Stay With Your Pet

You are the best comfort for your pet, which is why Hello Vet is the first clinic in the UK designed to keep you and your pet together even when they need a procedure. If you wish, you can be present when we prepare them for anaesthesia, allowing you to reassure them as they fall asleep, and be there with them as soon as they wake up.

You are the best comfort for your pet, which is why Hello Vet is the first clinic in the UK designed to keep you and your pet together even when they need a procedure. If you wish, you can be present when we prepare them for anaesthesia, allowing you to reassure them as they fall asleep, and be there with them as soon as they wake up.

Stay With Your Pet

What we can help with

Routine procedures we offer:

  • Cat castrates & spays
  • Dog castrates & bitch spays
  • Lump removals
  • Dentals including scale & polishes, extractions, etc.
  • Enucleation
  • Amputation
  • Exploratory laparotomy

Routine procedures we offer:

  • Cat castrates & spays
  • Dog castrates & bitch spays
  • Lump removals
  • Dentals including scale & polishes, extractions, etc.
  • Enucleation
  • Amputation
  • Exploratory laparotomy

Fear-free spay procedure

"Ella was spayed on Tuesday and I was dreading it - however, it was straightforward and she was not stressed at all. I stayed with her while she was anaesthetised and again when she came round. We were both looked after really well. The follow up was good and she is healing fast."

Ella's Human

By their side when it matters

"Very friendly staff, sparkling clean surgery, and transparent pricing. The Stay With Your Pet procedure option was really well organised and a huge value add."

DouDou's human

Calm surgery

"I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the amazing team at Hello Vet for taking such great care of Cookie during his neutering. From the moment we arrived, everyone was super friendly and professional, making me feel completely at ease."

Cookie's human

By their side for dental surgery

"Hello Vet is a wonderful vet practice. My dog had a full dental cleaning with anaesthesia and x-rays - I was able to be there with him while he fell asleep and when he woke up, which made the whole experience much less stressful for both of us! The vets are lovely and very helpful. They are also very transparent with pricing which is great."

MT
Stay With Your Pet
WhatsApp support

How does this work?

Before your pet undergoes a procedure, they will usually require sedation or a general anaesthetic. Anaesthesia involves a few additional steps, but in both cases, you're welcome to stay with your pet until they are comfortably asleep.

During the procedure, you’re invited to wait in our reception area—we even have co-working desks if you need to catch up on work. Our clinical team will let you know when it's time to return, so you can be there when your pet begins to wake up.

We recommend speaking with our clinic team beforehand to ensure you feel informed and prepared. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you're welcome to step out—we’re flexible, and our aim is to minimise stress for both you and your pet.

Stay With Your Pet

Step 1

Admit

Upon arrival, a vet or nurse will admit you and go over a few questions to ensure your pet is ready for the procedure. They will also explain the various steps of the induction process, allowing you to decide which parts you would like to be present for. They will also check key parameters, such as weight, to calculate the appropriate drug dosages.

Step 2

Premedication

Once the medications have been calculated and prepared, your pet will receive an injection to help them feel sleepy and relaxed for the procedure. You will be able to comfort and hold your pet as they become sleepy.

Step 3

Catheter placement

After the premedication or sedation, we will leave you and your pet together for a few minutes to let the medication take effect. Once your pet is sleepy, we will place an intravenous catheter in one of their legs, and a small bandage will be placed over this.

Step 4

Induction

Once the intravenous catheter is in place, we will have pain free access to administer the anaesthetic induction medication. Your pet will be under full anaesthesia within 30-45 seconds of injection.

Step 5

Intubation

After this, we will insert an “endotracheal tube” into your pet's airway to provide oxygen and anaesthetic gas that will keep your pet asleep throughout the surgery. We will need to open your pet’s mouth widely in order to insert the tube. Some pet owners choose not to stay for intubation but as your pet is fully asleep it is not uncomfortable at all for them.

Step 6

Procedure

Once the endotracheal tube is in place, your pet will be connected to an anaesthetic machine. They will then be taken to the prep area to prepare them for their procedure, which will be visible through the windows from the induction room. At this point, you may choose to go to our reception area, use our co-working space, relax in our quiet room, or leave the practice and return later. We will let you when your pet is coming out of surgery.

Step 7

Recovery

Once your pet has had their procedure the anaesthetic gas will be turned off and they will start to wake up. We will remove the endotracheal tube and get you reunited with your pet as soon as possible. Your pet may be quite groggy during this period, some pets can vocalise and make movements which is all normal as they start to wake up. Cuddling and comforting them can greatly improve their recovery. During this time, our team will be monitoring closely as well as give you instructions for how to take care of your pet following the procedure.

What we can help with

Questions about
this service

Find answers to common questions about Hello Vet’s services, or ask us directly on Whatsapp.

Is it safe for me to be present during this process?

In most cases, your presence will help keep your pet more comfortable. However, if your pet becomes overly stressed or has an unexpected reaction to the anaesthesia, we may ask you to step out of the room for their safety.

Can I stay with my pet the whole time?

While it’s not possible to be with your pet during the surgery, rest assured they’ll be in caring hands throughout the procedure.

What should I do if I start feeling uncomfortable during the process?

If you feel uncomfortable at any point, please let us know immediately. You’re always welcome to leave the room, or we can find ways to help you feel more at ease during the process.

Will my pet feel any pain or discomfort during this process?

In most cases, your pet won't feel any discomfort. However, just like with humans, the injection or catheter placement may occasionally cause a brief sting or mild pain.

How long does the induction process take?

The time for the whole process can vary depending on how each pet responds to the medication and what procedure they are having. In most cases, it typically takes around 3 to 4 hours from arriving at the clinic to leaving, but your pet is usually asleep within an hour of arriving.

As seen in

Alfie, Terrier Cross
Alfie, Terrier Cross

Treating Pets & People Better.