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Best Veterinarians on the North Shore

We assessed 20 veterinarians on the North Shore 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 3,774 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 21 August 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 on the North Shore

The top 5 veterinarians on the North Shore are ARC North, East Coast Bays Veterinary Clinic, Glenfield Veterinary Clinic, Onewa Road Vet, and Forrest Hill Vets, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.

  • 1

    ARC North

    ★ 4.7 718 reviews Top5 Score 177
    5★ 620 4★ 36 3★ 14 2★ 8 1★ 40

    ARC North handles specialist surgery, emergency poisoning cases, and serious cardiac conditions, with vets explaining findings, treatment options, and consent at each step before proceeding. A same-day clinical discharge letter followed by a nurse check-in call the next day means owners stay informed well after leaving the clinic.

    Reviews most often describe: Complex or emergency cases needing specialist-level care

    • ✓ Vets explain treatment options and seek consent before each procedure
    • ✓ Same-day written discharge summary emailed after every consultation
    • ✓ Nurse follow-up call the next day to check on your pet

    location_on 224 Albany Highway, Schnapper Rock, Auckland

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  • 2

    East Coast Bays Veterinary Clinic

    ★ 4.9 420 reviews Top5 Score 177
    5★ 379 4★ 31 3★ 7 1★ 3

    East Coast Bays Veterinary Clinic gets owners fully across their pet's health before any procedure goes ahead, covering everything from routine desexing and vaccinations to end-of-life care. Post-surgery updates including photos and a follow-up call, plus clear aftercare instructions, mean owners are supported well beyond the consult room.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners wanting transparent costs and ongoing trusted care

    • ✓ Explains costs and gets owner consent before any treatment proceeds
    • ✓ Sends photo updates and calls owners once surgery is complete
    • ✓ Staff take time with nervous animals across multiple visits

    location_on 852 East Coast Road, Browns Bay, Auckland

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  • 3

    Glenfield Veterinary Clinic

    ★ 4.8 461 reviews Top5 Score 175
    5★ 407 4★ 38 3★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 12

    Glenfield Veterinary Clinic covers routine dental cleaning, ear surgery, abscess removal, and urgent same-day triage, with multiple reviewers noting the pricing sits below what comparable Auckland clinics charge. Owners who turn up in a panic mid-week or need guidance when the books are full get walked through risks and referred to after-hours options rather than turned away without help.

    Reviews most often describe: Long-term pet care with fair, transparent pricing

    • ✓ Owners report pricing below other Auckland vet clinics visited
    • ✓ Walk-in urgent cases accepted and assessed on the same day
    • ✓ Long-term clients stay for a decade across multiple pets

    location_on 46 Diana Drive, Glenfield, Auckland

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  • 4

    Onewa Road Veterinary Hospital

    ★ 4.8 388 reviews Top5 Score 173
    5★ 351 4★ 20 3★ 3 2★ 5 1★ 9

    Onewa Road Vet earns repeat loyalty over years for ongoing chronic condition management, urgent injury treatment, dental surgery, and end-of-life care for aging pets. Named vets including Richard, Bianca, and Beth are cited for taking unhurried time with owners, explaining diagnoses and options clearly, and working around financial constraints without judgment.

    Reviews most often describe: Owners building long-term trusted relationships with specific vets

    • ✓ Named vets take extended time explaining diagnoses and care options
    • ✓ Financial flexibility offered during costly or emergency treatment situations
    • ✓ Sympathy follow-up and empathetic support through end-of-life care

    location_on 181 Onewa Road, Birkenhead, Auckland

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  • 5

    Forrest Hill Veterinary Clinic & Hospital

    ★ 4.6 477 reviews Top5 Score 170
    5★ 398 4★ 36 3★ 13 2★ 6 1★ 24

    Forrest Hill Vets covers neutering, cyst removal, urgent injury triage, and end-of-life care, with named vets including Louise, Sophia, and Mark consistently praised for explaining diagnoses in plain terms before any treatment proceeds. Pricing is described as fair relative to other Auckland clinics, and the team has squeezed in same-day appointments when owners arrived worried about acute injury.

    Reviews most often describe: Pet owners wanting calm, clear communication at every visit

    • ✓ Vets explain diagnosis and next steps clearly before proceeding
    • ✓ Same-day appointments available when pets need urgent attention
    • ✓ End-of-life care handled with compassion to ease a difficult time

    location_on 218 Forrest Hill Road, Forrest Hill, Auckland

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Before you choose a veterinarian on the North Shore

Drawn from 458 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 Auckland runs $60 to $120, with urban clinics often at the higher end. Desexing a cat costs roughly $150 to $350, while dogs range from $200 to $600 or more depending on size and sex. Dental work, overnight stays, and surgery can push bills into the thousands, and review evidence confirms overnight hospital care can reach $2,000 or more. Pet insurance is worth serious consideration before a crisis hits, as there is no ACC equivalent for animals and the New Zealand Veterinary Association notes fee-setting is entirely at each practice's discretion.

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

Every practising vet in New Zealand must be registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ), and you can search their public register online to confirm a vet's current status and any conditions on their practice. Registration covers the individual vet, not the clinic itself, so a practice with multiple vets should have each one listed. For a broader signal of clinic quality, look for the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) Best Practice accreditation, which assesses facilities, infection control, and record-keeping at the practice level. If care falls short, the Veterinary Council of New Zealand is the formal complaints body and can investigate conduct concerns.

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

Ask for a written estimate before agreeing to any diagnostics or procedure, and ask specifically whether each test will change the treatment decision or is precautionary. Review evidence shows that declining an expensive scan and trialling antibiotics first can be the right call, so a good vet should be willing to explain a step-by-step approach rather than bundling everything upfront. Clinics that explain options at different price points and seek consent before acting, as several reviewers highlighted, are a practical filter for finding one that respects your budget. If a recommendation feels premature or unclear, a second opinion is reasonable and any reputable vet will not discourage you from seeking one.

What are the warning signs of a vet clinic you should avoid? expand_more
  • –A large bill arrives with no estimate given beforehand, leaving you no chance to ask questions or compare options before costs were incurred.
  • –Expensive diagnostics are pushed strongly before simpler treatments have been tried, with little explanation of why the test is needed at that point.
  • –The consultation feels rushed and a specific concern you raised is not examined, with evidence from reviews of a vet checking one area while ignoring the symptom the owner flagged.
  • –Anxious or difficult animals are handled without any adaptation, such as scatter feeding, slow approach, or booking extra time.
  • –Follow-up after surgery or a serious diagnosis is hard to get, with calls and emails going unanswered for days.
  • –Administration errors, such as prescriptions not sent through or insurance processes mishandled, suggest the front-of-house operation is not well managed.
What should you ask before choosing a vet? expand_more
  • –Ask what a standard consultation costs and whether they provide a written estimate before any diagnostics or treatment are agreed to.
  • –Ask how after-hours emergencies are handled, specifically whether the clinic manages them in-house or refers you to a separate emergency hospital, and get that number before you need it.
  • –Ask whether you can request to see the same vet at each visit, as continuity matters for animals with ongoing conditions and reviewers consistently valued knowing their vet well.
  • –Ask whether they have experience with your specific type of animal, particularly relevant if you own a rabbit, bird, or exotic pet, as not all general practices are equally skilled across species.
  • –Ask how they manage pain relief and post-procedure follow-up, including whether a nurse will check in by phone or text the day after treatment.

Veterinarians ranked 6 to 10 on the North Shore

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

  • 6

    Animates Vetcare Clinic Glenfield

    ★ 4.4 517 reviews Top5 Score 168
    5★ 321 4★ 133 3★ 34 2★ 8 1★ 21

    Animates Vetcare Glenfield covers vaccinations, microchipping, desexing, dental procedures, and radiology, with nursing staff noted for giving anxious dogs physical reassurance after surgery until they settle. Named vet Frederique has built multi-year relationships with clients by avoiding unnecessary tests and walking owners through each diagnosis and next step at their own pace.

    Reviews most often describe: Routine procedures with anxious or nervous pets

    • ✓ Nursing staff give post-surgery cuddles to calm anxious dogs
    • ✓ Long-term clients cite specific named vets across many years
    • ✓ Owners consistently informed of diagnosis and next steps during consult

    location_on 2 Cherry Lane, Glenfield, Auckland

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  • 7

    Bayvet Veterinary Clinic

    ★ 4.7 266 reviews Top5 Score 165
    5★ 230 4★ 18 3★ 5 2★ 2 1★ 11

    Bayvet takes on routine and complex work across dogs and cats, covering ear conditions, dental extractions, lump removals, and end-of-life care, with named vets Dora and Kit cited specifically for how they settle anxious animals during consults. Pricing is described as competitive on the North Shore, and the team has absorbed costs mid-procedure, waiving fees for tooth removal when it arose unexpectedly during surgery.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious pets needing calm, patient handling over time

    • ✓ Named vets praised for calming visibly anxious dogs during visits
    • ✓ Fees waived or absorbed for unexpected work found mid-procedure
    • ✓ Long-term chronic condition management with practical owner guidance

    location_on 37 Bute Road, Browns Bay, Auckland

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Albany Veterinary Hospital

    ★ 4.7 266 reviews Top5 Score 165
    5★ 221 4★ 25 3★ 4 2★ 4 1★ 12

    Albany Veterinary Hospital builds its consults around the individual animal, booking extended appointment slots for nervous dogs, scatter-feeding treats to build trust, and adapting handling techniques before any procedure begins. Named vets including Yuni, Sophie, and Daniel are cited for walking owners through difficult decisions, from complex surgery options to end-of-life care, with follow-up calls after treatment.

    Reviews most often describe: Pets needing patient, adapted handling and long-term care

    • ✓ Extended appointment slots booked to accommodate anxious or timid animals
    • ✓ Follow-up calls made after treatment to check on patient recovery
    • ✓ End-of-life care handled with calm explanations and owner-led options

    location_on 416 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    Rothesay Bay Veterinary Clinic - Dr Tristan Davies BVSc

    ★ 4.8 142 reviews Top5 Score 159
    5★ 131 4★ 6 1★ 5

    Rothesay Bay Veterinary Clinic covers puppy vaccinations, desexing, cancer management, emergency mauling treatment, and end-of-life care, with reviewers noting the team actively works to keep each visit a positive experience for anxious or nervous animals using treats, praise, and an unhurried pace. When a pet passes, staff light a candle in their honour, a detail that several owners found meaningful during a difficult time.

    Reviews most often describe: Pets needing care across their whole life span

    • ✓ Appointments accommodated on short notice including busy Saturdays
    • ✓ Surgical estimates that came in under the quoted price
    • ✓ Nervous animals settled with treats and praise during every visit

    location_on 6 Knights Road, Rothesay Bay, Auckland

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Cat Doctor North Shore

    ★ 4.8 119 reviews Top5 Score 158
    5★ 110 4★ 4 3★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 2

    Cat Doctor North Shore is a cats-only practice covering routine wellness checks, diagnostic ultrasound, and respiratory illness treatment, with the cat-only environment consistently noted for keeping animals calmer than mixed-species clinics. Named vet Mark is cited by multiple owners for unhurried consults, thorough physical exams, and clear explanations of treatment plans without pushing unnecessary tests or products.

    Reviews most often describe: Cat owners wanting a calm, cat-only clinic

    • ✓ Cat-only facility means no dog smells or stress for feline patients
    • ✓ Follow-up calls made after visits to check on recovering cats
    • ✓ Named vet Mark praised for avoiding unnecessary tests and extra products

    location_on 2/53 William Souter Street, Forrest Hill, Auckland

    map Map Is this your business?

Related North Shore rankings

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About this ranking

How are the top veterinarians on the North Shore chosen? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for veterinarians on the North Shore. 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 21 August 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 on the North Shore. 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 119. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.