Emergency Vets in Sevenoaks

## Summary The Sevenoaks Veterinary Surgery is part of the Meopham Vets group, working alongside a connected veterinary hospital that provides 24-hour emergency cover year-round. The practice is set up for small animals (dogs, cats and rabbits), with both routine care and advanced diagnostics/treatments listed on its site (including CT scanning, endoscopy, and orthopaedic surgery). In the latest reviews, owners most often describe: - clear, detailed explanations of options and aftercare (including medication instructions and recheck plans) - support through end-of-life decisions (guidance around euthanasia and bereavement) - practical access to care when it matters (same-day appointment for a “poorly dog” mentioned) - a focus on treatment choices that consider cost implications, rather than “pushing” expensive options (as described by reviewers) ## Services Based on the clinic website and the written reviews available: - **Consultations and preventive care:** consultations, vaccinations, microchipping, prescriptions, puppy package. - **Surgery:** general surgery; **laparoscopic (keyhole) spays** (specifically mentioned in reviews); orthopaedic surgery. One review describes **urgent abdominal surgery to remove bladder stones**. - **Diagnostics and imaging:** laboratory facilities, radiography (X-rays), ultrasonography (ultrasound), endoscopy, **CT scanning**. - **Rehab and pain management:** physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, small animal acupuncture. - **Eye care:** ophthalmology. - **Behaviour support:** canine behaviourist. - **End-of-life care:** end-of-life care and bereavement support (also strongly reflected in reviews). - **Grooming:** pet grooming, including spa treatments and handstripping (website lists a full grooming service for dogs, cats and rabbits). - **Emergency care:** 24-hour emergency service provided via their connected hospital (365 days a year). The website also states nursing staff are on site 24 hours a day to care for in-patients at that hospital. Additional capability from structured clinic data: - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. ## People - **Charlotte (vet)** is named repeatedly in recent reviews. Owners describe her as: - explaining conditions and treatment plans “in detail” and answering questions clearly - discussing costs and recommending treatment/medication based on the pet’s needs rather than expense - providing continuity (“seen her at every visit”) - handling nervous dogs effectively (one owner says their dog was “petrified of the vets” but visits became more manageable) - **Zoe** is mentioned in a review about a laparoscopic spay, where the owner says she explained everything beforehand. - **Vet nurses and reception team** are mentioned for aftercare explanations (including medication guidance and when to return for a check-up) and for how they greet and interact with pets. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 179 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **End-of-life support is a recurring theme**, with multiple owners describing guidance, empathy, and help navigating euthanasia and grief. - **Explanations and communication:** owners repeatedly mention detailed, clear explanations of treatment plans and aftercare (including pain relief instructions and follow-up). - **Responsiveness for urgent problems:** a same-day appointment is specifically mentioned; another review describes urgent surgery for bladder stones with aftercare explained. - **Cost awareness:** several reviewers contrast this practice with previous vets, saying treatment options were discussed with attention to financial implications rather than profit.

## Summary Elands Veterinary Clinic has been operating since the 1980s and describes purpose-built facilities with “state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment” on its website. Services explicitly referenced include routine preventive care (vaccinations, microchipping) and dentistry, with reviewers specifically mentioning cat tooth extraction and follow-up rechecks. Clinic data also lists it as a **veterinary nurse training facility**. Ownership is a decision point: one reviewer says the practice “is no longer the family run practice” and has become part of **VetPartners Practices**, which they associate with higher fees and a change in service. Reviews overall are mostly very positive about vets/nurses and day-to-day care, but several recent 1-star reviews describe problems with front-desk/management communication and how an emergency or dental case was handled. ## Services From the clinic website summary and reviews, the following are explicitly mentioned: - **Vaccinations** - **Microchipping** - **Dental care**, including **tooth extraction** (mentioned in a detailed cat dentistry review) - **Minimally invasive surgeries** (listed on the website) - **Diagnostic equipment** described as “state-of-the-art” (website) - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in clinic data) - **Emergency veterinary services** are listed in clinic data; the website summary available to us does not describe specific out-of-hours arrangements, and reviews include both praise and criticism relating to urgent care handling. ## People Named individuals mentioned in reviews: - **Saija Smith (practice manager)**: described very negatively in multiple recent reviews (e.g., “rude, unhelpful”), including complaints about handling insurance-related administration and email communication. - **Angela (reception; reviewer believes she has left)**: one reviewer describes her as “rude, unhelpful, or dismissive.” More generally (without individual names), multiple reviewers describe good experiences with **vets, nurses, and reception**—for example, feeling reassured their cat was “in safe hands,” getting helpful advice over the phone, and describing the team as kind and supportive. These positives conflict with recent reports of poor customer service from reception/management. ## Reviews **4.9 stars from 95 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Many owners describe consistently positive day-to-day experiences over years, including pets that are comfortable coming in (e.g., a dog “gets excited when she visits”). - Several reviews highlight supportive communication, including reception giving practical advice by phone and a sense that staff don’t push unnecessary add-ons (“never try to up sell anything”). - Recent negative reviews focus on **customer service and administration**, including rudeness/dismissiveness at reception or from management and difficulty obtaining written statements or handling insurance processes. - One detailed 1-star account raises **clinical-process concerns around dentistry**, including a full day waiting for a planned extraction before being sent home due to an emergency case, irritation/swelling at a fluid injection site, concern about being advised to keep a drip needle in over a weekend, and an infection identified at a recheck after the extraction (with the owner disputing the absence/effectiveness of antibiotics). - Ownership/fee concerns appear in reviews: one person links a “massive increase in fees” to joining **VetPartners Practices**, while another reviewer states they consider the practice “amazing value for money,” showing a clear disagreement on cost/value.

## Summary Medivet West Kingsdown is part of the Medivet group and is set up for routine preventative care alongside in-practice diagnostics (in-house lab, ultrasound, X‑rays) and dentistry. The clinic’s own info lists support for a wide range of species (cats, dogs, rabbits, exotics, avians and reptiles), plus nurse clinics and 15‑minute consultations. In recent reviews, owners repeatedly mention thorough health checks, clear explanations (vaccinations, flea/worm/tick control), and staff taking time to help anxious or reluctant dogs feel comfortable (including encouragement into the treatment room rather than forcing the issue). Out-of-hours care is stated as being provided by Medivet 24 Hour Dartford. ## Services - Vaccinations - Parasite care (flea, worm and tick treatment is specifically mentioned in reviews) - Pet neutering - Microchipping - 15‑minute consultations - Animal Health Certificates (owners mention advice about travelling abroad with dogs) - Dentistry - Nurse clinics - Diagnostic facilities: in-house laboratory, ultrasound, X‑rays - Species seen (per clinic info): cats, dogs, rabbits, exotics, avians, reptiles - Emergency/out-of-hours: out of hours practice is provided by Medivet 24 Hour Dartford - Veterinary Nurse Training facility (listed in clinic data) ## People - **Sam** (reception/team member, per review): mentioned for helping owners feel “welcome, relaxed and informed.” - **Vets and nurses (unnamed)**: owners describe thorough check-ups and clear, practical advice—examples include talking through vaccination plans and adjusting flea/worming treatment after ticks were found. - **Front-of-house team (unnamed)**: multiple reviews mention a friendly welcome and helping nervous pets feel at ease during visits. ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 230 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Owners frequently mention **calm handling of anxious or wary dogs**, including taking time to encourage a dog into the treatment room. - **Thorough health checks** are repeatedly noted (e.g., puppy first-visit check-up; 6‑monthly health checks with a “clean bill of health”). - **Clear, practical guidance** comes up often: vaccinations, flea/worming/tick control changes, and advice for travelling abroad with dogs. - A few owners mention **insurance/plan discussions**, including temporary Pet Plan cover to give time to research other options.