Dog & Cat Vets in Oldham

## Summary Medivet Oldham Chadderton is part of the Medivet veterinary group and is also listed as a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. From the information available, it appears set up for routine pet healthcare (vaccinations and health checks are specifically mentioned), with access to **24/7 emergency care via Medivet’s 24-hour centres** (with a stated overnight emergency consultation fee). Decision-relevant specifics owners mention include: - **Vaccinations with a “great health check”** as part of the appointment (dog booster mentioned). - **Clear, patient explanations and multiple options** discussed rather than a “sales pitch” (one owner explicitly contrasted this with previous experiences elsewhere). - **Practical, compassionate handling of stressful situations**, including a vet cleaning a cat’s carrier after an accident en route and setting it up with a puppy pad for the journey home. - **Support for anxious pets**, including taking time to build trust and using treats during cat vaccinations/check-ups. ## Services - Routine preventive care mentioned in reviews: - **Dog booster vaccination** with a **health check** - **Cat vaccinations and check-ups** - Assessment and advice for symptoms (a vet **explained what might be causing a cat’s symptoms** and talked through options). - **Emergency care access (as stated by the website):** around-the-clock care at one of Medivet’s 24-hour centres; **overnight emergency consultations (7pm–9am) priced at £130** nationwide. ## Pricing - **£130** overnight emergency consultation fee for consultations **between 7pm and 9am** (website-stated nationwide Medivet fee). - One reviewer reports the practice was **“a lot cheaper than our previous vets”** (no specific prices given). ## People - **Rachael / Rachel (vet)** is named in multiple reviews. Owners describe her as: - **Thorough and solution-focused**, offering “a number of solutions” rather than pushing costs. - **Good with anxious animals**, working to build trust and using **treats during vaccinations/check-ups** to keep a cat calm. - One review highlights a **female vet (name not caught)** who: - Took extra steps to help after a travel accident (cleaned a cat’s carrier, added a puppy pad). - **Explained possible causes of symptoms clearly** and handled the cat gently. - Reception and nursing staff are repeatedly mentioned as **friendly and approachable**, including assisting during consultations. ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 347 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Repeated comments about **kind, careful handling** and pets being treated gently. - **Communication stands out**: owners mention clear explanations and being talked through procedures. - **Trust-building with nervous pets** is specifically described (anxious dog put at ease; treats used to keep a cat calm). - A few reviews explicitly value a **non-salesy approach**, with one owner noting they expected a “sales pitch” but instead got thorough care and options.

## Summary This practice operates under the **Vets for Pets** brand and describes itself as a **family-run, locally owned** clinic. It’s set up as a **general small-animal practice with on-site diagnostics and inpatient facilities** (including an in-house lab, digital X-ray, ultrasound, a hospital ward and an isolation unit). It’s also listed as a **veterinary nurse training facility**. From the latest reviews, experiences are mixed: many owners describe **being able to get appointments when needed** and getting **clear pre-op and aftercare explanations** (spaying is specifically mentioned). Others report serious concerns including **missed deterioration/misdiagnosis** and **feeling rushed toward major decisions** (surgery or euthanasia) without enough discussion of options. ## Services Services and facilities mentioned on the clinic website include: - **Diagnostics & monitoring:** in-house laboratory (biochemistry, haematology), blood pressure monitoring, digital X-ray, ultrasound - **Surgery & anaesthesia:** anaesthesia, operating theatre, soft tissue procedures - **Dentistry** - **Inpatient care:** hospital ward and **isolation unit** - **Preventive care & support clinics:** microchipping, nurse clinic, weight clinic, nutritional advice - **Medication & prescriptions** - **Pet travel paperwork:** pet passport / animal health certificate - **Health plans** (details/prices not provided in the available info) **Emergency/out-of-hours:** the website states emergency cover is provided via **Vets Now** and **Armac Vets** when the clinic is closed. ## People - **Barbara Hambley (practice manager)** – mentioned in multiple reviews. One owner describes her as “excellent” and reassuring; another alleges she did not take blood tests/check electrolytes for a dog with Addison’s disease and felt their complaint was ignored. - **Patrick** – singled out positively alongside Barbara for being “excellent,” “caring and reassuring.” - **Miriam (vet)** – praised in a review about euthanasia for being **patient, calm and kind**, and for offering **privacy in a consultation room**. - **John (vet)** – one reviewer calls him “the only nice vet they ever had there.” - **Reception team** – one long-term client describes staff as **friendly and courteous**, including being respectful toward them as a neurodivergent owner; a separate reviewer alleges an unpleasant phone call with a receptionist (named as Greg in their account). ## Reviews **Google rating:** 4.5 stars from 269 reviews. **The basis below is limited:** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Access and communication:** several owners say they can **get appointments when needed** and receive **good advice**, including **clear explanations and thorough aftercare instructions** for spaying. - **End-of-life care (conflicting reports):** one review describes being **fit in at short notice**, given **privacy**, and supported by a **patient** vet; another describes feeling **rushed**, with **no condolence/response** after a pet died and dissatisfaction with how euthanasia was handled. - **Concerns about clinical thoroughness:** multiple negative reviews allege **insufficient examination or testing** (examples given include not running blood tests/electrolytes in a dog with Addison’s; minimal assessment for sudden paralysis; ongoing eye issues preceding blindness). - **Perceived pressure and cost concerns:** one reviewer felt tests were being recommended “just to extract as much money as possible,” while another positive review says the clinic is **“not just after money”**—a direct conflict in reported experiences. - **Bedside manner varies:** some describe staff as friendly and reassuring; others describe a vet as **cold/rough** and not compassionate.

## Summary Shaw Vets promotes a **Pet Health Club® Plus** plan that includes **consultations** and provides an **Out of Hours** web page with guidance on what to do in an emergency outside normal hours. Recent reviews most often describe a clean, well-run practice and vets who take time with appointments—examples include being **patient and gentle with an elderly, nervous dog**, and an end-of-life cat visit where the vet **checked everything**, **didn’t rush the owner**, and arranged for **payment to be handled privately** rather than at a busy front desk. One of the latest reviews appears to reference a **different practice name (“Crown Vets”)**, so not every review can be confidently matched to Shaw Vets. ## Services - **Pet Health Club® Plus** membership mentioned on the website, with **consultations included** (no pricing details provided). - **Out-of-hours emergency guidance** is provided via an “Out of Hours” page (the website summary does not specify the provider or process beyond guidance). - Review examples suggest routine companion-animal care, including: - Handling **nervous/elderly dogs** with a gentle approach. - Support for **very unwell cats**, including end-of-life decision support and allowing time to grieve. ## People - **Vets (unnamed)** are described as: - **Informative** and willing to answer concerns (reviewers mention staff “take time to answer any concerns”). - **Gentle and patient** with anxious or elderly pets (specifically noted for “elderly, nervous collies”). - Supportive during difficult appointments: one owner describes a vet who **checked everything**, spoke compassionately to their cat, and **did not rush** them when saying goodbye. - **Reception team (unnamed)**: one review highlights a receptionist accommodating privacy by **processing payment away from a busy reception area**. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 129 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Multiple reviewers describe **friendly staff** and **excellent service**. - Cleanliness/comfort is mentioned: a **spotless reception area**. - Communication and time taken: staff **answer concerns**, give advice, and are described as **informative**. - Handling of sensitive situations: one detailed account describes **compassionate end-of-life care** with extra steps taken to reduce stress (not feeling rushed; private payment handling). - A potential mismatch exists: one recent review praises **“Crown Vets”**, which may indicate an attribution or naming error in the review data.

## Summary Briar Dawn Veterinary Centre Ltd is a small-animal practice (established in 2004) treating dogs, cats and several small pets (including rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs). No corporate group ownership is mentioned in the available information. The clinic lists in-house diagnostics (including an on-site lab, X‑ray and ultrasound) and offers both routine care and surgery, including an orthopaedic surgery referral service. It also states Cat Friendly Clinic (Silver) status and RCVS Core Standards accreditation, and is noted as a veterinary nurse training facility. Review experiences are mixed: several owners describe compassionate support during difficult times and thorough, explanatory consults (including being shown how to give ear drops), while a few recent reviews allege being pushed toward costly options (notably dentistry) or feeling dismissed in diet/allergy discussions. ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned by the clinic website and/or reviews include: - Consultations and six‑month health checks - Vaccinations, parasite control and microchipping - Neutering and other surgery - Dentistry (raised in reviews as a major discussion point during a consult) - Diagnostic tests and imaging (in-house lab, X‑ray, ultrasound) - Nurse clinics, including: - Blood pressure checks - Anal sac expression - Grooming & nail clipping - Home visits - Orthopaedic surgery referral service - Emergencies: the clinic states emergencies are supported during normal hours; out-of-hours emergencies are referred to PetMedics Veterinary Surgeons (as named on the website) ## Pricing Only prices mentioned in reviews: - Consultation reported as **£62** (another reviewer reported paying **£60**). - Dentistry estimate reported as **£600**, with a suggestion that joining a “pet plan” could reduce it to **£300** (as described by the reviewer; no plan details were provided). ## People No staff members are named in the information provided. What reviewers describe about the clinical team includes: - One owner of a cat reported a vet being “professional, thorough, patient,” offering “various levels of treatment” and demonstrating how to administer ear drops. - Multiple reviewers mention compassion around end-of-life situations and difficult periods. - A few reviewers report negative communication: feeling spoken down to or dismissed (including during an allergy/diet discussion), and feeling pressured toward higher-cost treatments. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 210 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Owners repeatedly mention kind handling of pets and compassion during bereavement or difficult health situations. - Some reviews describe consults as detailed and practical (e.g., explaining treatment options and showing how to give medication such as ear drops). - A minority of reviewers raise concerns about money focus or pressure to proceed with costly dentistry; one review also objects to advice given about spaying a pregnant dog (as described by that owner). - One reviewer reports an unsatisfactory first visit involving disagreement over allergy management and diet choices, and feeling dismissed.

## Summary Medivet Uppermill (Ian McConnell Vets) is part of the **Medivet** group and appears set up mainly for **routine small‑animal care** (cats and dogs are repeatedly mentioned). Reviewers often describe **being seen on time** (typically “only a couple of minutes” wait) and being able to **order flea and worm treatments** through reception. One recent reviewer had a very different experience, saying an **allergy-medicine visit was extremely brief, involved no check-over, the medication wasn’t held in stock, and they were still charged**—so experiences around **exam thoroughness and costs** appear mixed. ## Services Based on the latest reviews available to us, owners mention: - **Annual check-ups and injections** (routine visit with “annual check up and injections” referenced). - **Cats and dogs** treated (cats “dealt with very well”; dogs seen for check-ups and allergy issues). - **Parasite prevention supply**: ordering **flea and worm treatments** via reception. - **Allergy treatment/medication**: one owner sought **allergy meds/injections** and was told the clinic **didn’t hold the medication** and it would need to be **ordered** for a return visit. ## Pricing Pricing is only mentioned in a negative review about an allergy-medication visit: - **£48–£49** charged for a very brief appointment where the owner reports no thorough exam and no treatment provided. - The same reviewer reports being told they would need **another appointment costing £148**. ## People - **Maegan/Megan (vet)**: repeatedly named as the vet owners trust, described as **easy to talk to** and willing to **answer questions/concerns**, with specific mention of handling **cats** well. - **Ann**: mentioned positively alongside Megan/Maegan (“very friendly”; “looking after” a pet). - **Reception team**: described as easy to speak to for **making appointments** and **ordering flea/worm treatments**; one owner highlighted smooth check-in and query handling. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 102 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Many owners describe a **small, friendly team** and smooth visits, including being **seen on time**. - Multiple reviews highlight **clear communication** (vet answering questions; reception helping with appointments and parasite-treatment orders). - A minority report a sharply negative experience focused on **cost and process**: a very short consultation for allergy medication, **no medication available on the day**, and feeling **overcharged** for leaving without treatment.