Tarka Vets Ltd – Vets in Barnstaple
Clinic Overview
Tarka Vets Ltd is an independent small-animal practice in Barnstaple founded by Freya and Marina. The practice says it provides its own 24/7 out-of-hours emergency cover, and owners also mention the reassurance of in-house overnight care. Feedback consistently highlights clear discussions of treatment options and costs, along with a calm, welcoming experience that includes a separate cat area and consulting room.
Services
- •Small-animal veterinary care: the practice’s core service is small-animal treatment, with owners mentioning care for dogs, cats and a hamster.
- •24/7 emergency and urgent care: the clinic says it runs its own out-of-hours emergency cover. Recent examples include emergency treatment after a dog ate grapes, alongside comments about in-house overnight care.
- •Procedures and follow-up care: reviews mention a dental, two tooth extractions, and an operation for dogs, with owners praising the explanations given before treatment and the aftercare afterwards.
- •Preventative care and pet plan: the practice offers a health plan intended to spread the cost of vaccinations and flea and worm treatment, and owners describe sign-up as straightforward.
- •Medication, parasite treatment and remote support: owners mention being able to get wormer for other cats without an appointment, as well as helpful phone and WhatsApp advice when pets were unwell.
- •Cat-friendly setup: owners specifically note a separate cat section and consulting room, which appears to help make visits less stressful for some cats.
Pricing
Published prices suggest the clinic sits below average, based on a partial sample of comparable services. Reviews also describe costs as fair, clearly explained and more manageable than some other local options.
People
- •Freya: named repeatedly for calm handling of anxious pets, clear explanations of treatment choices and costs, and a patient approach with nervous dogs and cats.
- •Marina: co-founder of the practice and praised for calm, thoughtful care, including during a difficult procedure and a dog’s operation.
- •Char: mentioned warmly for being welcoming, patient and supportive, especially during a disappointing outcome.
- •Reception and wider team: owners regularly describe the wider team as friendly, kind and helpful on the phone, at booking, and during visits.
Reviews
Google shows 5.0/5 from 54 reviews. Recent feedback is consistently very positive, with owners commonly highlighting
- •Caring, listening approach: many owners say the team take time to listen, respect that owners know their pets well, and help both pet and owner feel reassured.
- •Calm handling and lower-stress visits: reviews often mention nervous dogs and cats being handled patiently, with some owners saying visits have become much easier than at previous practices.
- •Clear communication: several reviews praise straightforward explanations of treatment, procedures, aftercare and costs, without pressure.
- •Useful practical support: owners mention emergency help, overnight care, WhatsApp advice, easy pet plan sign-up, and convenient access to medication such as wormer.

