Welcome to Optivet Referrals Ltd, a veterinary practice located in the picturesque town of Havant in Hampshire, England. The dedicated team of veterinary surgeons and nurses at Optivet Referrals Ltd pride themselves on providing high-quality care to your furry friends.
At the helm of the practice is Mr Robert Lowe, a highly qualified veterinary surgeon with a BVSc DVOphthal MRCVS degree who also serves as the director of the practice. Alongside him are Miss Maria Cebrian Lopez, Dr Daniel Costa Moya, Dr Francesca de Oliveira, and Dr Samantha Dixon. This team of veterinary surgeons boasts an impressive range of qualifications including DipECVO, DVM MANZCVS, CertAVP, and MRCVS. Their expertise, coupled with a genuine love for animals, ensures your pet receives the care and attention they deserve.
In addition to the veterinary surgeons, Optivet Referrals Ltd is home to a team of highly skilled veterinary nurses. Miss Hannah O’Shea and Miss Rosina Webb lead this team as Head Nurses and are complemented by Mrs Chloe Baker, Mrs Sara Benton, and Miss Laura Adams. All of the veterinary nurses are qualified, with some holding additional qualifications such as the DipAVN (Small Animal). Their passion and dedication ensure your pet receives exceptional care during their stay.
Optivet Referrals Ltd also employs specialists in various fields, including ophthalmology, dermatology, and neurology. These specialists have undergone advanced training in their respective fields, allowing them to diagnose and treat complex medical issues. The practice also has advanced practitioners on staff, who have completed additional clinical training to provide the best possible care for your pet.
Optivet Referrals Ltd is a referral-only practice, meaning they accept cases from other veterinary practices for patients requiring specialist care. The practice has a particular interest in ophthalmology, dermatology, and neurology cases, but they welcome referrals for cats and dogs requiring all types of specialist care.
The state-of-the-art facilities at Optivet Referrals Ltd make the practice the perfect place for your pet’s treatment. With modern equipment and comfortable accommodation, your furry friend will feel right at home. The team is committed to ensuring all pets are relaxed and comfortable during their stay, providing them with the highest level of care possible.
The practice’s website provides a wealth of information on the veterinary team, facilities, and services offered. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact Optivet Referrals Ltd. The team looks forward to welcoming you and your pet to their warm and friendly practice.
Cats
Dogs
Referral interests
Referrals only
Based on 7 reviews
Bethany Long
Google 26 May 2026
Absolutely lovely vet! The vet who saw my poorly chihuahua was so kind and thorough. Everyone at the practice was so caring with my dog who has been through a very rough time. The vet called her sweet baby mouse and was just so kind and lovely. My vet referred me here saying they were one of the best in Europe. Very happy with the care we both received.
Jo Macdonald
Google 4 March 2026
Our dogs have been patients of Optivet for several years now and the care has always been superb. I do not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who needs this specialist support for their pets. Appointments are never rushed, full explanations are provided and care plans are jointly made by us and the vet. We couldn't ask for better care.
Madeleine Furminger
Google 26 February 2026
Our 10 year old English Bulldog was referred to Optivet after having continuous eye infections. They diagnosed the problem and surgery was completed the a couple of weeks later. They looked after him so well, they were very caring and they went through all our options and explained everything very well. Thank you to all the staff for looking after our furbaby so well. He is so much better now.
Simon Miles
Google 25 February 2026
Optivet and The Lighthouse Hospital have been absolutely outstanding from the animal care team and admin staff to the specialists and directors. Throughout my experience, they have shown not only clinical excellence but genuine compassion and understanding. They truly care about the animals they treat and the people who love them. Cosmo is my 16-year-old Domestic Short Haired cat who has generally been in very good health. He was referred to Optivet due to recurring minor nosebleeds. However, before that appointment, he suffered a severe nosebleed on Sunday 15th that required emergency care. As I am deaf, I needed someone to call The Lighthouse on my behalf. They advised me to bring him in immediately. When I arrived, I expected to wait, but the receptionist, Emily, quickly assessed the situation. Seeing how much blood Cosmo had lost, she calmly took him straight through to the vet. I was extremely distressed, especially given his age, but Emily remained professional and kind. She reassured me, brought tissues, and offered a drink — exactly what I needed at that moment. The vet who triaged Cosmo prioritised him straight away and later explained they wanted to keep him overnight for monitoring and have him seen by Chris, the internal medicine specialist, on Monday morning. She was also considerate of my deafness and checked whether I needed communication support, which meant a great deal. On Monday, Chris examined Cosmo and recommended a CT scan, explaining that nosebleeds in older cats can indicate something serious such as cancer. The estimated cost was around £2,000, so we made the difficult decision to discharge him while waiting for insurance pre-authorisation. Bryony from the insurance team was incredible, keeping me updated and exploring options. Unfortunately, the insurer declined the claim, calling it a pre-existing condition. Instead of focusing on payment, Bryony focused on Cosmo. She arranged an internal payment plan so I could pay in monthly instalments. On Wednesday 18th, Cosmo was seen at the PDSA and prescribed more steroids, with the warning that euthanasia might be necessary if they didn’t work. Devastated, I contacted Optivet again to ask if a payment plan for the CT could be considered, as I had recently moved and couldn’t afford the upfront cost. Bryony discussed this with Simon, the Director, and by Friday returned with incredible news: Simon had approved both a payment plan and a heavily discounted CT scan. This showed true compassion — Cosmo’s wellbeing came before profit. The admin team quickly arranged the booking for Tuesday 24th and provided clear instructions. On the day of the scan, I was warmly welcomed despite arriving slightly late due to traffic. Even when Cosmo briefly escaped his carrier, staff handled it calmly and professionally. Throughout the day, Ana and Chris kept me updated by email. At discharge, Chris carefully explained the findings, medications, and next steps. He had also performed a biopsy while Cosmo was under anaesthetic and will follow up once results are available. He has arranged a free follow-up appointment and plans to check in next week. Afterwards, I met Simon, who was friendly, open, and genuinely interested in both me and Cosmo. I explained that Cosmo is my only family, and Simon spoke about the importance of caring for animals regardless of someone’s circumstances. His compassion clearly reflects the ethos of the entire organisation. From the emergency admission to ongoing follow-ups, every member of the team has demonstrated professionalism, kindness, and genuine care. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without them. Thank you to the entire team at Optivet and The Lighthouse. Your support has been exceptional, and your compassion truly sets you apart.
Elisabeth Hewitt
Google 24 February 2026
Rob and the whole team have been amazing and thorough when looking after my little chihuahua who had a detached retina. I've felt very reassured both before and after when she's gone in for both operations. The first she was in for 3 nights and I received daily updates and could ring whenever I wanted. The second she was just a day patient and I was updated as soon as it was done. Everyone has been very patient and kind which when dealing with animal clients and their emotional owners is exactly what you need! Thank you all!
Clara Allansson
Google 29 January 2026
My dog has been a patient of Optivet’s for the past year or so for some ongoing health issues and I’m genuinely so impressed with the quality of care and service. Firstly, it’s the first referral vet I’ve ever visited where money isn’t the first thing brought up. It feels like my pet’s health comes before “how will you pay for this” which is so refreshing. In addition to this their pricing is very reasonable in comparison to others. I’ve been in contact with the vets during weekends, evenings and nothing ever seems to be too much trouble. They’re happy to take time to discuss things with me to ensure I fully understand my dog’s treatment plan. When complications have occurred they have promptly been escalated to the correct people to ensure my dog is looked after in the best way possible. Chris in particular has been amazing and has really gone above and beyond.
Danielle Read
Google 29 December 2025
What can I say about this place. They're incredible. My dog's eye was perforated and they managed to save his eye and his vision through emergency surgery. The care from the moment you walk through the door is second to none and you can tell the people that work at Optivet Referrals really are here for the animals.
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