Emergency Vets in Canvey Island

## Summary Riverside Vets Canvey is a veterinary practice that (based on clinic data) is a veterinary nurse training facility and offers emergency veterinary services. Recent reviews describe quick access to care (including same‑day and Saturday emergency appointments), clear explanations of treatment options, and specific hands-on procedures such as removing a grass seed from a dog’s paw and performing a cat spay with an adjusted approach for a Sphynx to reduce visible scarring. Named vets (Steph, Neil and Callum) are repeatedly mentioned for listening carefully and handling nervous or difficult-to-handle cats calmly. ## Services - **Emergency / urgent appointments:** clinic data lists emergency veterinary services; reviews mention a Saturday emergency appointment with the pet being seen within 15 minutes, and same-day appointment availability. - **Surgery:** cat spay (“speyed today”); one owner noted the vet “changed the surgery slightly” for a Sphynx so there wasn’t a visible side scar. - **Foreign body removal / minor procedures:** removal of a grass-seed stem from inside a dog’s foot/paw pad (described as completed within about 5 minutes after the dog was taken into another room). - **General consultations and examinations:** detailed full examinations are described (e.g., “checked her over completely, from head to toe”), with vets answering questions and explaining options. ## People - **Steph (vet):** described as “wonderful” and “reassuring”; owners mention she listened and answered questions about treatment options. - **Neil (vet):** repeatedly praised for calming a nervous cat and for listening; owners specifically say this helps their cat stay settled during visits. - **Callum (vet):** mentioned in multiple reviews for being gentle with pets and for explaining conditions in detail; also named as the vet who carried out an emergency appointment and as the vet seen with another cat where the owner emphasised he listened and handled the cat gently. - **Reception and nursing team:** multiple reviews note reception staff being welcoming/helpful and nurses being “lovely,” particularly around appointments and overall support. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 264 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Speed of care when it matters:** same-day appointments and being seen quickly for an emergency (including being seen within 15 minutes on a Saturday). - **Clear explanations and shared decision-making:** owners repeatedly mention vets listening, answering questions, and explaining treatment choices/options. - **Practical problem-solving during visits:** examples include removing a grass seed from a dog’s paw and improvements noted by the next day. - **Handling anxious or challenging pets:** owners describe timid or difficult-to-handle cats being examined calmly and thoroughly. - **Surgical experience:** a cat spay is described as “stress free,” with a tailored surgical approach mentioned for a hairless breed to minimise visible scarring.

## Summary Medivet Canvey Island is part of the Medivet group and has been established since 2010. The practice is set up with three consultation rooms, an in-house lab, and separate cat and dog wards, and it also sees a wide range of species including rabbits and other exotics. In recent reviews, owners most often point to (1) clear, option-led decision-making (including surgery choices explained in detail), (2) fast response in urgent situations (one dog reportedly seen within 10 minutes of a call), (3) proactive follow-up after appointments (notably for rabbit cases), alongside (4) some frustration around costs and occasional communication errors (e.g., vaccine brand information given by phone not matching what was available in-consult). ## Services Based on the clinic’s website summary and the latest reviews available: - **Consultations:** 15-minute consultations; **nurse clinics**; **home visits**. - **Preventive care:** vaccinations, parasite care, microchipping, neutering. - **Diagnostics:** in-house laboratory, X-rays, ultrasound, ECG, endoscopy. - **Surgery & procedures:** dentistry; laser surgery; orthopaedic theatre; soft tissue/orthopaedic/reconstructive surgery are listed as areas of work. - **Complementary/other:** acupuncture is listed. - **Species seen:** cats, dogs, rabbits, and exotics (including birds/poultry, reptiles, and small mammals are listed). - **Emergency / out-of-hours:** out-of-hours care is provided via a Medivet 24-hour service (website-stated arrangement). The practice is also listed as a **Veterinary Nurse Training** facility. ## Pricing - **Out-of-hours consultation fee:** **£130** (website-stated). - A reviewer reports being charged **£75 for 30 pills**, and felt this was more than double the online price. ## People - **Ian (vet)**: repeatedly mentioned for taking time to explain “all options” and involving owners in decisions; one reviewer describes a high-risk tumour surgery outcome as “amazing,” and another calls him “great as usual.” - **Lizzy**: long-term clients credit her with consistent support and a gentle approach over many years with the same dog. - **Reception/communication (mixed):** one review describes being told by reception that a specific vaccine type was used, then being told in the appointment it wasn’t—leading to dissatisfaction. ## Reviews **Google rating:** **4.7★**. **Review count:** reported as **283** reviews (another source provided alongside the website summary shows **363**, so the count appears inconsistent). **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Speed in urgent cases:** one owner says their dog was seen within 10 minutes of calling during an emergency and treated quickly to prevent pain. - **Explaining options and shared decisions:** a detailed review highlights discussions of multiple options for a senior dog’s large tumour, leading to surgery the owner felt went “faultless.” - **Follow-up and responsiveness (especially for rabbits/exotics):** one rabbit owner mentions proactive check-ins after appointments and quick handling of insurance paperwork. - **Cost concerns:** one reviewer specifically objects to medication pricing; another review praises a detailed quote and says it was cheaper than other quotes they received (so experiences on cost conflict). - **Occasional process/communication breakdown:** one negative review centres on vaccine brand/type information given before the visit not matching what was available at the appointment.