The Star Animal Rehabilitation and Wellness Clinic Ltd

- Recent feedback is strongly positive overall, with repeated praise for a friendly, caring team and pets that seem relaxed and happy to attend. - Reviews highlight compassionate handling of difficult moments, including end-of-life care, as well as thoughtful support for worried owners during inpatient treatment. - Clinical examples in reviews include same-day appointments, blood tests with quick follow-up, inpatient care with IV fluids and monitoring, and rehab support after major orthopaedic surgery.

The Star Animal Rehabilitation and Wellness Clinic Ltd is a family-run, independent practice in Swadlincote focused on both general veterinary care and pet rehabilitation, including canine sports medicine, for dogs, cats, rabbits, and small furries. Alongside routine appointments, it appears to handle more complex cases such as inpatient support, diagnostics, and post-operative rehabilitation. Clinic information also lists emergency veterinary services with 24/7 or extended-hours cover, as well as status as a veterinary nurse training facility.

Services

•General veterinary care for common pets and small mammals, including consultations, ongoing treatment, vaccinations, and medication management.
•Rehabilitation services, with physiotherapy and hydrotherapy specifically mentioned in reviews for recovery after a double hip operation.
•Canine sports medicine, listed as a specialist area.
•Diagnostics and medical workups, including blood tests and same-day assessment when pets are unwell; one reviewer described receiving blood results by phone within about an hour of getting home.
•Inpatient and supportive care, including IV fluids/drips, monitoring, and close follow-up during acute illness.
•Surgery and post-operative support, with reviews highlighting ongoing rehab input after major orthopaedic treatment.
•Emergency veterinary services are listed in clinic information as 24/7 or extended hours, although no further detail is published here.
•Veterinary nurse training facility status is also listed in clinic information.

Pricing

A very limited amount of published pricing suggests the clinic may sit below average on cost, but this is based on very few comparable services. Reviews are broadly in line with that, with one owner saying they were pleasantly surprised by the fees.

People

•Emma — named as Proprietor and Head of the Physiotherapy & Hydrotherapy Team; praised for helping guide a dog’s rehabilitation after major surgery.
•Hollee, Dani, Sam — mentioned positively as part of the rehabilitation team.
•Ellie — praised by a cat owner for taking time to understand a complex history and focus on the underlying cause, not just symptoms.
•Rebecca Smith — singled out by a reviewer as an especially trusted non-locum vet.
•Reviews also repeatedly describe the wider vets, nurses, and front-of-house team as friendly, kind, and supportive.

Reviews

Google reviews: 4.9/5 from 324 reviews.

•Recent feedback is strongly positive overall, with repeated praise for a friendly, caring team and pets that seem relaxed and happy to attend.
•Reviews highlight compassionate handling of difficult moments, including end-of-life care, as well as thoughtful support for worried owners during inpatient treatment.
•Clinical examples in reviews include same-day appointments, blood tests with quick follow-up, inpatient care with IV fluids and monitoring, and rehab support after major orthopaedic surgery.
•A small number of detailed negative reviews raise concerns about inconsistency linked to locum cover, including a reportedly lost blood test, poor shaving after sampling, a medication concern, and dissatisfaction with complaint handling and being unable to re-register.

Reviews for The Star Animal Rehabilitation and Wellness Clinic Ltd

Note: Showing the 10 most recent Google reviews out of 324 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

simon Horton

4 weeks ago

We have just had to have our beloved dog put to sleep, but the staff were fantastic. They were so kind and understanding. They certainly made a bad experience more bearable.

Rikki “Major Woodruff” Razor

1 month ago

Brilliant vets and staff

Wayne Binley

3 months ago

Best vet's i have been to and my dog loves it too.

Richard Parsons

Alex & Family

4 months ago

Fab vets; we moved here after a well known private equity firm took over our previous vets which was a catalyst for change in culture and care. These guys do care, staff are lovely and now care do our 3 (soon to be 4) dogs and 2 cats.

Yvonne M Lawrence

Neo's been a patient for a couple of yrs. But in July this year Neo underwent a double hip operation. I can't tell you what it was like apart from it was the most stressful time of my life. But without Emma (Proprietor of Star Veterinary clinic Head of Physiotherapy &Hydrotherapy Team. Hollee, Dani, Sam. Who have all helped with Neo's rehabilitation. Thankyou is never enough under the circumstances We're both extremely Gratefull to Everyone at Star Vets.

M C

My partner and I have been clients of S.T.A.R. Veterinary Clinic for several years, bringing our dogs and cat for care on numerous occasions. We do not have pet insurance and have always paid for treatments directly. Over the years, our experiences have been mixed. While there were moments of satisfactory care, we also encountered several instances of poor treatment that left us concerned about the professionalism and consistency of the practice. Despite our reservations, we continued to use your services, hoping for improvement. One notable positive experience was with Rebecca Smith, a non-locum vet, whose care was exceptional. Unfortunately, she was the only veterinarian we felt confident in, as the majority of our appointments were with locum vets whose approach often lacked professionalism and continuity. When we first took one of our Rescue Dogs to Star Vets I asked about his brown/red coloured swollen paws. I was looked at like I knew nothing about Dogs. I have many years of experience of Dogs, however I had not come across paws that looked like my Dog now had. When we moved to another Vets, which is excellent, we were told our Dog had paws like he did due to a very bad allergy. He was treated for it, and to this day his paws are nothing like they were. A particularly troubling incident involved an in-house blood test for one of our pets. We were repeatedly given inconsistent updates over several days until we were finally told—by a receptionist or possibly a manager—that the test had been lost. This is especially concerning considering the test was meant to be processed on-site. We also experienced an upsetting situation following a blood test performed on our dog by a locum vet. The area around her neck was left looking extremely sore and poorly shaved, with visible razor scratches. She appeared uncomfortable and not her usual self. Although we received a response acknowledging the poor appearance, it was suggested this could have been a reaction to the shave. However, based on our dog’s calm demeanor during vet visits and the severity of the marks, we strongly disagree. It was clearly a case of poor technique. With hindsight we should have taken further action. On another occasion, our dog was prescribed medication by a locum vet that made her unwell. A subsequent visit to a different locum revealed that the medication should never have been prescribed, and an alternative treatment was issued. No apology or meaningful resolution followed this serious oversight. Despite these issues, and in the absence of a better option in our area, we contacted S.T.A.R Vets again when our pets urgently needed care. One of our dogs required her annual booster, our elderly cat with end-stage hyperthyroidism needed further medication as she had only a few tablets left, and our other dog was suffering from a severe stomach issue and allergic reactions. We were disappointed to be informed that we could not return as clients because we had previously raised complaints, and were told the clinic's books were "full." This response felt dismissive and punitive, as we believe our concerns were valid and raised out of genuine care for our animals’ wellbeing. At no point have the owners of the practice contacted us regarding these matters. All responses have come from front-of-house staff, which we feel is inappropriate given the severity and frequency of the issues raised. We are deeply concerned by the lack of empathy, accountability, and communication shown by Star Vets. Now that we are with an excellent Vets, we know we made the right choice to leave Star Vets.

Megan Ashfield

8 months ago

⸻ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We can’t thank the team enough for the incredible care they gave our dog, Winnie. She had taken poorly and needed to stay in on IVs and drips for fluids, and they made her feel as comfortable as possible the whole time. From the moment we arrived, we knew she was in the best possible hands. The vets and nurse that dealt with her were amazing with her – so gentle, kind, and genuinely caring. They did everything they could to find out what was wrong, running tests and keeping such a close eye on her. We were worried sick and feeling anxious, but they kept us updated throughout the day with calls and reassurances, which meant so much to us. It’s clear they truly love the animals they look after, and Winnie was treated like one of their own. We are beyond grateful for their professionalism, compassion, and dedication. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a vet that truly goes above and beyond. We’re so relieved to say that Winnie is finally on the mend! Thank you for looking after our baby.

Rachel Hollis

We moved to the area about a year ago and registered our two cats at S.T.A.R. and I am so happy we did! Everyone who works here is so helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. One of our cats has a relatively complex history and Ellie has gone out of her way to really try and understand the root cause of his issues and treat those rather than just addressing the symptoms, and she's always so happy and cheerful whenever we see her. It's always really easy to get an appointment and I'm always pleasantly surprised by the price at the end of our appointment as well (I don't think many people will have ever said that about vet fees before!). I'm so happy we chose S.T.A.R and it's so reassuring knowing that my cats receive the best possible care.

Miranda C

10 months ago

My partner and I have been clients of S.T.A.R. Veterinary Clinic for several years, bringing our dogs and cat for care on numerous occasions. We do not have pet insurance and have always paid for treatments directly. Over the years, our experiences have been mixed. While there were moments of satisfactory care, we also encountered several instances of poor treatment that left us concerned about the professionalism and consistency of the practice. Despite our reservations, we continued to use your services, hoping for improvement. One notable positive experience was with Rebecca Smith, a non-locum vet, whose care was exceptional. Unfortunately, she was the only veterinarian we felt confident in, as the majority of our appointments were with locum vets whose approach often lacked professionalism and continuity. A particularly troubling incident involved an in-house blood test for one of our pets. We were repeatedly given inconsistent updates over several days until we were finally told—by a receptionist or possibly a manager—that the test had been lost. This is especially concerning considering the test was meant to be processed on-site. We also experienced an upsetting situation following a blood test performed on our dog by a locum vet. The area around her neck was left looking extremely sore and poorly shaved, with visible razor scratches. She appeared uncomfortable and not her usual self. Although we received a response acknowledging the poor appearance, it was suggested this could have been a reaction to the shave. However, based on our dog’s calm demeanor during vet visits and the severity of the marks, we strongly disagree. It was clearly a case of poor technique. On another occasion, our dog was prescribed medication by a locum vet that made her unwell. A subsequent visit to a different locum revealed that the medication should never have been prescribed, and an alternative treatment was issued. No apology or meaningful resolution followed this serious oversight. Despite these issues, and in the absence of a better option in our area, we contacted S.T.A.R Vets again when our pets urgently needed care. One of our dogs required her annual booster, our elderly cat with end-stage hyperthyroidism needed further medication as she had only a few tablets left, and our other dog was suffering from a severe stomach issue and allergic reactions. We were disappointed to be informed that we could not return as clients because we had previously raised complaints, and were told the clinic's books were full. This response felt dismissive and punitive, as we believe our concerns were valid and raised out of genuine care for our animals’ wellbeing. At no point have the owners of the practice contacted us regarding these matters. All responses have come from front-of-house staff, which we feel is inappropriate given the severity and frequency of the issues raised. We are deeply concerned by the lack of empathy, accountability, and communication shown. It raises questions about how pets are truly being treated when their owners are not present.