Pet Owners

How does my pet get to see a specialist?

Bristol Vet Specialists (BVS) is a multidisciplinary referral centre with referral clinicians in varied disciplines including including anaesthesia & analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology (including radiotherapy), orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.

We provide advanced veterinary services for animals with complex or challenging conditions, and/or needing advanced diagnoses or treatment using tools, which might not be available at your local primary care veterinary surgery.

We are not able to make appointments without a referral from your local primary care vet. If you suspect that your pet needs specialist care, the first step is to speak to your local primary care vet. They will be able to assess your pet’s case and discuss with you whether, or not, a referral is required.

If your local primary care vet does refer your pet to see one of our referral clinicians, they will contact us with your pet’s details and medical history to start the referral process. Our reception staff will then contact you using the information provided and a consultation can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.

Insurance and Payment

At our hospital, we want to ensure that payment and insurance matters are as straightforward as possible for our clients. If you have pet insurance, we recommend bringing a claim form to your appointment, and any excess should be paid at the time of consultation. We offer both direct and indirect claims services, but please note there is a £20 Direct Claim Fee (£10 for continuous claim). For uninsured pets, full payment is required upon discharge and we’ll provide you with an estimate before any procedures are performed. Our team will keep you informed of any charges on your account.