Services

See what we can offer you and your pet

Medication Info

Medication Info

Find out more about common veterinary medicines...

Order Food Online

Order Food Online

Order your pet's food using our website...

  • Diagnostics
  • Surgery
  • Online Bookings
  • Laser Therapy
  • Nurse Consultations
  • Out of Hours
  • Consultations
  • Referrals
  • Physiotherapy

Diagnostics

We have an extensive range of equipment to help us better diagnose a wide range of conditions.

Ultrasound

We use this to help us diagnose abdominal issues and for pregnancy diagnosis. It uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the part of the body being scanned. This kind of imaging can usually be done without sedation unless your pet is particularly nervous. We clip the hair away from a small area and apply gel that helps the scanner get a clear picture. The results of the scan will help us diagnose what is wrong with your pet.

Echocardiography

This is used to help us get a good picture of what is going on in your pet’s heart. Much like the ultrasound, it uses sound waves to create a picture of the beating heart so we can make a diagnosis. We will clip away the hair in a small area above the heart, apply a gel to the skin and then use the scanner to create the picture. We can use this picture to check the heart’s function, take measurements, etc.

Electrocardiograph Test

We use this test to check the heart’s rhythm and activity. Electrodes are attached to your pet in four places to measure the electrical activity of the heart and detect any issues.

Bronchoscopy

This is a test that we do to take a look inside your pet’s lungs. This helps us check for any abnormalities and take any samples we might need for further testing. A bronchoscopy does involve a general anaesthetic so we can feed a thin, flexible tube with a camera and a light at the end, down your pet’s windpipe and into the airways.

Endoscopy

This is similar to a bronchoscopy test, but is for checking the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Again, this test is carried out under general anaesthetic and helps us diagnose things like ulcers and other inflammatory conditions. We can also take biopsies with the endoscope and remove foreign bodies.

Digital X-ray

Like traditional x-rays, this is a form of imaging that uses x-ray plates to capture an image. Because it is digital, it immediately transfers the image to our computer system so we can diagnose issues quicker. The images are also higher quality than traditional x-rays, allowing us to take good images of a wide variety of tissues, from lung to bone.

Blood Pressure Monitoring

Much the same as the equipment your GP may have used to measure your blood pressure, this test uses an inflatable cuff that is placed on one of your pet’s legs or their tail. Blood pressure monitoring is important because it can help us diagnose high blood pressure which can lead to more serious issues like blindness as well as heart, kidney or thyroid problems. The test only takes a few minutes, is completely painless and can normally be done without any sedation.

In House Laboratory Service

Because we can do in house lab testing, we can get same-day results – in some instances, while you wait – reducing the number of visits you have to make. It also means that we can come to quicker diagnoses as we don’t have to wait for test results to come back from an external lab. This is especially important for acutely ill patients and means we can diagnose and treat more swiftly. In house testing also means we can quickly and easily monitor the progress of treatments and make sure medications are being given at the right dosage.

Anaesthesia

At Westwood Vets we believe that practising the safest and most comfortable anaesthesia is paramount. To achieve this end we use a combination of pre-medications which ensure that your pet is not anxious while waiting for their procedure and to ensure effective pain relief. The induction agent is then administered via an intravenous catheter resulting in a smooth transition from consciousness to sleeping. This drug is very short acting and will be excreted from the body by the end of most procedures. Anaesthesia is maintained by your pet breathing a combination of oxygen and anaesthetic agent. The agent used is extremely short acting and non-irritant, it is used in paediatric anaesthesia. We find our patients wake up smoothly and more quickly after their procedure than with other types of agent.

During the anaesthetic the vital signs of your pet are monitored by a trained nurse using a combination of manual monitoring and multi-parameter devices. Your pet is kept warm by a hot air filled blanket during and after anaesthesia.

Our protocols can be adapted to give safe anaesthetics to patients at greater risk e.g. elderly patients or those with pre-existing medical conditions.

It is our opinion that these protocols provide a Gold Standard of individual care as we would wish for our own family pets.

 

Surgery

We have dedicated operation theatres at both practices that are fully equipped for many different procedures. You can have a look around a theatre with our virtual tour.

We have an experienced team of surgeons including Alice Kutarski who holds a post graduate certificate in surgery.

Neutering

This is a procedure used to prevent unwanted pregnancies. It has other benefits too:

  • It can potentially decrease the risk of ovarian and mammary cancer in females
  • It can lower the risk of certain prostate diseases and testicular cancers in males
  • It can sometimes help with behavioural issues in males. It can make them calmer and less aggressive
  • It can make males less likely to want to roam away from home and, therefore, less likely to get hurt or go missing

We can neuter dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets.

Soft Tissue Surgery

This is surgery for issues in areas like the nose, throat, heart, liver, abdomen, reproductive organs and includes skin reconstruction and tumour removal.

Electrosurgery

Need more info here – is it surgery for a particular area like soft tissue is or it is a way of performing surgery like laser?

Ear Surgery

We can perform ear surgery for chromic ear infections that haven’t responded to other treatment. This includes Total Ear Canal Ablation, Aural Haematoma Repair and Lateral Wall Resections.

Ophthalmic Surgery

Should your pet suffer with abnormal eyelash growth, tumours on the eye, corneal issues or third eyelid problems, our experienced surgeons can perform corrective surgery to alleviate the problem.

Abdominal Surgery

We can perform diaphragm repair, liver biopsies, gastrointestinal surgery, kidney and bladder surgery should you pet need it.

Selected Orthopaedic Procedures

Our surgeons can perform selected surgeries, including:

  • Anterior cruciate repair with lateral suture
  • Patella stabilisation
  • Fracture repair using internal and external fixation
  • Femoral head excision and reduction of dislocations

We also have the facility to refer more complicated surgeries to a specialist practice.

Dental Surgery

We have a modern dental surgery with a digital x-ray system, allowing us to see what is happening in your pet’s mouth, even under the gum line. At the touch of a button, the image from the x-ray is transferred to our computer system, allowing us to make a swift diagnosis swift and allowing us to alleviate your pet’s pain quickly.

Online Bookings

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night thinking, ‘I needed to call the vet today’, or tried to call but couldn’t get through due to the practice being closed or the phone being engaged?

With each of us leading busy lives, we are aiming to save you time through our new online appointment booking function. Booking online is simple. Clients can access, look and book appointments for their pets via our website!

As our website is open 24/7, 365 days a year, you can book your appointment any time during the day, throughout the night, weekends and bank holidays, on your computer, mobile or tablet. You will receive a confirmation message, as well as a reminder text for the appointment. Cancellations and time changes can be made online too!

To book an appointment please click here.

Laser Therapy

We can now offer laser therapy to our patients! Laser therapy can be used in many situations to help your pet – why not speak to us today to find out more.

Laser therapy can help with:

  • Arthritis
  • Muscle and back pain
  • Inflammatory skin conditions
  • Wound healing
  • Post surgical pain

Laser therapy is not just for dogs and cats. It can be used in all pets, from gerbils and rabbits to lizards and parrots! 

Visit the ASA Laser Therapy website for more information.

Please note that our Garforth practice now offers this treatment. 

Nurse Consultations

Nurse consultations include:

  • Nail clips
  • Dental checks
  • Wormer/spot on treatments
  • Post ops checks
  • Bandage changes and stiches out

Book an appointment here or call Boston Spa: 01937 842210 or Garforth: 0113 232 0085

Out of Hours

Out-of-hours emergency veterinary care for your pet is provided by Holly House Veterinary Hospital

Holly House is an RCVS Accredited Small Animal Hospital with a 24-hour on-site emergency service and round-the-clock critical care for all inpatients. 

Find their contact information here.

Note: If you call Holly House Veterinary Hospital and there is no answer, head to their main site and call on your journey - providing it is safe to do so. There will always be staff on site, no matter the time of day.

Consultations

  • Boosters/Kennel cough vaccinations
  • Micro-chipping
  • General consults/follow up appointments
  • Stitches out and post-op checks
  • Pre-op checks and collection
  • Prescription checks
  • Diabetic checks
  • Bandage changes

Book an appointment here or call Boston Spa: 01937 842210 or Garforth: 0113 232 0085

Referrals

Just like with human medicine, there re specialists and special facilities with animal medicine. Sometimes, we need to refer our patients to these specialists to make sure we are doing the best for them and giving them the best care.

Should this be the case with your pet, you can rest assured that you will be referred to a practice with the right skills, qualifications, experience and equipment to treat your pet.

We aim to make sure your pet s getting the best care and will try to make sure the referral practice is within a reasonable traveling distance. Before the appointment, we will send them your pet’s history, along with the results of any diagnostic tests we have done, so they will have all of your pet’s information. There is a charge for the service that may not be covered by your pet insurance policy.

The referral practice will charge for their consultation and any treatment that comes from your visit. It’s a good idea to ask for an estimation of anticipated costs and these costs will need to be paid to them.

You may decide to seek a second opinion on your pet’s treatment or diagnosis. This can be one within the practice and your first port of call would be our clinical director, Elizabeth Askew. This may be arranged at no extra cost.

If you would like to seek a second opinion from another practice, you will need to contact them to make arrangements. Make sure you let them know you are seeking a second opinion so they can request your pet’s history and any diagnostic test results from us. We will endeavour to get this information to them before your appointment with them.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can help animals recover from a variety of conditions such as back pain, sprains, fractures and sporting injuries. It can also be used following orthopaedics, neurological or general surgery, as well as improve athletic ability. 

Our specialist: 

Dominique has a strong veterinary-based background after she completed a BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Science at The Royal Veterinary College in London.

Dominique specialises in:

  • Puppy and geriatric exercise plans
  • Pain management
  • Post-surgical rehabilitation
  • Neurological/ spinal rehabilitation 
  • Management of conditions such as; arthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia (Slowing degeneration and treating compensatory muscle spasm) 
  • Working dog and agility dog strength and conditioning plans. 

What is included in the sessions? 

Laser electromagnetic tx: A non-invasive, non-thermal treatment, which treats your pet by delivering electric and magnetic fields to tissues to promote healing.  

Massage: Massage works to relax muscles, stimulate circulation, and enhance the range of motions in animals. During the session Dominque will evaluate your pet to discover any issues they may have, develop and implement treatments plans based on your pets individual needs, use hands on massage techniques to manipulate muscles and soft tissues in your pets body. 

Held at both Boston Spa and Leeds Garforth