Why can't I come to you directly?
Firstly we are not equipped like a first opinion practice. For instance we do not carry the same supply of drugs and vaccines. Secondly our veterinary surgeons are highly qualified and skilled in their own specialties but are not experienced general practitioners.

Some of the problems encountered in general practice are best tackled by a good general practitioner. In addition our ability to provide a comprehensive specialist referral service would be compromised if the system were swamped with routine enquiries.

Your veterinary surgeon will already have done some important work on the case and it is imperative we are able to access his/her findings when dealing with your case. We must therefore involve him/her fully in the initial discussions and thereafter the follow-up care of the case.

Who is a specialist?
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons registers suitably qualified veterinary surgeons that have the necessary experience and who work currently in a particular discipline to be designated RCVS specialists. This is the highest tier of qualification in the UK. To maintain specialist status the individual has to apply for re-registration every 5 years.

When is the best time to seek a referral?
This will vary upon the type of problem. Your veterinary surgeon will be able to help you make this decision and may well be the first to suggest it. We accept emergency referrals and your veterinary surgeon will indicate the degree of urgency to us. Reasons for referral are various. Often your veterinary surgeon is fully aware of the problem but just needs confirmation and treatment of the condition by a colleague more familiar with that aspect of work. Sometimes facilities, only available in a specialist centre, will be required and a referral is therefore arranged.

Should my pet be vaccinated?
There is always a risk that a contagious disease may spread where animals are housed in close quarters, so please make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date. Ideally, these should include a vaccination against respiratory disease, which is not always given in a routine programme.

It is a good idea to check your pet’s vaccination record with your vet before you come. Dogs should be vaccinated against kennel cough and cats against feline influenza. We do, of course, realise that all this may not be practical in an emergency.

What happens during a consultation?
Remember to collect any letters, notes, test results and radiographs from your vet before you come.
The consultation should take about 45 minutes. After history taking and an examination we will discuss options for further investigation and treatment.

Your pet may need to stay with us overnight or longer. In some circumstances you may need to bring your pet back on another day for more in-depth investigations or surgery.

How do estimates and payments work?
We will give you an estimate of how much a treatment might cost, but we cannot always tell in advance how straightforward it will be. We will, though, give you revised estimates as often as possible.

Fees, which will include VAT, are payable in full when the treatment is finished and you collect your pet. If fees reach a substantial amount before the end of care, we may request an interim payment. We accept most major credit and debit cards.

What happens about insurance?
If your pet is insured you will need to contact your insurance company to let them know you are being referred. If you would like us to fill in the veterinary surgeon’s section of the insurance form, please bring it with you when you collect your pet. Please note we do not make claims for payment direct to ourselves.

How will I know what is happening?
At the time of consultation, the clinician will advise you on communication arrangements, which may involve vets and nurses. We may ask you to ring us at specified times, or may plan to call you with updates. Please be aware that clinicians may have commitments such as surgical or emergency procedures that make them hard to contact during the day.

Can I visit my animal?
Circumstances vary with each case and we welcome requests to visit. On some occasions it will be our advice that visiting the animal might cause further distress or interfere with a quiet recovery period. The converse is also true - we may feel that the owner's presence may actually speed a recovery and we will ask you to visit.

For the majority of cases it is a matter of personal choice but as the stay with us is usually so short it may be most convenient to avoid unnecessary travelling. Any visit must be made with prior permission and arrangement with the nursing staff.

Who looks after my animal at night?
Your pet will be supervised by nurses and vets 24 hours a day. Nurses are on duty all day and all night. Six veterinary surgeon house officers live on the site and work a night duty rota.

Bert's Story
You may also like read Bert's story which describes from arrival to discharge the basic procedure each owner follows when admitting a pet at Davies Veterinary Specialists.

What happens after I have collected my pet?
Following a visit to DVS we routinely report to the referring veterinary surgeon by letter. Subsequent communication with the owner is usually arranged on an individual basis. We may telephone the owner or ask them to telephone us. We are happy for owners to contact us if they are awaiting results or have other concerns and have not heard from the clinician.

Depending upon results and the underlying condition, as well as practicalities such as distance, subsequent management may be achieved via liaison with the referring vet or through repeat examinations at DVS. Each case has an individualised management plan.

To ensure we give advice based on recent information, and to conform with regulatory advice, we are unable to give direct advice to owners of animals we have not seen for more than three months. In these circumstances we may need to communicate with the referring practice or perform a repeat examination.

What if my pet passes away?
Sadly, in some cases an animal passes away or has to be euthanased (‘put to sleep’) in our care. We are aware of how sad and upsetting the loss of a pet can be and we make every effort to make this time as comfortable as possible for both pet and owner. If an animal has to be euthanased we are happy to let owners attend if they wish, although in exceptional circumstances which would mean excessive suffering, this may not always be possible.

After a pet has passed away there are often feelings of anger, guilt and sadness. We are pleased to be able to speak to owners and help deal with any questions or concerns they might have regarding the death of their pet.

If an owner does not have the means for burial of their pet at home, we will be able to arrange cremation (with return of ashes if requested) either with our preferred crematorium services (www.cpccares.com, www.sunnyfields.org.uk) or with an owner's preferred choice.