Farm & Large-Animal Vets near Reading

## Summary Valley Veterinary Group describes itself as a long‑established, independent (non‑corporate) practice and is listed as an RCVS Practice Standards Scheme member. Based on the website and reviews, it appears set up for both routine care (vaccinations, microchipping, nurse clinics) and more involved procedures, with owners specifically mentioning cruciate ligament operations. Reviewers also describe practical service touches such as same‑day appointments for a sick hamster and follow‑up advice on medication by phone. Feedback is mixed on suitability for complex/specialist cases: one reviewer says they were initially told specialist care was possible but later felt unsupported and sought help elsewhere. ## Services From the clinic website and the latest reviews, services mentioned include: - Consultations - Vaccinations - Microchipping - Animal health certificates - Dietary advice - Nurse clinics - Neutering - Surgical procedures (including cruciate ligament operations mentioned in reviews) - Dental treatments - Referral services - Care for dogs, cats, rabbits, other exotics, horses, and farm animals (species list from the website) ## People - Reviews frequently refer to the wider team (vets, nurses, reception) discussing options and helping owners make decisions (e.g., “discuss all options and help you make any decisions”). - One reviewer reports a negative experience with a particular vet, describing a change in approach after they asked questions about specialist care, leading them to seek urgent help elsewhere. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 82 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Long-term continuity: one owner says the practice has looked after their dog from 8 weeks old to 5 years old. - Surgery outcomes: multiple reviews mention successful cruciate ligament operations (including repair on both legs over time). - Decision support and communication: owners describe staff discussing options and helping with decision-making. - Handling of small/exotic pets and responsiveness: same‑day appointments for an unwell dwarf hamster, gentle handling, and quick call-backs about medication advice. - Conflicting views on complex care: one reviewer felt the practice was suitable only for “routine, basic care” after an experience where specialist care seemed to be offered and then withdrawn at the last minute.

## Summary Equibreed UK Ltd focuses on equine reproduction rather than general veterinary care. The clinic’s website lists advanced breeding services (including OPU & ICSI) alongside “stud facilities,” and recent reviews also describe successful embryo transfer outcomes, including a foal after renting a broodmare for embryo transfer. Owners also mention being welcomed on arrival and their horse being looked after to a high standard, and one review names “Amber and the crew.” ## Services From the clinic website: - Equine reproduction (stated specialty) - Artificial insemination - Embryo transfer - OPU & ICSI - Stallion services - Stud facilities From reviews: - Broodmare rental for embryo transfer (one owner reports this led to a foal) ## People - **Amber**: Mentioned by name in a review (“Amber and the crew are fantastic!”). No role is specified in the available information. - **Team/staff (unnamed)**: One owner describes staff as friendly and welcoming, and says their horse was looked after to a high standard. ## Reviews **4.9 stars from 18 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Successful breeding outcomes are specifically mentioned (embryo transfer resulting in a foal; broodmare rental used for embryo transfer). - Front-of-house experience is noted: feeling welcome and looked after during a visit. - Positive mentions of the team, including one staff member named (Amber).

## Summary Camelid Veterinary Services Ltd is a specialist clinic focused on alpacas and llamas, operating from a purpose-built clinic and led by an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Camelid Health & Production (per the clinic website). Based on both the site and recent reviews, it appears set up for a mix of hands-on veterinary work (including surgery and reproduction) and lab-backed herd health support (faecal testing, cria IgG testing, and plasma-related services). Owners specifically describe: a jaw surgery to remove infected/damaged bone with clear aftercare instructions and a good long-term recovery; investigation and procedures for infertility leading to a successful cria; and fast turnaround faecal testing with detailed follow-on guidance. ## Services - **Camelid veterinary care (alpacas and llamas)** (website) - **Surgery**: one review describes an operation removing part of an alpaca’s jawbone after a severe infection (reviews) - **Reproduction services** (website), with reviews mentioning **pregnancy scanning** and investigation/treatment for an alpaca that “had been unable to conceive” (reviews) - **Herd health**: herd health checks and ongoing herd parasite monitoring (website + reviews) - **Laboratory services** (website), including: - **Faecal testing** for worm eggs and coccidia; reviewers mention quick processing and detailed advice on next steps (website + reviews) - **Cria IgG testing** (website) - **Blood and plasma collection** and **plasma processing** (website); reviews also mention **plasma transfusions** for premature cria (reviews) - **Advice/consultations**, including willingness to discuss cases with clients’ local vets (website + reviews) - **Training**: training courses and online resources (website), with reviews describing an “intensive camelid care course,” an online portal, fortnightly Q&A, and a supplied formulary (reviews) ## People - **Claire** (named in multiple reviews): described as carrying out jaw surgery with aftercare instructions, investigating fertility issues, providing herd health checks and pregnancy scanning, and being “willing to talk things through” with owners’ local vets when they lack alpaca experience. Reviews also mention responsiveness to questions/clarifications around lab results and treatment decisions (reviews). ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 24 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Complex clinical cases referenced**: jaw surgery for severe infection with a reported full recovery a year later; support through multiple premature cria including plasma transfusions (reviews). - **Reproduction support**: investigation/procedures for infertility and pregnancy scanning; one owner reports a healthy cria following treatment (reviews). - **Lab work that owners find actionable**: faecal testing described as easy to book, processed quickly, with detailed results and clear guidance on worming/next steps; one review mentions results “later the next day” (reviews). - **Communication/case collaboration**: owners mention Claire discussing cases with their usual vets, and the lab team being quick to respond to queries (reviews). - **Education/training valued**: an online camelid care course is described as practical for day-to-day herd management, with a formulary and regular Q&A; a vet student society review highlights an engaging, confidence-building talk on camelid medicine (reviews).

## Summary Valley Veterinary Group describes itself as a long‑established **independent (non‑corporate)** practice operating **three surgeries**. Based on its site, it’s set up for both routine pet care (vaccinations, microchipping, nurse clinics) and more involved work (neutering, surgical procedures, dental treatments), with **referral services** available when needed. It’s also listed as providing **24‑hour emergency cover** and being part of the **RCVS Practice Standards Scheme**. From the latest reviews available to us, owners mention both compassionate support in difficult situations (including **euthanasia**) and concerns about **medication pricing markups**, alongside a small number of serious negative allegations about clinical outcomes. ## Services Services mentioned on the clinic website include: - Consultations - Vaccinations - Microchipping - Neutering - Surgical procedures - Dental treatments - Nurse clinics - Dietary advice - Animal Health Certificates - Referral services Species mentioned as treated include **dogs, cats, rabbits, exotics, horses, and farm animals**. Other capabilities/policies stated: - **24-hour emergency cover** (as described on the website) - Part of the **RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS)** (website) Training: - **Veterinary Nurse Training facility** (structured clinic data) ## People Named in reviews: - **Alex (vet)** – praised for being “professional, kind and sympathetic” during a euthanasia appointment for a 15‑year‑old dog. - **Charlotte (assistant)** – mentioned alongside Alex as providing professional and sympathetic support during the same euthanasia visit. More generally (not naming individuals), reviews describe: - A team including **vets, vet nurses, and receptionists** being “knowledgeable” and “helpful.” - Being able to **fit a dog in at short notice** (one reviewer’s experience). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.2 stars from 9 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **End-of-life care:** one owner specifically highlights a euthanasia visit where the vet and assistant were “professional, kind and sympathetic.” - **Access/appointments:** one reviewer says the practice can often fit their dog in **at short notice**. - **Pricing concern (medication):** one reviewer gives a detailed complaint about being charged **£40 for 10 Apoquel tablets**, which they say is over double what they usually pay elsewhere. - **Conflicting safety/outcome reports:** there are also **very negative reviews** alleging preventable death and poor competence, which conflicts with other reviews describing pets being in “safe hands.”