W J Downes

W J Downes (Downes Vets) presents itself as a mixed veterinary practice in Aberystwyth covering small animals, equine and farm animals, with vets on call 24/7 for emergencies. The practice also mentions modern diagnostic equipment and additional services including charity neutering, pet grooming, animal exports and health plans. Recent feedback is mixed overall: many clients praise the care, cleanliness and friendliness, while some reviews raise concerns about the reception experience and care-plan payment handling.

Services

•Mixed practice care: the clinic states it treats small animals, equine and farm animals. The species mentioned across the available information include rabbits, small exotic pets, large dogs, and equines such as horses, ponies, donkeys and foals.
•Emergency care: the website says vets are on call 24/7 for emergencies. Recent reviews include a detailed example of an out-of-hours emergency appointment where George stabilised a very unwell dog, provided medication, and explained treatment options and next steps.
•Routine and ongoing pet care: reviews include positive comments about care for elderly rabbits, including one with arthritis and deafness, alongside broader praise for caring vets.
•Additional services listed by the practice: charity neutering, pet grooming, animal exports, and health plans.
•Facilities and appointments: the practice mentions modern diagnostic equipment, works by appointment, and is listed as a Veterinary Nurse Training facility.

Pricing

No published pricing information is currently available for this clinic.

People

•George is named positively in reviews for out-of-hours emergency treatment, with one owner praising his honest explanation of their dog’s condition, treatment options and follow-up guidance.
•Reception team: reviews are mixed, with some clients describing reception as friendly, welcoming and helpful, while others describe the phone or front-desk experience as frosty, uncaring or unhelpful.

Reviews

Google rating: 4.7/5 from 246 reviews.

•Many recent reviewers describe the team as friendly, helpful and caring, with broad praise for the practice overall.
•There is specific praise for out-of-hours emergency care, especially George’s handling of a seriously ill dog seen while the owners were on holiday.
•Positive reviews also mention a clean clinic, prompt appointments, and good treatment of pets including elderly rabbits.
•Negative feedback centres on an inconsistent reception experience, and one reviewer also reports a long wait for an appointment and a serious dispute over care-plan charges and payment handling.

Reviews for W J Downes

Note: Showing the 10 most recent Google reviews out of 246 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

SLe Pine

1 month ago

I'm surprised I haven't put in a review previously. I cannot say enough good things about all the people at Downes. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. Your pet are in the best hands.

Rosie Aindow

5 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

7 months ago

Fantasticly friendly and welcoming reception team, everything nice and clean, prompt appointments and lovely caring vets.

Virginia West

9 months ago

Excellent vets' practice

medwin worrall

10 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

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

11 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.

W J Downes – Vets in Aberystwyth

Clinic Overview

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Pricing

People

Reviews

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Special Services

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Animals Treated at W J Downes

Animals We Treat

Companion Animals

Farm Animals

Pricing at W J Downes

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Opening Hours – W J Downes

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Reviews for W J Downes

SLe Pine

Rosie Aindow

Charles Rayer

Charles Rayer

Virginia West

medwin worrall

medwin worrall

Chris Hayes

Chris Hayes

Louis Evans

Nearby Vets

Ystwyth Veterinary Practice Limited