Good Vets (or Vets to be avoided!)

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good vet? I am happy to travel a little for the right person, (ie someone who will take good care of my much loved animals but will not fleece me unnecessarily in the process).

Many thanks.

Littlejohn

Andrew Kirby on Grange Road, Bermondsey, are very good. I've always found them easy to deal with, good with my grumpy cat, and reasonable in terms of charges.

I think Andrew Kirby is actually more expensive than most vets. For some treatments it's extremely more expensive. However, they are very good.

I thought they were quite expensive and didn't really consider my circumstances (not that I wouldn't find the money for treatment if my cats needed it, obviously, but that I can't pay for stuff they don't really need and I felt a bit pressurised sometimes)

I agree with Littlejohn... have used them over the years they are good for routine check ups and jabs but when something out of the ordinary happens they seem to hike up the prices and make you feel that some treatments were absolutely necessary (testing for over £500 just to diagnose!)

I have yet to find a vet i am comfortable with..

may I suggest, it may help to have a quick search online to look for vets that have a genuine interest/specialism in the animal, suggested by other owners.

I found Andrew Kirby ok but overpriced. I stopped using them after I encountered an incredibly rude vet there. She was trying to say that my Cat's vomiting was due to the diet I was feeding them (it wasn't as it had been present long before I made the switch) and wanted me to feed them the cr*p that they earn commission to sell. She wasn't happy when I politely questioned her knowledge of animal nutrition and got quite surly and aggressive.

I now use Medivet in Battersea who are pleasant and have more reasonable charges.

We have used Andrew Kirby for our kitties, and found them to be really superb, very caring about the animals themselves, and they give really considered, expert advice about various conditions and pros and cons etc. I've never felt pressured about any treatment [and there have been a few episodes of 9 lives] and for major treatment, insurance does pay out. I think they are so good, they should run local GP surgeries, they have a better idea about client care! They always try to give you continuity of care, so the same vet sees an animal undergoing a course of treatment. Plus appointments over 7 days. Absolutely no connection etc.

I agree with Kitkat, I've always found Andrew Kirbys to be a good vet and very caring. Unfortunately vets are expensive, and treatments have got more expensive as technology has moved on and more conditions are treatable. Ultimately it's private medicine, and you get what you pay for. Luckily people have the NHS so we don't have to face the sort of choices we have to with our pets.

It's a really good idea to get insurance, but I've found that most vets I've seen over the years are very understandable if you don't have it and will try to come up with cheaper alternatives.

I've also heard good things about the vet in Battersea and you could have a trip to the park afterwards!

Themis wrote:

I found Andrew Kirby ok but overpriced. I stopped using them after I encountered an incredibly rude vet there. She was trying to say that my Cat's vomiting was due to the diet I was feeding them (it wasn't as it had been present long before I made the switch) and wanted me to feed them the cr*p that they earn commission to sell. She wasn't happy when I politely questioned her knowledge of animal nutrition and got quite surly and aggressive.
I now use Medivet in Battersea who are pleasant and have more reasonable charges.

This might have been the same woman who, on hearing that I fed my cats raw chicken, told me that I shouldn't on the grounds that I (me) wouldn't want to eat it, would I, so neither should they. I also wouldn't want to eat mice (raw or cooked) pidgeons or rabbits raw, all of which my cats wolf down completely outside my control.

Andrew Kirby surgery looked after my cat very well for 17 years and were wonderful and supportive during her last months and when she died. Would recommend them and will def be going back if I get another cat. They have a good payment plan scheme for regular treatments - vaccinations etc.