Blackwater Vets is a veterinary practice located on Mill Road, providing care for a wide range of animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, small mammals, and exotic pets. The practice is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, ensuring high standards of veterinary care. Blackwater Vets operates Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6:30pm, with consultation times typically available from 8:30am to 10:30am and 4:00pm to 6:30pm. The practice is closed on Sundays and bank holidays, though emergency appointments are available on Saturdays between 8:30am and 12pm for registered patients by calling ahead. The practice is equipped with modern facilities to support comprehensive veterinary services for pets in the local community.
Birds
Cats
Dogs
Exotic
Small Mammals
Client car park
Open at weekends
Out-of-hours service
Blood testing
Dentistry
Flea and worm treatments
Microchipping
Neutering
Referral interests
Vaccinations
Diagnostic imaging
RCVS Core Standards
Consultation times are 8:30-10:30 and 16:00-18:30 most days
Based on 8 reviews
Simon Varnals
Google 17 April 2026
The vet herself is a liability. We first took our cat "Nelson" here for him to be castrated, a simple operation for most vets but for some reason that was never explained he needed external stitches. Just recently Nelson who was 15 years became quite sick and was wearing a collar. Someone (the vet wouldn't say who) waited until we were out and took him. Nelson didn't want to be in the Vets so he became fiesty and tried to leave. The Vet decided on her own and without authority, not to take him home but to sedate and cathertise him an elderly and poorly cat, knowing that it would most likely KILL him and leaving us with no option but to have him put down at that point. When I went to talk to this Nasty and Vile vet, her only interest was financial and offered no explanation as to why she did what she did. (Reported to The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons).
livvie b
Google 28 March 2026
it honestly doesn't deserve a star. i took my dog there back in 2025 and i just want to warn everyone DO NOT PICK THESE VETS. there are much better ones. my mother and i took my puppy to their vets in 2025 for a micro chip for my puppy as she wasnt micro chipped yet. they then asked if she was vaccinated which she wasnt yet as we wanted her to be microchipped first. the lady the proceeds to scoff at us and throw our puppy at us, resulting in my puppy peeing all over my mother and i since she was so scared. honestly if you cant take care of animals dont work with them. shame on everyone who works there.
Zachary Bray
Google 25 March 2026
DISGRACEFUL!!! They do not care about their duty of care to pets all they care about is trying to take as much money from you as possible. My Fenchie has had a long term skin condition which causes her to have very itchy paws. I have been with Blackwater for just over 6 months and in that time I have been getting a repeat prescription for my dog. Recently me and my partner moved and have been having some very difficult money issues, which we explained clearly to the vet. Her medication ran out at a very difficult time but I even delayed paying my council tax so I had enough money for her check up, new prescription and a months worth of medication. When I called to book the appointment they told me she had to have £300 worth of bloods done and this doesn’t include the meds or the consultation. They gave me no prior warning of this otherwise I would have been saving for it. I then explained we couldn’t afford to do that just yet but we would as soon as we could but I did however book an appointment as she had an ear infection that I wanted to get looked at. The next day they called me back and said they were no longer going to care for her as I disregarded there advice and didn’t follow the vets plan, I then went onto ask about her ear infection and they claimed that the only reason she has one is because she is no longer on her pills. This is one of the most ludicrous things I have ever heard, my dog is a frenchie they are highly susceptible to ear infections because of their anatomy and big ears, she had ear infections long before she developed this skin allergy. How you can make an assumption like that when you haven’t even looked at her is beyond me. There is clearly a lack of morality in this practice and by looking at the other complaints, which they haven’t even had the decency to reply to, some of which were really hard to read. I am clearly not alone in the way I have been treated. How this vet is RSPCA accredited I do not know. If anyone feels they can’t leave this practice as they have no way of getting to a practice in Colchester, which was me, then please try Paws Colchester they are only a 40 min bus journey from Mersea high street and have a much better reputation. For something as important as your pets health it is worth the travel. Rather than leaving your pets life in the hands of people who obviously don’t care.
Char Collier
Google 23 January 2026
The veterinarian believed the ideal option for an elderly friend of mine’s elderly dog of 11 years —who was otherwise in good overall health, apart from head shaking and ear scratching—was euthanasia. The actual issue was poor gut health and collagen loss, which costs pounds, not almost a grand to treat, Banking on an inevitable worsening ear infection. That particular dog is still well, live and kicking with nothing more than probiotics, collagen and a diet change. I took my own dog there for a booster vaccination and ended up paying only for a consultation, as she wanted another one and a half to “treat” nothing more than a yeast build-up. Avoid at all costs. If the owner reads this: get a better veterinarian not a scam artist. Eerily I'm not the first person to say Orla or Ola has suggested putting dogs to sleep.
Lizzy Kingsford
Google 24 November 2025
Ive had 2 dogs, 2 cats, guinea pigs and rabbits all with blackwater vets but because our last animal, a cat who was a house cat hadn't been in yearly for the last 4/5 years they refused to take her for cremation at the grand old age of 20. Blown away by this stupidity and unkind attitude. She had been vaccinated for 15 years of her life but as she was by her own choice housebound we decided to stop vaccinating yearly which is our choice. She was well to the day she passed but despite the thousands ive spent in this vet they chose to decline as they only do 'prevention' and cremations to those that are regular and not kindness to those that have used them for years for multiple pets. What an unkind and repulsive attitude to have.
Lucy Hurst
Google 29 August 2025
Posting on behalf of elderly neighbour with no transport; We rang the vets today to get treatment for our family pet, told to drive up to get it, so arranged for transport to do so, when we arrived we were advised rather sternly that we had been struck off the list of patients and wouldn't be able to offer treatment. Not only was the way we were spoken to totally uncalled for and rude, it was a complete waste of everyones time and effort. If they weren't prepared to see us, then simply advise when we called. The staff are rude and I will not be recommending this service to anyone should they ask. AVOID AVOID AVOID
Mark Holmes
Google 14 May 2025
I have been a customer of Blackwater vets for the last three years. I’ve been taking my two cats there in that time. Neither of them are fans of going to the vet. The reception staff make you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door and make sure my two cats are comfortable after the journey from home. Ola, the vet and her team couldn’t be more caring. They take the time to make sure your pet is in good health while keeping you informed about what she is doing. I have been lucky that we have only needed routine checks and vaccinations but I know if I need more, Ola and her team will make sure the highest quality care will be taken when needed. Great service and well worth the traveling, as I don’t live on Mersea!
Catherine Walsh
Google 30 May 2024
Sadly we had to visit with our very poorly dog while we were on holiday. We were warmly welcomed and our dog was treated with such care and love (as were we). Cannot thank you enough Amanda, Ashleigh and Ola xx Mersea you're so lucky to have a practice that hasn't been bougt out by a chain. Such a difference to our local vets. Photo of my beautiful boy in Mersea ❤️
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What pet owners typically ask before they call.