Our purpose-built small animal hospital has facilities to provide the highest level of veterinary medical and surgical care to your pets. Some of our services include:

Consultations by Appointment

In order to make sure we can provide as prompt service to you as possible we conduct consultations by appointments. Our consultation hours are 8.00-11.30am and 3.00-5.30pm Monday to Friday, and 8.30-12.00 on Saturdays. Should your pet have an emergency, we will of course assist you as soon as possible. Please call the reception on 3425 2222 to make an appointment.

Vaccinations

At the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery we believe that a vaccination protocol should be tailored to each individual pet depending on their circumstances, and not in a one-size fits all approach. We routinely recommend all dogs to be covered against Parvovirus, Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Distemper, Parainfluenza and Bordetella, and all cats to be covered against Feline Herpesvirus, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia. Additional vaccinations for cats that may be recommended include Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, for any cats that may ever venture outside, and Feline Leukaemia Virus. We believe it is extremely important for all puppies and kittens to receive their initial series of vaccinations from 6 or 8 weeks of age onwards, and their yearly booster 12 months after the initial course. After this, a triennial vaccine, which covers some of the diseases, may be recommended depending on your pet's life situation, but a yearly booster may still be necessary for some of the diseases mentioned. An annual health check is always recommended, as our pets age so much faster than we do, and it is easier to prevent diseases and conditions if these are caught early.

Microchipping

At the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery we believe in responsible pet ownership, and recommend that all pets be microchipped. The council regulations also state that all pets sold must be microchipped. The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice, and once implanted under the skin, acts as a permanent, life-long proof of identity, should your pet ever go missing or get stolen. There are no side-effects from this procedure. A microchip scanner is passed over the back of your pet to read the unique number associated with the particular microchip, and this number can then be used to find your details in a central registry, to ensure a speedy and happy reunion with your lost loved one. We offer litter discounts on microchipping, as we understand raising a litter of puppies and kittens can be a big and expensive task. 

Hospitalisation and Medical Care

We have a fully stocked pharmacy for small and exotic animals so we are able to cover a wide range of medical conditions and treatments. We also have heated cages and fluid pumps that allow us to provide extremely high quality medical care and hospitalisation for all species. A veterinarian is also on call 24 hours, and critical cases get checked throughout the night. We also utilise the services of a 24 hour emergency centre for more serious cases.

Laboratory Diagnostics

At the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery, one of our veterinarians is a trained veterinary pathologist, which enables us to perform a wide variety of tests in-house with quick and reliable results, which cuts down on time and expense. We recommend pre-anaesthetic blood tests to make sure yor pet is healthy before receiving an anaesthetic, and also recommend regular blood screening in older pets to make sure we catch any metabolic illnesses early to enable prompt treatment and a better prognosis. We can also perform blood panels on exotic pets in-house. Our in-house laboratory services include haematology and biochemistry analyses, faecal flotations and egg counts, urinalysis, cytology, skin scrapings, and histopathology. We can also perform tests for Foal IgG, Feline Leukemia and Immunodeficiency Virus, Canine Heartworm and Parvovirus, and well as a Snake Venom Detection tests. For all other more comprehensive or complex testing we send our samples to an offsite facility that has a very quick turnaround time for results.

Surgery

Our operating theatre has state-of-the art equipment for surgery and anaesthetic monitoring, enabling us to provide the safest care for your pet while undergoing procedures. The anaesthetic drugs we use are the same used in humans, and we tailor the protocol used to suit the particular patient the best.

• Routine Desexing
We strongly recommend routine desexing of all dogs and cats at 5-6 months of age, unless part of a breeding program, as this helps prevent a lot of behavioural and medical problems, and even cancer from developing as the pet gets older. Contrary to old wives tales, desexing does not alter the personality of your pet, this is predetermined from birth. Desexing also does not make your pet fat, but feeding them as much as when they were puppies, when they in fact have reached maturity and stopped growing will.

• Soft tissue Surgery
We perform all types of soft tissue surgery, including but not limited to, caesarean sections, routine desexing, lump removals, wound repairs, skin grafting, and abdominal surgery.

• Orthopaedic Surgery
While our staff can perform many orthopaedic procedures, we often invite a visiting specialist to perform some of the more complex orthopaedic surgeries, or we may refer your pet to a specialist centre if we feel it is in the best interests of your pet.

Dentistry

With a brand new small animal dental machine, we can now offer the highest quality dental care for our patients. The complete procedure is done safely under anaesthetic. The machine allows the procedure to be completed quickly and thoroughly, which lowers the anaesthetic time for your pet.  We have a specific area designated only for dental procedures. Routine dental care is extremely important for your pet, as calculus and tartar build-up not only leads to the most common sign noted by pet owners:bad breath, but also periodontal disease, pain, difficulty eating, aggressive behaviour, heart disease, and systemic infections. In worst cases, teeth may have to be removed due to severe dental disease loosening the ligaments holding the tooth onto the jaw bone. Our new IM3 machine allows us to quickly and effectively perform all routine scale and polishing, as well as extractions and other more demanding procedures. All pets should receive regular dental care throughout their life to make sure they stay happy and healthy.

Allergy Testing/Desensitization

Allergies are very common in our pets, but instead of getting symptoms like sneezing and runny nose like we do, they most commonly get itchy skin and ear infections. We provide a blood test panel for the most common allergens, including grasses, pollens, dust, insects, and various types of food to diagnose the source of allergies. These results can then be used to either avoid these alergens, or to design a specific course of desensitising injections to try to cure or minimise the signs of allergy. Most pets show a good response to the desensitising therapy, curing or at least dramatically minimising their discomfort.

Diagnostic Imaging

We are equipped with modern x-ray equipment, which ensures high quality images, allowing us to make precise and fast diagnoses. Diagnostic imaging is a vital tool in diagnosing and monitoring ongoing conditions involving soft tissue and bones. We also have an ultrasound machine that we use for not only scanning pregnant bitches, but also to investigate various abdominal conditions.  

Reproductive Services

Our small animal vets are able to perform a number of services involved with canine reproduction. These include in-house cytology for ovulation timing, progesterone testing, ultrasounds, semen collection and artificial insemination, assisted whelpings and caesareans.

 
Grooming & Hydrobathing

The Old Mill Veterinary Surgery has a separate, air-conditioned grooming salon for all your pampered pet's hydrobath and clipping needs. We offer grooming on Thursdays and Fridays, and hydrobaths on Saturdays, so please do not hesitate to contact the clinic on 3425 2222