Farm & Large-Animal Vets near Leixlip

## Summary Riverforest Veterinary Centre highlights **out-of-hours emergency handling** on its website and offers **online appointment booking**. In reviews, owners most often single out **Steve** for taking time to listen and check pets thoroughly, and for **gentle handling of anxious animals** (one nervous dog reportedly came out of the treatment room “with her tail wagging” and a plan in place). A detailed older review describes a **sock ingestion case** where the team kept a dog an extra day for **additional tests** and tried to avoid surgery before operating when it proved necessary, with the owner saying the operation went well. ## Services * **Out-of-hours emergencies** (stated on the clinic website). * Consultations for **cats, dogs, and rabbits** (mentioned by reviewers). * **Diagnostic testing** for unclear/“puzzling” illnesses (review mention of testing). * **Foreign-body management and surgery** (review describes a dog that ate a sock, additional tests, then an operation when it couldn’t be passed). * **Behaviour/handling support for nervous pets** (review describes gentle, reassuring handling and a treatment plan for a very nervous dog). ## People * **Steve (Steve Hallahan)** (vet, per reviews): repeatedly mentioned for **taking time to listen**, **checking everything**, and being **gentle and reassuring** with nervous pets; also credited with **trying additional tests to avoid major surgery** before proceeding when needed. * **Fiona** (vet, per review): named alongside Steve as providing care through **testing and puzzling illnesses**. * **Eimeir** (reception, per review): described as **helpful and understanding**. ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 157 reviews.** Most written comments available to us are brief, but the detailed ones focus on specific handling and decision-making. “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” * **Time spent and thorough checks**: owners mention the vet listening carefully and checking pets thoroughly. * **Calm handling of anxious animals**: one review describes a very nervous dog being treated gently and leaving with a clear treatment plan. * **Cautious approach before surgery**: in a sock-ingestion case, the vet reportedly did extra tests and kept the dog longer to try to avoid surgery, then operated successfully when it became necessary. * **Support staff praised**: reception is specifically mentioned as helpful and understanding.

## Summary Leixlip Veterinary Hospital is described in reviews as a general veterinary practice seeing a range of species, including dogs, cats, and pet birds (budgies). Owners mention being fitted in when a pet had a serious condition, and being given time and space during end-of-life appointments. Reviews also include a detailed second-opinion case for a dog with a chronic stomach issue, where the vet discussed a plan to investigate rather than rushing the appointment. Concrete examples owners mention: - Urgent appointments: one owner says they were “fitted in” due to a serious condition. - End-of-life care: multiple reviews describe compassionate euthanasia support and being allowed time with a pet afterwards. - Complex/ongoing problems: a chronic tummy issue in a dog where the vet made a plan to look into it and gave practical advice. - Exotics: treatment for two budgies, which the owner noted isn’t commonly offered by many vets. ## Services Based on the written reviews available: - General veterinary consultations for dogs and cats (including ongoing/chronic issues and second opinions). - End-of-life care/euthanasia support for pets, with owners specifically mentioning time allowed with their pet afterwards. - Treatment for pet birds (budgies), with one owner bringing two budgies for care. - Same-day/short-notice accommodation for serious conditions is mentioned (an owner says they were “fitted in”). ## People Staff mentioned by name in reviews include **Theresa/Teresa**, **Rhona**, **Brenda**, **Rachael**, and **Sandra**. - **Theresa/Teresa**: repeatedly mentioned in relation to long-term care for dogs and for support during difficult end-of-life decisions (including kindness and time given to say goodbye). - **Brenda**: noted by a first-time client as the vet they saw, alongside a veterinary nurse. - **Rhona**, **Rachael**, **Sandra**: thanked by name in a long-term client’s account, particularly around compassionate care over the years and during euthanasia. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.9 stars from 127 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - End-of-life support is a recurring theme: owners describe compassionate handling of euthanasia and being allowed time with their pet after the decision. - Several reviews emphasise being listened to and not rushed—one owner seeking a second opinion for a chronic stomach problem describes the vet as making a plan to investigate and offering practical advice. - Flexibility for urgent cases: one owner reports being fitted in when their cat had a serious condition. - Species range: at least one review specifically mentions treatment for budgies, which the owner felt was hard to find elsewhere.