Specialist Vets in Blackburn

## Summary Town & Country Veterinary Group is a multi-practice veterinary group (with practices listed on its own site). It treats a wide range of species beyond cats and dogs—including small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters) and exotics (lizards, snakes/other reptiles, and birds). The clinic is also listed in the provided data as a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. From the latest reviews, owners most often describe a friendly, welcoming front-of-house and vets who explain findings and options clearly. However, a minority of recent reviews report serious concerns—one alleges rude reception/phone handling and a surgery that “wasn’t done properly,” and another describes dissatisfaction with how payment was handled during euthanasia (including being asked to pay **£181 upfront**) and a perceived lack of compassion. ## Services - Veterinary care for multiple species: **cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, lizards, snakes/other reptiles, and birds** (website summary). - **Surgery** is directly referenced by a reviewer (cat “supposed to have surgery”). - Examination and treatment for mobility/trauma-type issues is described in a review: a cat with paralysed limbs was **examined for fractures**, given an **injection** and **medication**. - Support around **euthanasia** is referenced in a review (end-of-life visit described by an owner). - Listed in provided clinic data as a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being asked to pay **£181 upfront** at the time their dog was put to sleep (euthanasia visit). No other specific prices are provided in the available inputs. ## People - **Emma** and **Leila** are named by a reviewer as staff who “looked after me” during a visit; the same review highlights them staying personable and organised even while busy (putting up decorations between customers). - Multiple reviewers mention vets/staff being **informative** and explaining things clearly (e.g., “vet very informative,” “everything is explained along the way”). - Reviews conflict on reception/communication: several describe a warm welcome and helpful staff, while one recent reviewer describes the reception as “rudest” and alleges disrespectful behaviour. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 215 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Welcoming, helpful front desk and clean environment** are repeatedly mentioned (smiles on arrival, “helpful and welcoming,” “clean and tidy”). - **Clear explanations and thorough checks**: owners describe being talked through care, and one recounts a cat being examined for fractures and treated with an injection/meds with improvement the next day. - **Handling nervous/anxious pets**: one owner says staff didn’t force unnecessary handling and were mindful of a dog that disliked being “prodded.” - **Serious negative outliers**: a recent review alleges rude reception/poor phone manners and that a paid-for cat surgery “wasn’t done properly”; another describes dissatisfaction with compassion and the request for **upfront payment (£181)** during euthanasia.

## Summary Vets Now Preston is part of the Vets Now network (60+ UK locations) focused on pet emergency care, with options for in-clinic emergency treatment and video consultations. Based on the website and recent reviews, it appears set up for urgent, high-acuity cases (for example, oxygen treatment overnight and arranging advanced imaging/surgery elsewhere when needed). Owners repeatedly mention clear explanations of options during emergencies (including real-time updates during a difficult labour) and transparency about costs, alongside some reports of long waits with little or no communication after triage. ## Services - Emergency vet services for small animals (as described on the clinic website). - Video consultations (“Speak to a Vet Now” via video, per the website). - Emergency assessment/triage and urgent treatment (e.g., life-saving urgent care; oxygen treatment overnight for a kitten). - Support in critical decision-making, including euthanasia with time for families to say goodbye (reviewed experience included keepsakes such as a card, fur clipping, and paw prints). - Escalation/referral coordination for advanced diagnostics/treatment when needed (e.g., recognising suspected spinal disc injury and arranging an MRI and onward surgery via a specialist, per a review). - Case types mentioned in reviews include: - Complicated labour (breech puppy stuck) with ongoing updates and options discussed. - Suspected ingestion concern assessed and reassurance provided. - Severe acute illness in very young kittens requiring rapid stabilisation. ## People - **Scott**: thanked by name for quick, thorough urgent care described as life-saving for a dog. - **Della**: credited with providing real-time updates and explaining options during a dog’s labour with a breech puppy stuck; the owner reports both mother and puppies were saved. - Reception team: one reviewer specifically noted a friendly, helpful receptionist, but the same review reported poor follow-up communication after triage. ## Reviews **4.2 stars from 476 reviews.** The latest written reviews describe urgent interventions (including stabilisation and end-of-life care) and also include a complaint about waiting without updates. “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Fast response and intensive emergency care are repeatedly mentioned, including cases owners believed were life-threatening. - Clear explanations and options during stressful situations (e.g., labour complications; decisions about whether to continue treatment or euthanise). - Compassionate handling of end-of-life visits, including giving families time and providing keepsakes (card, fur clipping, paw prints) and respectful preparation of the pet to go home. - Cost comes up in different ways: some describe it as “worth every penny” and praise cost transparency, while others note it was “very expensive.” - One recent negative review reports a 2-hour wait after triage with no communication or updates, leading them to leave before their pet was properly seen.

## Summary Animal Trust Vets CIC is part of the Animal Trust mission-led veterinary social enterprise (not an independent single-site practice). The clinic presents itself as a full-service general practice with modern medical equipment and transparent pricing, including 24/7 urgent care with a stated out-of-hours supplement. Based on the website and recent reviews, it appears set up for both routine care and more involved work: - Urgent care is offered 24/7, with the website stating a **£79 supplement fee** for urgent/out-of-hours care (with other costs the same as daytime fees). - Diagnostics and clear explanations are repeatedly described (for example, a dog assessed for kneecap problems where the vet recommended and arranged an **X-ray within a couple of days**, then explained results and next steps). - End-of-life care is specifically mentioned, including a **quiet room set aside** and a vet talking owners through the process without rushing. - Several reviews mention the clinic being **busy with some waiting**, but still being satisfied with outcomes. ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned in the website information and reviews include: - **General practice care** (the site positions the clinic as full-service). - **Vaccinations** (listed on the website). - **Surgery** (listed on the website, but no specific procedures are described in the reviews provided). - **Urgent care (24/7)** (stated on the website; weekend emergency care is also mentioned in reviews). - **Referral care** (listed on the website, without detail on what is referred or to where). - **Diagnostic imaging (X-rays)** (mentioned in a review for kneecap assessment). - **End-of-life appointments** (review describes a supported euthanasia experience with a quiet room and step-by-step explanation). Other stated capability: - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (from the structured clinic data). ## Pricing - The website states **24/7 urgent care** is available with a **£79 supplement fee**, with all other costs equivalent to daytime fees. - One reviewer reports **no appointment fee** (“just pay for treatment”) and gives an example of **weekend emergency care plus four treatments, appointment and medication for under £200** (this is a single customer example, not a published price list). ## People - **Jennifer (vet)** is named in a review: an owner says she listened to concerns and identified a **heart issue** that they report had been missed previously, then took “all the necessary actions.” - Multiple reviews describe vets and staff explaining things clearly (for example, talking through a kneecap problem, why an X-ray was needed, and then explaining findings again after the imaging). - In an end-of-life review, the team is described as setting aside a quiet room and the vet **calmly explaining the process** and being gentle and respectful throughout. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 1455 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Wait times vs outcomes:** several people mention it being busy and having a wait, but also say treatment outcomes were good (including a dog returning home “fit and well”). - **Cost and fees:** some reviewers highlight low/clear costs (including “no appointment fee” and an under-£200 weekend emergency example), while one negative review alleges difficulty cancelling a plan and characterises the business as profit-driven. - **Communication and explanations during appointments:** owners repeatedly mention vets explaining problems and next steps clearly (including X-rays and a heart issue being identified). - **End-of-life support:** one detailed review describes being given a quiet room and time, with the process explained calmly and handled respectfully. - **Access/booking concerns (conflicting feedback):** one 1-star review claims general appointments are hard to obtain and says communication is online-only unless it’s an emergency; this conflicts with multiple recent 5-star experiences describing successful visits and urgent weekend care.

## Summary Vets4Pets Blackburn is described on its own site as a **locally-owned Vets4Pets practice**, set up as a **modern, well-equipped clinic** with an **in-house lab**, **imaging (digital X‑ray and ultrasound)** and an **operating theatre**. It also has **separate cat and dog waiting areas** and **separated cat/dog wards plus isolation facilities**, which one reviewer specifically noticed and appreciated on a first visit. From the latest reviews, owners most often mention **being able to get appointments when needed**, and one describes using a **WhatsApp group to book appointments, order medication, and ask for advice**. The most significant split in experiences is around **handling and communication**: several reviews praise vet **Brian** for managing difficult cases (including a reactive dog and serious feline illnesses), while a small number describe **rushed consults**, **rough handling**, or (in one detailed account) disagreement over **urgent toxin treatment** and unprofessional comments afterwards. ## Services Based on the clinic website summary and owner accounts, services and capabilities mentioned include: - **Diagnostics & monitoring** - In-house testing: **biochemistry** and **haematology** - **Blood pressure monitoring** - **Digital X‑ray**, **dental X‑ray**, and **ultrasound** - **Echocardiography** - **Eye pressure testing (Tonopen)** - **Surgery** - **Soft tissue surgery** - **Orthopaedics**, including **cruciate surgery** and **fracture repair** - Access to an **operating theatre** - **Preventive care & clinics** - **Microchipping** - **Nurse clinic** - **Nutritional advice** - **Health plans** (details/prices not stated in the provided info) - **Prescriptions** - **Species seen (as stated):** dog, cat, rabbit - **Out-of-hours:** emergency care is provided by **Vets Now Hospital** (as stated on the clinic site). - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (listed in the provided clinic data) ## Pricing - One reviewer reports paying **around £50 per visit** and felt the consultation was very short (“2‑minute consultation”). No official fee list or included items were provided in the available sources. ## People - **Brian (vet)** is repeatedly requested by name in reviews. Owners describe him: - working with them to treat an **“unbelievably reactive”** dog who hates vet visits (they “work together” to get treatment done) - being credited with **saving pets**, including a cat with **FIP** and another after an **overdose** attributed to a previous vet - **Nursing team:** one reviewer specifically mentions a **nurse** being “so kind” during a first visit. - **Front desk/communication:** one detailed complaint describes **rude/sarcastic updates by phone** and **unprofessional comments at reception** about a frightened cat. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 354 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Access and admin:** multiple owners say they can **get appointments when needed**; one mentions a **WhatsApp group** used for booking, medication requests, and advice. - **Facilities noticed by clients:** **separate cat and dog waiting areas** are specifically praised. - **Standout clinician:** several reviews single out **Brian**, crediting him with handling complex or high-stress situations (reactive dog) and serious illness (including **FIP**). - **Negative experiences (conflicting with the positive ones):** - a report of **rushed, ~2‑minute consultations** despite paying **~£50**, with concerns about **rough handling** of a kitten - a detailed account of an urgent case where the clinic allegedly **refused to administer Carbodote** due to the cat being defensive; the owner also describes **unprofessional comments** and **poor communication** during updates.

## Summary Daisy Street Veterinary Centre is a single-site practice established in 1955 and an **RCVS Approved Training Practice** (also listed as a **veterinary nurse training facility**). The website states **24-hour emergency care is available**. Recent reviews describe both routine and more serious care, including a cat’s **ear infection being drained** and support around difficult decisions such as a **broken leg where amputation was needed**. The main decision-point raised in negative feedback is **inconsistent communication about costs and what’s included**, alongside one report of being **refused telephone advice** despite the caller expecting it from the website. ## Services From the clinic website: - **Vaccinations** - **Neutering** - **Pet cremation** - **Pet collection** - **Home euthanasia** - **24-hour emergency care** (as stated on the site) From the latest reviews: - Treatment for **ear infection**, including an **ear drain** (cat) - **Skin issue treatment** for a guinea pig, with medications supplied (antibacterial steroid cream and antiseptic solution mentioned) - Management of a **cat with a broken leg**, where it “wasn’t in his best interests to save” (amputation implied by context, though not explicitly named) ## Pricing - One reviewer reports paying a **£58 deposit** over the phone for a guinea pig appointment and says they were told it was **inclusive of the consultation and any medications prescribed**, but then reports being asked to pay an **additional £35 for medicines** at the visit (total **£90+** reported). - Another reviewer states that **pricing is “fair and transparent,”** which conflicts with the above report of unclear pricing communication. ## People Named in reviews: - **John** (referred to as “Dr John” by one reviewer): mentioned as being “incredible from the start” with a kitten; also praised for care with a young dog and a cat. - **Mr Davies**: praised for discussing concerns and answering questions. - **Sam**: praised alongside Mr Davies; also mentioned in a review about compassionate handling of a cat with a broken leg. ## Reviews **4.7 stars from 242 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Clear explanations and reassurance:** multiple owners mention staff taking time to answer questions and help them feel at ease (especially new kitten owners). - **Specific procedures and case-handling:** examples include a cat’s **infected ear being drained**, and supportive care around a cat’s **broken leg** where the outcome was not to attempt to save the limb. - **Cost/communication issues raised by some:** one owner describes being quoted one arrangement by phone (deposit including meds) but being charged extra at the visit; they emphasise wanting clearer transparency. - **Telephone advice inconsistency:** one reviewer says they were refused advice over the phone when they expected it to be available based on the website.