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“These guys are so caring and lovely. Very reasonably priced too. Thank you for recently caring for my little kitten who is thankfully back to her cheeky self once again!”
About Us
From everyday care and preventative health to those times when something isn’t quite right, our experienced veterinary team is here for you and your pet at every stage of their life.
Who we are
Originally, we were the Zillmere Vet Surgery and for over 25 years we have been providing exceptional care for our wonderful patients and clients. Our commitment to high Standards of Care, compassion, and excellence in healthcare delivery saw our practice expand to the extent that our little building near the train station was bursting at the seams. Parking became a major challenge!
Thus began the search for a new home, and after several years, we found the perfect location in Virginia. A 12 month journey with council and contractors ensued and in March 2023 we saw our last patient in Zillmere. With great excitement (and some tears) we reopened in our beautiful, purpose-built facility as Virginia Family Vet.
Our facility has been designed to make visiting the vet as stress free as possible for both pets and people. We have a spacious reception area and lots of consult rooms so anxious pets can be quickly moved to a quiet area. There are cat exclusive consult rooms and hospital wards and a separate cat waiting area. We have two sterile surgery suites, advanced dentistry capabilities, in-house radiology and lab, and closely supervised hospitalisation runs and recovery areas.
We have been awarded Silver Cat Friendly accreditation by the International Society of Feline Medicine and our team is working towards achieving whole practice Fear Free accreditation.
We are proud of our low staff turnover (Dr Karen has been with the practice since 1998!), our excellent Standards of Care, and our beautiful low stress hospital design.
We look forward to welcoming you to the VFV family.
Our team
Meet the Team
Our dedicated team is always here for your pets.
At Virginia Family Vet, you’ll be fully supported with sound advice first and foremost. We know that helping our clients starts with providing a good understanding of health care issues and treatment options. With good advice and professional recommendations, you’ll be well equipped to make the best ongoing health care decisions for your pet.
Virginia Family Vet is a Silver Cat Friendly Accredited Clinic
We have been awarded Silver Cat Friendly accreditation by the International Society of Feline Medicine and our team is working towards achieving whole practice Fear Free accreditation.
What is a Cat Friendly Clinic?
An accredited Cat Friendly Clinic has reached a higher standard of cat care in that our team:
- Understand the needs of cats and have made visits to the vet clinic more cat friendly
- Understand how to approach and handle cats gently and with care
- Have good knowledge and equipment to manage the care of cats
Achieving Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation involves all team members, from receptionists, nurses and technicians, through to vets. Each accredited clinic also has at least one ‘Cat Advocate’ – someone who ensures the cat friendly standards are adhered to, and who would be happy to talk to you.
At Virginia Family Vet, we have two cat advocates in our practice – Dr Karen and Dr Leonie.
What does it mean for my cat and me?
Attending a Cat Friendly Clinic gives you peace of mind and reassurance, letting you know that:
- Our clinic has achieved certain rigorous accreditation standards
- Our clinic and team understand and utilise gentle handling techniques
Team members at every accredited clinic have promised to handle and treat cats with understanding, gentleness and respect, and to make every effort to make the visit to the clinic as stress-free for you and your cat as possible. Team members are required to maintain and update their knowledge on clinical matters and continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain our Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation.
Some cat friendly features of our practice are:
- Our separate cat waiting area is equipped with blankets to cover cat carriers, a carrier resting area to keep cats off the floor and Feliway Spray to use inside their carriers. Feliway is a cat pheromone used to reduce stress and anxiety.
- We have two cat exclusive consultation rooms well separated from the dog consultation rooms so that cats are not needing to deal with the scents left by our canine patients. Each consultation room has cat treats and wall perches to allow cats to find a “safe space”. We have Feliway diffusers running in each consultation room.
- For hospitalised cats, our cat ward has fiberglass cages to minimize frightening noises and dimmable lights to reduce stress. The cat ward is well separated from the dog ward and has a treatment table so that cats can be handled away from the stress of the main hospital. Feliway is also used as a diffuser in the cat ward.
- Hospitalised cats have soft, comfortable, bedding and will have a place to hide inside their cage.
Tour Our Clinic
Our beautiful, purpose-built facility has been designed to make visiting the vet as stress-free as possible for both pets and people.
Reception
When you arrive at Virginia Family Vet, you’ll immediately notice our spacious and inviting reception area. We’ve designed this space to reduce stress for both pets and owners, creating a calming environment to help your pet feel at ease until it’s time for your appointment.
Our Advanced Surgery Suites
Our two sterile surgery suites are equipped to perform a wide variety of surgical procedures.
In order to ensure your pet has only the best quality of care, we implement a range of safety measures. Before any anaesthetic procedure, your pet undergoes a thorough pre-surgery examination, including blood tests, to detect any hidden health issues. All pets are placed on an intravenous drip while under the anaesthetic, which helps keep your pet’s blood pressure stable and supports vital organs.
Every pet is carefully monitored by our skilled veterinary nurses, from the moment of induction right through until your pet is awake and comfortable on their fluffy bedding. Their nurse will monitor blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, ECG and respiration, and anaesthetic depth.
Pets can lose heat under anaesthesia, so we use an advanced patient warming system to help maintain an appropriate body temperature.
We strongly believe in the benefits of pre-emptive pain management and all pets undergoing surgery will receive pain relief both before and after their operation.
We have a strong focus on reducing stress in our patients. Our clinic features a special ward dedicated to feline patients, helping to keep them calm and separate from dogs. Large dogs benefit from our spacious runs and reactive pets are placed in areas where they won’t have direct visual contact with other animals. Low stress handling practices are standard and anti-anxiety medications are used when needed.
Treatment and Wet Surgery Area
This is the heart of our hospital, where pets receive treatment and post-operative care. We have a bank of recovery cages in this area for immediate post-op and critical patients.
Comprehensive Dentistry Services
At Virginia Family Vet, we believe that dental care is essential to your pet’s overall health. We have state-of-the-art dental equipment, enabling us to perform a wide range of dental procedures. Every dental patient will have a series of full-mouth dental x-rays taken allowing us to address disease both above and below the gumline. Because our pets can’t brush their teeth, they are particularly susceptible to plaque, calculus, and periodontal disease.
Bad breath and red gums not only don’t smell very nice, but can be very painful. Dental disease can also impact the heart, liver and kidneys.
Our lead vet, Karen, has a special interest in dentistry and has completed her Membership examinations in Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery allowing us to offer more advanced dental procedures.
As a Best For Pet member, you’ll also will receive a $250 annual dental discount to help make dental care more affordable.
Laboratory
Our in-house laboratory allows us to run tests and get results quickly, ensuring your pet receives prompt and accurate diagnoses. Whether it’s blood work, urinalysis, or other diagnostic testing, our advanced equipment helps us deliver the best care in the shortest time possible.
What Dog Owners Can Expect
Dog Waiting Area
Your dog will have a dedicated space to wait comfortably, kept separated from each other or taken directly into one of our many consultation rooms if needed.
Separate Dog Consulting Rooms
Our dog consulting rooms are designed to be functional, welcoming, and full of treats. We hope your dog approves of our varied selection!
Dog Wards
Our separate, temperature-controlled dog ward and large runs have been designed for comfort. Each ward has a glass front so that dogs can be kept under observation at all times.
Cat Owners: What to Expect
Cat Waiting Area
We know that cats can be sensitive to changes in their environment, so we’ve created a separate cat-only waiting area. There is an area where carriers can be kept off the floor and a Feliway station to spray carriers with stress-reducing pheromones.
Dedicated Cat Consulting Rooms
We have two consultation rooms that are strictly feline only. These rooms feature calming pheromones and cozy hideaways to make sure each kitty feels safe and secure during their visit.
Cat Ward
Cats that need to be hospitalised are placed in our exclusive cat ward, designed with dimmable lighting and a treatment table so we can keep them relaxed and comfortable. The ward also has a viewing window for easy observation without disturbance.
Cat-Friendly Accreditation
We are proud to be recognised as a cat-friendly clinic.
Bereavement Room – A Quiet, Compassionate Space
We understand that saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of life’s most difficult moments. Our bereavement room provides a peaceful and private space for families to say their final goodbyes in a calm, comfortable environment.