Justyna Konowrocka
I’ve used Riverside Vets multiple times over the past year and a half for my three cats. While no single incident was extreme, there is a recurring pattern of unprofessional behaviour, poor communication, and unexpected charges that left me consistently uncomfortable and anxious about attending, even for routine check-ups. One of my cats is very skittish and has a history of eye issues. During a visit, the eye specialist made judgmental comments about prior treatment, including eye-rolling and sighing. When my cat struggled, the vet refused to proceed and repeatedly said, “I can’t do it!” leaving me to restrain the cat alone. I was sent home with medication and asked to return, but due to the lack of professionalism, I chose not to. I have also experienced dismissive and impractical advice,for example, when asking how to safely wash a flea-infested kitten, I was told “you don’t wash cats” and advised to cut soiled fur, which was unhelpful and left me feeling dismissed. Conflicting guidance has also been an issue: one vet advised monthly deworming for a year, while another said it was unnecessary, which left me unsure which treatment plan was correct. Cost discussions often felt fear-based rather than informative. After a kitten’s castration, I was warned that urinary issues could cost “over £4,000,” contradicting our experience at another practice. Billing has also been inconsistent and publicly handled, including being told I owed money I had already prepaid. Even visits advertised as free, like a six-month check for a cat with urinary history, ended up being charged with no explanation. Taken together, these repeated issues with handling, communication, and billing made me uncomfortable and ultimately led us to change practices.
