Specialist Vets in Dronfield

## Summary The Vets @ Dronfield describes itself as a locally owned, independent veterinary clinic. Reviews mention care for dogs, cats and small pets (including a hamster), with several concrete examples of hands-on medical management and surgery. Owners repeatedly describe being kept updated during procedures (including “throughout the day” while a pet was in surgery) and follow-up check-ins after treatment. The premises are also mentioned as purpose-built with separate cat and dog seating areas, plus cat-calming touches like a Feliway plug-in and calming blankets. ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned in the website text and recent reviews include: - Consultations and ongoing case management for dogs and cats (including repeated check-ups for an unwell dog). - Surgery (examples given: cat surgery; surgery to remove a hamster’s lump), with same-day updates while the pet is in theatre and follow-up care afterwards. - Pain management for arthritis in a dog, with progress monitoring and check-ins. - End-of-life care/euthanasia for an elderly dog, described by an owner as compassionate and unhurried. - Out-of-hours care via a named provision at “Springfield” (one review describes a weekend stay there, thorough handover/transfer, updates during the stay, and the pet being kept in until well enough to go home). - Help with insurance administration (one owner says the clinic “claimed from our insurers”). ## People - **Cat** (described by multiple reviewers as the main vet they saw): mentioned for getting a dog’s arthritis pain under control, checking in afterwards, and speaking to an orthopaedic specialist on the owner’s behalf, then explaining the plan step by step. Also mentioned for handling nervous pets in a calmer way. - **Dave**: mentioned alongside Cat as part of the team looking after an unwell dog through check-ups and ongoing care. - **Team**: repeatedly described as responsive to messages and proactive about updates during surgery/hospital stays (including updates that reassured owners during the day). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 20 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Frequent updates during treatment and surgery:** owners mention being updated while a cat was in surgery and receiving updates “throughout the day” for a small pet’s procedure. - **Follow-up after appointments:** examples include checking in after arthritis treatment and follow-up care after surgery. - **Support in difficult situations:** one owner describes “amazing” compassion during euthanasia for an elderly dog. - **Environment designed to reduce stress:** separate cat/dog seating areas are specifically noted, plus a Feliway plug-in and calming blankets in the cat area. - **Out-of-hours hospitalisation experience referenced:** one owner describes a weekend out-of-hours stay at “Springfield” with thorough transfers/handover, regular updates, and the pet kept in until stable. - **Some mixed feedback exists:** the latest set includes a 1-star review (without written detail provided to us), alongside many 5-star accounts describing positive experiences.

## Summary Ark Veterinary Surgery is a long-established practice (over 50 years) with RCVS Tier II status as a small animal general practice. The website states it provides 24-hour help and advice, and it treats small animals as well as exotic pets. Recent reviews describe both routine-friendly visits (clean environment, short waits, a dedicated “cat calming” area) and more intense situations including wound treatment and euthanasia for an exotic pet. One recurring negative note is cost and follow-through on agreed add-on care: one reviewer reports paying over £1,000 for cat stitches and says de-matting that was meant to be done while the cat was under anaesthetic didn’t happen. ## Services - Small animal veterinary care (website). - Exotic pet care (website; also reflected in a review describing care for a gecko). - 24-hour help and advice “no matter the time of day or night” (website). - Wound treatment and stitches (review mentions a cat needing stitches; another mentions a dog slicing a paw open). - End-of-life care / euthanasia (review describes a gecko being PTS and the family receiving support and a keepsake). - Cat-friendly waiting provisions: a “cat calming section” is specifically mentioned (review). ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being charged **over £1,000** for **stitches for a cat**, and was unhappy that **de-matting** that was supposed to be done at the same time did not occur (review). ## People - **Beth (vet)** is named in a review as “an amazing vet,” in the context of ongoing support for a dog that has needed help more than once (review). - **Sally & Jo (reception)** are named positively for how they interact with clients (review). - Owners also mention reception staff being “welcoming, supportive and compassionate” during an euthanasia visit, and that nurses provided a small keepsake for the family (review). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 214 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Fast, organised visits:** owners mention “very little waiting time” and a “super clean environment.” - **Cat and nervous-pet considerations:** a specific “cat calming section” is mentioned for cats that struggle in carriers. - **Support during difficult moments:** one family describes compassionate guidance during euthanasia for a gecko, plus a keepsake provided by nursing staff. - **Mixed experiences on value and follow-through:** one reviewer describes a bill of over £1,000 for cat stitches and says an agreed de-matting wasn’t done, calling it a “waste of time and money,” while other reviewers say the care has been “money well spent.”