ANIMALISM

ANIMALISM is a St Albans veterinary practice that reviewers frequently describe as independent. Its website lists a broad mix of routine care and more advanced work, including CT scans, dental X-rays, laparoscopic spay, and TPLO surgery. The practice also says the team will discuss treatment options and provide estimates, with listed prices excluding prescribed medications. Recent feedback is largely very positive about communication, compassion, and trust, although one June 2025 reviewer reported a poor experience and felt surgery had been recommended unnecessarily.

Services

• •Routine appointments and preventive care: consultations, re-examinations, microchipping, puppy and kitten vaccination courses, booster vaccinations for dogs and cats, kennel cough vaccination, rabies vaccination, rabbit myxo-RHD vaccination, and Animal Health Certificates for travel.
• •Neutering and surgery: dog, cat, and rabbit spays/castrations, plus laparoscopic spay. The website also lists BOAS procedures and TPLO surgery.
• •Diagnostics and dentistry: dental X-rays, dental procedures grouped into bands 1-4, CT scans, and CT reporting options.
• •Examples owners mention: help with cat ear problems, advice on food and general health during consultations, written guidance for prospective dog owners, practical handling of medication supply to help reduce cost, and supportive end-of-life care including euthanasia appointments.

Pricing

Published prices suggest the clinic sits below average, based on a partial sample of comparable services. The practice says it publishes a price list, discusses treatment options and estimates with owners, and lists prices excluding any prescribed medications. In reviews, several owners describe the practice as caring and not profit-led, though one reviewer strongly disagreed.

People

• •Andre Hess (vet): praised in several recent reviews for experience, kindness, careful listening, clear explanations, and long-term care.
• •Dr Alex (vet): described as knowledgeable, pleasant, and kind, with one owner highlighting advice on food and overall health during a check-up.
• •Claire: thanked by name after supportive handling of an elderly cat’s euthanasia appointment.
• •Wider team: reception and staff are described as friendly, efficient, and caring.

Reviews

Google rating: 4.8/5 from 160 reviews.

• •Recent feedback is strongly positive overall, with repeated descriptions of a caring, understanding, and professional practice.
• •Andre Hess is singled out in multiple 2026 reviews for compassion, experience, listening carefully, and explaining plans clearly; one owner says their elderly dog has benefited from ten years of care.
• •Owners also praise the wider team for friendly reception, practical help with medication costs, useful written guidance for prospective dog owners, and compassionate end-of-life support.
• •A single 1-star review from June 2025 says the practice had changed hands and alleges unnecessary surgery, but this sits against a much larger run of very positive reviews before and after it.