Information for Owners
The University of Glasgow Small Animal Hospital is committed to providing the best care for your pet.
How it works
The Small Animal Hospital is a referral hospital supported by world-leading researchers from the University of Glasgow and state of the art facilities and equipment. We are a referral only hospital, your pet will be referred here by your own vet.
1) Your vet will contact us directly to request the referral.
2) We will contact you by phone to arrange an appointment.
3) Bring your pet to meet our specialist vets for your appointment.
How to Find Us
The Small Animal Hospital supports veterinary centres all over Scotland.
Visiting Your Pet
If your pet undergoes a procedure they may need to stay with us for a few days. Find out more about our visiting facilities.
Pet Practice
Register your pet with our veterinary practice supported by Small Animal Hospital facilities.
Take a tour of the University of Glasgow's Small Animal Hospital
Apollo the Labrador takes you on a tour of the Small Animal Hospital and meets all the amazing team that help take care of your pets.
Repeat Prescriptions
We offer repeat prescriptions to make looking after your pet's health easier.
Our Services
Our vets have expertise in a number of specialist areas. Learn more about how we support your pet.
Out of Hours Emergencies
Our Out of Hours service is here to help when your usual vet is closed.
FAQs
What should I bring with me to consultation?
If your animal is insured, please notify your insurance company, check the wording of your policy and bring the necessary documentation to your appointment.
What can I expect at consultation?
Your vet will have referred your pet to a service within the Hospital, such as internal medicine, orthopaedics or oncology. We employ highly qualified staff, many of whom are European Diplomates.
Will a student be treating my pet?
Your pet will always undergo their treatment by a fully qualified veterinary practitioner. Very often final year veterinary students will be present during the consultation and may take a history of your pet under supervision. During the consultation a detailed history of your animal's illness will be taken, and then your animal will be examined.
How will I know what treatment my pet is receiving?
The veterinary team examining your animal will determine what tests and treatment your case requires, and will discuss these requirements with you. An estimate of the cost of treatment will be discussed with you.
Please feel free during the consultation to ask any questions and discuss any worries that you might have.
How will I be kept informed of my pet's progress?
There are a number of ways that we will keep you informed while your pet is a patient with us at the Small Animal Hospital:
- Written briefing
When your pet returns home we will give you a document that outlines what your pet's condition and treatment (discharge instructions). If you need to visit a veterinary surgeon soon after your pet is discharged please take this with you. We aim to provide your veterinary surgeon with a preliminary report within 48 hours’ of discharge, so that the appropriate type of veterinary care can continue to be provided. - Formal report
A formal and final report will then be sent to your veterinary surgeon. You can receive a copy of this report either from your veterinary surgeon, or directly from us. - Follow-up
One of the most important aspects of treatment is the follow up. Do not hesitate to contact us in the future. - By telephone
Keeping you well informed about your pet is a very important to us. We will do our best to be available to meet with you or to speak to you but clinical work is unpredictable, and there may sometimes be a delay before we can make contact. Please be patient under those circumstances.
The Use of AI and Your Pet
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools — such as chatbots, apps, or online symptom checkers — are becoming part of everyday life and can sometimes provide general information about pet care. However, AI cannot examine your pet, assess pain or behaviour, or make clinical decisions. At SAH, AI may support understanding, but it can never replace the care, responsibility, and expertise of a qualified veterinary team. This page explains how AI can be used safely — and where its limits are — when it comes to your pet’s health.
What is AI?
AI refers to computer systems that generate answers or information based on large amounts of existing data. In pet care, this may include chatbots, websites, or apps that provide general advice or explanations.
What can AI be used for?
AI may be helpful for:
- General, non-clinical information about breeds or behaviour
- Routine topics such as enrichment ideas or training concepts
- General questions about diet basics or exercise needs
- Understanding veterinary terminology after you have spoken with a vet
- Helping you think of questions to ask at your appointment
AI is best used as a support for learning, not for decision‑making.
What are the risks of relying on AI for pet health?
AI tools may:
- Misinterpret vague, incomplete, or misleading symptoms
- Provide inaccurate or unsafe advice
- Miss urgent or serious conditions
- Oversimplify complex health problems
Because AI works without seeing your pet, errors and delays in care can occur.
Why can’t AI assess my pet properly?
Pets cannot describe how they feel, and AI cannot:
- Observe subtle changes in behaviour or demeanour
- Perform a physical examination
- Assess pain, movement, or discomfort
- Identify clinical signs that require hands‑on assessment
A veterinary examination is essential for safe and accurate diagnosis.
When should I not use AI?
Veterinary care should always be sought if your pet has:
- Vomiting or diarrhoea (especially in young or older pets)
- Breathing difficulties
- Collapses or seizures
- Pain, lameness, or mobility changes
- Changes in appetite, thirst, urination, or behaviour
- Any situation where your pet seems “not quite right”
AI must not be used to diagnose, treat, or replace decisions about your pet’s health. Following incorrect advice may delay care and worsen outcomes.
Can I bring AI-generated information to my appointment?
Yes — that’s okay.
Data privacy and personal information
Some AI tools store or reuse information provided to them. We recommend:
- Avoiding uploading photos of identifiable people
- Not sharing personal or sensitive health information online
AI is becoming a useful source of general information, and we understand why owners may turn to it for learning and reassurance. However, when it comes to your pet’s health and wellbeing, nothing replaces the expertise of a veterinary team who knows you and your animal. If something doesn’t seem right, or you’re unsure what to do, we’re always here to help.