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Choosing a veterinary practice
Finding the right veterinary practice for your pet is an important decision that will have a lasting impact on their health and wellbeing. Our guide will help you navigate the key factors to think about when choosing a veterinary clinic.
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Check which species are treated
You should choose a vet practice that is suitable for the species of animal you have.
- For dogs, cats and rabbits, look for a small animal practice. Depending on the experience of the vets, these practices may also treat birds and exotic animals, including tortoises and snakes.
- For horses, ponies and donkeys, look for an equine practice.
- For livestock, such as cattle, sheep or pigs, you will need a farm animal practice.
Some practices provide treatment for a combination of these species.
If you’re not sure whether a practice can treat your animal, contact them to ask, or use our Find a Vet service and filter by species.
RCVS accreditation
To help you make a more informed choice and offer you peace of mind, we run a voluntary practice-accreditation scheme - called the Practice Standards Scheme - which practices can choose to take part in.
Through setting standards and carrying out regular assessments, including spot checks, the scheme aims to promote and maintain the highest standards of veterinary care.
There are different categories of RCVS accreditation, based on species treated, practice type and services available.
Look for the logo
Look for the RCVS-accredited practice logo (right) when choosing a practice. This will give you confidence that the practice meets our regulatory standards and is committed to providing top-quality care.
You can search for RCVS-accredited practices using Find a Vet.
Types of practices
Veterinary practices can be owned and run in different ways:
- Independent practices – owned by individual veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, non-vet professionals, or small teams
- Corporate practices – owned by larger companies that may operate multiple practices
- Charity practices – run by animal welfare organisations
If you would like to know who owns your vet practice but it’s not obvious, just ask the practice team.
All types of practice can provide excellent care. What matters most is the quality of service, the skills and qualifications of the veterinary team, and whether the practice meets your needs and those of your pet.
Practical considerations
Beyond the type of practice, several practical factors can help you choose the right veterinary practice.
Distance
Consider how far away the practice is and how you will transport your pet there. Check if the location is served by public transport and whether parking is available nearby or on site.
Cost and payment options
Ask the practice about their fees for routine procedures like vaccinations, neutering, microchipping, and any associated consultation fees. You can also ask about charges for out-of-hours care.
You can compare these prices with those of other practices in your area, but bear in mind that lower prices might not necessarily mean better value.
You may want to ask about payment options as well. Some practices offer payment plans or work with pet insurance companies to make treatment more affordable.
Emergency and out-of-hours care
Different practices may have different arrangements for providing emergency services and out-of-hours care, so check in advance to see which are most suited to your circumstances. Make sure you keep the emergency contact details handy.
Using more than one practice
You don't have to use just one veterinary practice. Many pet owners use different practices for different needs. For example, you might use your local practice for routine care such as vaccinations, neutering and microchipping, and use a specialist practice for more complex treatments or diagnostic scans.
If you have more than one species of animal, say, a dog and two cats, you might also consider using a different practice for each species.
If more than one vet is involved in your pet's care, it's important to check they communicate with each other about any important details regarding your animal, including treatments administered or scan results.
Large or small practice?
Vet practices vary in size, and it's important to weigh both the potential benefits and drawbacks of each.
- Larger practices may have bigger teams, more facilities and offer more treatment options.
- Smaller practices can be easier to get to and enable you to see the same vets or vet nurses more often.
Think about what matters most to you - whether that’s access to a wider range of services or greater continuity of care for your pet.
Online reviews
Approach online reviews of practices with caution. These reviews can be genuine and useful, but they can also be inaccurate and misleading.
It’s a good idea to phone the practice to speak to them directly. You may also want to speak to people you know who already use the practice, and/or visit the practice yourself before you register your pet there.
Finding a vet when you’re away
If you’re travelling within the UK with your pet, it’s a good idea to identify veterinary practices near your destination in advance.
- Find a local vet - use our Find a Vet service to locate practices in the area you're visiting
- Keep your regular vet’s details handy in case the new practice needs your pet’s medical history
Taking your pet abroad
If you’re travelling overseas with your pet, a little extra preparation will help ensure they can receive care if needed.
- Check that your pet is fit to travel - speak to your vet before you go
- Travel documents - make sure your pet meets all entry requirements, including an up-to-date microchip and any necessary documentation (such as an EU Pet Passport, where applicable)
- Insurance - consider pet insurance that veterinary care abroad.
- Locate local vets - use tools such as Google Maps or the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) search tool to find veterinary practices in the area you're staying in.
- Official guidance - for detailed travel rules, visit GOV.UK.
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