Our standard consultation is fifteen minutes, to ensure that you have the time required to discuss your concerns in detail with the veterinary surgeon.

If we are seeing you and your pet as a second opinion from another practice, then we have an extended consultation time of thirty minutes.

It is our wish that you are able to see the veterinary surgeon of your choice and so once attending with your pet for consultation, you will automatically be booked in to see the same veterinary surgeon at your next visit.
If you cannot see the person of your choice at the time you would prefer, then you will be offered an appointment with one of our other veterinary surgeons.

All patient records are computerised so that any attending veterinary surgeon has all case details readily to hand. The continuity of case management is as important to us as it is to you and your pet.

Our medical provision at Ayrton Veterinary Hospital has modern diagnostic imaging resources which include radiography, endoscopy, ultrasound and a fully equipped in-house laboratory facility.

Our clinicians are committed to building a strong relationship with our clients, through detailed information being given about your pet’s diagnosis and the medical treatment involved.

In an emergency just phone the practice number and one of our own vets will take your call and handle the case from that point on.

We provide our own clients with a 24/7 and 365 days a year emergency service based at the Hospital and is staffed by our own vets.

In the event of an emergency, please telephone the practice number 01501 744736 and your call will be answered by one of our own staff. 

We would ask that you: Always telephone the practice and speak with the vet on-call before arriving at the Hospital as staff cannot open the front door after hours to any member of the public without prior agreement and notification

Only call the emergency line to speak to a vet on-call if you have a genuine emergency (please be aware that the vets have a full working day in addition to being on-call)

Be aware that there is an additional surcharge to be seen out of hours by one of our vets and that the surcharge is payable fully at the time of treatment
 

Surgical Procedures at Ayrton Veterinary Hospital

Our hospital has two modern operating theatres with a specific scrub room for surgeons to scrub up, gown and glove prior to any procedure being performed.

The scrub room is situated between the two theatres and this means that the team are situated within a contained surgically clean area. This helps maintain sterility during all operations. 

Surgical Procedures at Ayrton Veterinary Hospital 

It is our policy to use sterile gowns, gloves, hats and masks for all surgical procedures within the theatre suite. In addition, the surgical nursing team wear scrub suites and no outdoor clothing or shoes are allowed within the area.

A full range of soft tissue, orthopaedic and general surgeries are performed on small animal species. 

Through the keyhole

Traditionally, abdominal surgery involves making a large surgical incision to access the organs inside. With the advent of the laparoscopic technique many of the surgical procedures can be accomplished through small holes giving rise to the concept of key hole surgery. 

In humans laparoscopic surgery is a well-recognised procedure. However, in veterinary surgery, it has only recently been introduced as a surgical method and only a small number of veterinary surgeons are performing these types of operations on a routine basis.

The types of operations that are well-suited to laparoscopic surgery include bitch spays, dogs with retained testicles, obtaining biopsy specimens from abdominal organs, preventing twisting of the stomach (gastric torsion) and exploring the abdominal organs (exploratory laparotomy).

By making just small holes the healing is quicker and there is less pain and discomfort to the animal. This gives in a very rapid recovery and return to normal activity.

Laparoscopic versus Open Surgery Bitch Spay

Until recently, the traditional method of spaying bitches has been to remove the entire reproductive tract (ovaries and uterus) through a large (10-15cm) incision into the abdomen.

Although this has been the recognised surgical method for many years an alternative, much less invasive procedure, has become available through the development of laparoscopic surgery.

Using the laparoscopic method only the ovaries are removed and this is achieved through two small (less than 1cm) holes. The advantages for the patient include, much less pain and discomfort, quicker healing time and a more rapid return to normal activity.

First Laparoscopic Bitch Spay at Ayrton

On Tuesday 18th September 07 Ayrton’s senior veterinary surgeon, Dr Tony Page, performed the first laparoscopic surgical operation at Ayrton Veterinary Centre.

The operation involved manipulating and removing the ovaries from a young female lurcher bitch. The entire surgery was performed through just two small 5mm holes. The operation was very successful and the patient made an uneventful recovery. In fact, she was moving about as if nothing had happened just minutes after awaking from the anaesthetic.

There are very few private practices in the UK performing laparoscopic surgery and as far as we are aware Ayrton Veterinary Centre is the first private practice in Scotland to use the technique in dogs and probably the first Scottish practice to perform an ovariectomy in a bitch.

Dr Page believes that laparoscopic surgery has significant advantages over traditional surgery and is likely to become established as a routine technique in veterinary surgery in years to come.

We also offer laparoscopy referrals, contact us to find out more
 

This is a specialised technique for directly visualising the inner cavities of the body without having to make large surgical openings.

It involves passing a thin telescope-like instrument (the endoscope) into the body cavity and illuminating the area with a bright light. The structures within the cavity can then be viewed through the eyepiece. Advanced systems have a videocamera attached to the endoscope and the image is viewed on a television screen and can be recorded.

The endoscopy system installed at Ayrton Veterinary Centre uses the latest veterinary videoendoscopy equipment and is identical to the systems used in human hospitals.