Ark Veterinary Clinics Ltd

Ark Veterinary Clinics Ltd, founded in 1994, treats dogs and cats as well as a broad range of exotic pets, including reptiles, birds and small mammals; its website also says two vets have extensive experience with exotic species. It is also described as a veterinary nurse training practice, which fits review mentions of students being involved in appointments. Recent feedback is mostly positive for exotic-pet care, rabbit work, acupuncture, dental support and compassionate end-of-life care, though some owners report concerns about costs, communication and front-desk service.

Services

•Dogs and cats: General small-animal care is reflected in reviews, including puppy vaccinations, dental treatment and ongoing support for older pets.
•Exotic pets: The clinic’s website specifically mentions reptiles, birds and small mammals, and recent reviews add examples including rabbits, guinea pigs and a budgie. Owners describe referrals, thorough examinations, gentle handling, surgery for a rabbit lump, and time spent explaining next steps.
•Pain and mobility support: Acupuncture is specifically mentioned, with one owner saying regular sessions helped a pet’s sore back.
•Dental treatment: Reviews mention phased dental treatment for an anxious dog, with follow-up communication during recovery.
•End-of-life care: Compassionate euthanasia is described in a review about a budgie.
•Hospital and emergency care: Overnight stays/hospitalisation are referenced in reviews, and emergency veterinary services are listed in the clinic information, though out-of-hours arrangements are not detailed here.
•Training environment: The practice is described as a veterinary nurse training facility, and reviews also mention student vets being present.

Pricing

Published prices suggest the clinic sits below average, based on a partial sample of comparable services. Owner comments are mixed: some describe prices as very reasonable, while others complain about rising costs, including £150 for one overnight stay and a £300 quote to remove a puppy tooth.

People

•Laura: Repeatedly praised for taking time with owners, answering questions and improving a pet’s quality of life.
•Katherine: Credited with regular acupuncture that helped a pet with back pain.
•Shannon (Vet Nurse): Praised for caring for an anxious dog during phased dental treatment, explaining the plan clearly and keeping up communication through recovery.
•Madonna: Frequently mentioned in exotic-pet and end-of-life cases; praised for rabbit care, surgery decisions, aftercare and compassionate euthanasia for a budgie, though one owner was unhappy with her handling of a payment request and a guinea pig case.
•Krissie: Mentioned positively by name in one complaint as a team member the owner had no issue with.
•Reviews also mention students/student vets being involved in appointments.

Reviews

Ark Veterinary Clinics Ltd has a 4.7/5 Google rating from 533 reviews, giving it a strong review base overall. Recent written feedback shows a mixed picture, with a clear run of very positive clinical experiences alongside a smaller number of sharp complaints.

•Exotic and rabbit care stands out: owners mention thorough examinations, thoughtful surgery decisions, gentle handling and problems being spotted that other vets had missed.
•Named staff receive strong praise: Laura, Katherine and Vet Nurse Shannon are singled out for kindness, clear explanations, follow-up communication and support with longer-term issues such as mobility problems and dental recovery.
•Compassion is a recurring positive theme: one owner describes a budgie’s euthanasia as a dignified, empathetic experience.
•Main negatives relate to service and cost: complaints mention rude interactions, busy phone lines, parking and waiting difficulties, disagreement over recommended treatment, and concerns about fees; one review also makes a serious allegation of neglect in a guinea pig case.

Reviews for Ark Veterinary Clinics Ltd

Note: Showing the 10 most recent Google reviews out of 533 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

Ali

3 weeks ago

My 2 dogs were registered here as they were the only vet taking on new clients last year when I got the dogs, their very first jag was a week late as this vets refused to vaccinate them for a week, secondly the second jag we had to wait outside, holding 2 riggly rottweiler pups at almost 12kg for half an hour after our appointment in the rain. If we had seats we would have been a lot more comfortable. We couldn’t put them down as they obviously haven’t been fully vaccinated, they then proceeded to tell me one of my dogs teeth wasn’t going to grow in properly and tried to charge me £300 to have ONE puppy tooth removed.. when it was going to fall out anyway. I also was not comfortable putting a 12 week old puppy through the process of a operation. I got another vets opinion and they said his teeth were fine. He’s now got all his adult teeth with no issues. So glad I didn’t waste £300 on a treatment that wasn’t necessary. Their phone lines are busy 9 times out of 10 and it’s a nightmare to try get through to them. The parking at the vets is awful and I am in the process of changing my vets to somewhere closer. They also don’t send you reminders of when your dogs jags are due!

maurizio de benedictis

Angela Hillen

I had a very disappointing experience with this veterinary practice. The staff were incredibly rude, showing little to no compassion or patience! The level of professionalism was extremely poor. What concerned me most was that they didn’t seem to care about the welfare of my dog at all! Their approach felt careless and lacking any genuine concern for my pet’s wellbeing. Overall, I would not recommend this clinic to anyone who values respectful service and proper care for their pets. It was an unpleasant experience, and I will definitely be going elsewhere in the future. AVOID!!

Amanda King

1 month ago

Emily Stephenson

Wonderful exotics vet with experienced staff including one of the world’s leading rabbit experts, Madonna (who literally wrote the book on small furry care). She deftly removed a large lump on our elderly rabbit’s leg, making sensible & thoughtful surgery decisions throughout, answering our questions with patience & kindness, & giving us personalised, thorough aftercare. The staff are all so kind, & we often meet student vets learning their trade there, which speaks to the openness & expertise of the vet staff. Animals are priceless, of course, but the rates are also very reasonable.

April Mackenzie

3 months ago

Everyone we've seen at Ark have been amazing, but a special mention has to go to Laura. She's so incredible and gave our Tinsel a new lease of life, always has time to ask as many questions as we need and give Tinsel lots of love. Katherine and her regular acupuncture has really helped Tinsel with her sore back as well. Also taken good care of our cats, foster rabbits and the rest of our bunny gang!

Michael Palmer

4 months ago

Staff are amazing. The car they show for our animals is superb.

Jane Turner

Jamie Williams

I used to think this place was great and trustworthy, but I was wrong. Here are some of the issues: It's becoming increasingly costly (£150 to keep your pet in for one night); bad attitude from one receptionist, in particular; they automatically assume that people can afford their prices; no guarantee of seeing an exotic vet, even when you take an exotic animal in; and finally, sheer neglect, which resulted in me losing one of my guinea pigs. Also, although I have no issue with Krissie and Laura, I absolutely do not like Madonna. She refused to let us pay the bulk of the cost there and then, and the rest another day. It's blatantly obvious that she, her husband and the partners only see pound signs in their eyes. They also neglected to consider the fact that my guinea pig, Lady, whom they saw, might develop a URI (she passed away the next morning). And why did the vet who saw her not prescribe Critical Care food or the necessary medicine, instead of giving her injections?