Hallam Veterinary Centre

We have used Hallam vets for over twenty years now, and have never had a negative. When our animals have passed they have been so kind and so gracious. They have always been so understanding, so kind yet professional, and so gentle with our gorgeous dogs and cats. I absolutely and whole heartedly recommend all at Hallam Vets. We are blessed to have them as our safety net for our furry tribe.

I had a wellNess check yesterday and the nurses were very kind. I tried to fight the sleepy tablet mum gave me but the nurses were patient and managed to do their tests. Mum said the price was very reasonable so I got extra treats when I got home.

Mixed feelings about this practice now. I would warn pet owners that dirty wounds (eg a bite from another animal) won’t be treated with antibiotics until it is clear your pet has developed an infection from it. You will have to put your pet through the suffering of developing the infection and at least one further visit (with obvious benefits to the vets) when the inevitable happens. This is very different from the treatment our cat received at an out of hours vet earlier this year where his wound was thoroughly cleaned and he was given antibiotics. He recovered well, no need for further follow up. Not so after our visit to Hallam vets last Friday. The (very junior) vet didn’t examine the wound properly, didn’t even try to clean it and rejected our suggestion a dirty wound needed antibiotics. She appeared nervous even touching our cat which we found strange for a vet. We were also told he had lost quite a bit of weight which we were surprised about because to us he looked much chubbier. She said the last vet we saw must have documented it incorrectly. Predictably, his wound worsened (re-bleeding, cat not eating) and the vet refused to prescribe antibiotics without another consultation despite receiving pictures I’d sent. The same vet suggested she sedate our cat in order to look at the wound properly. I explained he doesn’t need sedating for a wound clean and he was completely fine with his fur being shaved off his flank, a thorough clean-out and 2 injections only in February. We had used the sophisticated technique of….firmly holding him. He had also been examined at Hallam vets before by a very sensible and competent vet (Abi, who definitely did weigh him correctly) with no difficulty whatsoever. We were very unhappy with the whole situation and spoke to the clinical director. He reiterated it is their universal practice not to prescribe antibiotics for wounds regardless of the cause unless it can be demonstrated they are infected. He quoted the advice of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He told us he could only go on the notes available to him, and it seems the vet had documented our cat had a difficult temperament accounting for the lack of proper examination and cleaning. Although it was not clear if she had documented she had examined and cleaned it which he wouldn’t be drawn on, which is obviously more concerning. He said she was right not to clean it as if the vet thinks an animal will injure them during the process, they should not risk being off work with animal inflicted injuries. Good luck to the owners of pets who don’t immediately proffer their injury for cleaning. As a result of the rigid approach regarding antibiotics, combined with the lack of appropriate basic care during the initial consultation, our cat’s suffering has undoubtedly been unnecessarily prolonged. He’s had his third bleed from the wound and is going back today…. for antibiotics. What a let down from a practice we have used for over 25 years. Beware. Update; he saw a very good vet at the appointment for antibiotics (a week after the first visit). She pulled the hairs in his ears out of the wound with no fuss. No problems examining him or even taking his temperature. She weighed him correctly and agreed he was a bit overweight. The following day he seemed much happier, started to eat normally again, and there has been no further bleeding. His wound looks the best it has in over a week. Would definitely have been five stars for this vet. The missing two are for the clinical director’s attitude. No willingness to reflect on our complaint, he talked over us all the time and suggested this was simply an issue of rapport with the junior vet. Utter nonsense. I didn’t even clap eyes on the second vet, my son took him but I can see how well the cat is now. Wouldn’t have felt the need to criticise publicly at all if we had been given the impression we had been listened to.

My dog went in for neutering. He is 40Kg and was extremely anxious. It took 3 nurses, my daughter and me to hold him and tranquillise him. The staff were brilliant. No huffs or puffs about being called away from other work. I was called as soon as the surgery was over to let me know he was coming round. Very attentive.

Lovely practice , efficient, caring and professional. Not been in with my own pets yet but have taken injured wildlife here and the Head Vet, although very busy, came into reception where I was waiting and gave me a detailed update on an injured wild hedgehog I brought to them and whilst they don't get paid to treat wild life I sensed that Hallam Vets showed me and the poor hedgehog the same level of care and respect as they would for a paying customer...