Vet Practice Uniform Guide: From Reception to Theatre

Veterinary uniforms have to handle everything from a friendly pooch saying hello in reception to a long surgical procedure in theatre. As such, dressing a vet team isn't just about picking scrubs in a nice colour. Different roles need different garments, and the practical demands of veterinary work, hair, mud and bodily fluids, frequent hot washes, are unforgiving on poor-quality fabric. This guide walks through what each role in a typical practice tends to wear, and what to look for when you're sourcing for your team.

Reception and Front-of-House

Veterinary receptionists are the first face clients see, and the uniform usually reflects that. Most practices opt for a smart polo shirt or branded tunic rather than scrubs, often in the practice's own colour with embroidered branding. This uniformity shows professionalism and reassures pet owners as they bring in their beloved furry friends.

For a practical choice, polos are great for reception staff who occasionally help in the back, and they wash well at higher temperatures when needed.

Some practices may also have receptionists in smart blouses or shirts with a logo. This is especially common in equine or referral hospitals where the front-of-house feel is more corporate. For more, browse our healthcare polo shirts and t-shirts for options that suit veterinary reception teams.

Veterinary Nurses (RVNs)

Vet nurses need uniforms that can withstand busy days: theatre prep, recovery, restraint, dental work, lab samples, and kennel care. Most RVNs wear scrubs as their day-to-day uniform. The practical priorities are:

• Durability: scrubs need to survive frequent hot washes, animal claws and the occasional bite mark.
• Stretch and movement: lifting a sedated dog or restraining a cat needs a scrub that moves with you.
• Pockets: a working vet nurse carries thermometers, scissors, swabs, treats and a notebook.
• Easy laundering: vet nurses change uniform daily, sometimes more.

Mid blue, navy and teal are common scrub colours in UK vet practices, often with embroidered practice branding on the chest. Our healthcare scrubs collection offers fabrics built for long shifts and frequent washing, with the Cherokee scrubs collection particularly popular with vet teams for stretch, fit and durability.

Veterinary Surgeons (Vets)

Vets in small animal practice often wear scrubs the same as their nursing teams, sometimes in a different colour to mark seniority. In equine and large animal practice, the uniform is more variable: practical workwear, waterproof outerwear and steel-toe boots are common, and a clean set of scrubs for any surgical or in-clinic work.

Referral and specialist vets often wear more corporate clothing, such as a polo shirt or tunic for consultations, and scrubs for theatre. Embroidered practice branding is standard as it conveys professionalism and promotes your brand at the same time. If you're looking for quality and longevity, our new range by Cherokee will fit the bill with its unique PROTX2 technology, which incorporates antimicrobial properties that help inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria.

Theatre and Surgical Staff

Theatre uniforms in a vet practice follow the same logic as hospital theatres: a separate set of scrubs kept clean, changed into for surgery, and changed out of afterwards. Theatre scrubs are usually a different colour from day scrubs to make it more obvious. These scrubs cannot be allowed to taint or endanger anything in the theatre, and as such need to be able to withstand more intense washing too.

Look for:

• Scrubs that hold up to autoclave-temperature washes.
• Plain colours without trim or piping that could hide bacteria.
• Antimicrobial-treated fabrics, where possible.

Our Reversible Scrub Suit or the Landau ScrubZone collection are durable and suitable for heavy washing at 60 degrees, making them an ideal choice for theatre and surgical roles.

Kennel and Animal Care Assistants

Kennel staff, animal care assistants and veterinary care assistants need hardwearing uniforms for the practical day-to-day pet care. They're handling animals all day, cleaning kennels, walking dogs, dealing with mud and worse.

For this, practices often go with polo shirts, hardwearing trousers and waterproof outerwear as the typical mix. Specialist footwear also helps, with many practices opting for slip-resistant, easy-clean shoes.

If you're looking for shoes for vet practices, take a look at our healthcare footwear range for clog-style and trainer options that suit kennel work.

Laundry and Hygiene Considerations

Overall, from reception to kennels, vet practice uniforms take a beating. Choosing the right fabric is key, so always look out for:

• Cotton-rich blends for breathability on long shifts.
• Polyester-cotton blends for durability and quicker drying.
• Antimicrobial treatments for infection control.
• Colourfast dyes that survive 60-degree washes without fading.

Don't be fooled by cost when it comes to fitting out your team. A cheap uniform that loses shape after twenty washes costs more than a good one that lasts three years.

Order Veterinary Uniforms From Grahame Gardner Today

At Grahame Gardner, we have supplied workwear to UK healthcare and veterinary teams for over a century, and our scrubs, tunics, polos and footwear are built for the demands of real working environments. Shop our healthcare uniforms collection to see the full range, or explore our healthcare scrubs collection for veterinary practice and theatre use today. For more information, please feel free to contact us or explore our blogs for more guides and information.