Specialist Vets in Hove

## Summary Wilbury Veterinary Services Limited presents itself as a family-run, “boutique” practice focused on a more tailored experience for owners. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as a place they turn to for urgent appointments, complex or unclear conditions, and surgical aftercare—alongside support for anxious rescue dogs and end-of-life decisions. Concrete specifics mentioned by owners include same-day urgent fit-ins (including on a public holiday), regular post-op updates with photos, and a clinic setup with separate waiting areas for cats and dogs. Surgical work is also directly referenced in reviews (including TPLO surgery, wound stitching after a fight, and other procedures), and one owner describes the vet contacting the Royal College of Vets while working up a difficult diagnosis. ## Services Services and capabilities explicitly referenced in the available information include: - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in clinic data) - **Urgent/same-day care** (owners describe being “fitted in straight away” when urgent care was needed) - **Surgery and procedures**, including: - **TPLO surgery** (dog) - **Wound repair/stitching** after an injury - **Operations** with post-operative monitoring/updates (one owner mentions “her first operation”) - **Other procedures** (one owner references multiple procedures including “surgery on his anus”) - **Diagnostics and complex case management** - A reviewer describes a difficult puppy case where the vet pursued a diagnosis over multiple appointments and medications, including seeking external input (contacting the Royal College of Vets) - **End-of-life care** - Several reviews describe compassionate support when options were limited, including making pets comfortable and providing a peaceful experience - **Handling nervous/anxious pets** - Multiple owners mention careful handling for highly strung or rescue dogs, aiming to minimise stress ## People Named team members who appear in recent reviews: - **Rosie Lane (vet/veterinary surgeon, as described by reviewers)** Owners highlight clear explanations, comfort-focused care when outcomes were poor, and careful handling—particularly with anxious dogs and difficult procedures. One urgent-care reviewer also mentions she “explained her condition very clearly.” - **Amy Perrin (veterinary nurse, as described by a reviewer)** Mentioned for staying after her shift to support an urgent visit when there were no treatment options available. - **Jo (role not stated in the review, but described as providing veterinary care)** Credited with pursuing a hard-to-diagnose, severe puppy illness over months, coordinating further opinion (including contacting the Royal College of Vets), and continuing treatment until recovery. - **Peter and Anna (roles not stated)** Mentioned as part of the team involved throughout a dog’s TPLO surgery “from start to finish,” with owners emphasising reassurance and attentiveness. - **Reception team (not named)** Repeatedly mentioned for practical help (including guidance on sorting pet insurance) and supportive communication during stressful periods. ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 696 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Urgent access and responsiveness:** owners describe being fit in immediately when care was needed urgently. - **Surgery and aftercare communication:** examples include TPLO surgery, stitches after an injury, and owners receiving regular updates/photos during recovery. - **Clear explanations and help with difficult decisions:** multiple reviews focus on end-of-life consultations and situations where “there weren’t any options,” with emphasis on comfort and clarity. - **Strong handling skills for nervous/rescue dogs:** several owners describe highly strung or rescue dogs being managed with minimal stress—even dogs that typically dislike vets tolerating visits and procedures. - **Cost is mentioned in mixed terms:** one reviewer notes some people find treatment “slightly more expensive,” while also stating the practice made efforts to reduce costs (e.g., combining procedures or offering a range of treatment options).

## Summary Acorn Veterinary Surgery promotes a Pet Health Club® Plus plan where consultations are included (per its website). In the review set, owners describe a mix of strong clinical care and explanations (for example, a vomiting puppy visit where treatment and costs were explained) alongside recurring complaints about communication and customer handling—especially around pricing clarity and rigid vaccination booking rules. A separate theme is access: one long‑term client reports being unable to get timely appointments for an unwell dog and being told to phone at 8am for “on the day” slots, while another reviewer describes cost discussions feeling judgmental. Concrete points repeatedly mentioned: - Pet Health Club / “pet club” is referenced as “great value” and said to include consultations (website + review). - Puppy vaccinations and second-jab scheduling are a flashpoint in multiple reviews (owners disputing a “must be exactly 4 weeks” rule and describing being told to go elsewhere). - Pricing communication is disputed: one review cites a quoted £145 for a cat travel document but being charged £175, and another mentions VAT being added rather than shown upfront. - Some owners report clear explanations of treatment and costs during urgent illness (vomiting puppy), while others report poor bedside manner (including a distressing euthanasia comment) and “toxic” reception interactions. ## Services Services explicitly referenced in available sources include: - Pet Health Club® Plus plan with consultations included (website text). - Vaccinations for puppies (reviews mention first and second vaccinations and booking constraints). - Treatment for acute illness (example given: a puppy seen for vomiting, with reasons for treatment explained) (review). - Ongoing care for older dogs, including discussion of health going forward and joint pain (review). - Cat treatment (non-specific clinical care mentioned) (review). - Pet travel documentation for cats (review). - Emergency veterinary services are listed in the provided clinic data as “24/7 or extended hours” (no further detail provided). - Veterinary Nurse Training facility is listed in the provided clinic data. ## Pricing Only pricing explicitly mentioned in the reviews: - Cat travel document appointment: one owner says they were quoted **£145** but then charged **£175** at the visit, and they say they were not informed of the change in advance. - One owner reports invoices where **VAT was added on top** rather than being made clear upfront (no amounts given). - Pet Health Club / “pet club” is described as “great value” and the website states consultations are included, but no membership price is provided. ## People Named individuals mentioned in reviews: - **Verity** (vet): one owner describes her as professional and knowledgeable, and says she explained their dog’s health outlook and joint pain concerns. - **Taylor** (staff member, referenced in phone/reception context): multiple owners describe being told vaccinations must be done on an exact timeline and say they were told to “go elsewhere” when they couldn’t meet the date; these reviewers experienced the communication as cold or unhelpful. More generally, reviews describe variation between clinicians and front-desk interactions: - Some owners say the **vets** are polite and that pets were “clinically well cared for.” - Others describe **poor bedside manner** and feeling judged when asking about costs, including one account of an inappropriate euthanasia-related remark that led them to make a formal complaint. - Several reviews focus on **reception/phone attitude** as a major problem (e.g., “toxic vibe,” rudeness). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 256 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Clinical care and explanations praised in some cases:** examples include “excellent care” for an older dog and a vomiting puppy visit where reasons, treatment, and costs were explained. - **Access/availability concerns:** one long-term client reports being unable to get an appointment for a dog in pain (told the next available was about a month away) and being instructed to call at 8am daily for “on the day” slots, then waiting on hold without success. - **Pricing clarity disputes:** one reviewer reports a quote of £145 for travel documentation but being charged £175; another says VAT was added on top rather than being clearly presented upfront. - **Communication and tone conflicts:** alongside mentions of kind vets, multiple reviews describe dismissive or rude interactions (particularly attributed to reception/phone), and one review alleges judgmental comments toward owners during stressful decisions.

## Summary Companion Care (Hove) Ltd describes itself as a **locally owned** veterinary practice operating **inside a Pets at Home store**, with facilities including an **operating theatre, digital X‑ray, ultrasound, endoscopy, and separate cat/dog waiting areas and wards**. It offers a wide range of small‑animal services (from routine vaccinations and microchipping to **orthopaedics, keyhole surgery, and chemotherapy**), and it states that **out‑of‑hours emergency cover** is provided via a **24‑hour vet call service** when the clinic is closed. Recent reviews are mixed: some owners describe **clear communication and emotional support during emergencies and end‑of‑life care** (including being **kept updated** and having procedures **explained step‑by‑step**), while others report **rude reception interactions, long waits/rushed appointments, and unresolved complaints** (including promised call‑backs that did not happen). ## Services Based on the clinic website summary and the reviews available to us, the clinic offers: - **Preventive care:** bespoke vaccination service; microchipping; weight clinic; nutritional advice - **Nurse-led support:** nurse clinic - **Surgery:** soft tissue surgery; **orthopaedics**; **keyhole surgery** (endosurgery) - **Diagnostics & imaging:** in‑house **blood analyser**; **digital X‑ray**; **ultrasound**; **endoscopy** - **Dentistry** - **Cancer care:** cancer treatment including **chemotherapy** - **Travel/admin support:** pet passport; **insurance claim processing** - **Emergency care (as stated):** if closed, emergency cover is available via a **24‑hour vet call service** (provider named on the site) The structured clinic data also lists the practice as a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. ## Pricing - One reviewer reports vaccinations costing **“nearly £200”**, and describes having to pay for a repeat course when reminders were not received and the vaccination timing became overdue. (This figure is a client report rather than a published price list.) ## People Named individuals mentioned in the latest reviews: - **Megan (vet)** — one cat owner specifically recommends her after an **unexpected emergency**, describing the team as **keeping them updated** and taking time to **comfort a distressed owner**. - **Frederica (vet)** — mentioned in a review about **euthanasia for an elderly dog**; the owner says she **explained everything** and **reassured them** to help them feel comfortable with their decision. - **Laura (receptionist, per a complaint in a review)** — one reviewer describes her manner as “appallingly rude” and says a written complaint was sent but they received **no acknowledgement**. ## Reviews **Google rating: 3.7 stars from 198 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Strong praise in some clinical situations:** owners describe being **kept updated during an emergency** and receiving **supportive communication**, including comfort offered to an upset owner. Another review highlights **clear explanations during euthanasia**. - **Front-desk experience is a frequent problem in negative reviews:** multiple reviewers describe reception staff as **rude/sarcastic**, and one describes being left waiting in an exam room and feeling “forgotten.” - **Communication and follow‑through complaints:** several negative reviews mention **no response to complaints** and **promised manager call‑backs not happening**; one also reports missed reminder texts for vaccinations. - **Cost/value concerns:** some reviewers describe the practice as **unnecessarily expensive**, including the specific complaint about paying for repeat vaccinations due to timing/reminder issues. - **Not all written reviews appear to be about veterinary care:** one 5‑star review describes buying fish and meeting a guinea pig, which reads like a retail/store experience rather than a clinical appointment.