Dog & Cat Vets in Thatcham

## Summary GKG Vets offers appointment-based consultations and partners with **VetsNow** for **out-of-hours emergency care** (via a partner clinic). The practice promotes a **Pet Health Club® Plus plan** where **consultations are included**, and it describes itself as a **Cat Friendly Clinic**. Policies stated on the website include **48 hours’ notice for repeat medications** and that **collection is appointment-only**. From the latest reviews available, owners often describe friendly, supportive interactions (including at end-of-life), but there is also a sharply negative account alleging **unnecessary cancer-related procedures** and poor decision-making for an older dog—so experiences appear mixed depending on the case. ## Services Based on the clinic website and the latest written reviews available: - **Out-of-hours emergency care** via a partnership with **VetsNow** (dedicated emergency vets/nurses). - **Routine vet consultations** (website notes consultations are by appointment only). - **Pet Health Club® Plus** (website states consultations are included as part of this plan; no plan price given). - **Health checks / screening** - “Book a free health check” (as stated on the website). - “Wellness screening” (priced on the website; see Pricing). - “Six-month healthy pet check” (priced on the website; see Pricing). - **Diagnostics and procedures mentioned in reviews** - **Blood testing** (including discussion of cancer cells in blood in one review). - **Biopsy** and **lump surgery/removal** discussed in the context of a suspected cancer case. - **End-of-life care** is referenced in reviews (owners describing support when saying goodbye). ## Pricing Only prices explicitly shown on the website: - **Wellness screening:** **£60** - **Six-month healthy pet check:** **£24.99** - **Pet travel discount:** registered clients get **10% off** “trusted pet travel” with **PetAir** (no other pricing stated). ## Reviews **Google rating:** 4.6 stars from 103 reviews **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Friendly/helpful front-of-house and vets:** multiple reviews describe being welcomed and finding staff “friendly and helpful.” - **Time spent understanding the pet and owner context:** one reviewer says the vet “took time to understand the needs of my dog and our lifestyle.” - **Cat owners mention choosing the practice for being “cat friendly,”** and one reviewer says the Pet Health Club plan felt like “a good investment.” - **End-of-life support praised:** one owner describes “care and compassion” shown to them and their dog when they had to say goodbye. - **Serious complaint about cancer case management:** one reviewer alleges they were pushed toward a biopsy and then a second operation for a 13-year-old dog, and after a second opinion felt the procedures were unnecessary; they describe the experience as focused on revenue rather than welfare.

## Summary Donnington Grove Veterinary Group is noted in the provided clinic data as a **veterinary nurse training facility**. Ownership (independent vs part of a larger group) isn’t stated in the information provided. From the latest reviews, owners most often describe a practice that’s set up for **routine care and ongoing pet health planning** (including **health plans and neutering** discussions), and for **support during serious illness and end-of-life situations**. Decision-relevant specifics mentioned include: - Staff talking a new owner through **health plan setup and neutering** questions “clearly and concisely” (Karen is named). - Reports of the team being supportive when pets were **very unwell**, including during lockdown, and in one case **trying to save a dog** and supporting the family when it wasn’t possible. - A conflicting access experience: one reviewer says they were told the clinic **only sees registered pets** and would need a **two-week wait** to be seen. ## Services Services and topics explicitly mentioned in the provided information include: - **Veterinary nurse training** (clinic data) - **Health plans** (review mentions asking about setting one up) - **Neutering** (review mentions discussing neutering) - **Treatment/medication for eye problems** (review mentions eye drops) - **Care for sick pets**, including cats and dogs (multiple reviews reference severe illness and attempted treatment) ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being charged **£90 for eye drops**, comparing it to **£36** via an online vet, and saying they felt the difference “cannot be justified.” ## People - **Karen** (role not stated) is singled out for taking time on the phone to explain **health plan setup and neutering** to a new pet owner in a “clear and concise” way, helping them feel at ease. - **Nurses** are specifically mentioned as “very helpful and nice” in one review (no names given). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 150 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Support in difficult cases:** owners describe the team being supportive when pets were seriously ill, including one account of the practice doing everything they could to save a dog, and another describing help when a cat was very sick. - **Good explanations for routine planning:** one new owner describes detailed, reassuring help with questions about health plans and neutering. - **Access policy conflict:** one reviewer describes being refused advice/seen because their puppy wasn’t registered and being told to register and wait two weeks; others describe appointments being easy to get and not waiting long. - **Cost concern raised:** a specific complaint about the price of eye drops (£90 vs £36 online). - **Practical note:** one review mentions **parking can be difficult at times**.

## Summary Foxhold House Surgery is part of **Coach House Vets**, which the website describes as an **independent** practice treating **both small animals (e.g., dogs and cats) and horses**. The setup appears geared towards routine small‑animal healthcare alongside a substantial equine service, including a **fully mobile equine service** and on-site **stabling** with a **fully equipped equine treatment room**. For urgent problems, the practice states it provides **24-hour emergency care** with a vet on-call, with out-of-hours cover shared with external providers on set evening/weekend arrangements. ## Services - **Small animal care** (species listed: small animals; examples given include dog and cat routine healthcare). - **Equine veterinary care**, including a **fully mobile equine service**. - **Equine facilities**: **stabling** and a **fully equipped equine treatment room**. - **Emergency care**: stated **24-hour emergency cover** with a vet on-call; out-of-hours care is shared with external emergency providers at specified times (weekday nights and weekends), and an equine out-of-hours provider on alternating weeks/weekends. - **“Coach House Care”**: a routine healthcare offering for dogs/cats described as being at a **discounted rate** (no specific inclusions or prices provided). - **“Zone Visits”**: described as a **free visit to your area each week** (no further details provided).