Medivet 24 Hour Wokingham

I visited this out-of-hours practice with a rat, who had a small cut that wouldn’t stop oozing. Having experienced similar wounds before, both of which were safely and effectively treated with minor care such as clipping, cleaning, and glueing at the Crowthorne and Lower Earley branches, I expected similar, positive experiences. Arriving at Medivet Wokingham, I was quoted approximately £1,300 for my rat to be admitted, sedated, and monitored for the remainder of the day. This quote was given prior to any proper assessment of the wound, and without attempting even basic cleaning or visualisation of the area. I expressed concern about the proposed approach, particularly given the low-risk, low-cost nature of treatment in previous cases (£67 and £27 respectively). I also questioned whether the suggested plan was truly in the best interest of my pet and flagged the risks associated with sedating small animals, something any experienced vet should take seriously. To provide further context, I contacted Medivet Wokingham approximately a year ago regarding another pet who was extremely unwell out of hours. At the time, I was advised that the only service Medivet Wokingham could provide was euthanasia. I instead took my pet to another out-of-hours practice, where he was admitted, sedated, x-rayed, and monitored on oxygen overnight. That treatment, far more comprehensive and life-saving than needed in this instance, cost less than £500 in comparison. He went on to make a full recovery and lived a long and happy life. Though based on that experience I would not use Wokingham as a first choice, as out of hours cover was needed in this instance, I had hoped that this practice would at least be able to provide basic wound care. However, my recent visit has confirmed that even that is beyond what I can expect. I now have no trust in this particular vet’s service to provide appropriate care or advice. While the vet eventually agreed to consider glueing the wound, they appeared uncomfortable handling my pet. Thankfully, a kind and highly competent nurse was able to do this quickly and without difficulty, commenting on his calm demeanour. The wound has since healed with no complications and no need for further intervention. My concern lies not only in the excessive and disproportionate cost proposed for basic wound care, but in the overall approach to small animal treatment. This experience has left me with serious reservations about the clinical judgment, transparency, and ethical considerations involved in Medivet Wokingham’s out-of-hours services. I sincerely hope other owners have not felt compelled to go ahead with unnecessary procedures that may have caused more harm than good. I wish to emphasise that I have always had positive experiences with the staff at the Crowthorne and Lower Earley branches. My feedback above relates solely to the Wokingham out-of-hours service and is not intended to reflect negatively on the excellent care and professionalism I have consistently received at those other locations.