Sydenham Vets4Pets Ltd

Sydenham Vets4Pets Ltd is a locally owned practice operating under the Vets4Pets brand. The website describes a modern, well‑equipped clinic with in‑house diagnostics (lab testing, imaging) and separate dog/cat wards plus isolation units, and it also states the practice accepts referrals and offers advanced services, including orthopaedics. Structured clinic data also lists it as a Veterinary Nurse Training facility.

From the latest reviews, owners report a mix of experiences: some describe calm, detailed consultations (including a vet named Jill explaining treatment plans and medication instructions), while others describe missed promised call-backs/emails, difficulty getting prescriptions/medications dispensed without an exam, and rushed or rude phone interactions. A few reviews also mention pressure for a hospital stay and an up-front deposit request for a procedure.

Services

Services and facilities stated on the clinic website

•Consultations for dogs, cats, and rabbits
•In-house laboratory testing including haematology and biochemistry
•Blood pressure monitoring
•Digital X-ray and ultrasound
•Dentistry
•Operating theatre and hospital ward
•Separated dog & cat wards plus isolation units
•Microchipping
•Health plans
•Orthopaedics (listed as a specialty)
•Referral service (the site states they accept referrals and offer advanced services)

What’s specifically referenced in reviews

•Dispensing/collection requests for flea medication
•Treatment involving eye ointment
•Discussion of a hospital stay in connection with a “simple procedure” (as described by a reviewer)

Out-of-hours (as stated on the website)

•The website says out-of-hours emergency care is provided by Vets Now Sidcup.

Pricing

Only prices explicitly mentioned in reviews

•One reviewer reports being charged £45 for a small tube of eye ointment, and compares it to £8 from a chemist.
•One reviewer reports being asked for a £500+ deposit in relation to a proposed hospital stay for a procedure (they felt it was unnecessary).

People

•Jill (vet, per reviews): described by one owner (in two identical reviews) as knowledgeable and as taking steps to help a cat feel comfortable in the consult room; the same review says Jill talked through the best treatment in detail and explained how to give take-home medication.
•Ruby (reception/phone, per review): one reviewer says a call with Ruby was noticeably more pleasant than prior contacts, after multiple experiences they found unprofessional or rude.
•Reception team (unnamed, per reviews): experiences vary—one reviewer mentions a “young lady with long brown hair” at reception being “lovely,” while others describe rushed, dismissive, or rude phone manner and inconsistent follow-through on promised callbacks/emails/booking.

Reviews

Google rating: 4.1 stars from 371 reviews.

•Communication and follow-through are a recurring pain point for some owners: examples include being told they would receive a call/email or that medication would be prepared, then needing to chase and still not getting what was promised.
•Medication/prescription expectations vs. practice requirements: multiple reviews describe being told medication could be dispensed, then later being told a full check-up was required (leading to frustration and delays).
•Handling and rapport with nervous pets is described very differently across reviews: one owner says their puppy’s first visit was made “calming and safe,” while another says staff were “not gentle,” didn’t build rapport, and their dog became too stressed for the appointment to proceed.
•Concerns about costs and perceived upselling appear in a couple of reviews, including the reported £45 eye ointment and a reported £500+ deposit linked to a suggested hospital stay.
•Individual staff praise exists alongside broader service complaints: Jill is specifically credited with detailed explanations and making a cat comfortable; Ruby is singled out for being pleasant on the phone, despite the same reviewer describing other calls as rude or unprofessional.

Reviews for Sydenham Vets4Pets Ltd

Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 371 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

elie abou nader

3 weeks ago

Maria R

a month ago

This practice has a consistent way of promising and not delivering, at least three times on three separate occasions we’ve been told we will get something from them - a call, an email, get booked in, etc and they never have. On top of that, they do not put a tiny bit of effort to build a rapport with the pet to make sure they’re comfortable. Not gentle at all. Wasted time and money with them, our previous vet was Goddard and 4 different stuff members across 2 years were gentle and perfect with my dog. Vets4Pets - we have been twice and both times it was stressful, last time to the point that the appointment was completely wasted, the dog stressed to the point she can barely breathe and she wasn’t treated. They also tried to force unnecessary hospital stay for a simple procedure and charge £500+ as a deposit! Never coming back.

Sienna Hibbert

2 months ago

The vets here are absolutely lovely and took such good care of our new puppy when we brought him in, they really did all they could to make him less poorly and now he’s the happiest boy! Thank you so much for all the great work and making his first vet trip a calming and safe experience. ❤️❤️

LightSeeker

3 months ago

Telephone manner is absolutely disgusting unhelpful & rude last place I'd take my dog all because the woman was getting ready to leave & couldn't even be bothered to hold the phone to her mouth properly.

Monique Leslie

Jill was extremely nice and knowledgeable. She made my cat feel comfortable and safe in the consulting room. She spoke to me in detail about the best treatment for my cat and made me feel at ease, she explained what I needed to do with the medication I was taking home. Nothing was too much for Jill, I felt that she went above and beyond for Marley, which made me feel good.

Tom Blanchett

Was recommended Sydenham vets for pets and they have not dissappointed, friendly genuinely caring staff and Cookie has been quite happy and well looked after, i had to pop in to get medicaton and quicl.check.and even last minute they were very helpful and polite and got me booked in

Hannah Smith

Really frustrating experience; they said over the phone they would dispense flea medication and when we went to collect it, they said our cats needed a full check up. By that point it was too late to fit in before our holiday. They also charged us £45 for a tiny tube of eye ointment which is something you can get from a regular chemist for £8. As mark ups go, that’s pretty outrageous.

Sherrene

4 months ago

I was going to rate the place 2 stars until I spoke with a very pleasant lady over the phone this morning named Ruby. Vets4Pets Sydenham is one of the least professional practices I’ve been to. Every time I call I either speak to someone who has no knowledge of the practice or a very rude lady with an accent that rushes to get you off the phone. I normally see a young lady with long brown hair at reception and she is very lovely. However, the majority of staff I have spoken with are rude and rush visits. for that reason I have transferred my pets care elsewhere.

Kasarachi Odele

6 months ago

I had a deeply frustrating experience with Vets4Pets Sydenham. After being advised to provide my pet’s medical history and prescription from another vet, I followed all the instructions given to me—only to later be told they wouldn’t dispense the medication because my pet hadn’t been seen for a while. That was the exact reason I provided the history in the first place. No one contacted me to say the medication was ready, despite being told they would. I had to chase it up myself, only to find out they wouldn’t help after all. This has wasted not only my time but also that of my previous vet, and most importantly, left my unwell pet without the medication she needs. The communication was poor, inconsistent, and dismissive. I would not recommend this branch to anyone who wants reliable care for their pet.