasound Scans)
High frequency sound waves emitted from a hand held probe is placed in contact with the skin to produce an image. Sound waves penetrate and reverberate from varying tissues to different degrees and this pattern enables the production of a 2 dimensional 'slice' of tissue visible on the monitor.
The image is continual meaning it is possible to move the probe and gain an overall 3 dimensional assessment. Using advanced technology we are also able to watch directional blood flow and measure pressure gradients of fluid movement.
An important advantage is that it allows us to see into the tissues, especially in the abdomen, often allowing biopsies to be taken with minimal distress to your pet.
The Ultrasound probe needs direct skin contact which means a small patch of fur must be shaved over the area of interest.
Echocardiography (Heart Scan)
Echocardiography (ECG) the application of ultrasound for imaging of the heart.
Standard ultrasound techniques are used to image two-dimensional slices of the heart and allow us to build a picture of the area we are focusing on.
Colour Doppler is used to image flowing blood and Continuous wave Doppler and Pulsed wave Doppler are used to measure the velocity of flowing blood.
An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your pets' body is examined internally using an endoscope.
An endoscope is a thin, long, flexible tube that has a light source and a video camera at one end. Images of the inside of the body are relayed to an external screen, allowing the vet to see the internal structure without invasive surgery.
Scopes of varying sizes are used to investigate and biopsy various areas of the body. These include:
Internal medicine involves the diagnosis and management of conditions of the major body systems and Lynne Gaskarth one of the partners holds an RCVS certificate in Small Animal Medicine.
We use investigative techniques as well as thorough clinical examination and the history of your pet to establish what your animal is suffering from and how best we can treat it. Investigations may include blood tests, X-Rays, ultrasound scans, endoscopy and various techniques for sampling body tissues.
Common Investigations include:
Our in-house laboratory means that rapid results can be obtained prior to anaesthesia and in emergencies. Appropriate treatment can then be given to your pet as soon as possible.
We are able us to offer the following services:
This is often known as ‘keyhole surgery’ and requires specialist equipment to perform procedures using much smaller incisions than are required with traditional surgical techniques.
Laparoscopic surgery is only performed in a relatively small number of veterinary surgeries but we are proud to offer this service.
Please download this leaflet for more information Laparoscopic Bitch Spaying.
Neurology is concerned with the structure, functions and diseases of the nervous system i.e. the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles they supply. It combines the knowledge of medical and surgical fields to localise and treat specific neurological problems.
Common neurological conditions include the management of seizures and spinal conditions.
We have a caring team of Qualified, experienced nurses who can give advice on a wide range of pet care topics.
Did you know Drove offers many of these services FREE OF CHARGE?
Pet checks & general advice on;
Our Nurse Clinics also offer additional paid for services such as;
Drove Vet Clare Glover is a Royal College certified Ophthalmologist and we have highly equipped diagnostic and surgical equipment to aid her in the treatment of eye problems.
Common problems we investigate are:
Please download these leaflets for more information:
In orthopaedics we deal with bones, joints and the muscles that move them.
We have thorough experience in dealing with major trauma injuries, joint surgery, and growth abnormalities and treat injuries and fractures by means of Internal & External fixation and arthroscopic surgery
The first sign of orthopaedic problems may involve your pet becoming lame, or is in pain.
A detailed examination is always performed, this may be all that is required with simple injuries however, a more detailed examination may be necessary.
This may include:
Help is available during your pet's recovery and your vet will be able to advise on appropriate long term therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and acupuncture.
Or give us a call on 01793 522 483
mail@drovevets.co.uk 01793 522 483
