Specialist Vets in Slough

## Summary Family Friends Veterinary Centre describes itself as an **independent, family-run practice operating since 2006**. Recent reviews suggest it’s set up for both routine care and more complex cases, with examples including **persistently investigating a cat’s complex urinary problems until specialist imaging identified a missed stone**, enabling **PU surgery**. Owners also mention **post-op follow-up communication (a vet calling to explain what happened during surgery and confirm a cat was fine afterwards)** and support in difficult moments such as **a home visit for euthanasia**. ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned in the available website/review information include: - **Diagnostics leading to referral-level investigation**, including **specialist imaging** to identify urinary stones (as described by an owner whose cat later had PU surgery). - **Surgery**, with specific examples including: - **PU surgery** (mentioned in relation to a urinary stone case). - Surgery related to **cryptorchidism** (owner noted pre-op advice and a post-op call explaining the procedure). - **Support for nervous/anxious dogs**, based on an owner describing their “nervous staffy” being handled well during a visit. - **End-of-life care**, including **a home visit when an owner had to say goodbye**. - **Rescue/rehoming involvement**, with one reviewer stating they **got a rescue kitten** through the clinic. - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (listed in the structured clinic data). ## People - **Ash (vet)** – praised for **advice on a cat’s cryptorchidism** and for **calling after surgery** to explain what happened and confirm the cat was OK post-procedure. - **Steven (vet)** – singled out for being **good with a nervous dog** during an appointment. - **Reception team** – repeatedly described as recognising clients/pets and being welcoming; one owner said that when booking, it feels like “everyone knows me and my cats.” ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 284 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Persistence with complex cases:** one owner credits the team with not giving up on a cat’s urinary issues, pushing for imaging that found a missed stone and made PU surgery possible. - **Clear post-op communication:** a vet **called to explain surgery details and confirm recovery** after a procedure. - **Long-term relationships:** multiple owners describe being with the practice for **8–15 years** across several pets. - **Supportive handling and atmosphere:** examples include a nervous dog being managed well, and another dog happily visiting staff for attention and treats. - **End-of-life support:** one review describes a **home visit for euthanasia**, with the team helping make the process as manageable as possible.

## Summary Part of the **Vets4Pets** group, this is a modern practice set up for **on-site diagnostics and day-to-day medical/surgical care**, with facilities including an **in‑house lab, pharmacy, digital X‑ray and ultrasound**, plus **separate cat & dog waiting areas/wards** and an **isolation unit**. The service mix and equipment list suggest it can handle investigations (blood tests, imaging), dentistry (including **dental X‑ray**), and procedures requiring anaesthesia and theatre facilities. From the latest reviews, owners most often describe **fast access to appointments for urgent issues** (e.g., a **10‑week‑old puppy made unwell after eating something**) and **supportive end‑of‑life care** where families were given time to say goodbye. A recurring concern in one detailed review is **payment/insurance administration**, including being told **pre‑authorisation wouldn’t be done** and being asked for substantial **up‑front payment**. ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned by the clinic include: - **In-house diagnostics:** biochemistry, haematology, electrolytes, blood pressure monitoring, ECG - **Imaging:** digital X‑ray, **ultrasound**, **dental X‑ray** - **Dentistry** - **Anaesthesia** and **operating theatre** - **Isolation unit**, plus **separated dog & cat wards** and **separate cat & dog waiting areas** - **Oxygen chamber** - **Microchipping** - **Nurse clinic**, weight clinic, nutritional advice - **Prescriptions/medication** (pharmacy) - **Small mammal medicine and surgery** - **Herbal medicines** - **Groom Room** - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (as listed in clinic data) Out-of-hours: the website states that when the practice is closed, owners can access a **support line** to speak to a qualified veterinary team, and that the **out-of-hours provider is Vets Now Staines**. ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being told they needed to **pay over £250 up front** and claim back from insurance later because the practice wouldn’t obtain **paid pre‑authorisation**. - The same reviewer later reports being asked to pay **almost £1,000 up front** immediately after euthanasia, again linked (in their account) to refusal of insurance pre‑authorisation. ## People - **Amy**: mentioned for explaining the clinic’s process for managing a puppy made unwell after eating something, and for reassuring new owners. - **Alicia, Rebecca and Gemma**: thanked for helping secure a prompt appointment and explaining next steps clearly during that puppy visit. - **Sarah**: described as “great” when handling a kitten. - **Dr Renee**: credited with managing an emergency case for a cat; the owner felt she was doing everything she could to get the cat well again. - In one detailed review, the **vet and nursing staff** are described as “fantastic” during euthanasia, while **front-desk billing/insurance communication** is described as problematic. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.4 stars from 350 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Urgent problems seen promptly**, with clear explanations (example: a sick puppy after eating something was given a quick appointment and the plan was explained). - **End-of-life support** is highlighted by multiple owners: being given time to say goodbye and having the process handled with patience and dignity. - **Mixed experiences with reception/administration**, including one detailed complaint about a receptionist’s manner and reported refusal to pursue insurance pre‑authorisation, leading to **up-front payment requests**. - Some owners also mention **helpful discussion around costs**, while others describe billing/insurance conversations as the main pain point.

## Summary Penstone Veterinary Group is a veterinary practice that states it is a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** and offers **emergency veterinary services (24/7 or extended hours)**. Reviews describe routine care as well as urgent presentations: one owner reports being seen “straight away without booking” for a kitten that collapsed with a high temperature, and another describes a **dental clean** for an older dog with a **text message sent when collection was due**. Several owners say the vets are **thorough** and that they **don’t feel pressured into treatments or medications**. However, there is also a detailed 1‑star account describing poor post‑operative management after a tail lump removal (including concerns about bandaging, delayed antibiotics/pain relief, and alleged cleanliness/compassion issues), which the reviewer says ended with partial tail amputation at another clinic. (Ownership type—independent vs corporate group—is not stated in the information provided.) ## Services Based on the clinic data and the written reviews available: - **Emergency/urgent care** (described as 24/7 or extended-hours; one reviewer reports being treated immediately without an appointment in an emergency involving a kitten with high temperature/viral illness). - **Dental procedures** (teeth cleaning mentioned; owner reports updates by text about pickup time). - **Surgery** (tail lump removal surgery discussed in one review, with follow-up bandage changes). - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (stated capability). ## People No individual clinicians or nurses are named in the information provided. What owners comment on most often is the team’s approach: - **Communication/updates:** one owner describes receiving a **text message** after a dental procedure to confirm what time to collect their dog. - **Decision-making pressure:** one owner says they felt **no treatments or medications were “forced”**, and that issues were handled thoroughly. - **Handling urgent cases:** one reviewer describes a rapid response for a seriously unwell kitten. There is also a contrasting account alleging poor post-op support (including needing to request pain relief/antibiotics and feeling concerns were dismissed). ## Reviews **4.5 stars from 50 reviews.** The themes are mostly long-term loyalty and positive experiences, with one detailed report of a serious post-surgical complication and dissatisfaction. **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Long-term use and repeat visits:** multiple reviewers mention attending for 10+ years, including one “nearly 30 years.” - **Urgent access when needed:** an owner describes being seen immediately in an emergency with a kitten who collapsed with high temperature, and credits treatment with recovery. - **Dentistry and day-procedure logistics:** teeth cleaning is mentioned, including a **text update** for collection time. - **Low-pressure treatment recommendations:** one reviewer says treatments/medications weren’t pushed. - **A serious negative surgical aftercare account:** one reviewer describes tail surgery followed by worsening wound condition, frequent bandage slippage, delayed antibiotics/pain relief (only after requesting), and ultimately **partial tail amputation** elsewhere; they also allege the facility was unclean and staff lacked compassion.

## Summary Medivet Wexham is part of the Medivet group and offers routine care plus on-site diagnostics (X‑rays and an in‑house laboratory), with standard **15‑minute consultations**. Reviews most often describe supportive, low-stress handling and practical help when owners need quick guidance—for example, callers seeking advice about a dog distressed by fireworks were advised and then seen promptly, leaving with medication to try and reassurance. Owners also mention routine procedures including **cat spays** with smooth healing and minimal visible swelling/stitches, and preventative care delivered via a **pet care plan** (vaccinations, parasite treatments, microchipping, nail cutting). ## Services From the clinic’s website summary and the latest reviews, services mentioned include: - **Vaccinations** - **Parasite care** (flea and worm treatment mentioned in reviews) - **Pet neutering** (cat spay mentioned in reviews) - **Microchipping** (mentioned in reviews) - **Dentistry** - **Nurse clinics** - **Home visits** - **Animal Health Certificate** for pet travel - **X-rays** - **In-house laboratory** - **15-minute consultations** Out-of-hours/emergency arrangement (as stated on the website): the nearest 24-hour emergency practice is **Medivet 24 Hour Watford**, with an **out-of-hours consultation fee of £130**, and **no charge for assessment by phone**. Species mentioned on the website: **cats, dogs, rabbits**. ## Pricing - **Out-of-hours consultation fee:** **£130** (for the named 24-hour emergency practice) - **Phone assessment:** **no charge** (for out-of-hours assessment by phone, as stated) ## People - **Richard (vet)** is specifically named in reviews. One owner credits him with performing their cat’s spay “clinically,” with minimal cuts and a recovery described as quick, with no noticeable stitches or swelling. - Owners also mention the **reception team and vet** being polite and helpful, and vets taking care to handle **nervous dogs** gently so they remain calm during the visit. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 119 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Help when owners call for advice:** a review describes phoning about a dog stressed by fireworks, being directed to come in promptly, receiving medication to try, and leaving reassured. - **Smooth routine surgery outcomes:** a cat spay is described as minimally invasive with rapid healing and little visible swelling/stitching. - **Handling nervous pets carefully:** owners mention a nervous dog staying calm due to the vet’s gentle handling. - **Preventative care and plans:** vaccinations, flea/worm treatments, microchipping, and nail cutting are mentioned, with one owner saying these were covered under a pet care plan.

## Summary The Beeches Veterinary Centre is part of the **Active Vetcare Veterinary Group** and operates as a **small animal** practice. From the clinic’s own service list and facilities, it looks set up for both routine care (vaccines, parasite control, nurse clinics) and more involved work, including **diagnostic imaging (X‑ray, ultrasound)** and an **on-site laboratory**, plus **referral services** for soft tissue surgery, orthopaedics and cardiology. In recent reviews, owners describe clear communication and collaborative decision-making (for example, being “constantly informed of the options” during a pet’s illness). One detailed account describes a dog with a **foreign body in the eye**, where the vet **pushed for a specialist ophthalmology consultation** and the object was removed “quickly and smoothly.” There are also a small number of sharply negative reviews that complain of “zero cooperation with the client,” which conflicts with other owners’ experiences of being kept informed. ## Services Based on the website summary and reviews, the practice offers: - **Consultations** for small animals - **Vaccinations** and **parasite control** - **Microchipping** - **Neutering** - **Surgery**, plus referral services for: - **Soft tissue surgery** - **Orthopaedic surgery** - **Cardiology** - **Dentistry** - **Diagnostic tests & imaging**, including **X‑ray**, **ultrasound**, and an **on-site laboratory** - **Nurse clinics**, including **blood pressure checks** and **six-month health checks** - **Grooming & nail clipping** and **anal sac expression** - **Pet travel documentation (GB)** - **Home visits** - **Exotic animals GP service** (species list includes small mammals, reptiles/tortoises, cage birds and backyard poultry, as well as dogs and cats) **Emergency care (as stated by the clinic):** emergencies can be handled during normal opening hours; out-of-hours support is provided by **MiNightVet Wokingham** and **MiNightVet Maidenhead**. Other practice features stated on the site: - **Cat Friendly Clinic – Silver** - **RCVS Client Service Award – Outstanding** - Has a **qualified Blue Cross pet bereavement support staff member** - Listed as a **Veterinary Nurse Training** facility ## People Named in the latest reviews: - **Angela (vet)** – repeatedly mentioned for explaining things clearly and helping owners feel comfortable during consultations. One owner says she “got me the cheapest quote she could.” In a separate detailed case, she was described as knowing when to escalate and **arranged a specialist ophthalmologist consultation** for an eye foreign body. - **Katie** – mentioned as being particularly good with a nervous/reactive dog during follow-up care. - **Megan, Jude, Paige** – described as “sweet and organised” during the same eye-related case. - **John Burgess (ophthalmologist)** – mentioned as the specialist involved in the eye foreign body removal pathway. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 246 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Several owners describe being **kept informed about options** during illness and feeling supported by the whole team (reception, nurses and vets). - Specific examples of care include **follow-up for an eye foreign body**, escalation to an **ophthalmology specialist**, and a “quick and smooth” removal. - One review mentions support through **diabetes care** for an older dog and kindness during end-of-life. - Pricing/value is mentioned, but only comparatively (“very reasonable compared to some other places”)—no specific fees are provided. - A minority of reviews are strongly negative, complaining of **“zero cooperation with the client”** and calling it a waste of time and money, which conflicts with other reports of clear explanations and updates.