Best Vets in Northern Ireland

Oldstone Veterinary Clinic is a purpose-built practice that, according to its website, has over 20 years’ experience and offers 24-hour emergency care 7 days a week. Recent reviews repeatedly mention being able to reach a vet out of hours and getting help quickly (including for an injured kitten found at the roadside). Owners also describe a smaller-practice feel with “honest and realistic” discussions of treatment options, and one long-term client recounts support during end-of-life care including arranging cremation.

Donard Clinic Ltd appears to be an independent, vet-owned practice (described that way in client reviews) and is also listed as a veterinary nurse training facility. Based on the website and recent reviews, it’s set up for day-to-day pet healthcare as well as some surgical cases, with digital support available via the VidiVet app for 24/7 vet advice. Concrete details mentioned by owners include: staff taking time to explain a pet’s condition and treatment before proceeding; appointment and medication reminders sent by text; being seen at short notice for a quick treatment; and dogs staying overnight following surgery (including a cruciate ligament operation). Several reviews also mention long-term care and support through end-of-life euthanasia (“final sleep”).

Three Valleys Veterinary Limited is a small-animal practice established in 2001 and part of CVS Group (the clinic’s website is hosted on cvsvets.com). The practice is set up for both routine care and more involved medical work, with in-house diagnostics mentioned on the website and multiple reviews describing quick assessment and treatment planning. Owners specifically describe: - Rapid urgent access (one reviewer got an appointment “within an hour” for an unwell elderly Labrador). - Follow-up testing and medication (blood tests and medicine arranged the next morning after the initial visit). - Prompt, direct communication around diagnosis (a cat owner appreciated that the diagnosis was given promptly and “not long drawn out”). - A team that stays calm during emergencies, with clear explanations of diagnoses and treatment plans.

Whitehouse Veterinary Clinic is a mixed practice (treating both pets and farm animals) and states it provides emergency cover 24/7, 365 days a year with a vet always available. Recent reviews mention vets handling issues like eye infections (conjunctivitis treated with antibiotic eye drops) and “intense” operations with a longer recovery period. Several owners describe small but specific touches around end-of-life care (a condolence card and an ink paw-print offered as a keepsake). One owner reports a serious billing/administration dispute (a demand for payment for medication they say they only enquired about) that ended with the practice asking them to go elsewhere, so checking invoices and clarifying charges is a recurring decision point in the feedback.

Companion Care (Lisburn Longstone) Ltd trades as Vets4Pets, and the practice is described on its website as locally owned. The clinic presents itself as a modern, well‑equipped practice (including an in‑house lab, digital X‑ray and ultrasound) and an International Cat Care “Cat Friendly Clinic”, with separate cat and dog waiting areas and wards. Reviews repeatedly point to strong communication and aftercare, including owners describing regular updates after treatments, detailed explanations of treatment options, and specific mention of aftercare following major surgery. Owners also mention practical systems such as WhatsApp photo/questions and text reminders.

No corporate group ownership is mentioned in the available information. The clinic appears set up for both routine care and more involved cases: reviews describe diagnostic imaging (x‑rays shown and explained), complex surgery with overnight monitoring, and pregnancy scanning. Several owners mention vets and nurses taking extra time to explain findings and provide reassurance, including a follow‑up call in the evening after an overnight stay. One recent reviewer reports the opposite experience around privacy and communication during a dog pregnancy scan (results discussed in front of other clients, and being told it was the scanner’s first time scanning a dog).

Drumragh Veterinary Centre is an independent mixed-animal practice (opened January 2020) owned by vets Sara McGrenaghan and Eamonn Harkin. The website describes a setup that covers both routine pet care and farm work (including TB testing and fertility scanning), backed by an in-house Idexx laboratory, and it states that emergency appointments are available 24/7. From the latest reviews available to us, owners repeatedly mention clear, practical advice and hands-on help (including staff helping lift dogs into the car), plus ongoing treatment plans (one dog’s wound managed over around five weeks). Several reviews also describe inpatient care and regular updates during recovery, including being able to visit a hospitalised cat while the team monitored progress and discussed treatment options.

St Elmo Veterinary Clinic is a small-animal practice established in 2010, offering routine care alongside surgery and in-house diagnostics (including an in-house lab, ultrasound and X‑ray). It also offers out-of-hours support via a shared on-call rota with five practices, with free telephone advice and emergency consultations if needed. From the latest reviews available, owners most often mention calm handling during appointments (including for anxious dogs during vaccinations) and helpful front-desk guidance (for example, explaining insurance and health-cover options). However, one reviewer describes a dismissive manner from a vet during an appointment, and another describes a particularly negative out-of-hours phone interaction involving a high-cost surgery estimate and a statement about payment/euthanasia—so experiences appear mixed depending on the interaction and context. Concrete specifics mentioned across sources include: - Vaccinations given with a “thorough” check-up in the same visit (review). - Support for nervous/anxious dogs to reduce stress during exams and injections (review). - Out-of-hours care described as a shared rota with free phone advice (website). - In-house diagnostic capability (in-house lab, ultrasound, X‑ray) (website).

Ballymena Pet Vets describes itself as an independent veterinary practice established September 2019, and it says it is one of the few practices that openly publishes its prices on its website. Based on its own service list, it’s set up for routine care (vaccinations, consultations, parasite prevention, microchipping), common procedures (neutering, dental treatment), and emergency care. From the latest reviews, owners most often mention: - Clear communication (including from “emails to appointment”) and vets who explain things in an “informative” way. - Dogs being handled in a way that leaves them comfortable enough to return excited after previous procedures (one owner describes this as their “absolute testament” of the clinic’s handling). - A serious negative account alleging delayed surgery and unnecessary medication costs—which conflicts with the predominantly positive experiences described elsewhere.

Glengormley Vets describes itself as a family-run, independent clinic that aims to work “free of any protocols or procedures” so it can offer what it calls impartial advice, with a stated holistic approach. The clinic appears set up for routine preventative care (vaccinations, puppy/kitten packs, microchipping) as well as diagnostics and surgery, with on-site digital x-ray, ultrasound and in-house blood analysers listed. In the latest reviews, owners repeatedly mention being fitted in quickly for urgent problems—examples include being seen within an hour for a cat and being told to come in 15 minutes before closing when worried about a dog. Other specific experiences mentioned include support around euthanasia (including a condolence card) and a successful knee/ligament operation with aftercare guidance.