Dog & Cat Vets in Ilford

## Summary Goddard Veterinary Group Ilford is part of the Goddard Veterinary Group (not an independent practice). The clinic is **RCVS accredited**, offers **on-site blood testing, x-rays and operations**, and is also listed as a **veterinary nurse training facility**. Reviews frequently describe the team fitting in **urgent, last-minute appointments** (including for small animals) and being **thorough in examinations**—for example, a rabbit with a suspected fracture was rechecked and treated with pain relief, and owners reported a good recovery. A recurring practical downside in the latest reviews is difficulty getting through by phone, alongside otherwise positive care experiences. ## Services Services and facilities mentioned on the website include: - Consultations (including a **free new pet health check**) - **Blood testing** - **Diagnostic imaging / X-ray** - **Dentistry** - **Neutering** - **Operations** (performed on-site) - **Vaccinations** - **Microchipping** - **Flea and worm treatment** - **Nurse clinics** - **Weight and diet advice** - **Wellness health screen** - Pet healthcare plan: **ProActive Pets** (name referenced; inclusions not detailed in the provided summary) Care arrangements: - **24/7 emergency care** is stated as being available via **Wanstead Veterinary Hospital** for urgent assistance. Species/case types evidenced in reviews (not a complete list of what the clinic treats): - Cats (general care) - Rabbit with leg injury (assessed as muscle pull; pain relief prescribed; recheck mentioned) - Guinea pig with reduced appetite (problem identified; treatment discussed) - Chick with wing injury (assessed; advice and medication provided) ## People Named team members mentioned in reviews: - **Helena (vet)** – described as “extremely professional” by a cat owner. - **Claire, Elena, Heather** – praised by name for being helpful and supportive over a multi-year client relationship. What owners specifically highlighted: - **Thorough assessment and follow-up**: one owner reported the rabbit was checked twice, reassured it wasn’t a fracture, and was prescribed pain relief. - **Flexibility with urgent care**: multiple reviews mention being fitted in for urgent or last-minute appointments. - **Accommodation when running late**: one owner said staff moved their appointment later when they were delayed by traffic. ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 188 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Urgent appointments accommodated** (e.g., “last minute emergency appointment” for an injured rabbit; urgent slot for an injured chick). - **Clear clinical reassurance and treatment**: injuries assessed (fracture ruled out; organs said to be unaffected), with **medication/pain relief** and practical advice provided. - **Small-pet care discussed in detail**: guinea pig not eating was assessed and the vet “identified the problem.” - **Reliability issue raised**: more than one review says calls often **aren’t answered**, despite otherwise positive experiences of care.

## Summary Ilford PDSA Pet Clinic is part of PDSA (a charity provider) and is described on its website as offering free and low‑cost veterinary care to pets in need. Reviews suggest it frequently handles cats with acute illness and end‑of‑life situations: one owner describes hours on a drip plus blood tests for a senior cat with kidney failure, and another mentions a cat brought in for breathing difficulties. Experiences around euthanasia are mixed—several reviews describe empathetic support on “the hardest day,” while one recent 1‑star review reports a rushed, distressing process and a mismatch with what the owner expected from information “stated online.” ## Services - Free and low‑cost veterinary care for pets in need (stated on the clinic website). - Veterinary nurse training facility (structured clinic data). - Vaccinations (a cat “wasn’t fussed at all with the vaccination he had”). - Inpatient/supportive care for unwell pets, including being “put on a drip for hours” (reviewed experience). - Blood tests (mentioned during investigation of kidney failure). - Assessment and care for breathing difficulties (cat brought in with breathing problems). - Euthanasia/put to sleep (multiple reviews mention this; experiences reported as both compassionate and, in one case, distressing). ## People - **Petros (vet)**: described by one owner as taking time to listen to concerns and explaining things calmly and clearly; associated with ongoing care for a cat who had been “in and out.” - **Peter (vet)**: mentioned in multiple reviews for supportive communication and help with a kitten; also described as kind and polite during repeat visits. - **Alison and Shaynie (reception)**: credited in one review with being consistently welcoming and helpful when the owner called or visited. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 1028 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Clear explanations and not feeling rushed, even when busy:** one owner notes the clinic was busy but staff explained everything and they “wasn’t rushed at all.” - **Support for seriously ill cats:** examples include a senior cat receiving hours on a drip plus blood tests, and another cat seen for breathing difficulties. - **End‑of‑life care is a point of both praise and complaint:** some owners describe vets as “kind…empathetic” during euthanasia; one recent review reports a distressing experience, including the pet being taken away just before euthanasia and the owner feeling there was no proper chance to say goodbye. - **Clinic environment mentioned positively:** one review notes the place felt “clean and safe and secure for the pets.”

## Summary Vets for Pets Ilford is described on its website as a **locally owned** practice under the Vets for Pets brand, with a **modern, well‑equipped setup** (in‑house lab, digital X‑ray, ultrasound, operating theatre, hospital ward and isolation facilities) and **separate cat and dog waiting/ward areas**. It’s also listed as a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. The clinic appears set up for both routine care and more involved investigations/surgery, including **orthopaedics** (cruciate surgery, fracture repair) and dentistry. Recent reviews are mixed: some owners describe **clear explanations and successful treatment** (including a first kitten visit where the vet answered children’s questions), while others make serious allegations about **missed/slow recognition of urgent problems**, **aftercare issues**, and **unexpected add-on charges**. ## Services From the clinic website summary and structured data, services/capabilities mentioned include: - **Diagnostics & monitoring:** in‑house laboratory testing (biochemistry, haematology, electrolyte assessment), blood pressure monitoring, digital X‑ray, ultrasound - **Surgery:** operating theatre, anaesthesia, hospital ward support; orthopaedics including **cruciate surgery** and **fracture repair** - **Dentistry** - **Preventive/routine care:** microchipping, medication and prescriptions, nurse clinics, weight clinic, health plans - **Pet travel documents:** animal health certificate and pet passport - **Facilities for infection control/stress reduction:** isolation unit; separate cat/dog waiting areas and separated cat/dog wards/isolation units - **Species mentioned:** cats, dogs, rabbits - **Emergency cover (when closed):** provided by **Veteris**, with assessment by a Registered Veterinary Nurse and the option to arrange home visits or consultations (as stated on the website) ## Pricing Only specific prices mentioned in reviews: - **Rabbit annual vaccine + full health check:** **£70** (review from 4 years ago) - One reviewer reports an **added charge of nearly £80** for flea treatment during cat neutering, and says they were **not called to approve the extra cost** beforehand. ## People What’s described in the latest reviews (roles not always stated): - **A vet seen for a kitten appointment** is described as welcoming and “full of knowledge,” repeatedly answering children’s questions and reassuring the family about the kitten’s eyes. - **Reception/front desk** experiences are inconsistent: multiple reviewers describe staff as **rude/unhelpful**, while another review criticises having a front desk person present when they believed no vet was available. - **A nurse** is mentioned in one account as offering to **drop medication off** after a post-op discharge where the owner says no medication had been sent home initially. - **Practice manager:** one reviewer names **Cheryl Lucas** and alleges defensive email responses to a complaint and broader management concerns (this is an allegation from that reviewer, not independently verified in the provided information). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.4 stars from 363 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Serious complaints about clinical decision-making and urgency:** one owner alleges their dog’s GDV emergency was missed and that an X‑ray was not done despite requests; another alleges an 8‑day delay in addressing a suspected grass seed injury, no imaging before exploratory surgery, and medication/aftercare problems after surgery. - **Costs and consent for extras:** one review describes an unexpected additional fee (nearly £80) for flea treatment added to a neutering bill without prior approval. - **Communication and customer service vary sharply:** some reviews focus on rude/unhelpful reception, while others describe clear explanations and reassurance (including time spent answering multiple questions). - **Positive outcomes are also reported:** examples include a cat improving “straight after the visit” after receiving treatment, and a rabbit vaccination visit where the vet did a full health check (with a stated price).

## Summary Goddard Veterinary Group Fremantle Road Barkingside is part of the Goddard Veterinary Group (a multi-branch practice) and is set up for routine care plus in-house diagnostics and surgery (the website mentions on-site blood testing, X‑rays and operations). For out-of-hours emergencies, the practice states it refers clients to Wanstead Veterinary Hospital (open 24/7, 365 days a year). Recent reviews give mixed decision-relevant signals: some owners describe smooth surgical outcomes and feeling kept informed throughout an operation, while others report problems with pricing transparency (including end-of-life care quotes that didn’t add up) and abrupt telephone manner. ## Services Based on the clinic website summary and the latest reviews, services and capabilities mentioned include: - Consultations (vet and nurse appointments are referenced on the website) - Surgery/operations (owners mention a pet operation with a good recovery) - Dentistry - Neutering - Vaccinations (including a puppy/kitten vaccination course) - Microchipping - Parasite control (flea and worm treatment) - Weight and diet advice - Nurse clinics - Diagnostics: blood testing, diagnostic imaging and X‑ray - Wellness health screen - Free new pet health check (website) - Healthcare plan: “ProActive Pets” (website; also discussed in reviews, with one owner alleging difficulty using what’s included) Emergency/out-of-hours: the practice states that emergencies or pets unwell outside practice hours are referred to Wanstead Veterinary Hospital (24/7, 365 days). ## Pricing Only specific prices were mentioned in reviews, and one owner disputes the clarity of these figures: - Euthanasia enquiry: quoted **£134 + £94 (= £228)**, but the caller says they were then told the total would be “around **£300**” with “additional/hidden costs” not clearly explained. ## People - **Dr Poppy (vet)** – mentioned by name as “amazing” by an owner who also valued being offered alternatives to fit their budget. - **Alexandra (receptionist)** – praised for being “incredibly informative,” answering questions in detail and not rushing visits. - Not all feedback is positive about front-desk/phone interactions: two separate 1‑star reviews describe an abrupt or dismissive tone on the phone (one of these reviewers notes they had called the wrong branch). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.4 stars from 117 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Surgery experience and communication:** one owner reports an operation went smoothly, with the team keeping them informed and reassured, and a strong recovery afterwards. - **Pricing and transparency concerns (conflicting experiences):** one owner calls out unclear add-on fees (especially around end-of-life care). Another owner says prices were “reasonable” and that the team offered budget-fitting alternatives. - **Healthcare plan frustration:** one reviewer alleges they paid monthly but were asked to pay again or book what they felt was an unnecessary health check to access plan benefits. - **Phone manner:** some reports of rude/abrupt telephone interactions, contrasting with other feedback describing friendly, welcoming service.