FAQs

Rata Veterinary Surgery is an independent mobile veterinary referral service designed to support first opinion veterinary teams. Our experienced veterinary surgeons bring referral procedures, diagnostic services and equipment directly to your practice, providing a convenient and collaborative way to access advanced care while maintaining continuity for your patients and clients.

Rata Veterinary Surgery provides a mobile veterinary referral service, bringing experienced veterinary surgeons and their equipment directly to your practice to perform advanced surgical procedures and diagnostic services. We also offer complimentary case discussions and radiograph reviews, simply fill out the ‘Refer a New Case’ form on our website.

Unlike a centralised referral hospital, where patients travel to a dedicated referral facility for consultations and procedures, Rata works alongside your first opinion veterinary team within your own practice. This helps maintain continuity of care while reducing the need for patients and clients to travel.

Rata Veterinary Surgery supports veterinary practices across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, the Midlands, South Wales and the wider South of England.

If you are unsure whether we cover your area, please contact our experienced administrative team by phone or email and we will be happy to discuss how we can support your practice.

Rata Veterinary Surgery provides consultations, diagnostic services and surgical procedures across orthopaedics, soft tissue, ophthalmology and ultrasonography.

For a full list of the procedures we offer, please visit our Services page. If you cannot find the procedure or support you require, please contact our team by submitting a referral form via the ‘Refer a New Case’ button and attach the relevant patient history. One of our veterinary surgeons will then review the case and provide advice on the most appropriate next steps.

A mobile veterinary referral service allows first opinion practices to access experienced veterinary surgeons and advanced procedures while keeping patients within their own practice. This helps practices expand the services they can offer clients, maintain continuity of care and reduce the need for patients to travel externally for referral treatment.

For clients and their pets, receiving referral care within their own veterinary practice can mean less travel, reduced disruption and the reassurance of remaining with a familiar team throughout their pet’s treatment.

We are always happy to discuss cases and review radiographs free of charge. To refer a case, simply complete our online referral form and our administrative team will allocate it to the most appropriate veterinary surgeon for your area.

Our veterinary surgeons will review the case and provide a report with their recommendations, treatment options and, where appropriate, an estimated cost. If a consultation or procedure is required, our team will arrange a suitable date with your practice and provide all relevant information and pre-operative guidance.

On the day, our veterinary surgeon will attend your practice to perform the consultation or procedure and provide full clinical notes, discharge instructions and post-operative recommendations for your team.

Yes, we are happy to discuss cases and provide advice. The most efficient way to request advice is to complete the ‘Refer a New Case’ form, attach the relevant patient history and include your questions or specific concerns in the comments box.

One of our veterinary surgeons will review the case and provide guidance on the most appropriate next steps.

For urgent cases (for example, fractures or acute ophthalmic disease), we aim to provide a report within 24 hours where possible.

For non-urgent cases, reports are usually provided within 2–3 working days.

To refer a case, complete the referral form on our website by selecting ‘Refer a New Case’. Please attach the relevant patient history and any supporting files or images.

If you experience any difficulties uploading files, you can send these separately via email or WhatsApp. Please include the patient’s name and practice name and confirm that the files relate to a new referral, and our administrative team will ensure they are added to the correct patient record.

Yes, we can prioritise urgent cases where required. Simply mark the referral as urgent when completing the ‘Refer a New Case’ form, and it will be flagged for urgent review by the most appropriate veterinary surgeon.

Please allow up to 24 hours for an urgent case report to be provided where possible.

Rata works with practices that have appropriate facilities to safely support the planned procedure. Requirements will vary depending on the type of surgery or diagnostic service being provided, but generally include:

• A suitable preparation area and separate theatre space.
• A large theatre equipment table suitable for the planned procedure
• A working radiography system for orthopaedic procedures where required.
• Suitable anaesthetic equipment, monitoring equipment, fluid pump and a theatre light.
• A suitably qualified RVN available to support the patient’s anaesthetic, recovery and discharge.
• Ideally, the following medications will be available for use where required: methadone, medetomidine, ketamine, IV paracetamol, IV cefuroxime and 0.5% bupivacaine.

Depending on your location, we may be able to provide one of our experienced RVNs to assist with patient preparation and anaesthetic monitoring during the procedure. Your practice team will still need to be available to support patient recovery, discharge and any ongoing post-operative care. Where required, we can also help arrange a locum RVN to provide additional support.

If you are unsure whether your practice has the required facilities, please contact our administrative team and we will be happy to discuss your requirements before booking a procedure.

Yes. Our veterinary surgeons bring the equipment required to perform the planned procedure, including surgical equipment, suction machines, diathermy, ultrasound scanners and ophthalmic equipment where required.

Your practice will simply need to provide a suitable theatre space, with access to sufficient plug sockets or extension leads for the equipment used on the day.

Yes, depending on your location, we may be able to provide one of our experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) to assist with patient preparation and anaesthetic monitoring during the procedure. Where additional support is required, we can also help arrange a locum RVN.

Your practice team will still be responsible for patient recovery, discharge and ongoing post-operative care.

Yes. We offer both in-person consultations at your practice and telephone consultations for a fee, allowing our veterinary surgeons to assess cases, discuss treatment options and provide advice where required.

On the day of the procedure, our veterinary surgeon will admit the patient (unless alternative arrangements have been made) and set up their equipment required for the planned procedure.

Following surgery, the surgeon will complete the clinical notes and provide your practice with a detailed surgical report, discharge instructions, post-operative medication recommendations and follow-up advice. They will also contact the owner to discuss the outcome of the procedure and, where appropriate, agree a suitable discharge time with your practice.

Before leaving, the surgeon will provide a verbal handover to the relevant member of your team and ensure all their equipment is cleaned, packed away and ready to leave your practice.

Your practice will remain responsible for the patient’s ongoing post-operative care, including arranging any advised post-operative check-ups and follow-up radiographs where required with your own veterinary team. Our veterinary surgeons are always available to provide further advice or discuss any concerns following the procedure.

If you need support, please contact us by phone or email and our experienced administrative team will ensure your query is directed to the appropriate member of the Rata team.

Absolutely. Rata works alongside your first opinion veterinary team, rather than replacing the care you provide. Your practice will remain involved throughout the patient’s journey, including discussing recommendations with your client, arranging appointments, providing ongoing post-operative care and managing follow-up where required.

Our aim is to support your team by providing access to referral expertise while maintaining continuity of care for your patients and clients.

Yes. Where appropriate, an in-person consultation at your practice or a telephone consultation with one of our veterinary surgeons can be arranged for a fee. We work alongside your practice throughout the referral process, ensuring your team remains involved in the patient’s care.

This is a nationwide study analysing surgical management techniques for canine cruciate disease against long term outcomes. Owner participation is optional and involves periodic questionnaires on their pets progress. Rata will enter the clinical data. Owners can join on the day of surgery by putting their details onto the consent form. More information can be found here https://caninecruciateregistry.org/dog-owners/dog-owners-faqs/