Specialist Vets in Ballymena

## Summary Fenaghy Veterinary Clinic is set up for everyday primary-care work (check-ups, vaccinations/boosters, treating infections) alongside in-clinic procedures such as dental work and surgery. The clinic also states it provides **24/7 access to an online vet via Pawsquad**, and it is listed as a **veterinary nurse training facility**. In recent reviews, owners repeatedly mention: - **Clear explanations of options and treatment plans**, including vets taking time to talk through symptoms and treatments. - **Handling anxious pets gently** (for example, staff helping with a nervous cat that became incontinent in the car, including cleaning the carrier while the pet was assessed). - **Follow-up/continuity** (return visits booked for check-ups and boosters; continuity of care specifically praised). - **Advance pricing transparency** (“prices are given in advance so never any unexpected surprises,” per one review). ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned by the clinic website/available data and recent reviews include: - **24/7 online vet access via Pawsquad** (as stated on the clinic website summary). - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in structured clinic data). - **Surgery** (an owner describes a vet carrying out an operation on a large dog and providing updates during the procedure). - **Dental care** (a dog’s dental treatment resulting in noticeably cleaner teeth). - **Treatment of infections/wounds** (assessment and care for a cat with an abscess on its paw). - **Routine consultations and preventive care** (thorough examinations, review of medical records, and booking a booster and check-up). ## People - **Elaine (vet)** – described by one owner as operating on their dog, explaining everything “in great detail,” and providing reassurance and updates during the procedure. - **Sara and Lyndsey** – thanked by name for “professionalism” and “compassionate, dignified care” during a difficult period for an owner and their pet. - **Alice** – mentioned as welcoming a dog in for dental care and looking after him with the team. - **Nursing/reception team** – in one review, staff cleaned a pet carrier after a nervous accident and helped hold/pet the cat during assessment to keep things calm. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 375 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - Owners frequently mention **staff taking time to explain treatments** and being reassuring during decision-making. - Several reviews describe **extra practical help** (e.g., cleaning a carrier after an anxious pet’s accident, and keeping pets calm during exams). - **Procedural care** comes up multiple times, including **surgery** with intra-procedure updates and **dental treatment** with visible results. - One reviewer notes **prices are given in advance**, reducing surprises on cost.

## Summary Medivet Ballymena Grove Road – Grove Vets is part of the Medivet group. Reviews most often describe a practice geared to routine appointments plus urgent, short-notice problems—such as a dog seen after a fall on a busy Saturday morning and a kitten taken straight in after a phone call. Several owners also mention end-of-life care, describing staff being respectful during euthanasia and, in one case, sending a condolence card afterwards. The clinic is also listed as a Veterinary Nurse Training facility. ## Services - **Urgent/same-day triage** mentioned in reviews (e.g., asked to “take [a kitten] straight in”; accommodated at short notice on a Saturday after a fall). - **Consultations with diagnosis and medication** (owners describe being given a diagnosis and medication after being seen promptly). - **Support for difficult-to-handle cats** (vet took time, involved a nurse for extra help, and worked with the owner’s towel-handling approach). - **End-of-life care (euthanasia)** referenced by multiple reviewers, including attention to the family experience. - **Overnight emergency care (Medivet network):** website states access to around-the-clock emergency care at one of Medivet’s 27 24-hour centres. ## Pricing - **Overnight emergency consultation fee:** £130 for consultations between **7pm and 9am** (per the website). ## People - **Mark (vet):** praised for being helpful after a dog’s fall, with the visit arranged at short notice on a Saturday. - **Sarah (vet):** described as “knowledgeable” in diagnosis when a kitten was brought in after a phone call. - **Reception team:** mentioned as “lovely” and helpful in arranging urgent attendance. - **Nursing support:** one review describes a nurse being brought in to help manage a boisterous cat during an exam. ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 329 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Getting seen quickly when something’s wrong:** short-notice Saturday appointment; next-day appointments; being told to bring a kitten straight in. - **Clear, thorough consults:** owners mention detailed questioning about recent health, explanations of treatment options, and diagnosis plus medication. - **Handling nervous/boisterous pets patiently:** a detailed account describes the vet giving the owner time to settle a cat on the table and requesting a nurse to assist. - **End-of-life support:** multiple reviewers highlight compassion during euthanasia; one notes receiving a card after their pet’s death. - **Cleanliness and professionalism:** “spotless” premises and professional staff are specifically mentioned.

## Summary 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. ## Services - **24/7 emergency care:** Website states 24-hour emergency services 7 days a week; reviews also mention “open 24hrs” and out-of-hours help being provided quickly. - **Dental care:** Listed on the clinic website. - **Vaccinations:** Listed on the clinic website. - **Annual health examinations:** Listed on the clinic website. - **Surgery and ongoing checks (as reported by a client):** One review references a pet surviving “two massive surgeries” and receiving “various checks and maintenance” (the review does not clearly state the surgeries were performed at this clinic). - **End-of-life support and cremation arrangements (as reported by a client):** One long-term client describes being supported through saying goodbye to a pet and choosing cremation. ## People - **Lucy (role not stated):** Mentioned by name in a review thanking “Lucy and her team” for their help. - **Team (collective):** Multiple reviewers describe staff as kind and professional, and “incredibly good” with dogs—specifically noting pets being treated “like their own.” One long-term client highlights polite, approachable service and empathy during a traumatic euthanasia experience. ## Reviews **4.9 stars from 166 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Out-of-hours availability used in real situations:** Reviewers mention contacting the clinic out of hours and getting rapid help, including for an injured kitten; others explicitly say “open 24hrs and very ready to help.” - **Decision-making and options:** One owner values the team being “honest and realistic about treatment options.” - **End-of-life care:** A long-term client describes respectful handling and professionalism during euthanasia and cremation arrangements. - **Appointments and general experience:** One reviewer reports not waiting long for appointments; others mention friendly staff and good care.

## Summary Dogs Trust Ballymena is a Dogs Trust rehoming centre (not a veterinary clinic) with capacity to care for up to 50 dogs at a time. The site describes facilities geared toward assessing and preparing dogs for adoption, including a training barn, woodland walks and a large field. Recent reviewers mainly talk about adopting dogs here and describe a structured adoption process where staff answer questions, check suitability, and provide support such as training guidance after adoption; several also comment that the dogs appear well looked after and the premises are bright, clean, and professional. ## Services - Dog rehoming/adoption (reviewers describe adopting dogs and being guided through the process). - Adoption suitability checks (mentioned in a review as checks on whether adopters are suitable pet owners). - Post-adoption support, including training help (mentioned by an adopter who says staff help with “any training and support required after adoption”). - On-site dog facilities used for exercise/training and enrichment: training barn, woodland walks, and a big field. ## Reviews **4.6 stars from 470 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Adoption experiences described as organised and “professional,” with staff answering questions and helping people through the process. - Multiple adopters say dogs were well cared for; one notes the centre was “bright and clean.” - Support beyond the handover is mentioned: help with training and support after adoption. - Some reviews emphasise the emotional difficulty of leaving other dogs behind even when the adoption itself felt positive.