Dog & Cat Vets in Hartlepool

## Summary Clifton Lodge Veterinary Group is a long-established practice (the website says it has cared for pets since 1950) and offers 24/7 *digital* vet support via a partnership with VidiVet. In recent reviews, owners describe smooth day-to-day care such as anxious-dog handling (“gave her time”), repeat prescriptions/medication being ready to collect, and follow-up appointments being booked at the end of visits. One recent review raises serious concerns about an alleged misdiagnosis and pressure to euthanise, while another complains about high quoted costs for cat gingivitis treatment and a scan—suggesting experiences can vary depending on the case (and, per one reviewer, possibly the vet seen). ## Services - **General consultations and ongoing care**, including annual check-ups and vaccinations (yearly check-up and injections mentioned). - **Medication support**: repeat prescriptions and ordered medication prepared ready for collection after an appointment. - **Follow-up appointments**: owners mention follow-ups being booked during/after visits. - **Support for anxious pets**: one owner describes staff giving an anxious dog time and handling a “grumpy” dog patiently. - **Ear problem review** mentioned alongside a routine visit (suggesting management of common issues). - **24/7 digital vet support** through **VidiVet** (stated on the clinic website). - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (listed in the provided clinic data). ## Pricing - A reviewer reports being told **£1,000** for a cat’s **gingivitis treatment** and **£300** for a **scan** (reported as a complaint; no other pricing is provided). ## People - **Danny (vet)**: mentioned by name in a review during a visit for check-up, injections, repeat prescription and an ear issue; described as pleasant, knowledgeable, and respectful, with “nothing too much trouble.” - **Reception team**: multiple reviews mention reception positively—helpful at booking follow-ups and described as friendly. - **General team behaviour noted in reviews**: taking time with an anxious dog, having medication ready at the end of the visit, and keeping facilities “spotlessly clean” (as observed by a reviewer). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.4 stars from 277 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Efficient routine visits**: check-ups, injections, repeat prescriptions, and problem reviews handled in one appointment; follow-ups booked promptly. - **Handling nervous/anxious dogs**: owners mention staff giving their dog time and managing difficult moods. - **Front-desk organisation**: medication being ready to collect and reception arranging next appointments. - **Cleanliness and facilities**: one reviewer specifically notes the practice was “spotlessly clean.” - **Serious negative outliers**: one recent review alleges a major diagnostic error and pressure to euthanise; another complains about high quoted costs for gingivitis treatment and a scan, and says “some of the vets there seem better than others.”

## Summary Bridge Veterinary Group is a small-animal practice established in 1986 and part of the CVS Group (per its website). The website lists a broad “general practice” set-up (consultations, surgery, diagnostics, dentistry, nurse clinics), with out-of-hours emergencies directed to MiNightVet. From the latest reviews available to us, owners often describe clear explanations and being kept informed (including during diagnostic work such as X‑rays). There are also serious complaints from a small number of reviewers about communication and monitoring in complex cases—specifically around chronic kidney disease blood results not being discussed and concerns after major surgery (including a stated £3,000 estimate for an intestinal operation). Concrete specifics mentioned: - Staff phoning owners when a procedure was over (post‑op update). - X‑rays carried out with owners saying they were informed about the issue and “next steps.” - Payment plan arranged for an emergency appointment when the owner said other clinics required immediate payment. - A veterinary nurse (Dawn) praised for thorough examinations and handling nervous cats calmly. ## Services Services listed on the clinic’s website include: - Consultations (including six‑month health checks) - Vaccinations - Neutering - Surgery - Dentistry - Diagnostics - Microchipping - Parasite control - Nurse consultations (including blood pressure checks) - Grooming/nail clipping - Anal sac expression - Pet travel documentation (GB) - Home visits - Emergencies: during normal hours via the practice; after hours/weekends via MiNightVet (as stated on the website) Services referenced in reviews include: - X‑rays - Pre‑surgical bloodwork - Spay procedure (with post‑op phone call) - Ultrasound scan (mentioned as being done elsewhere as part of a case described by a reviewer) Also noted in structured clinic data: the practice is a **Veterinary Nurse Training** facility. ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being quoted **£3,000** for an operation to remove an intestinal mass. ## People - **Dawn (veterinary nurse)** is specifically named and praised for being calm and patient with two nervous cats, giving advice the owner found helpful, and being “extremely thorough” with examinations. - Multiple reviews describe vets/reception staff explaining things clearly and answering questions (e.g., first puppy visit; discussing “next steps” after X‑rays; pre‑op/post‑op communication including a call when a procedure finished). - Reviews conflict on communication quality in more complex situations: one reviewer describes attentive inpatient care but “inconsistencies in communication” between team members during a critical hospitalisation. ## Reviews **4.2 stars from 247 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Clear explanations and time spent answering questions (notably at first puppy visits and when discussing diagnostic findings/next steps). - Good communication around some procedures (including a post‑op call to confirm a procedure was over). - Handling anxious pets: one owner highlights a nurse being calm and patient with nervous cats. - Emergency access and flexibility on payment: one reviewer says the clinic offered an appointment and arranged a payment plan when they couldn’t pay upfront. - Serious negative experiences also appear: concerns about monitoring and sharing blood results in a chronic kidney disease case, and a separate complaint about post‑surgical risks/aftercare and the way a complaint was handled.

## Summary Hartlepool Vets4Pets Ltd is a Vets4Pets practice with on-site facilities such as an in-house lab, pharmacy, digital X‑ray and ultrasound, an operating theatre, a hospital ward and an isolation unit. The website also lists dental X‑ray (under general anaesthetic) and nurse clinics, and says the practice treats dogs, cats and rabbits. Out-of-hours emergency cover is stated to be provided by Vets Now Middlesbrough. Recent reviews are mixed: some owners describe excellent care (including end-of-life support involving vets named Kate/Kathryn, Wendy and Bianca), while others report serious concerns about triage for suspected bloat, handling of ear disease (including a complaint that tests weren’t done), and communication/quoting at reception. ## Services From the practice website summary, services and facilities mentioned include: - **Diagnostics & monitoring:** in-house laboratory testing (biochemistry, haematology), blood pressure monitoring, digital X‑ray, ultrasound - **Dentistry:** dentistry and **dental X‑ray** (noted as requiring a general anaesthetic for dogs) - **Surgery & inpatient care:** anaesthesia, operating theatre, hospital ward, isolation unit - **Nursing & preventative care:** nurse clinics, nutritional advice, health plans - **Species treated (as stated):** dogs, cats, rabbits - **Emergency/out-of-hours (as stated):** when closed, emergency cover is provided by **Vets Now Middlesbrough** ## Pricing Explicit prices mentioned in the latest reviews: - **£60** for dog ear drops (reviewer compared this to **£15 online**) - **£287** bill associated with treatment for ongoing ear problems (review mentions steroids) ## People Named team members and what reviewers specifically mention: - **Kathryn (“Kate”) Green** (Practice Owner & Veterinary Surgeon, per website): one review says their dog received excellent care over the final weeks and at euthanasia, mentioning “Kate” alongside Wendy and Bianca. - **Wendy Hartburn** (Veterinary Surgeon, per website): mentioned positively in the same end-of-life care review. - **Bianca Usvat** (Veterinary Surgeon, per website): mentioned positively in the same end-of-life care review. - **Ann‑Marie** (Client Care Adviser, per website): one critical review says receptionists were rude/dismissive “apart from one, Annmarie”. ## Reviews **4.4 stars from 522 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Positive experiences are described for compassionate end-of-life care**, with specific vets named (Kate/Kathryn, Wendy and Bianca) and the owner saying they “couldn’t have asked for anything more.” - **Some owners report strong dissatisfaction about costs and quoting**, including complaints about a large markup on ear drops and “inaccurate quotes” for cat treatment/blood tests. - **Concerns about clinical approach and testing come up in multiple ear-related complaints**, including a claim that steroids were given without the “right tests,” and that another practice identified a severe yeast infection after taking and examining ear fluid. - **A serious triage complaint appears in one review**: an owner reporting bloat symptoms says they were offered an appointment more than two hours later and their dog died while waiting; the practice reportedly said it was triaged correctly. - **Front-desk experience is inconsistent in the reviews shown**, with one reviewer describing receptionists as rude/dismissive while another singled out Ann‑Marie as helpful.