AVOID THIS VET GROUP if you care about your dog. Like many others negative reviews on here, I too have had an APPALLING EXPERIENCE with Goddard's. They put profits and £££ before the health and well-being of living-beings. Their level of NEGLIGENCE has been off the charts. They seemed to think my dog having internal bleeding was not worthy of immediate attention by a vet, and told me to monitor him and feed him bland foo - which is what you ONLY do when they have diarrhoea NOT internal bleeding issues! The issues were caused by their failure to notify me of the risks posed by Meloxidyl painkillers. They are now trying to scrub their hands of any fault. Because of this my dog carried on suffering for another 17+ hours and deteriorated in that time. Eventually a vet came on duty who could see he needed immediate medical attention via the images I emailed them. However now the you expect me to pay 4 figures for their appalling services. read more

OK, they are not bad vets. But they really do rack up the £££££. My impression is that you end up paying for lots of stuff to make you feel better, rather than focussing on the animal's needs. The stories of others and my own experience racking up huge bills in my opinion inappropriately - playing (I'm not saying deliberately) on peoples feelings for their pets mean that this is the last place that I would go to. That I've ended up there underlines what I mean - just be aware of what you are getting into. read more

WARNING TO FELLOW PET OWNERS - REGARDING BOTH GODDARD AND BEAUMONT VETS I'm writing this post because I had awful experiences with Beaumont and Goddard, on many fronts, and had to put my cat down (which, had he been properly treated, he may be alive today). There were several breaches of the RCVS Code of Conduct and arguably legal offences committed, as both vets exhibited professional negligence. My cat was misdiagnosed on multiple occasions, by both vets, with a steatitis/fat pad injury (even though he was indoor cat, no obvious trauma, etc.). In fact, he had lymphangiosarcoma (a type of cancer). He was leaking fluid through his stomach skin and nipple. All symptoms pointed to lymphangiosarcoma. My cat had his first surgery in August (under assumption it was fat pad injury, as opposed to testing for cancer). His suture/skin got worse. Goddard insisted it was fat pad injury. I asked multiple times if it was cancer, but was dismissed. Finally, in October, a surgeon at Goddard told me he would test for cancer (which in fact he didn't, he only tested for bacteria - which my cat ended up having Staph infection because Goddard refused to give him antibiotics). My cat was in pain and his skin rotting. When they realised they lied to/misled me about testing for cancer, they sent the skin from the August surgery in to be tested and sure enough, he had cancer. We did second surgery on him in October and sent that skin in. The cancer was too far gone, no clean margins. I put him down days later. Had we done a biopsy/syringe fluid in August to test for cancer + done aggressive surgery in August = he may be alive today. He was healthy 8 year old cat. WARNINGS: (1) always insist on a biopsy/syringe of fluid to test for cancer (I pleaded to test for cancer, but was ignored/dismissed); (2) do not let them try create/make you imagine ways in which an injury may have occurred - as opposed to doing proper diagnostic tests; (3) insist on a clear treatment plan, with gating criteria - which when not met, the vets SHOULD (a) refer you to experts e.g. Queen Mother Hospital and (b) "think outside the box" to properly diagnose and prevent pet/owner from pain and suffering; (4) get a print out of the vet notes after EACH visit (you have a right to "prompt" delivery - with both vets they wrote horrendous things in the note that they didn't tell me about during my visits); (5) get diagnostics lab reports (Beaumont took 4 months to give me scans, after I put my cat down. Goddard dragged heels, I had to call the actual lab. This is violation of RCVS Code, see below); (6) insist on getting antibiotics for your pet even if they say that they don't want to overdose (my cat got a Staph infection because Goddard refused to give him antibiotics for 6 weeks); (7) if your pet has surgery, insist on getting excised tissue tested for cancer/histopath; (8) if pet spends a night at the vet, the vet has greater level of responsibility, duty and obligation (Goddard didn't give my cat his pain meds whilst in hospital and he was suffering - despite me packing his pain meds and writing instructions to give to him in a handover note); (9) do NOT use Hibi scrub or sudocrem on irritated skin (Goddard told me to and made it worse!); (10) get a copy of the vet's Complaint Policy; and (11) make sure pet's temperature is taken at EACH visit, track it and ensure no infection (I had to ask Goddard multiple times to take his temp!). Important links (need to google because can't post links): Amazing advice - google: I'm unhappy with my vets, what are my rights? Which? I found this link to be invaluable! Vet care is considered a service under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (see sections 49-56); and Animal Welfare Act 2006, sections 2-14. Google solicitors specialising in claims against veterinary surgeries and call them with your case (e.g. professionalnegligence-solicitors.co.uk). VCMS Mediation: vetmediation.co.uk. Prepare your "issues" and where vet breached the RCVS Code, Consumer Rights Act, Animal Welfare Act and what a "reasonably competent" vet would have done. RCVS Code of Conduct - google: RCVS code of professional conduct for veterinary surgeons. Click on the sub-links under "Professional Responsibilities". Link to file an RCVS Complaint - google: animal owners RCVS concerns. Small Claims court - google: small claims court and money saving expert and citizens advice. You can make a claim for up to £10,000 for a fee of £410 (less if claim is lower). You don't have to pay for other side's legal expenses and max reimbursement cost for expert witness is £200. read more

I have had a terrible experience with this vet practice, I've been using Goddard's for years, I won't be going there again. It seems like they only care about making money and managing their negative reviews online. They are great at managing easy things like vaccinations and teeth. Now I have had a bad experience with them I would advise that you don't use them for anything more complicated than that. Or if you are not sure get a 2nd opinion from another vet practice, which I'd wish I had done! Newly qualified locum vets running their smaller clinics while they wait for a permanent vet to take over. They seem to not know what they are doing and I'm sure trying their best without the support of senior vets for second opinions and advice. It seems like they draw out treatment for as long as they can, so you end up spending more and more money. Seven visits over three months and my pet is dead!! It appears they rely on your medical ignorance and in my recent experience with them failed to tell me exactly what was going on with my pet or discuss various scenarios or outcomes of treatment. I also felt as if I wasn't being listened to as their consultation slots are so short. Most of the staff seem to be really stressed and under pressure, maybe they are pushed to see more clients than they can cope with?. About 5 years ago they used to be really good, but now it seems they've turned into an americanised style practice where you pay double the price for half the service. Eg dental extractions used to cost £350 2.5 yrs ago, now they charge at least £650-£700! They seem to have a high turnover of permanent vets, none of them seem to stay long. They are supposedly signed up to the RCVS best practice scheme hahahaha that feels like a joke!! read more

Really good vets, always offer advice and can always fit you in for an appointment (and they always remind you when shots etc are due). They are a bit pricey but to be honest which vets are not these days? I have now moved away from the area and miss Goddards,the vets in other parts of Essex are not as good. read more

Came in at around 9pm was told the charge for consultation will be £85, have in mind it's late, mid week. There we're no other clients yet they made us wait for quite some time, by the time vet saw us it was past 10pm so the charge was £140. It really felt like they made us wait just so they could charge us more, which really saddens me as i was forced to wait around worrying about my pets health all because they wanted more money. In addition to that staff weren't welcoming or helpful. My ferret was put under a "rodent" section even though he is a carnivore. The doctor seemed clueless and careless, didn't really give us a solution so we had to guess and ask for medicine ourselves. read more

We used the Mile end branch for maybe 8 years. They totally missed the diagnosis on our cat Fleur for 2-3 years. On their advice, we arranged a dental appointment which on the day suddenly more than doubled in price to over £500. They made a show of re-checking Fleur and insisted this work was necessary. I didnt feel good about this and went to a local vet for a 2nd opinion. In less than 2 MINUTES the vet diagnosed a serious thyroid issue and racing heart rate, dismissing the dental issue as NON EXISTENT! All he did was look at her eyes, check her heart rate, took barely a minute. Our cat had been loosing weight for 2-3years, it turned out to be a thyroid condition which has now been treated, shes gaining weight and is much better. BUT she is now virtually BLIND as a result and we have been advised may have other organ damage as a result It was more than one vet at Goddards for YEARS - TOTALLY BLOODY INCOMPETENT and MONEY FOCUSED. read more

This place is ideal if you're new to pets. They will give you advice on what type of animal is best (eg if you want a dog they will advise you what breeds there are and the general points of how to look after them). After that they can provide healthcare in general for pets and also surgical care for pets that are really sick. They are complete professionals and this is basically a hospital for animals. I took my dog here when he kept vomiting all over the carpet. i had no idea what was wrong with him and was dead stressed about it. the nurse was dead nice and helpful. this is a chain of hospitals. read more

i have 7 cats under this vet and have always recieved the best of advice and treatment. my oldest cat tigger had cancer nealey two years ago and he was operated on and went through over a year of chemo and has now been clear for over one year. i would not use any other vet read more

I have to say its a relief to see that i am not alone in my bad experiences of Goddards, my first experience was with Goddards Cranbrook Road, one of my 2 cats had been sneezing a lot for 3 or 4 days on the 5th I noticed pus coming from one nostril and swelling to one side of his face. The girl on reception was lovely but the vet (an Australian lady) was extremely brusk from the start - hurrying me and cutting me off when i was describing his symptoms, causing me to feel even more flustered and panicky than i already was! Her first statement was that its most likely a tumour and would need to be put down but they would put him under anaesthetic and put a camera up his nose to look for abnormalities, i was told that seeing nothing unusual that they then flushed out his airways with saline. The following day we went to collect him and were told there was no signs of any thing foreign or unusual in his nose and that it must be a tumour and that scans and xrays etc would have to follow, unable to pay at that moment i decided to take my cat home and return when i was paid the following week. On arriving home i had a closer look at the cat and could clearly see a large seed from grass (the ones that look like corn) protruding from his nostril! A little tug with my tweezers and my cat was back to full perfect health! This left me not only with very little faith in them but also the belief that no camera exam was ever carried out! My second experience was with Goddars Fremantle Road, Barkingside with my other cat, both boys are bruisers and are often in scraps with neighbours cats but this time my 2nd cat had a very bad limp and couldn't even put his foot to the ground. I thought I would try the other branch after what had happened at Cranbrook Road. The vet although much friendlier she was clearly offended when i explained what had happened with my 1st at Cranbrook road and gave me her personal opinion of the Australian vet and that she was a good friend to her. Maybe, but as a vet she was terrible. On examination of henry she said most likely to be arthritis but would need to be put under anaesthetic and investigated further. We left him with them and he was put out and examined, they next day we received the upsetting call that there was no breaks or evidence of injury and that arthritis was the only explanation and that they can prescribe pain killers but there was no long term option, yet again having him put to sleep was the only option given! We said that we would take a bottle of the anti-inflammatory and see if the condition showed any signs of change in the forthcoming week. Again, as soon as i arrived home I took a closer look at the leg as it had been shaved, to allow a clear view when the vet carried out the exam. What did i see?! A huge gash running the entire length of his leg! Clearly visible now his leg was bald. 2 weeks later the wound had healed and henry was back to scrapping with the neighbours cats! I should definitely have followed up on both occasions and made formal complaints but was just happy that they were both fine in the end. The one good experience i did have was with Goddard Wanstead, cat 1 yet again had been in a scrap and showed no obvious sign of injury other that some tufts of fur sticking out, he went and hid under the bed and licked his wounds as per usual. About an hour later i went up to check on him. It look as though there had been a massacre! Blood and lumps of flesh up the walls, over my wardrobes everywhere! I walked in to see my boy, with his mouth wide open and blood pouring from it with what appeared to be his tongue in tatters. This was around 8 in the evening, we scooped him up and rushed him to Wanstead 24hr hospital. They couldn't have been more helpful, the girl on reception seemed to show genuine concern, both me and the cat were covered in blood and a nurse was out very quickly to take him to be examined. The receptionist offered me a drink and showed me where i could clean up. I looked like Id carried out the massacre! He was sedated and left overnight on painkillers, we had a call the next day to say that he was fine and ready to come home, his tongue has split entirely down the middle but was otherwise fine we left with some slow release antibiotics, he still has a tongue like a snake but otherwise is back to himself. Despite my last experience being a good one I have chosen to use a different vet from now on as i wouldn't trust either Freemantle road or Cranbrook ever again read more

Went there one night becourse my dog all of a sudden had one eye that look like its pop in there for 10 minute gave us some eye drop and a bill for £155 told us to bring her back in the morning, next day took her there they say she must have walk into something and statch her eyelid it will get better and again cost us £30 for 5 minute too weeks later that eye was healed but she could see with that eye anymore four month later same thing happen to the other eye and now she is completely blind. If u are a vet surely u would have diagnosed it right away that the dog would go blind seeing that her eyelid was swollen for no apparent reason I wouldn't have mind paying that money if they knew what they are doing other than to think get us out quick so the can check on another person and charge them ridiculous money for a 10 minute check. read more