Our Services
At Ashley Vets and Walton Road Vets, we offer a full range of top-quality services to keep your pets happy and healthy. Got a question about your pet’s care or one of our treatments?
Just give us a ring and our lovely teams at both practices are always here with a smile and ready to help however they can.
Administrative Services
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is required for pets travelling to EU countries. Please complete and email the form at least two weeks before your AHC appointment. The appointment must be within 10 days of travel, and the person travelling with the pet—who must also attend the appointment and sign the certificate—should be the owner.
Rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before the appointment, and you must bring the original vaccination card. Dogs travelling to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Norway, or Malta also need tapeworm treatment by a vet 24 hours to 5 days before arrival. AHCs allow travel in the EU for up to four months and cover up to five non-commercial pets.
Veterinary Practice Services
We carry out a wide range of surgical procedures in our fully equipped theatre. Most routine surgeries take place on the same day with morning admission and afternoon/evening discharge. Our nursing team will provide your with and estimate and pre operative instructions in the week leading up to surgery. Post op care will be discussed at discharge. If your pet needs additional intensive monitoring, they may be kept in until late and then transferred to our out of hours for ongoing treatment and then be readmitted to us the next day.
Our experienced vets perform everything from routine procedures to more complex surgeries. We have a team of visiting specialist that visit us to do more complex surgeries keeping you pet close to home and cared for at our surgery saving you unnecessary journeys.
We prep each patient in a dedicated area before moving them into our sterile theatre to maintain the highest hygiene standards. During surgery, our team closely monitors your pet using our state-of-the-art multiparameter machine, while our dedicated nurses provide constant care.
We also offer digital X-rays, comprehensive diagnostic tools, and in-house ultrasound. When needed, we send scans to specialists for expert interpretation.
Neutering is a routine procedure performed under general anaesthetic, and most pets recover quickly. We also offer free pre-neutering consultations if you’d like to chat about the best timing and approach for your dog.
Female Dogs
Spaying prevents seasons, unwanted pregnancies, and false pregnancies, which can cause distress and behavioural changes. It also reduces the risk of serious conditions like pyometra and mammary tumours, and avoids the mess and challenges that can come with being in season. Spaying lowers the risk of inbreeding and makes dogs less likely to be stolen.
As with any surgery, there are some risks, such as potential weight gain (our nurses can advise on diet) and, rarely, urinary incontinence. Anaesthetic risks like infection, bleeding, or pain are very uncommon but possible.
Spaying can be done before the first season (around six months) or three months after. For large breeds (over 20kg when fully grown), we recommend waiting until about 15 months. Breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Flat Coat Retrievers, and Dachshunds are best spayed after one year. If your dog lives with an un-neutered male, earlier spaying may be needed to prevent pregnancy.
Male Dogs
Castration can reduce roaming, mating behaviour, urine marking, and the risk of testicular tumours or prostate problems. It can also help improve some hormone-related behaviour. Risks are similar to spaying and include possible weight gain and rare surgical complications. We recommend castration between six and twelve months, or once full growth is reached (around 15 months for larger breeds). The same timing applies to the breeds mentioned above.
Keyhole/Laparoscopic spay
At Ashley Vets, your pet’s wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. If you’d prefer a minimally invasive option, we can arrange a laparoscopic spay with one of our trusted visiting surgeons.Dogs
Core vaccines protect against parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and leptospirosis. We recommend using Nobivac DHP(distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus) and Nobivac L4 (four strains of leptospirosis). The primary course starts at 8 weeks, with a second dose 4 weeks later. Full protection develops 1–3 weeks after the final dose.
Kennel Cough (infectious tracheitis) is highly contagious and spreads via air or contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include a hacking cough, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, and in severe cases, pneumonia. Some dogs carry the bacteria without showing symptoms. Annual vaccination is recommended, especially for dogs in group environments.
Rabies vaccination is only required for dogs travelling abroad, as the UK is rabies-free. It protects both dogs and humans by preventing this deadly, neurological disease.
Cats
We recommend vaccinating against feline panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus (cat flu), and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). FeLV spreads through close contact and causes severe immune suppression, anaemia, and cancer. Kittens should be vaccinated from 8 weeks, followed by a second dose 3–4 weeks later, and then annually. Rabies vaccination is advised only if your cat will be travelling abroad or living in a rabies-risk area.Rabbits
Rabbits need annual protection against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (RHD1 and RHD2). We use Myxo-RHD PLUS, a single yearly vaccine that covers all three threats. The first dose can be given from 6 weeks of age.
Its a legal requirement for all dogs and cats to be microchipped and for owners to keep their contact details up to date. This ensures lost pets can be quickly reunited with their families. Microchipping is a quick, safe, and simple procedure where a tiny silicon-coated chip with a unique 15-digit number is implanted under the skin. It can be read by any vet or animal professional using a scanner.
The chip lasts a lifetime, can’t be lost like a collar, and allows for easy updates to your contact information with proper security checks. It also qualifies your pet for the pet passport scheme.
Protecting your pet from parasites is essential to keeping them healthy and happy. Fleas, worms, and ticks are common threats to dogs, cats, and rabbits but with regular preventative treatments, they’re easy to manage and far less costly than treating an infestation or illness.
Fleas can cause skin problems and infest your home by laying eggs in your pet’s fur and surroundings. They can spread easily from other animals and are difficult and expensive to eliminate once established.
Worms such as roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, and lungworm pose serious health risks to pets and humans. Lungworm, in particular, can be fatal and isn’t always treated by shop-bought products. Worms spread through infected faeces and can contaminate the environment quickly.
Ticks attach to pets and feed on their blood, growing in size and potentially spreading serious diseases. Warmer winters have led to a rise in tick numbers across the UK. Checking your pet after walks and using year-round tick protection is key.
Our vets can recommend the best flea, worm, and tick prevention based on your pet’s needs, whether it’s a tablet, spot-on, collar, or liquid. Regular use keeps parasites under control, breaks their life cycles, and protects both your pet and your family. We include comprehensive parasite treatments in our health plans, speak to our team to learn more.During your pet’s annual check-up or vaccination, our vets assess their dental health. Look out for signs like red gums (gingivitis), tartar buildup, bad breath, or changes in eating habits—these may indicate discomfort or dental disease.
Prevention
Dental disease is five times more common in dogs than humans. Regular care, including brushing with pet-specific toothpaste, dental chews, and a proper diet, helps maintain healthy teeth. We offer free nurse consults to guide you on at-home dental care.
Professional Cleaning
Ultrasonic scaling and polishing remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. It’s the most effective method for preventing further dental issues. The procedure is done under anaesthetic, and pets usually return to normal eating once awake.
Extractions
We recommend dental X-rays before extractions to identify hidden issues. Pets may need extractions for fractures, abscesses, or painful lesions. Large teeth sometimes require stitches. After surgery, soft food is recommended until healing is complete.
In addition to our standard dental care from our veterinary team our visiting dental specialist is happy to perform full mouth extractions, composite restorations, root canals, crowns. He is also able to perform Mandibulectomy's and other maxillofacial surgery and orthodontic management. Please enquire to arrange your consultation or if coming as a referral John would be happy to provide an estimate for a procedure.
We offer in-practice cardiac ultrasounds and ECGs through a visiting specialist, available by appointment. Our vets only recommend heart scans when necessary, following a thorough physical exam. They’ll assess your pet’s heart murmur (graded 1–6), check for signs like cyanosis, jugular distention, and peripheral edema, and consider any existing health conditions.
If your pet has a heart murmur of grade 3 or higher, there’s at least a 50% chance they’ll need treatment. This rises further with murmurs graded 4 or above. For cats, an echocardiogram is especially important before undergoing general anaesthesia due to known cardiac risks. Our specialist also recommends heart scans for older pets prior to surgery and for young animals under six months with a detected murmur.
Echocardiograms provide a definitive heart diagnosis, helping evaluate murmur severity, chamber size, valve function, and wall motion. In some cases, we may also suggest an NT-proBNP blood test to assess heart strain. Particularly useful in cats and nervous patients, though not a replacement for an ultrasound.To arrange a heart scan, just get in touch with us.
We use cutting-edge Idexx technology, a leader in pet healthcare, to deliver fast, accurate blood test results often during your visit. Blood tests help us catch serious conditions like kidney failure or liver disease early, often before symptoms appear. Early detection gives us the best chance to treat or even cure issues before they progress. Our in-house lab lets us assess your pet’s organ function and overall health without invasive procedures. We can identify:
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Diabetes
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Kidney function issues
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Bacterial and fungal infections
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Parasites (via blood, faeces, or skin samples)
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Feline FeLV, FIP, and FIV
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Urinary health
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Allergies and more
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Our onsite digital X-ray suite provides high-quality images quickly, often ready when you collect your pet. We also offer dental X-rays, particularly helpful before extractions for a clearer view of the mouth. Because specific views are needed for accurate diagnosis, pets often require sedation or anaesthesia.
X-rays help us identify fractures, tumours, foreign bodies, and organ changes. We usually schedule them Monday–Friday, with emergency availability on Saturdays. Pets are admitted in the morning and discharged in the afternoon please remove food by 10 pm the night before and water by 7 am. Call around 2 pm on the day to confirm a discharge time, typically between 4–7 pm. Digital X-rays offer several advantages over traditional methods:
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Lower radiation exposure for safer imaging
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Clearer, more accurate images
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Faster diagnosis
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Eco-friendly (no chemicals)
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Easy image storage and transfer to referral centres
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Ultrasound, often used alongside X-rays, gives us a more detailed look at your pet’s internal organs using sound waves to create real-time images. It’s a non-invasive tool for diagnosing issues that X-rays alone may not reveal.
We may recommend an ultrasound for:
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Pregnancy and litter estimates
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Detecting foreign bodies
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Abnormal organ shape or size
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Bladder/kidney stones
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Fluid in the abdomen (and to obtain samples)
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Tumours or cancers (sometimes allowing biopsies)
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Assessing blood flow in arteries
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At Ashley Vets we put your pets at the heart of everything we do and we always strive to be the best vets we can be.
We are proud to be able to offer Ophthalmology consultations and surgery at our practices, so that together we work as a team to help every pet who needs to see a specialist eye vet.
Our service brings expert eye care directly to you, offering diagnosis and both medical and surgical treatments for a wide range of ocular conditions. Whatever your pet’s needs our visiting specialist provides compassionate care in the familiar setting of our practice, helping to maintain your pet’s vision and overall eye health with less anxiety and disruption.
If you would like further information on our Ophthalmology consultations/surgery please call us on 01932 248941 or email; info@ashley-vets.co.uk and our team will very happy to help.
We can arrange a fast, affordable CT scan at a trusted independent practice just 45 minutes away. They offer good availability, including urgent cases, and an easy referral process. Outpatient CT scans allow us to continue managing your pet’s care. Results are usually available within 24 hours (or 4 hours for emergencies), with prices starting at £1,390.
We offer a range of advanced orthopaedic surgeries performed by our visiting surgeon. This allows complex procedures to be carried out at Ashley Vets, so there’s no need to travel to a referral centre. Your pet stays in familiar surroundings, cared for by a team they know and trust.
Elbow Clinic Referrals
Our visiting orthopaedic surgeon provides expert advice on X-rays and performs surgery in-house, offering personalised care for each patient.
Cruciate Surgery
The cruciate ligament stabilises the knee. Injuries from small tears to complete ruptures cause joint pain and instability. Symptoms include limping, stiffness, knee swelling, and unusual walking. Surgery relieves pain and prevents arthritis. Most dogs begin weight-bearing within 2–3 days post-op, with 90% returning to normal activity in 10–12 weeks. We offer fixed-price cruciate surgery, including all post-op checks and 6-week X-rays.
Patella Luxation
Patella luxation occurs when the kneecap slips out of its thighbone groove, causing limping, pain, and potential arthritis. It can affect one or both knees, especially in small breeds. Severity ranges from Grade 1 (mild, occasional dislocation) to Grade 4 (permanent dislocation). After examination and X-rays, surgery may be recommended to realign the kneecap and deepen the groove.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) examines and treats joint disease, most commonly in the elbows. A camera is inserted into the joint, and if needed, a second small incision allows surgical treatment. This minimally invasive approach reduces pain and tissue damage.
Fracture Fixation
We treat fractures caused by play, falls, or accidents. Symptoms include sudden lameness or leg swelling. X-rays are reviewed by our visiting surgeon, who plans any necessary urgent surgery. Most pets fully recover after treatment.
