Best Vets in Dorchester – Complete Local Guide

Castle Veterinary Clinic describes itself as an independent small-animal practice for cats, dogs, rabbits and small furries, and it’s accredited as a Gold Standard Cat Friendly Clinic. The website also states it offers a 24-hour emergency service for registered clients, and is open seven days a week.

From the latest reviews available to us, owners most often highlight feeling listened to and not pushed into decisions (including waiting to confirm infection before prescribing antibiotics), fast turnaround on test results (one owner reports a call with blood results about 15 minutes after leaving), and supportive care in difficult situations (including end-of-life care and out-of-hours emergencies).

Medivet Wool is part of the Medivet group and is led (per the clinic website) by veterinary surgeon Andy Buchan. The practice appears set up for both routine care and more involved diagnostics, with in-house lab testing plus imaging (X‑rays and ultrasound) and procedures like endoscopy and dentistry listed on its service range. In the latest reviews available, owners repeatedly mention calm handling of nervous pets, surgery with follow-up/aftercare, and good communication (including being kept updated during a dog’s castration). One recent review reports a serious missed diagnosis (a tumour in a cat), contrasting with other accounts of thorough checks and positive outcomes.

Fond Farewell Vets is a family-owned, end-of-life focused service for dogs and cats, centred on at-home euthanasia with support before and after. The website lists telephone consultations, aftercare/cremation arrangements, and keepsakes/memorial options; recent reviewers repeatedly describe a home visit where the vet explains each step, gives families time without rushing, and then manages practicalities like cremation and liaising with the pet’s usual vet. Several reviews also mention small, tangible touches during aftercare (for example: helping take paw prints, collecting fur clippings for a keepsake box, and sending a condolence card).

Medivet Dorchester Southfield Veterinary Centre is part of the Medivet group and is set up to provide round-the-clock care, including emergency and overnight hospitalisation. Recent reviews describe pets being admitted urgently and kept in for several days with progress updates, and owners also mention clear communication around planned procedures (including being phoned immediately if a pet wasn’t doing well after an operation). The premises are described as having a bright waiting area and a separate cat waiting area, and one owner noted being shown how to apply flea drops effectively.

Reviews are mostly positive, but there is a serious complaint alleging a permanent injury following an operation and that the practice then refused further appointments after a formal complaint—this sits in direct conflict with other owners’ accounts of good follow-up and reassurance.

Piddle Valley Vets Ltd is a general veterinary practice offering emergency veterinary services, with reviews describing both routine support (e.g., advice on probiotics and gastrointestinal diets) and end-of-life care (a vet and nurse carrying out an at-home euthanasia appointment and allowing the family as much time as needed). Recent feedback is mostly very positive, but there are also repeated 1‑star reviews alleging the practice refused to provide any care to a “rescue dog” due to a stated policy about contamination risk—so owners may want to clarify policies directly if this could apply to their pet.