Farm & Large-Animal Vets near Beleek

## Summary Thomas F. Horkan Veterinary Practice (also referred to by reviewers as “Ballina Veterinary Clinic”) appears set up for both routine care and more involved medical/surgical cases, based on reports of hospitalisation, surgery and follow-up treatment. Owners describe procedures including removal of embedded fish hooks with sedation and medication to go home, ultrasound appointments, blood tests and IV fluids (“dripped and rehydrated”), and treatment for feline urinary obstruction that involved several days of hospitalisation. Reviewers give mixed signals on the experience: some mention “exceptionally clean” facilities and “professional” vets, while several 1‑star reviews focus on cost transparency (large bills without an estimate being discussed first) and payment policy (requests to pay in instalments being refused, and one owner alleging their pet was not released until payment was made). ## Services Services mentioned by owners in reviews include: - **Sedated minor procedure/wound management:** removal of **embedded fish hooks** with **tranquiliser**, plus **antibiotics** and **painkillers** prescribed for several days. - **Diagnostic imaging:** **ultrasound** (one owner attended specifically for an ultrasound requested by their regular vet). - **Bloodwork and inpatient supportive care:** attempts to **take blood**, and **IV fluids/drip rehydration** for dehydration. - **Cat medicine:** monthly injection referenced as **Solensia** (used for osteoarthritis pain), and treatment pathways for **arthritis** and **urinary issues**. - **Urinary obstruction care:** described as a “flush of the urethra,” with one account stating this became **major surgery** and included **four days of hospitalisation**. - **Prescription diet/food:** “special food” supplied for urinary issues (as described by a reviewer). - **After-death care:** ashes collection is referenced; one reviewer also mentions hair/clippings and paw prints being provided, and states they did not give permission for this. ## Pricing Explicit prices mentioned in reviews: - **€108** for removal of embedded fish hooks, including **labour, tranquiliser, antibiotics, and 5 days of painkillers** (as reported by one owner). - **Ultrasound:** one owner says they were told **€150** for an ultrasound, but were billed **€460** in total when collecting their dog (they describe this as unexpected). - **Cat visits:** one owner reports being charged **“over €300”** for an arthritis-related visit, and **again over €300** for a later visit for suspected urethral blockage. - **Emergency urinary case:** the same owner reports a bill of **€1,100+** after what they understood to be a urethral flush, which they say turned into major surgery with **four days of hospitalisation**. ## People Staff named by reviewers (with specific feedback): - **Sercan Kaya (vet)**: praised for a “gentle and professional manner” and kindness to a cat in the cat’s final days; the owner valued continuity and tried to book monthly appointments to align with Sercan’s schedule. - **Agne (vet)**: one reviewer describes concerns about how gastrointestinal symptoms and dehydration were handled at a monthly injection visit, and notes Agne unsuccessfully attempted blood draws; the same reviewer says they did not see Agne check in during a subsequent inpatient stay. - **Claire**: mentioned as helping with bloods alongside Sercan. - **Isabelle**: mentioned as checking in on an inpatient cat. - **Fintan/Finton (surname varies in reviews)**: mentioned in both positive and negative contexts—praised by one owner for care during a fish-hook case, and criticised by another for a dismissive response about medication being unavailable. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 128 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Hands-on treatment is frequently described**, including sedation for removing embedded hooks, prescribing antibiotics/pain relief, and inpatient care with IV fluids and blood tests. - **Cost and communication are a major fault line:** multiple 1‑star reviews allege **bills were much higher than expected** (e.g., €150 quoted vs €460 charged for an ultrasound visit; €1,100+ after an emergency urinary procedure) and say **estimates or the likely scale of treatment weren’t made clear upfront**. - **Payment policy disputes appear in more than one account:** two reviewers say they were **refused instalments**, and one claims their pet was **kept until payment was made** (they report eventual release after partial payment). - **Cat-specific concerns are raised:** one owner describes **small steel cages**, limited space for litter/food/bedding, and worries about **overnight monitoring**; the same review also mentions a month where **Solensia wasn’t available** at the appointment. - **Positive notes do appear:** one review calls the clinic **“exceptionally clean,”** and another describes “professional service and top class vets,” while others focus on specific individuals (notably Sercan Kaya) who made a difficult situation feel more supported.