Emergency Vets in Gravesend

## Summary The Meopham Veterinary Hospital is an RCVS certified Veterinary Hospital with a 24-hour emergency service and nursing staff on-site 24/7 for in-patients (365 days a year). Based on its stated facilities and recent client experiences, it’s set up for both routine care (consultations, vaccinations, microchipping) and complex referral-style work (CT scanning, ophthalmology and other surgery), alongside rehabilitation services (hydrotherapy/physiotherapy) and an in-house groomer. Recent reviews repeatedly mention: - being seen overnight for urgent problems, including pregnancy/whelping complications - referral diagnostics such as CT scans, with cases fitted in as emergencies when a pet worsened - ophthalmology/eye surgery (including entropion correction in a young puppy) - a separate grooming service that clients describe as friendly and helpful ## Services From the clinic website and the latest reviews, services and capabilities mentioned include: - **24-hour emergency care** (described as available 365 days a year), with **nursing staff on-site 24/7** for hospitalised patients - **Consultations**, **vaccinations**, **microchipping**, **prescriptions** - **General surgery** and **orthopaedic surgery** - **Laparoscopic spays** - **Ophthalmology**, including **eye surgery** (entropion correction is specifically mentioned in a review) - **CT scanning** (explicitly mentioned as a reason for referral) - **Endoscopy**, **radiography**, **ultrasonography** - **Laboratory facilities** - **Physiotherapy** and **hydrotherapy**, plus **laser therapy** - **Nurse clinics** - **Canine behaviourist** - **End of life care** and **bereavement support** - **Animal health certificates** - **Pet grooming** (with “full grooming service” and spa-type treatments mentioned on the site) - Species listed on the site: **dogs, cats, rabbits** - Structured clinic data also lists it as a **Veterinary Nurse Training** facility ## Pricing - One recent review reports an **after-hours bill of £1295** for emergency treatment during pregnancy/whelping complications, and says **no itemised receipt was given**. ## People Named staff mentioned in recent reviews: - **Zoe (vet)** – a client notes she had seen their cat before (details already on file) and describes her as consistently kind to the cat. - **Dr Bruce Mcleary** – mentioned in connection with a **CT scan** work-up; the reviewer says he helped put a nervous dog at ease and was thorough in finding a solution. - **Martin (vet, described by the reviewer as a specialist in eye surgery)** – credited with **entropion surgery** on a 12-week-old puppy; the reviewer also mentions staff taking turns to comfort the puppy while waiting. - **Eva and Lucy (night duty team)** – named by a reviewer who brought in a nervous dog overnight with **whelping complications**; they describe being welcomed and supported during the emergency. Non-clinical staff: - **Reception** is specifically mentioned as “super helpful” in one recent review. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 537 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **24-hour access and urgent care:** people describe reassurance from the round-the-clock service and being seen overnight for emergencies, including pregnancy/whelping complications. - **Advanced diagnostics and referral-style capability:** a CT scan is specifically mentioned, including being **fitted in as an emergency** when a dog deteriorated. - **Eye cases and surgery:** one long-term client describes **entropion eye surgery** with good results and staff actively comforting a young puppy pre-procedure. - **Grooming service experience:** a reviewer notes the veterinary practice and groomers were both friendly and helpful. - **Cost and billing clarity (mixed feedback):** one reviewer warns that **after-hours care was expensive (£1295)** and reports **no itemised receipt**, while other recent reviews focus on reassurance, kindness, and supportive handling during stressful visits.

## Summary Shrubbery Veterinary Centre is an independent veterinary practice (no corporate group mentioned on its website) and says it has been providing veterinary care for over 60 years. The clinic describes itself as well-equipped with a large group of clinicians with different skills, and it is an accredited veterinary nurse training practice. It also states it provides emergency care 7 days a week, 365 days a year. From the latest reviews available, owners describe being told to come straight in for emergencies (including a 16‑week‑old puppy) and mention specific procedures like dental cleaning, possible tooth extractions (later not needed), ear care, and nail/claw clipping. However, there are also serious complaints describing misdiagnosis, conflicting opinions between different vets, and dissatisfaction escalating to referral elsewhere and a disputed bill being passed to a debt collection agency. ## Services Based on the clinic website and the latest written reviews available to us, Shrubbery Veterinary Centre is described as offering: - **Emergency care**: the practice states emergency care is available **7 days a week, 365 days a year**; one reviewer describes calling with a puppy emergency and being told to come in immediately for treatment. - **Nurse clinics** (listed on the website). - **Neutering** (listed on the website). - **Dental care**: review mentions a cat being assessed for **possible three tooth extractions**, then the clinic phoned to advise **a dental clean instead**. - **Routine care mentioned in reviews**: **ear care** and **claw clipping** were done during the same visit as the dental workup. ## People - **Caitlin (veterinary nurse)**: thanked by name for handling an emergency visit for a young puppy; the owner highlighted her kindness and that the practice was easy to book with. - **Ally (vet, role not explicitly stated but referenced as “the vets,” especially Ally)**: praised for support during a euthanasia/“saying goodbye” appointment; the reviewer noted she became emotional too, which they interpreted as compassion. ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 370 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Urgent access and responsiveness**: one owner reports being told to come to the surgery immediately and that their puppy was treated the same day. - **Clear updates and avoiding unnecessary procedures**: a cat owner says they were initially quoted for up to **three tooth extractions**, then received a call to say **a clean was sufficient**, alongside ear/claw care. - **End-of-life support**: one review specifically mentions a vet (Ally) being supportive while the family said goodbye to a pet. - **Conflicting and negative experiences also reported**: two separate 1‑star reviews describe **misdiagnosis**, feeling judged as owners, **conflicting diagnoses across different vets**, lack of antibiotics being prescribed during repeated visits, and needing treatment/referral elsewhere; one also alleges a disputed bill was passed to a debt collection agency.