Beware, I took my pet turkey here as it wasn't gobbling as good as it used to, I left it there to receive an alarming phone call sometime later, I rushed back to be told my turkey has passed away, they said I could take her home and bury her, as I walked into the treatment room I was greeted by all the staff sitting round a table with party hats on and my poor baby surrounded by roast potatoes and veg, I was horrified, just to add insult to injury they was pulling crackers and chuckling to one another, my poor baby smothered in gravy, I ran away as fast as my legs could carry me after I was invited to carve, im still in shock now and never get a good gobble again
Beware, I took my pet turkey here as it wasn't gobbling as good as it used to, I left it there to receive an alarming phone call sometime later, I rushed back to be told my turkey has passed away, they said I could take her home and bury her, as I walked into the treatment room I was greeted by all the staff sitting round a table with party hats on and my poor baby surrounded by roast potatoes and veg, I was horrified, just to add insult to injury they was pulling crackers and chuckling to one another, my poor baby smothered in gravy, I ran away as fast as my legs could carry me after I was invited to carve, im still in shock now and never get a good gobble again
I e always had great service from The Oval, lovely friendly staff and great with the animals.
We put our dog down the past weekend and the sympathy we received from all staff was lovely. They were very kind and understanding, we were so appreciative the staff stayed later than closing time to support us and their kindness meant a lot during such a sad time.
We received a sympathy card and note and some seeds to plant in remembrance of our dog. A lovely touch that was unexpected but really touched our hearts.
Thank you to the staff at the Sidcup Branch at Oval Pet Centre for being so kind at a very tough time.
In the real world, nobody cares about you or your pet unless you give them money. However, there are some who take your money but still do a bad job or give you a worse outcome.
I am a guinea pig owner. It is difficult to find a suitable vet if something happens. I have been to three vets. All are a disappointment. I have to share my experience in case you are in the time of need and to prevent your pet going through the unnecessary hassle.
This is the second veterinary I visited when my guinea pig had overgrown molars also known as malocclusion. At the time, I felt helpless so I tried my best to find someone who can help but due to my lack of experience it was something I don't want or any animal to go through. Each consult costs money; Money is not the issue when spent right but you have wasted my time and effort to ensure my pet's health
The Oval consultation fee is £36. All talk about nothing which I could easily look up online. To the vet Diego, who did nothing but stick a thermometer in my pet's anus and not check its teeth with a dental scope (the teeth is the source of problems) he went next door with Bibi for further checking. I could hear him converse with colleagues, it wasn't clear though I heard rabbit mentioned a few times. The would be bill came to £260 but my pet would still have died because small animals have a high death rate when it comes to general anesthetics.
If your guinea pig has overgrown molars, the signs are unable to eat hay, pellets, crunchy fruit and vegetables which lead to weight loss and excessive drooling. For the time being you have to syringe feed your guinea pig because cavy animals constantly have food in their body or their body will shut down. For sustenance, go online, VetUK, for Oxbow herbivore critical care 454g for £19:76; Emeraid herbivore 100g for £13.99 (mix both sustenance up) and 2ml syringes (syringe end cut off) purchased from Ebay.
In the end my pet died at Trinity vets (who specializes in exotic animals) because of anesthesia complications. I made the wrong choice. No one can turn back time to erase past mistakes. Death is permanent. Lesson learnt.
For dental problems go to Cat and Rabbit clinic in Northampton. The clinic was recommended by TEAS, a sanctuary for guinea pigs. The dental work is carried out on a conscious guinea pig to avoid the repercussions of GA. I wished I had known this before putting my brave little soldier through unfortunate encounters.
Bibi, was a quiet, very friendly and very affectionate Swiss breed guinea pig. The other picture a Lunkarya breed is his buddy, Wiggy. You shall be missed! xxx
Swiss breed, 2 years of age. Passed away on Tuesday 2nd August 2016.
RIP Bibi
This was my original review 10 years ago. We left after 9 years as the prices kept going up and up. While I realise that’s the way of the world unfortunately Oval Pet Centre is now part of one of the large veterinary corporations taking over in the UK and that’s where a large chuck of the money is going to. We found a local independent vets, in Bexleyheath, where the care is easily as good, the prices are noticeably cheaper and the money we pay isn’t paying American shareholders…
“This is our regular vet surgery for our dog. Never had any issues here for either his routine vaccinations or any emergency work.
Have just about always gotten a same day appointment for non emergency work and of course for anything urgent you go straight there and are seen immediately.
Not cheap but then what vets are...? Free parking is always available on the street outside or within 30-40m which removes one extra worry.
Would recommend them.”
I wish I could say I wholeheartedly recommend this practice, but unfortunately, my recent experience has been nothing short of frustrating and stressful. I have been a loyal client of Oval Vets for over 20 years, trusting them with the care of multiple pets over the years. However, my recent experience with them has left me deeply disappointed.
This was my first time ever having to make an insurance claim for one of our pets, and because of misleading and incorrect information that was recorded on our dog's medical notes, the insurance company rejected the claim for over £2,000. When I reached out to Oval Vets to have the issue corrected, I was met with increasing difficulty. I requested to speak with the practice manager, but all I was given was the head nurse, who seemed completely unbothered.
To make matters worse, I requested copies of the phone calls related to this case, but was told it could take up to 10 weeks to process the request, even though the matter was urgent and involved my own personal information. This response was not only unacceptable, it felt like they were actively avoiding addressing the issue.
The most alarming part of all of this was that we were told by multiple vets that our dog was vomiting and had pancreatitis. However, when we transferred our dog to a specialist, we found out that wasn’t the case at all. Our dog was simply regurgitating, a condition common in French Bulldogs, and could be resolved with a straightforward operation. The wrong diagnosis not only caused us unnecessary stress and upset, but it also led to inaccurate medical notes that now affect the insurance claim.
The reception staff have always been friendly, and I’ve never had a problem with them, but I cannot overlook the mistakes made with our dog's health and the financial impact this has caused. Unless you’re willing to risk incorrect diagnoses and misleading information being recorded in your pet’s medical history, I would strongly advise seeking care elsewhere.
I’m beyond frustrated and stressed by the way this has been handled, and it’s incredibly disappointing considering the long history I have with this practice.
I have noticed they say with all reviews they can't find a record of the pet so will be interesting how they brush this off!
What a fantastic welcoming group of people working there. Our boy needed a check up and he was made to feel welcome with treats and strokes and an experience that left him with a positive connection. Even when he toileted in there! The staff are so helpful and friendly and have a genuine interest and care for your animal. Could not sing thier praises more highly.
A great vet practice. Always a welcoming bunch on arrival, and every vet seen to date, seems to really put the pet first. It’s easy to book appointments, and if ever I’ve had to change appointments, they’re always happy to assist. I just wished my GP treated me the same way. Lol
