Swaffham Veterinary Centre

- Recent reviewers often describe the team as friendly, welcoming, and reassuring, with clear explanations during appointments. - Several reviews highlight good handling of anxious or difficult cases, including nervous dogs, rescue Rottweilers, and a dog needing a dental extraction. - Compassion during emotional appointments stands out as a strong theme, including named thanks for end-of-life support and help during complex medical situations.

Swaffham Veterinary Centre presents itself as an independent small-animal practice in Swaffham with purpose-designed facilities, comprehensive operating facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, flexible appointments, and access to emergency care 24/7. The practice says it treats a broad mix of pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, and birds, and offers services such as acupuncture, nurse clinics, dental radiography, and ophthalmology. Recent reviews are largely positive about the team’s calm handling of anxious pets and support during difficult appointments, though a small number of reviewers raise repeated concerns about pricing and billing communication.

Services

•Appointments and emergency access: flexible appointments and access to 24/7 emergency care.
•Species seen: the website lists dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, and birds; recent reviews also mention visits involving a tortoise, ferrets, and a cockatiel.
•Clinical services: acupuncture, nurse clinics, dental radiography, and ophthalmology.
•Surgery and procedures: small-animal surgery supported by comprehensive operating facilities; recent reviews mention spaying, microchipping, and dental extraction under anaesthetic.
•Supportive handling and end-of-life care: recent feedback includes careful handling of nervous dogs, including adapting a consultation to reduce stress, as well as compassionate euthanasia support.
•Other reviewed examples: a pre-hibernation tortoise health check and treatment for an injured bird.

Pricing

A very limited amount of published pricing suggests the clinic may sit below average, but this is based on very few comparable services. Recent feedback on value is mixed: some owners are very happy with the care they received, while a small number of reviews describe disputes over quoted prices, follow-up charges, prescription or medication costs, and how payment issues were handled.

People

•Ben: praised for handling a very nervous dog carefully, including doing part of the consultation outside and explaining the procedure clearly.
•Helen: specifically thanked for compassionate support during a euthanasia appointment.
•Emily Neep: praised for being calm, kind, and delicate with a cat while reassuring an anxious owner.
•Kelly: warmly mentioned for support during an emotional visit involving a dog with cancer.
•Thenia: praised for supporting an ongoing complex medical case.
•Reception team: several recent reviews describe reception staff as friendly, helpful, kind, and knowledgeable, although some negative reviews report blunt or inconsistent communication around admin and billing.

Reviews

Google shows 4.3 stars from 52 reviews.

•Recent reviewers often describe the team as friendly, welcoming, and reassuring, with clear explanations during appointments.
•Several reviews highlight good handling of anxious or difficult cases, including nervous dogs, rescue Rottweilers, and a dog needing a dental extraction.
•Compassion during emotional appointments stands out as a strong theme, including named thanks for end-of-life support and help during complex medical situations.
•The main negative theme is admin and pricing communication, with complaints about inconsistent quotes, added charges, and disputes over payments or medication-related costs.

Reviews for Swaffham Veterinary Centre

Note: Showing the 10 most recent Google reviews out of 52 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

mags gorbould

3 weeks ago

Absolutely first class service, we had an incredibly anxious dog who needed teeth extraction, no other vet would take him on, but this vets did, they weren't phased about him having a muzzle on for him to have a anaesthetic, we couldn't have been more pleased with the whole service, lovely caring staff all round. Benson is a happy dog now!!

gemma stannard

1 month ago

Always friendly and helpful

Carmen Lang

I do love going to Swaffham Vets. They are friendly and welcoming. Everything is always explained and I leave feeling reassured and happy that they have answered all of my questions.

Kathrine Overton

I have used Swaffham Vets since they opened. I have taken a LOT of Rottweiler dogs (all rescue and all have been let down by humans) and not 1 issue. 2 recent very emotional visits. 2 very exceptional people in amongst just a lovely team. Kelly supported me held me up and listened whilst many tears were shed above and beyond with Tessa and her cancer and Thenia currently supporting me with Benson a very complex medical case. Reception staff are amazing kind and knowlegable. With our breed some vets have caused vet phobia, taken these same dogs to swaffham, I have never had to worry about taking my dogs in.

A M

A licence to print money! Chucked off their books for daring to question why a dog needs to be seen for shampoo! Which he has been on for 8 years they dont like you asking for scripts and sourcing meds from cheaper companies they claim to be cheaper but there are many hidden costs heath checks they claim are “ the law” utter rubbish

Lorraine Bond

3 months ago

This is rather a late review, however, my first time at Swaffham Vets with my tortoise went very well. I was greeted by the two Receptionist who were very polite and happy to see me and my tortoise. He was having a check over before hibination. I say "he". I was told years ago that "he" was a "she" until that visit! 🤣. I saw a lovely lady, whom I'm sorry I've forgotten your name. Who gave my tortoise a clean bill of health ready for hibernation. His visit caused several members of Staff to pop in and say hello to him 😊. I will difinately be going back there if I have any problems with my tortoise and for another check before his hibernation again. I have recommended your Vets to my Family and Friends. Thank you.

Cassie Smith

Utterly disappointed. This is long so skip to the end for a condensed version. Was recommended Swaffham vets as apparently they were good a few years back. Have had countless problems with them, mostly regarding disorganisation around payments, and different members of staff telling us different things. 1. We took in 2 ferrets for a check up. We were told that the price would be for one appointment over the phone due to having both pets seen in the 15 minute time slot. So we booked it. Called back to confirm the date and price (which they confirmed again). When we took them in and it came to paying we was overcharged. Told that the receptionist gave us the wrong price. And questioned us for a good 15 minutes about it. After managment were informed they took the agreed price as a 'one off'. Kept badgering me for the staffs name (who I couldn't remember) and infact it was 2 staff that both confirmed the price beforehand. 2. Took another girl in to be spayed. Again problems with the pricing, recipt AND problems with the spay. The stitching was extremly sloppy and prolonged her healing. When she went for her check up a few weeks later we voiced our concerns to the vet nurse. Who completely brushed us off and said that the surgeon knew best. Despite us having countless animals spayed, had second opinions and all agreed that it was sloppy stitching work that prolonged the healing (including a second opinion from an experienced vetenary surgeon who said "that is not great stitch work at all. Im shocked"). 3. Had to have a 30 minute conversation with someone at reception (that went nowhere) because they microchipped our ferret, didn't send us the details, ended up uploading the details wrong and then didn't know how to fix it. We reached out to the chip provider who said it was something the vets had to do on their end. Went round and round in circles, and despite us telling them exactly what they needed to do to fix the situation, they just kept repeating that it's out of their control. 4. Had abit of an argument on the phone because we had an appointment for an implant that we cancelled (ended up that our boy didn't need it). They had already ordered it and asked us to pay for the cost of materials. - Again another member of staff telling us different things. 5. This was the last straw for me. I asked a manager to send me a list of prices. This list was given to me via email and NOWHERE did she mention it was an estimate that is likely to change in the foreseeable future (it had that it was an estimate in small print at the bottom). We used this price list to book an appointment to implant 3 ferrets. Whilst there we asked the vet if prices were going up for the practice this year and if we could get a new price list (expecting prices to go up in 2026 like most places). She said when you book an appointment the price you agree on will be honoured. Well I had booked this appointment months ago, even called up a month AND 2 weeks in advance and confirmed the price twice with two seperate receptionists because of the faff of before. Surprise surprise the price was wrong again. They upcharged, ended up having an argument with us about how their prices had gone up and the receptionist was blunt, dismissive and rude infront of about 4 others in the waiting room too. Then the lady next to us was almost overcharged too (no surprise there) seems to be an ongoing issue. We were pushed to pay the extra, which we ended up having to do just so we could leave. Was almost in tears by the time I reached the car, at how stressful all experiences have been at this vet. And how utterly rude the staff have continued to be towards us. Funny how the managment stayed at the back too and wouldn't speak to us. --- In short. Dismissive and rude staff, sloppy stitch work, countless arguments on prices changing and no staff knowing what's going on. Always told one thing by someone, and something totally different from someone else. Appalling. I've never had that level of miscommunication from a vets before.

Linda Allwood

5 months ago

Absolutely fantastic 1st visit. Ben was amazing with our dog Ellwood who is very nervous He even did some of his consultation outside as hex was getting stressed Explained his procedure very clearly too

Lorraine Mills

7 months ago

Sadly, on the 28th of August, our much-loved cocker spaniel ‘Fudge’ was put to sleep. We would like to say a huge thank you to Swaffham Veterinary for their understanding and support. A specific thank you to Helen, she was absolutely fantastic during what was a very difficult time for us, she made our last moments with Fudge that much easier, thank you. Kevin & Lorraine