The Wheelhouse Veterinary Centre – Vets in Chesham
Clinic Overview
The Wheelhouse Veterinary Centre has been serving pets since 1964 and is listed as both a veterinary nurse training facility and a provider of emergency veterinary services. Recent reviews describe a practice that handles urgent, same-day problems (for example, inducing vomiting after a dog swallowed balloons) as well as planned procedures (an operation where the owner says they were kept informed throughout).
Owners also report a clear split in experiences around cost: some long-term clients describe supportive care through difficult end-of-life situations, while several recent reviews focus on very high bills for short visits and disputes over charges.
Services
Services and capabilities mentioned in the available sources include
- •Emergency veterinary services (listed in the clinic data).
- •Urgent/same-day appointments: multiple reviewers say the team can accommodate last-minute visits.
- •Treatment for toxin/foreign-object ingestion: one detailed review describes medication to induce vomiting after balloon ingestion, with itemised charges including “Induce vomiting” and “Emedog Inj”.
- •Surgery/operations: one owner describes their dog needing an operation and says the clinic kept them informed during the procedure.
- •End-of-life support: one long-term client describes the team supporting them “during the last days” of two pets, and another review describes care for an older cat that later passed away.
- •Veterinary nurse training facility (listed in the clinic data).
Pricing
Specific prices mentioned in reviews
- •£71 for “less than 2 minutes” (reviewer’s description; no further context provided).
- •£608.79 total for inducing vomiting for two dogs after balloon ingestion, with an itemised breakdown shared by the reviewer
- •Dog 1: Induce vomiting £175; Consultation £120.01; “Emedog Inj (20) (per 1ml vial broached)” £69.18 (total £364.19 incl. VAT as stated)
- •Dog 2: Induce vomiting £175; Consultation £69.50 (total £244.50 incl. VAT as stated)
Another reviewer mentions a “huge bill for a short treatment” and says that after disputing it, the practice “doubled down,” but no amount is given.
People
- •Chris: mentioned by name in a review describing care for an older, very unwell cat; the owner describes the service as “wonderful,” though the pet later passed away.
Other reviews refer to “all the team,” noting being kept informed during an operation and describing support during pets’ final days, but without naming additional staff.
Reviews
4.4 stars from 240 reviews.
- •Long-term client loyalty and gentle handling: several reviewers mention using the practice for many years and describe the team as kind and reassuring with their pets.
- •Responsiveness for urgent needs: reviewers mention being able to get last-minute appointments, including one account of rapid care after a dog ingested balloons.
- •Communication during procedures: one owner says the clinic kept them informed while their dog was in surgery.
- •End-of-life support is repeatedly referenced: one reviewer describes strong support during the last days of two pets.
- •Cost and billing disputes are a major negative theme in recent reviews: complaints include a very high charge for a short visit, and a detailed dispute over being charged separate consultation and treatment fees for two dogs seen together. One reviewer also alleges corporate/private-equity ownership and links it to pricing; this is presented as the reviewer’s claim.
Special Services
Animals Treated at The Wheelhouse Veterinary Centre
Animals We Treat
Companion Animals
Opening Hours – The Wheelhouse Veterinary Centre
Opening Hours
Hours
Reviews for The Wheelhouse Veterinary Centre
Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 240 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.
Jacqui Manton
3 weeks ago
cat townsend
a month ago
Been using wheelhouse all my life and they have always been kind and gentle with my pets and reassuring to me. Brilliant service Brilliant people. Highly recommend.
Elizabeth Jimenez
3 months ago
Ben Thomas
3 months ago
£71 for less than 2 minutes
andrew tribe
7 months ago
Rebecca Taylor
7 months ago
Excellent vet care I wish I could stay, but after receiving a huge bill for a short treatment (which after disputing they have doubled down on) out of principle have changed vets to a family run practice. Such a shame.
Daniel Lee
9 months ago
You might think Wheelhouse is a locally owned vetinary clinic, it is, of course, not. It is owned by Swedish Private Equity who are putting through extoriante pricing to pet owners in vulnerable situations. On 18 November 2022 Wheelhouse's ultimate owner (IVC Acquisition Pikco Ltd) was given an enforcement order after an investigation into vetinary mergers. Wheelhouse did not respond to our complaint which is outlined in below. We have moved to a new vetinary practice and would recommend you do the same. It is such a shame as the staff are lovely - we wish they would open their own locally owned clinic and not be controlled by private equity interests. 17:50: We made a 5-minute call to the clinic after several balloons had been digested by our miniature dachshund. 18:15: Arrived at the clinic and waited 15 minutes to be seen. 18:30: Our two miniature dachshunds were seen first for less than 10 minute consultation and one was given medication to induce vomiting. 18:35-18:40: While one was being treated, we decided also to induce vomiting in the other not knowing whether she had digested any balloons but to be on the safe side. Both pets were in the same room, under the same care, and shared the same medicine. There was no additional consultation for the second dog. 19:10: We left with both dogs after the balloons had been thrown up. The second dogs treatment required minimal additional care beyond what was already being provided to the first. No further consultation was conducted, and both pets were managed together in the same setting. We were told that because both dogs were small they could share medication, there would be no additional medicine charge and that the consultation fee for the second would be reduced. Being in a shocked state at the time, we did not question the charge of £608.79 until we received the itemised bill. We were charged the following for the first dog (an eye-watering amount in and of itself given it took your practice no more than an hour total): Induce vomiting £175 Consultation £120.01 Emedog Inj (20)(per 1ml vial broached) £69.18 Total = £364.19 (incl VAT) Despite there being no additional time for the treatment of the second nor another consultation, we were then charged the following for the second dog: Induce vomiting £175 Consultation £69.50 Total = £244.50 (incl VAT) We feel particularly upset as veterinary visits are often made under stressful circumstances when pet owners are vulnerable. We trust clinics to provide both exceptional care and clear, fair pricing. However, the lack of transparency regarding costs in this instance has left us feeling taken advantage of.
C Curtis
10 months ago
We have been clients for many years and I have always found all the team at the Wheelhouse to be exceptionally welcoming, kind, compassionate and pragmatic. They usually are able to accommodate last minute appointments and have supported us brilliantly during the last days for two of our pets over the last year. We visited this week with my old cat who was very unwell and had wonderful service from Chris. Sadly the cat passed away but here is a photo of her in happier times, during a visit to the Wheelhouse.
Julie Godber
a year ago
I’ve been with The Wheelhouse for many years, and have always been happy with the treatment that me and my various pets have received
Susannah Godwin
4 years ago
My dog loves Giotto the wheel house, the staff are so friendly and fantastic at looking after her. After my dog needed an operation they kept me informed of what was happening and the care was second to none. Here she is having a snooze on the sofa after her operation
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