How to Find a Good Vet in the UK

The most important time to find a vet is before you need one urgently. A new puppy, a recently adopted dog, or a house move all create the opportunity to register with a practice before there's any pressure. Doing it then is significantly better than searching at 10pm when something is wrong. According to the RCVS's 2024 Survey of the Veterinary Profession, 75% of UK vets intend to stay in the profession for five or more years - but 91% describe their work as stressful and vets are working an average of five hours above their contracted hours weekly, making it more important than ever to find a practice that manages demand well.

Here's what matters when choosing a practice.

Start with RCVS registration

All veterinary practices in the UK must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). This is the regulatory body - only RCVS-registered vets are legally permitted to practise veterinary medicine in the UK.

Registration is the baseline, not a quality indicator on its own. But practices with RCVS Practice Standards accreditation have been assessed against defined quality standards covering facilities, equipment, and procedures. Look for this where it's available.

The RCVS website allows you to search for registered practices and check individual vets.

Distance matters more than you might think

A highly regarded practice forty minutes away is less useful in practice than a competent practice ten minutes away. For routine appointments, distance is manageable. For an emergency, or for a dog who gets anxious in the car, or for the tenth vet visit of a difficult year, forty minutes each way adds up.

Find the best practice within a reasonable distance - generally within fifteen minutes for urban areas, somewhat further in rural ones.

Ask local dog owners

Personal recommendations from people whose judgement you trust are worth more than online reviews. Dog owners tend to talk about their vets - ask at training classes, in local dog groups, with neighbours who have dogs. Patterns emerge. Multiple people citing the same practice independently is a more useful signal than a five-star aggregate on Google.

What to check before registering

Before you register, it's worth a quick phone call or visit to ask:

Who covers out-of-hours emergencies? Some practices run their own out-of-hours rota; many now use a shared service or refer to a specialist emergency clinic. Know in advance where you'd go at 2am and roughly how far it is.

Do they have experience with your breed or species? For breeds with specific health considerations - brachycephalic breeds, giant breeds, working dogs - a vet with relevant experience makes a difference. Exotic pets, cats, rabbits, and other species sometimes require specialists or at least experience; confirm this for dogs, but especially for non-standard animals.

Can you request a consistent vet? Continuity of care matters, especially for dogs with ongoing conditions. Some practices are large enough that you'll see a different vet each visit; some smaller ones offer regular access to the same clinician. Neither is inherently better, but it's worth knowing.

What are their appointment availability and wait times? A practice that can usually see you within a day for routine urgent matters is more useful than one with a two-week wait. Ask how they handle same-day or next-day requests.

What to look for in the first appointment

A first appointment with a new vet is partly about clinical assessment and partly about establishing whether you can work with this person. Things worth noticing:

• Do they examine your dog systematically, or does the exam feel rushed?
• Do they explain what they're doing and why?
• Do they answer your questions clearly, or do you feel like you're taking too much time?
• Are they honest about uncertainty when it exists, or does every answer feel definitive?
• How does your dog respond to being handled? A vet who takes time to let a nervous dog settle is making a clinical investment, not wasting time.

You are not obligated to stay with a practice that doesn't feel right. Changing vet is straightforward - your records can be transferred on request.

Transferring records

If you're moving practices, you're entitled to request a copy of your dog's veterinary records. The previous practice cannot withhold them, although they may charge a small administrative fee. Records should include vaccination history, diagnosis notes, prescription history, and any significant clinical findings.

Give these to your new practice at the first appointment. It saves having to reconstruct a history verbally and ensures continuity of care for dogs with ongoing conditions.

Specialist and referral practices

Some conditions benefit from specialist assessment - cardiology, orthopaedics, dermatology, oncology, neurology. Your regular vet can refer you; you can also in most cases self-refer to a specialist practice.

RCVS-recognised specialists have completed additional training and examinations in their field. If you're facing a complex or chronic condition, asking your vet whether specialist input would be useful is a reasonable question.

Veterinary costs and insurance

UK veterinary costs have risen significantly in recent years. A routine annual check-up might cost £50–£80; a single specialist diagnostic workup could be £500–£2,000+. Insurance is worth considering early (before any conditions are diagnosed, since insurers typically exclude pre-existing conditions). The PDSA PAW Mini Report 2025 found that 64% of UK dogs are insured - up from 61% in 2023 - but more than half of pet owners still worry about affording veterinary care, highlighting the gap between insurance coverage and financial anxiety around vet costs.

When comparing practices, be aware that pricing varies substantially - sometimes for good reasons (better facilities, more experienced staff, higher running costs), sometimes for less obvious ones. A quote comparison on a specific routine service can be informative, but the lowest-cost option is rarely the only consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a vet is actually good? Consistent personal recommendations from multiple dog owners, clear communication style, systematic examination, and willingness to explain and discuss options are the best indicators accessible to a non-clinical observer. Formal indicators include RCVS Practice Standards accreditation and specialist qualifications where relevant.

Can I change vet mid-treatment? Yes. Your records transfer with you, and a new vet can continue existing treatment plans. The main consideration is continuity - if your dog is mid-course of treatment for a complex condition, a handover appointment may be worth arranging so nothing gets lost in the change.

My vet retired and the practice was sold - does anything change? Practice ownership changes are increasingly common in the UK. Your records remain at the practice and the clinical care should continue. If you're uncertain about the new ownership or team, it's a good time to assess whether the practice still suits you.

Should I always go to my regular vet for emergencies? If they offer out-of-hours cover or have a clear referral arrangement, yes - continuity of care is valuable. If they only cover office hours and something happens at 11pm, use the emergency clinic they refer to. Have those details saved before you need them.

What if I disagree with a vet's recommendation? A second opinion is always an option and any reputable vet should support you seeking one. For complex diagnoses, significant surgical decisions, or chronic management plans, a second opinion is good practice rather than a criticism. Ask your vet for a written referral and for your records to be shared.