Emergency Vets in Exeter

## Summary Beaumont Veterinary Centre provides routine and surgical care for a range of pets (dogs, cats and small animals including guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets and hamsters). The clinic website lists procedures including keyhole surgery, soft-tissue and orthopaedic surgery, ultrasound, dental examinations, neutering and nurse clinics; emergency care is mentioned but without specifics. From the latest reviews, owners most often describe calm handling and clear explanations during appointments, with several concrete examples: same-day help for a limping dog with medication, dental surgery followed by strong post-operative support, and abscess treatment for a guinea pig. Reviews also include a serious complaint about inconsistent clinical advice between vets and unexpectedly higher charges (including blood tests), plus concerns about sedation dosage and delays transferring records. ## Services Based on the clinic website and the written reviews available: - **Preventive care:** vaccinations; microchipping; flea and worm control. - **Surgery:** neutering; keyhole surgery; soft tissue surgery; orthopaedic surgery. - **Diagnostics:** ultrasound (listed on the website); blood testing (mentioned in reviews). - **Dental care:** dental examinations (website); dental surgery and post-op care (review). - **Nurse-led support:** nurse clinics (website); monthly nurse-administered pain injection for an older cat (review). - **Behaviour and nutrition:** behavioural problems and specialist nutritional advice (website). - **Travel:** pet passports (website). - **Young pet support:** puppy development classes (website). - **Emergency care:** emergency vet services are mentioned on the website, but no details are provided on how this is delivered. ## Pricing Pricing is not published in the information provided, but one recent review reports the following charges: - **Blood tests:** “£102 for the bloods and £104 for the lab to read the results” (described by the reviewer as an unexpected additional cost). - **Sedation tablets for a cat (to facilitate bloods):** £40 for 2 tablets (reviewer’s report). ## People Names and roles listed on the clinic website (with relevant review examples where available): - **Mal Mcguile (Director of Practice):** one reviewer thanks Mal for managing a complex account, timely insurance claims and reimbursements where an account went into credit; another reviewer describes a poor experience involving costs, lack of apology/discount, and a dispute about record transfer. - **Michael Sercombe (Veterinary Surgeon):** mentioned positively for treating multiple cats “with such care” (review). - **Emily Staunton (Veterinary Surgeon):** thanked by name for care and treatment of a guinea pig receiving abscess treatment (review). - **Mandy Kohary (Head RVN):** described as “outstanding” by an owner whose 19-year-old cat attends monthly for a pain injection (review). - **Sarah (new veterinary nurse):** thanked for support alongside Mandy in ongoing monthly care (review). - **Leah (Receptionist):** singled out for helping a distressed owner at reception and for being attentive during a stressful visit (review). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 277 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Calm, reassuring consultations and clear explanations** (especially noted for nervous owners/pets and for cats being handled gently). - **Timely help for urgent-but-not-emergency problems:** one owner reports a same-day appointment for a limping dog and medication that allowed them to manage the issue quickly. - **Procedures with follow-up support mentioned:** dental surgery with “phenomenal” post-operative care; a “small op” for an anxious dog; abscess treatment for a guinea pig. - **Practice environment and front-desk experience:** multiple reviews mention the clinic being clean/tidy and reception staff being helpful; one review highlights being supported during a panic attack. - **Conflicting experiences around continuity, advice and charges:** one longer negative review alleges contradictory recommendations between vets (including whether surgery was necessary), unexpected extra costs for blood tests, concerns about sedation dosage for a small elderly cat, and delays transferring records. Another reviewer also notes staff turnover over several years, while still describing good ongoing nursing and vet care.

## Summary CityVets (Exeter) Ltd is part of the City Vets group, which the website describes as operating across four surgeries. The website also states the practice is RCVS-accredited, with cat-friendly and rabbit-welfare standards listed for specific surgeries (including a Gold Standard RWAF practice at Heavitree). From the latest reviews, this clinic appears set up for both routine pet care and more complex cases: owners mention same-day appointments for problems, pets undergoing general anaesthetic (GA) procedures, and at least one case being referred specifically for rabbit/exotics expertise. Review experiences are mixed: many describe clear explanations and compassionate support (including during euthanasia for elderly pets), while one detailed account alleges repeated missed diagnosis and gaps in pain relief around a severe eye/abscess issue. ## Services - **General veterinary appointments**, including reports of **same-day appointments** when issues arise (owner of a nervous dog says they “never had to wait” and were seen same day). - **Procedures under general anaesthetic (GA)** (one owner reports their dog had **two GA procedures**). - **Rabbit/exotics care**: one owner was advised by two other practices to attend because CityVets had an **exotic pet specialist**; they specifically mention a rabbit case treated successfully. - **Euthanasia**: one owner describes support when elderly pets needed to be put to sleep; another review discusses requesting euthanasia for a small wild animal. - **Diagnostics and treatment escalation (as described in reviews)**: sedation to investigate, discussion of CT scanning, blood tests, and prolonged antibiotics are all mentioned in a negative account of an eye/abscess case (the review claims bloods were not taken as planned, and CT couldn’t be done until later). **Accreditations/standards (from the website):** - RCVS accreditation. - Silver Level Cat Friendly Clinic status listed for two surgeries (Alphington and St Thomas). - Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) standards listed: Silver at St Thomas; Gold Standard RWAF practice at Heavitree. ## People - **Faye / Fay (vet; role not explicitly stated but implied in reviews):** One owner of a nervous dog says **Faye** makes their dog feel settled, listens, and helps, and they report **same-day appointments**. A separate negative review names **Fay** in an account involving delayed diagnosis and mentions she said a **CT scan would be helpful** but couldn’t be done until the Monday. - **Stephen (described as an “exotic specialist vet”):** Praised for treating a rabbit with a serious problem; the owner reports the rabbit recovered and credits Stephen and his team. - **Unidentified reception/front-desk staff:** One negative review describes a “young, blonde haired girl” as dismissive when the reviewer brought in a wild animal for euthanasia. ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 462 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Speed of access:** multiple owners describe problems being handled quickly, including reports of **same-day appointments**. - **Communication and explanation:** owners mention pets being greeted by name and **clear explanations** of what’s happening. - **Support during difficult moments:** one owner highlights staff being **compassionate during euthanasia** for elderly pets. - **Specialist rabbit/exotics help:** one review specifically credits an **exotic specialist vet** for resolving a serious rabbit issue. - **Cost sensitivity mentioned by one reviewer:** one owner says staff will “try and keep the cost down” if you explain financial constraints. - **Serious complaints also appear:** one detailed review alleges **missed diagnosis across multiple visits**, repeated sedation, lack of planned blood tests, and being sent home **without pain relief** during a severe eye/abscess situation; another complains of a **dismissive attitude** when seeking help for a wild animal.

## Summary Ridge Referrals is an **independent** small-animal **orthopaedic referral** service (established **May 2009**) focused on **dogs and cats**, led by **Patrick and Tanzi Ridge**. Based on the website and the latest reviews, it appears set up for **orthopaedic diagnostics and surgery**, with owners repeatedly describing **clear explanations using X‑rays/diagrams**, and **structured updates after procedures** (including multiple phone calls post-op). Recent reviews also mention **fast turnaround from consultation to imaging and diagnosis within about 3 hours**, and specific handling of **dog-reactive behaviour** during the visit. ## Services - **Orthopaedic referral consultations** (small animals: **dogs and cats**). - **Arthroscopic joint surgery** (listed on the clinic website). - **Orthopaedic imaging and diagnostics** mentioned in reviews, including **X‑rays** and “imaging” during the appointment. - **Cruciate ligament surgery**: a recent review describes **TPLO surgery** for a torn cruciate ligament with **meniscus** involvement. - **Post-operative follow-up** mentioned in reviews, including **post-op X‑rays** and phone updates from nurses and the vet. ## People - **Patrick (“Pat”) Ridge** (role not explicitly stated, but described as examining pets, discussing imaging, and calling with post-op updates). Owners describe: - **Calm, thorough examinations** (including one comparison where a previous vet was “wary and hesitant to thoroughly examine” a large dog, while Pat examined calmly). - **Clear explanations** supported by **X‑rays and diagrams**. - **Direct post-op communication**, including multiple update calls. - **Louise** (role not stated). Mentioned positively in a review for helping manage a dog’s **reactive behaviour** during the visit. - **Nursing team** (not named): credited for **multiple phone updates** following surgery. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.9 stars from 68 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Orthopaedic surgery experiences, including TPLO**, with owners describing smooth end-to-end care and strong confidence in how pets were monitored before/during/after procedures. - **Frequent communication and updates**, including one owner reporting **four phone calls** (nurses and Pat) after surgery rather than just a single expected post-op call. - **Clear, practical explanations** of findings and plans, with owners citing **X‑rays and diagrams** to help them understand decisions and what to expect (including discussions of **costs**). - **Efficient visit flow for diagnostics**: one review reports consult → imaging → home with a diagnosis in **around 3 hours**. - **Behaviour-aware handling**: a review specifically notes the team **managed dog-reactive behaviour well** during the appointment.

## Summary St David's Poultry Team Ltd is described on its website as an **independent poultry veterinary practice** focused on **broilers, layers, and turkeys**, with support that goes beyond on-farm visits (for example, **laboratory post-mortems and diagnostic testing**). The site also references **field sampling and management advice**, **hatchery services**, and **retainer schemes** for ongoing support. Owner feedback is mixed: some reviews call the service **“professional and effective”**, while a 1‑star review alleges **poor service leading to significant bird mortality** and claims the vets were focused on **upselling their own products**. ## Services From the clinic website summary: - **Veterinary care for poultry**: broilers, layers, and turkeys - **Field services**: sampling and management advice - **Laboratory services**, including: - **Post mortems** - **Salmonella** testing - **Water** samples - **Serology** - Other **diagnostic samples** - **Hatchery services** - **Retainer schemes** - **International consultancy** From structured clinic data: - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** - **Emergency veterinary services (24/7 or extended hours)** (no further details provided) From reviews: - Mentions of a **wide range of medications** available (“a fine array of medications”) - One review refers to them as **pheasant vets** (species not listed in the website summary) ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.0/5 from 8 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Strong disagreement on value and outcomes:** one 1‑star review alleges “very poor service” and says it cost “thousands in mortality,” also claiming **product upselling**; other reviewers describe the team as **“professional and effective.”** - **Sparse detail in some negative feedback:** a 2‑star review is just a thumbs‑down with no explanation. - **Medication/dispensing noted:** one reviewer mentions a broad range of medications being available.