Emergency Vets in Canterbury

## Summary The Barton Veterinary Hospital / MiNightVet Canterbury is a small-animal hospital (established 1890) that provides both routine care and on-site 24-hour emergency support via its dedicated MiNightVet service. It appears to be part of CVS Group (cvsvets.com email domain). Based on the clinic’s stated facilities and recent reviews, it’s set up for complex medical work as well as urgent care—owners mention rapid emergency triage, clear explanations with time to make decisions, and ongoing management for serious conditions (including heart failure supported by ultrasound expertise). The clinic also offers home visits, which one family used for euthanasia at home. ## Services From the clinic website summary and facilities listed: - **24-hour emergency care**: on-site dedicated emergency service (MiNightVet). - **Consultations and routine preventive care**: vaccinations, parasite control, microchipping, six-month health checks, blood pressure checks. - **Surgery**: soft tissue surgery and **keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery**; neutering is listed. - **Dentistry**. - **Diagnostics**: in-house lab testing, **X-ray**, **ultrasound**, and diagnostic tests/imaging. - **Referral-level services/specialties listed**: cardiology, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, laparoscopic surgery. - **Radioactive iodine treatment** (listed on the website). - **Nurse clinics** and **grooming/nail clipping**, anal sac expression. - **Pet travel documentation**. - **Puppy parties**. - **Home visits** (also reflected in a review describing euthanasia at home). - **Species treated**: dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, ferrets. - **Accreditations listed**: RCVS Veterinary Hospital; RCVS Emergency Services Clinic. - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (structured clinic data). ## People Named in the latest reviews: - **George (vet)**: repeatedly mentioned in emergency and end-of-life situations. Owners describe being seen immediately/within minutes in emergencies, having conditions and care plans explained clearly, and being given time to make difficult decisions without feeling rushed. - **Louise (vet)**: praised for handling a very nervous dog during annual injections—listening to the owner’s concerns, taking time to assess and “bond,” and adapting to the dog’s behaviour rather than pushing through quickly. - **Izzy and Megan**: mentioned for carrying out a **home euthanasia** with notable care and sensitivity, which mattered to the family during a difficult goodbye. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 300 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Fast response for emergencies**: owners describe being seen “immediately” or “within minutes” after calling, including repeat emergency visits. - **End-of-life care with time and explanations**: multiple reviews focus on euthanasia appointments where owners felt supported, not rushed, and guided through decisions with clear communication. - **Capability with serious/complex cases**: one owner describes long-term management of heart failure using specialist ultrasound expertise; another describes intensive care for two cats with life-threatening conditions (one recovery; one death after two weeks), alongside emphasis on honesty about prognosis. - **Handling anxious pets and anxious owners**: specific mention of taking time with a nervous dog and adjusting the approach during injections. - **Second-opinion value**: owners report switching after poor experiences elsewhere, including one case where Barton “found the problem straight away” after a previous vet said a cat was fine.

## Summary Elham Valley Referrals is an **independent** practice focused on **veterinary ophthalmology** (animal eye conditions), with a stated **24-hour emergency and out-of-hours service** for eye cases. Based on the website and reviews, it’s set up for **specialist diagnostics and eye surgery** rather than routine primary-care work: examples mentioned include **cataract surgery** and **corneal graft procedures**. Reviewers repeatedly describe **very thorough examinations**, and several give outcome-focused updates (for example, an ulcer treated with **eye debridement** healing fully; cataract surgery leading to improved vision). ## Services From the website (specialist ophthalmology): - **Cataract surgery** (phacoemulsification) with **prosthetic intraocular lens** placement - **Glaucoma assessment** (gonioscopy and tonometry) - **Investigation of blindness**, including **electroretinography** and **ocular ultrasound** - **Intraocular microsurgery** - **Corneal surgery**, including **advanced grafts**, **biomatrix corneal repair**, and **collagen cross-linking** techniques - **Laser surgery** for **tumours**, **glaucoma**, and **retinal detachment** - **Corrective/reconstructive eyelid surgery** - **Electrolysis and cryosurgery** - **Clinical and genetic screening** for inherited eye disease in dogs - **24-hour emergency and out-of-hours service** (as stated on the site) From reviews (examples of what owners say their pets received): - Management of **non-healing corneal ulcers** - **Eye debridement** for an ulcer (described by an owner as “making the ulcer bigger so new cells can regrow”) - **Cataract surgery** - **Corneal graft** and **third-eyelid closure** (“3rd eyelid closed”) for a suspected perforated cornea; next-day emergency review when the other eye deteriorated ## Pricing - One reviewer says **specialist eye treatment was expensive**, but also states they were **charged exactly what was quoted** and that an **insurance form was processed after the 2nd check-up** once recovery was established. ## People - **Rebecca** (named in reviews): described as the clinician who **performed cataract surgery**; owners credit her with improved vision (“gift of sight”) and say her team “really looked after” their dog during the process. - **Bartek, Sonia, Becky** (named in reviews): thanked for treating a **very timid/partly feral cat** with an eye condition (sequestra and corneal ulcer). The owner highlights handling that was sensitive during a stressful period and reports the recovery matched expectations after stitches were removed. - **Reception team / nursing team**: multiple owners mention a **warm, friendly reception**, pets being put at ease (treats mentioned), and staff “making a fuss of every animal,” alongside **thorough examinations**. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 82 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Eye-only referral caseload:** owners explicitly mention being referred for **ulcers**, **corneal perforation**, **cataracts**, and other eye injuries/conditions. - **Detailed consults and clear clinical process:** “very thorough” examinations; step-by-step treatments described (e.g., debridement; grafting; third-eyelid closure). - **Reported outcomes with follow-up updates:** healed ulcers and restored/maintained vision are repeated themes, including a long recovery timeline (e.g., “within 2 months… full vision with very little sign”). - **Emergency responsiveness noted in specific cases:** one owner describes immediate admission for surgery and being seen as an emergency the next day when the second eye worsened. - **Cost/quoting and insurance admin mentioned:** one reviewer notes high cost but says invoices matched quotes and insurance paperwork was handled after early rechecks.