18854_Cat Clinic_Digital Welcome Booklet_A5

Welcome to The Cat Clinic The Cat Clinic is a unique veterinary THE TEAM surgery, devoted to cats. Unsurprisingly, Our vets are all highly experienced all of our staff have a passion for our with an excellent support team feline friends and we aim to give cat of fully trained Veterinary Nurses lovers the best possible veterinary and Receptionists, all of whom are experience. From the moment you dedicated and committed to providing walk into our clinic, both you and your a high quality service. Our teams are cat should feel relaxed and at ease: encouraged to develop special interest there’ll be no barking dogs, no exotic and to participate in continuing pets, no stress – just a calm, feline- professional education in order to keep friendly welcome. up to date with the latest advances in patient care. We are proud to be We offer a comprehensive service for recognised by the Royal College of all types of cats. From routine care to Veterinary Surgeons as an accredited nutritional advice, free nurse clinics to practice and have obtained the Silver ultrasound and everything in between. award by The Feline advisory Bureau We’re pretty convinced we can offer (Independent Cat Care) as a feline you any cat-related treatment. We friendly practice. call it our “Catisfaction Promise” – just think of it as peace of mind. FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATIONS All consultations are by appointment. We believe this offers a better service to our clients and allows us to spend more time with your pet. Emergencies will, of course, be seen immediately. www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Welcome to The Cat Clinic ATTENDING THE SURGERY • Advanced diagnostics; For the safety of your cat, please ultrasound machines and ensure that he/she is secure in his/ endoscopes her basket. Pets sometimes behave differently in unfamiliar surroundings. • Modern dental equipment During treatment we try to ensure that • Pre-anaesthetic blood testing for your pet is seen by the same Veterinary health checks prior to sedation Surgeon where possible in order to or anaesthesia ensure continuity of care. • Latest surgical equipment for HOME VISITS soft tissue and orthopaedic Most conditions, especially operations emergencies are better treated at our surgeries where our trained staff have • ECG and blood pressure access to a full range of equipment. monitors for heart investigations However if you cannot make it to the surgery, we can arrange for a home • Isolation and quiet areas for visit for your pet. Should you require critically ill patients a visit, please call us as early in the day as possible, so we can arrange a Our in-patient cattery units provide mutually convenient time. safe, warm and comfortable accommodation during their stay. HIGH QUALITY FACILITIES AND CARE The Cat Clinic are fully equipped to deal with your pet’s problems: • Modern operating theatres and anaesthetic systems. • In-house laboratories for rapid test results • Radiography for rapid x-ray diagnosis www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Kitten Health Check NEUTERING IDENTIFICATION Male and female cats can be neutered from We sell a range of identification tags and a very young age, though many people feel collars. Collars with a quick release section it is better to wait until 4-6 months of age, are the safest for kittens and any tag should unless breeding is intended. Speak to the show appropriate contact details. Any other team about when to schedule this in. information is optional. However, the most reliable form of identification is a microchip. INSURANCE This is a tiny microchip implanted beneath See our separate section on insurance. the skin, normally in the scruff of the neck, which can be detected by a scanner, HEALTHCARE PLAN generally used by Vets and Rescue Centres. We are able to offer you membership to our All the owners’ details are recorded on a Pet Health Club, which covers your cat for national computer database, enabling you all routine treatments such as vaccinations, and your pet to be reunited as quickly as worming and flea control. This is set up possible should they get lost. as a monthly direct debit, spreading the cost over the year. This is a ‘gold standard’ preventative healthcare scheme which we would definitely recommend. Speak to a member of the team for more information and to sign up, or you can sign up online at www.thepethealthclub.co.uk www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Kitten Health Check VACCINATIONS Did you know that routine vaccines, flea We give a full health check and a 2-part treatments and worming, as well as lots of vaccination course for kittens. This involves other things your kitten needs, are included a first vaccine being given as young as 9 in our Pet Health Club membership? weeks of age and then a second 3-4 weeks later. These vaccinations give protection Speak to a member of the team to see how against cat flu, Enteritis and Leukaemia. we can help you keep on top of all your kitten’s preventative care and spread the Your kitten will then need annual boosters costs. to keep it protected. We will send reminders when your kitten’s boosters are due. DIET Just like humans, kittens and cats need We keep a complete record of all the a good, balanced diet to promote good vaccinations and any treatment your kitten health, healthier teeth, better growth has, so we have a full history and can make and regular, well-formed motions. We sure your kitten is not over-vaccinated. (For recommend a dry, complete kitten food more information on the data we keep and with the added benefit that the dry food what we do with it, please see Terms & will help with keeping their teeth clean. We Conditions.) keep a choice in stock. WORMING TEETH Kittens should be wormed every month. Starting to brush your kitten’s teeth from We will recommend the right course of an early age has clear benefits and can treatment on an individual basis, according quickly become part of their daily routine. to your cat’s weight, size, age and habits. This will help keep their teeth and gums healthy and hopefully prevent the need FLEA PREVENTION for dental treatment later in life. We stock From 6 weeks of age we recommend the a range of toothpaste, brushes, oral care use of flea treatments. Specific information food and dental chews. Our nurses also hold will be given to you during your visit. complimentary nurse clinics with helpful Household flea treatments are also available tips on looking after your pet’s teeth. so, speak to a member of staff who will be happy to give advice. www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Cat Vaccinations WHY VACCINATE? vet. To keep immunity at optimum levels When cats and kittens encounter infection we recommend annual re-vaccination. If for the first time, their immune system the vaccination lapses, a complete two will try to protect them. Unfortunately, injection primary course will be required. your cat may become ill while its immune system is trying to learn how to do this. WHAT CAN WE PROTECT AGAINST? Vaccines contain weakened or dead forms of the relevant viruses and, following FELINE INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS vaccination, your cat’s immune system (PANLEUCOPOENIA OR PARVO) will generate a protective response. This This disease has been seen much less teaches the system, in advance, how frequently since vaccines became to recognise and defend against the available. The virus invades intestines infection. This is particularly valuable and bone marrow leading to sudden and as some infections can cause incurable severe bleeding into the gut, resulting in diseases. Vaccination does not guarantee dehydration, shock and damage to the one hundred percent protection. immune system. Young animals suffer from severe bloody diarrhoea with a All pets benefit from regular vaccination characteristic offensive smell and may well as this decreases the risk of your pet die within hours of the onset of symptoms. contracting a disease that is vaccinated against. Please also bear in mind that FELINE UPPER RESPIRATORY if we vaccinate our pets, this also helps DISEASE (CAT FLU) contribute to so called ‘herd immunity’, This is very common and is caused by two leading to a decrease in the potential major viruses but is often complicated of these diseases occurring in the cat by secondary bacterial infections. Feline population as a whole. Herpes Virus attacks the eyes, mouth and lungs, causing severe symptoms WHEN TO VACCINATE such as fever, eye ulcers and pneumonia. Kittens need a primary vaccination course. After infection a large number of cats will The first injection is given at 9 weeks of become lifelong carriers of the virus rather age and a second injection is given 3-4 than recovering fully. They may excrete weeks later. This protection needs to the virus at times of stress or other illness, be maintained by an annual booster leading to recurrent bouts of symptoms. vaccination to ensure your cat remains protected throughout its life. We will issue FELINE CALCI VIRUS you with a vaccination record card, which Feline Calci Virus is generally less severe will be required by boarding catteries. but causes painful ulcers of the mouth We aim to send you a reminder when and tongue. It can also occasionally be it is time for an annual booster. At this implicated in a much more long term and appointment, your cat will also receive painful condition where there is severe a thorough health examination and you inflammation of the mouth and gums can discuss any health concerns with the (gingivitis) making eating difficult. www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Cat Vaccinations FELINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS This virus is one of the main causes of premature death for cats in the UK – there is no cure. Cats are usually infected with this in the first months of life but infection can occur at any time, including adults and unborn kittens. The virus is easily spread via saliva and blood, so can be transmitted to other cats – often following cat bites. Feline Leukaemia Virus attacks the white blood cells and bone marrow, which weakens the immune system and makes the cat more vulnerable to secondary infections. It also causes anaemia and cancer of the blood, intestine and other parts of the body. RABIES Although this is not routinely needed in the UK, cats need to be vaccinated against rabies prior to travelling abroad. Vaccination can be carried out from 3 months of age. www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Routine Healthcare Only adult fleas, which make up less than FOX MANGE 5% of the total flea population, live on our This is caused by Sarcoptic mites which pets. Consequently, correct environmental live in the top layers of the skin. They treatment is an essential part of successful cause intense itching leading to excessive flea control. Recent research shows 1 in 4 cats scratching, causing hair loss and skin damage. has fleas and 1 in 7 dogs has fleas – but we Transmission is usually through direct contact don’t necessarily see them. with infected dogs and foxes. The mite has the potential to cause mild disease in humans. TICKS Unfortunately, there is no one treatment for Ticks are not only a nuisance and an prevention and control of all of the above irritation to your pet but they can also, in parasites; however discussion with your vet some instances, transmit diseases. Ticks are will help us help you decide the best course generally found in grassland, scrubs, shrubs of action. and low hanging branches waiting for animals to brush against them so they can climb on WHAT IS A MICROCHIP? board. The tick then burrows its head into This is a tiny microchip which has a unique the skin to suck a blood meal and become Identity Code. This chip is implanted under engorged. At this point they look like silvery the skin of your pet, in the scruff of the neck, grey or brown bubbles or wart like lesions. by a vet. Unlike collar and tag, the microchip The commonest problem associated with is permanent and the code is registered with ticks is the sores and secondary infections the owner’s details on a National Database, at the site of attachment. Please contact the which is accessible 24 hours a day. surgery if you think your pet may have a tick as they should not be pulled off. If you pull The chip can be read by a scanner which the them off, it may leave the head behind and majority of the Vets and Rescue Centres use. this process can increase the risk of disease If your pet is found and taken to any of these transmission from the tick. centres they will be scanned and re-united with you as quickly as possible. EAR MITES These mites are found in the ear canal and, We can also check the microchip is in place occasionally, adjacent skin of the head. The and working. If you would like us to do so, mites cause irritation of the lining of the ear just ask. canal which then becomes full of a crusty black discharge. It can cause head shaking, Speak to the team about when is best for scratching of the ears and secondary your pet. infections. www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Routine Healthcare FLEAS AND WORMS pale segments the size of a grain of rice in There are a number of parasites found in the faeces. Pets can become infected whilst pets, some are passed from the mother to grooming, by ingesting fleas, which are offspring via the milk or whilst the young carrying tapeworm larvae, or in the case of are in the uterus, and some are picked up cats by catching infected prey such as mice. from the environment. It is important for These larvae soon turn into adult worms. the health and wellbeing of your pet - as well as you and your home - that your pet LUNGWORM is properly treated. Prevention is definitely The larvae of these worms are carried by the most effective method and regular slugs and snails and can be accidentally control will also reduce environmental ingested whilst licking or eating grass. The contamination. disease appears to be most common in young dogs and is very often fatal. Signs ROUNDWORMS vary from coughing and breathing problems, The most common roundworm is Toxocara. to bleeding and neurological problems. This The larvae of these worms are often passed is rarely seen in cats. across the placenta from mother before birth or via the milk when suckling; they FLEAS migrate around the body until they become Fleas are the primary cause of skin problems adult worms in the intestines. Once these in animals. Some pets suffer from an worms have reached maturity, they start allergic reaction to the flea saliva and need producing large numbers of eggs. Animals only a single bite from a flea to trigger a re-infect themselves by ingesting these severe reaction. Fleas can also bite people, eggs during grooming. The worms can although they can’t live on us. If there are cause poor growth and diarrhoea. Humans large numbers you may spot one or two but can be at risk from these worms too, they are designed to run rapidly through the especially children who may accidentally hair, so it may be easier to look for flea dirt. ingest the eggs after handling pets or This is black gritty material, which, if placed playing in contaminated gardens or on a damp tissue will turn reddy brown – as play areas. The Toxocara larvae can, on it is made from digested blood. Each adult rare occasions, cause organ damage, female flea will take a blood meal, and lay particularly to the eye, resulting in impaired thousands of eggs that are shed into carpets, vision. This disease is called Toxocariasis. laminate floors and furnishings. These eggs hatch into larvae which feed on dead skin TAPEWORMS flakes and flea faeces. In the pupal stage These are flat segmented worms which they can lie dormant for up to a year until need an intermediate host - generally a the correct conditions of warmth, humidity, flea or a rodent - to complete their life- and vibration occur for them to hatch into cycle. They attach themselves to the small adult fleas. This dormant phase can result in intestine and grow up to 5 metres long. a severe flea epidemic rapidly developing. They appear as flat, ribbon shaped pieces of www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Insurance & GDPR HOW TO ACCESS YOUR DATA WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU HAVE In order to access all of your data held by SUBMITTED YOUR DSAR REQUEST? Vet’s support office, please start off the Once you have provided your details to process by contacting your practice. the reception staff and they have seen your identification, your request goes to You can do this by email, post, or by visiting a designated GDPR Representative in in person. Whichever method you use, the Practice for verification. You might you will need to come into the practice to be contacted if they need any further provide some form of identification. The information. reception staff will then ask you for further information regarding your request. You Once we have all of the required information may be asked to fill in a form, which the from you, we send your request to a reception staff will assist you with if you central GDPR team at our head office. require. Once received by them, someone will be in The receptionist will need to see some contact with you to confirm that we have form of identification, which should verify received your request. The GDPR team will your name, address and physical image. also outline the timescales for completing This could be satisfied in one form of your request and provide you with details Identification, such as a driving licence, on how to contact them if you have any or it could require more than one form of questions relating to your request. identification, such as a passport and a recent utility bill to confirm the address. The GDPR team will then liaise with the practice(s) that hold data on yourself and Acceptable forms of picture identification: begin the process of gathering it together. • Valid Passport. As soon as we have successfully gathered and checked all the requested data, you • Valid Driving Licence. will receive your data via the preferred method you indicated on your DSAR Acceptable documents for confirming request. Should there be any issues with name and address: the request, a member of the GDPR team will be in contact with you to advise you of • A recent utility bill (ideally within the the situation and update you on timescales. last 3 months). WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS? • Most recent council tax bill. If you have any questions about how your data is processed or stored, please see our • Current Television Licence. Privacy Policy, available online. If you do not have some of the documents https://www.independentvetcare.co.uk/ from the above list, we may be able to privacy/privacy-policy accept other forms. If you are not able to access this online, Please contact your practice to discuss please speak to reception who will be able alternatives. to print a copy for you. www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Insurance & GDPR WHY TAKE OUT A PET INSURANCE • Will you increase my premium or POLICY? excess if I claim? Pet insurance is an important part of Understanding what a policy will or will responsible pet ownership and, alongside not cover will help you to make a better the British Small Animal Veterinary informed decision and choose a pet Association, we recommend that our insurance policy that meets the needs of clients take out a pet insurance policy. you and your pet. If your pet suffers from an unexpected YOUR DATA (GDPR) illness or injury you do not want to have to compromise the veterinary treatment SUMMARY OF RIGHTS or care they receive due to the financial Under the new General Data Protection costs associated. Pet insurance provides Regulation (GDPR), you have the right financial help towards paying veterinary to view all data that is held on you, or a bills which can often run into hundreds, if person for whom you are a legitimate not thousands, of pounds. representative. WHEN TO TAKE OUT A PET In addition to the right to access data, you INSURANCE POLICY also have the following rights: As soon as your kitten joins the family, you should be looking for a good insurance • To be informed about why and how policy. your data is being used WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PET • To have incorrect data updated INSURANCE POLICY Pets, just like their owners, can develop • To have data erased illnesses that need lifelong treatment, such as diabetes or skin conditions, from • To stop or restrict processing of your a very young age. Not all pet insurance data is the same, and different policies will provide different levels of cover for your • To data portability (allowing you to pet so it’s important to choose your policy get and reuse your data for different carefully to match your pet’s needs. Ask services) the following 5 key questions: • To object to how your data is • Will this policy cover ongoing processed in certain circumstances conditions for the rest of my pet’s life? • In relation to automated decision • Does this policy cover congenital and making (without human involvement) hereditary illness? and profiling • Does this policy cover dental Should you wish to understand more treatment and behavioural problems? about your rights under the GDPR, please visit the Information Commissioners Office • Will you place exclusions at renewal (ICO) website. on this policy? https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/ guide-to-the-general-data-protection- regulation-gdpr www.thecatclinic.co.uk

T&C’S of Business (Small Animal) FLEA/WORMING TREATMENTS our Practice Manager. We want to hear We recommend regular dosing with from you so that we can always attempt flea and worm preparations for your to raise the standard of care and exceed pets. Where preparations fall within the your expectations. No addition or variation prescription only medicine - veterinary of these conditions will bind the Practice category, we can only supply these if the unless it is specifically agreed in writing following applies: and signed by one of our Clinical Directors. No agent or person employed by, or under • The animal must already be registered contract with, the Practice has the authority with us and under our care. to alter or vary these conditions in any way. • The animal has been seen by one of For full terms and conditions please visit our vets within a period as our website. recommended by your vet. Due to advances in veterinary medicine, REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS veterinary practices are continuously When you request a repeat prescription improving their services and most practices for your animal we can only supply the now have a wide range of facilities with medication if: which to provide the best possible treatment and care for sick or injured • The vet has authorised a repeat animals. This ongoing progress in veterinary prescription. medicine means that the cost of veterinary fees continues to rise and some treatment • The animal has been seen within a can lead to a vet bill for thousands of period as recommended by your vet. pounds. Therefore it is not surprising that many pet owners are choosing to take It may save time to ring 48 hours before out an insurance policy for their beloved coming in to collect your prescription. pet. We would be happy to give advice regarding what a good insurance policy If a written prescription is requested should include. there will be a charge for the vet to write the prescription and to cover the time, responsibility and professional insurance involved. COMPLAINTS & STANDARDS We hope that you never have cause to complain about the standard of service received from our Practice. However, if you feel that there is something you wish to draw to our attention, please direct your comments, in the first instance, to www.thecatclinic.co.uk

T&C’S of Business (Small Animal) Thank you for entrusting the care and well- METHODS OF PAYMENT being of your pet to us. This document Accounts are due for settlement at the end details our Practice Terms and Conditions. of the consultation, the discharge of your Some aspects of the Terms may not be pet from the surgery or upon collection of relevant to you. Please feel free to ask if you drugs/diets. You may settle the account need further information or explanation. online via our website, using cash or most credit/debit cards. Check with our reception SERVICE & OPENING HOURS team for specific cards. We aim to offer the best veterinary service and value possible and try to make this OWNERSHIP OF RADIOGRAPHS & available to you whenever it is needed. We RECORDS will endeavour to make an appointment The care given to your animal may involve with your preferred vet and at a convenient making some specific investigations, for time for you. Our opening hours are kept up example taking radiographs or performing to date on our website or you can find out ultrasound or MRI scans. Even though by phoning our surgery. Both the website we make a charge for carrying out these address and the surgery number are on the investigations and interpreting their results, reverse of this pack. ownership of the resulting record (for example a radiograph), remains with the FACILITIES AND SHOW-ROUND Practice. This also applies to the clinical Our practices are very well equipped. If the history of an animal. This can be forwarded team is very busy they may plan this for a directly to another vet if necessary. You time in the near future which is convenient do have the right to access any of the for you and us. information we hold about you under the Data Protection Act. FEES All our charges – professional fees, drugs VACCINATIONS and diets – are subject to VAT at the current We strongly advise annual vaccinations rate. Fee levels are determined by time, for your pets. We run a booster reminder expertise and equipment used on your pet system on our computer to ensure that you and the drugs, materials, and consumables receive notification, in good time, when used. A detailed receipt of all transactions your pet is due for a booster. However, we is available on request. do ask you to take full responsibility for this and diarise it yourself also. A list of our professional fees is also available should you want them. PET PASSPORTS/ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATES ESTIMATE FOR TREATMENT COSTS Since Brexit, the changes in the pet travel We will happily provide a written estimate of scheme have been wide reaching and the probable costs of a course of treatment. frequent. Please speak to us for up to date Please bear in mind, that any estimate advice. given can only be an approximation. Any procedure may involve further costs, as a pet’s illness may not follow a conventional course. In such cases we will endeavour to contact you, however, if you are not available we will act in the best interests of your pet which will be your financial responsibility. www.thecatclinic.co.uk

Health plans that cut the costs of routine care. thepethealthclub.co.uk

Save on fees for regular wellness treatments Plan Monthly cost Average minimum savings Cat £14.60 £180 Savings based on averages across 300 surgeries nationally. A convenient and structured plan, tailored to your pet’s health. Unlike insurance, which covers accident and illness, a Pet Health Club plan covers the expected routine treatments your pet needs throughout the year. Pet Health Club plans renew automatically every year. You can cancel at any time but if you are part way through a plan year and have received more than has been paid in (for that plan year), you will need to pay the difference. To make it simple and as easy for you to manage, we will schedule routine visits and send you reminders*, so you never have to worry about missing a vet appointment again. And when the appointment is done, there’s nothing to pay on the day – it’s all covered under your plan!+ Scan the QR code to sign up online today. *Subject to Practice Management System capabilities and client consent. +E xceptions outside your plan such as additional treatments will be advised and agreed in advance. You will need to pay separately for these.

Goodwood Rd Oxford Rd Albert Rd B2154 Albert Rd Napier Rd The Cat Clinic 95 Albert Road, Southsea, Hants PO5 2SG Tel 023 9283 1000 Facilities available: • Neutering and vaccinations for cats • On site imaging with x-rays and ultrasound • Full in house blood analysis and urinalysis • Internal medicine • Soft tissue surgery • Ophthalmic surgery • Orthopaedics surgery • Endoscopy • Pregnancy scans • Dentistry with air driven dental machine and ultrasonic scaler • Pets passports • Preventative healthcare and advice • Cat only environment • 24hr emergency service www.thecatclinic.co.uk