Dog & Cat Vets in Sunderland

## Summary 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. ## Services - **Out-of-hours emergency assistance** (stated on the clinic website). - **Nurse clinics** (website). - **Health packages/bundles** (website): - Very Important Paws Health Package - Over 8’s MOT Club - Healthy Puppy & Kitten Bundle - **Allergy treatment**: allergy injection mentioned in a review. - **Support for noise phobias/anxiety**: advice on options to help with fireworks stress mentioned in a review. - **Surgery mentioned in reviews**: - Mouth operation with post-op recovery update sent via WhatsApp (review). - Eye operation (review describes complications requiring further operations). - **Diagnostics mentioned in reviews**: - Urine test done on-site (review; cost and turnaround time were commented on). ## Pricing - **£900**: one reviewer reports being charged “nearly £900” connected to an eye operation and subsequent corrective procedures. - **£60**: one reviewer reports being charged £60 for brief phone advice after a dog ingested blood pressure tablets, and says the cost was not explained upfront. - **£12 vs £50**: one reviewer says they were told a cheaper antibiotic wasn’t available, paying £50 instead of £12. - **~£50**: one reviewer reports being charged around £50 for an on-site urine test. - **Discount**: one reviewer states NHS workers receive a discount with ID. - **VIP plan**: reviews mention a VIP plan paid monthly; the website also references a “Very Important Paws” health package (no prices or inclusions provided in the inputs). ## People - **Wendy Rowntree** (Practice Owner, Head Veterinary Surgeon): named on the website as leading the practice. - **Laura** (vet): a reviewer identifies her as “Pippy’s vet” and describes compassionate support during end-of-life care, including agreeing on a plan to take the pet home after a painkilling injection. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 545 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Follow-up and communication:** one owner reports receiving a WhatsApp recovery message with a photo after a mouth operation. - **Advice beyond the immediate problem:** one review describes an allergy injection appointment where other treatment options were discussed, including strategies for fireworks-related stress. - **Compassionate end-of-life support:** a reviewer highlights a vet (Laura) helping plan comfort care when further treatment wasn’t possible. - **Cost concerns and perceived transparency issues (mixed experiences):** - unexpected £60 fee reported for brief phone advice about tablet ingestion - higher-than-expected medication/test costs reported (antibiotic priced at £50; urine test around £50) - another reviewer, by contrast, calls prices “reasonable” and mentions an NHS discount - **Clinical outcome concerns:** one 1-star review alleges complications after an eye operation, saying additional operations were needed to correct the issue.

## Summary 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. ## Services - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (stated in clinic data). - **Vaccinations** (annual vaccine mentioned). - **Nail trimming** (regular nail trims mentioned; carried out by nurses and also described during a vaccine visit). - **Care for elderly dogs** (owners describe consultations for an “old girl” and anxiety around senior-pet visits). - **End-of-life support** (a review describes being given a private room away from other people during a pet’s final visit). - **Appointments at another practice when preferred slots aren’t available** (one review says staff try to book clients into another vets if they can’t get the requested time/day). ## People - **Keith Stewart (vet)**: mentioned by a long-term client who says they return to him for an elderly dog because he is “very thorough and very honest,” and that they left feeling more positive about managing senior years. - **Joanne**: credited by a long-term client with helping both a dog and a younger family member feel comfortable attending visits, contributing to a more positive experience. - **Nursing team**: repeatedly mentioned for **regular nail trims** and for being gentle, which owners feel helped their dog become more at ease with coming in. - **Reception team**: described as including pets in interactions (asking permission before offering treats) and staying calm about accidents (cleaning up without “stress and tutting”). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 97 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Dogs being **put at ease** is a repeated theme (treats offered, “made a fuss,” relaxed handling during injections and nail trims). - **Long-term continuity** comes up often (multiple reviewers mention using the practice for many years, including 13–15+ years). - Several reviews highlight vets being **thorough and informative**, including working with owners and answering concerns. - **End-of-life compassion and privacy** is specifically mentioned (being taken to a separate room away from others). - A clear negative outlier: one reviewer alleges **inaccurate records** and says they have waited **two months** for a complaint response despite promises of call-backs.

## Summary 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.” ## Services - 24/7 emergency care (provided via the group’s Gosforth Hospital, as stated on the website) - Vaccinations (listed on the website) - Kennel cough injection (mentioned in reviews) - Microchipping (listed on the website) - Dental treatment (listed on the website) - Appointment booking via an online portal (stated on the website) - Monthly package/wellness plan (mentioned on the website; one review mentions a monthly package including a free visit, vaccinations, and worming tablets) ## People - Vets and support staff are repeatedly described as friendly and accommodating, with one reviewer highlighting that a staff member offers treats while owners wait—something their dog actively looks forward to. - One reviewer specifically valued a “good examination” at a first visit for a kennel cough injection, alongside minimal waiting time. - A long-term client described the team as supportive during end-of-life care, including giving them time with their dog after he died. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 19 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Routine visits described as efficient: “no waiting around” alongside a “good examination” for a kennel cough injection. - Pets being put at ease: treats offered in the waiting area; owners describe staff as reassuring. - Access and flexibility: “never a problem getting appointments,” and one owner says they can usually be fit in for emergencies. - Costs: conflicting accounts—one owner felt charges were reasonable, while another felt the practice is “pricey,” noting increases over time and occasional bills “going into 3 figures,” especially when medication is involved. - Supportive handling of difficult moments: one long-term client mentions compassionate support and time allowed with their dog at end-of-life.