About Veterinary Care in Sunderland
This guide is designed to help pet owners compare local veterinary options in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. By examining key factors such as services, animal focus, and availability, pet owners can make informed decisions about which veterinary clinics in Sunderland best meet their needs.
Top-rated veterinary clinics in Sunderland
- •King's Road Veterinary Practice Ltd
- •Gilmoor Vets
- •Sunderland PDSA Pet Hospital, The Reay Hudson Centre
There are 4 veterinary clinics in Sunderland, with an average Google rating of 4.7★. Among these clinics, 3 provide care for dogs and cats, and 1 offers services for farm or large animals. Two clinics offer emergency or out-of-hours services, but there is no 24-hour veterinary cover available locally.
, including routine care, surgery, diagnostics, and emergency treatment. The town boasts 1737 total reviews and all clinics offer veterinary nurse training, indicating a well-rounded capacity for pet healthcare. Furthermore, all four clinics maintain active websites, improving access to information and service details.
In contrast, King's Road Veterinary Practice Ltd and at least one other clinic offer emergency services, which can be crucial for urgent medical situations. This differentiates them from clinics focused on routine care, where treatments are scheduled in advance. The emergency services availability complements routine care for pets requiring continuity of treatment from regular check-ups to urgent interventions.
Even as every clinic trains veterinary nurses, each has its own focus and resources, affecting the complexity of cases handled. This diversity highlights the importance of selecting a clinic based on specific pet care needs and urgency.
Mid-ranked and routine-focused clinics like Sunderland PDSA Pet Hospital, The Reay Hudson Centre play a significant role in providing everyday veterinary services such as vaccinations and non-urgent treatment. These clinics are essential in the local ecosystem, ensuring that routine needs are met efficiently.
Overall, Sunderland showcases strong clinic depth with all clinics contributing to comprehensive pet care. Most clinics primarily focus on companion animals, indicating a robust environment for dogs and cats.
In summary, the town's veterinary provision is robust, with emergency and routine services well-distributed among the clinics. Pet owners should consult the ranked clinic list to choose the most suitable option for their furry companions.
January 2026 freshness based on publicly available review and service data.
Data accurate as of January 2026.
Best Rated Veterinary Clinics in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Top-ranked veterinary practices based on quality, service, and customer reviews
King’s Road Veterinary Practice Ltd is an independent practice founded in 2012, led by practice owner and Head Veterinary Surgeon Wendy Rowntree. The website highlights nurse clinics plus health packages (Very Important Paws Health Package, Over 8’s MOT Club, and a Healthy Puppy & Kitten Bundle), and states the practice offers out-of-hours emergency assistance. Recent reviews include concrete examples of care such as an allergy injection visit where treatment options were discussed (including help for fireworks-related stress), and a post-op update sent via WhatsApp with a recovery photo after a mouth operation. Pricing and value are a mixed picture in reviews: some describe “reasonable” prices and a monthly VIP plan, while others report unexpected fees (including £60 for brief phone advice) and higher-priced medicines/tests.
King’s Road Veterinary Practice Ltd is an independent practice founded in 2012, led by practice owner and Head Veterinary Surgeon Wendy Rowntree. The website highlights nurse clinics plus health packages (Very Important Paws Health Package, Over 8’s MOT Club, and a Healthy Puppy & Kitten Bundle), and states the practice offers out-of-hours emergency assistance. Recent reviews include concrete examples of care such as an allergy injection visit where treatment options were discussed (including help for fireworks-related stress), and a post-op update sent via WhatsApp with a recovery photo after a mouth operation. Pricing and value are a mixed picture in reviews: some describe “reasonable” prices and a monthly VIP plan, while others report unexpected fees (including £60 for brief phone advice) and higher-priced medicines/tests.
Gilmoor Vets is a veterinary practice that also operates as a veterinary nurse training facility. From the latest reviews, it appears set up for routine ongoing care and supportive handling of anxious or elderly pets: owners repeatedly mention annual vaccinations, regular nail trims, and staff using treats and calm handling to help dogs stay relaxed. Reviews also describe privacy and support during end-of-life visits (being taken to a separate room away from others). One reviewer reports a serious admin issue: waiting two months for a response about inaccurate record-keeping despite being promised call-backs.
Gilmoor Vets is a veterinary practice that also operates as a veterinary nurse training facility. From the latest reviews, it appears set up for routine ongoing care and supportive handling of anxious or elderly pets: owners repeatedly mention annual vaccinations, regular nail trims, and staff using treats and calm handling to help dogs stay relaxed. Reviews also describe privacy and support during end-of-life visits (being taken to a separate room away from others). One reviewer reports a serious admin issue: waiting two months for a response about inaccurate record-keeping despite being promised call-backs.
Part of the PDSA charity, this pet hospital is set up to provide free and low‑cost veterinary care for pets in need (as described on the PDSA website). It’s also listed as a veterinary nurse training facility.
From the latest reviews available, owners most often mention
- •Supportive, kind handling during difficult appointments (including a “sad time” with a dog) and staff being “there” for both pet and owner.
- •Practical advice given during visits (one review mentions taking in a cat and receiving “lots of good advice”).
- •Operational pressures: some reviews mention waiting to be seen and a period where staff were “struggled to keep up,” including a “broken medication machine.”
- •A clear conflict in experience: one recent review alleges being told to go to a private vet and that their dog was left injured, while most other recent reviews describe “first class care.”
Part of the PDSA charity, this pet hospital is set up to provide free and low‑cost veterinary care for pets in need (as described on the PDSA website). It’s also listed as a veterinary nurse training facility.
From the latest reviews available, owners most often mention
- •Supportive, kind handling during difficult appointments (including a “sad time” with a dog) and staff being “there” for both pet and owner.
- •Practical advice given during visits (one review mentions taking in a cat and receiving “lots of good advice”).
- •Operational pressures: some reviews mention waiting to be seen and a period where staff were “struggled to keep up,” including a “broken medication machine.”
- •A clear conflict in experience: one recent review alleges being told to go to a private vet and that their dog was left injured, while most other recent reviews describe “first class care.”
Our Score (67/100)
Blythman & Partners describes itself as an independent, family-run veterinary practice with multiple branches and a dedicated emergency hospital. The website states its Gosforth practice has RCVS hospital status and the group is RCVS-accredited, with 24/7 emergency care provided via that hospital. From reviews, owners most often mention straightforward routine appointments (e.g., kennel cough injection with a “good examination” and “no waiting around”), staff using treats to help dogs relax while waiting, and being able to “fit us in for emergencies.” Pricing feedback is mixed: one owner says they “don’t ‘take the mick’ with charges,” while another says costs have increased and some medication-related visits can reach “3 figures.”
Blythman & Partners describes itself as an independent, family-run veterinary practice with multiple branches and a dedicated emergency hospital. The website states its Gosforth practice has RCVS hospital status and the group is RCVS-accredited, with 24/7 emergency care provided via that hospital. From reviews, owners most often mention straightforward routine appointments (e.g., kennel cough injection with a “good examination” and “no waiting around”), staff using treats to help dogs relax while waiting, and being able to “fit us in for emergencies.” Pricing feedback is mixed: one owner says they “don’t ‘take the mick’ with charges,” while another says costs have increased and some medication-related visits can reach “3 figures.”
Browse by Speciality
Find vets by category in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Best Emergency Vets
2 clinics
24-hour and emergency veterinary care in the local area.
Best Dog & Cat Vets
3 clinics
Small animal vets for dogs, cats and companion vets
Best Specialist Vets
3 clinics
Advanced care, referral centres and specialised services
Best Farm Vets
1 clinic
Large animal vets for livestock, horses and farm animals
More Veterinary Practices in Sunderland
Additional veterinary clinics serving the area
Sunderland PDSA Pet Hospital, The Reay Hudson Centre
Our Score (71/100)
