DJ
Honest 2‑Year Review of Clockhouse Vets, Stroud After two years as clients, we’ve decided that Clockhouse Vets Stroud is no longer a suitable practice for our dog. Unfortunately, based on our experiences, I would be very hesitant to recommend them to others. Issue 1: Post‑surgery care and lack of accountability In February 2025, our dog underwent a laparoscopic spay, costing £700+. This option was strongly recommended as being less invasive, which we accepted and do not dispute. However, when we collected our dog, she had a strong and unusual smell. At the time, we assumed this was due to antiseptic or medication. Once home, we discovered her entire back end was heavily soiled with faeces, including down her legs (she is a fluffy dog). This wasn’t noticed at pickup as it was dark outside. She clearly had an accident in the crate post surgery. As it was 'dry' Id assume she was sitting in that for a pretty long time. I then had to spend over an hour carefully cutting and cleaning her fur while she was recovering from major surgery, which was extremely stressful and raised concerns about infection risk. I contacted the practice and was told the practice manager would contact me. This never happened. At a follow‑up appointment a week later, I raised the issue again and was simply told that a small credit had been added to our account. There was no apology, explanation, or sense of accountability. At the time, our priority was our dog’s recovery, so we didn’t pursue it further. Issue 2: No continuity of care Over the two years we were registered with the practice, we never once saw the same vet twice. This lack of continuity meant no relationship was built and, repeatedly, vets appeared unfamiliar with our dog’s history. On multiple occasions, I had to re‑explain past issues that were already recorded in her notes, which became increasingly frustrating. Issue 3: Poor communication and excessive pricing Recently, our dog developed an ear infection with noticeable swelling. At the first appointment, she was prescribed steroids before the ear could be fully examined, costing £110. At the follow‑up appointment the following week, one of the first questions asked was whether she’d had ear problems before — information that was already in her records. Again, I had to explain her history. We were then prescribed Tris‑NAC ear cleaner. This product is readily available online for around £20. Our total bill for the appointment was £240, with the Tris‑NAC priced at £67. When I queried this, I was told £20 was a dispensing fee “to ensure the correct product was given.” When I questioned the remaining markup, the explanation given was simply the convenience of purchasing it at the vet. This was the point we decided to leave the practice. Staff are pleasant on a surface level, but overall our experience has been disappointing. The lack of continuity, poor communication, questionable pricing practices, and absence of meaningful follow‑up or accountability have led us to lose confidence in the practice. I’m also left wondering whether the “practice manager” actually exists, given that promised contact never materialised.
