Dog & Cat Vets in Colchester

Dog & Cat Vets in Colchester

Trusted small-animal vets for dogs, cats and other companion pets

About Dog & Cat Vets in Colchester

Updated January 2026

Colchester's veterinary clinics cater primarily to companion animals.

All 16 clinics in Colchester are dedicated to treating dogs and cats, providing a range of services from routine check-ups to more specialized veterinary care. The focus on companion animals ensures that pet owners have access to a variety of treatment options to maintain their pets' health. The town's veterinary landscape is well-equipped for everyday care and emergency situations, offering pet owners reliable options for their furry family members.

There are 13 veterinary clinics listed for Dog & Cat vets in Colchester.

Top Rated Dog & Cat Vets in Colchester

Top-ranked veterinary practices based on quality, service, and customer reviews

#1

Paws Colchester Veterinary Centre Limited

4.7(249 reviews)
Emergency Services
Corporate
📞01206 561407
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
exotic
chicken
## Summary Paws Colchester Veterinary Centre Limited offers routine pet care (consultations, health checks, wellness screening and repeat prescriptions) and also handles some urgent and referral-led cases, with owners describing quick appointment accommodation when needed. Reviews repeatedly mention the team being calm and patient with large, strong dogs, and one owner describes a dental tooth extraction for a puppy after the procedure was explained clearly. The clinic also runs a Pet Health Club®/pet club plan (consultations included as part of the Pet Health Club® Plus plan is stated on the website), which multiple reviewers say helps with costs/value. ## Services - Consultations - Health checks - Wellness screening - Repeat prescriptions - Dental extraction mentioned in reviews (a puppy tooth removal after a broken tooth; the owner reports the importance of removal was explained beforehand) - Eye problem assessed and referred for an operation elsewhere (review describes a referral that helped prevent loss of an eye) - Emergency guidance when closed: the website says you can find out what to do in an emergency when the practice is closed - Veterinary nurse training facility (from provided clinic data) ## People - **Rebecca**: Mentioned in a review as explaining why a puppy’s broken tooth needed removing, and being patient and kind during the process. - **Emma**: Mentioned in a review as acting quickly on an eye issue and arranging a referral for an operation; another review credits her with helping manage ongoing treatment for a dog. ## Reviews **4.7 stars from 249 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Calm, patient handling of large or high-energy dogs (e.g., a large-breed dog described as strong/difficult; staff “worked around his needs,” and another owner mentions a “big and bouncy” young dog handled calmly). - Owners say they can often be seen quickly, including being accommodated for an appointment as a new client. - Clear explanations around treatment decisions (example: explanation of why a tooth needed removal before extraction). - Referral praised for a time-sensitive eye issue that led to an operation elsewhere, with the owner believing it prevented loss of the eye. - Pet club/plan is repeatedly mentioned as helping with costs/value.

Why This Ranking:

Paws Colchester Veterinary Centre Limited stands out with a 4.7-star rating from 248 reviews, offering emergency services and VN training. Its comprehensive care and high data completeness make it a highly regarded clinic in Colchester.

#2

The Mayne Veterinary Clinic

4.8(146 reviews)
Independent Clinic
📞01206 851 338
Treats:
dog
cat
rabbit
## Summary The Mayne Veterinary Clinic is an **independent practice** established in **1981**, taken over in **2012** by **Charlotte and Keith Mayne** (both listed on the website as owners/partners and veterinary surgeons). The website describes the clinic as a **membership-only practice** focused on **preventative, personalised and proactive care** through its **Pet Health Club**. From recent reviews, owners repeatedly mention clear, unhurried explanations during appointments, support through difficult end-of-life decisions, and practical add-ons like **prescription ordering via WhatsApp** and **free out-of-hours video vet consultations**. Specific procedures mentioned include **surgery to repair a split claw/paw injury** and a **knee operation carried out by a brought-in expert** so the dog could stay in familiar surroundings. ## Services - **Membership-only care via Pet Health Club**, described by the clinic as focused on preventative and proactive health care, including **unlimited vet and nurse consultations** (as stated on the website). - **Surgery**, with examples in reviews including: - An operation to resolve a **split claw injury into the paw pad**. - A **knee operation**, with an **expert brought in** to perform it at the clinic. - **Support for end-of-life care**, including helping owners through “a very difficult time” with a cat. - **Confidence classes for nervous pets** (mentioned by a reviewer). - **Remote/out-of-hours support:** **free video online vet consultations during out of hours** (mentioned by a reviewer). - **Prescription ordering via WhatsApp** (mentioned by a reviewer). - **Breed experience noted by owners:** one reviewer specifically recommends the clinic for **greyhounds/sighthounds** because they “understand the breed.” - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (from structured clinic data). ## Pricing - One reviewer describes pricing as **“fair”**, but no specific fees or plan prices are provided in the available information. ## People - **Charlotte Mayne** (owner/partner; veterinary surgeon per the website) is singled out in a review as being especially helpful for a dog with “many issues,” alongside “all her vets, nurses and receptionists.” - **Keith Mayne** (owner/partner; veterinary surgeon per the website) is listed as co-owner, but no specific review comments about him are provided. - **Zak** (role not stated) is thanked by name for helping an owner through a difficult time with their cat. - Across multiple reviews, the team is repeatedly described as: - **Explaining things clearly** and **not rushing appointments** (linked by one owner to pets feeling more at ease). - Being consistent over long-term relationships (several owners mention using the clinic for decades). ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 146 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Clear communication and unhurried appointments:** owners mention explanations being clear and that they “never feel rushed.” - **Practical access and follow-up tools:** prescription ordering via **WhatsApp** and **free out-of-hours video consultations** are specifically mentioned. - **Surgical care and recovery:** examples include treatment of a **split claw/paw pad injury** with an operation and fast recovery, and a **knee operation** performed by a visiting expert at the clinic. - **Support in emotionally difficult moments:** owners describe compassionate help when pets are near end of life. - **Some owners choose the clinic for specific needs:** confidence classes for nervous pets, and a reviewer highlighting experience with **greyhounds/sighthounds**.

Why This Ranking:

The Mayne Veterinary Clinic in Colchester scores highly due to its excellent Google rating of 4.8 from 142 reviews, comprehensive service coverage, and 100% data completeness. The clinic is praised for its long-standing reputation and commitment to quality care, making it a trusted local veterinary clinic.

#4

Ark Veterinary Centre

4.6(265 reviews)
Emergency Services
Corporate
📞01206 572410
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
chicken
## Summary Ark Veterinary Centre promotes ongoing preventive care via a Pet Health Club® Plus plan (with consultations included) and a paid “six-month healthy pet check” offer (£24.99). Reviews describe it as set up for both routine appointments and urgent problem-solving: owners mention “fast” and “very thorough” help for a dog, and one review describes staff taking steps to verify a found puppy’s microchip/ownership before proceeding. A minority of feedback raises a billing concern, with one reviewer saying they were nearly double-charged before it was corrected. ## Services - **Veterinary consultations**, including consultations included as part of a **Pet Health Club® Plus** plan (plan price/details not stated). - **Healthy pet checks** (website-promoted “six-month healthy pet check”). - **Emergency veterinary services** (listed in provided clinic data; specific availability/coverage not stated). - **Repeat prescriptions** (listed as a website action). - **Found-pet/ownership verification steps** described in a review (checking microchip/ensuring the handler was appropriate before continuing). - **Pet travel support offer** for registered clients: **10% off pet travel with PetAir** (discount offer; travel service itself not described). ## Pricing - **Six-month healthy pet check:** **£24.99**. - **Pet Health Club® Plus:** consultations included (no plan price or inclusions beyond consultations stated). - **Registered clients:** **10% off** pet travel with **PetAir**. ## Reviews **Google rating:** 4.6 stars from 265 reviews. **Thematic basis:** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Owners describe **quick, thorough care** (e.g., “fast and good help… very thorough”). - **Long-term loyalty** is mentioned (one owner says they’ve stayed with the practice for 18+ years with multiple pets). - A few reviews highlight **high-stakes support**, including a case where the reviewer felt the team “saved” their dog. - **Process/guardrails** are noted in a found-puppy situation: staff were described as professional and careful about **microchip/ownership checks**. - One negative review alleges an **attempted double charge**, though the reviewer says it was ultimately corrected and they were not charged.

Why This Ranking:

Ark Veterinary Centre in Colchester holds a 4.5-star rating from 263 reviews, offering 24/7 emergency services. Its strong reputation and comprehensive care make it a trusted local veterinary clinic.

#5

Medivet Colchester London Road (London Road Vets)

4.6(333 reviews)
Emergency Services
Corporate
📞01206 544918
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
## Summary Medivet Colchester London Road (London Road Vets) is part of the Medivet group and operates as a veterinary hospital offering routine care plus a wider set of diagnostics and procedures (including endoscopy, ultrasound and X‑rays) listed on its website. Reviews most often describe organised, friendly visits for both everyday appointments (blood tests, vaccinations, check-ups) and more involved work such as keyhole spays and dental extractions. Several owners also mention the team being comfortable with smaller pets (hamsters/guinea pigs) and using practical handling approaches (for example, staff knowing an older dog by name and using treats to help). Out-of-hours care is arranged via a named external provider (Vets Now), according to the clinic website. ## Services From the clinic website and reviews, services mentioned include: - Consultations for common preventative care: vaccinations, parasite care, microchipping, and “6‑month checkouts” - Dentistry, including tooth removals (with one review noting options and the procedure were explained in detail) - Surgery including neutering; one owner specifically mentions keyhole spay surgery - Diagnostic testing and imaging: blood tests, X‑rays, ultrasound, and endoscopy - Laser treatment (listed on the website) - Animal Health Certificate for pet travel (one owner reports getting this done at short notice and within their required timeframe) - Home visits (listed on the website) - Species seen (per website): cats, dogs, rabbits, exotics and small mammals; one reviewer specifically highlights experience with hamsters and guinea pigs - Emergency/out-of-hours: the website states out-of-hours is handled by Vets Now (external provider) The structured clinic data also states this is a Veterinary Nurse Training facility. ## Pricing - Consultation fee **from £296 (incl. VAT)** is stated on the clinic’s website (noted alongside the out-of-hours provider information). Prices are stated as subject to change. ## People Named staff mentioned in reviews: - **Josh**: credited by one owner with doing an “excellent job” handling their nervous Great Dane during a keyhole spay journey. - **Amy**: described as thorough and as explaining the tooth-removal procedure and available options in detail, which the reviewer contrasted with a previous experience elsewhere where they felt rushed and under-informed. Other recurring, concrete staff-related points from reviews include pets being recognised by name on repeat visits and staff using treats to help with anxious or easily bribed pets. ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 333 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Friendly, helpful interactions are a repeated theme, including reception and clinical staff being described as welcoming and personable. - Owners cite specific procedures done here (keyhole spay, dental extractions, blood tests and vaccinations), with communication called out in at least one case as notably detailed (options and process explained before dental work). - Capability with smaller pets is mentioned explicitly (hamsters and guinea pigs). - Repeat clients mention continuity (pets being known by name) and using a monthly plan for an older dog. - There is at least one recent **1‑star** review with no written details available, so the reason for dissatisfaction isn’t stated in the text we can see.

Why This Ranking:

Medivet Colchester London Road is well-regarded with a 4.6-star rating from 331 reviews. It offers emergency services and VN training, with a strong focus on professionalism and customer care, making it a reliable choice for pet owners in Colchester.

#6

Colchester Vets4Pets Advanced Practice

4.4(164 reviews)
Independent Clinic
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
## Summary Colchester Vets4Pets Advanced Practice is part of the Vets4Pets group and operates as an RCVS accredited Small Animal Veterinary Hospital, set up as a referral hospital with advanced diagnostics and surgery done in-house (including CT, endoscopy, and orthopaedic procedures). The website also describes 24-hour in-house inpatient care, with out-of-hours care provided by Vets Now. In the latest reviews available to us, owners describe time-sensitive care (for example, stabilising a severely injured cat and carrying out multiple operations, and recovering a 7‑week‑old kitten within a few hours), orthopaedic surgery experience (including two knee surgeries), and support during end-of-life care (private room while tests were run; ashes returned). Cost comes up both ways: some owners call it “too expensive,” while others describe specific bills as reasonable or note that the clinic subsidised costs after discussing options. ## Services From the clinic website summary, services and capabilities include: - **Advanced imaging & diagnostics:** CT, digital X‑ray, dental X‑ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, in-house lab work (including haematology). - **Endoscopy & minimally invasive procedures:** endoscopy and arthroscopy. - **Surgery:** orthopaedic and soft-tissue surgery, including cruciate surgery and fracture repair. - **Medical specialties:** internal medicine, cardiology, oncology/chemotherapy & cancer treatment. - **Emergency & inpatient care:** emergency and critical care with **24‑hour in-house inpatient care** (as stated on the website). Out-of-hours services are provided by **Vets Now** (as stated on the website). - **Exotics:** exotics service is listed; a review specifically mentions treatment for an **African grey parrot** (nasal blockage cleared). - **Other services listed:** microchipping, prescriptions, and pet passport/animal health certificate. Facilities mentioned on the website include an isolation unit, operating theatre, hospital ward, and **separate dog and cat wards**. ## Pricing - One reviewer reports **£100 for a 30‑minute appointment** and **£30 for antibiotics** (parrot nasal blockage case). - Another reviewer says they found the clinic **too expensive** (no figures given). - One review mentions the clinic **subsidised the cost of an amputation** after earlier procedures (no amount given). ## People - **Giovanni**: mentioned in a review in connection with a dog receiving **two knee surgeries**, with the owner highlighting the team’s ongoing care. - **Dr Angus**: mentioned in an end-of-life emergency review; the owner describes him explaining test results and options clearly while being compassionate, and the clinic providing a private room during assessment. - **Dr Johan (Veterinary Surgeon)**: mentioned for treating an **African grey parrot** by clearing a nasal blockage; the owner notes a thorough 30‑minute appointment and friendly manner. ## Reviews **4.4 stars from 164 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Emergency/urgent cases acted on quickly**, including stabilising a severely injured cat over multiple visits and restoring a very young kitten “back to her normal self” within hours. - **Orthopaedic surgery is specifically referenced**, including two knee surgeries for a large-breed dog. - **End-of-life care details** include being taken in straight away, given a private room during tests, and support through cremation/ashes return. - **Costs are a consistent point of discussion**: some describe it as expensive, while others describe emergency-to-cremation pricing as reasonable and one owner reports a subsidy after treatment options were discussed.

Why This Ranking:

Colchester Vets4Pets Advanced Practice scores well with a 4.4-star rating from 158 reviews, offering VN training and extended hours. Its accessibility and positive reviews highlight its commitment to customer care.

More Dog & Cat Vets in Colchester

Additional veterinary clinics serving the area

Spring Lodge Veterinary Centre

4.8(115 reviews)
Emergency Services
📞01621 819704
Treats:
dog
cat
rabbit

Aldham Veterinary Centre

4.6(77 reviews)
📞01206 809199
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
exotic
chicken

Penrose Veterinary Group Ltd

4.6(454 reviews)
Emergency Services
📞01206 842608
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
chicken

Community Pet Clinic

5(3 reviews)
📞01206 710296
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit

Companion Care (Colchester) Ltd T/A Vets4Pets

4.5(561 reviews)
📞01206 771 984
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit

RSPCA Essex Mid & North Branch

4.4(166 reviews)
📞03003230403
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit

Blackwater Vets

3.7(121 reviews)
📞01206 384999
Treats:
dog
cat
rabbit
Dog & Cat Vets in Colchester | Essex Veterinary Directory