For small animals we offer morning, afternoon and evening clinics with our veterinary surgeons, to arrange an appointment ring the practice on (01) 8256213.
Annual vaccinations and examinations
As a young puppy or kitten they require a primary course of vaccinations. This consists of two vaccinations 2 - 4 weeks apart. Their next vaccine will be in one year and thereafter annually.
Your pet is examined by one of our vets from head to tail. Their weight is recorded and monitored. Here is the perfect time to raise any issue you have as an owner. Our experienced team of vets and nurses are here to help you.
Neutering
Neutering consists of a day procedure for both male and female, cats and dogs. Your pet comes in fasted. We advise removing food at 7pm the night before the surgery.
In the morning, drop off of your pet is between 8-8.30am. We advise to bring them to the toilet as normal in the morning.
Spaying for females and castration for males is performed under a general anaesthetic. The surgery nurse with ask a few question prior to admission and a consent form is signed.
Upon discharge of your pet on the same day, the aftercare and medications and follow up instructions and appointments will be explained by our nurses and you will then be reunited with your pet.
At Ratoath Veterinary Clinic we are PRO neutering. It reduces the risk of testicular cancer in males, and mammary tumours and pyometra in females as well as reducing the numbers of unplanned litters.
Dental procedures
Similar to neutering a dental is performed under a general anaesthetic with pain relief given prior. A full oral examination is performed by a vet and any fractured or infected teeth are removed to prevent any further pain or discomfort.
The patient will receive a full descale and polish using our dental machine.
Upon discharge of the patient on the same day, the surgery nurse will go through any further medication dispensed, the aftercare and most importantly how to improve dental hygiene after a dental procedure.
Digital x rays
X-raying is one of our major diagnostic tools that we use on a day to day basis. It is used to diagnose fractures, arthritis, identify any foreign bodies present in the gastrointestinal tract and even pregnancies!
Sedation is often administered prior to taking x-rays to prevent taking unnecessary images and over exposure of radiation.
Ultrasound
Another important diagnostic tool we use frequently is ultrasound. It is a portable system that is used in certain cases to aid in the diagnosis. It is also used to detect pregnancies in female cats and dogs.
In order to get a clear image we clip the area of interest on the patient to ensure we receive a diagnostic image. This often can be done without sedation as it’s non-invasive and doesn’t cause pain or discomfort for the patient to carry out.
Orthopaedic surgery
This is a specialized type of a surgery which is carried out by an orthopaedic surgeon. It is something we offer here at the clinic.
X-rays are taken prior to diagnose any fractures or possible cruciate tears. This type of surgery involves fixing fractures of bones and rebuilding ligaments.
As this a complex surgery, the recovery period is longer depending on the case. It’s extremely important to follow these post-operative instructions to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient after surgery is performed.
Usually x-rays are taken 6 weeks post-operation to see how the patient is healing during the recovery period.
Soft tissue surgery
This involves surgery of a range of systems from the biggest organ, the skin to reproductive surgery. It is performed under a general anaesthetic and monitored by a registered veterinary nurse. Pain relief is given prior to surgery to make the patient comfortable. We often send samples to an external laboratory for further diagnostic and histopathology to determine whether the sample is benign or malignant.
Lab analysis
We have an in house laboratory in which we carry out blood and urine samples on a daily basis for cats, dog and horses. The results are processed on the same day for rapid diagnosis.
We have a urinalysis machine that tests a fresh sample which can detect urinary tract infections, early detection of diabetes and inflammation along the urinary tract. A microscope exam is then carried out to see if any crystals are present.
We also perform a microscope examination of skin cases after a skin scrape and carry out faecal egg counts for horses. All of these are performed under a microscope as they can’t be seen by the naked eye.
Microchipping
This is a legal requirement for dogs to have a microchip since 2015. However it’s not a legal requirement in cats, but it’s a good idea for identification purposes if they get lost.
Microchips are easily implanted and the nurses register the microchip so there is no paperwork to worry about for the owners. A microchip is uniquely coded with a number that is unique to your pet and can be read by a scanner and trace the owners once registered.
Monitoring anaesthesia
Every surgical procedure is monitored closely by our team of nurses. This includes monitoring of the heart and respiratory rate. They are closely monitored post operatively and their temperature monitored and recorded during the recovery period. This is in their kennel with bedding and a blanket and in a room with increased room temperature to keep them as comfortable as possible.
Hospitalised pets
Often, some pets are admitted for fluid therapy, strong pain medication, observation and further diagnostic tests. We know this can we worrying as an owner, so we give you regular updates daily.
In-patients are taken out multiple times a day for toilet opportunities and for a little walk if their feeling up to it and to get some fresh air.
Our team of nurses treat each patient as if it was their own pet, TLC is very important!
Pet passports
Animals need a passport for travelling too. The passport contains owner’s details, pet’s details including the microchip number and their vaccination history.
It’s important as an owner to contact the embassy of the country you are travelling to, to see what requirements they need prior to travel.
Rabies vaccine must be given 21 days prior to travelling. Your pet needs to be at least 12 weeks old to receive this vaccination.
Before travel a vet will perform a full clinical examination to ensure he/she is fit for travel and sign the passport declaring this. A parasite treatment is also given. This must be carried out no less than 24 hours before travel and no sooner than 5 days before travelling.
Referrals
This is often carried out in certain cases and referred to a specialist in that particular field. There are many referral clinics around the Meath/Dublin area in which we are in frequent contact with. Here we look after all the paperwork for you. We send over all of the relevant history, blood results and x-rays or other diagnostic imaging and organize the appointment for you and your pet.
Cremation
We offer a cremation service here at the clinic. We understand this is a difficult time and saying goodbye is never easy. We offer group cremation and individual cremation. Our nurses will discuss options regarding cremation and what to expect, as we understand this is an upsetting time and we want to make this as easy as possible for both pet and owner.