At Portland Vets, our nursing team offer a comprehensive selection of clinics. These include, but are not limited to, weight monitoring, preventative healthcare, post-operative checks, dental advice, bandage changes, and a chance to help desensitise your pet to our surgery.
To learn more about the clinics available and the treatments provided, please look at the sections below. Appointments are available Monday to Friday from 8:15am to 6:30pm and on Saturday until 12:00pm. To schedule your pet’s appointment, contact our team by phone, email or PetsApp.
Our nurses are in charge of all post-operative assessments. If your pet underwent surgery, they will typically be scheduled for a follow-up appointment with a nurse about 3 days later. During this visit, the nurse will evaluate your pet’s recovery from the anaesthesia and surgery, inspect the wounds for proper healing, and check for any evidence of infection.
Suture removal, if applicable, will be scheduled for another visit with the nurse 10 days after the surgery. This fast and painless procedure usually only takes a few seconds dependent on your pet’s behaviour.
Our nursing team are highly skilled in managing bandages and wounds, and they will also be responsible for removing any staples or sutures at the right time. With extensive experience in applying bandages and dressings, they have numerous tips for keeping the dressings dry and deterring pets from licking and chewing their bandages. You can take advantage of their expertise whilst your pet receives cuddles and affection.
Just like brushing our teeth is essential for our own health, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene for our pets too. At Portland Vets, our highly trained practice nurses are here to offer their expertise on dental care for your dog, cat or rabbit. Dental disease is often underestimated in pet healthcare, but as a practice we are committed to ending the suffering it causes. That’s why we offer free dental check-ups with our nurses all year round.
Dental disease is a common problem in animals and can result in pain, distress, loss of appetite, weight loss, and even impact important organs such as the heart and kidneys. It also causes bad breath.
Teeth brushing is not the only solution as some pets may benefit and prefer special chews, biscuits, and treats to keep their teeth healthy. For rabbits, their dental health is crucial for their overall well-being, and their diet plays a significant role in preventing health problems. To learn more about how to keep your pet’s teeth healthy, book a complimentary dental check-up appointment with one of our knowledgeable practice nurses.
To keep track of your pet’s weight, our staff will weigh them at every clinic visit and maintain comprehensive records and graphs. These regular weigh-ins not only help us monitor progress, but also make the clinic a familiar and comfortable environment for your pet. With the growing issue of obesity in pets, which can lead to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, we prioritise proactive dietary guidance to promote the health and well-being of our furry friends. Our veterinary nurses are a valuable source of advice and assistance for addressing dietary concerns with your pet and they are always happy to help with tailoring their advice to your pet’s individual situation.
Should your pet require a specialised diet, we are committed to supporting and monitoring their progress. Our exceptional care has even led to remarkable results, such as the one case dog treated by us who went on to become a national finalist in the Hills Pet Slimmer of the Year competition. Most importantly, the dog who was previously struggling to get up, was transformed into a playful puppy, running, fetching, and enjoying life again in just 7 months.
At Portland Vets, we provide a one-of-a-kind program for our clients’ puppies. With every puppy vaccination package, we include complimentary monthly check-ups for your puppy until they reach 6 months of age. This allows us to monitor your puppy’s growth and development and to address any questions or concerns you may have about your puppy’s behaviour, such as potty training, tooth brushing, chewing and digging.
Socialisation is also an important aspect of puppyhood, and our puppies love visiting Portland Vets, which helps reduce stress in the event of future illness or hospitalisation. During each check-up, we also weigh and then recommend and administer a monthly worming and flea treatment.
Arthritis is a painful condition that causes inflammation, swelling, and stiffness in joints, which can be a result of your pet naturally ageing or from a previous injury. It can also be the result of your pet carrying too much weight on their joints for a very long time, which is why we take pet obesity so seriously.
If you observe the following signs in your pet, they may be suffering from arthritis:
Simple lifestyle changes, preventive supplements, arthritis medication and physiotherapy can greatly enhance your pet’s quality of life. Many of our mobility clinic patients are now thriving, playing and running around with youthful energy.
Our practice nurses work in close collaboration with our vets to ensure the best treatment, advice and continuous monitoring of your pet’s arthritis. If you believe your pet would benefit from a mobility check, please book a complimentary appointment with one of our nurses by calling the clinic.
To learn more about our nursing team, visit our Meet our Team page.