We understand that there are times when bringing your pet to the practice can be difficult, particularly when they are very unwell, elderly, anxious or nearing the end of their life.
However, in most situations, bringing your pet to the practice is the safest and most appropriate way for us to care for them. At the surgery, our veterinary team has immediate access to the equipment, medications, diagnostic facilities and additional clinical support that may be needed.
For what happens at the practice when it is time to let your pet go, see what to expect during a euthanasia consultation.
We will always try to accommodate requests for home visits during our normal opening hours where we reasonably can.
Home visits need to be fitted around appointments, operations and the care of patients already in the practice, so the more notice you can give us, the more likely we are to be able to arrange a visit.
Unfortunately, there will be occasions when we are unable to offer a home visit. If this is the case, our team will discuss the most appropriate alternatives with you.
Home visits are not routinely available as part of our out-of-hours emergency service.
Outside our normal opening hours, our emergency service is based at the practice. The veterinary surgeon and veterinary nurse on duty are responsible both for patients already hospitalised with us and for any new emergencies that arise.
Leaving the practice to make a home visit can therefore affect our ability to provide safe and timely care to those other patients. For this reason, if your pet needs urgent veterinary attention out of hours, you should normally expect to bring them to the practice.
We appreciate that this can sometimes be difficult, particularly if you do not drive or are unable to transport your pet yourself.
Please tell us if you are having difficulty getting your pet to the practice. Although we may not be able to come to your home, we can help you consider the options available.
Depending on the circumstances, these might include:
Our team may be able to provide details of local transport or mobile veterinary services that could help. These are independent providers and their availability, particularly out of hours, cannot be guaranteed.
If you are concerned that your pet may not be safe to transport, please speak to the veterinary surgeon so that we can advise you on the most appropriate next step.
Yes. We recognise that exceptional circumstances can arise in which transporting an animal to the practice is not possible, safe or appropriate.
In these situations, the veterinary surgeon on duty will assess the individual circumstances. A visit away from the practice can only be made where the vet considers it clinically necessary, practically possible and safe to undertake without compromising the care of other patients.
This decision rests with the veterinary surgeon responsible for the emergency service at that time. Factors such as your pet’s condition, whether they can safely be transported, the treatment they are likely to require, the needs of hospitalised and emergency patients, travel time and staff safety may all need to be considered.
We therefore cannot guarantee an out-of-hours home visit, even where an owner is experiencing significant difficulty transporting their pet.
If you think your pet needs urgent veterinary attention, please contact us rather than delaying treatment because you are worried about transport.
Our team can discuss your pet’s condition with you, advise you about the safest next step and, where a home visit cannot be provided, help you consider practical alternatives for getting your pet the veterinary care they need.
