Mark Nelson Vets – Vets in Westerham
Clinic Overview
Mark Nelson Vets is an independent small-animal practice established in 1982 by Mark Nelson and his father, Michael. The practice is set up for everyday primary-care work (vaccinations, health checks, long-term condition monitoring) with in-house diagnostics including x‑ray, ultrasound, blood pressure monitoring, and an in-house lab, plus modern anaesthetic equipment (including electrically warmed surgery tables).
From the latest reviews, owners most often describe a thorough, “keep-looking-until-the-cause-is-found” approach and vets who take time to explain options—alongside a small number of comments about front-desk manner being a problem. Specific examples mentioned include identifying dental disease that led to multiple tooth removals, diagnosing flea-bite allergy behind fur loss, and doing an older dog’s nail trim during a vaccination visit rather than requiring a separate nurse appointment. One reviewer also describes planning a follow-up appointment with a named locum vet.
Services
Based on the clinic’s website information and the written reviews available
- •Consultations by appointment
- •Vaccinations (including annual boosters mentioned in reviews)
- •Routine health checks
- •Monitoring of long-term conditions
- •Advanced diagnostics, with on-site facilities including
- •X‑ray
- •Ultrasound
- •Blood pressure monitoring
- •In-house laboratory testing
- •Anaesthesia support equipment noted on the website (state-of-the-art anaesthetic machines; electrically warmed surgery tables)
- •Pet travel certificates
- •Dietary advice
- •Behavioural advice
- •Flea and worm control (and flea-bite allergy discussed in reviews)
- •Dentistry/surgical treatment is referenced in reviews via “several teeth removed” for a cat
- •Nail trimming is mentioned as being done during a vet visit (for an older dog)
Additional capabilities listed in the provided clinic data
- •Emergency veterinary services (24/7 or extended hours)
- •Veterinary Nurse Training facility
People
- •Mark: Named in multiple reviews, including long-term clients (one mentions staying with him for ~30 years). A reviewer also contrasts the practice’s approach with prior experiences elsewhere, describing Mark as “lovely.”
- •Grace and Sophie: Thanked by name in a detailed review describing thorough investigation of vague symptoms, dental extractions, flea-bite allergy identification, and supportive communication during bereavement after a sudden loss.
- •Sonya (locum vet): Mentioned as “lovely and so helpful,” taking “a lot of care & time,” providing “a lot of useful information,” and arranging a follow-up appointment.
Reviews
Google rating: 4.7 stars from 72 reviews. Feedback is largely based on repeat clients and recent visits for routine care and problem-solving workups. “”
- •Long-term loyalty is a recurring theme (multiple reviewers describe being with the practice for many years/decades).
- •Thorough investigations and not “pushing” medication or unnecessary treatment are specifically mentioned; one owner describes the team continuing to investigate “vague symptoms” until finding the cause.
- •Concrete treatment examples include: dental disease identified leading to multiple teeth removed; fur loss attributed to flea-bite allergy; and nail trimming done during a vaccination appointment rather than booking separately.
- •Appointment experience is often described as efficient (one reviewer notes not waiting long) and the clinic environment as clean.
- •A minority report a sharply different experience at reception: one 1‑star review describes a receptionist as rude/unsympathetic and says others have switched practices because of it, while most other reviews describe a welcoming front desk.
Special Services
Animals Treated at Mark Nelson Vets
Animals We Treat
Companion Animals
Opening Hours – Mark Nelson Vets
Opening Hours
Hours
Reviews for Mark Nelson Vets
Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 72 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.
Sarah Jukes
3 weeks ago
Mark has been our vet for around 30 years wouldn’t go any else.
Sandie Hartfield
a month ago
Mark Nelson is an excellent vet practice and I have been with him for years. All vets in his practice are kind and caring .
Andrew Preston
a month ago
Always professional, friendly and helpful. Thoroughly recommend.
Emma Kirby
a month ago
All the staff are kind, compassionate and knowledgeable. The surgery is always clean and I’ve never had to wait long for an appointment. I would trust any of the vets to treat my animals as i have seen them all and have always been happy with the advice I was given and the treatment my pet received. I’ve recommended them to many clients and friends.
Pamela Lancaster
a month ago
Geoff Tanner
3 weeks ago
Excellent veterinary surgery.. Very kind, efficient. Obviously very focused on the animal but also beautifully mindful of the owner.. Just excellent
Angie Chapman
3 weeks ago
Sonya, the locum was lovely and so helpful. She took a lot of care & time. I came away with a lot of useful information. We checked calenders & I'm pleased that we'll be having our follow up appointment with her. Thank you.
Rosie Watson
2 months ago
Having moved to a new area, top priority was to find a new vets for our 2 dogs. From the first visit to sign up, to bringing both dogs in for their annual jabs the team were brilliant. Welcoming, warm and happy to be there. The receptionists are friendly with smiles, and happy to help in anyway. The vet we met was excellent, and so helpful. She even cut out older dogs nails on the spot ( I have always had to come back and see a nurse on a different appointment). The care plan is also fab and excellent value for money. Would highly recommend.
Catharine Wheeler
2 months ago
Receptionist here very unapproachable, rude and unsympathetic. My mum has used this veterinary practice for years, and I honestly can’t go in there anymore because the way she speaks my mum. Lots of people in Westerham I know have found an alternative vet because of her. Such a shame because Mark Nelson is lovely.
Frankie Wise
3 months ago
I’ve been a client of Mark Nelson Vets since they opened in Westerham, and honestly—they’re the best. Genuinely. I’ve used other vets in the past, and while some have been okay, others have led to heartbreaking outcomes due to negligence or overmedicating. So I don’t say this lightly: Mark Nelson Vets are a rare find. What makes them stand out is the perfect balance they strike between being thorough, evidence-based, and holistic. They don’t rush to prescribe or push unnecessary treatments. Instead, they look at the whole picture and give thoughtful recommendations. If something doesn’t need medicating, they’ll say so—but if something does need addressing, they’ll leave no stone unturned. I’ve brought in pets with vague symptoms that others might have dismissed, but the team here have always kept looking until they found the cause. They are incredibly kind—to the animals and the humans. I have a multi-pet household with animals from different backgrounds, and the vets here have always taken the time to listen, to explain, and to act with compassion and care. A recent example: we took in a cat who had come from a lovely, multi-cat home, and had even had her yearly vaccinations. But when we brought her in for a check-up, it turned out she needed several teeth removed—something that had either been missed or not flagged by previous vets. She’d clearly been in pain for a while, and it was gutting to realise it had been overlooked. Same with a significant patch of fur loss, which turned out to be an allergic reaction to flea bites—again, something that hadn’t been identified or properly treated before. The difference in approach here was night and day. Special thanks to Grace, Sophie, and Mark—all fantastic. Not forgetting their amazing team of highly knowledgable and amazing nurses! They’ve helped us through routine visits and also through grief, when we suddenly lost a beloved cat. They took the time to talk through everything with empathy and clarity, which I’ll never forget. I could write pages more about why I trust this place with all my animals. If you’re looking for a vet who’s skilled, fair, and genuinely cares, you’ve found them. **Photo of one of our crew. Once our new cat’s coat is back to its full glory, I’ll upload a picture to show what a difference a good vet can make!
