I must state that my experience with Castle Vets over the last 10 months has been inconsistent.
I appreciate that it is a business and it is there to make money, but to upsell from day one when I have brought an ill pet in is completely unacceptable. My advice is use your marketing to display your products, do not use a vet to sell to the pet owner. I am used to vets undertaking this practice and all it does is seek to irritate.
Secondly, the quality of vets is completely variable ranging from sales people as per the above to arrogance that they know better because they have a piece of paper that says so. In human health, the best doctor is the patient themselves, not the doctor and in vet care, the next best thing is the pet owner - NOT the vet. Listen to the pet owner, take on board what they say, do not use your piece of paper to say that you know best.
The upshot being this is you are healthcare professionals, you care for health - it says it in the name. You are not sales people and you certainly should never carry an air of being better than the customers who come to see you. You do not know everything, the best stance to take is that you know nothing and start from there.
Back on track - so we did have a pretty good vet who did care for our animal (who was suffering from a leg condition/injury)and discussed our concerns at length.
The resultant consultation led to administering a medicine, Solensia to offer pain relief, with the only side effect being 'a potential itchy ear'. 3 days later, he was unable to eat, drink or do anything and was essentially comatose. 9 days later my pet is dead with a personal cost of around £5,000 in attempts to keep him alive.
After researching Solensia, it is a potentially dangerous, experimental drug which was only released in 2022 and there is no substantial data to confirm whether it is safe/unsafe. That is base common sense. Being approved does not make it safe - there is simply not enough data.
My advice here is something which I should have taken myself from the outset, use the vet for diagnostics but before you give your pet any medical procedure, do your own research. We normally do this in all honesty, but this time - we did not and as a result, we have a dead pet.
This closing advice should not only be applied to the pet owner, but to the vet practice themselves.
Will I use Castle Vets again? Only to sort out the trail of destruction left behind with the paperwork and the insurance claims. Other than this, I will seek another vet practice for the future.
Is it good for you? Maybe - there are decent vets here, but also some shockingly bad ones as well. The focus being is that if they are more interested in your wallet, than caring for your pet - ask to change vet.
Okay, I am changing the review to 1* now given that I received a response from their insurers and the statement provided to the insurers from the vet was completely untrue. £5000+ out of pocket because you did not take the time to explain the necessary side affects of a drug and that it can lead to cancer or death...both of which happened in a short time. Action (you gave him the drug), Reaction (he was dead within a week). It is simple common sense.
I appreciate it may be convenient for many people to take their pets here, but please, for the sake of your animal, do not do it. Bishop Auckland would be better off without this business in the area, and so will your pet.
ADDITION 23/2/26 - This is almost laughable. Despite the vet canceling any further charges. I received an email them asking me for further money, proving them to be a sales organisation on the 1st September 2025. The very same day, I sent them an email asking them what it was for. on 23rd February 2026, I received an email from their solicitors pursuing money. Did not follow due legal process, said nothing about passing the alleged debt to a third party, did not even explain what the debt was for on 1st September 2025. Worst vet ever, just a sales organisation
I feel heartbroken writing this, but I would strongly urge people to think twice before using this veterinary clinic. My dog has been registered there for six years, and until now I had thankfully never needed them for anything serious. This week, that changed when my dog, Holly, suddenly became very unwell.
Because it was the weekend when she first fell ill, I had no choice but to take her to Animal Trust in Thornaby. They were compassionate, reassuring, and genuinely seemed to care. I cannot recommend them enough, and I will now be transferring Holly there permanently.
Following Animal Trust’s advice, when Holly didn’t improve, I took her back to her registered vets during their opening hours. I was told she needed blood tests costing £210, that we would have the results within 24 hours, and that we could then move forward with treatment. As a worried owner, you trust what you’re told, especially when your pet is suffering.
£270 and 48 hours later, I still have a very poorly dog, no results, and no real answers about how we are going to make Holly better. Instead, I was told they needed more time, despite originally promising a 24-hour turnaround. When your pet is part of your family, every hour feels like a lifetime, and being left waiting with no clear communication is devastating.
I truly feel this clinic is more focused on money than on the animals in their care. If your pet is just an ‘animal’ to you, you may not have an issue. But if your pet is your family, your companion, your everything — please choose somewhere that will treat them with the care, urgency, and compassion they deserve especially when you’re paying the price tag.
Always enjoy your practice. Warm welcome towards me and my pets. Great having 2 separate waiting areas for cats and dogs ( sorry I I didn't notice where the other pets such as rabbits wait ). Good space to wait outside and have a chat with your pets as it's not on a road. Plenty parking spaces too. The vetinary care my pets have received is always thorough and thoughtful, caring and careful. As always great to see other pets whilst waiting. Thank you for being here and when my cats have come in with an abscess ( as happened recently) , been sick or won't eat you have helped them and me by seeing them the same morning I phoned up. I value all you do to help keep my cats happy and healthy.
I must state that my experience with Castle Vets over the last 10 months has been inconsistent.
I appreciate that it is a business and it is there to make money, but to upsell from day one when I have brought an ill pet in is completely unacceptable. My advice is use your marketing to display your products, do not use a vet to sell to the pet owner. I am used to vets undertaking this practice and all it does is seek to irritate.
Secondly, the quality of vets is completely variable ranging from sales people as per the above to arrogance that they know better because they have a piece of paper that says so. In human health, the best doctor is the patient themselves, not the doctor and in vet care, the next best thing is the pet owner - NOT the vet. Listen to the pet owner, take on board what they say, do not use your piece of paper to say that you know best.
The upshot being this is you are healthcare professionals, you care for health - it says it in the name. You are not sales people and you certainly should never carry an air of being better than the customers who come to see you. You do not know everything, the best stance to take is that you know nothing and start from there.
Back on track - so we did have a pretty good vet who did care for our animal (who was suffering from a leg condition/injury)and discussed our concerns at length.
The resultant consultation led to administering a medicine, Solensia to offer pain relief, with the only side effect being 'a potential itchy ear'. 3 days later, he was unable to eat, drink or do anything and was essentially comatose. 9 days later my pet is dead with a personal cost of around £5,000 in attempts to keep him alive.
After researching Solensia, it is a potentially dangerous, experimental drug which was only released in 2022 and there is no substantial data to confirm whether it is safe/unsafe. That is base common sense. Being approved does not make it safe - there is simply not enough data.
My advice here is something which I should have taken myself from the outset, use the vet for diagnostics but before you give your pet any medical procedure, do your own research. We normally do this in all honesty, but this time - we did not and as a result, we have a dead pet.
This closing advice should not only be applied to the pet owner, but to the vet practice themselves.
Will I use Castle Vets again? Only to sort out the trail of destruction left behind with the paperwork and the insurance claims. Other than this, I will seek another vet practice for the future.
Is it good for you? Maybe - there are decent vets here, but also some shockingly bad ones as well. The focus being is that if they are more interested in your wallet, than caring for your pet - ask to change vet.
Okay, I am changing the review to 1* now given that I received a response from their insurers and the statement provided to the insurers from the vet was completely untrue. £5000+ out of pocket because you did not take the time to explain the necessary side affects of a drug and that it can lead to cancer or death...both of which happened in a short time. Action (you gave him the drug), Reaction (he was dead within a week). It is simple common sense.
I appreciate it may be convenient for many people to take their pets here, but please, for the sake of your animal, do not do it. Bishop Auckland would be better off without this business in the area, and so will your pet.
Didn't have the best experience here yesterday tue 12th aug.our dog needed a op which was going to be around £2500 which for us is a lot off money and didn't have all in one go .it felt like as soon as the woman knew this she didn't want to know just told us to go home and ring around other vests see if we could get it cheaper which we did from another vets thank god because if she didn't get the op it would have been fatal.castle vests also knew that aswell but still sent us on our way. also the vet who we seen wasn't very nice she was abrupt and rude .a little bit off empathy goes along way and she didn't have 1 bit .i wouldn't recommend these vets at all
Didn't have the best experience here yesterday tue 12th aug.our dog needed a op which was going to be around £2500 which for us is a lot off money and didn't have all in one go .it felt like as soon as the woman knew this she didn't want to know just told us to go home and ring around other vests see if we could get it cheaper which we did from another vets thank god because if she didn't get the op it would have been fatal.castle vests also knew that aswell but still sent us on our way. also the vet who we seen wasn't very nice she was abrupt and rude .a little bit off empathy goes along way and she didn't have 1 bit .i wouldn't recommend these vets at all
Horrible vets that have killed my baby. Prescribed him an anti-arthritis medication that has only been released in 2022 and is well-known for its horrific side-effects and inability to get this ‘medication’ out of the animal’s system before at least 60 days (Solensia, it also has other names, so, please, check!). Vet was not even familiar with the medication herself but it has clearly not stopped her from prescribing it! Unscrupulous drug pushers and not vets! Probably have drugs quotes to meet in order to get some extra bonuses for themselves! I’m utterly heartbroken!
Horrible vets that have killed my baby. Prescribed him an anti-arthritis medication that has only been released in 2022 and is well-known for its horrific side-effects and inability to get this ‘medication’ out of the animal’s system before at least 60 days (Solensia, it also has other names, so, please, check!). Vet was not even familiar with the medication herself but it has clearly not stopped her from prescribing it! Unscrupulous drug pushers and not vets! Probably have drugs quotes to meet in order to get some extra bonuses for themselves! I’m utterly heartbroken!
I must state that my experience with Castle Vets over the last 10 months has been inconsistent.
I appreciate that it is a business and it is there to make money, but to upsell from day one when I have brought an ill pet in is completely unacceptable. My advice is use your marketing to display your products, do not use a vet to sell to the pet owner. I am used to vets undertaking this practice and all it does is seek to irritate.
Secondly, the quality of vets is completely variable ranging from sales people as per the above to arrogance that they know better because they have a piece of paper that says so. In human health, the best doctor is the patient themselves, not the doctor and in vet care, the next best thing is the pet owner - NOT the vet. Listen to the pet owner, take on board what they say, do not use your piece of paper to say that you know best.
The upshot being this is you are healthcare professionals, you care for health - it says it in the name. You are not sales people and you certainly should never carry an air of being better than the customers who come to see you. You do not know everything, the best stance to take is that you know nothing and start from there.
Back on track - so we did have a pretty good vet who did care for our animal (who was suffering from a leg condition/injury)and discussed our concerns at length.
The resultant consultation led to administering a medicine, Solensia to offer pain relief, with the only side effect being 'a potential itchy ear'. 3 days later, he was unable to eat, drink or do anything and was essentially comatose. 9 days later my pet is dead with a personal cost of around £5,000 in attempts to keep him alive.
After researching Solensia, it is a potentially dangerous, experimental drug which was only released in 2022 and there is no substantial data to confirm whether it is safe/unsafe. That is base common sense. Being approved does not make it safe - there is simply not enough data.
My advice here is something which I should have taken myself from the outset, use the vet for diagnostics but before you give your pet any medical procedure, do your own research. We normally do this in all honesty, but this time - we did not and as a result, we have a dead pet.
This closing advice should not only be applied to the pet owner, but to the vet practice themselves.
Will I use Castle Vets again? Only to sort out the trail of destruction left behind with the paperwork and the insurance claims. Other than this, I will seek another vet practice for the future.
Is it good for you? Maybe - there are decent vets here, but also some shockingly bad ones as well. The focus being is that if they are more interested in your wallet, than caring for your pet - ask to change vet.
