Dog & Cat Vets in Wincanton

## Summary Southill Vets Ltd describes itself as a long‑established **independent** veterinary practice, and both the website and recent reviews emphasise that its **24‑hour emergency care is run by its own team** rather than outsourced. Based on the information available, the clinic appears set up for day‑to‑day preventative care as well as medical/surgical work, with **specialist referrals** when needed. Concrete details mentioned by owners and the clinic include: - **In‑house out‑of‑hours/24‑hour emergency care** (website; echoed by reviews). - Help with **pet travel paperwork**, including an appointment for a visiting dog plus **worming and passport signing** (review). - A **separate waiting area for cats and dogs** (review). - Staff taking time to **explain end‑of‑life decisions and the process** during an emergency visit for a pet rat (review). ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned on the clinic website and in reviews include: - **Preventative pet care advice & treatment** (website). - **Surgical treatments** and **specialist referrals** (website). - **24‑hour emergency pet care** run by the clinic’s own team (website). - **Puppy classes** (“Canine Academy”) (website). - **Free nursing clinics** (website). - **Pet Health Club** (website). - Support for **pet travel requirements**, including **worming and signing a pet passport** (review). - Care provided for species beyond cats/dogs is mentioned in reviews (e.g., an **emergency visit for a rat**) (review). Also listed in the provided clinic data: - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. ## People Named team members mentioned in reviews: - **Yazz** and **Donna**: praised for how they interacted with a dog in the waiting area—“making a fuss,” offering treats, and helping the dog feel comfortable enough that he “did not want to leave” (review). - **Vicky**: specifically thanked for handling a difficult **emergency/end‑of‑life appointment for a rat**, with the owner highlighting the time taken, clear explanations, and a dignified process (review). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 154 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Repeated mentions that the practice is **independent** and provides **its own out‑of‑hours care**, which some owners value specifically because it isn’t outsourced (review). - Owners describe staff as **helpful and responsive for specific needs**, such as arranging an appointment for a visiting dog and completing **worming and passport documentation** (review). - Several reviews focus on **pet handling and reassurance**, including treats and friendly attention in reception/waiting areas (review). - **Clear, compassionate communication** during difficult situations is highlighted, including being talked through an emergency and end‑of‑life care (review). - Practical setup is noted in at least one review, such as a **separate cat/dog waiting area** (review).

## Summary Longmead Veterinary Surgery describes itself as an **independent, vet-owned** practice (serving clients since **1940**) and an **RCVS-accredited small animal practice**. Based on its stated facilities and what clients mention, it appears set up for both **routine care and more involved procedures**, including **keyhole surgery**, **advanced orthopaedics**, and **in-house hospitalisation** with **separate dog and cat wards** (CT scanning is stated to be in-house at another surgery site). From the latest reviews available, owners frequently describe **clear explanations before procedures**, **aftercare guidance**, and practical handling of tricky situations (for example, **booking a reactive dog at a quieter time** and keeping the appointment calm). There is also a contrasting account describing **refusal to register a new pet** due to practice capacity/criteria and a **poor interaction with the practice manager**. ## Services From the clinic website summary and reviews, Longmead Veterinary Surgery offers or is described as providing: - **Routine preventive care:** vaccinations (mentioned in reviews as part of a check-up/vaccination visit). - **Neutering and surgical procedures:** - Spaying (including **endoscopic/keyhole spay** mentioned by a reviewer; the site lists **laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery**). - General surgery (listed). - **Dental surgery**: same-day operation for **infected gums** with **infected teeth removed** (review). - **Microchipping** (review). - **Diagnostics** (listed). - **Advanced orthopaedic surgery** (listed; described for cruciate disease and complex fracture repair in the site source text). - **Hospitalisation facilities** with **separate dog and cat wards** (listed). - **24-hour emergency service, 365 days a year** (as stated on the website). - **Species treated:** dogs, cats, and small mammals (listed). - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (structured clinic data). ## People - **Jane (practice manager)** is named in a 1-star review, which describes her as **“loud,” “talked over me,”** and giving **“robotic”** responses during an attempted registration, alongside an explanation that the practice was **busy** and applying criteria about pets being registered with only one vet. - **Lyndsey** is mentioned positively in a review about a **reactive rescue dog**, described as being **good with the dog** during the visit after reception booked a quieter appointment time. - **Matt and Sacha (vets)** are thanked by name for **“wisdom and compassion”** in a serious case where the owner felt their pet “lived when it seemed all was lost” (review). ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 84 reviews.** The comments available cover routine appointments (vaccinations/check-ups) through to surgery and dental treatment, plus one account focused on registration/customer-service issues. **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Planning and handling for anxious/reactive pets:** one owner says reception booked a slot **with no other dogs**, and the appointment stayed calm and manageable. - **Surgery experiences with explanations and aftercare:** owners mention spaying (including **endoscopic/keyhole spay**) and **microchipping**, with **procedures explained beforehand** and **aftercare instructions** described as thorough; one review reports a **follow-up courtesy call** after surgery. - **Dental problem identified and treated quickly:** one owner says the practice **immediately found the issue** with a cat that wasn’t eating and **operated the same day**, removing infected teeth. - **Not rushed in consults:** one owner describes a vet who **answered all questions fully** and didn’t hurry the appointment. - **Conflicting experience on registration/customer service:** one reviewer reports being told they **couldn’t register** because the practice didn’t want pets registered with two vets and was limiting new patients, and they describe the interaction with the practice manager as confusing and unpleasant.