Companion Care (Christchurch) Ltd T/A Vets4Pets

In the latest reviews available to us, owners repeatedly describe supportive handling of ongoing problems (including a puppy with “a series of ongoing health issues”), plus practical admin help such as support with insurance claims and guidance on a monthly plan. A smaller set of reviews describe the opposite experience at the front desk, including reports of rude behaviour during registration and a dispute about cancellation fees after a cat reacted to prescribed flea/worming products.

Services

Services and facilities described on the clinic website include

•Diagnostics & monitoring: in-house laboratory testing (haematology/biochemistry/electrolytes), blood pressure monitoring, ECG, echocardiography (heart scans), digital x‑ray, ultrasound, Tonopen eye pressure testing.
•Surgery & procedures: dentistry; soft tissue surgery; orthopaedics including cruciate surgery and fracture repair; airway, ear surgery; anaesthesia; operating theatre; hospital ward; oxygen chamber.
•Medical treatments: chemotherapy/cancer treatment; blood transfusions (including “in house blood transfusions”); acupuncture; stem cell therapy.
•Preventive care & routine services: microchipping, prescriptions/medication, nutritional advice, weight clinic, nurse clinics.
•Travel documentation: animal health certificates / pet passport (as listed).
•Species seen: small animals, reptiles; rabbit medicine and testing is specifically highlighted, plus “small mammal medicine and surgery.”
•Facilities & access features: separate cat & dog waiting areas, separate cat consult room, separated dog & cat wards and isolation units; pharmacy; animal ambulance; home visits.
•Referrals: “surgery referrals” are listed.
•Emergency/out-of-hours: the website states that out-of-hours emergency care is directed to Vets Now. (Clinic data also flags emergency services; the website’s out-of-hours arrangement is the only one described in detail.)
•Training: clinic data indicates it is a veterinary nurse training facility.

People

Named team members mentioned in the website and reviews

•Tom Mowlem (Practice Owner & Veterinary Surgeon) — listed on the clinic website.
•Debbie Clarke (Practice Owner & Veterinary Surgeon) — listed on the clinic website; the site states she is qualified to perform acupuncture on pets.
•Amy — praised in reviews for helping with insurance claims.
•Hatty — mentioned in reviews for being kind with dogs, including an older dog.
•Guy — mentioned in reviews for handling a difficult-to-manage cat.
•Kyla (reception) — mentioned in reviews for recommending a monthly plan that the owner felt saved them money.

Front-desk experience is a point of disagreement in the reviews: some owners praise reception, while others report rudeness and being passed between reception/admin/management on the phone.

Reviews

Google rating: 4.5 stars from 280 reviews. “”

•Owners describe vets and nurses being supportive during ongoing or complex issues, including one account of a puppy with continuing health problems where the team was described as understanding and non-judgemental.
•Several reviews mention helpful admin support, including assistance with insurance claims and explaining a monthly plan.
•Criticism focuses on front-desk interactions and policies, including two separate reviewers reporting rude behaviour during registration, and one detailed complaint about being encouraged to buy prescribed flea/worming treatments (Bravecto Plus and Profender), a subsequent suspected reaction (fur loss), and then being asked to pay an early cancellation fee despite the owner believing cancellation had been agreed.

Reviews for Companion Care (Christchurch) Ltd T/A Vets4Pets

Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 280 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

Emma Steer

5 months ago

I cannot recommend this branch enough! Every member of staff is amazing. We have recently had a puppy that has a series of ongoing health issues. They are non judgemental, understanding, kind, caring and treat you and your pets like you are the only ones there. Everything you want from a vets!! We can't thank them enough for the care they have shown our puppy, or us.

2 months ago

Katie Fenton

6 months ago

Went to register a pet and the Receptionist was incredibly rude to my Autistic son who was speaking trying to give details himself for the first time. Very impatient and rolling eyes. Manners cost nothing and maybe she should go to Customer Care College . Deregistered my other pets on the spot 😡

3 months ago

Chris Armstrong

9 months ago

The team at V4P are all amazing. Amy is fantastic at helping with the insurance claims. Hatty is just so kind with my collies especially the aged one. Guy the only man brave enough to take on the cat and live to tell the tale, also amazing. The girls on reception also really make the whole experience as enjoyable as going to the vet can be. I will be loyal to V4P forever now!!!

Rebecca Jenman

10 months ago

Honeyrowing

I have given these vets a two star rating as I beleive the vet I saw their actually cared for our cat. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the receptionist, admin and manager who i believe are all the same two people that I spoke to on the phone today just putting me on hold for 5mins before passing me over. So I had to bring my perfectly healthy cat in to see the vet and get her injections up to date and a certificate to say so as we are going away and we need to Unfortunately board her for two weeks and this is the requirements. When I was making payment the staff on the front desk talk me in to trying their vet prescribed flee and worming treatments(see pics) BRAVECTO PLUS & Profender. When taking this out you are given a number of days to cancel how ever in my circumstance because our cat just had Advantage from pets at home on her it was advised I wait to put the BRAVECTO PLUS on. This took me over the time to cancel, now we have used the recommended BRAVECTO PLUS and profender and our cat has been constantly pulling huge lumps of her fur out odviously having an allergic reaction. I then took the time to go in face to face and speak the the girls on the front desk and came to the agreement that they would cancel any further payments and doses and that I should go back to pets at home counter in store and reinstate her Advantage which I did. I was then left to believe this would be the end of it, however I have now received a message saying that I now have to pay a early cancellation fee even though I took the time to go in and speak with them. I have been on the phone to them today being passed around from first reception to then admin to then management "all on front desk" to ask why after all the time I had to wait before I could use there recommended products taking me past the cancellation time and then my cat having a reaction to their products was i now being charged an early cancellation fee to rub salt in to the wound. The manager then tried to suggest it was in some way my fault ?? And now I'm left with a normally happy and healthy cat missing large clumps of fur and a bill to pay on top. So not happy with how we have been treated. If my experience is a reflection of how all their staff behave then my advice is to stay clear! Pets at home by far better and they actually cared about your beloved pets.

8 months ago

I have given these vets a two star rating as I beleive the vet I saw their actually cared for our cat. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the receptionist, admin and manager who i believe are all the same two people that I spoke to on the phone today just putting me on hold for 5mins before passing me over. So I had to bring my perfectly healthy cat in to see the vet and get her injections up to date and a certificate to say so as we are going away and we need to Unfortunately board her for two weeks and this is the requirements. When I was making payment the staff on the front desk talk me in to trying their vet prescribed flee and worming treatments(see pics) BRAVECTO PLUS & Profender. When taking this out you are given a number of days to cancel how ever in my circumstance because our cat just had Advantage from pets at home on her it was advised I wait to put the BRAVECTO PLUS on. This took me over the time to cancel, now we have used the recommended BRAVECTO PLUS and profender and our cat has been constantly pulling huge lumps of her fur out odviously having an allergic reaction. I then took the time to go in face to face and speak the the girls on the front desk and came to the agreement that they would cancel any further payments and doses and that I should go back to pets at home counter in store and reinstate her Advantage which I did. I was then left to believe this would be the end of it, however I have now received a message saying that I now have to pay a early cancellation fee even though I took the time to go in and speak with them. I have been on the phone to them today being passed around from first reception to then admin to then management all on front desk to ask why after all the time I had to wait before I could use there recommended products taking me past the cancellation time and then my cat having a reaction to their products was i now being charged an early cancellation fee to rub salt in to the wound. The manager then tried to suggest it was in some way my fault ?? And now I'm left with a normally happy and healthy cat missing large clumps of fur and a bill to pay on top. So not happy with how we have been treated. If my experience is a reflection of how all their staff behave then my advice is to stay clear! Pets at home by far better and they actually cared about your beloved pets.

Alex

Such a brilliant vets, always so kind and friendly. I have used them since my 14 year old dog was a pup and am really impressed by the service, appointment availability, reasonable prices and such a lovely team. Special mention to Kyla on reception who was great with her recommendations of a monthly plan which saved me so much money compared to what I was going to pay! Great all round.