Parkvets Reviews 35

My dog was a patient at Parkvets for a number of years. She was never sick or needed any medical attention (apart from the spay and being bitten by another dog when she was about 10). She started developing what seemed like digestion problems in 2020. We took her straight to her vet at the time (Parkvets) and were told there there was nothing really to worry about and were given probiotics. She didn't get any better and we came back in a couple of weeks just to be given more probiotics. We were coming to see the vets every two or three months for the next two years as she kept having the same problems. We were always given (sold really) probiotics and told to feed her chicken and rice. And at one point we were even told her problems might be psychological.
Our dog ended up with kidney failure due to bacterial infection which she had for years and was admitted to the Valley Vets hospital (the only emergency vet open on the day) on Christmas Day 2022 where she stayed for 4 days. After that she was taken for a check-up (with all the info from the Valley Vets) with a Parkvet vet. The vet just said to herself after she red all her visit history - OMG, what have we done. Anyway - there was no apology to us and we were told basically there was nothing to be done and that our dog has late stage kidney disease and was going to die in matter of days or weeks, months at most. There was no advice given on how to care for a dog with such condition.
Why am I writing this now? Because our dog is still alive. She is nearly 16 now (an excellent age for a dog) and will die sooner or later of old age. After being told just to wait for her to die, we waited. But she wouldn't die - so after 6 months we decided to pay a visit to the Valley Vet hospital.
She was put on Fortekor tablets and Pronefra and we were advised on how to feed her. She's been going there for a control check-up with urine control every three months ever since. Even now she is still a lively dog that enjoys her walks and chasing the ball.
All of this could've been avoided hadn't Parkvets been too eager to sell probiotics and had they checked her urine straight away, found bacterial infection and proscribed her a simple course of antibiotics.
During the two years we kept taking our dog to the Parkvets with the same ailment no-one even mentioned the bacterial infection. As she was seen by a number of vets, my theory is that either no vet bothered to check her notes from before (even I feel now stupid to just agreeing to buy probiotics yet again when I should've seen that they don't help, so a professional vet should've noticed that there was something seriously wrong) or that she wasn't seen by a vet at all.
I can only hope that Parkvets have come up with some sort of protocol on how to deal with a dog that keeps coming with the same (what might seem simple) ailment time after time.

I've been with Park Vets on Sanitorium Rd, Cardiff for several years but since they are no longer an independent you don't see the same vet twice and it would seem they use locums who are newly qualified and pretty inexperienced.

Our Yorkie has been extremely itchy for several weeks. I brought her to see 2 vets and a nurse only to be told by one vet that she may have warts. No elaboration.

Whilst making another appointment with a nurse for an anal gland check (as I thought this was making her itchy) I asked another question to which the receptionist replied that I could only ask the nurse about the anal glands and if I had any more questions I would have to book in with a vet. I agree with other reviewers here that it would seem that they are absolute money grabbers.

I took the dog to an independent vet on Penarth Rd who don't use locums (meaning you do see the same vets which naturally means they are more invested in the well being of your dog) and even though I told the vet I didn't think she had fleas, she nevertheless did a thorough check and turns out she did have fleas! When I asked why I hadn't noticed them she said you need to know where to look!
Park vets didn't once do a flea check. Shouldn't this be a basic, standard check when you say your dog is itchy?
I feel that I paid Park Vets lots of money for nothing.

I do have to say though that the nurses, physios and receptionists at Park Vets have always been professional and lovely. Shame I can't say the same about the vets who are employed by a company who have strict policies and whose main policy is to make money.

I have had my dogs medical records sent to the new independent vet practise.

After taking my cat here for a skin problem/allergy seeing two vets from the Chislehurst branch over a few month period following vets recommendation dietary food etc, took my cat again due to his skin.
The vet was not the person I booked, she said he was seriously ill, i said with what, she repeated he is seriously ill, I said he is eating, drinking, going a toilet, she said he had lost weight!
Alarm bells was ringing when they wanted £1200, I only had half today" I said she suggested I put him down as It would take me a few days to get all the money! I told her you are just trying to extort money from me & your lying! Left the vets with my cat!
I also took my cat a few days later to a charity organisation they gave him meds, confirmed he had not lost weight, solution I did on his skin now he is back to his old self within two weeks!
I made a complaint but the same old chestnut protecting themselves/business/money!

IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK HOME WITH YOUR PETS, DON’T GO THERE!!!!
They only want money, especially if it’s an emergency as it was for me. Took my beautiful cat for a C section and they didn’t do ANYTHING until I paid £4000. Plus they later told me that they could have only done an injection but were scared of harming the kittens, when I had told them that the priority was my cat. Afterwards they told me she could come home only after 2h from the surgery and she DIED after 3h we came home.
Already physically and emotionally destroyed for my baby’s loss I asked them to help me with the 7 kittens (I was willing to pay) and they told me that one of them had to be put down (for a broken tail!) and that they would NOT help me with the other’s unless I would give up their ownership. Why was that the only way you’d help? Maybe because they were 7 healthy pure Siamese kittens, huh?
When I complained about all of this I was basically told that it was my fault she passed away because I hadn’t spayed her.
They treated us without any respect, or empathy, or anything like that.
Guys PLEASE don’t go there, I don’t wish to anyone the pain that many Park Vets clients felt, the pain of losing a pet because of them

Absolutely amazing service @ Sidcup. SAM the vet was absolutely great to my eclectus parrot Eric, who was in need of beak treatment.

Cannot express more gratitude, thank You and Blessings 🙏🌹🐲

I would just like to thank the staff at Park Vets in Sanatorium Road Cardiff. A cat came into our garden today literally skin and bones. She had what appeared to be an injury to her mouth and was so frail. After a few calls to various animal care outlets no one could really help. However after a call to Park Vets they were absolutely amazing ! The poor thing is now being treated and is chipped so hopefully a happy future awaits . Once again a huge thank you to all the staff involved ❤️

Our female dog aged 11 died suddenly at home of a heart attack. In a state of distress and upset we called Park Vets in Sidcup expecting them to come out and collect her, but were told that they did not do home visits and that we would have to bring her in. Our dog was a large dog weighing nearly 40kg, and was starting to lose body fluids. When we said there must be a better solution, the receptionist gave us a number for a pet taxi, but cautioned us that they might not accept "a dead body". In the end we had no option to carry our dead and decaying beloved dog to the car and drive her to the vets, all the while she was leaking bodily fluids. This happened on a weekday at 3pm in the afternoon, not during the night or on a weekend etc. Despite complaining to the Practice Manager and Park Vets parent company, they have refused to say sorry. The absence of any protocol by this vet practice to provide a facility to collect large pets that die at home is quite unbelievable. We have spent literally tens of thousands of pounds on vet treatment for our animals at Park Vets over the years, yet when we needed them most they were not there for us. Absolutely disgraceful service. We have moved our other two dogs to a smaller, independent vet practice. Shame on you Park Vets. What if this had been an elderly person who's dog had died that did not have a car? Shameful.

I took a dog that I am boarding to the Vets and I was seen by Shannon. What an amazing lady, she is a vet of the highest calibre. The dog I am looking after has been suffering from an eye disorder for many many months and was in a lot of pain. The owners had taken their dog to their own vet three times and was told on each occasion there was nothing wrong with him. Shannon diagnosed an ulcer straightaway and conjunctivitis. She immediately put him on medication and we are very hopeful that we will be successful. Thank you so much Shannon, you also helped me with one of my own dogs not so long ago, you’re a star and very much appreciated. ❤️

Utterly appalling service from Park Vets - our cat had ‘urgent’ blood tests and despite calling the establishment to find out the results it took 4 days after they received the results back to actually take the time to review them. All the while our cat was critically ill with kidney failure. How on earth can they be allowed to practice ?

F/a/o Parc vet care

As a person whom has brought her pets here for treatment numerous times, I will not be a in need of your services again in the future.
On the ? November -/-/- -?
I received a phone call from Helen Redfern (Dr). The conversation was the usual you would expect from the practice but this particular day was very unusual.

This individual was referred to as 'this lady' when I needed to put the conversation on speaker so I could confer with my daughter in Law and when this person heard this reference to herself, she took much offence. She said to myself
"You know damn well that my name is Helen and do not refer to me as this lady."

I would never accept being spoken to in this manner by anyone, never mind the Manager of a Veterinary practice that is surely supposed to be well-versed in communicating with anxious pet owners. If I had spoken in this manner to any of the staff there then I'm sure that it would not be tolerated. There was absolutely no need to be so rude and to have the bad attitude towards me.
Professionalism went out the window I'm afraid and I felt so upset at the time that I knew I needed to write down what happened so I could email when I was able to. I also have a recording of the conversation as it happened at our family business where calls are recorded automatically.

It is a real shame that this happened as it has ultimately lost you my business and surely incidents like this do not do much for your reputation either.

I would indeed encourage some customer relation training and hope that me voicing my concerns will prevent further upset to your customers in the future.

Yours sincerely
Karen

It has taken me a while to write this review as I have been so distressed by what happened to our dog. We took George to Park Vets hospital on the 27th Dec 2022 as he has no colour in his gums, panting and showing signs something was clearly not right. The vet was saw wanted to refer us to Fitzpatricks as they thought it might a spinal problem and we were to take George our dog home and wait to hear from them. We went home and George had passed away within a couple of hours. It was so traumatic. I cannot believe they could not tell that he was dying. I would never use them again, they are over priced and charge a fortune for emergency appointments.

Parkvets in both Longfield and the Sidcup hospital have been absolutely fantastic ever since we registered. We're always greeted by kind and friendly staff and it always feels like no question is too silly (especially when you're anxious, new pet owners!). When we got our kitten spayed, it was a completely easy and stress free process and they were so helpful and responsive when she wouldn't go to the toilet for 72 hours after our surgery! We're really grateful to be registered with them and will continue to use them in the future.

i found a parakeet on the duel carriageway, it was a live and didn't resist to me picking it up. i don't know how long it had been there, but its heart was racing. i got the bird home, offered it some food and water, and space, the bird was calm and built trust with me really quickly. it came out of the blanket i used to pick it up and tried to fly off my kitchen worktop to land on the floor. i could see it had hurt its left wing. the bird did not squark attempt to bite me or anything, and was very calm in the car when i took it to park vets to see if the bird had a broken wing. at the time i was grateful they were open gone 10pm at night.

when i got there the bird was taken away from me i wasn't allowed in the examination room and some time later i was told the bird had a bruised wing would take months to recover if it did but had no chance of survival and was in a lot of pain and had to be put down. i wasn't convinced and asked to take the bird home. i was told there was a wild life specialist present and they said the bird won't survive, it was squawking and in a lot of pain and it will have to be put down. i was full of unease, unrest and still not convinced. i tried again to ask for the bird back but they refused. I left and got home and still felt lied to and couldn't believe that a bird so calm with me was squawking and screaming with them. so i called around midnight and they told me they had put the bird down. i felt quite distraught at the thought of a healthy bird being put down. I spoke to a few people afterwards and they all replied i should never have taken the bird to a vet particularly this vet as they are known for putting healthy birds and animals down. I don't have a pet yet, and so i had no experience of this establishment, but i am so saddened that i wasn't allowed to take the bird home and care for it myself. If it was going to die anyway, somewhere where it seemed more relaxed would have been preferential. Now i will never know and it haunts me that i played a role in killing what may have been a healthy bird. Suffice to say if i ever do have a pet in the future i shall not be registering here. I get it was a wild bird, but to not give me, the person who took time out to save the bird, an option or the opportunity to take on a responsibility was really unethical.

If I could I would give no stars. Awful, terrible and treating pets as money making machine. In hindsight I would do everything differently - I would insure my cat for larger amount, I would take her to another hospital, I would be more assertive when taking to park vets but here we are. It was my first experience with vet hospital and how everything work - the stress of having injured pet, financial pressure when vet hospital texts you extortionate bills every day. £2500 insurance money was gone in 3 days without any treatment - just xrays, boarding and pain relief. Why, why you didn't send my cat home if she needed cage rest, releasing her only on the day then every penny was spend? When insurance money was gone, the price of operation on leg fracture was changing by the minute: from 2k to 5k and no one would confirm the price. And the last straw was the nurse saying "If you don't have the funds, what is the point?". Decision to put down my young cat is still haunting me and I will regret it all my life. And the fault is yours Park Vets! Evil, just evil.
I will be sending a complaint to BVA

Avoid, in my hour of need took my dog to there Sidcup hospital as it was Sunday at 10pm, as he was very ill and couldn't walk. Although the staff were very good, he left a day later and I was £2000 poorer. The charges are quite frankly ridiculous, £55 to have his pulse taken and £77 for a nurse to be there even though you only get told about the initial consultation for £180. They said he would need an x-ray and surgery for a cruciate ligament problem. After getting a 2nd opinion at his regular vets the following week I was told it was just a sprain and he needed rest - to be clear the total cost for the xray and operation were around £5500. A misdiagnosis is acceptable, however they then said they would deal directly with my insurance company (of course for an admin fee of £25.00), after about a week they then said I would have to claim direct because they didn't think the insurance company would pay. I did this but there was a hold up for about a month with the claim as the insurance company didn't have the information. After pressing them for a response after weeks they said they were withholding the relevant information until I settled my bill in full. This is massively unethical as it took me about two weeks to get them to disclose this unwillingly....great staff but horrible business practises preying on those in need.