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Referrals for Pet Owners

Our advanced and referral services

We have fantastic facilities and equipment at our Ripon hospital, with an exceptionally talented team, which allows us to offer a wide range of advanced services.

This means that we can care for you and your pet even if complex problems arise, saving you stress and ensuring you’re always seen by a friendly Bishopton face.

Vets from across Yorkshire and the North East trust us to care for their patients across a range of services, details of which you can find below.

We’re committed to seeing your pet within 48 hours of our team receiving a referral, and our highly experienced vets will carry out any work required and lead as many follow ups as are needed until your pet is better.

Most of the services we offer are led by at least one vet with a certificate in their field, and every one of our referral team has years of experience dealing with cases similar to what your pet is facing.

If you are one of our clients you can speak to our team via PetsApp or in practice. Pet owners registered with another practice should speak to their regular vet about our referral services.

Our services

Orthopaedics

Management of conditions involving bone, tendon and ligament issues, including common cruciate and fracture repairs, luxating patella correction and hip dysplasia.

Soft tissue

All medical and surgical management of soft tissues including skin grafting and repair for wounds, and surgery on vital organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Keyhole spays

Using laparoscopy, or keyhole surgery, to perform neutering on female dogs promotes quicker recovery times with less pain than traditional techniques.

Cardiology

Management of cardiac disease such as heart murmurs, congenital abnormalities and heart disease.

Pain management

This can involve prescribing medicines, injections, acupuncture, physio and massage.

Internal medicine

The diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and cushings.

Dermatology

Medical and surgical management of long term and short term skin conditions.

Chemotherapy

We can provide chemotherapy for pets suffering from cancer, where we believe it will extend a patient’s life without unduly affecting their quality of life.

CT scans

We host a mobile CT scanning service twice a month, allowing your pet to receive the most detailed diagnostics.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology involves the management and treatment of problems in the eye such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Visiting our hospital

What happens if you’re referred to our team

Whether you have been referred to our referrals team internally through one of our surgeries or by your usual vet if you are not a Bishopton client, we will contact you to arrange a consultation to discuss your concerns and meet both you and your pet.

At this stage we will talk about treatment options, your pet’s recovery and the costs.

We can then book a date that is convenient for you and your pet.

Prior to your treatment date you will receive all of the information and a full estimate via email and PetsApp. This will give you directions to the practice and pre op information including what to do with your pet’s food and medication on the morning of your appointment.

If you have any concerns, please contact us at any stage.

How a day in our hospital works for our patients

On a typical day we will have three admit slot times for you to choose from to suit you and your day.

The first block of admits are between 8.30am and 9.30am and these are often reserved for CT scans and complex surgeries such as orthopaedics, soft tissue procedures and lap spays.

We do have later morning slots from 10am to 11am if this suits your day better or to allow for travel time – please discuss any concerns with our team.

We usually admit major surgical patients first thing to allow sufficient time for imaging, prep and the procedure itself. Some patients requiring constant pain monitoring and assistance with mobility and bladder care will stay overnight.

Afternoon slots are often reserved for gastrointestinal surgeries, dental work and non sterile procedures.

We are a 24/7 hospital with our own team members on site around the clock.

You will get regular updates from our nursing team over the phone and PetsApp. We can also send you videos and pictures so please tell us your preferences.

Our wards are very comfortable. All patients have heat pads, orthopaedic beds and the cats have hideaways and cat friendly music played to them. Feliway diffusers are in all cat areas and sprays can be used on their bedding.

If your pet is anxious or worried, please speak to us. We can take some bedding or toys from home or use anti-anxiety medication to make their stay more comfortable.

If your pet is on a specific diet or has food allergies, please bring some of their food along with them to assist with their stay.

All discharges planned for the same day will often occur early to late afternoon. The referral vet will call you after their procedure and will be able to guide you on what to expect.

What to do in Ripon while waiting

Many of our clients live locally but for those who have travelled further and expect to collect their pet on the same day, we are very lucky to be in a very beautiful corner of the country.

Our practice has plenty of free parking on-site, including allocated disability bays and a wheelchair accessible entrance.

Straight from the end of the driveway you are in Studley Royal Deer Park – a wonderful place to explore while your pet is with us.

We recommend avoiding Fountains Abbey as while it is also very pretty, phone signal can be challenging should we want to update you!

There is a wonderful garden centre and coffee shop 200m from the end of the drive called Tates and this is also dog friendly. In our opinion their cakes are lovely and well worth a try!

Within Ripon itself we have a number of dog friendly eateries such as Storehouse & Oliver's Pantry. 

We hope that you can enjoy exploring Ripon while we care for your pet.

Why does my pet need to be referred?

Are the vets and nurses specifically trained in the area of my pet’s problem?

All vets are fully qualified to provide first opinion care and to support your pet’s ongoing preventative healthcare – just like a GP.

Sometimes pets have problems or conditions that need specific skills and equipment that not all practices can provide. If this happens, your usual vet can refer you to a practice that has these facilities and team members with experience – such as us!

Who will be looking after my pet?

Each of our referral services is led by dedicated vets with many years of experience providing the care and treatment your pet needs. You’ll meet your lead vet in your pre op check and you’ll continue to work with the same vet throughout treatment and during aftercare. Our vets are supported by our lovely team of nurses and support professionals.

Will I receive a detailed estimate before any procedures are done?

We’re committed to seeing every one of our surgical referral patients within 48 hours of receiving the referral request for a pre op check. During this check you’ll meet the vet leading your pet’s care and discuss options to find the right solution for your situation. Once we’ve agreed on an approach, we’ll give you a detailed estimate for what the treatment will cost. We will only proceed once you have given us the go ahead.

Can I tour the facility before my pet is admitted?

Absolutely, we’ll be more than happy to show you around when you visit us for your pre op check.

Will I be updated regularly, and who will communicate with me?
On the day of your pet’s treatment our team will be in touch regularly to let you know how your pet is going on and to advise on when they will be ready to be collected and brought home.
Will my primary vet be kept informed and who do I contact if I have concerns after discharge?

We will keep your usual vet informed throughout the process. While we will lead on any aftercare that is necessary, your vet will continue to provide all of your pet’s day-to-day care. If your pet becomes ill at any point after treatment, take them to see your usual vet immediately.