Pug dressed as unicorn

Vets for Pets

#8 Vet in St Albans, Hertfordshire

4.4
Independent Clinic

Vets for Pets – Vets in St Albans

Updated January 2026
Independent Clinic

Clinic Overview

Vets for Pets is a Vets4Pets-branded practice described on its website as a family-run, locally owned clinic that opened in March 2015, with a stated focus ranging from routine care to surgery and diagnostics. It’s also listed as a Veterinary Nurse Training facility.

The practice appears set up for investigations and procedures on-site, with a full operating theatre, digital X‑ray, in‑house laboratory, separate dog & cat hospital wards, and an isolation unit. Out-of-hours emergencies are stated to be handled via Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (Royal Veterinary College).

Latest reviews show a split: some owners describe being seen quickly and supported through difficult situations (including a budgie case where the clinic said they’re not exotics specialists but still helped with advice/prescribing and would refer if needed), while others report experiences centred on cost discussions and recommended treatments they felt were unnecessary, plus billing/refund admin problems.

Services

Services and capabilities mentioned on the clinic website include

  • Consultations and preventive care: general health checks, nurse clinic, weight clinic, nutritional advice, microchipping
  • Diagnostics: in-house lab testing (haematology, biochemistry, electrolytes), blood pressure monitoring, ECG, echocardiography (heart scans), ultrasound, digital X‑ray, Tonopen (eye pressure testing), endoscopy
  • Surgery and anaesthesia
  • Soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics
  • Specific procedures listed: cruciate surgery, fracture repair, airway surgery, ear surgery
  • Dentistry
  • Cancer care: chemotherapy & cancer treatment (listed)
  • Hospitalisation facilities: hospital ward, separate dog & cat wards, isolation unit, oxygen chamber
  • Travel documentation: pet passport / animal health certificate; pet travel scheme
  • Small pets: rabbit medicine and testing; small mammal medicine and surgery (listed)

What reviews add

  • A budgie owner reports the clinic accepted a bird appointment when other practices refused, and said they would refer on if they couldn’t help, while still offering advice and “crucial medication if needed.”
  • A reviewer who brought in a found dog describes staff providing water and lending a slip lead while they waited.

Pricing

Explicit amounts mentioned in reviews

  • One reviewer reports being prescribed “£50–60 items” for each of two minor issues (hair loss and chin acne), and says prices weren’t discussed until the end of the consultation.
  • The same reviewer describes a monthly subscription care plan that included “free consultation,” but no plan price is stated.

People

  • James (vet): named in one critical review, which alleges prescriptions for relatively minor issues felt overpriced, and says pricing wasn’t clearly discussed during the consult. The same review also claims errors in recording/remembering the pet’s age and gender.

(Other reviews praise the team generally for calm, supportive handling, but do not name additional clinicians.)

Reviews

Google rating: 4.4 stars from 291 reviews. “”

  • Fast access / accommodating appointments: a budgie owner reports being seen very quickly twice, including after arriving late.
  • Willingness to see a bird despite not being “exotics specialists”: one owner says the clinic openly stated they’re not specialists, but still helped, would refer if needed, and could advise/prescribe.
  • Calm practical help in an unplanned situation: a reviewer who brought in a found dog reports staff were calm and informative, provided water, and lent a slip lead, letting them stay until closing.
  • Cost and treatment recommendations are a point of conflict: multiple negative reviews describe a “down to business” manner and concern about being steered toward expensive treatments/products; one reviewer says another vet later advised that “none of the expensive treatments was absolutely necessary” and the dog improved with pain relief alone.
  • Administration/billing complaints: one reviewer describes a deposit/overcharge followed by prolonged back-and-forth to obtain a refund, attributing delays to limited manager availability.

Special Services

Vet Nurse Training

Location

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