Dog & Cat Vets in Lichfield

## Summary Pool House Veterinary Hospital is part of the Pool House Veterinary Group and operates as an RCVS-accredited Tier 3 hospital with modern facilities, including MRI. It’s set up for both routine procedures and urgent, out-of-hours cases: reviews describe pets being seen late at night and in the early hours, with rapid triage into a private room and vets/nurses on hand. Recent owners also mention proactive communication (a call straight after surgery to confirm their dog was awake) and detailed discharge advice after procedures like neutering, alongside sensitive support during end-of-life appointments. ## Services - **24-hour emergency care** (the hospital is stated to be open 24 hours for emergencies; reviews describe late-night and early-morning admissions). - **Surgery** - Neutering (dogs and cats mentioned). - Emergency surgery (examples in reviews include an ear operation and surgery after a serious injury). - **Equine surgery** (listed as a specialty on the website). - **Diagnostics and facilities** - MRI (listed on the website). - Multiple consulting rooms/private rooms (mentioned in reviews when pets were taken in during emergencies). - **Behaviour/nervous-pet handling** - Staff described as managing a semi-feral cat patiently during neutering and calming a stressed dog having seizures at the clinic. ## People - **Magda (vet)**: Named in a neutering review; explained the procedure “from start to finish” and phoned immediately after surgery to reassure the owner that the dog was awake. - **Ellen (veterinary nurse)**: Named in the same review; provided “very thorough discharge advice” at collection and supported the owner through recovery. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 858 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Fast response in urgent situations:** owners describe being seen within minutes when a dog had stress-related seizures in the waiting area, and immediate admission for a serious injury after a late-night call. - **Clear, ongoing communication:** plans and potential issues were explained during an emergency case; one owner highlights a post-op phone call straight after surgery plus thorough discharge instructions. - **Practical support beyond treatment:** one review mentions staff being efficient with paperwork needed for an insurance claim. - **Handling difficult or stressful pets:** examples include calming an anxious dog during seizures and being patient with a semi-feral cat during surgery. - **End-of-life care:** a recent review specifically praises staff support and treatment when saying goodbye to a cat.

## Summary Grange Hill Veterinary Centre is an RCVS Cat Friendly Clinic with separate dog and cat wards, and it treats a wide range of species (from cats and dogs to small mammals, birds and reptiles). The practice offers routine care plus in-house diagnostics (imaging and lab testing), hospitalisation, dentistry and surgery, and it states it provides emergency care. From the latest reviews, owners frequently describe calm handling of anxious or boisterous dogs and unrushed appointments where options and costs are explained clearly. End-of-life care is mentioned repeatedly, including use of a separate area for euthanasia to give families privacy. One recent review reports the practice would not accept a new patient at a weekend for a painful paw injury and describes the phone call as rude, which conflicts with many other reports of supportive reception staff. ## Services Based on the clinic website summary and the latest reviews, services and capabilities mentioned include: - **Consultations** and **complex examinations** - **Vaccinations** - **Nurse clinics**, including **weight management** - **Feline behaviour** support - **Surgery** - **Dentistry** - **Hospitalisation**, with **separate dog and cat wards** - **Diagnostic imaging** and **laboratory testing** - **Pet wellness screening** - **Emergency care** (stated by the clinic) - Species treated listed by the clinic: **cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, lizards, snakes, reptiles, birds** - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (listed in the clinic data) - End-of-life care is described in reviews, including arranging euthanasia in a **separate, private area** ## People - **Dr Emily Holmes (vet)**: mentioned for being prepared and up to date on notes, taking time to listen, not rushing appointments, and explaining treatment options **including costs**; also noted for continuity of care even when a pet attended a specialist. - **Sally (reception)**: credited with handling a difficult call and arranging an appointment smoothly during an end-of-life situation. - Reception experience appears mixed: several reviews describe a warm, helpful welcome, while others mention reception staff getting flustered, and one review describes a rude call ending abruptly. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 270 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Owners often mention **calm, patient handling** (e.g., helping with very boisterous dogs and reducing anxiety during visits). - Multiple reviews describe **supportive end-of-life care**, including being given a **separate private area** for euthanasia and compassionate communication. - Some owners highlight **clear explanations of options and costs** and **unrushed** appointments. - A minority report problems at reception, including one review alleging the practice **would not admit a new patient over a weekend** for a painful injury and describing the call as rude.

## Summary Hillman Vets – Britannia Park offers routine appointments alongside more complex surgical care, with emergency veterinary services listed in the clinic data. Recent reviews describe everything from diagnostics (cat urine testing) through to major procedures (BOAS surgery and leg amputation after a road traffic accident). Owners frequently mention strong communication—such as being phoned with updates during surgery—and staff taking time to calm and handle nervous dogs (including getting down on the floor with an anxious dog pre-op). A small number of reviews raise concerns about cost transparency and one owner reports losing confidence after a vet’s handling of an excited, playful dog. ## Services - Emergency veterinary services (listed in the clinic data). - Consultations (consult fee discussed in reviews). - BOAS surgery (mentioned by an owner whose dog had the procedure). - Surgical treatment following a car accident, including leg amputation (owner describes a two-week treatment journey and surgery updates). - Diagnostic urine testing for cats (urine sample tested in-clinic, per review). - Advice and ongoing care for a rescue dog (owner credits “Antonio” with care and advice that prevented the dog returning to a shelter). ## Pricing - Consultation: **£68** (reported by a reviewer). - Urine sample testing: **£45** on top of the consultation (reported by a reviewer). - A “monthly plan” is mentioned as “good value,” but no price or inclusions are provided in the reviews we have. ## People - **Alberto (vet)**: described as “very reassuring,” discussing BOAS surgery “in detail,” and taking time pre-op to calm a nervous dog by getting down on the floor with her. - **Antonio**: credited by one long-term client with care and advice that helped keep a rescue dog from returning to a shelter. - **Max and Rachel (reception team)**: mentioned by name as being supportive from arrival, particularly with a nervous dog coming in for surgery. - **Helena and Natalie (nurses)**: noted for confidently handling a very wriggly, anxious dog and getting her “under control.” - Communication style is a recurring theme: one owner says the team “genuinely listen,” answer questions without making them feel like a nuisance, and are responsive when scheduling or discussing health concerns. ## Reviews **4.7 stars from 237 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Communication during serious treatment:** one owner describes being phoned throughout surgery with updates and “what else they had found,” and feeling supported through a multi-week amputation journey. - **Handling anxious or nervous dogs:** multiple owners mention staff helping nervous dogs settle before exams or procedures; one BOAS-surgery review highlights detailed explanations and calming, hands-on reassurance. - **Front-desk experience:** several reviews mention efficient, pleasant reception and helpful responses to questions. - **Cost concerns and upfront pricing:** one reviewer describes the consultation fee (£68) and urine test (£45) as “extortionate,” and says they weren’t told the consult cost until their cat was already on the table. - **Conflicting experiences with animal handling:** one long-term client praises past care but reports a recent visit where they felt the vet didn’t know how to handle an excited dog, leaving them “deflated and confused” and deciding to go elsewhere.

## Summary Swinfen Veterinary Centre describes itself as a family-run practice providing medical and surgical care for dogs, cats, rabbits and small mammals, with stated interests including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, internal medicine and soft tissue surgery, plus greyhound/working-dog care and canine athletic medicine. Reviews align with a small-practice feel (one mentions “one on one service” compared with “big practices”) and name “Don” as the vet. Recent feedback is mixed: several owners describe thorough examinations with clear explanations and medication plans, while one owner reports a puppy visit where they felt key checks were missed during a vaccination/check-up appointment. ## Services - **General veterinary care for pets & small animals** (dogs, cats, rabbits, small mammals) including medical and surgical procedures (website). - **Orthopaedics, ophthalmology, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery** listed as specialties (website). - **Greyhound and working-dog care** and **canine athletic medicine** mentioned as areas of focus (website). - **Out-of-hours emergency cover** is described as being provided with help from other practices, with an emphasis on **telephone advice if a visit isn’t required** (website). - Services referenced by reviewers include: - **Eyelid surgery** for “turned in eyelids” (entropion is implied but not named) with a **10‑day cone** mentioned during recovery (review). - An **operation** on a dog described as having “went well” (procedure not specified) (review). - **Vaccination** and **worming tablets** visits (review). - **Medication course** given after an exam, with advice to return if still concerned after **10 days** (review). - **Dog grooming/trimming** (“perfect trims”) (review). ## People - **Don (vet)**: mentioned by name in multiple reviews. Owners describe him explaining findings during an examination, reassuring them when nothing serious was found, and setting a clear plan (a 10‑day medication course with an offer to return if still concerned). Another reviewer chose the practice after a bad experience elsewhere and says Don was friendly and knowledgeable. - **Don’s wife**: one review describes “Don and his wife” as “lovely,” and valued the more one-to-one style of service. - **Annie**: praised for giving a dog “the most perfect trims,” suggesting a grooming role. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 85 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Thoroughness and communication are praised by some, questioned by others:** one owner describes a “thorough examination” with explanations and reassurance; another reports a puppy check-up where they felt important checks (eyes, ears, heart, microchip, etc.) weren’t done and left feeling “ripped off.” - **Surgery outcomes mentioned positively:** examples include an eyelid problem resolved after surgery and another dog “operation” described as going well. - **Practical treatment plans:** a 10‑day medication course was provided with guidance on what to do if concerns continued. - **Friendly, small-practice feel:** reviewers mention being welcomed, “one on one service,” and friendliness compared with larger practices. - **Price comments are subjective:** one reviewer says “great prices” and another calls prices “reasonable,” but no actual fees are stated.

## Summary Lichfield Vets4Pets Ltd is part of the Vets4Pets brand (linked with Pets at Home) and is listed as a veterinary nurse training facility. Recent reviews suggest the practice commonly handles routine procedures and diagnostics, with specific mentions of spaying, biopsies and blood testing (including bilirubin checks). Several owners describe thoughtful post-procedure touches (for example, writing “get well” cards after a spay and after a biopsy) and say they can get appointments without much difficulty. There is also a clear split in experiences: some reviewers praise the advice and professionalism, while one reviewer reports being charged far more than expected and feeling tests were unnecessary. ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned in the available sources include: - Spaying (one owner reports their pet was spayed and “very well looked after”) - Biopsy procedures (one owner mentions their cat had a biopsy) - Blood tests, including bilirubin checks (mentioned in a complaint about requested monitoring) - Veterinary nurse training facility (listed in the clinic’s structured data) ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being charged **£300** for blood tests they felt were unnecessary, and compares this to **£75** previously paid elsewhere for bilirubin checks. (This is a single reviewer’s account and not a published price list.) ## People - **Ion** (role not stated): mentioned by name as someone who looked after a dog called Skye; the owner describes him as knowledgeable and says their pet was “well looked after.” - The wider team is repeatedly described as professional and easy to talk to, with multiple reviews mentioning clear advice and helpfulness (including providing advice when needed). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.4 stars from 93 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Post-procedure care and reassurance: owners mention pets being well looked after during a spay and a biopsy, plus “get well” cards sent home after procedures. - Communication and guidance: reviewers describe getting clear advice and finding staff professional and pleasant to speak with. - Access to appointments: one reviewer says they “never struggle to get an appointment.” - A notable negative on cost/clinical decisions: one reviewer alleges the vet didn’t understand why bilirubin checks were needed, and reports paying £300 vs £75 elsewhere, describing blood tests as “unnecessary and not asked for.”