Dear all,

I wonder if I mightbe permitted to introduce myself?

My mane is Douglas Paterson. 9 weeks ago, my business partner (Glenn) and I opened our brand new state of the art veterinary surgery in Denny, Central Scotland. We think it is special because, despite being brand new, purpose built and containing all the modern facilities that one would expect from a surgery in the 21st century, we have managed to proceed with no corporate backing.

Glenn and I are born and bred Scots, and are both very happy (and fortunate we think!) to have settled in Denny, which we both like very much.

We run our own 24 hour emergency sercice from the surgery, meaning that you can see your own vet 24 hours per day. We feel this service is very important and I am a little uncomfortable with the route chosen by many corporate practices where they refer per owners to surgeries which can be some distance from home if they need seen in the middle of the night. I would be very interested to hear the opinions of the forum on this one? Do people have experience with traveling far afield in case of an emergency, to see a strange vet? And do they think that these "emergency service providers" are worthwhile? Or would people rather be seen at their normal surgery by their usual vet?

Anyway I look forward to many interesting discussions on this forum

Kind regards

Doug Paterson
Apex Vets
Apex Vets, Denny | Home

Hi & welcome to the mad house

Only had to travel once for an emergency, we live in a small town & the vets take it in turns to do the 24hr cover so it was just bad luck for us, only a 20min drive but There is an MRI scanner that visits once a month but otherwise we have to travel miles.

Good luck with your new venture & Im sure you will have lots of mates on here a few of us have mystery problems with pets

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All my children have paws!

Hi and welcome to PF

wheres Denny?

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It's in central Scotland, near Falkirk

The postcode is FK6 6QE and google maps will do the rest!

Doug Paterson
Apex Vets, Denny | Home

A Big Hello to you, welcome to our forum, hope you have fun with us all. xxx

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Hello and welcome

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Hello and welcome

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"Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way."
Martin Luther King Jr.

Welcome to the forum. Personally I think seeing your own vet is very important. Ive been with my practice for 20 years almost, for that very reason. Its staffed 24 hrs a day. The vets have been there a long time and know both me and my dogs well, I think its important to have a vet you know and can trust. I have got practices that are nearer and mine is one of the more expensive ones but I wouldnt change.

Hi and welcome to the forum!
Please forgive me if you feel I am outspoken but I have to say that anyone - vet or otherwise has to tread with caution when and if in the future any medical advise is given - as sure you will be the first to admit that an online vet can never be a substitute when vetinary assistance in required.

That said - sure youwill be a valuable asset to the forum.
DT

Welcome to the forum

My hamsters always travel to the vet surgery a few towns over, so they can see a vet that specialises in exotics. They have 24 hour cover, so I could take them at anytime. However they have 18 vets on their staff, so I don't know which one would cover in an rodent emergency (I assume one of the exotic or small animal vets and not the farm or horse specialists, but luckily have never had to try it.) One of my hamsters is ill at the moment though and she has to go back on Sunday if she hasn't improved. The vet won't see her until Monday, but she can stay with the nurses looking after her until the vet can x-ray her first thing Monday morning. I was pretty impressed this evening when they said they'd take her into the exotic ward on a Sunday.

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