FAQs

How do I arrange for my pet to be seen by a specialist at Cave Veterinary Specialists?

If your pet needs to be referred, this should be discussed with your primary care veterinary surgeon (the vet you normally see). They will then contact us on your behalf and we will thencontact you directly. If your pet needs to be seen urgently, your vet will need to telephone us and will usually arrange an appointment on your behalf. Your primary care vet may wish to discuss your pet's case with us by telephone prior to making a decision regarding referral.

Where is Cave Veterinary Specialists?

Cave veterinary specialists is situated just off Junction 26 of the M5 near Wellington on the Somerset/North Devon Border. Please see our location details here.

Can Horses be treated at Cave Veterinary Specialists?

Cave Veterinary Specialists Currently offer medical and surgical referral to dogs and cats but no other species.

My pet has been to see a specialist at Cave Veterinary Specialists, does this mean I can take my pet there for all their veterinary care?

Cave Veterinary specialists provide specialist care only and each patient needs to be referred for each illness. You may continue coming to us regarding the problem you were initially referred forbut otherwise, you need to continue to go to your primary care vet for all other pet health issues. If you need us again for another condition we will be pleased to see you and your petalthough this will require discussions with your primary care vet.

If my pet stays overnight, will there be somebody there?

Any patients kept in overnight will be cared for by one of the specialists and one of the qualified nurses. Any medications or treatment they require will be provided asnecessary throughout the night.

How will I know what is happening?

At the time of your pet’s consultation, the clinician will advise you on communication arrangements, this will involve vets and nurses. We may ask you to ring us at specified times, or may plan to call you with updates. Please be aware that clinicians may have commitments such as surgical or emergency procedures that may make them hard to contact during the day.

Can I visit my pet?

Everybody is different. We always treat everyone on an individual basis and we welcome requests to visit. On some occasions it will be our advice that visiting the pet might cause further distress or interfere with a quiet recovery period. The converse is also true - we may feel that the owner's presence may actually speed recovery and we will ask you to visit. For the majority of cases it is a matter of personal choice but as the stay with us is usually so short it may be most convenient to avoid unnecessary travelling. Any visit must be made with prior permission and arrangement with the nursing staff.

Are the Staff properly trained at Cave Veterinary Specialists?

All the vets at Cave Veterinary Specialists are certified by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as specialists and carry other specialist qualifications in their field. All the nurses are Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons certified and are Registered Veterinary Nurses. All members of staff attend regular continuing education events which will include conferences, external seminars. Many of our staff members also provide continuing development courses to others in the profession.

Who is a specialist?

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) only register suitably qualified veterinary surgeons that have the necessary experience and who work currently in a particular discipline to be designated RCVS specialists. This is the highest tier of qualification in the UK. To maintain specialist status the individual has to apply for re-registration every 5 years.

How much is the treatment my pet is going to receive going to cost?

If you would like details of referral consultation fees, please contact reception for up-to-date pricing. If your pet has a more complex problem then the vet will be pleased to give you an estimate of further treatment costsduring consultation, before you decide whether or not to go ahead.

I have pet insurance, will the cost of treatment be covered?

We always advise checking with your insurance company about your level of cover you have. It isuseful to know of any exclusions and what excess you will need to pay. We will help with this process by keeping a copy of all of your claims and sending them off on your behalf. Insurance companies do however prefer to deal with the policy holder.

If my pet is insured surely Cave Veterinary Specialists can claim directly so I don't need to pay?

Please speak to admin staff if you would like to hear the terms and conditions relating to payment and insurance.

My pet has an ongoing problem – will I be charged for consultations and treatment?

We make a charge for every consultation your pet has with our specialist veterinary surgeons and for all treatments we prescribe. Ongoing consultations fees are smaller but treatments may differ in cost.

I want to give some feedback to Cave Veterinary Specialists, how can I do this?

If you would like to provide us feedback after your visit to the practice either send us an e-mail info@cave-vet-specialists.co.uk or just inform one of our members of staff and they will pass on any comments. We are constantly striving to improve the service we offer and we are always pleased to get feedback, whether good or bad!