The Vet Whetstone

- Positive reviews describe a friendly, professional team, with owners appreciating helpful advice, a warm welcome, and a calm manner when pets are stressed. - Some owners highlight good continuity of care, including support for an elderly cat and ongoing guidance after a cat’s diabetes diagnosis. - More critical reviews describe rushed appointments and poor communication, including one complaint that vaccine booster timing was not clearly explained.

The Vet Whetstone is a veterinary practice in Barnet that also operates as a veterinary nurse training facility. It is used for routine care such as health checks, vaccinations and nail trims, and owners also mention ongoing support for longer-term issues including feline diabetes and care for older pets. Recent feedback is mixed: some clients praise a friendly, helpful team and steady support over time, while others report rushed appointments, unclear follow-up communication, and concerns about handling and charges.

Services

•Routine consultations and preventive care, including health checks, vaccinations, and booster follow-up.
•Nail trimming as part of routine appointments.
•Ongoing condition management and advice, with one owner specifically highlighting support after a cat’s diabetes diagnosis.
•Support for older pets, including reviews mentioning care for an elderly cat over a period of years.
•Care for more nervous pets, with one owner describing calm, supportive handling for their anxious cat.
•Repeat medication requests, referenced on the practice website.
•Veterinary nurse training facility.

Pricing

A very limited amount of published pricing suggests the clinic may sit above average, but this is based on very few comparable services. Reviews are mixed on value, with some owners praising the care while others raise concerns about charges and overpricing.

People

•Josh (vet): named in one review about a poor consultation experience and unclear communication around vaccine booster timing.
•Ayelet (receptionist): singled out by name as friendly and kind.
•Albert and Jose (vets): mentioned in a review as having looked after dogs for many years, with praise for their personal approach and expertise.
•Reviews also speak positively about the nurses, vets, and reception team more broadly for being friendly and helpful.

Reviews

Google rating: 4.3/5 from 130 reviews.

•Positive reviews describe a friendly, professional team, with owners appreciating helpful advice, a warm welcome, and a calm manner when pets are stressed.
•Some owners highlight good continuity of care, including support for an elderly cat and ongoing guidance after a cat’s diabetes diagnosis.
•More critical reviews describe rushed appointments and poor communication, including one complaint that vaccine booster timing was not clearly explained.
•A few negative reviews also raise concerns about handling during a routine visit involving nail cutting, and about charges, while positive reviews focus more on reassurance and long-term support.

Reviews for The Vet Whetstone

Note: Showing the 10 most recent Google reviews out of 130 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

Alex Pawlak

3 months ago

Grant Shapiro

4 months ago

Following a relatively good first experience at the Vet Whetstone, my latest experience with a new vet, Josh, was incredibly poor. When I took my dog in for his first visit in October 2021, I was able to join my dog in the consulting room and everything was running as normal, even though Covid was more of a concern in those earlier months and restrictions were consequently in place country-wide. My next visit in February 2022, with all restrictions having been lifted country-wide and the rest of the country moving on accordingly, I wasn't permitting into the consult room. Of course is their choice to do as they please, but doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me and when I dared ask Josh what had changed that patients weren't permitted inside now, he was short and very abrasive in his response. Most importantly, I went in for my dog to receive his first vaccine. I was told that I needed to bring him back in 3 weeks. At no point was I told that it was required to be within exactly 2 to 4 weeks. I called today at 4 weeks and 1 day to make an appointment for the booster and was told that the initial vaccine was no longer valid and he needed to have the first vaccine again. Had I known about the exact 4 week cut-off for the booster, I would have ensured to book him in earlier and likely would have made that follow-up appointment at the initial appointment. Which I'm a bit surprised wasn't suggested to me. When I explained on the phone that I had not been clearly told about this, there was little compassion or understanding. Happy for me to go elsewhere and cancel my vet plan. A redeeming feature of the practice is Ayelet, one of the receptionists, who is very friendly and kind in her dealings with clients.

Carol Mason

8 months ago

Such lovely people and very professional.

Justyna Zohreh

9 months ago

My dog got hurt during routine health check by a vet who was unable to cut my dog’s nails. He was forceful and careless and left my dog in pain. This place is money oriented surgery, overcharging for all the medication and services, not doing proper health checks, making mistakes which they do not take responsibility for and at the end you have to pay for them.

Queen Anna

1 year ago

I am extremely disappointed with my recent visit to this vet. I booked an appointment expecting full service, but they barely did anything that was promised.. I felt like they cared more about the money than about my pet’s well-being. It was clear they were rushing through the appointment without properly checking or caring for my pet. I strongly urge every pet owner: watch carefully how the doctors handle your pet and always ask for a full explanation of all charges. Our pets can’t speak for themselves — it’s up to us to protect them from places like this. I will never trust them with my pet again.

Rachel Costa

Very friendly and helpful nurses, vets and receptionists. Always happy to help and provide all necessary advice. They've helped our elderly cat over the last couple of years and I'm very pleased with the service they provide. Despite the difficult job they have, they always have a smile and great positive attitude which really helps when your pets are in distress. Thank you!

Tim C

I've nothing but praise and gratitude for the staff at The Vet Whetstone, who have all been brilliant since I first took my cat Samson there. This is especially the case since his diagnosis with diabetes nearly a year ago, with their guidance and ongoing advice being absolutely vital. There's always a friendly welcome and excellent care for a sometimes nervous cat (and a sometimes nervous owner). I can't recommend the practice more highly.

Philip Lang

8 years ago

Albert and Jose have been looking after my standard poodles for many years and together they provide a friendly personal atmosphere combined with highly knowledgeable expertise when your dog needs it. In short they care about your pets, consider your feelings and are well able to do so. Excellent Vets Philip Lang FRSA