CLINIC TOUR
Welcome to the Rochedale Veterinary Surgery Tour! We are all very proud of the facilities we have at RVS. In 2004 the clinic had a major renovation, almost doubling our size and transforming us into a modern, purpose built veterinary facility. Many people are very surprised at the size of the building when we show them around. Every space we have is used to its full capacity, which is necessary in a busy 3 veterinarian clinic.
Below is a fun video of what Rochedale Vet looks like to our furry friends!
We are pleased to show you the following rooms and tell you a little bit about what we do here.
RECEPTION/WAITING ROOM
This is where our friendly nurses greet you on arrival. If you have brought your dog to the clinic, he/she will be weighed on the scales just to the right of the reception counter. (Cats are weighed in the consulting rooms on our small scales). The nurse will check your details, record your pet’s weight and ask you if you would like to take a seat in the waiting room until the veterinarian calls you in to be seen. If your dog doesn’t get along with other pets, it may be best to wait on the seating outside. There is a chain secured to the wall here which can easily be latched onto your dog’s collar for your convenience while you wait. We will always endeavour to move cats into a spare consulting room so they can wait separate to the dogs.
If you would like to purchase any pet care products, please speak to one of our nurses on reception. They are very knowledgeable on all the products we sell, and can arrange special orders for less commonly requested items. We stock most of the available intestinal worming, heart worming, flea and tick products. With there being so many options we understand it can be difficult for you to know which one to use at times, but our nurses can assist you in choosing the best one for your circumstances. We also stock a full range of premium pet foods in our waiting area, as well as many products to help keep your pets’ teeth and gums healthy.
CONSULTATION ROOMS
When you are ready to be seen you will be asked if you would like to come into one of our three consultation rooms. The veterinarian will perform a full examination with every consultation and yearly health examination. Smaller animals will be examined on the examination table and larger dogs may be examined standing on the floor. If you are unable to hold your animal for the examination due to health reasons please advise the staff and we will arrange an assistant to be present during the examination. To occupy children during the consultation we have some colouring books and reading books in every consultation room.
TREATMENT AREA
Often a hive of activity, this large space in the middle of our hospitalisation area is used to perform non-sterile procedures, and to examine and treat our patients.
Rochedale Vet Treatment AreaWe have a wet procedures table here, which has a large tub sink underneath the grill table top. It can be used for regular examinations and treatments with a towel to pad the top, as well as for when there is a bit of water being used. Made completely out of stainless steel, it is easily cleaned and disinfected between uses. It is ideal for such procedures as dental scaling and polishing, abscess surgeries, and those messy enemas.
We have our intensive care and surgical recovery cages in this area also. This enables us to closely monitor certain patients. All our patients are kept here until they are fully awake after their anaesthetic procedures. Our critical care patients are also kept here so we can keep a close eye on them at all times. These patients also require regular examinations throughout the day. These cages all have in floor heating to keep the patients warm. Some patients will also need extra blankets and other heating devices to prevent low body temperatures.
SURGICAL THEATER
This is the room in which we perform all our sterile surgical procedures. This room is kept perfectly clean at all times, with minimal access by staff. Animals are prepared for surgery in our treatment room, with the hair clipped and the surgery site prepared with antiseptic solutions. They are then moved into the surgery. This helps reduce the amount of loose hair and the number of bacteria in the air and on the surfaces. Nurses and vets only enter the room when wearing hair nets to prevent their own hair contaminating the room.
The cupboards and shelves with glass sliding doors contain all the surgical instruments and materials that are needed for surgery. They are accessible from both sides. This means the nurses can clean and sterilise the equipment and easily place them in the cupboards, without having to enter the surgical suite. Our cleaning facilities and autoclave sterilising machines are on the opposite side to the surgery, to make it even easier.
RADIOLOGY ROOM
We have full digital radiography facilities in the clinic. This room contains an anaesthetic machine as many animals need sedation or anaesthesia to keep them still enough for radiographs and ultrasounds to be taken safely. The room is fully lined with lead, to prevent any possibility of leakage of x-ray beams from the room, maintaining optimum safety for our clients and staff. We also have a special barricade on wheels which is lined with lead, allowing the veterinarian or nurse to stand close to the animal but behind a safety barricade. Sometimes it is necessary for us to hold the animal directly when the radiograph is being taken if it cannot be sufficiently sedated or anaesthetised. We need to wear large lead coats and protection collars for this to minimise our exposure.
LABORATORY
Our vets are trained in many areas including pathology, microbiology, haematology and parasitology. With our laboratory in the clinic we are able to run many diagnostic tests to help us determine the nature of your pet’s illness. This means we have rapid results, so we can start your pet on the correct treatment straight away to start on the way to recovery.
We also use our blood analysis machines to run tests or your pet’s blood prior to having an anaesthetic. This helps to ensure there are no hidden diseases which may affect the safety of having an anaesthetic, e.g. liver or kidney disease, diabetes, anaemia.
PHARMACY
This is the area where we store most of our drugs which we need to dispense to our patients. Rarely we might want to use a drug which we do not stock in the clinic, or one which has only recently become available in Australia. We are generally able to order in all special drugs within one or two days from our veterinary suppliers.
DOG WARD
Our dog ward is able to house eleven dogs, including one large walk in cage for very large dogs. The cages are specially designed stainless steel with a slight slope to the floor for drainage. This allows easy and thorough disinfection and cleaning. The room also contains a sink for cleaning food and water bowls, and our laundry facilities.
CAT WARD
Our cat ward is able to house eight cats, with solid walls between them. This prevents any cat from being able to see another cat, something which many cats appreciate. The room also includes a sink to clean litter trays.
STERILISATION AREA
This is where our nurses prepare the surgical kits and equipment we require for surgery. Instruments are cleaned and disinfected first, and then packaged into sterilisation packs. Our sterilisation units use steam under high pressure. The pressure enables the steam to reach a higher temperature, more effectively killing microbes. Once the instrument packs are sterilised, they are placed in the cupboards adjacent. These cupboards can be accessed directly from the opposite side in the surgical theatre.
GROOMING ROOM
Our grooming room is equipped with a hydrobath, as well as a purpose built grooming table. This table has a non-slip rubber surface for the animals to stand on at a good height to save our groomers’ backs! We have professional groomers working in our clinic 3 days of the week. They do a wonderful job, with many regular clients. Dogs are given a hydrobath, blow-dry and brush after their clip.
Our hydrobath is also kept busy on Saturday mornings, offering regular baths and medicated baths as required. As with our grooms, it is generally necessary to make a booking ahead of time.