Specialist Vets in Newcastle-under-Lyme

## Summary Staffordshire Vets describes itself as a small, independent (not chain-owned) family practice, and its website highlights a special interest in exotic animals (including reptiles, birds, amphibians, small mammals, and monkeys) alongside routine pet care. Reviews repeatedly echo that exotic knowledge is a real strength (e.g., reptiles and pet rats specifically mentioned), and several owners describe the team persisting with anxious or difficult-to-handle pets rather than defaulting to “just prescribing” without finding the underlying issue. Surgical care also comes up in recent reviews, including spays, hernia repair, urgent surgery, and an ear flush done after other practices reportedly couldn’t examine the dog. ## Services Based on the clinic website and the latest reviews, services mentioned include: - **Care for exotic species**: reptiles, birds, amphibians, small mammals, and monkeys (website); reviews specifically mention **reptiles** and **pet rats**. - **Vaccinations** (website). - **Neutering / spaying** (website; reviews mention **dogs spayed**). - **Diagnostics** (website; reviews describe investigations leading to identifying a problem in an anxious dog’s ear rather than only prescribing). - **Dental care** (website). - **Surgery** (website; reviews mention **hernia repair** and **urgent surgery** for a small dog). - **Ear procedures**: **ear swab** and **ear flush** described in a review. - **Emergency care**: the clinic states it provides care for emergencies (website). Also listed in the clinic data: **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. ## People - **Dom**: named in a review as “incredible” and “so knowledgeable” when treating **pet rats**. - **Andrew & Sarah Lowe**: named in reviews; one reviewer describes the practice as owned by husband and wife Andrew & Sarah. They’re thanked for ongoing care, and another reviewer describes getting a quick appointment for a very unwell dog who improved by the next day. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.9 stars from 86 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Exotics know-how is repeatedly called out**, including “great knowledge of reptiles” and expertise with **pet rats**. - **Owners describe persistence with anxious pets**, including successfully **swabbing an ear** and arranging an **ear flush** after other practices reportedly couldn’t handle the dog’s anxiety. - **Surgical outcomes and recovery** are mentioned positively (e.g., **spays**, **hernia repair**, and an **urgent surgery** where the pet recovered well). - **Second-opinion value** appears in one detailed account: a dog previously kept on **steroids** elsewhere was taken off them after treatment here, with the owner reporting the dog’s coat returned over a few months. - **Cost/value is referenced**, with multiple reviewers saying they were pleased with cost or describing pricing as “very fair,” particularly around urgent surgery (no specific prices stated).

## Summary County Vets – Friarswood is part of the County Vets group and is set up as a small‑animal practice (RCVS General Practice accreditation is stated on the website). Based on the website information, it offers a mix of routine care (vaccinations, parasite control, microchipping, neutering) and additional options like nurse clinics, home visits, and keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. In the latest reviews available, owners repeatedly describe unrushed consultations where concerns are discussed in depth, and staff taking practical steps to reduce stress (for example, a nervous dog being examined calmly, with a staff member sitting on the floor to check her over). ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned on the clinic website and in reviews include: - Consultations (by appointment, per the website) - Vaccinations (including first kitten vaccination mentioned in a review) - Microchipping (including scanning a found cat’s microchip and contacting the owner, per a review) - Neutering - Parasite control - Nurse clinics, including: - Nail clipping / grooming & nail clipping - Anal sac expression - Blood pressure checks - Six‑month health checks - Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery (listed on the website) - Home visits (listed on the website) - Species treated listed on the website: dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, and cage birds (small and large) - Veterinary Nurse Training facility (listed in the clinic data) - Emergency/urgent care: the website states emergency support is available during normal opening hours via the practice; out of hours, emergency care is directed to MiNightVet (named on the website) ## People Named individuals aren’t listed in the inputs, but reviews do mention: - **Arran** (staff member referenced in a review): described as calm and attentive with a “scary staffy cross,” including sitting on the floor to examine the dog and talking to her during the check. - **Front-of-house/reception team**: mentioned for prompt check-in, being knowledgeable, and lending a cat carrier when an owner’s hadn’t arrived. - **Vets seen by reviewers (not named)**: repeatedly described as explaining what they’re doing during exams (e.g., walking through a kitten health check and findings like heart/lungs/eyes/ears), and not rushing discussions about owners’ concerns. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 274 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Owners repeatedly mention **calm handling and communication during appointments**, including taking time to talk through concerns rather than rushing the consultation. - Several reviews focus on **support during difficult end-of-life situations**, including euthanasia described as painless and handled with dignity, and aftercare gestures such as time to say goodbye, paw prints, a card, and seeds to scatter. - **Responsiveness for unwell pets** is highlighted (for example, prompt help when a cat was unwell on a Saturday morning). - Practical, pet-stress-reducing details are mentioned: staff **talking to animals in the waiting/clinic area**, and a kitten owner being **offered a carrier to borrow**.

## Summary Garden Vets at Keele describes itself as a veterinary teaching hospital partnered with the Harper & Keele Vet School, using a “state-of-the-art” facility and involving vet students in consultations under supervision. The practice also promotes subscription plans intended to “take financial considerations out of the treatment conversation.” From the latest reviews, experiences split into two clear camps: many owners describe thorough discussions of options (including in complex, ongoing cases), while several recent reviewers report serious difficulty contacting the practice (phones continually engaged, promised call-backs not happening) and problems getting appointments. Emergency cases and out-of-hours care are repeatedly mentioned—both as a reason some routine appointments get delayed, and as a strength when pets need urgent help. Concrete examples mentioned by owners include emergency appointments being offered immediately, dental work (tooth removal and a scale/clean), and ongoing management of conditions like pancreatitis and lymphoma. ## Services Based on the website summary and the latest reviews, services/capabilities explicitly referenced include: - **Urgent / emergency care** described as available year-round, with multiple reviews mentioning being seen promptly for emergencies (including an out-of-hours Sunday evening case and a Saturday evening emergency appointment). - **Teaching-hospital consultations**: owners report vet students participating in appointments and discussions, with oversight by a qualified vet. - **Dentistry**: a dog reported having a **tooth removed** and **teeth cleaned** under an operation/anaesthetic, with good recovery. - **Medical work-ups and ongoing treatment** for complex illness, including **pancreatitis** and **lymphoma** management in cats. - **Treatment of injuries**: a cat bite case is described, including an emergency visit followed by a repeat appointment days later. - **Palliative care and end-of-life support** are mentioned by owners (with mixed feedback on communication during palliative care, but strong praise from others for compassion around a pet’s loss). - The clinic website also states it can provide **advanced diagnostics, treatment and advanced procedures** as part of its teaching-hospital model (no specific modalities listed in the provided summary). ## People Named individuals mentioned in the latest reviews: - **Emily Castle** (role not explicitly stated): described as “thorough” and an “exceptional listener” at a puppy check-up, and noted for having a student with her and mentoring during the appointment. - **Sarah (the vet)**: thanked for calm, competent handling of an out-of-hours emergency, alongside **a vet nurse** and **a vet student** (not named). - **Andy** (role not explicitly stated): seen during an emergency/urgent appointment with a **5th-year veterinary student**; the owner highlighted detailed explanations and not feeling rushed. More generally, some owners value that appointments include time to talk through options, while others report missed call-backs and difficulty speaking to a vet when needed. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 105 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Strong emergency care experiences**: several owners describe being seen quickly for urgent problems (including out-of-hours), and feeling procedures and next steps were explained clearly. - **Complex case support is repeatedly mentioned** (for example, pancreatitis and ongoing lymphoma treatment), with some owners saying discussions weren’t rushed and options were covered in depth. - **Teaching-hospital model is noticeable in appointments**: multiple reviews mention student vets being involved, with supervision, and owners generally viewing this positively. - **Recent contact/access problems** appear in multiple low-star reviews: phones “constantly engaged,” promised call-backs not happening, and difficulty getting appointments—one reviewer questioned whether the practice was operating due to lack of response. - **Delays linked to emergencies**: at least one reviewer who otherwise praised the service noted emergencies can cause delays for other appointment types; another described long waits and frequent walk-in emergencies as part of the problem.