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!

Very friendly, kept everything safe with distancing but still had that personal touch.
I would recommend this veterinary practice to anyone . They genuinely care about the animals (our babies) over charging extortionate amounts for treatments and extra services that you don't need ! From the lovely receptionist to all of the other amazing staff the care you and your animals are given is five star absolutely !! The vets actually get down on the floor with your pets and are so friendly and minimally clinical.
Brilliant vets
Good care of our animals
Great staff, vet was friendly and took his time to explain everything in terms we could understand
So caring and efficient, cannot praise the whole team enough for how well they looked after our cat, and us.
They saved my boys life when he broke his leg the other day. And now I can hold onto my purring best friend for hopefully much longer. Amazing team. Thank you so much.
I stopped to pick up a wounded hedgehog this morning from the road in Charminster and drove it strait to Castle Vets being the nearest and near where I work.Having never been there before and walking in with this little hedgehog in a bad state the lady I dealt with, Amanda, was so kind, friendly and empathetic.She immediately took him to a nurse to be looked at and took my details to keep me informed as to his condition which she did later that morning.I am so grateful and impressed.Thank you Amanda and Castle Vets team!
Lovely people friendly service
A very caring vet with very helpful staff. I've always managed to get an appointment quickly. Would highly recommend.
As usual, excellent service. Little waiting around and dog untraumatised. Best vet I've ever had.
Wonderful! Fitted us in fast when I was concerned about my dog. The reception staff were friendly and welcoming and the vets were gentle, caring and knowledgeable. They also didn't charge a Kings ransom which was a pleasant change from my previous vets who were not independents.
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
Have just registered our new pup here after the passing of our old Spaniel. Staff are friendly and ready to answer any questions. Appointments run to time and good parking outside.
Just picking up flea treatment for our 7 month old kittens. But very friendly and willing to chat and show interest in what happened to our cat who died, which I appreciated.
Lovely vets,so friendly. Nothing too much trouble.
5* service from reception to consultation room.Fern my springer had a tough time for about a week or so and she's now doing great, I cant thank them enough.They kept me reassured at all times and made the whole experience a whole lot easier.Vets arnt shy of a telephone call to help assist from home rather than calling you in to the practice just for the sake of the consultation fees, unlike other vets I've previously used.Reception are really friendly and helpful.Alice and Star are the two names that stood out the most for me, as these guys dealt with me the most but the rest of the team I spoke to are equally as professional and friendly.One happy fern and 8 even happier puppies
Always pleasant. No trouble getting an appointment.
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 .
Top quality vets with top-notch staff. They really care about running a good and ethical business. I trust them.
Empathetic service from all staff members, especially date Suzanna
Such wonderful professional service.Very sympathetic towards me and my dog when I had to let her go.All staff included especially when I had ring and book my dog on, thank you.
I can safely say this is the best vets ive taken my dog too, and ive tried them all. Fantastic staff, the vet doesn't make you feel rushed and explains things in detail to make sure you know what choices of treatment your pet has. 100% recommend this vets for your fur babies.
Just wanted to say thank you ALL for looking after Frankie (our dachshund) over the past few days. Glad you quickly diagnosed her bladder stone and operated to sort the problem. Sincerely appreciate everything.