We would like to extend a very warm welcome to you and your pets. We trust that this relationship will be a happy, trusting and a lasting one.
ABOUT US
Our practice is owned by Veterinary House Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. Dr Margie Roach and Dr Kate Wallace are the Veterinarians in the practice.
Margie first worked at a mixed practice in the Free State and later in Port Elizabeth. She joined the Westville Veterinary Hospital gaining extensive experience in companion animals over a period of eighteen years. She relocated to Hilton in 2009 to work for the Howick Veterinary Group and joined Veterinary House Umgeni in February 2012.
She has an interest in birds and exotic animals and volunteers her services at Free Me.
Dr Kate Wallace (BVSc)
Kate graduated from Onderstepoort in 2005 and worked in Cape Town before heading to the UK.
She came back to South Africa in 2009 and spent a year in Phalaborwa on a buffalo farm. She then worked in Johannesburg for 2 years before meeting her husband and moving to KZN in 2012.
She joined Veterinary House Hospital in 2017 and to the Umgeni branch at the beginning of 2019. She lives in Hilton with her husband Nolan, 1 year old daughter Evelyn, dogs Django and Daisy and cats Thomas and Trevor.
Sisters Kerry Frost and Aneesa Bhoola
Our caring Veterinary Nurses also qualified at Onderstepoort. Our nurses assist with x-rays, anaesthetics and medical procedures and are available to offer professional advice on pet care and nutrition. Aneesa is a qualified dietician and so can help with pet diets.
Rosh and Nicky
Our rock-star receptionists and front office enthusiasts. Having attended numerous accredited courses in pet nutrition, they are able to assist customers in selecting an appropriate feed or over the counter preventative medications.
Tom and Regina
Our kennel assistants are responsible for animal handling and general duties.
Ros, Kerry and Janice are our Veterinary Nurses – having also qualified at Onderstepoort. The nurses assist with X-rays, anaesthetics and procedures. The nurses are always available to offer advice on petcare, nutrition, puppy training etc – call in to discuss your pet issues with them.
CONSULTING HOURS
We are open from 08H00 – 18H00, but consultations are by appointment only. Kate and Margie take turns to operate with our Veterinary Nurses as the theatre assistants, but sometimes if the surgery is complicated then both vets will be involved, meaning that we are not available to consult, hence the importance of a booked appointment. Surgery takes place in the mornings mainly.
The afternoons are divided into 2 shifts, one being from 12H00 – 15H00 and the other 15H00 – 18H00. Margie and Jade do alternate shifts each day. There is no lunch time shift on a Friday.
AFTER HOURS /EMERGENCIES
Call our office number to find out who to call for after hours emergencies.
RABIES
Due to the increased concern about Rabies in Kwazulu Natal we operate a free Rabies vaccination clinic on Wednesdays between 09h00 and 12h00. These vaccinations are given by our Veterinary Nurses. Please make an appointment if you wish to use this service.
They are not available outside of these hours.
SERVICES OFFERED
Primary Health Care
Vaccinations, Sterilisations, nutritional advice, puppy and kitten care and petcare education.
Treatment of sick animals – we use intravenous fluids, pain medication, a wide range of antibiotics as well as other supportive medications.
Dentistry – our practice is equipped with a dental scaler, drill and polisher in order to perform up to date dentistry .
Laboratory – we have an in house microscope, centrifuge, microhaematocrit machine and a few in house serological tests. We have recently purchased new laboratory equipment, so will not have to outsource most of our laboratory tests anymore.
Ultrasound – basic ultrasonography – abdominal or splenic tumours, bladder stones, liver disease, pregnancy etc
Radiography – We have a state of the art digital imaging system - x rays are taken, developed and interpreted on site.
Anaesthesia – we use gas anaesthesia for all our anaesthetics using Sevoflurane gas as it is the safest on the market. Oxygen therapy is also available for geriatric patients, or patients with difficulty breathing.
NUTRITION
We stock a wide range of veterinary diets, but unfortunately cannot stock absolutely everything. We can order special requests which will usually arrive within 24hrs – please place your order with Rosh or Nicky at reception.
Our Veterinary Nurses are available to discuss your pets dietary needs. They will also advise you on weight control for your pet. Ros runs a very informative weight loss program in conjunction with Hills. Please contact her if you are concerned about your cat or dog’s weight.
EDUCATION
We believe in helping to educate you about your pets needs. Please contact us if you have any queries. We are involved with the local schools – the younger children come on tours to see what a vet does and what it looks like in the veterinary hospital so we use this opportunity to discuss basic health care and vaccinations, sterilisation, training etc.
GROOMING
Doggone Clean grooming parlour is situated at the back of our building. Toni will attend to your dog’s beauty needs. Grooming is strictly by appointment only – please contact Toni on 0825520422.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
We assist at the annual Hills Township dog shows as well as the SPCA1000 paws Walk where we can.
