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Best Veterinarians in Napier and Hastings

We assessed 10 veterinarians in Napier and Hastings and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 1,701 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 15 July 2026. How we rank →

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Before you hire

Vet costs add up quickly, and prices for the same procedure differ a lot between clinics, so ask for an estimate before agreeing to treatment. Check whether the clinic offers its own after-hours service or refers to an emergency centre, and ask how they handle pain relief and follow-up after surgery.

Top 5 Veterinarians in Napier and Hastings

The top 5 veterinarians in Napier and Hastings are AnimalCare, Carlyle Veterinary Clinic, Clive Cottage Vet Clinic, VetsOne, and Taradale Veterinary Hospital, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.

  • 1

    AnimalCare (2002)

    ★ 4.9 214 reviews Top5 Score 168
    5★ 193 4★ 17 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 1

    AnimalCare (2002) steps up in genuine emergencies, with vets performing urgent surgery and sourcing blood transfusions from their own dogs to save a patient's life. Long-term clients spanning nearly two decades point to a specific vet, Nicky, by name as the reason they have never looked elsewhere.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners facing serious or emergency health crises

    • ✓ Blood transfusion sourced on the spot
    • ✓ Ultrasound provided at no charge
    • ✓ Euthanasia handled with flowers and care

    location_on 45 Havelock Road, Havelock North

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  • 2

    Carlyle Veterinary Clinic

    ★ 4.6 410 reviews Top5 Score 168
    5★ 320 4★ 50 3★ 15 2★ 3 1★ 22

    Carlyle Veterinary Clinic carries complex cases through surgery and multiple follow-up visits with care that pet owners describe as impeccable. Vets like Dr Angeline and Dr Sarver take time to explain further tests and treatment plans, and anxious animals are given the patience needed to settle during consultations.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners needing thorough follow-up care

    • ✓ Walk-in appointments accommodated
    • ✓ Explains treatment options thoroughly
    • ✓ Calm handling of anxious pets

    location_on 139 Carlyle Street, Napier South, Napier

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  • 3

    Clive Cottage Vet Clinic

    ★ 4.8 256 reviews Top5 Score 167
    5★ 236 4★ 8 3★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 8

    Clive Cottage Vet Clinic takes on complex cases other clinics turn away, including rabbit amputations and emergency weekend appointments slotted in at short notice. Their pricing draws repeated mention as noticeably lower than other Hawke's Bay vets, including for after-hours care.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners needing urgent or specialist animal care

    • ✓ Same-day emergency slots available
    • ✓ Rabbit and exotic pet surgery
    • ✓ Lower cost than nearby clinics

    location_on 11 Ferry Road, Clive

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  • 4

    VetsOne Ltd

    ★ 4.6 278 reviews Top5 Score 163
    5★ 207 4★ 46 3★ 8 2★ 5 1★ 12

    VetsOne Ltd keeps owners informed through serious health events, with named vets and nurses giving clear updates at every step. Staff will text owners photos and updates during extended stays to ease worry and help families feel connected to their pet's care.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners facing urgent or complex health situations

    • ✓ Clear updates during emergency treatment
    • ✓ End of life care handled with compassion
    • ✓ Honest about clinical limits and gaps

    location_on 500 Maraekakaho Road, St Leonards, Hastings

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  • 5

    Taradale Veterinary Hospital

    ★ 4.8 170 reviews Top5 Score 162
    5★ 154 4★ 9 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 4

    Taradale Veterinary Hospital carries animals through long-term and complicated conditions, with one pug owner crediting the team for keeping their dog alive to age eleven after multiple surgeries. Vets take time to walk owners through treatment options and follow up across repeat appointments, including seeing the same vet across consecutive visits.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners with complex or ongoing health needs

    • ✓ Same vet across follow-up appointments
    • ✓ Explains treatment options clearly
    • ✓ Gentle handling of elderly or anxious pets

    location_on 133 Gloucester Street, Taradale, Napier

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Before you choose a veterinarian in Napier and Hastings

Drawn from 155 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.

What do vet visits typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more

A standard consultation in New Zealand runs $60 to $120, with Napier and Hastings sitting mid-range. Desexing costs $150 to $350 for cats and $200 to $600 or more for dogs, depending on size and sex. Vaccination packages land between $80 and $180, depending on which vaccines are included. Pet insurance is worth serious consideration, because surgical or emergency bills in the hundreds to thousands of dollars are not unusual, and there is no ACC equivalent for animals.

How do I check a vet clinic is properly accredited? expand_more

Every vet practising in New Zealand must be registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand, and you can verify any individual vet's registration status on the VCNZ public register at vcnz.org.nz. Registration covers the individual, not the clinic, so a separate check is worth doing: look for NZVA Best Practice accreditation, which assesses the clinic's facilities, infection control, and record-keeping standards. If care falls short, the VCNZ is the formal complaints pathway, and at least one reviewer in this area has already used both the Disputes Tribunal and the VCNZ to challenge billing practices. Raising concerns directly with the clinic first is reasonable, but knowing the formal escalation route gives you real leverage if that fails.

How do I avoid paying for tests or treatment my pet does not need? expand_more

Ask for a written estimate before any diagnostics or procedures begin, and ask specifically which tests will change the treatment decision rather than just confirming what the vet already suspects. One local reviewer was quoted nearly $7,000 for work completed elsewhere for $900, which shows how much a second opinion can be worth before committing to expensive surgery. A good vet will walk you through options at different price points without pressure, and if a clinic cannot explain why a particular test or medication is necessary, that is a prompt to ask again or seek another view.

What are the warning signs of a vet clinic you should avoid? expand_more
  • –No price is disclosed before products are opened or treatment begins, leaving you with a surprise bill at the end.
  • –Surgery or expensive diagnostics are recommended without a physical examination or basic tests being done first.
  • –The vet tells you what will be done rather than asking your agreement, particularly for medications or procedures you could reasonably decline.
  • –Follow-up care after surgery is difficult to access, or calls back after treatment are no longer happening despite being standard practice previously.
  • –Prescription copies are refused without a clear clinical reason, or questions about prescriptions are treated as unreasonable.
  • –Reception or nursing staff are dismissive or rude when you raise concerns or ask straightforward questions before an appointment.
What should you ask before choosing a vet? expand_more
  • –Ask what the consultation fee is and whether estimates are provided before any treatment, tests, or medications are agreed to.
  • –Ask how after-hours emergencies are handled: whether the clinic has its own arrangement, which clinic they refer to, and what that is likely to cost.
  • –Ask whether you can request to see the same vet at follow-up appointments, as continuity matters for animals with ongoing conditions.
  • –Ask whether the clinic has experience with your specific type of animal, particularly if you have rabbits, exotic pets, or large animals, as not all clinics are equally equipped.
  • –Ask how pain relief and post-procedure follow-up are managed, including whether the clinic contacts you after surgery to check on recovery.

Veterinarians ranked 6 to 10 in Napier and Hastings

They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.

  • 6

    Petfirst Veterinary Havelock North

    ★ 4.8 56 reviews Top5 Score 147
    5★ 53 3★ 1 1★ 2

    Petfirst Veterinary Havelock North turns anxious vet visits into positive experiences, with staff who read animal behaviour closely during consultations to guide diagnosis. When an out-of-town cat swallowed string, a nurse fielded the emergency call, coordinated same-day advice, and followed up with the owner across several days unprompted.

    Reviews most often describe: Nervous pets needing calm, attentive care

    • ✓ Follow-up calls after appointments
    • ✓ Sees urgent cases without delay
    • ✓ Comfort items provided during consults

    location_on 25 Napier Road, Havelock North

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  • 7

    CareVets Napier

    ★ 4.4 130 reviews Top5 Score 146
    5★ 96 4★ 18 3★ 4 2★ 2 1★ 10

    CareVets Napier pulls through in high-stakes situations, with one owner crediting them for saving a puppy given only a 20% survival rate from parvovirus. Staff follow up after treatment and walk owners through aftercare in plain terms, not just at the appointment.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners facing urgent or complex animal health situations

    • ✓ Guides owners through aftercare steps
    • ✓ Responds promptly to injured animals
    • ✓ Post-treatment follow-up contact

    location_on 120 Taradale Road, Onekawa, Napier

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Vet Services Hawkes Bay - Napier

    ★ 4.6 94 reviews Top5 Score 146
    5★ 83 4★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 7

    Vet Services Hawkes Bay - Napier gets anxious and injured animals seen quickly, including same-day appointments on long weekends for walk-in visitors. Surgeon Sharné is named repeatedly by owners whose dogs have had cruciate ligament repairs, with both surgeries completed within a week of diagnosis.

    Reviews most often describe: Pets needing surgery, routine care, or emergency visits

    • ✓ Same-day emergency appointments
    • ✓ Calls owner before proceeding with extra work
    • ✓ Breed-specific advice at puppy visits

    location_on 170 Taradale Road, Tamatea, Napier

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    Hawkes Bay After Hours and Urgent Care Veterinary Clinic

    ★ 4.3 20 reviews Top5 Score 105
    5★ 16 2★ 1 1★ 3

    Hawkes Bay After Hours and Urgent Care Veterinary Clinic steps in when no other vet is available, covering nights, weekends, and public holidays for urgent cases. Staff walk owners through costs before treatment begins, and take time to support families through difficult end-of-life decisions with care and calm.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners needing urgent overnight or holiday care

    • ✓ Costs explained before treatment
    • ✓ Open overnight and public holidays
    • ✓ Compassionate end-of-life support

    location_on 103 Grays Road, St Leonards, Hastings

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Vet Services Hawkes Bay - Hastings

    ★ 4.1 73 reviews Top5 Score 102
    5★ 54 4★ 1 2★ 4 1★ 14

    Vet Services Hawkes Bay - Hastings covers small animals and large livestock under one practice, with mobile callouts available for rural clients. Vets like Neil and Henry tailor sedation and treatment plans to the individual animal, including first-time procedures on horses.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners and rural clients needing multi-animal care

    • ✓ Mobile vet for rural and farm visits
    • ✓ Sedation tailored per horse and age
    • ✓ Parvovirus and emergency inpatient care

    location_on 801 Heretaunga Street West, St Leonards, Hastings

    map Map Is this your business?

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About this ranking

How are the top veterinarians in Napier and Hastings chosen? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for veterinarians in Napier and Hastings. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. See how we rank for the full method.

How often are rankings updated? expand_more

Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about once a month. This page was last checked on 15 July 2026.

Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more

No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.

Why isn't my business listed? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for veterinarians in Napier and Hastings. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 20. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.