Most things start here. A first consultation gives the vet time to examine your pet properly and to hear the whole story from you – what you have seen, when it started and what has changed. Those two things together are usually what gets to the bottom of a problem.
Any vaccination or medical records you have, a list of anything your pet is currently taking, and – if it is relevant – a recent urine or stool sample. If someone else at home has noticed something you have not, it helps to ask them before you come.
The consultation fee covers the appointment itself and the vet’s advice. Anything we go on to do – tests, medication, a procedure – is charged separately and we will always tell you the cost first. You can see every one of our charges on our price list.
If your pet comes in regularly, one of our pet health plans may work out cheaper across the year.
- [Repeat consultation](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/repeat-consultation):Once we have seen your pet for a problem, the follow-up appointments are usually repeat consultations. They are shorter than a first consultation because we already know the history – the job now is to see how your pet has responded and decide what happens next.
If your pet has a new and unrelated problem, book a first consultation instead – the vet needs the longer appointment to examine them properly and take a fresh history.
Repeat consultations are charged at a lower rate than a first consultation. The current fee is on our price list, alongside everything else we charge for.
- [Out-of-hours consultation](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/out-of-hours-consultation):Emergencies do not keep office hours. Our Westport24 service means there is always someone to ring, whatever time it is, and someone who can see your pet if they need seeing.
Ring first, before you set off. We can tell you whether your pet needs to come in, what to do in the meantime, and we can be ready for you when you arrive. If you are travelling with an injured animal, keep them warm, quiet and contained.
Out-of-hours consultations cost more than an appointment during normal hours, because of the staffing involved. The fee is published on our price list like everything else, and we will be straight with you about costs on the phone. Please never put off ringing because you are worried about the bill – tell us, and we will talk about it.
- [Nurse consultation](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/nurse-consultation):Our nurses are qualified, registered professionals, and a lot of care is better done by them than by a vet. Nurse appointments are usually easier to get and cost less than seeing a vet.
Nurses cannot diagnose a new problem or prescribe medication – that has to be a vet. If a nurse finds something during your appointment that needs a vet, they will tell you and we will get your pet seen.
Nurse appointments are charged at a lower rate than seeing a vet. The fee is on our price list, and several of our pet health plans include nurse appointments or a discount on them.
- [Nail clipping](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/nail-clipping) - [Anal gland expression](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/anal-gland-expression) - [Microchipping](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/microchipping) - [Animal health certificate](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/animal-health-certificate):Pet travel paperwork is unforgiving: one missing date and you are turned away at the border. Start planning at least a month before you go, and more if your pet has never been vaccinated against rabies.
One certificate covers one trip. It is valid for entry to the EU for 10 days from the date of issue, then for onward travel within the EU for 4 months, and for re-entry to Great Britain for 4 months. Come back and go again, and you need a new one.
Book early and bring your pet’s full vaccination history and microchip paperwork. The appointment takes longer than a normal consultation because the certificate has to be completed and checked carefully. One certificate can cover up to five pets travelling together; there is a charge for each additional animal, shown on our price list.
Rules change. Check the current requirements for your destination on GOV.UK before you travel, and ring us if anything is unclear.
- [Vaccinations primary course (including consultation)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/vaccinations-primary-course-including-consultation):Vaccination protects against diseases that are still out there and that are genuinely nasty – parvovirus, distemper, cat flu, myxomatosis. A primary course builds that protection from scratch, which is why it takes more than one visit.
Timings vary with the vaccine used and your pet’s circumstances. The vet will give you the exact dates at the first appointment.
The price covers the consultation as well as the vaccine. For a young animal this is often the most thorough examination they have had – heart, chest, teeth, eyes, joints, weight. It is a good moment to ask about neutering, diet, worming, insurance and anything else you are wondering about.
Keep puppies away from places unvaccinated dogs have been until the vet says they are covered. Socialising still matters though – carry them, and let them meet healthy, vaccinated dogs in a safe place. Ask us and we will tell you what is sensible.
The price for a primary course is on our price list, shown separately for cats, dogs and rabbits. Our pet health plans include vaccination where it is appropriate, which usually works out cheaper than paying as you go.
- [Vaccinations booster (including consultation)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/vaccinations-booster-including-consultation):Immunity fades. A booster brings it back up, and the annual appointment that goes with it is often where we pick up problems early – a heart murmur, a sore tooth, a lump, a few kilos that have crept on.
Not every component needs doing every year. Some are given annually, others every three years, and what your pet needs depends on their species, age, health and lifestyle. The vet will set out a schedule that suits your pet rather than a one-size-fits-all one.
For a healthy adult pet this is frequently their only veterinary examination of the year. We will:
Ring us. Depending on how long it has lapsed and which vaccine is involved, your pet may need to restart a primary course rather than a single booster. It is better to know than to assume.
The price is on our price list and includes the consultation. All of our pet health plans that cover preventative care include boosters where they are appropriate.
- [Vaccination for kennel cough (including consultation)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/vaccination-for-kennel-cough-including-consultation):Kennel cough is miserable rather than usually dangerous – a harsh, hacking cough that sounds like something is stuck in the throat, and that can drag on for weeks. It spreads very easily anywhere dogs gather.
The vaccine is squirted gently into one nostril. Most dogs find it surprising rather than unpleasant and it is over in seconds. The appointment includes a consultation, so the vet checks your dog over at the same time.
Some dogs cough or sniffle for a few days afterwards, which is normal. Protection builds over a week or two, so book well ahead of a kennel stay rather than the day before.
Kennel cough is caused by several different organisms. The vaccine covers the main ones, so a vaccinated dog can still pick up a milder version. It is still well worth doing, and it is usually a condition of boarding.
The price, including the consultation, is on our price list. Our pet health plans include kennel cough vaccination for dogs where it is appropriate.
- [Prescription fee](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/prescription-fee):If we prescribe something for your pet, you do not have to buy it from us. You can ask for a written prescription and take it to any registered pharmacy or online veterinary pharmacy. We will tell you our price for dispensing it ourselves as well, so you can compare.
Writing a prescription is a clinical act, not paperwork. The vet has to be satisfied the medicine is right for your pet, at the right dose, with no interaction with anything else they are on, and they carry the professional and legal responsibility for that. The fee covers that time and responsibility.
For a short course or a small quantity, the fee often costs more than you would save. Ask us and we will be straight with you about which way round it is for your pet.
The fee is on our price list, along with the repeat prescription fee and the dispensing fee if you would rather we supplied the medication.
- [Prescription fee for additional items prescribed at the same time as another medication](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/prescription-fee-for-additional-items-prescribed-at-the-same-time-as-another-medication):Pets on long-term treatment often need more than one medicine. Charging the full prescription fee for every item would not be fair when the vet is reviewing everything in one sitting, so additional items prescribed at the same time are charged at a lower rate.
If your pet is on several medications, ring a few days before you run out and tell us everything at once. It is cheaper for you, and it gives the vet a proper view of what your pet is taking.
Both the standard fee and this reduced additional-item fee are published on our price list.
- [Prescription fee (repeat)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/prescription-fee-repeat):Repeats are for medication your pet is stable on and that we have prescribed before. They are not automatic: a vet reviews the record each time before signing.
We cannot keep repeating a medication indefinitely without seeing your pet. For most long-term treatments that means a check every 3 to 6 months, sometimes with blood tests. It is how we catch side effects, confirm the dose is still right, and pick up changes in the condition. If a repeat is refused until your pet is seen, that is why.
The repeat fee is on our price list, as is the dispensing fee where we supply the medication ourselves. Some of our pet health plans discount prescription medication.
- [Dispensing fee](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/dispensing-fee):When we dispense medication ourselves you leave with it in your hand, correctly labelled, having had a chance to ask how to give it. The dispensing fee covers that work.
You can always choose. For short courses and small quantities, dispensing here is usually cheaper and quicker. For long-term medication in larger quantities a written prescription may cost less overall. Both prices are published, so you can compare before you decide.
Tell us. Tablets can sometimes be swapped for a liquid, a flavoured version or a long-acting injection, and our nurses can show you techniques that genuinely help. A medicine that stays in the packet does your pet no good at all.
The dispensing fee is on our price list.
- [Medicine administration fee - injections under the skin or into the muscle](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/medicine-administration-fee-injections-under-the-skin-or-into-the-muscle):Some medications work better, or only work, as an injection: long-acting pain relief and anti-inflammatories, some antibiotics, anti-sickness drugs, and treatments for pets who simply will not take tablets.
The medication itself is charged separately, because the cost depends entirely on the drug and your pet’s size.
If your pet needs regular injections long term – insulin, for example – our nurses will teach you to give them yourself and make sure you are confident before you go. Plenty of owners who were certain they could never do it manage perfectly well.
The administration fee is on our price list. The cost of the medication is quoted separately before it is given.
- [Insurance administration fees](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/insurance-administration-fees) - [Dental assessment (initial examination of mouth, scale and polish)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/dental-assessment-initial-examination-of-mouth-scale-and-polish):You cannot assess a mouth properly in a conscious animal. Pets will not let you examine the back teeth, the inside surfaces or below the gum line – and that is exactly where the problems are. So this is done under general anaesthetic.
By three years old, most dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease. It hurts, but pets hide it well: they go on eating because they have to. The usual signs are bad breath, chewing on one side, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, or simply being quieter and grumpier than they used to be. Owners very often tell us afterwards that their pet has come back to life.
Left alone, dental disease causes abscesses, bone loss and tooth loss, and the ongoing infection puts a load on the heart, liver and kidneys.
We cannot always tell before your pet is asleep. Extractions, and any x-rays needed to assess the roots, are charged separately – so we ring you during the procedure, tell you what we have found and what it will cost, and you decide. We will not go ahead with extra work without speaking to you.
Before anything goes ahead you get a written estimate that says plainly, for each of the following, whether it is included in the quoted price or charged separately:
If anything unexpected comes up during the procedure, we ring you before going any further.
Most pets go home the same day, a bit woozy. Soft food for a few days if teeth have come out. The best way to delay the next one is daily brushing – our nurses will show you how, and it is easier than it sounds if you build up slowly.
The price for a dental assessment with a scale and polish is on our price list, shown separately for cats, dogs and rabbits. Extractions and dental x-rays are extra and quoted at the time. Some pet health plans include a discount on dental work.
- [Castration](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/castration):Castration is a routine operation that we do very regularly, but it is still surgery under general anaesthetic and deserves a proper conversation first.
Timing depends on species, breed and size – and for larger dogs there is a real argument for waiting until they are more mature. There is no single right answer, and we would rather discuss your pet than quote a blanket age.
Your pet comes in starved from the night before, has a pre-operative check, goes home the same day. Cats are usually back to normal within a day or two; dogs need rest and lead-only walks for a week or so, and a check-up afterwards.
Before anything goes ahead you get a written estimate that says plainly, for each of the following, whether it is included in the quoted price or charged separately:
If anything unexpected comes up during the procedure, we ring you before going any further.
The price is on our price list, by species and – for dogs – by weight, because the dose of anaesthetic and the time involved both depend on size. If you are weighing this up alongside spaying for another pet, both are published in full.
- [Spay (traditional/open)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/spay-traditionalopen):This is the conventional, long-established way of spaying. It is a bigger operation than castration, and we take it seriously, but it is one of the most worthwhile things you can do for a female pet.
We usually avoid operating during or immediately after a season, when the tissues are more vascular. The best age depends on species, breed and size, and for large-breed dogs there is a genuine trade-off worth discussing. Ask us about your pet rather than going on a number.
Starved from the night before, pre-operative check, surgery, and home the same day in most cases. Expect roughly 10 to 14 days of restricted exercise, something to stop her licking the wound, and a post-operative check.
Before anything goes ahead you get a written estimate that says plainly, for each of the following, whether it is included in the quoted price or charged separately:
If anything unexpected comes up during the procedure, we ring you before going any further.
For dogs we also offer keyhole spaying, which uses much smaller incisions and generally means a quicker, more comfortable recovery. It costs more. Both prices are published so you can weigh it up properly.
On our price list, by species and by weight for dogs.
- [Spay (laparoscopic/keyhole)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/spay-laparoscopickeyhole):Laparoscopic – keyhole – spaying does the same job as a traditional spay but through much smaller openings, with the surgeon working from a magnified camera view.
Starved from the night before, pre-operative check, surgery, home the same day in most cases. Rest and lead-only walks still apply, usually for a shorter period than after a traditional spay. The vet will give you specific instructions for your dog.
Before anything goes ahead you get a written estimate that says plainly, for each of the following, whether it is included in the quoted price or charged separately:
If anything unexpected comes up during the procedure, we ring you before going any further.
Published on our price list by weight band, alongside the traditional spay, so you can compare the two directly and decide what is right for your dog and your budget.
- [Physiotherapy session](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/physiotherapy-session) - [Laser therapy session](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/laser-therapy-session) - [X-ray (including sedation/general anaesthesia and three images)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/x-ray-including-sedationgeneral-anaesthesia-and-three-images) - [Ultrasound (abdominal, single organ)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/ultrasound-abdominal-single-organ) - [Ultrasound (echocardiogram)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/ultrasound-echocardiogram) - [Cytology test (ear swab)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/cytology-test-ear-swab) - [Cytology (fine needle aspiration)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/cytology-fine-needle-aspiration) - [Basic urine screen (including urine dipstick and measurement of specific gravity)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/basic-urine-screen-including-urine-dipstick-and-measurement-of-specific-gravity) - [CT scan per body part (including general anaesthetic and images)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/ct-scan-per-body-part-including-general-anaesthetic-and-images) - [MRI scan per body part (including general anaesthetic and images)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/mri-scan-per-body-part-including-general-anaesthetic-and-images) - [Pre-surgical/pre-anaesthetic blood test](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/pre-surgicalpre-anaesthetic-blood-test) - [Euthanasia](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/euthanasia):Please do not feel you have to be certain before you ring us. Many people come in simply to ask whether it is time, and go home again. That conversation is worth having early, when it is not an emergency.
There is rarely a single moment. It usually helps to think about the ordinary things rather than the medical ones:
A vet can help you look at this honestly. We will tell you what we think, including if we think there is still good time left.
We will book a quiet appointment, usually at a less busy time, and you can wait somewhere private rather than in the waiting room. You are welcome to stay, and most people do – but if you cannot, that is not a failure, and we will be with them.
A small catheter is usually placed in a front leg first. The injection is an overdose of anaesthetic: your pet becomes deeply unconscious within seconds and the heart stops shortly after. It is painless. We often give a sedative beforehand so they are relaxed and sleepy before anything else happens – ask for this if you would like it.
Afterwards their eyes may stay open, they may take a last breath or twitch, and the bladder may empty. These are reflexes, not distress. We will explain as we go and you can take as long as you need with them.
Deciding these things in advance means you do not have to make them while you are upset.
The fee is published on our price list, by species and by weight for dogs. Cremation is charged separately and those prices are published too. We know this is a difficult thing to be thinking about alongside everything else, which is exactly why we publish it – so there are no surprises on the day. If cost is a worry, please tell us and we will talk about it.
- [Cremation: communal](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/cremation-communal):If you do not want ashes back, this is a dignified and straightforward choice. Your pet is collected from us by the pet crematorium, cremated communally, and the ashes are scattered respectfully at the crematorium. Nothing is returned to you.
There is no right answer, and plenty of people find they do not want an urn in the house. Others very much do. Think about what will actually help you in six months’ time, not what you feel you ought to choose.
Even without ashes, you can usually have a paw print or a clipping of fur taken beforehand. Ask us – people very often wish afterwards that they had.
You do not have to decide immediately. We can care for your pet while you think it over or talk to the rest of the family. Just tell us you need time.
The price is on our price list, by species and by weight for dogs. It is charged separately from euthanasia, and both are published so you can see the full cost in advance.
- [Cremation: individual](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/service/cremation-individual):Your pet is collected from us by the pet crematorium, cremated individually, and their ashes are returned to the practice for you to collect – normally within one to two weeks. We will ring you when they arrive.
If you think you will want somewhere specific to scatter them – a favourite walk, the garden, the beach they loved – individual cremation is the one to choose. If you would rather remember them another way, communal cremation is perfectly dignified and costs less. Neither choice says anything about how much you loved them.
You do not have to decide on the day. We can care for your pet while you think about it, and there is no rush to collect the ashes once they are back – they will be kept safely until you are ready.
The price is on our price list, by species and by weight for dogs, and includes a standard casket or scatter tube. It is charged separately from euthanasia. Any upgraded casket or keepsake is quoted at the time, so you are never committed to spending more than you want to.
## Health plans - [Friends of Westport – Access](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/friends-of-westport-access): For easier access to advice when your pet needs it. Includes up to 12 standard veterinary appointments per year (in person or by telemedicine) and up to 12... - [Friends of Westport – Essentials (Dog)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/friends-of-westport-essentials-dog): For preventative healthcare. Includes an annual health check and vaccinations where appropriate, including kennel cough vaccination for dogs where... - [Friends of Westport – Essentials (Cat)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/friends-of-westport-essentials-cat): For preventative healthcare. Includes an annual health check and vaccinations where appropriate; parasite treatment appropriate for your pet's individual... - [Friends of Westport – Essentials (Rabbit)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/friends-of-westport-essentials-rabbit): For preventative healthcare. Includes an annual health check and vaccinations where appropriate; parasite treatment appropriate for your pet's individual... - [Friends of Westport – Extra (Dog)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/friends-of-westport-extra-dog): For preventative healthcare, easier access and extra savings. Includes everything in Essentials plus unlimited standard veterinary appointments and... - [Friends of Westport – Extra (Cat)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/friends-of-westport-extra-cat): For preventative healthcare, easier access and extra savings. Includes everything in Essentials plus unlimited standard veterinary appointments and... - [Friends of Westport – Extra (Rabbit)](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/friends-of-westport-extra-rabbit): For preventative healthcare, easier access and extra savings. Includes everything in Essentials plus unlimited standard veterinary appointments and... - [Westport24 Membership](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/plan/westport24-membership): Out-of-hours membership available exclusively to registered, active Westport clients, at £5 per pet per month. Members receive significantly reduced... ## Machine-readable resources - [Sitemap](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/sitemap.xml): Full XML sitemap of crawlable URLs. - [Robots](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/robots.txt): Crawler policy. - [Full content](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/llms-full.txt): Every page and record in a single markdown file. - [RSS feed](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/feed): RSS 2.0 syndication feed of the latest published content. - [Atom feed](https://testing.okanetsolutions.com/feed/atom): Atom 1.0 syndication feed of the latest published content.