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Frequently asked questions

General FAQ's

What services do you offer at the Rescue Hotel Health Centre?  

We offer appointments for vaccinations, neutering, basic dentistry, and flea and worm treatment. We do not take on ongoing cases, and we are not a full time facility. 

My dog isn’t very well, can I bring my dog in to be checked by the vet? 

We do not offer health checks at our centre. As we are a limited service provider and not a general practice, we cannot see your dog for any health related issues, or for anything concerns you may have that are not listed above.  

What are your opening hours? 

We are open Tuesdays and Wednesdays for surgeries and Thursdays for vaccination appointments. We are open for appointments only.  

Where are you located?  

We are located on the site of Cardiff Dog’s Home in the blue cabin. Our address is: 

The Rescue Hotel Health Centre,  
Cardiff Dogs Home,  
Westpoint Industrial Estate,  
Penarth Road, 
Cardiff  
CF11 8JQ 

Do you offer appointments for cats?  

No, we can only accept appointments for dogs. It would be stressful for cats and other pets to visit a site with lots of dogs! 

My dog is nervous/reactive/a rescue – can you still treat them? 

Yes, we have lots of experience with all types of dogs. As we are a small facility, we operate a one in/one out policy wherever possible and are happy to discuss any further accommodations your dog may need. Please let us know beforehand if your dog is nervous or reactive. 

I need my dogs veterinary history, can you send it to me?  

If you would like your dog’s veterinary history please email your request to [email protected]. Due to data protection laws, we can only send veterinary history to the owner that is registered on our system.  

Neutering FAQ's

How much do you charge for neutering?  

We charge £130 for a castrate (males) and £230 for a spay (females). We charge the same price for all clients.  

Will I be offered a reduced price if I am claiming benefits?  

We are unable to lower the price for clients in recipient of means tested benefits and we do not offer payment plans. However, we do accept neutering vouchers such as those given by the RSPCA. If you do have a voucher you would like to use towards the cost of neutering, please contact us on [email protected] before your appointment.  

Do you offer payment plans? 

We are unable to offer payment plans, please see above for information on RSPCA vouchers. 

Why is my dog’s neutering appointment ‘unconfirmed’? 

Your appointment will remain unconfirmed until a member of the team has reviewed your request. Appointments can be left unconfirmed while we check we have the kennel space for your dog as we can only have a certain number of medium to large dog breeds in per day. If there are any issues with your appointment, we will get in touch with you.  

What age is best to get my dog neutered?  

We can neuter both male and female dogs from 6 months old. We encourage all owners to do their own research on what is best for their breed of dog.  

My female dog is in season, can she be neutered?  

No, we cannot neuter a dog while she is in season. We recommend waiting 3 months from when she comes out of season before having her spayed.  

Does my dog need to stay overnight?  

No sleepovers! Your dog will need to be dropped down to the practice at 8am and they will stay with us for a few hours. We cannot guarantee an exact collection time but we aim to have all our patients home by the time our reception team leaves at 4pm.  We will keep in touch with you throughout the day with updates on your dog.

What happens when I drop my dog off in the morning? 

When you arrive at the practice, you will be handed a consent form and asked to complete that while waiting outside the practice. We have a one-in-one-out policy in our reception area. You will be invited in once we are ready, and a member of the team will ask you some questions about your dog in relation to their vaccination and lungworm treatment status. Once you are happy and we have answered any questions you may have, a member of the team will take your dog through to our clinical area ready for their surgery.  

What is lungworm? 

Lungworm is common in South Wales and can cause excess bleeding surgery. We recommend that all dogs are covered using a prescription flea and worm treatment that specifically covers for lungworm. We can supply this at the practice, please contact us prior to your appointment to arrange this.

How can I stop my dog licking their wound?  

We offer plastic cones for an additional £10 as well as medical pet shirts for £25. Both of these options will prevent your dog from being able to lick their wound after surgery and will be discussed with you on the day of the appointment. We can also fit your own if you would like to bring a cone or pet shirt from home.  

What aftercare do I need to follow?  

Our team will discuss your dog’s post operative care when you come to collect them after their appointment. You will need to restrict them to two weeks of lead only exercise and limited movement at home. Our golden rule is “all paws on the floor” this means no running or jumping for two weeks! You will be able to ask us any questions you may have when you pick your dog up after their surgery. 

Does my dog need to come back in for a post operative check?  

No, your dog’s stitches will be dissolvable so they do not need to have them removed. We ask that you send us a photo of their incision 3 days after their surgery so we can check their progress.  

My dog was neutered a few days ago and I am worried about them, what can I do? 

If you are concerned about your dog’s wound or their behaviour after their surgery, please email us a photo of their wound to [email protected]. Please also refer to the post operative form which would have been emailed to you the day of their surgery as this discusses some things you need to be looking out for while your dog is recovering. 

Vaccination FAQ's

How much do you charge for vaccinations?  

We offer first, second and booster vaccinations for £30 each. 

My puppy had their first vaccination with you, can I make an appointment?  

Yes, if your puppy came to us with their breeder for their first vaccination, you can come back to us for their second vaccination. Please refer to your vaccination card for more information on when you should book the appointment for (this is typically 3-4 weeks after the first vaccination).  

What vaccination do you offer at your practice?  

We offer the Versican L4 vaccine as standard. We also carry the Vangard 7 vaccine which can be administered as an alterative when requested. 

My puppy had a different brand of first vaccination, can I come to you for the second? 

Puppies must receive two doses of the same brand of vaccine to fufill the manufacturer’s advice. If your puppy has had a different brand to Versican or Vanguard, we would advise finding a practice that carries the vaccine they have been given previously. If this is not possible, we would advise restarting the course, which would involve us giving your puppy a “restart” of 2 vaccines 3 to 4 weeks apart. 

I have a litter of puppies that need vaccinating, can I come to you?  

Yes, we are happy to schedule an appointment for your litter of puppies. Please contact [email protected] to schedule an appointment. We are happy to vaccinate puppies from 8 weeks old. 

Can you microchip my dog?  

Yes, we offer microchipping for £12. This service can be booked under vaccinations through our online booking system. 

 

Dental FAQ's

How much do you charge for dental surgery?  

We charge between £150 – £350 for dental surgery.  

How can I book my dog’s surgery?  

Before we can book your dog in for surgery, we would need to book a dental consult first so our vet can get a better idea of what needs to be done and can advise on a price. We hold these consults on a Thursday. We do not charge for the consults, but the vet has asked that if clients would like to make a donation to the charity, this can be done on the day. Please contact h[email protected] to book an appointment.  

Does the price I have been quoted include blood tests or x-rays of my dogs teeth? 

No, as we are a small practice, we do not have access to an x-ray machine nor the facilities needed for pre-operative bloods. This will be discussed with you during your dental consultation. The price you have been quoted includes the general anaesthetic, the surgery and medication for after the surgery.  

Does my dog need to stay overnight?  

Your dog will only be with us for a few hours. They can be dropped down to the practice on the day of their surgery between 10:30am and 11:30am, and we aim to have them home before the reception team leave at 4pm.

Flea and worming FAQ's

How much do you charge for flea and worm treatment? 

We offer Prinovox flea and worming treatment which is a monthly spot on treatment. We charge £9-£11 for one month’s worth or £30-£35 for 4 month’s worth. However, Prinovox does not cover tapeworm, so we offer a separate tablet treatment for that called Droncit which is an additional £2.50 per tablet. This tablet needs to be taken every 6 months.  

Can I make an appointment if I have never been to you before?  

Yes, we offer flea and worm consults on a Thursday for new and existing clients. During this appointment, we will need to get an up-to-date weight for your dog and we can discuss how many months of treatment you would like. This appointment can be booked online under vaccinations. 

My dog has been to you before, can I collect some more flea and worm treatment?  

We can only dispense treatment for dogs we have seen and weighed within the last 6 months. Requests can take up to 1 week to process so please let us know in good time. Please email your request to [email protected]. 

 If it has been over 6 months since we have seen your dog, they will need to come in for a consultation. This appointment can be booked online under vaccinations. 

How much do you charge for flea and worm consults? 

We do not charge a consult fee. You only pay for the flea and worm treatment you have chosen for your dog.  

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