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Consultations
Our veterinarians consult both at the surgery and in your home for all small animals such as cats, dogs, birds, guinea pigs, fish and most wildlife. Small ruminants (sheep and goats), alpacas and horses can be examined at either the surgery (yards and stable are available) or at your property. Cattle can be examined on your truck at the surgery if restrained, or at your property preferably in yards with a crush or race facility. Wildlife consultations are provided free-of-charge and patients referred to experienced wildlife carers. Kathy Webb is our main veterinarian who is regularly supported by other experienced veterinarians.
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Hydrobath and Grooming
We offer our pet clientele a choice of grooming to suit their preference.
- Flea rinse hydrobath
- Medicated wash hydrobath
- Deluxe - hydrobath with nail trimming and cologne
- Super deluxe - the grooming visit incorporating nail trim, hydrobath, drying, clipping and grooming.
- Clipping and Grooming
Pricing of clipping is subject to size and coat type. Sedation or anaesthetic extra if required.
Free Loyalty Card - receive every 6th bath FREE
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Medical Care
Our facility provides comfortable, clean, spacious accommodation for in-patients and day patients, with diagnosis, personal care, focused medical treatment and regular monitoring being central to our protocols. Patients can be referred to 24 hour hospitals if required.
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Surgery
Fitzroy County Vet Surgery has a well-equipped theatre for small animal surgeries. These range from routine speys, castrations and wound repairs to laparotomies, as well as more complicated procedures such as thoracotomies and orthopaedic work including fracture repairs and cruciate surgeries. We follow strict antiseptic and sterile procedure protocols. Patients’ vital signs are monitored constantly via respiratory, pulse oximetry and cardiac monitors. Surgical instruments are cleaned and sterilized as per standardized protocols utilizing our late model autoclave. Our equipment is regularly checked and maintained by qualified technicians. Pre-anaesthetic blood tests are available. Specialist level surgery cases are referred to an appropriate facility after stabilization. Fitzroy County Veterinary Surgery is a member of the National Desexing Network. For more information please visit the NDN website.
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Routine horse surgeries such as castrations or emergency surgeries such as corneal ulcer third eyelid flaps, can be provided on property or at the surgery. The stable at the surgery is utilized if a darkened area is necessary to assist in diagnosis. Large animal surgeries such as cow caesarians are routinely provided on farm in good facilities. Small ruminants and alpacas can be operated on at the surgery thus reducing milage costs, or on farm if preferred. For specialist equine surgeries, we recommend referral to Oakey Veterinary Hospital. |
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Microchipping
We highly value microchipping here at Fitzroy County Veterinary Surgery. As a direct result of people having their pets microchipped, we have been able to return many lost pets to their owners. Our own Rosie, the surgery cat, went missing one day when she caught a lift to Oakey Veterinary Hospital. Due to her microchip, we were able to have her returned the next day.
Microchipping involves the insertion of a needle under the skin between the shoulder blades. A f a microchip is deposited there and it remains in place for the life of the animal. Registration is for the life of the animal. All councils and vets should have microchip reader technology. Microchipping is a low cost invaluable asset to pet care. Book for your animals’ microchip today.
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Laboratory Work
Our in-house laboratory handles many cytological, parasitical and semen samplings and some blood tests utilizing the latest microscopic equipment . Samples requiring specialist attention or morphological assessments are referred by courier to government or private veterinary laboratories or veterinary specialists. Heartworm, Parvo and Coronavirus tests can be run immediately at the time of consultation.
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X-rays
X-rays are utilized particularly in our orthopaedic work-ups and for soft tissue diagnostics. X-rays are developed immediately in-house providing same day results. Our facilities are registered and are fully compliant with Radiation Safety Standards.
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Ultrasound
Ultrasonography provides an instant confirmation for pregnancy examinations in most species. Also ultrasonography can be provide a useful adjunct to diagnostics involving the thorax, abdomen and reproductive and urinary tracts, as well as tendon scans.
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Endoscopy
Our unit is invaluable in the diagnosis of conditions of the upper airways, pharynx and oesophagus of horses, and in respiratory and gastric conditions in the larger dog breeds. The unit is portable if facilities at the property are adequate.
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BBSE
Bull Breeding Soundness Examinations are now being widely recognized as an essential requirement for bull sales and bull fertility assessments. Crush-side bull and semen examinations are conducted on-property and semen morphology testing is provided by an accredited bull semen morphologist. Certificates are supplied.
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Synchronization/AI/Pregnancy testing
Artificial Insemination has always been offered as part of our services for cattle and dogs. Straws are assessed for motility crush-side for cows, and fresh semen in surgery for dogs at the time of collection. We will be expanding our AI service to include horse AI. We carry a range of cattle semen straws including both beef and dairy straws in our mobile tank.
Synchronization programmes are available if fixed time AI is required for larger groups.
Rectal pregnancy tests are available for cattle and larger alpacas or Llamas. Rates may be individual, or billed hourly if the facilities are good and the cattle are worked through well.
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Freeze Branding/DNA Certification
Our service for freeze branding if fully mobile so is usually provided on- property. All patients are sedated prior to shaving and branding. Horses requiring freeze brands as part of their identification registration can continue on to have their DNA and identification certification completed once the brand is clear to read at approximately 6 weeks post-branding.
Brand depiction displayed with the permission with the owner of the brand.
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Dentistry and Power Floating
Healthy Teeth Healthy Body. This observation from experience has begun to be supported by scientific evidence. Owners are becoming very aware of the need to monitor the health of their animals’ teeth and mouth, and expect a dental examination at the time of consultation. Any problems should be addressed immediately. We provide comfortable and efficient resolution utilizing our current techniques with anaesthesia and analgesia for most mouth and teeth issues. We utilize a late model (that means new) iM3 unit for small animals, and the Powerfloat supplemented by manual tools for large animals. Kathy successfully completed an Essentials of Equine Dentistry Post-Graduate Workshop recently and has been offering a 10% discount special for April and May 2010 with a donation made to the Hendra Vaccine Trials Fund for each completed booking. Small animals receiving a dental examination during the same months will receive the cost of the examination discounted from the cost of the immediate follow-on scale and polish. Veterinary Nurse dental examinations are provided free of charge.
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Conferences/Continuing Education
Kathy is dedicated to sacrificing herself in order to gain more veterinary knowledge. In order to do this, last year she ventured half way around the world in search of experience and great minds to explore. In Ireland, Kathy attended the Alpaca Conference organized by the Australian Alpaca Vets. The speakers included lecturers from universities in the US and Europe. This was a great experience and has been of enormous benefit to both Kathy and her clients and alpaca patients. Also last year, Kathy successfully sat her Membership exams in Medicine of Horses. The intensive study leading up to this qualification has been very stimulating and rewarding. This year Kathy successfully completed the Essentials of Equine Dentistry Post-Graduate Workshop at Grafton which focussed on the correct and professional use of the Powerfloat. In April, the Cattle Vets Conference at Alice Springs high-lighted the practicality of many of Kathys’ normal cattle procedures as well as introducing new ideas to try. It was wonderful to get together and share ideas with vets from all around our beautiful country.
Watch this space for up-coming discussion nights on cattle and alpacas.
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