Victoria Veterinary Clinic Bristol

I have been using Victoria Vets since 1994 and have been very happy with the kindness and impeccable care shown to me and my dogs during this time. Mike the chief vet has carried out numerous operations and tests over the years and my dogs have always come through safely, in fact he has this week performed an operation on my nearly 15 year old dog who within a few hours of coming home was happily eating his tea. Mike is backed up with very good locum vets to cover in his absence and the veterinary nurses are absolutely brilliant and have shown great patience and kindness over the years dealing with this anxious mum on the end of the phone and have either giving me reassurance or got me in quickly to see the Vet. If you are looking for a quality, caring Vet to entrust your pets I cannot recommend this practice highly enough. Read Less

Best vets ever! I switched to this vets after a bad experience at another. I have always found Mike to be very caring towards the animals and doesn't try to cause confusion using jargon. Unlike another vets I experienced he is all about the animals and their welfare over what money he can make. I highly recommend these vets. The reception staff and nurses are also very lovely people, always polite and friendly. Read Less

My foster dog started getting breathless on a walk today and ended up turning blue that I knew he needed emergency help. My usual vets is a 20 minute drive and was too far to drive with how sick my dog was. I rang The Victoria veterinary surgery in staple hill as it's closest to my location. I told them on the phone my dog is asphyxiating and is going blue, this is an emergency and I need to be seen asap. I arrive with a vomiting dog that cannot walk because he cannot breathe enough to move and is going bluer in the tongue and panicking more by the minute. I was made to wait for 5 minutes as the vet was seeing someone else. I then have the door open to find the resident vet, a kiwi man by the name of Mr Michael Goudswaard, stood in the doorway and invites me in. I tell him that the dog cannot walk and can he please lift him into the room. He takes his lead and pulls him in instead. I then explain his history and that he is going blue and can he help as I'm afraid he is going to die. He then asks 'As he's a rescue charity dog, who is going to pay for this procedure?' and follows with how 'these things cost 1,000's and can be very expensive'. I tell him that the charity or I will pay for it, I don't care he just needs seeing.. NOW. He's going blue. He then agrees that the dog is in fact going blue and his 'really struggling and in a bad way' but he can't see him as they close at 5 and are not an emergency vets. All whilst stood with his hand on his hip, staring down at the dog and looking like I'm wasting his time. I then start crying and getting very emotional at that prospect and tell him he needs to help this dog. He says ' I can put him to sleep if you want but otherwise you need to find somewhere else'. He then proceeds to pick up my dog by the lead, lift him against his harness taking his full body weight against his already compromised chest and lungs.. and plonk him outside the door, escort me out and then shut the door behind me. At that point my dog is still choking and getting limp and I start crying more at the veterinary nurse to do something, to grab a cold compress or something.. or get him to do something please. She looks distressed and agrees to ask him again. She knocks and re-enters his room only for him to barge out past her and tell me he has another appointment now. I plead with him to do something and he said again firmly.. 'I can put him to sleep or you will just have to find somewhere else'. I then had to get a very helpless dog back into the car and drive in traffic for another 15 minutes traumatised whilst I watch the pup fighting for his life. At this point he'd been asphyxiating for over 30 mins. I managed to find another vets. Thank goodness for vets for pets in Kingswood as they ran out to my car and gave him emergency oxygen and steroid treatment and saved his life. They said he was in a very bad way. I am completely upset and disgusted that someone that chose to go into the profession of saving animals would stand and watch a devastated owner and a dying dog and not help because he was shutting in 15 minutes. He didn't even get him on the table, give him oxygen or lay his hands on him. He didn't even recommend somewhere for me to go. I was kicked out and luckily my dog didn't die. I feel failed and so upset. If you live in Bristol and you care for the wellbeing of your pet in an emergency.. DO NOT use this surgery! This vet has zero compassion and is committing malpractice. Doesn't even deserve 1 star. A dog nearly died today and this veterinary surgery didn't even care enough to try and save it. Read Less