W J Downes – Vets in Aberystwyth
Clinic Overview
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.
- •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.
Special Services
Animals Treated at W J Downes
Animals We Treat
Companion Animals
Farm Animals
Opening Hours – W J Downes
Opening Hours
Hours
Reviews for W J Downes
Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 245 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.
Rosie Aindow
2 months ago
I’m sure the actual vets are fine however when ringing reception with a query about 2 sick homeless kittens, I was met with frosty and unhelpful robotic answers. I have had this at other vets before, where receptionist staff know next to nothing about queries they must get daily and will repeat the same textbook lines. For context, as of yesterday I have unexpectedly had to rescue 2 farm kittens from being run over and planned to rehome them quickly, however one has gone downhill very fast. As a student I can not afford to foot a £300+ bill. Did this vet receptionist know anything about possible help? No. They only managed to suggest free neutering schemes from cats protection, who are already full, very helpful. The system is broken with many issues like inflated costs and insane rescue numbers needing help. However, it doesn’t help anyone (pet or human) when on top of all this - the receptionist staff are ignorant to any other nearby rescues or possible financial help, unsympathetic to insane costs and seemingly tone deaf to the current situation, especially in a heavily agricultural area. Multiple times in that short phone call it was assumed they were my cats and I should just set up a ‘payment plan’. ‘I’m not a vet so I wouldn’t know’ 1. Doesn’t take a vet to give a broad cost estimate 2. If it’s that difficult you should have vets answering the phones. Please train your receptionist staff to answer basic questions you must get on the daily. Better yet, get your practice to build relationships with local rescues like many other vets do so you can actually help someone (and cats) in need.
Charles Rayer
a month ago
Fantasticly friendly and welcoming reception team, everything nice and clean, prompt appointments and lovely caring vets.
Charles Rayer
3 months ago
Fantasticly friendly and welcoming reception team, everything nice and clean, prompt appointments and lovely caring vets.
Virginia West
6 months ago
Excellent vets' practice
medwin worrall
4 months ago
Rubbish vets. The first time I went in I took my very old ill dogs in after a long journey and was made to wait for over an hour before the vet showed up to his job and had 1 appointment before me who was also waiting very long. I then had half decent care after that but they seemed more concerned over money than the care of the animals. I got on there care plan which is was terrible, I received hardly any of what I was supposed to get and once I missed a payment they expected hundreds of pounds for the whole care plan in full even though it was for stuff in the future which I hadn't had and hadn't had all the appointments and vacations that I was already supposed to have had on the care plan. They then started adding £5 a week onto the debt expecting me to be able to pay the hundreds of pounds in full with no willingness to discuss a way that I could pay this off bit by bit. This felt like extortion and they did this to me during the final months of my very loved dogs life. They had empathy for my situation and just wanted me to give them money I didn't have in full. I was more than willing to pay off in time but the vets loan shark approach was disgusting in my opinion.
medwin worrall
6 months ago
Rubbish vets. The first time I went in I took my very old ill dogs in after a long journey and was made to wait for over an hour before the vet showed up to his job and had 1 appointment before me who was also waiting very long. I then had half decent care after that but they seemed more concerned over money than the care of the animals. I got on there care plan which is was terrible, I received hardly any of what I was supposed to get and once I missed a payment they expected hundreds of pounds for the whole care plan in full even though it was for stuff in the future which I hadn't had and hadn't had all the appointments and vacations that I was already supposed to have had on the care plan. They then started adding £5 a week onto the debt expecting me to be able to pay the hundreds of pounds in full with no willingness to discuss a way that I could pay this off bit by bit. This felt like extortion and they did this to me during the final months of my very loved dogs life. They had empathy for my situation and just wanted me to give them money I didn't have in full. I was more than willing to pay off in time but the vets loan shark approach was disgusting in my opinion.
Chris Hayes
4 months ago
Huge thanks to Downes Vets, particularly to George who saw our very poorly dog whilst we were on holiday in Wales. George saw us out of hours and gave our dog emergency treatment stabilising her and providing medication until we can get her home to her regular vet. George was very honest about her condition and gave us options of treatment and next steps to take if she became worse. Thank you so much for you help and for probably saving our little dogs life.
Chris Hayes
7 months ago
Huge thanks to Downes Vets, particularly to George who saw our very poorly dog whilst we were on holiday in Wales. George saw us out of hours and gave our dog emergency treatment stabilising her and providing medication until we can get her home to her regular vet. George was very honest about her condition and gave us options of treatment and next steps to take if she became worse. Thank you so much for you help and for probably saving our little dogs life.
Louis Evans
5 months ago
Receptionist was not very caring or helpful in our dogs situation, she had a couldn't care less attitude. We would heve had to wait nearly a week to get our dog seen to for what was a simple 5 minutes procedure, so would not have disrupted their time too much. She never once asked how my dog was feeling, never suggested phoning the next day to make an emergency appointment. We have now moved to Ystwyth Surgery as The Receptionist there 100% more caring and understanding and asked questions. They fitted our dog in the same day and our dog was not even registered there at the time. It doesn't take a lot to be nice and understanding with your clients and their animals, these animals mean so much to their owners. The Vet at Ystwyth Surgery was so professional and caring, even our dog was at ease with him.
Chloe Roulstone
6 months ago
I have used this vets for the past 3 years and don't have a single complaint. I have 2 elderly rabbits one who is deaf and arthritic. The vets here treat them with such care it's admirable and I know my buns will always get high quality care here. The receptionists are all lovely people with a clear respect for the animals coming through. I couldn't recommend them more!
