Emergency Vets in Banbury

## Summary Hook Norton Veterinary Group is an **independent** practice that treats **small animals, horses and farm animals**, and states it provides a **24-hour emergency service staffed by its own vets**. Recent reviews describe the clinic handling both routine and complex cases, including **dental surgery in an older dog (19 teeth removed after pre-anaesthetic bloodwork and a recheck)** and **laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for Ovarian Remnant Syndrome in a cat**, carried out by a vet described as specialising in endoscopy. Owners also mention **emergency surgery for an injured dog**, and **regular nurse updates while pets are hospitalised**. ## Services - **Small animal care**, including: - **Dental procedures** (owners describe extensive dental extractions and follow-up rechecks). - **Microchipping** (mentioned as completed during a visit). - **Prescribing medication**, including **antibiotics for infection**. - **Laparoscopic/keyhole surgery** (review describes keyhole surgery for Ovarian Remnant Syndrome; vet described as specialising in endoscopy). - **Inpatient/hospital care** (owners mention pets being hospitalised and receiving updates from nurses). - **Equine services** (listed on the website), including **equine vettings** and an **Equiplan** section. - **Farm animal services** (listed on the website). - **Emergency care (24-hour)** — the website states emergencies are covered by **their own vets**, and reviews describe out-of-hours help and urgent treatment. - **Mobile veterinary service** (listed on the website). - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in clinic data). ## People - **Carla, Helen and Bella** (named by a reviewer as the vets involved in an elderly dog’s dental case): the owner highlights clear decision support around anaesthetic risk, including discussing **bloodwork results** and arranging a **check-up** soon after the procedure. - **Endoscopy-focused vet (unnamed)**: a reviewer describes a veterinarian who “specialises in endoscopy” and performed **keyhole surgery**, taking time to **explain the plan clearly**. - **Nursing team (unnamed)**: mentioned for providing **regular updates during hospitalisation**. - **Reception team (unnamed)**: noted for being **friendly and efficient**, with one staff member described as speaking **gently and sympathetically** to a client on the phone. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.9 stars from 248 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Surgery and complex case handling:** owners describe emergency surgery for an injured dog, keyhole surgery for Ovarian Remnant Syndrome, and extensive dental extractions in an older dog. - **Communication during stressful decisions:** reviewers mention staff explaining risks (including anaesthetic considerations and bloodwork) and helping owners through “a very difficult decision.” - **Continuity and responsiveness in urgent care:** multiple comments reference out-of-hours support as fast-acting, and one owner credits the team with saving an epileptic dog’s life “on multiple occasions.” - **Practical follow-through:** examples include a post-op **check-up**, microchipping during a visit, and nurse updates while pets are hospitalised.

## Summary West Bar Veterinary Hospital describes itself as an **independent, RCVS Accredited Veterinary Hospital** (and a member of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme), with **24/7 emergency care provided on-site by its own team**. The website also references **“keyhole surgery”**, and lists in-house facilities including a **laboratory and imaging**, alongside medical, surgical and nursing capabilities. From the latest reviews available to us, owners mention both **high-stakes care** (hospitalisation, emergency treatment after a dog attack, cancer detection and chemotherapy support) and **end-of-life care** (euthanasia and cremation/ashes return). Feedback is mixed: some describe **clear explanations, updates and follow-up gestures (cards)**, while others report **poor continuity of care and distressing handling of euthanasia and remains**, plus **rudeness or lack of empathy at reception**. Concrete specifics mentioned by reviewers include: - **Emergency intake and discharge** after a dog attack, with the owner allowed to **visit while their dog was hospitalised**. - **Cancer detected** by a named vet, with **chemotherapy support** mentioned. - **Euthanasia experiences conflict**: one owner praises the space and support provided, while others describe the process as **unsympathetic** and the setting as **noisy and poorly managed**. - Several owners mention **receiving a condolence card** after a pet’s death (one reviewer contrasts this with a different experience at the same practice). ## Services Based on the website summary and reviews, the clinic is described as offering: - **24/7 emergency service**, run by the practice’s **own team**. - **Hospital-level care** (pets staying in for observation and longer hospitalisation are both described in reviews). - **Medical and surgical capabilities**, with the website referencing **keyhole surgery**. - **In-house diagnostics**: a **laboratory** and **imaging facilities** are listed on the website. - **Oncology-related care referenced in reviews**, including **cancer detection** and **chemotherapy support**. - **Euthanasia and cremation arrangements** are referenced in reviews (including discussion of cremation/casket options and later collection of ashes/certificate). - **Avian vet expertise** is specifically mentioned by one reviewer. ## People Named staff mentioned in reviews: - **Charlotte Maskery (vet)** – credited with being attentive and **leading to the discovery of a cancer diagnosis**, and for **support during chemotherapy**. - **Sam Celeste** – mentioned positively for providing advice during chemotherapy support. - **Sam Higgs (vet)** – praised for **explaining euthanasia options clearly**, giving the family **space and support**, and for sending a **personalised card afterward**. - **Sophie (vet)** – one owner says she **kept them up to date** during a cat’s stay and **sent photos**. - **Richard** (described by a reviewer as a key senior figure/“partner”) – credited with overseeing care for kidney failure, helping owners weigh treatment vs euthanasia, ensuring **privacy during euthanasia**, and sending a **condolence card**. Non-clinical team: - **Reception staff** are a point of disagreement: some reviews say reception was friendly at times, while others describe **rudeness** and a lack of empathy, particularly around end-of-life situations. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 264 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Emergency and hospital care:** an emergency visit after a dog attack is described as calm and professional, with clear explanations and a permitted visit during hospitalisation; other reviews describe longer in-patient stays with regular updates (including photos). - **Complex case management:** one owner credits a vet with finding cancer and supporting chemotherapy, but later felt the case became **impersonal**, with **lack of continuity** (being passed between vets) and concerns that additional diagnostics (e.g., scans for a cough) were not pursued. - **End-of-life care is polarising:** some owners describe euthanasia support as clear and compassionate (including space to say goodbye and a condolence card), while others describe euthanasia and after-death handling as **cold or traumatic** (including the timing and wording of cremation questions, and how remains/ashes were handled). - **Communication and empathy:** praised in some accounts (updates, photos, clear explanations), but criticised in others—especially around **reception interactions** and managing the waiting-room environment during euthanasia.