Your local, independent, trusted vet - Castle Vets (Dorchester) Skip to content

About us

Your local independent and trusted vet

Our practice was founded by Rip Kirby in 1992 with the ethos of being a friendly and approachable place to bring your pet. We are still committed to this, whilst providing the best possible care and treatment for all your pets. The practice remains independently owned by the vets who work in it, the only one in the area now. Being independent ensures the practice employees are motivated only by making pets better, not by keeping shareholders happy.

We have highly trained and experienced staff who will work with you to keep your pet in the best of health. We offer a full range of veterinary services, preventative health care, consultations, in-house diagnostic testing, imaging, and surgery. We have also partnered with Virtual Veterinary Specialists to ensure almost every problem imaginable can be dealt with right here at Castle Vets. We also offer a monthly budgeting plan and provide our own out of hours care to all our registered patients.

Many clients have been with us years and we consider them old friends, but we are always happy to welcome new faces, paws, tails and whiskers! Please do not hesitate to contact us about any matter big or small.

Reviews

Meet just a few of our happy owners and their pets!

Brilliant vets ,competitive pricing and staff are fabulous!
I've got a puppy who needed his vaccination, they responded very quickly
Really caring and honest vets. Feel really confident taking our animals there.
I cannot possibly explain with words how amazing this veterinary clinic is, it was our first time going there and its also the first time I've ever felt just purly listened too and not pushed to do anything I wouldnt be comfortable with for my dog. I feel they genuinely want the best your your animals, to the point where they want to make sure there is an infection before just giving antibiotics, which other vets I've been too would have just prescribed them regardless. I cant express how much this helped me relax, and my dog also enjoyed the experience and got lots of lovely hellos and treats.Truly I feel over the moon that this is our vets!I am feeling so indescribably happy with my experience and I couldnt recommend them enough.
Best local vets imo brilliant with my nervous mastiff x
Fantastic! I can't fault at all... Looked after my cat so well and very reasonable prices
My dog mojo had to have some teeth taken out yesterday. The staff and vets are an incredible caring dedicated animal lovingteam .. with all animals whole health being the whole heart of all their work and passion . Thankyou for making mojo pain free and happy again . And putting his worried mums mind at rest when I had to leave him . He is doing incredibly well the morning after . Thankyou so much .
They are amazing and really care about our pets!
We can never thank Castle vets enough for the outstanding care over 10 years for our amazing dog Alfie. As well as all the routine checks, vaccinations and general care, they recognised aged 3 that he would need life changing knee surgery to prolong his life, which would have been shortened considerably had we opted for pain relief only, and which also improved his quality of life. He loved visiting both the Weymouth and Dorchester surgeries and all the staff always welcomed him despite his boisterous greetings which sometimes involved paws on the reception desk and knocking down of displays! When we became concerned that he was seriously ill, they were prompt and sensitive in their investigations and in giving us dreaded news, helping us to digest the implications for Alfie. This meant that we made the right decisions for him and he had a good last week of life with a final walk on the beach, a final visit to his favourite dog friendly pub (the Springhead at Sutton Poyntz and the last thing he actually ate - some carvery pork) - and time at home resting on the sofa, going down the garden, or sitting outside sniffing the air. When we saw a deterioration which signalled that he was uncomfortable, we called the vets and within 40 minutes, despite being nearly midnight, Kirsty the vet and Roxy, veterinary nurse, arrived at our house and made sure that Alfie's death was a calm, peaceful and dignified one. They must have been tired, but they sat on the floor with us all reminiscing about him, stroking him, talking to him and crying and only left, over an hour later, when we were ready. Alfie loved Castle vets and we do too.
Absolutely outstanding service. All staff wonderful and the vets are incredible. Highly recommend
Lovely kind staff. Great facilities.
Very friendly and helpful.
Always pleasant. No trouble getting an appointment.
We've had multiple pets here over 17 years. They've always been amazing with the animals, even through covid. The way they handle animals and also customers is amazing. Reception team are always on it and the veterinarians have always made the animals feel comfortable.
Lovely vets,so friendly. Nothing too much trouble.
We have had 2 late night accidents resulting in an off duty call and requiring subsequent surgical procedures each time. All of the staff were so reassuring and looked after our dogs with such care. One of our dogs, Izzy had to return for dressing changes once every few days. The care she received was in my opinion better than in any human hospital, using a mixture of modern and natural techniques. The bill was amazingly reasonable too. Thank you all so much
Helped us recapture cat when basket broke open outside!
Got an appointment fairly easily for my pet, but only annoyance is that you can't go in with your pet due to Covid! Could if owner went in instead of staff. Their excuse is not enough room to social distance. But they're very good with animals and explain everything. I'd be happy to wear gloves, etc to be able to stay with them
Covid safe procedures in place and all clean and bright.
Such a good vet. Been with them for years for both my dogs. Trust them implicitly.
We couldn't have asked for a more professional and caring service from castle vets staff over the last 6 years, looking after our beloved paddy until the very end x thankyou x
Highly recommend, We've used this clinic for over 10 years and wouldn't go anywhere else.
The team have always been excellent with our late cat Sammy over the 18 years of his life, thank you for everything
Top quality vets with top-notch staff. They really care about running a good and ethical business. I trust them.
Amazing care of my guinea pigs can't fault them Giles the vet was fab two weeks ago and explained everything in minute detail regarding my very small Piggie put me at ease