Specialist Vets in Portishead

## Summary Watkins & Tasker Vets is a veterinary practice that offers emergency veterinary services and is listed as a veterinary nurse training facility. From the latest reviews, owners most often describe smooth, practical care experiences: being seen the same day when an appointment was mistakenly booked at a different branch, receiving WhatsApp photo updates during a “small operation,” and getting a voucher for a free check-up 6 months after a booster appointment. Reviews also mention care for a rabbit recovering over time and rehabilitation-style treatment (hydrotherapy with gait analysis) following a suspected CCL injury, with the owner crediting the sessions with avoiding surgery. ## Services - **Emergency veterinary services** (listed in clinic data as 24/7 or extended-hours). - **Routine preventive care**, including **booster vaccinations** (owner review). - **Surgery/minor operations**: one owner describes their dog having a “small operation,” with photo updates shared before and after (owner review). - **Rabbit care**: treatment and ongoing recovery for a pet bunny is specifically mentioned (owner review). - **Hydrotherapy/rehabilitation**: a referral for suspected **CCL injury**, including **gait analysis** and a course of **hydro sessions** (twice weekly for a few months) with later “fitness sessions” mentioned (owner review). - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in clinic data). ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being given a **voucher for a free check-up in 6 months’ time** after attending for boosters (no other prices stated). ## People - **Mike (vet)**: described as “thorough and professional” during a booster appointment; the owner also noted their dog seemed comfortable with him. In the same visit, the owner was accommodated **there and then** after an admin mix-up (review). - **Viv**: named in connection with a **hydrotherapy consultation** that included gait analysis for a dog with suspected CCL injury; the owner describes substantial improvement over a multi-month programme and ongoing fitness sessions (review). - **Reception team**: one owner specifically highlights a receptionist who apologised for a booking error, spoke to a vet, and arranged same-day care (review). ## Reviews **4.7 stars from 264 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Problem-solving and flexibility**: an owner reports being seen immediately after an appointment was mistakenly booked at a different branch. - **Communication during procedures**: a “small operation” with **WhatsApp photo updates** before and after surgery is mentioned as reassuring. - **Rehab outcomes**: hydrotherapy with gait analysis for suspected CCL injury is credited with marked improvement and potentially avoiding surgery. - **Species range noted in reviews**: owners mention care for **dogs, cats, and a rabbit**. - Many reviews are brief but consistently describe the team as friendly/helpful and the care as reassuring.

## Summary Vale Vets is an RCVS Cat Friendly Clinic and a Veterinary Nurse Training facility, offering routine care through to surgery and rehabilitation for a wide range of pets (including cats, dogs, small mammals and reptiles/birds as listed on its website). The clinic also offers emergency care, with one reviewer describing reassuring, calm out-of-hours communication before being seen. From the latest reviews, owners most often describe: - dental work including a cat tooth extraction mentioned explicitly - unhurried consultations where the vet “clarified all the information” - careful handling for nervous pets (including sedation for a dog that won’t tolerate vaccinations) There is also a clear minority negative report alleging poor medical knowledge and an unwillingness to admit mistakes, which conflicts with many other reviews describing good outcomes and clear communication. ## Services Based on the clinic website summary and the latest reviews, services mentioned include: - **Preventive care:** vaccinations, microchipping, nurse clinics - **Surgery:** neutering, general surgery - **Dentistry:** dentistry (with a **tooth extraction** specifically mentioned in a review) - **Diagnostics** - **Pain management** - **Rehabilitation / physio-style support:** rehabilitation, laser therapy / therapeutic laser, massage, Bowen therapy - **Behaviour training** - **Complementary therapies:** Reiki (as listed on the website) - **Grooming:** grooming is mentioned in a review (“groomed by Hannah upstairs”) - **Emergency care:** emergency care is stated as available on the website; one reviewer specifically references **out-of-hours emergency** communication being calm and reassuring (the website notes specialist/referral/out-of-hours consultations aren’t included in specific plans) Species listed on the website: cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, lizards, snakes, reptiles, birds. ## People - **Hannah (groomer):** named in a review as providing grooming (“beautifully groomed by Hannah”). - **Reception team:** one reviewer specifically contrasts the reception experience positively, describing receptionists as “lovely.” - **Un-named vet seen for an emergency:** described as not rushing the consultation and taking time to clarify information. - **Clinical team handling anxious dogs:** one owner describes a dog with severe vet anxiety requiring sedation for vaccinations, praising the team’s patience and sensitivity in keeping visits as calm as possible. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 353 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Clear communication in urgent situations:** out-of-hours emergency contact described as calm and reassuring; owners mention being kept informed. - **Time taken in consultations:** one emergency visit review says they did not feel hurried and that information was clearly explained. - **Specific procedures mentioned:** a cat **tooth extraction** is explicitly thanked for, linked to relieving toothache. - **Handling anxious pets:** an owner describes sedation for vaccination due to severe vet anxiety, praising patient, gentle handling. - **Conflicting experiences:** one recent 1-star review alleges poor medical knowledge and a “money” focus, which conflicts with multiple 5-star accounts describing good care, support and successful treatment.

## Summary Portishead Vets4Pets Ltd operates under the Vets4Pets brand and is based inside a Pets at Home store. It’s set up for routine general practice work including dentistry—owners specifically mention teeth cleaning/dental treatment done under a procedure/surgery setting, with clinic updates during the day and even photos sent afterwards. The practice is also listed as a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. Review signals are mostly positive (communication, reassurance during dental procedures, pets being handled calmly), but there are also sharp complaints about costs and being refused an appointment when money wasn’t available until the next day, plus a report of one vet pushing food sales during a consult. ## Services - **Dentistry:** teeth cleaning and “dental treatment” are explicitly mentioned, with one owner saying their dog’s teeth were left “lovely clean” and that they were kept updated during the procedure. - **Surgery/procedures:** owners describe a dental procedure “went very well,” implying anaesthetic/procedure capability. - **Vaccinations and post-vaccination concerns:** a visit for a kitten’s lump described as being “from the vaccination.” - **Diagnostics/tests:** one reviewer describes being quoted for a **skin scrape** (pricing discussed below). - **Pet food sales/advice:** multiple reviews mention being offered or sold cat/dog food during appointments (experienced by some as helpful, by others as pushy). ## Pricing - One reviewer says they were quoted **£420 for a skin scrape**, and that another vet charged **£10** for the same thing (no further context provided in the review). ## People - **Nick (vet):** mentioned in both positive and negative contexts. - Positive: credited with doing “a great job” on dental work; owners mention being kept updated and feeling reassured. - Negative: another owner describes Nick as rude, not introducing himself or an assistant, and focusing on selling food during a consult. - **Reception team/staff (unnamed):** described as welcoming/friendly, and as being good at helping a long-term canine patient. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 152 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Dental care experiences are a standout:** owners mention teeth cleaning/dental treatment, being kept updated during the procedure, and receiving photos afterwards. - **Communication and reassurance:** several reviews describe staff/vets as patient and professional, particularly when owners were worried about procedures. - **Concerns about cost and trust:** one reviewer alleges very high pricing (giving the skin scrape example) and says they were refused care when they couldn’t pay until the next day. - **Mixed experiences with sales/bedside manner:** one review complains about a vet pushing cat food and not introducing themselves, while others report kind, supportive interactions.