Specialist Vets in Castlebar

## Summary Breaffy Veterinary Clinic’s ownership (independent vs corporate group) isn’t stated in the information provided. Based on the latest reviews, it appears set up for fast, practical day-to-day vet care—several owners mention being seen within minutes and being “in and out” quickly, alongside cases that involved repeat check-ins and ongoing treatment rather than a one-off visit. Concrete specifics mentioned by owners include: - Same-visit rapid triage: one dog was seen “within five minutes.” - Follow-up/rechecks: a cat with vomiting was examined, given medication, then brought back the next day (and again later) for further treatment. - Injectable treatments (“shots”) are explicitly mentioned as part of ongoing care. - Multiple staff members are named (Vivian/Vivienne and Shauna), suggesting a small team experience where owners remember who helped them. ## Services Services and care described in the written reviews available include: - General consultations for dogs and cats. - Assessment and treatment of gastrointestinal signs (a cat “being sick every time she ate or drank”). - Medication prescribed/dispensed for illness (specific drug names not provided). - Repeat examinations and reassessments over consecutive visits. - In-clinic injections (“shots”) as part of treatment. - Quick-turnaround appointments for issues that owners felt needed prompt attention. ## People - **Vivian / Vivienne (vet; exact title not stated):** Named repeatedly. Owners describe thorough checking during exams, clear communication about uncertainty (“hit or miss situation”), and persistence with follow-up visits and treatments until the pet improved. - **Shauna (role not stated):** Mentioned positively alongside Vivian in a recent review where a dog was seen within five minutes; the owner specifically noted both were “a delight.” ## Reviews **4.9 stars from 167 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Speed and efficiency:** multiple owners describe being seen very quickly (e.g., “within five minutes,” “in and out in about 5 minutes”). - **Ongoing care when needed:** a detailed account describes repeated visits for a vomiting cat, with medication, injections, and reassessment until the cat improved. - **Value signals (without itemised prices):** owners use terms like “cost effective” and “great value,” but no specific fees are stated. - **Staff-specific praise:** Vivian/Vivienne is singled out for being thorough and attentive; Vivian and Shauna are both named in a recent positive visit.

## Summary All Paws Veterinary Hospital is an independent clinic established in 2023 and owned/operated by veterinarians Leonie Slowey and Clare Eugster. Based on the website, it offers routine care plus medicine, surgery, dentistry and acupuncture, with consultations by appointment only and an on-call vet reachable via the regular phone number outside normal hours. From the latest reviews available, owners most often describe a practice that focuses on reducing stress for pets (including a “puppy party” to help puppies socialise and get used to vet visits), explains what’s being done during procedures, and provides notable follow-up support in difficult situations (including a handwritten condolence card and remembrance seeds after a pet’s death). Reviews also mention out-of-hours help for an emergency, leg surgery, and blood testing handled patiently for a needle-averse dog. ## Services - **Routine care** (listed on the clinic website). - **Medicine** (listed on the clinic website). - **Surgery** (listed on the clinic website; reviews mention **leg surgery**). - **Dentistry** (listed on the clinic website). - **Acupuncture** (listed on the clinic website). - **Out-of-hours emergencies:** the clinic states that outside regular opening hours, the **vet on call can be contacted via the regular phone number**. - **Puppy “puppy party” sessions:** reviews describe these as a safe space for puppies to socialise and get comfortable with visiting the vet. - **Blood testing:** mentioned in reviews, including accommodating dogs that dislike needles with patience and gentle handling. - **Grooming/matting management:** reviews mention shaving/coat tidying for a cat with belly/underarm matting, and help managing a dog’s “knotty fur.” - **Minor procedures:** mentioned in reviews (not specified). ## People - **Leonie Slowey (vet; owner/operator):** named on the website; a review describes her providing **out-of-hours emergency treatment** and “going above and beyond.” - **Clare Eugster (vet; owner/operator):** named on the website; a review describes her taking time to **help an owner process what happened after a pet died**, and sharing available information about the case. - **Clinic team (unnamed):** repeatedly described in reviews as **patient with nervous/needle-averse dogs**, explaining procedures as they go, and being gentle during blood draws and other visits. ## Reviews **5.0 stars from 44 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Handling nervous or sensitive pets:** owners mention calm, patient handling during blood tests for a dog that “does not like needles,” and support for a nervous rescue dog. - **Practical advice and preparation:** reviews highlight staff giving advice/tips and running a **puppy party** to build positive associations with vet visits. - **Care around surgery and procedures:** one owner describes **leg surgery** with kindness “throughout the whole process,” plus follow-up visits for other issues. - **Out-of-hours help:** one review specifically mentions emergency treatment **out of hours**. - **End-of-life compassion:** one owner reports receiving a **handwritten condolence card** and **remembrance seeds** after their dog passed away.

## Summary Castle Vets is described in reviews as a **mixed practice** (treating a range of animals). Whether it’s independent or part of a corporate group isn’t stated in the available information. Based on what owners mention, the clinic seems set up for both **routine care and higher-pressure cases**, including **emergency surgery**. Concrete specifics owners describe include: - **Emergency caesarean section** for a French Bulldog, with the team supporting the owner through a stressful situation. - **Out-of-hours surgery on a Sunday evening** that an owner says saved their dog’s life. - Ongoing management for a dog with **diabetes**, including guidance for an anxious, temperamental patient. - A focus on practical, cost-aware advice: one owner says the team recommended **cheaper pharmacy products** rather than pushing in-clinic sales. ## Services Services and situations explicitly referenced by owners include: - **Dog grooming** (with coat-care advice given to the owner) - **Emergency surgery**, including: - **Emergency C-section** (French Bulldog) - **Out-of-hours surgery** (Sunday evening mentioned) - **Chronic condition support**: diabetes management for a dog needing ongoing care - **Clinical examinations**: a “full body check” was specifically mentioned - **Medication-based treatment**: one owner describes improvement after “a few days” with **medicine and care** - **Product guidance**: recommending lower-cost items available via a pharmacy rather than selling products directly ## People - **Ginny (groomer)**: Mentioned for grooming work and teaching an owner about coat care; the dog reportedly enjoys visits and is handled confidently. - **Ona (vet)**: Specifically praised for working with a **nervous dog**—taking time with a gentle full-body exam, avoiding forced restraint or muzzling (as described by the owner), answering questions thoroughly, and using clear, direct medical language. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 100 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Handling anxious/nervous dogs** with patience and low-stress exam approaches (including taking time and avoiding unnecessary restraint, per one owner). - **Emergency care** is a recurring theme, including an emergency C-section and out-of-hours surgery that owners credit with saving a pet. - **Ongoing support for long-term conditions** (diabetes was specifically mentioned), with staff guiding owners through questions. - **Practical, cost-conscious recommendations**, such as suggesting cheaper pharmacy options rather than pushing clinic sales. - **Grooming experiences** are also mentioned positively, including coat-care education for owners.

## Summary Animal Hospital appears to be an independent veterinary practice (no group ownership is stated). Reviews describe a general companion-animal clinic that handles routine consultations as well as difficult end‑of‑life visits and urgent situations. Owners repeatedly mention vets taking time to discuss options and involve them in decisions (“make sure to get my opinion”), and one review describes a thorough senior-dog quality‑of‑life check with discussion of keeping pain controlled. There’s also a conflicting note on front‑desk experience: one reviewer reports a “cold, dismissive” receptionist interaction when seeking an urgent appointment for a dog in significant pain, while multiple others describe friendly, supportive care from the veterinary team. ## Services Services and situations explicitly mentioned in reviews include: - Senior pet check-ups and quality‑of‑life assessments (including discussion of keeping an older dog “pain free”) - End‑of‑life support/euthanasia (“went… to say goodbye to our cat”) - Urgent care / emergency help (a reviewer says they “had to use the emergency service” while travelling) - General consultations where vets explain findings, reassure owners, and involve them in decisions Other practical notes from reviews: - Reception area sells pet products ## People - **Dr Shioban (vet)**: Mentioned in an end‑of‑life visit for a cat; described as “very kind and helpful” during that appointment. - **Niall (vet)** and **Ronan (vet)**: Long-term client (over 30 years) describes them as “so gentle with the dogs.” - **Unspecified vets/team**: Multiple reviews mention vets asking for the owner’s opinion and helping reduce anxiety in a dog that previously hated vet visits (the dog became more confident entering over time). - **Receptionist (unnamed)**: One reviewer reports a negative experience when requesting an urgent appointment for a geriatric dog in pain, describing the interaction as cold and dismissive; the same review says this did not reflect their prior experiences with the veterinarians. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 42 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Owners describe vets as involving them in decisions and addressing worries during consultations (e.g., “make sure to get my opinion” and reassurance). - Several reviews highlight gentle handling, including with anxious dogs who became more comfortable over repeat visits. - End‑of‑life care is specifically praised for kindness during a euthanasia visit. - At least one review mentions accessing urgent/emergency help and feeling the treatment was competent. - A minority theme is a complaint about front‑desk communication when seeking an urgent appointment for a terminally ill, painful dog; the reviewer distinguishes this from the veterinarians’ care.