About Veterinary Care in Shaftesbury
For pet owners in Dorset seeking the best care for their animals, understanding the local landscape of veterinary clinics in Shaftesbury is essential. This guide assists pet owners in comparing local veterinary options based on services, animal coverage, and availability.
Top-rated veterinary clinics in Shaftesbury
- •Longmead Veterinary Practice
- •Green Hollow Veterinary Group
- •Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic Ltd
There are 3 veterinary clinics in Shaftesbury, with an average Google rating of 4.7★. All clinics treat dogs and cats, with 2 also providing farm or large-animal services. Only 1 clinic offers emergency or out-of-hours care. There is no 24-hour veterinary cover available locally.
Local clinics provide a range of services including routine preventative care, advanced diagnostics, and surgery. Longmead Veterinary Practice, as the top-ranked clinic, offers extensive services such as in-house CT scanning, laparoscopic surgery, advanced orthopaedics, and veterinary nurse training. With a total of 237 reviews across all clinics, Shaftesbury pet owners have robust data to guide their choice.
Among the clinics, Longmead Veterinary Practice stands out for its emergency and specialised services compared to others focusing on routine care. Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic Ltd also provides emergency treatment, including life-saving surgeries, but some reviews indicate mixed experiences regarding costs and thoroughness of care. Clinics like Green Hollow Veterinary Group, despite excellent ratings, offer less public information and appear more routine-focused.
For pet owners needing emergency assistance, understanding the distinction between emergency-capable clinics and those providing routine-only care is crucial. Clinics with emergency services can handle urgent cases effectively, while routine-focused clinics might better suit non-urgent needs and ongoing care, which are equally vital for comprehensive pet health management.
Overall, while key services like emergency care are limited to a smaller number of providers, the clinics available ensure a strong overall provision centered around companion animals, with mixed practice capabilities. Pet owners can consult the complete ranked list of clinics to find the most suitable option for their needs.
Visit Shaftesbury's dog and cat vets page
Shaftesbury’s veterinary provision offers a range of services through capable clinics, helping meet local pet care needs. Pet owners can refer to the ranked clinic list to make informed healthcare choices for their animals.
This information is based on publicly available review and service data as of January 2026.
Data accurate as of January 2026.
Best Rated Veterinary Clinics in Shaftesbury, Dorset
Top-ranked veterinary practices based on quality, service, and customer reviews
Longmead Veterinary Practice describes itself as an independent, vet-owned surgery that has been serving clients since 1940 and is accredited as a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) small animal practice. It’s set up for both routine care and more advanced work, with in-house CT scanning, laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, and advanced orthopaedic surgery listed on its website, plus full hospitalisation facilities with separate dog and cat wards.
In the latest reviews available to us, owners most often point to clear explanations of procedures and risks, good care for pets kept in overnight, and support when an urgent out-of-hours appointment was needed (including for an elderly Labrador). Several reviewers also mention prices feeling “reasonable” and not feeling overcharged.
Longmead Veterinary Practice describes itself as an independent, vet-owned surgery that has been serving clients since 1940 and is accredited as a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) small animal practice. It’s set up for both routine care and more advanced work, with in-house CT scanning, laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, and advanced orthopaedic surgery listed on its website, plus full hospitalisation facilities with separate dog and cat wards.
In the latest reviews available to us, owners most often point to clear explanations of procedures and risks, good care for pets kept in overnight, and support when an urgent out-of-hours appointment was needed (including for an elderly Labrador). Several reviewers also mention prices feeling “reasonable” and not feeling overcharged.
Green Hollow Veterinary Group has very limited public information available in the inputs provided. On Google it shows a 5.0-star rating from 1 review, but no written review details are available here, so it’s not possible to describe specific strengths (for example, particular treatments, facilities, or communication practices) based on customer accounts.
Green Hollow Veterinary Group has very limited public information available in the inputs provided. On Google it shows a 5.0-star rating from 1 review, but no written review details are available here, so it’s not possible to describe specific strengths (for example, particular treatments, facilities, or communication practices) based on customer accounts.
Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic Ltd provides routine appointments as well as emergency/urgent care, including out‑of‑hours help and emergency surgery (one review describes life‑saving surgery after a referral for a dog that had eaten stones). Reviews also describe practical handling strategies for anxious or large dogs—for example, nurses giving pre‑visit medication at the car and using a dark room for sedation, with progress updates during the stay. At the same time, there are conflicting reports: one owner says an out‑of‑hours visit felt expensive and the examination was not thorough, and another complains about restraint during a vaccination (naming a vet as “Felicity”).
Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic Ltd provides routine appointments as well as emergency/urgent care, including out‑of‑hours help and emergency surgery (one review describes life‑saving surgery after a referral for a dog that had eaten stones). Reviews also describe practical handling strategies for anxious or large dogs—for example, nurses giving pre‑visit medication at the car and using a dark room for sedation, with progress updates during the stay. At the same time, there are conflicting reports: one owner says an out‑of‑hours visit felt expensive and the examination was not thorough, and another complains about restraint during a vaccination (naming a vet as “Felicity”).
Browse by Speciality
Find vets by category in Shaftesbury, Dorset
Best Emergency Vets
1 clinic
24-hour and emergency veterinary care in the local area.
Best Dog & Cat Vets
3 clinics
Small animal vets for dogs, cats and companion vets
Best Specialist Vets
3 clinics
Advanced care, referral centres and specialised services
Best Farm Vets
2 clinics
Large animal vets for livestock, horses and farm animals
More Veterinary Practices in Shaftesbury
Additional veterinary clinics serving the area
