Services

We offer a full range of veterinary services to care for your pets – vet consultations, a wide range of nurse clinics, routine and non-routine surgeries, emergency treatment, hospitalisation and end of life care.

Vet Consultations

We offer 15 minute veterinary consultations from 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturday. We aim to quickly diagnose any health issues and give appropriate treatment. Consultations should be booked in advance by phoning 01566 772211. In an emergency animals will be seen by a vet as soon as possible but please try to phone ahead to warn us that you are on your way so that we can prepare.

Vet Consultations at Liskeard

Our Liskeard branch has facilities and equipment that enables us to offer veterinary consultations and treatment for most of the problems that we see in dogs, cats and other small companion animals. We have one of our team of experienced veterinary surgeons from the Launceston Branch there every weekday. All our consultations are by appointment only, which can be made by ringing our reception on 01579 208072.

Consultation appointments are available:
9:00am – 1:30pm & 2:30pm – 5:00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday
10:00am – 1:30pm & 2:30pm – 6:00pm Tuesday and Thursday

Out of Hours Emergencies

All our Out of Hours emergency work is done by our own vets at our main practice premises in Pennygillam Way, Launceston. We believe this provides the best service for you and your pets as we have the facilities there for surgical procedures and intensive inpatient care. Your pet’s clinical notes will be available.

Home Visit

Providing a home visit service is important to us, and where possible we will arrange a home visit when requested. However, unfortunately we cannot guarantee that a home visit will be possible at all times and requests for a home visit will be judged on a case by case basis. Whether we can provide a home visit will depend on the individual pet’s needs, the location and our staffing levels.

Nurse Clinics – Launceston

Our dedicated team of Veterinary Nurses run a selection of clinics intended to help you with all aspects of pet ownership.

Weight Clinics

An individual plan will be designed for your pet to include food and/or exercise modification and a weight and body condition goal will be set. Regular appointments will be arranged to monitor your pet’s progress.

Anxious Dog Clinic

A visit to the vets can be particularly worrying for some dogs. We use a process known as desensitisation and counter-conditioning to gradually change your dog’s emotional response to their vet visits. We achieve this by having regular visits offering lots of tasty treats to build a positive association to the vet practice and staff.

Adolescent Clinic

These clinics are for animals of approximately 6 months of age and provide advice and answer any questions you have as your pet approaches adulthood. Diet, parasite control, training, behaviour and neutering will be discussed and a physical examination carried out.

Post-Neutering Clinic

Once your pet is neutered it is important for them to maintain a healthy bodyweight. These clinics offer an opportunity to weigh your pet and discuss any concerns you may have as your pet matures. A physical examination will also be carried out.

Mouth Clean & Screen Clinic

Dental disease is very common in dogs and cat and early intervention is crucial in order to maintain a healthy mouth and prevent tooth decay and loss. These clinics provide an opportunity for your pet’s mouth to be examined and the condition of the teeth and gums to be staged. Further treatment and maintenance will then be discussed – this may involve preventative techniques at home or a Mouth, Clean & Screen dental procedure may be recommended.

Castle Care Club Clinic

These clinics are exclusive to members of our Castle Care Club. They provide an opportunity to discuss the overall health of your pet. A physical examination will be carried out and there will be opportunity to discuss any concerns that you may have. Topics such as weight, feeding, exercise regimes, dental care and more will be discussed.

Senior Pet Clinic

These clinics are for pets aged 8 years or above. As our pets get older they begin to show signs of ageing and/or disease. Identifying health issues early can improve quality of life and longevity. A physical examination will be carried out, and any changes in mobility, eating, drinking, demeanour, exercise and behaviour will be discussed. A urine sample will be tested (if one is available). In cats we will measure blood pressure.

Castle Care Club – Launceston & Liskeard

Membership of our Castle Care Club is hugely popular amongst our clients, who are ensuring their pets have the best veterinary care possible whilst saving money on all aspects of preventative care, procedures and treatments. Included in the membership are: a twice yearly health examination, annual vaccinations, flea and worm treatments PLUS a 5% discount on all products and services! Payment for the adult plans for cats, dogs and rabbits is spread over the year in easy monthly direct debits allowing you to spread the cost and help with budgeting.

Castle Care Club Juniors offers the best start for your new puppy or kitten with amazing savings! Membership provides you with the best support and care for the new member of your family for a one-off payment to take them to their first birthday.

Click the Join Now button below to see the full list of benefits, savings and costs….welcome to our Club!

Emergencies

Unlike many other practices in the area Castle Vets provide a 24 hour service for our patients here at our premises in Launceston. In an emergency you will be able to see one of your vets in the surroundings of your familiar practice. You will not need to travel miles away to an out-of-hours provider. Providing our own 24 hour care and out-of-hours service is something that we are incredibly proud of and requires a lot of hard work and commitment from our brilliant team of vets and nurses.

We do not have facilities for surgery or intensive inpatient care at Liskeard, therefore, if our receptionist thinks your pet might have a problem that we can’t manage at Liskeard, she may advise you that the quickest way to get the appropriate treatment will be for you to take your pet directly to an appointment/emergency fit in appointment at Launceston. Out of Hours work will also be carried out by our own vets at our main practice premises in Pennygillam Way, Launceston. We believe this provides the best service for you and your pets as we have the facilities there for surgical procedures and intensive inpatient care. Your pet’s clinical notes will be available. Please be aware that we are not able to transport your pet between Launceston and Liskeard.

Hospitalised Patients – Launceston

We have separate dog and cat wards for patients that are with us either for the day or overnight. We have a Registered Veterinary Nurse on the premises 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to monitor and care for the inpatients at all times. The nursing care of your pet is extremely important to us and we make every effort to make sure they are as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

Diagnostics

We have extensive diagnostic facilities here at Castle Vets. We have our own laboratory enabling us to run many blood tests on the premises, providing rapid results to guide treatment. Urine, skin and ear samples can be tested ‘in-house’. We have digital radiography, ultrasonography, blood pressure monitoring and endoscopy enabling us to diagnose most conditions.

Surgery – Launceston

We are very proud of the care we provide to our patients that are admitted for surgical procedures. We understand how worrying it is to leave your pet with us. Our surgical patients are usually admitted between 8am and 9am, a Nurse or Vet will complete an admit form to make sure we have all the necessary information about your pet and you fully understand what will happen, including the potential costs involved. We have two modern surgical theatres, a large preparation area and a dedicated dental suite. We are able to do many soft tissue and orthopaedic surgical procedures in-house, and one of our Vets, Mark Tucker, is nearing the completion of a post-graduate certificate in Small Animal Surgery, giving him the knowledge and expertise to undertake more complicated procedures. We have a large team of nurses with individuals dedicated to roles such as in-patient care, anaesthetic monitoring and recovering patients after surgery. Minimising pain and distress of our patients is very important – we keep up-to-date with the newest techniques and medications to prevent pain, but also make sure patients are reassured and their needs are met throughout their stay with us.

Neutering – Launceston

CATS:

Neutering is strongly recommended for all cats unless you wish to breed. Unneutered cats are at a much higher risk of catching potentially fatal viruses and from injury due to fighting. There are also many unwanted cats and kittens in rescue centres nationwide, so please do not allow your unneutered cat to roam and add to that number! Cats can be neutered from about 4 months of age or 1kg in weight.

DOGS:

Please call to speak to one of our nurses to discuss the appropriate age for neutering your dog and whether it is the recommended course of action. Delaying neutering will sometimes be recommended due to the breed or temperament of your dog.

End of Life Care – Launceston & Liskeard

At Castle Vets we recognise that euthanasia is an extremely important part of pet ownership and we aim to provide our clients and patients with as much support and flexibility during the process as possible. We provide end of life care either in your home or at the practice. We can use sedative drugs to help ease the process for some more anxious or painful patients. Euthanasia is carried out by one of our Vets, often with the support of one of our Veterinary Nurses. Some owners choose to be present during the procedure itself, others prefer to say goodbye beforehand – either way you can be assured that your pet will be in safe and caring hands at this important moment. You are able to take your pet home for burial or we offer individual cremation via ‘Torridge Pet Crematorium’ and in some cases clients choose to take their pet to a crematorium of their own choosing. Clients can choose to have their pet cremated with other animals, or they can choose to have their pet individually cremated and the ashes returned to them via Torridge Pet Crematorium. Various scattering or casket options are available for individual cremation. We are also able to provide paw prints on request. Please contact us for further details and pricing.

Ally Bereavement Clinics

ALLY® Support for YOU at Castle Veterinary Group.

The loss of a much loved pet can have a devastating effect on your life in various ways. Feelings of intense grief, loneliness, bewilderment and guilt may even affect your health and wellbeing.

ALLY® attends to your needs during this difficult time by offering a unique support service to fully acknowledge your loss.

Castle Veterinary Group is one of the first veterinary practices in the country to recognise the value of this concept for their clients, and to have membership with ALLY®

Hannah Coppen, Naomi Willcocks, Jenny Houghton, Sue Mann and Loren Jackson at this practice have completed the accredited ALLY® training course to become registered ALLY® supporters. Complementing the existing care already provided at Castle Veterinary Group, they will focus on helping you prepare, manage and adjust to the loss of your beloved animal.

This may be when your animal has…

a life-threatening illness
a terminal illness
died suddenly
quality of life issues
been lost or stolen
suffered a traumatic injury
to reluctantly be given up

For further information about this service please ask the team at Castle Veterinary Group and visit our website at www.allyforall.com

Dentistry – Launceston

Here at Castle Vets we understand the importance of dental hygiene for our pets. Similar to people, poor dental hygiene can lead to dental disease which if left untreated can cause bacteria to circulate in the bloodstream and potentially lead to damage to internal organs such as the kidneys and heart. Diseased teeth and gums are also potentially very uncomfortable for both cats and dogs. Our aim is to catch dental disease as early as possible and prevent tooth extractions where possible. To help with early detection and prevention of dental disease we offer free ‘Mouth Clean & Screen’ checks with our nurses who can assess your pet’s teeth and gums and create a dental care plan. If necessary they will book them in for a ‘Mouth Clean & Screen’ procedure – this is an outpatient procedure that is carried out under general anaesthetic in our dedicated dental room, pre-operative blood tests are carried out, full mouth x-rays are taken, the teeth are scaled and polished and a plan for any further dental work is made. After the procedure we will create a dental care plan that suits you and your pet as well as regular dental checks to help maintain your pets new smile!

Pet Insurance – What you need to know

The standard of veterinary care for pets and the treatments available have increased hugely, but the cost of this treatment can be high and may be ongoing for the life of your pet. We recommend that you consider Pet Insurance and whether it’s right for you so you have peace of mind that unpredictable costs can be covered. It also allows you to make decisions for your pet’s care based on what’s best for your pet without worrying about the cost.

We cannot recommend a specific insurance company, but policies vary greatly, so read the small print! Here are some important things to know when thinking about which policy to take out:

1. Lifetime Policies

Cover is provided up to a set amount per condition and is refreshed each year.
This is the best type of policy to provide cover for ongoing conditions such as arthritis and allergic skin disease.

2. 12 Month Policies

Cover is provided up to a set amount per condition.
There is a 12 month limit and so conditions will only be covered for 12 months and then will be excluded from the policy.
This is adequate for short term conditions such as following an accident but any ongoing conditions will not be covered after a year.

3. Maximum Benefit Policies

Cover is provided up to a maximum amount per condition.
Once the maximum is reached, the condition will be excluded from the policy.

4. Accident Only Policies

Illness or disease is not covered at all.
Usually a 12 month limit so cover is not ongoing.
Very limited value.

5. Consider the maximum amount the policy pays out per condition. If referral to a specialist is required, it is common for costs to reach £5000+.

6. Policies will vary in what they will include and pay out for. For example, almost all policies will not pay out for anything related to breeding, including caesareans. Consider also checking if cover is included for dental treatments, behavioural problems, prescription diets, congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia and complimentary therapies such as acupuncture.

7. It is important to take note that the clinical history of your pet must be provided to the Insurance Company when they request it. If any condition was present before the policy was taken out, it will be excluded and won’t be covered.

8. It is really important to note that changing your pet’s insurance policy will mean that conditions that had been covered will now be considered Pre-existing and so will not be covered. This often catches people out and is something to be wary of if you are shopping around at renewal time for a better deal.

9. The usual procedure for processing an Insurance Claim is that you settle your invoice with us first and then we submit a claim to get the money back from the Insurance Company. A Direct Claim (where the Insurance Company pay us directly) may be permissible in some circumstances. The total cost must be over £350, and ideally the Policy would be with one of the following Insurance Companies which have efficient online portals, however other Direct Claims will be considered at our discretion:

Petplan
Tesco
Animal Friends
Direct Line

We are very fortunate to have RVN Sue Mann at Castle Vets, who does a brilliant job processing Insurance Claims and sorting out issues relating to them. If you have any queries relating to insurance that our Receptionists aren’t able to sort out, Sue is the person to talk to. Please note that there is a £26.50 admin fee per condition for processing Insurance Claims charged once a year.

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Behaviour – Launceston

The emotional health of our patients is as important as their physical health and our team are equipped to advise on a range of problems – from helping your pet cope with being in a veterinary environment to dealing with specific concerns from owners about the behaviour of their pets.

Training Sessions and Life Skills:

Some issues can be resolved with basic training sessions, to help the owner teach their pet new skills. These include problems such as pulling on the lead, jumping up, general hyperactivity, recall and livestock chasing. We offer one-to-one Life Skills sessions which help you to teach your dog how to cope and behave appropriately – both at home and when out and about.

Puppy Preschool:

Pre-school sessions provide an excellent opportunity for you to socialise your puppy in a safe, managed environment, and to give you the chance to ask any questions you may have in the company of other new puppy owners.

Pre-school sessions are held at the practice every Tuesday evening. Please call us for further information.

Anxious Dog Clinics:

Regular, positive visits to the practice is sometimes all that is needed to help your pet feel confident and comfortable in a veterinary environment. Our confidence clinics are run by experienced nurses and are tailored to your pet’s needs.

Behaviour Consultation:

If your pet is really struggling, we offer a consultation service where your pet’s needs are investigated in detail and a programme devised to help address them. Behaviour consultations are held on an appointment basis either in your home or at the practice

Deborah Snowden RVN DipCABT (QCF Level 5)
Registered Veterinary Nurse
Behaviourist and Trainer

Acupuncture

We offer acupuncture for cats, dogs and rabbits at Castle Vets. Acupuncture is a treatment modality which involves the placing of very fine needles into specific points on the body in order to treat pain or disease. Needle placement is usually painless and well tolerated by pets. Treatments are normally weekly for 4 weeks initially. Acupuncture can be used for the treatment of many different disorders but most commonly we use it to help with pain management and mobility issues. Acupuncture sessions are carried out by Tabi Boughtflower one of our Vets, she has been using acupuncture successfully in companion animals for over ten years and is happy to answer any questions you may have about the subject.