Dog & Cat Vets in Braintree

## Summary Millennium Veterinary Practice describes itself as an **independent small-animal practice** and mentions having a **CT scanner**. Recent reviews repeatedly point to a clinic set up for **cats and dogs** with an emphasis on **unhurried consultations** (appointments can run late because “they don’t rush you through”) and **practical access to urgent care** (one owner reports getting an urgent, non-emergency appointment within an hour). Owners also mention a **cats-only area**, and several reviews highlight staff adapting to individual needs—for example, accommodating requests to see a **female vet** for a cat that isn’t comfortable with men. ## Services - **Small-animal care (cats and dogs)** (frequently referenced in reviews). - **Urgent same-day appointments for non-emergencies** (one owner reports being seen within an hour). - **Emergency veterinary services** (listed in the clinic data; no further details provided). - **CT scanning** (listed on the website summary as a facility). - **Separate cats-only area** (mentioned in a review). - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in the clinic data). ## People - **Stefaan**: Mentioned by multiple owners for a gentle, patient handling style—one describes a previously nervous cat becoming comfortable with him over time and being happy to be examined. - **Shaun**: Praised for giving detailed advice and taking time to listen during a consultation for a bulldog; the reviewer references his “new role” at the practice. - **Reception/front-of-house team**: Noted for being welcoming and efficient; one reviewer specifically valued staff taking extra time and helping them feel at ease due to anxiety and learning difficulties. ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 193 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Time taken in consults:** several owners say vets listen, check pets thoroughly, and don’t rush—though this can mean **appointments sometimes run late**. - **Handling nervous pets:** repeated mentions of patient, gentle handling, especially for cats that are anxious or wary of men. - **Responsiveness for urgent needs:** one owner reports being offered an appointment within **one hour** for an urgent (non-emergency) issue. - **Clinic setup and experience:** owners mention a **cats-only area** and a **clean** environment, plus efficient check-in/out and billing.

## Summary Apollo Vets Black Notley treats a range of small pets (cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents) and is listed as a veterinary nurse training facility. The website states you can often see your choice of vet, and that it aims to offer **same-day appointments for non-routine cases** when possible. In the latest reviews, owners repeatedly mention being given **clear options/packages** and having diagnoses and next steps **explained in detail**; one owner also highlights a vet (Diana) taking time, not rushing, and offering **alternative treatment routes** for an older cat. There is also a conflicting experience reported where an owner says they were told there were **no vets available for two days** during normal hours and to “find another vet”. ## Services - Care for **cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and rodents** (website). - The clinic website describes handling anything from **nail clipping for hamsters** to **major surgery on dogs**. - **Same-day appointments for non-routine cases** are part of the clinic’s stated approach (when possible). - Procedures and treatments specifically mentioned in reviews: - **Dental work/tooth extraction** for a cat. - **Thyroid blood testing and thyroid medication** for a cat. - **Anaesthesia for an operation** (one owner specifically praised the anaesthesiologist and reported no post-op drowsiness/complications). - Advice/support for a **budgie** (the caller was initially told they had no vet who deals with budgies, but a vet still saw them and gave advice). ## Pricing Owners mention specific charges in one review: - **£700** to remove **one tooth** (cat dental surgery). - **£365** for a **blood test** (thyroid testing) with same-day results. - **£64** for **30 ml** of medication; the same reviewer states they found **100 ml online for £46**, but would need a **£25 prescription**. ## People - **Diana (vet)**: praised for taking time with an older cat, **not rushing appointments**, and offering **alternative treatment options** when the owner feared only one “worst” option was available. - **Reception team**: repeatedly described as welcoming and helpful; one long-term client notes they are recognised on arrival and made to feel comfortable. - **Anaesthesiologist (name not given)**: singled out in one review; the owner reported their cat had **no drowsiness or complications** after the operation. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 260 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Owners often describe long-term use of the practice and value **continuity/personal service**, including being recognised by reception. - Multiple reviews mention vets taking time to **explain diagnosis and options**, and giving **packages/offers** to choose from. - Clinical outcomes are sometimes described positively (e.g., cat operation with **no post-op drowsiness/complications**; dental procedure that “all went well”). - One detailed negative review raises concerns about **costs** (tooth extraction, blood tests, medication pricing) and reports a serious access issue: being told there were **no vets for two days** in normal hours and to seek another practice, after which the owner moved their remaining cat elsewhere.

## Summary Spring Lodge Veterinary Centre is part of the Spring Lodge Vets veterinary group (a multi-branch practice), rather than a single-standalone clinic. The website promotes a Pet Health Club® Plus plan that includes consultations, and states that out-of-hours cover is provided by Vets Now (with a separate Spring Lodge branch handling bank-holiday emergencies). From the latest reviews, owners most often describe: - long-term continuity of care for cats, dogs and rabbits (multiple clients mention 15–16+ years with the practice) - strong support around euthanasia and end-of-life appointments (reception and clinical staff specifically mentioned for kindness and compassion) - practical, accommodating service (online booking mentioned; one owner reports turning up on the wrong day and being accommodated) - some procedures may be referred to a larger branch (one review says surgical procedures require visiting another Spring Lodge branch) ## Services - Routine veterinary care for **cats and dogs** (multiple reviews) and **rabbits** (multiple reviews). - **End-of-life care/euthanasia support** is repeatedly described in reviews (owners describe being supported when “saying goodbye” to pets). - **Online appointment booking** is mentioned in a review. - **Pet Health Club® Plus** (website): consultations included as part of the plan (no further inclusions detailed in the available text). - **Emergency / out-of-hours arrangements** (website): Vets Now provides out-of-hours service; a separate Spring Lodge branch is stated to open for emergencies on bank holidays. - **Surgery**: one review says surgical procedures require attending one of the group’s larger branches. ## People - **Eloise** (role not stated, seen in consultations): mentioned by multiple owners for being gentle with pets and for explaining/reassuring owners about concerns (e.g., helping a new dog owner feel “put at rest”). - **Reception team** (unnamed): one owner specifically notes a receptionist being very kind during an end-of-life visit. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 102 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Long-term clients describe consistent care across multiple pets (cats, dogs, rabbits) over many years. - End-of-life appointments are a recurring topic, with owners describing compassionate handling and emotional support. - Practical service details include online booking and staff trying to accommodate mistakes (e.g., arriving on the wrong day). - One owner notes that if a pet needs surgery, they may need to attend a larger branch within the same group.

## Summary Mercer and Hughes Veterinary Surgery is reported by a reviewer to be part of the **Kin Vet Community** group (so not independent, per that review). From the written feedback available, the clinic appears to handle routine and surgical care as well as end-of-life support, with multiple reviews referencing **euthanasia**, and one referencing **castration**. Experiences described are mixed: some owners report **compassionate explanations and support during a long illness and euthanasia**, while others describe **communication breakdowns** (including an appointment not being flagged as euthanasia and a long wait) and **concerns about pricing transparency and upselling** (quotes changing, invoices arriving later, and being offered “extra care”). ## Services Services mentioned in the latest written reviews include: - **Euthanasia/end-of-life care**, including discussions/explanations during a pet’s long illness and at the appointment itself. - **Cremation arrangements** following euthanasia (one reviewer describes receiving an invoice weeks later for cremation). - **Castration** (one owner describes a dog booked in for castration). - **Diagnostic testing**: **ultrasound** and **urine testing** are specifically mentioned by one reviewer as having been performed. - **Steroid therapy** (mentioned in the context of a mouth/skin issue). - **Proposed surgical excision** of a lesion (a removal quoted by one reviewer; they felt it was suggested without adequate assessment). ## Pricing Only specific prices mentioned in reviews: - **Cremation invoice total £436**, including **£316 for cremation** (reviewer says the invoice arrived weeks after the visit and they weren’t shown pricing at the time). - **Castration**: one reviewer says the price quoted over the phone differed from the day-of-operation price by **about £50 more**. - **Lesion excision**: one reviewer reports being quoted **£900** at this clinic; they say another vet later quoted **£430** for removal if needed (this is a comparison from the reviewer, not a price list). ## People Named individuals mentioned positively: - **Rachel (reception)** – described as “kind and professional” during an emotional euthanasia visit (reviewer specifically appreciated how she handled them while they were upset). - **Chloe (veterinary nurse)** – described as one of the best vet nurses the reviewer had come across; the reviewer also notes their remaining dog responded very positively to her. ## Reviews **4.3 stars from 86 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **End-of-life care is a key touchpoint**, with strongly conflicting experiences: one owner describes compassionate, unhurried explanations and support; another describes waiting around 30 minutes for a euthanasia appointment and being told the appointment wasn’t flagged. - **Pricing and transparency concerns** come up repeatedly in negative reviews: cremation costs (with an invoice arriving later), a castration quote increasing by ~£50, and multiple allegations that prices are much higher than other practices. - **Sales/upsell concerns**: one owner felt the focus at drop-off was on selling “extra care” rather than asking about the pet, and that the clinic had to call twice later to get information they felt should have been collected pre-op. - **Clinical confidence/diagnosis concerns** are raised by one reviewer, who says repeated visits didn’t result in a diagnosis despite tests, and that excision was suggested without noticing lesions during a check. - Some recent ratings are **5-star without written detail**, so the strongest specifics come from the longer written reviews above.