Vets4Pets Shirley

Vets4Pets Shirley in Southampton is part of the Vets4Pets network. The practice offers a broad range of in-house diagnostics and facilities, including lab testing, ultrasound, digital X-ray, an operating theatre, and separate cat and dog waiting and ward areas. When the practice is closed, out-of-hours emergency care is provided by Vets Now. Recent feedback is mixed, with strong praise for compassionate urgent and end-of-life care alongside some criticism of communication and admin follow-through.

Services

•Diagnostics and hospital facilities: in-house laboratory testing (including biochemistry and haematology), digital X-ray, ultrasound, blood pressure monitoring, an isolation unit, hospital ward, and operating theatre. The practice also has separate cat and dog waiting and ward areas.
•Routine care and procedures: consultations, nurse clinics, anaesthesia, prescriptions and medication, routine and non-routine procedures, and home visits. Reviews include examples of fast access for urgent appointments and clear explanations during consultations.
•Surgery and wider clinical services: dentistry, orthopaedics, microchipping, and exotic pet care alongside dogs, cats, and small mammals. Recent reviews also mention spay aftercare.
•Preventive and support services: weight clinic, behaviour clinic, puppy and other educational workshops, nutritional advice, pet passports, and insurance claim processing.
•Out-of-hours care: emergency cover is provided through Vets Now when the practice is closed.

Pricing

Published prices suggest the clinic sits around average, based on a partial sample of comparable services.

People

•Briony (nurse): thanked in a review for attentive post-op care after a dog’s spay, including reassurance for the owner and updates showing the dog being comforted.
•Dr. Cave: praised for explaining a likely problem clearly, talking through how medication worked, and outlining next steps depending on healing.
•Ruth and Alice (vets): described as gentle, thorough, and good at answering questions and providing follow-up support.
•Reviews also mention caring reception and nursing staff, plus an unnamed male vet who made time for an urgent euthanasia appointment.

Reviews

Google reviews show 4.5/5 from 225 reviews. Written feedback is mixed, with both very positive and very critical experiences described.

•Compassionate difficult visits: several owners describe kind, unhurried support during euthanasia, including one case where a vet reportedly cleared his morning schedule and saw the family within about 35 minutes of the initial call.
•Good clinical communication and aftercare: positive reviews mention clear explanations during appointments, inclusive communication with owners, and thoughtful post-op care after a spay.
•Warm handling from parts of the team: some reviewers single out vets, nurses, and reception staff as gentle, caring, and professional.
•Communication and admin complaints: negative reviews focus on poor follow-through and staff attitude, including one detailed complaint about an insurance claim not being submitted and another owner’s concerns about handling equipment discussed or used around dogs.

Reviews for Vets4Pets Shirley

Note: Showing the 10 most recent Google reviews out of 225 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

Chloe Drodge

7 months ago

0 Stars, shut these practices down. It’s been almost six months since I lost my cat Daisy — my whole world — and I still feel anxious whenever I think about this veterinary practice. Losing a pet is heartbreaking enough, but the unprofessionalism, lack of empathy, and poor communication from this clinic made the experience so much harder. Every interaction, whether over the phone or in person, felt cold and impersonal. Staff were often distracted by personal conversations or saying goodbye to colleagues instead of greeting us with care or compassion. There was no warmth, no kindness. The actual medical care Daisy received was adequate, and I do want to acknowledge that the vet who helped us during her final moments was professional and compassionate. She gave us time to say goodbye, and for that, I’m grateful. After Daisy passed, we faced weeks of frustration over our pet insurance claim, which should have been straightforward. Following the staff’s advice, we waited to submit one full claim for all of Daisy’s treatments — totaling over £1,000. Weeks went by with no updates. When we called, the receptionists kept telling us to contact the insurance company, who then told us to speak to the vet — a never-ending loop. After several calls and multiple in-person visits, I insisted they check the claim while I was there. Only then did they discover it had never been submitted at all — despite previously assuring us it had. They blamed a “spelling error,” but it quickly became clear it was never filed in the first place. No apology, no accountability — just a dismissive “wait for the payout.” This practice showed zero compassion, professionalism, or responsibility. At a time when we should have been grieving, we were forced to chase their mistakes. It made losing Daisy so much harder than it needed to be. Please don’t make the same mistake we did. Don’t be fooled by a few good reviews or a polished image — this large company clearly values profits over people (and pets). The lack of care and empathy from their staff speaks volumes.

H B

8 months ago

Left the practice after many years after a series of poor appointments where I didn’t feel my dog was treated right, then on one occasion one nurse proudly told me she used a figure-8 head collar on her dog (horrific device! People should try on these things themselves before putting them on their dogs!), and another time another nurse/vet paraded her dog through reception on a choke lead. If they treat their own dogs this badly, no way was I taking mine back.

Catheryne

11 months ago

My little chug Paris is so sociable and friendly but also a little nervous and looks to get reassurance through affection. She was recently spayed and I had been so nervous that being in a crate after surgery she would get bad anxiety. When I collected her I was shown videos of how much attention and love she had received (along with sitting on people’s laps during the daily team meeting getting lots of cuddles, rather than left in her crate) I was so so grateful for this, she seemed so happy and at ease. Huge thanks to her nurse Briony and the rest of the team at Companion Care Shirley, Southampton you are true treasures!!

Ashy _GB

12 months ago

Had my German shepherd registered here for a couple years. She sadly had to be put to sleep last week at the age of 12 years after her back legs gave out. From the initial call to seeing a vet, it took 35 minutes, the lovely gentleman who saw us cleared his morning schedule to be with us, talk us through everything, gave us time to be with our Riley before it all happened and let us stay with her for as long as we needed. The team were so caring, polite and professional. I can't thank them enough for helping us through this difficult time. I would never go anywhere else in terms of vets and cannot recommend them enough.

Toni Mcqueen

1 year ago

Diana m

I phoned at 18:00 as I had come off work and my usual vets close at this time. My dog was accepted as long as I arrived in the time slot provided as they close at 19:00. The staff member who answered my call was good with my nervousness and dealt well with my queries. My dog was seen in five minutes of me arriving at the vets. Dr. Cave is very nice and cared about my dogs comfort during the appointment. He was very happy to explain what he thought was going on and how to administer the medication prescribed and what exactly the medication does. He also explained what I could do depending on how my dog’s wound heals. He was very kind and patient and made sure to talk to me and my partner during the appointment so we were both included in my pets care.

Isabel Moore

3 years ago

Both Ruth and Alice are amazing vets - so gentle, kind and thorough with everything they do. Great at answering any questions, follow ups and genuinley care about the animals they see. Always taken care of well by the receptionists and the nurses behind the scenes too, wouldn't take my pets anywhere else