Ocean Vets

Ocean Vets Ocean Vets is a family-owned independent vet practice in Alderholt & Three Legged Cross.

Ocean Vets is a provider of comprehensive health care services for pets including orthopaedic surgery, covering the Dorset area, Wiltshire and Hampshire borders. We take great care of our clients and ensure our consultations are booked for a full 15 minutes as a minimum, so that you don't feel unduly rushed and try to accommodate special circumstances as much as possible. We are an INDEPENDENT pra

ctice and therefore provide our own out of hours service where you will speak to one of our regular vets who will evaluate your case as well as possible over the telephone and help you decide whether your animal needs to be seen or not, if necessary see you immediately at either our Alderholt or Three Legged Cross Surgery - Out of hours fees apply. Our friendly experienced team that assist the Veterinary Team consist of three Registered Veterinary Nurses, three Animal Nursing Assistants and four Receptionists. We believe that the best care can be given at the surgery where all facilities are at hand, but in special cases or on request we are able to fit in home visits. Operations are performed Monday to Friday afternoons in our fully equipped operating theatres. We do not believe in unnecessary hospitalisation as most animals are far more relaxed and likely to recover quicker at home. Of course there are exceptions and close monitoring and/or fluid therapy may be necessary. In these cases there is always a vet who lives onsite at our Alderholt Surgery on standby. Some of the services we offer at our surgeries are in house X-rays, ultrasound, in-house and laboratory blood tests, pathology/histology, routine and specialist orthopaedic procedures such as TPLO's .

01/06/2026

⚠️🔌 Three Cross Branch CLOSED Thursday 4th June 🔌⚠️

Unfortunately, due to a planned all-day power cut ⚡our Three Cross branch will be closed for the day on Thursday 4th June.

✅ Our Alderholt branch will be open as usual
📞 All phone calls will be answered by our Alderholt Team

We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and really appreciate your understanding 💙🧡🐾

If you need us, please don’t hesitate to contact your usual branch 📲

Supporting an Incredible Local Challenge 💙A small group of walkers, mostly based in Alderholt and all affected by bereav...
29/05/2026

Supporting an Incredible Local Challenge 💙

A small group of walkers, mostly based in Alderholt and all affected by bereavement, have come together through a shared commitment to support Salisbury Hospice.

At Ocean Vets, we’re always proud to support local initiatives that make a real difference to our community and the wider services so many people rely on. This group’s aim is not only to raise funds for a place that offers exceptional care, support and dignity to people with terminal illness and their families, but also to explore their belief that walking long distances together through wild, mountainous landscapes can bring purpose, connection and mutual support during grief.

In June, they will take on the 300-mile Cambrian Way, walking from Cardiff to Conwy across the high ground of Wales.
In June, they’ll be taking on an incredible challenge – walking the 300 mile Cambrian Way from Cardiff to Conwy across the mountains of Wales 🥾

The journey will be completed in three one-week stages, giving them the chance to raise money for the organisations that support them, challenge themselves and achieve something truly remarkable together.

If you’d like to support them, you can donate here:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/richard-shc?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

Wishing them all the very best on this inspiring journey 💫

🎉 We’ve got some exciting news! 🎉We’re incredibly proud to share that Ocean Vets has been named a finalist in the 2026 V...
22/05/2026

🎉 We’ve got some exciting news! 🎉

We’re incredibly proud to share that Ocean Vets has been named a finalist in the 2026 Verwood Business Awards in the Family Business of the Year category! 🐾

This recognition means so much to us as an independent, family-run practice. It reflects the hard work of our amazing team and the continued support from our wonderful clients and community💙🧡

Thank you to everyone who has trusted us with your pets and supported our journey — we truly couldn’t do it without you.
We’re keeping everything crossed for the awards… wish us luck! 🤞✨

This is Douglas the Douge de Bordeaux who came in to meet us and have his second vaccination today. He was an angel, bu...
29/04/2026

This is Douglas the Douge de Bordeaux who came in to meet us and have his second vaccination today. He was an angel, but found it all a bit boring and fell asleep on the table!

This is gorgeous Kally. She unfortunately suffered an unrepairable broken right leg. But did you know ducks get on ama...
27/04/2026

This is gorgeous Kally. She unfortunately suffered an unrepairable broken right leg. But did you know ducks get on amazingly well with just one leg ? Here she is just 4 days post surgery and pretty much back to normal -ready to resume her normal routine in just a few days time. Well done Kally ♥️

27/04/2026

Spring has sprung – and so have the parasites! 🌼🐾

Warmer weather means fleas, ticks and worms are becoming more active across the UK. Now’s the perfect time to book your pet’s spring check-up and make sure their parasite protection is up to date.

Our latest blog explains what to watch for and how to keep your dog or cat safe this season.

👉 Read more on our website or contact us to book an appointment today.

Allergic Skin Disease in DogsA high proportion of the cases we see are skin related and a high proportion of these are d...
24/04/2026

Allergic Skin Disease in Dogs

A high proportion of the cases we see are skin related and a high proportion of these are due to allergies.
So just what are dogs allergic to? How do we diagnose them and what can we do about it?
Dogs can be allergic to many of the same things humans are, and allergies usually fall into three main categories: environmental, food and flea-related. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand the most common culprits:

1. Environmental Allergies (Atopy)
These are very common. Dogs inhale or come into contact with allergens in their surroundings.
Common triggers
• Pollen (trees, grasses, weeds)
• Dust mites
• Mould spores
• Dander (from humans or other animals)
• Cleaning products or strong chemicals
• Perfumes or scented sprays
Typical symptoms:
• Itchy skin
• Paw licking or chewing
• Ear inflammation
• Red or irritated eyes
• Sneezing (less common than in humans)

2. Food Allergies
These are less common .Dogs are often allergic to protein sources, not grains (which is a common myth).
Most common food allergens
• Beef
• Chicken
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Lamb
• Soy
• Wheat
• Fish (less common, but possible)
Symptoms:
• Itchy skin (especially paws, ears, belly)
• Chronic ear infections
• Digestive issues: vomiting or diarrhoea
• Gas or loose stools

3. Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva. It only takes one bite to trigger intense itching.
Symptoms:
• Hair loss near the tail base
• Scabs on lower back
• Constant scratching or biting
Less common allergies
• Medications (antibiotics, vaccines)
• Materials (rubber, plastics, wool)
• Certain shampoos

When to see a vet
You should get veterinary help if your dog has:
• Persistent itching (more than a few days)
• Repeated ear infections or sore paws
• Hair loss or skin wounds
• Vomiting + diarrhoea that lasts more than 24 hours

A vet can do:
• Blood tests
• Skin tests (intradermal skin tests are done by skin specialists)
• Food elimination trials
• Allergy management plans

Blood tests are often the most meaningful way of assessing what dogs are allergic to and there is a high correlation between environmental and flea allergen results and what the dog is actually allergic too. They are expensive though and cost about £450. The food allergen tests results help, but normally a dietary trial is advised based on the results.

How to treat allergies
Some allergens can be avoided once they have been identified, but many cannot. Luckily, these days we have some amazing drugs that are incredibly effective at stopping itching - thereby allowing the skin to heal itself. They are also very safe and steroids are rarely needed. Talk you your vet and see how we can help.

*Important update for pets travelling to the EU*APHA issued a notice on Friday, stating that from Wednesday 22nd April p...
20/04/2026

*Important update for pets travelling to the EU*

APHA issued a notice on Friday, stating that from Wednesday 22nd April pets who have been issued an EU passport but are owned by a UK resident, will not be able to use these to enter the EU and will need an Animal Health Certificate.

If your pet has an EU passport either from being imported, or one you may have had issued to yourself in the EU, you will not be able to use this for travel and must organise for an AHC to be produced in the 10 days prior to travel. This is contrary to advice you may previously have been given - sadly we had no knowledge that this new rule was going to be introduced with 5 days notice!

On Wednesday Fiona & Jeremy met with our local MP Simon H***e MP . You may not be aware, but certain Labour MPs Louise H...
20/02/2026

On Wednesday Fiona & Jeremy met with our local MP Simon H***e MP . You may not be aware, but certain Labour MPs Louise Haigh MP , Stephen Morgan MP , Kerry McCarthy , to name but a few have been "Vet Bashing" on social media with comments such as "Labour are cracking down on rip-off vet bills with the biggest reforms of the vet sector in 60 years" and "Extortionate Vet fees".
This demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of what is happening in the veterinary sector, as well as a confusion between the CMA investigation- which we spoke about a couple of weeks ago - and the new Veterinary Surgeons Act, which vets have been trying to get reformed for years! We also feel that this kind of language, which targets all vets, veterinary nurses and receptionists is really unbecoming of an MP and very hurtful to the profession. We are pleased to say the backlash they received has meant some of the posts have now mysteriously disappeared, along with many of the thoughtful comments. These comments came from vets, vet nurses and a very supportive public who understand what it costs to run a modern day veterinary practice.
Simon took the time to visit our practice, look at all our amazing equipment, understand the prices we have to pay for our medicines, and speak to the team. We also sent him away with a copy of our accounts to show just how much profit we make these days - it is only just viable as a business! No vet goes into the profession to "rip off clients". We are passionate about caring for your pets, and Fiona and Jeremy are working hard to create a sustainable business that will be able to serve your pets in the future.
We also discussed about how Vets must feel seeing this kind of narrative -did you know that vets have the highest su***de rate in any profession (see ) (Not One More Vet)? Although Simon will not be able to secure an apology from these Labour MP's he is going to see if the CMA will look at the profitability of Independent Practices through his contacts in Parliament. The CMA refused to do this when it was suggested, and we fear that some of the remedies they may introduce could actually increase fees rather than increase competition - the exact opposite to what was intended!

17/02/2026

**FOUND**

A black cocker spaniel has been reported missing from Drove End, Alderholt, around an hour ago. We have the owners details, please call us on 01425 654202. We close at 6.30pm, after this please message us or comment below so we can get in touch.

Address

Three Cross Veterinary Surgery, Verwood Road
Three Legged Cross
BH216RR

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 6:30pm
Thursday 9am - 6:30pm
Friday 9am - 6:30pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+441425654202

Website

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