Dog & Cat Vets in Swords

## Summary Assisi Veterinary Clinic describes itself as providing a wide range of medical, surgical, dental, diagnostic and emergency care, including out-of-hours emergency cover for clients. Based on both the website and recent reviews, it appears set up for complex cases as well as routine care: owners describe urgent admissions after accidents, pre‑anaesthetic checks (including heart checks and tests in an older cat), and major procedures including amputation and urgent surgery. Reviews also repeatedly mention hands-on follow-up and communication, including being “always in touch,” quick responses, and one account of home visits after surgery. Concrete examples owners mention include: a dog treated for stage three liver and kidney failure; a cat given pain relief, X‑rays, and then paw amputation after trauma; dental descaling; and staff helping identify a found cat’s owner. ## Services From the clinic website and recent reviews, services mentioned include: - **Emergency and critical care**, including **out-of-hours emergency** availability for clients (as stated on the website). - **Surgery**, including: - **Spay/neuter** - **Soft tissue surgery** - **Orthopedic surgery** - **Dental surgery** - Reviews specifically mention **urgent surgery** for a dog and **limb amputation** for a cat following a road-traffic injury. - **Dental care**, with reviews mentioning **teeth descaling**. - **Internal medicine**, including **gastrointestinal disease management** (website). - **Diagnostic services**, with on-site capabilities listed as: - **Laboratory testing** - **Radiology (X-ray)** (also referenced in a trauma case review) - **Endoscopy** - **Preventive care** (website). - **Pain management** (website), with a review describing a **painkiller injection** given during an emergency visit. - **Nutritional counselling** (website). ## People - **Dr George (vet)**: Multiple owners describe him managing serious, high-stakes cases (e.g., stage three liver and kidney failure in a dog; trauma work-up with tests and heart checks prior to anaesthesia; post-op support after amputation). Reviews repeatedly mention **clear explanations**, being **available for questions**, and **staying in touch** during recovery. - **Dr Radu (vet)**: Mentioned in reviews for **urgent surgery** and notable **aftercare**, including one account describing **home visits** and frequent check-ins during the first week post-op, plus clear explanation of the process. - **Tudor** (role not specified in reviews): Described as **understanding and helpful**, with flexibility mentioned. - Staff generally: One review highlights staff **responding quickly** and assisting in **finding the owner of a found cat**. ## Reviews **5.0 stars from 122 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Owners repeatedly describe the clinic handling **serious illness and emergencies**, including kidney/liver failure, major trauma, urgent surgery, and amputation. - **Communication and availability** are recurring specifics: explaining options and processes clearly, answering follow-up questions, and staying in touch during recovery. - **Aftercare** is a standout theme in the recent reviews, including one account of **home visits** after surgery and regular check-ins. - Several reviews mention **speed of access** (being admitted right away; quick responses), and one notes the clinic being open when others weren’t. - **Dental care** is specifically referenced via a positive report of **teeth descaling**, with “reasonable” pricing noted (no amounts provided).

## Summary O’Scanaill Veterinary Hospital is a long-running, independent family practice (founded in 1949) with “hospital status” and modern diagnostic/surgical capability listed on its site. It’s set up for a broad mix of work: routine pet care (e.g., dental care, weight clinics, puppy parties), in-hospital procedures (reviews mention a dog having a procedure with follow-up visits), and medical investigation of ongoing problems (one owner says their senior dog’s chronic ear infections stopped after thorough investigation and treatment). From the latest reviews available to us, owners repeatedly point to: - Thorough case work-ups where issues had been missed elsewhere (e.g., diagnosis of conditions underlying chronic symptoms). - Inpatient care when needed (a dog kept in on fluids, with updates that put the owners at ease). - Supportive handling of end-of-life appointments, described as empathetic and respectful from reception through to the vet. ## Services From the clinic website summary: - **Diagnostics and surgery** - **Dental care and treatment** - **Weight clinics** - **Puppy parties** - Species listed as treated: **dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles**, and also **horses** plus farm animals (**calves, sheep**) - Facilities mentioned: **The Cattery** and **Stables** - Emergency arrangement (as stated on the site): clients are advised to contact the **Veterinary Emergency Hospital at UCD** in an emergency. From reviews (examples of what owners describe being done): - Investigation and treatment for **chronic ear infections** and other previously unrecognised conditions - **Inpatient stay on fluids** - **Procedures** followed by **follow-up visits** - **Euthanasia** appointments handled with empathy ## People Named in the information available: - **Conor O’Scanaill** (named by a reviewer as providing ongoing advice/support; the website also states the current clinic opened in 2001 by **Conor and Tadhg O’Scanaill**). - **Ellen** (named by a reviewer for caring for a dog kept in on fluids and for putting the owners at ease). - An **unnamed surgeon** is singled out in a review for compassionate care during euthanasia, alongside positive mentions of reception staff. ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 943 reviews.** Owners most often describe thorough medical investigation, supportive communication, and follow-through on treatment and aftercare. “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Thorough investigation and diagnosis:** one owner says long-standing ear infections resolved and additional conditions were diagnosed after being missed elsewhere. - **Clear follow-through and aftercare:** reviews mention a procedure with subsequent follow-up visits. - **Calm, empathetic communication in difficult moments:** a detailed account of euthanasia describes respectful, compassionate support from first contact through to the vet. - **Inpatient care when needed:** a dog was kept in on fluids, with the vet (Ellen) praised for attentive care and reassurance. - **Fees mentioned as “reasonable” by multiple reviewers**, but no specific prices are provided.

## Summary Applewood Veterinary Clinic describes itself as a small-animal practice for dogs, cats, and a range of small pets (including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds and chelonians), aiming to provide “up to date equipment” for diagnosis and “sensible prices.” Recent reviews most often highlight routine surgeries (spaying/neutering) with structured follow-up (next-day check-in calls and included post-op rechecks), plus end-of-life support (including an out-of-hours euthanasia mentioned by one owner). There is also a serious negative account alleging delayed diagnostics for a breathing crisis (initially no X-rays/bloodwork due to time), followed by rapid deterioration and death—so experiences appear mixed depending on the case and circumstances. ## Services Based on the clinic’s website and the latest reviews available to us, services mentioned include: - Care for multiple species: dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, birds, and chelonians. - Neutering and spaying (with post-operative follow-up appointments described as included in the surgery price by one reviewer). - Diagnostics referenced in reviews: X-rays, blood work, and injections administered during an urgent revisit. - Emergency-style appointments: one owner reports being seen for an emergency when their regular vet was closed and receiving medication that led to recovery. - End-of-life care: euthanasia is specifically mentioned, including an out-of-hours euthanasia for one cat (as described by an owner). - Preventive/health-plan style care: the website references a “Pet Health Club” and “Pet Health Plans,” and one reviewer mentions “monthly top-up care” for a cat. - Educational/pet-advice topics on the website include (as listed on the site): dental problems in rabbits, Giardia, pre-anaesthetic bloods, household poisons, puppy feeding, rabbit haemorrhagic viral disease 2, travelling with your pet, lungworm, and feline leukaemia. ## Pricing - One reviewer states a **pre-surgery consultation was free of charge** for their cat’s spay. - The same reviewer says **follow-up appointments were included in the surgery price**. - Another reviewer notes a neuter was “well priced” compared with other quotes and **included pain medication and a cone** (no exact amounts given). ## People - **Dr. John** is named multiple times. Owners describe him as thorough and patient in ongoing care, and another family specifically credits “John and the team” for compassion during a dog’s final days; they also mention receiving a sympathy card afterwards. - **Dr. Radu** is also named; one owner says he welcomed them warmly and was helpful. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 483 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Post-op follow-up is a recurring detail:** owners mention next-day check-in calls after spay/neuter, and included follow-up appointments after surgery in at least one case. - **Communication during appointments:** one owner appreciated issues being explained “in ways I can understand.” - **End-of-life care and bereavement support:** multiple owners describe empathy around a pet’s final days, including an out-of-hours euthanasia and a condolence card sent afterwards. - **A significant conflicting experience in urgent care:** one detailed 1-star review alleges initial lack of time for X-rays/bloodwork during a breathing emergency, a later diagnosis of chronic heart failure after deterioration, and discharge despite poor appetite—followed by the pet’s death the same day. Other recent reviews, however, describe attentive emergency help and positive outcomes.

## Summary Village Vets Lissenhall is part of the Village Vets group. Recent reviews suggest it’s set up for routine appointments and ongoing care (clients mention being with the practice “for years” and staff “explained everything well”), alongside more complex cases such as orthopaedic surgery (a dog had shoulder surgery involving a metal plate, with aftercare and regular check-ups discussed). Owners also mention a **small-animal health plan**, and that the team has been **adapting to a temporary setup while a new building is awaited**. Feedback is mixed: many owners describe careful, kind handling (including compassionate support during euthanasia), while a small number of reviews raise serious concerns about missed diagnosis and communication/consent around major surgical decisions. ## Services Services and capabilities specifically mentioned in the available information include: - **General consultations and ongoing care** (staff “took the time needed,” “explained everything well,” long-term clients). - **Diagnostics**: blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound (mentioned as part of a second-opinion workup in a review). - **Orthopaedic surgery**: shoulder surgery with internal fixation/metal plate; discussion of revision surgery and amputation as possible outcomes (from one detailed review). - **Post-operative aftercare and check-ups** (regular follow-ups referenced in the same case). - **End-of-life care**: euthanasia for an elderly cat, with emphasis on compassionate handling. - **Boarding/kennels**: one reviewer refers to “their own affiliated boarding kennels.” - **Health plan** for small animals (details of what’s included weren’t provided in the reviews we have). ## Pricing - One reviewer states they had **paid over €3,000** for their dog’s surgery and were later **quoted almost the same cost again** for revision surgery (no itemised price list provided). ## People - **Jamie (vet)** is named in one review and is described as notably compassionate during a cat’s euthanasia (“could not have been more compassionate”). - Multiple reviewers praise the wider **vet and admin team** for: - **Clear explanations** and taking time during appointments (“explained everything well,” “took the time needed”). - **Kindness during difficult illnesses and end-of-life situations** (“throughout… illness… every step of the way, right up until the very end”). - One detailed negative review describes **delayed responses**, **dismissive/condescending communication**, and concern about **major treatment planning without consent** (an amputation allegedly scheduled without agreement). ## Reviews **4.5 stars from 423 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Long-term loyalty and day-to-day care:** several owners say they’ve attended “for years” and felt their pets were carefully looked after, with time taken to explain options. - **Compassion in end-of-life care:** euthanasia and support through a pet’s final illness are specifically praised. - **Health plan mentioned positively:** one reviewer calls the small-animal health plan “a brilliant idea,” without further detail. - **Facility transition noted:** one review mentions staff working out of a less comfortable temporary setup (described as “in the parking lot”) while awaiting a new building. - **Serious complaints (minority but significant):** - A cat owner alleges a **missed serious diagnosis** (arthritis diagnosis at the clinic; later another vet found an abdominal mass and cancer). - A dog owner describes a complex post-surgery complication and alleges **poor communication and consent issues**, including an amputation being scheduled without their consent, plus disputes about responsibility and costs.