Our Services
Exotic Pet Heath Check & Health Care Services
If you would like a health check for your pet, you need advice on any aspect of their care, or if you have concerns about their health care please phone us for an appointment
We offer a first opinion Exotic animal service and welcome any owner to use our genuine 24/7 service
Consultations are by appointment, our regular consulting hours are:
Mon., Wed., Thurs., 9am - 6pm
Tues., Fri., 9am - 7pm
Sat., Sun., 9am - 5pm
For Christmas & New Year hours refer to our Contact Us page.
Exotic Pet Referral Service
If your exotic animal is already under the care of another vet you are welcome to come to us for a second opinion (i.e. you then become our client) or as a referral case (in which case you go back to your vet after treatment). However we cannot give telephone advice about a patient which is under the care of another vet without first seeing the patient. In such situations it is an ethical requirement that your vet is informed that we are seeing your pet.
Clients of other practices are welcome to see us when their veterinary services are not available, but these clients will be charged an Out of Hours Surcharge.
Emergencies will always be seen as required.
Our vets are on call (on a rota basis) at all other times. Out of hours (OOH) we can give advice to registered clients and if necessary see your pet. When patients are seen out of hours, an OOH supplement is charged. As on all occasions, all fees are due at the time of treatment.
Cost and payment.
When an appointment is made you may be provided with an estimated cost. However it can be difficult to provide an accurate particularly in emergency cases because the exact treatment required may change as the condition progresses.
Once we have fully assessed your pet we will then be able to discuss actual costs prior to completing treatment. Full payment is required when your pet leaves us.
Exotic pets are typically extremely ill when presented for veterinary care, usually more so then for cats and dogs. As such we often need to carry out extensive diagnostic tests, (e.g. blood test, cytology, bacteria or virus isolation, x-rays and endoscopy). We take pride in being able to offer the highest level of care, however on occasion this can be expensive. We recommend that all owners should insure their pets, so that the best treatment can be provided, without financial limitations.
If your pet is insured we request that you bring a claim form and an insurance certificate with you to the initial consultation.
Wildlife and Zoological Collections
Great Western Exotics provide contracted veterinary services to a number of zoological collections and wildlife rescue organisations and are always interested to hear from such organisations to whom they may be of service.
Media Services
As President of the European College of Zoological Medicine and a Specialist in Avian Medicine, Neil Forbes has been involved with many media productions over the years. Roles have varied from ‘on set veterinary advisor’, ‘veterinary consultant’, contributor and interviewee, among others. Programmes have included: Animal Hospital Road Show, Noah’s Ark, Twenty Twenty TV, Watchdog, Pets and People, Vets in Practice, Inside Out, BBC Wildlife Unit, The One Show and many others. Neil is happy to receive contact from media companies who wish to use his services.
Expert Witness Services
For over 25 years, Neil Forbes has provided Veterinary Forensic and Expert Witness services. Instructions have been from DEFRA, RSPCA, RSPB, Customs and Excise, Media Companies, private solicitors, Local Authorities and Wildlife organisations. Cases have primarily been in the fields of wildlife, wildlife rescue and welfare, transport of animals, exotic species (care, trade and welfare), CITES, Animal Welfare, Poultry, planning issues relating to animal welfare, personal injuries, zoonotic infection (e.g. E coli 0157), zoo and pet shop licensing issues. Neil is instructed equally by prosecution and defence parties and is happy to discuss any potential case prior to instruction.
