Dog & Cat Vets in Aberystwyth

## Summary Ystwyth Veterinary Practice Limited describes itself as an **independent, family-run mixed practice** with a **12-vet team**, supported by qualified and trainee veterinary nurses, and it is an **RCVS Practice Standards Practice**. It appears set up for both **everyday pet care and more involved cases**, with the website listing **orthopaedics/soft tissue surgery, laparoscopy, physiotherapy, and an in-house surgical referral service**. Reviews repeatedly mention **urgent cases being seen quickly**, including **same-day appointments** and **emergency visits with minimal waiting**, plus **out-of-hours updates** (one owner reports a call at **11pm** after an overnight stay). Owners with nervous or reactive dogs also describe the team **going slowly and adapting handling**, including during a **laparoscopic spay**. ## Services - **Small animal veterinary care** (dogs and cats are specifically mentioned in reviews). - **Farm animal care** (website lists farm services; reviews mention treatment for “small holding” animals and trying to get someone out promptly for “bigger animals”). - **Equine services** (listed on the website). - **Orthopaedics & soft tissue surgery** (listed on the website; one owner describes an operation to repair a dog’s leg, with a “neat job” and good outcome). - **Laparoscopy** (listed on the website; a laparoscopic spay is specifically mentioned in reviews). - **Physiotherapy** (listed on the website). - **Emergency care and overnight hospitalisation** (reviews describe emergency visits and a cat staying overnight). - **Out-of-hours emergency service**: the practice states it provides **its own out-of-hours emergency care 24/7, 365 days a year**. - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in the clinic data; the website also mentions trainee veterinary nurses). ## People - The website describes a team of **12 veterinary surgeons**, supported by **qualified and trainee veterinary nurses** and administrative staff. - Owners frequently describe vets/staff adjusting their approach for anxious pets: - A nervous dog “isn’t great at the vets” and the vet was described as **understanding**. - A **reactive dog** having a **lap spay** was handled “nice and slow,” with staff recognising the dog was “simply just nervous.” - Communication is highlighted in specific situations: - One owner says the vet **explained in detail** what a dog’s leg operation involved. - Another reports receiving an **11pm phone update** during an overnight stay after an emergency. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 301 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Emergency/urgent access:** multiple owners mention being seen quickly for emergencies, including not waiting long and getting a **same-day appointment**. - **Handling nervous/reactive animals:** staff are repeatedly described taking things slowly and being understanding during stressful visits, including for a **laparoscopic spay**. - **Surgical outcomes and explanations:** a dog leg operation is reported as successful, with the procedure explained clearly beforehand. - **Out-of-hours updates:** one owner reports an **11pm** call to provide a progress update while their cat stayed overnight. - **Farm/smallholding support:** reviewers mention care for domestic pets and smallholding animals, and efforts to reach larger animals promptly.

## Summary W J Downes (Downes Vets) presents itself on its website as a **mixed veterinary practice** covering **small animals, equine and farm animals**, and it states its vets are **on call 24/7 for emergencies**. The site also mentions **modern diagnostic equipment**, plus services like **charity neutering**, **pet grooming**, **animal exports**, and **health plans**. From the latest reviews, owners often mention a **clean clinic and prompt appointments**, and there’s a detailed example of an **out-of-hours emergency visit** where a vet (George) **stabilised a very unwell dog and provided medication and clear next-step options**. However, multiple reviews raise concerns about the **reception experience** (described by some as friendly, by others as uncaring/robotic) and one reviewer reports a **dispute around a care plan and payment handling**. (Ownership group/corporate status isn’t stated in the information provided.) ## Services Based on the website summary and structured clinic data, this practice offers: - **Small animal services**, including mention of care for **rabbits** in reviews (including an elderly rabbit with arthritis and deafness). - Care for **small exotic pets**, plus **large dogs** (species list on the website). - **Equine services** (horses, ponies, donkeys, foals are listed). - **Farm animal services**. - **Emergency care:** the website states vets are **on call 24/7**; reviews include an **out-of-hours emergency appointment** with treatment to stabilise a dog and provide medication. - **Charity neutering** (listed on the website). - **Pet grooming** (listed on the website). - **Animal exports** (listed on the website). - **Health plans** (listed on the website; details of what’s included aren’t provided in the available summary). - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (from the structured clinic data). - **Consultations by appointment only** (website). Facilities/capability mentioned: - **Modern diagnostic equipment** (website). ## Pricing Only limited pricing-related information appears in reviews (no official fee list was provided): - One reviewer seeking help for sick kittens mentions being unable to risk a **“£300+”** bill (they were asking general advice/financial help options). - One reviewer describes a dispute after missing a payment on a **care plan**, saying the practice demanded **“hundreds of pounds”** and added **“£5 a week”** to the debt (this is the reviewer’s account; no policy wording is provided from the practice). ## People - **George (vet)** is named in two duplicate reviews for an **out-of-hours emergency**: the owner says he **stabilised** their dog, provided **medication**, and was **clear and honest about condition, options, and what to do if things worsened**. - **Reception team** is a repeated theme with conflicting experiences: - Some reviewers describe reception as **friendly and welcoming**. - Others describe reception as **uncaring, frosty, or unhelpful**, especially when asking about urgent needs or financial/rescue support. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 245 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Out-of-hours emergency care gets specific praise:** one owner says their dog was stabilised and sent home with medication and clear options/next steps. - **Cleanliness and appointment flow:** reviews mention a **clean environment** and **prompt appointments**. - **Reception experience is inconsistent:** several reviews praise reception as welcoming, while others describe a lack of empathy/helpfulness when trying to get advice or timely care. - **Money/care-plan handling is a pain point for at least one owner:** one reviewer reports feeling pressured around care-plan debt and charges after a missed payment, describing the approach as focused on money over care.