FEATURES OF THE HOSPITALS
Here at Balmain and Drummoyne Vet Hospitals, we offer a large number of services to our clients and their pets. We are modern, well-equipped hospitals, with a range of diagnostic equipment available for patients admitted into our care. All of our vet and nursing staff are continually updating their knowledge, attending lectures and seminars on a regular basis. We have separate kennel rooms for dogs and cats, with all sorts of gourmet delights available, comfortable bedding, heating and air conditioning. Our aim is to provide you and your pet with the best possible care.
Home
Visits
Home visits are one
of our many services, available to those clients unable to bring their pet
to us for treatment. Home visits are also a choice made by many pet owners
when the time has come to say goodbye to a loved one. Home euthanasia gives
both owner and pet valuable time together in the family environment, and
aids in reducing stress at what is a very emotional time. Our vets and
nurses are very compassionate, and can help you with arrangements regarding
this service.
Many pet owners are unaware of the need for ongoing oral care for their animals. Certain foods, treats and toys can be useful in helping to maintain a healthy dental status, however, existing problems may require surgical and/or medical treatment Some of the more common signs of existing dental problems can include excess salivating, difficulty eating and of course, bad breath. Our hospitals are fully equipped with dental equipment, including state of the art ultrasonic scalers for specialised cleaning, high-speed drills, polishing units and a dental x-ray machine. If you think your pet’s teeth are in need of attention, please contact us to make an appointment for dental assessment.
At Balmain Veterinary Hospital we are proud to offer an x-ray service to our clients. With our automatic processing unit, we are able to produce reliable and high quality images to help us make accurate diagnoses. At the Drummoyne Hospital, we have a dental x-ray unit, which is used to help make appropriate decisions when dealing with oral surgery.
A NEW ultrasound service is available at Balmain Veterinary Hospital to further aid our diagnostic imaging department. Ultrasound scanning is very useful for determining the nature of heart murmurs, enlarged hearts, masses/tumours, enlarged abdominal organs, pancreatitis, pregnancy, bladder problems and as a guide for needle biopsies. Dr. Emma Holmes-Walker, our in-house sonographer will be performing the major scans on Thursdays and Fridays. Minor and emergency scans are performed as required.
Our ultrasound machine is capable of colour flow Doppler echocardiography and produces very high and detailed scans suited for our little furry friends. CDs of your pet's ultrasound can also be copied for your keeping or can be easily sent to specialists for further advice.
Our in-house pathology department can provide results within 30 minutes of taking blood samples. The tests performed can assist us in making more rapid and definitive diagnoses. At our hospitals all animals receive a full physical examination prior to anaesthetic delivery, however, there are certain health issues which cannot be determined from physical examination alone. Therefore, one of the more common tests done at our hospital is a Pre-Anaesthetic Screen, offered to all patients undergoing a procedure requiring general anaesthesia. Using both blood and urine, a Pre-Anaesthetic Screen provides our vets with a ‘window’ to your pets inner-workings and can help us to ensure a safer anaesthetic experience for your pet.
At Balmain and Drummoyne Veterinary Hospitals, we use modern anaesthetic machines and the very high-grade anaesthetic gas called Isoflurane. Combining this with blood tests and the routine use of the latest monitoring equipment, such as Doppler Blood pressure and ECG, a general anaesthesia can be a very safe experience for your pet. We are committed to combating pain through proactive monitoring and the use of pain relief drugs following surgical procedures.
As it is highly important to conduct surgery in the strictest of sterile conditions, Balmain and Drummoyne Hospitals have dedicated operating theaters for surgical procedures. To prevent against surgical contamination and infection, all surgical instruments are autoclaved (sterilised) after use. We perform a wide range of surgeries at both hospitals, including de-sexing, lump removals, exploratory abdominal surgery, caesarians, minor eye surgery, cruciate repair, and others.
We offer boarding for cats in the hygienic environment of Balmain and Drummoyne Vet Hospitals. Cats can be booked in to stay with us for a maximum of 7 nights. We provide a clean and safe cage, with bedding, heat pads and litter trays. We offer premium dry, as well as a variety of tinned cat foods, fresh chicken and beef, to cater for even the fussiest eaters. As a vet hospital, it is the ideal environment for elderly or medication dependent cats, as we are there to check daily progress, medicate and treat as necessary. As all members of our staff are feline fanciers, pats and cuddles of your cat during their stay are complimentary. Please contact us for availability and rates.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO BOARD DOGS. We do however operate as a ‘pick up’ and ‘drop off’ point for Adelar Boarding Kennels. For dogs, or cats needing longer than one week of boarding, please contact Adelar on (02) 9606 5955. for further information.
The crucial learning and socialisation period for puppies is between the ages of 6-18 weeks. Puppy pre-school allows puppies the opportunity to play with others in a ‘safe environment’, providing invaluable social skills whilst having lots of fun! During the 5 x 1hour sessions, our instructors cover basic dog behaviour and discuss common puppy concerns, such as house training and diet. A maximum of 6 puppies are taken in each session to allow for individual attention whilst providing a variety of puppies and people for good socialisation to occur. As the classes are held at the hospital by staff members, they also help develop a positive association with the vet hospital, making future visits more enjoyable for all concerned. A series of notes are provided to puppy owners to assist with ‘at home’ training, and our staff members are happy to help with any particular concerns you may have. Classes fill up quickly, so bookings should be made as soon as you get your new puppy. For further information, please contact the hospital.
In order to pamper your beloved pet, we stock a wide range of merchandise. Available are essential items such as flea control products, worming preparations, litter and foods. Our wide range of collars, leads, harnesses and halters gives many options when coordinating an ‘outfit’ for your pet. If you happen to have a particularly well-behaved pet who deserves extra attention every now and then, we also have a variety of tasty food treats, toys, bedding and scratching posts. We stock quality maintenance and prescription foods such as Iams, Eukanuba, Hills Science Diet, Royal Canin and Walthams. All members of our staff are happy to assist you in your choice of products, and if we don’t have what you need in stock, we will do our best to track it down for you.
In 1999, Balmain and Drummoyne Vet Hospitals accepted the invitation to join the Cat Adoption Program. Designed to ensure the re-homing of healthy, de-sexed cats to responsible pet owners, the passing years have seen the program go from success to success. Since the initiation of the program in Sydney, many wonderful families have adopted out literally thousands of cats, and we are very proud to be a part of this. If you are looking for a new feline friend, or if you know someone who can provide a happy, safe home for one, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Balmain Vet Hospital offers a clinic for overweight pets. Run by Claire, one of our senior nurses, who has a vast knowledge of animal nutrition, the clinic aims to educate pet owners to the dangers of overfeeding, and provides practical ways to avoid the common situations that lead to excessive weight gain. The clinic adopts a fun, easy to follow program – a service that we provided free to our clients. If your pet is getting perhaps a little too cuddly, call Claire at Balmain Hospital to organise an appointment.
The staff members at Balmain and Drummoyne Vet Hospitals are lovers of all animals, with our vets and nurses happy to treat pets of all kinds. As well as dogs, cats and birds, we currently have many rats, rabbits and guinea pigs as patients. We provide medication and surgical options for various conditions, ranging from routine de-sexing in rabbits, to cesarean sections in rats.
Over the years we have developed close relationships with several of the veterinary specialist centers in Sydney. This enables us to confidently refer your pet for specialist handling of complex problems and access to specialist testing such as ultrasound, MRI, and others. Post-visit communication between the specialists at these centers and own our vets ensure a complete and continuing line of treatment for your pet. Our aim is to provide you and your pet with the best available treatment options.