At Beechwood Veterinary Hospital we are able to provide a high standard of expertise in all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery.

Surgery

We are able to perform a wide range of surgical procedures not only on dogs and cats but also on rabbits and other small furries. As well as a veterinary team who are experienced in general surgery, we are also able to perform more complicated procedures on a daily basis.

Dr Mark Straw gained his Royal College Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2001 and is currently an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery. Since this time he has been performing Orthopaedic surgery both on patients of Beechwood Veterinary Hospital and those referred from practices from around the region.

Examples of surgical procedures performed:

• Neutering: dog, cat and rabbit castrations and spays.
• Wound management: from the stitch up for the small straightforward cut to complex skin grafting for the very severe wound.
• Soft tissue surgery: removing benign/malignant tumours, correcting eyelid abnormalities etc.
• Surgery of the liver, stomach or intestines: foreign body removal, bloat, tumour removal.
• Orthopaedic surgery: fracture repair, tendon or ligament injuries, arthritis, growth problems.

Internal medicine

Internal medicine is the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of conditions of the internal organs which occur commonly in dogs and cats. Whether it be a case of vomiting and diarrhoea, a heart condition or a kidney problem our veterinary team will strive to provide the best care possible. The symptoms of these conditions are often very vague making the diagnosis of the cause very challenging. Here at Beechwood Veterinary Hospital we have invested greatly in specialised equipment to help us achieve a diagnosis in these complex cases. Ultrasound, endoscopy (a fibreoptic camera that passes into the intestines or windpipe), a fully equipped laboratory and a powerful X-ray machine are just some of the facilities we have available allowing us to give your pet the best treatment possible.

Conditions of the eyes are also a common occurrence in dogs and cats. Here at Beechwood we have specialised equipment available allowing us to visualise every part of the eye helping us to achieve a diagnosis and commence treatment, whether that be with drugs or with surgery.

Intensive nursing

Following major surgery or during treatment for a severe illness many patients require intensive nursing care for prolonged periods. Here at Beechwood Veterinary Hospital we provide intensive nursing care for our critically ill patients 24-hours a day, a service which we feel is essential to optimise the success in an individual case. Staff live on site and are available to administer medication, maintain intravenous fluids, manage chest drains, monitor vital signs and provide whatever requirements a patient may need.

Isolation facilities

Vaccination has helped to reduce the incidence of many of the infectious diseases of cats and dogs that were prevalent 20 years ago. Unfortunately unvaccinated animals are often presented with a contagious disease, eg parvovirus and in order to minimise the risk of transmission to other patients we have an isolation ward in which we can provide “barrier nursing”. “Barrier nursing” involves the use of specific protective clothing, special disinfectants and other precautions to protect not only the vet and nurse dealing with the case but also to contain the infectious disease in one dedicated area of the hospital.