Western Veterinary Clinic

Western Veterinary Clinic is a family-run mixed animal practice in Clifden, covering both companion animals and farm/equine work. The clinic has on-site facilities for digital X-rays, ultrasound, and in-house lab testing. Recent feedback most often highlights thorough medical workups, clear explanations, and reassuring handling, with same-day help also mentioned for an urgent dental problem.

Services

•Companion animal care and consultations, with reviews describing thorough examinations for sick pets, including blood testing and clear discussion of results and treatment options.
•Diagnostics on site, including digital X-rays, ultrasound, blood tests, and urinalysis.
•Farm and large-animal work, including on-farm visits, TB testing, general herd health support, and reproduction services including A.I.
•Equine services, including pre-purchase vetting.
•Isolation facilities for managing infectious risk.
•Recent examples mentioned by clients include same-day assessment for a dog with a broken tooth, support after a cat road-traffic injury, follow-up discussion around arthritis management, and a cat visit where matting/shaving care was also carried out.

Pricing

No published pricing information is currently available for this clinic.

People

•Niamh (vet): Praised for a thorough and sensitive assessment of a sick dog, arranging tests, explaining results quickly, and talking through next-step options clearly.
•Maraid (nurse, name uncertain in the review): Mentioned positively for calm, good handling during blood tests and a full examination.
•Francois (vet): Credited with treatment and follow-up support for a cat after a road accident, and later discussing arthritis care.
•Nollaig (front desk): Highlighted in one review as efficient and helpful, including practical advice on cat behaviour.
•Reviews suggest the wider team is generally seen as caring and welcoming, though one detailed account describes a frustrating reception experience around buying supplements and food.

Reviews

Google shows 4.9 stars from 57 reviews.

•Recent feedback often praises thorough examinations and diagnostics, including blood tests with fast results and time taken to explain what the findings could mean.
•Clients describe staff as kind, sensitive, friendly, and professional, with calm handling of unwell pets and reassuring support for worried owners.
•Same-day help is mentioned for an urgent issue when a visiting owner’s dog broke a tooth.
•One detailed review reports a reception and communication problem around purchasing supplements and food, including being told an appointment was needed and receiving mixed messages about advice given during the consultation.

Reviews for Western Veterinary Clinic

Note: Showing the 10 most recent Google reviews out of 57 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

catlit onetwo

1 year ago

Very thorough and sensitive vet Niamh and nurse. Dog was quite sick and they performed tests on him and we got detailed results within ten minutes. They then talked through what it might mean and options about next steps for treatment. I appreciated the time Niamh took explaining things to us and also her and nurse Maraid’s (?) manner with our dog was good given he needed blood tests and full examination. Used a couple of times recently as a visitor to the area. Felt confident in Niamh and the team so can recommend and will be going back there if need be.

Kristy Turner

Highly recommend. We were visiting Ireland and passing through when my dog broke his tooth in half - I called in and nothing was too much trouble. Seen same day. Super friendly, reassuring and professional.

John Glennon

Hugo Costa

2 years ago

siobhan walsh

My cat Terry is back to his good self after his visit here, the vet was so kind and attentive with Terry that he just layed back and let him shave his big belly, the girls at reception very welcoming and well the purring coming from the carrier said it all, Terry knew it was the place he needed to be and felt relieved to be helped.... Thank you 😊 from Terry tge Tank 🐱

Parchin Heanue

The best vets ever! But don't do what I did! Francois was there for me when my cat was run over in June. His faith in Mittens' ability to heal was the greatest comfort in one of the worst moments of my life and I am forever grateful. He and his wife treated Mittens really well, and I kept in touch with them as I was travelling in other parts of Ireland. It meant a lot to me to return to Western Vets with her after she had been on cage rest and largely recovered from her ordeal, to show Francois how well she had done and to thank him. Unfortunately Francois diagnosed that she has arthritis now and we talked about how to treat it. He said they could order some supplements or supplemented food for her and I asked if I should pop in the next week to see if they had them in and he said okay. But when I went in three days later I found out I shouldn't have. The receptionist let me know I was in the way of other customers, even though there was no-one else there when I arrived, and dealt with customers who came in after me for some time. I was unwell and in the end had to cut in on a long conversation with another customer (it was about 15 minutes since I'd arrived and been told to "stand aside") as I really needed to buy the supplements and food and get going. (I'd have walked away, but we had no cat food at home and the thought of Mittens' face when I told her there was nothing to eat made me stick out the wait, but it was a struggle as I was having an allergic reaction and was hanging onto the shelves for support). When I said this the receptionist was really angry with me. I explained a few times to her and the other customer that I was unwell and also explained to her that I didn't understand why I had to wait while people who arrived after me were being served. What she said was that I should have made another appointment to buy the cat food and supplements. I didn't know this! And I'd never come across this before. Contrary to appearances, the shop is not open to the public, so my blundering in there thinking that it was is why I was being treated in this way. The vet had said it was okay to return to buy these items but it actually wasn't, and I can't really suggest a sensible way around that except that you would need to buy the items at the time of the appointment. If they don't have them in then, I suppose the best thing is to find out what the vet recommends and then buy it online. Or if you can afford another appointment fee (47.50 euros) to return to the shop you could do that, but it doesn't seem cost effective. As soon as I got home I emailed to apologise for turning up without an appointment but I haven't received a response. As I'm new in the area and this is the only veterinary surgery, and also the best one ever as far as I'm concerned, I'm keen to resolve the misunderstanding but don't know what else to do. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also the receptionist told me not to use the supplement that the vet recommended. She said fish oil mustn't be given to cats, only to dogs, but the vet had talked to me quite a lot about giving it to my cat. I can't afford to pay for another appointment to check this one thing out, and they're not responding to me by email, and I'd be scared to phone after the way they were with me, so I don't know what to do. Again, can anyone advise? Hopefully this review will save anyone else from making the same mistake. Don't go in the shop, even if the vet says you can!! Make an appointment first!!

Beachbum

3 years ago

Western Vets have been looking after my cats for a year now. They are very friendly, empathetic and knowledgeable. Recently I’ve had a very sick kitten and their support has been really good. They managed to get him better and also handle my anxiety about his future. I especially like to mention Nollaig at the front desk, who is super efficient and has given me some great advice on cat behaviour.

Tom Termini

The caring and capable staff and veterinarians took great care of Luna! She’s on the mend, thanks to these great people!