Services

We offer our patients a total package of healthcare

At Ark House Veterinary Surgery in Leighton Buzzard, we offer our patients a total package of health care.

We welcome pets of all shapes and sizes including mice, rabbits, ferrets, budgies, cats and dogs.

You can find more details about our comprehensive range of services below.

To book an appointment or operation call 01525 373329 or book an appointment online.

  • Consultations and Referrals
  • Cardiology Clinic
  • Neutering
  • Physiotherapy
  • Behaviour Consults
  • Vaccinations

Consultations and Referrals

Consultations:

During a Veterinary Consultation a full clinical examination is carried out by a Veterinary Surgeon together with a gathering of relevant information, an investigation and/or treatment plan as appropriate.

Follow up Consultations will often be recommended to assess the response to treatment or discuss progress and further investigation of the initial complaint.

Referrals:

We are happy to refer your pet to a suitable specialist.

Veterinary Surgeons will always keep your pet’s welfare a priority and will suggest referrals as appropriate. Please feel free to discuss this with your Veterinary Surgeon.

Cardiology Clinic

Dr Monika Czerwinska BMV MRCVS Cert GP(Cardio) Cert AVP(VC) Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Cardiology

Monika has 20 years of practical experience in small animal veterinary practice (with particular interest in ultrasonography and echocardiography) and two postgraduate certificates in veterinary cardiology. She holds the title of ‘Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Cardiology’ (AVP) awarded by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

After 15 years in general practice, Monika transitioned to referral cardiology practice while working for Springfield Vet Group, Sarah Smith Cardiology Specialists and Davies Veterinary Specialists, Hertfordshire, until recently.

Her cardiology clinic is created out of a love for cardiology and passion for animal care. Our joint aim is to provide easily accessible expert cardiac care within the familiarity of the primary veterinary practice. She works with our own vets to help and guide owners through the investigations and best treatment options for their pet every step of the way. Our unique approach, with in-depth consultations, written discharge notes and pets being allowed to stay with their owners during the heart scan, offers additional comfort for pet owners and their furry friends.

She offers a full specialist cardiology service including diagnostic echocardiography, Holter (ambulatory ECG) placement and interpretation, treatment and stabilisation of patients with heart disease.

We are delighted that Monika can offer advanced cardiology services to established cardiac cases as well as diagnostics for pets with signs of heart disease.

To book your pet’s appointment with Monika please speak to your vet or call 01525 373329.

Neutering

Cats

We advise neutering at 4 1/2 months of age for all male and female cats. This is based on advice from ‘The Cat Group’  – a collection of professional organisations dedicated to feline welfare including the Feline Advisory Bureau, RSPCA, Blue Cross, PDSA, ISFM and BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association). Neutering at this time reduces the risk of unwanted pregnancy and disease.

In females the uterus and ovaries are removed through a small incision in the tummy – it is similar to a hysterectomy in people.

In males both testicles are removed though very small incisions in the scrotum.

Dogs

Female dogs will usually be speyed 3 – 4 months after the end of their first season (which could be anywhere from 7 – 18 months of age depending on the breed and individual).

Male dogs will normally be castrated from 10 months of age but again it depends on the individual. Some dogs are much better left until older before they are castrated – please ask your Vet or Nurse, call the practice for advice and to book a free Pre-Neutering Check or book a free pre-neutering check online.

In females the uterus and ovaries are removed through an incision in the tummy – it is similar to a hysterectomy in people.

In males both testicles are removed though one small incision just in front of  the scrotum.

Rabbits

Neutering rabbits not only reduced the number of unwanted pet rabbits but also has many health and social benefits. Rabbits are social animals and should not be on their own and neutering will allow pairs or groups to live together more happily and without the risk of pregnancy.

Female rabbits are protected from common problems such as uterine cancer.

We recommend neutering male rabbits from 4 1/2 months and females from 5. Rabbits are routinely intubated during anaesthesia using isoflurane.

In females the uterus and ovaries are removed through an incision in the tummy – it is similar to a hysterectomy in people.

In males both testicles are removed though two small incisions in the scrotum.

We usually hospitalise rabbits overnight to ensure they are eating and passing faeces before they go home to you.

So what happens on the day?

You will be given (or sent in the post) our pre operative advice sheet to help prepare you and your pet for the day.

Cats and dogs need to have had nothing to eat since 8 pm the previous evening. You can leave a water bowl down overnight, but take it up first thing in the morning. Please make sure your dog has been out for a wee!

Rabbits do not need to be starved overnight and should have their usual access to food and water.

Cats and dogs are just with us for the day, coming in first thing in the morning and going home some time in the afternoon. If you work late you are welcome to collect your pet later on – we are open until 8pm.

Your pet will have 3-4 days of post operative pain killers to go home with after their operation, to ensure they are comfortable. Rabbits also go home with post operative pain relief. This is included in the price of the operation, as are the post operative check ups.

Your pet will be invited back for a post operative check 2-3 days after surgery to check  their wounds are healing properly.  Most pets also have another check at 10 days after the operation – cat castrates usually do not require this,

Our surgeons usually use a technique where the external sutures are ‘buried’. This means there are not usually sutures sticking out to irritate your pet! Occasionally there are external sutures which are removed at the 10 days check.

Physiotherapy

As veterinary surgical procedures and treatments continue to progress the need for animal physiotherapy is growing. We can refer you to a qualified, experienced Animal Physiotherapist.

A vital part of treatment and recovery for many human problems, physiotherapy is just as important in pets!

Does my pet need physiotherapy?

If any of these statements apply, it is likely that your pet would benefit from physiotherapy:

  • Recently undergone surgery, suffered an injury or an accident
  • Lost enthusiasm for playing and running or gets tired on walks
  • Reluctant to jump in the car or onto the sofa
  • Developed difficulty going up or down stairs
  • Become generally stiff or weak
  • Shown signs of tenderness to touch
  • Shown signs of lost mobility or function associated with old age or arthritis
  • Developed an unexplainable behavioural problem
  • Recently shown a loss of performance (competition dogs)

Pets of all ages can suffer from a variety of orthopaedic and neurological disorders and physiotherapy plays a vital role in the management of these conditions. Physiotherapy aims to provide pain relief, restore mobility and regain function. It can also increase the speed and quality of healing in wounds, muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones following injury or surgery.

Working and sporting dogs are susceptible to additional stresses and strains. Any loss of performance during the season should be investigated, to identify and treat minor musculo-skeletal injuries that have gone unnoticed, which left untreated cause more serious damage over time. It is also recommended that working dogs have pre and post season health checks to screen for minor injuries.

What will the treatment involve?

Pets referred for physiotherapy will be given a thorough assessment, from which an individual treatment plan will be prescribed. Treatment may include:

  • Manual therapies such as massage, stretches, and joint mobilisations
  • Electrotherapies such as laser, ultrasound, and electromagnetic energy therapy
  • Exercise programmes to stabilise, mobilise and strengthen.
  • A home programme to complement individual physiotherapy sessions

Behaviour Consults

Behaviour consultations are available for those pets (or owners) who are experiencing behavioural problems.

Debbie Culley RVN, our Pet Health Adviser, is an experienced animal behaviourist who can offer help with a wide range of problems.

We offer one to one behaviour consultations for our clients at the surgery.

Ark House Vets clients are welcome to speak to their usual vet for an in house referral, book online or call us on 01525 373329.

Case Study:

Pepper was taught to ask her owners to go out by sounding a wind chime. Below is video from her first session.

 

Vaccinations

Vaccinations protect against diseases which are life threatening. Vaccinations have helped ensure that these diseases are much less common than they used to be. However, some are present in Leighton Buzzard and surrounding areas.

We see Cat Flu frequently and have seen cases of Canine Parvovirus recently both in puppies and older dogs whose vaccinations were out of date.

We advise vaccinating cats against cat flu, feline panleukopenia and feline leukaemia virus. An initial course at 8 and 12 weeks old followed by annual boosters is recommended.

Dogs should be vaccinated against parvovirus, leptospirosis, distemper, hepatitis and parainfluenza.

An initial course of injections 4 weeks apart (usually at 7 or 8 and 11 or 12 weeks old) followed by a final dose at 16 weeks old is recommended. We should see your dog annually to repeat the vaccines needed to keep them protected.

In addition, we would recommend all dogs have a Kennel Cough vaccine up the nose annually.

Rabbits should be vaccinated against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease annually.

Book online

Why should I vaccinate?

Diseases that affect dogs

Parvovirus is a severe and contagious disease that’s often fatal. Parvo is the most serious infectious disease threat facing British dogs today. Spread by a virus which survives for many months in the environment, it causes severe vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. Once the cause of major epidemics, in recent years parvo has made an unpleasant comeback in many areas including the Leighton/Linslade area.

Leptospirosis is caused by a relatively common bacterium found in ponds, rivers, waterways and damp environments, spread through the urine of infected rats as well as dogs. It attacks both liver and kidneys and causes Weil’s disease which can be fatal in humans as well as dogs.

Infectious hepatitis is a severe and typically fatal disease that affects the liver. Now fairly uncommon in the UK thanks to vaccination.

Distemper is a highly infectious viral disease, debilitating and often fatal. Causes diarrhoea, respiratory problems and severe neurological signs. Now well controlled by vaccination, the main threat comes from abroad where the disease continues to occur.

Kennel cough – caused by more than one infection this is the UK’s most common infectious disease of dogs, being contracted anywhere that dogs are in contact – not just kennels. Some 65,000 cases of Kennel Cough were seen in UK surgeries last year. The disease causes a hacking cough that can persist for weeks. One form of the disease is protected against in the vaccination course and boosters. We also recommend the kennel cough vaccine up the nose annually to protect against Bordetella, one of the other causes of KC.

Diseases that affect cats

Feline leukaemia – causes tumours, anaemia and weakening of the immune system. It is spread from cat to cat in the saliva and other bodily fluids during grooming, feeding and fighting. We recommend vaccination for all cats except those truly indoor cats that never meet another cat and do not visit catteries. Annual boosters are recommended.

Feline panleukopenia – causes severe vomiting, anorexia and fever with a high risk of death. Spread in the faeces, the virus can persist in the environment for many years and can also be contracted from dogs. Vaccination should be included in the primary (kitten) vaccinations and first booster and thereafter every 3 years.

Cat ‘flu – is a widespread and common disease, causing sneezing, nasal discharge and ‘weeping’ eyes. Fever and an unwillingness to eat are common but a variety of other unpleasant signs can also occur. Spreading easily between cats, infection can persist for the rest of a cat’s life and a significant proportion will become carriers. Annual vaccination is recommended.

Diseases that affect rabbits

Myxomatosis is almost always fatal and causes much suffering. Common throughout the UK, it spreads from the wild rabbit population, usually via blood-sucking insects such as the common rabbit flea. The disease is widespread and is seen year-round, although the biggest risk period is late summer and autumn. Rabbits should be vaccinated annually.

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease is a viral disease which is also fatal to rabbits.  We have been able to vaccinate against the Classic form (1) for many years in a combined vaccine with myxomatosis. Recently a new Variant RHD (2) has emerged for which annual vaccination is recommended for most rabbits. Rabbits in high risk environments should be revaccinated every 6 months. The two vaccines must be given 2 weeks apart.

Why not combine your health check and vaccine visit with a Well Pets blood test?

Coming in for a booster is a great opportunity to have a Well Pets routine blood screen done to check for early signs of disease. We recommend all pets have a screen done to check for early disease and to establish a baseline to compare blood tests with in the future. Contact us for further information.

Our Pet Clinics

Our Pet Clinics

We offer a range of clinics to help you and your pet

Puppy Health

Puppy Health

Read our advice on looking after your new puppy