A Vet for Clayton Pet Owners
Clayton pet owners are always welcome at Waverley Gardens Veterinary Hospital — a family-owned Mulgrave clinic caring for local dogs and cats since 1981.
Your local vet for Clayton
Waverley Gardens Veterinary Hospital is about six kilometres east of Clayton, roughly eleven minutes along Wellington Road or Police Road. We're on the corner of Police Road and Hansworth Street in Mulgrave, opposite Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, with free on-site parking and entry via Hansworth Street.
We've been the local family vet here since 1981. We're independent and family owned, which shows up in the small things: appointments long enough to actually talk, the same vet where possible, and honest advice about what a pet needs now versus what can wait.
Clayton is a densely settled suburb with a lot of apartments, townhouses and a large student and research population, so we see plenty of indoor cats and small dogs. Indoor cats still need vaccination, parasite prevention and dental care, and they're prone to weight gain and urinary problems that are easy to miss until they're serious — straining in the litter tray, especially in a male cat, is always urgent.
If you're moving overseas or interstate, or arriving with a pet, talk to us early about vaccination records, microchip registration and health documentation. It's much easier handled with time up your sleeve.
Getting here from Clayton
269 Police Road, Mulgrave VIC 3170 — corner of Police Road & Hansworth Street, opposite 7-Eleven.
By car & parking
Head east along Wellington Road or Police Road. We're on the corner of Police Road and Hansworth Street, opposite the 7-Eleven, with free on-site parking.
Public transport
Bus routes link Clayton and Clayton station with Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, opposite the clinic. Check the PTV Journey Planner for times.
Accessibility
Our clinic has steps at the entry, but we are happy to assist — please call us prior to your arrival on 03 9547 7877 and we'll arrange everything for you. Our car park entry is via Hansworth Street.
Popular services for Clayton pets
Everyday care and more complex work, all under one roof in Mulgrave.
Vaccinations
Core and non-core vaccinations tailored to your pet's lifestyle and risk, protecting them from preventable infectious diseases.
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Desexing
Safe routine spaying and neutering under general anaesthesia, preventing unwanted litters and providing long-term health and behavioural benefits.
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Dentistry
Professional dental cleaning, polishing, digital radiography, and treatment for periodontal disease to keep your pet's mouth healthy and pain-free.
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Preventative Health Care
Annual health exams, parasite control, nutritional counselling, and early detection screening designed to keep your pet healthy and extend their life.
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Diagnostic Imaging
Advanced X-ray and ultrasound imaging to non-invasively visualise internal organs and structures, helping us diagnose conditions quickly and accurately.
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Surgery
A wide range of soft tissue surgeries performed to the highest standards, plus orthopaedic procedures in partnership with specialist surgeons — all in-house.
Learn moreWhy Clayton families choose us
- Family owned and locally run in Mulgrave since 1981.
- Welcoming new patients and transferring records for you.
- GapOnly and VetPay available for easier payments.
- 4.8★ average Google rating from local pet owners.
- Cat-friendly appointments — tell us when you book.
- Free on-site parking, entry via Hansworth Street.
What to expect at your first visit
New to us from Clayton? Here's exactly how it works, start to finish.
1. Book a time that suits you
Book online any time of day, or call us on 03 9547 7877 and we'll find a slot. Let us know what's going on when you book — an itchy skin problem needs a different amount of time to a routine vaccination, and we'd rather give you the right appointment length than rush you.
2. Arriving and parking
We're on the corner of Police Road and Hansworth Street in Mulgrave, opposite Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre. Parking is free and on-site, with car park entry via Hansworth Street, so you're not circling for a space with a nervous dog in the back seat. There is a step at the entry — tell us if you need a hand and someone will meet you at the door.
3. Bring what you have
Your pet's vaccination card or paperwork if you have it, the name of any food or medication they're on, and your council registration or microchip number if it's handy. If you don't have any of it, that's fine — we'll work it out with you.
4. The consultation
Allow around 20 minutes. Your vet takes a full history, then does a nose-to-tail physical exam — eyes, ears, mouth and teeth, heart and lungs, abdomen, skin, joints and weight. We'll talk through what we find in plain language, and you'll get the options and the likely costs before anything goes ahead.
5. Transferring your records
Tell us your previous clinic and we'll request your pet's history for you. There's nothing for you to chase up, and it means we start with the full picture rather than guessing.
6. Afterwards
You'll leave knowing what happens next — when the next vaccination is due, what to watch for at home, and when to check back in. If something changes in the meantime, call us; a quick phone conversation often saves a trip.
Pet care notes for Clayton owners
The things that actually come up in Melbourne's south-east, season by season.
Busy roads and small yards
Clayton Road, Dandenong Road and Centre Road carry constant traffic, and much of the housing is units and townhouses with small or shared yards. Road trauma and escaped pets are the two most common emergencies we see from Clayton. Secure gates, a fitted harness for car travel and a microchip registered to your current number are the practical fixes — we can check chip details in a couple of minutes.
Renting, moving and pets left behind
Clayton has a large student and rental population, and pets change hands or change homes often. If you're taking on a pet whose history you don't have, book a health check: we'll scan for a chip, confirm what it's covered for, and start vaccinations and parasite prevention from a clean slate rather than guessing.
Local parks and grass seeds
Namatjira Park, Clayton Reserve and the smaller local reserves handle most walking here. Check Monash's off-lead listings for the reserve you use. Dried grass seeds from October onwards work into paws, ears and eyes — a weeping hole between the toes or sudden head shaking needs looking at rather than waiting out.
Registering with the City of Monash
Clayton pets are registered with the City of Monash from three months of age, renewing each April. We microchip, confirm existing chip details are current, and give you the documentation council asks for.
Summer heat and hot pavement
South-east Melbourne regularly gets 35°C+ days. Walk early morning or after sunset, and use the back-of-the-hand test on the footpath — if you can't hold it there for five seconds, it's too hot for paws. Brachycephalic breeds (pugs, French bulldogs, British shorthairs) and older or overweight pets are at real risk of heat stress, and it can turn serious in minutes.
Grass seeds through spring and summer
Dried grass seeds are one of the most common reasons we see dogs from October through to autumn. They work into paws, ears, eyes and armpits and burrow. Check between the toes and inside the ears after any walk through long grass, and don't wait if you see a weeping hole between the toes or sudden head shaking.
Snakes near the creeks and reserves
Tiger and brown snakes are active in Melbourne's south-east from roughly September to March, particularly along creek lines, wetlands and reserve edges. Keep dogs on lead near long grass and water. Sudden collapse then apparent recovery, wobbliness, dilated pupils or bleeding that won't stop is an emergency — do not wait to see if it passes.
Fleas, worms and heartworm
Our climate keeps fleas going year-round, not just in summer, and mosquitoes carry heartworm. Consistent monthly or annual prevention is far cheaper than treating an infestation or heartworm disease. We'll match a product to your pet's weight, lifestyle and household — including what's safe if you have both dogs and cats.
Dental disease — the quiet one
Most dogs and cats over three have some degree of dental disease, and pets hide oral pain well. Bad breath is not normal. Reluctance to chew on one side, dropping food, pawing at the mouth or a sudden preference for soft food are all worth a look. Every consultation includes an oral check.
Weight and joints
Keeping a pet lean is the single most effective thing you can do for their joints and their lifespan. If you can't feel the ribs easily under a light layer, they're carrying too much. Our nurses run weight checks and can build a realistic feeding plan — free of judgement, and free of charge.
Microchipping and council registration
Pets in this area are registered with the City of Monash. Dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered with council from three months of age, and registration renews annually on 10 April. We can microchip your pet, check an existing chip is registered to your current phone number, and supply the documentation council needs.
Costs, insurance and payment
Cost matters, and pretending otherwise doesn't help anyone. Before any treatment, procedure or admission, we talk Clayton clients through what's involved and what it's likely to cost, so there are no surprises at the counter. If there's a more affordable way to get to the same outcome, we'll tell you about it.
We accept Visa, Mastercard and EFTPOS. We're a GapOnly clinic, which means if you're with a participating pet insurer your claim is assessed while you're still with us and you only pay the gap rather than the full bill up front. VetPay payment plans are also available if you'd rather spread the cost of a larger procedure over time.
Preventative care is almost always the cheaper path. Annual health checks, vaccinations, parasite prevention and keeping teeth clean cost far less than treating the problems they prevent — and your pet has a much better time of it.
Emergencies and after hours
During opening hours, call us on 03 9547 7877 before you drive over if you can. It takes thirty seconds, and it means the team is ready for you when you arrive rather than finding out at the door. If it's genuinely urgent, come straight in — we'll triage you.
Outside our hours, the Veterinary Referral Hospital in Dandenong is open 24 hours on 1300 385 874. It's a short drive from most of the south-east, including Clayton, and they'll let us know what happened so we can follow up with you.
Call immediately, day or night, for: breathing difficulty, collapse, a seizure lasting more than a couple of minutes, suspected snake bite, a swollen or painful abdomen (especially in a large-breed dog), straining to urinate — particularly in male cats — vomiting that won't stop, suspected poisoning (chocolate, snail bait, rat bait, human medication), heat stress, or trauma from a car or a dog fight.
What our clients are saying
Don't just take our word for it — here's what local pet owners have to say about their experience with us.
★★★★★Dr Tu and the whole team at Waverley Gardens are absolutely wonderful. Our golden retriever Max had his annual vaccinations and check-up, and the care was second to none. They took so much time to explain everything to us.
Jessica Nguyen
★★★★★Brought our cat Mochi in for a dental procedure and I was honestly nervous, but the team were so reassuring. Quyen kept us updated throughout and Mochi is now eating better than ever. Couldn't be happier.
Michael Tran
★★★★★We've been coming here for years and wouldn't go anywhere else. Amy and Shiloe are brilliant nurses who genuinely care. Our elderly beagle gets treated with such kindness and patience every single visit.
Sarah O'Brien
Ready to experience it for yourself?
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Waverley Gardens Veterinary Hospital — your local vet near Clayton
Your Pet's Family Doctor — family owned and locally run since 1981.
- Address
- 269 Police Road, Mulgrave VIC 3170Get directions
- Phone
- 03 9547 7877
- Opening hours
- Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 6:00pmSaturday: 9:00am – 12:00pmSunday: Closed
Booking from Clayton? We'd love to meet your pet.
Book online in under a minute, or call us and we'll find a time that suits you.