Alder Veterinary Practice

Alder Veterinary Practice is an RCVS-accredited small-animal clinic in Guildford, established in the early 1980s and now part of the Linnaeus group. The practice has in-house facilities for surgery and diagnostics, including digital X-rays, ultrasound, endoscopy, and in-house blood analysis. Recent feedback is mixed overall: many owners describe a friendly, informative team, while some raise serious concerns about communication, urgency, and end-of-life arrangements.

Services

•General small-animal care: routine consultations and check-ups are commonly mentioned, with recent reviews covering cats and dogs.
•Surgery and diagnostics on site: the clinic lists in-house surgery, digital radiography (X-ray), ultrasound, endoscopy, and in-house blood analysis.
•Dentistry: reviews mention dental assessments and quoted treatment that may include extractions.
•End-of-life care: euthanasia and support at the end of a pet’s life are specifically referenced in owner feedback.
•Other cases mentioned in reviews: owners refer to discussions around FIP treatment options for cats, and one review describes a rabbit being brought in urgently via an emergency phone line.

Pricing

No published pricing information is currently available for this clinic.

People

•Jess (vet): praised for listening carefully, giving a thorough check-up, and explaining things clearly and reassuringly.
•Kim (receptionist): singled out as kind, welcoming, and helpful.
•Alexander (role not stated): described as very informative and educational in consultation.
•The wider team also receives positive mentions for being friendly, attentive, and professional, although some reviews report poor communication in difficult situations.

Reviews

Google rating: 4.5/5 from 378 reviews. Recent feedback is mixed, with many positive comments alongside a smaller number of serious complaints.

•Several owners praise the team for being friendly, knowledgeable, and reassuring, with particular appreciation for clear explanations during consultations.
•Jess, Kim, and Alexander are all mentioned positively for their manner, communication, and professionalism.
•Reviews on end-of-life care and communication are divided: some long-term clients describe compassionate support, while others report distressing experiences involving delays, poor follow-up, or uncertainty around ashes and arrangements.
•Price perceptions are mixed: one long-term client says prices are “not too bad” and speaks well of the monthly payment plans, while another reports a very high dental quote and says they were told prices were fixed by Linnaeus.

Reviews for Alder Veterinary Practice

Note: Showing the 9 most recent Google reviews out of 378 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

Shay Saunders

1 month ago

If I could give less stars I would. I contacted the emergency vets phone line, as my rabbit was very unwell. They redirected me to you- alder vets and said that you were aware/ expected me to arrive immediately due to the seriousness of the situation. We arrived in a matter of minutes, and the women on the desk registered on the computer that we had arrived. We were told to wait at the side and “take a seat” whilst our rabbit was practically on their death bed. We then urged to the lady again that we needed to see someone urgently- she then said “i’ve got two people in that are allergic to rabbits” and she proceeded to laugh. So she then went backstage to find someone- she then came out and took us to a room and told us to wait again. Yet again we urged the seriousness of the situation to her. We waited at least 5-10 minutes in this room, and by this time me and my brother felt the rabbit had died during this waiting time. A lady then came took the rabbit away and in a matter of minutes she came out and told us he had passed away. I am not blaming the death of the rabbit on you- alder vets. However, if you acted with more urgency as vets are expected to do so then the outcome of the situation may be completely different. Alder vets should not be offering emergency appointments, if this is how they are acting.

Wayne Gudge

I can’t recommend Alder Vets highly enough. From the moment I walked in, the whole team made such a positive impression. Receptionist Kim and the rest of the front-of-house staff were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful, which immediately put me at ease. A special thank you goes to Jess, the vet, who was absolutely outstanding. She really took the time to listen carefully to all of my concerns, never made me feel rushed, and explained everything clearly and reassuringly. She gave my dog a thorough, full check-up and approached everything with such patience and professionalism — nothing was ever too much trouble. It’s rare to find a practice where you feel genuinely cared for as both a pet owner and a client, but that’s exactly how I felt here. Thank you to the whole team for your compassion, dedication, and exceptional service. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to anyone looking for a trustworthy and caring veterinary practice.

Hollie Lemoual

The team were so friendly and attentive to my sweet little cat. They’re all so knowledgeable and professional and made me feel very welcome. I’d happily recommend!!

peach Toastie

2 months ago

It's been two years - Jan 2024 - since I last went there, yet my last experience there is something I really struggle to forget as it still haunts me. We went here to have our senior cat PTS as it was her time. It started off fine. We were given some time alone to say our goodbyes to her, but this wasn't just 5-10 minutes. They left us for nearly an hour. They had forgotten we were there. It got to the point where she had a seizure, and was going to take herself out. I had to demand reception to get someone in. She was my childhood cat, with me from the age of 6 to 22, yet her final moments were agony. Plus the £130(?) for the pleasure of a horrible goodbye. We haven't been back since and now only go to Hunters Lodge.

Jamie

4 months ago

Really happy with these guys, educational and friendly, cat and dog bith registered here. Had Alexander today and she was so informative!! Really knows her job and seems super passionate!! Was a great customers/patients experience. 10/10 to all.

lizziedipple26

6 months ago

I’ve been using Alder vets for over 20yrs now. Always been good with all my animals. Compassionate when it’s time to say goodbye to a pet. The only niggle I’d say is that one kitten I got had FIP, the vets steered me away from treating him, he was euthanised. I was then offered another kitten from same breeder… turned out she also had FIP. The vets didn’t seem to want to help me treat her. I went elsewhere and got treatment for 1/3rd of the price. A year later she is alive and well, clear of FIP. I now wish I’d done research with the first kitten and saved him. I do feel vets need to offer cheaper ways to treat FIP, rather than just suggesting putting to sleep. I am told this is common all over the country. Other than this they are very good. Prices aren’t too bad. Monthly payment plans are very good and recommended.

ewan Snare

My family’s dog passed away and we was not informed on when his ashes were going to be scattered. They also have appalling communication skills on informing you and also including their astonishing misinformation skills. I do not advise anyone to send your pets here. Selfish and inconsiderate of your vets, you should be extremely ashamed.

Becki A. Faulin

7 months ago

David Atkinson

8 months ago

Lovely premises with adequate parking, pleasant staff. I have used this for many years and well before they were absorbed by their umbrella company; Linnaeus. However, my latest interaction has left me extremely disappointed. My small dog needed a dental, so I attended for an assessment and quote. I was advised that the likely bill would be £1860 including anticipated extractions. "What????" I'd only had a dental procedure about three years previous and it was less than £500. Crazy I thought. So, i talked to a number of other vets. Some wouldn't quote without first assessing him during a consultation, but one, stated they would carry it out at a maximum of £800, (knowing the breed of dog and its propensity for suffering from dental problems). So clearly, this was the **other vet** I used, with **nearly £1100 saving**. Today, the procedure was carried out. First class service, lovely staff, plaque removed, 11 extractions, with the remaining teeth cleaning and polished. The bill was £580 !!!! I did feed this back to Alders, who stated their prices were fixed by Linnaeus, but they feel it reflected the level of service they offered (implying i got a second class service? I think not!) All I can say is, look at your options. Prices vary a lot. You could save a fortune! Aldervet are a great vetinary service, however, don't be blinkered..........! [photo, post-op recovery]