Dog & Cat Vets in Skeaghvasteen

## Summary Joseph Benedict Byrne Veterinary Surgery (Barrowside Veterinary Hospital) is an independent veterinary hospital (no corporate group mentioned) established over sixty years ago and accredited by the Veterinary Council of Ireland. The website and reviews suggest it’s set up for a wide mix of cases across companion animals, farm animals, and equine, with in-house digital X‑ray and a stated 24/7 emergency service. In recent reviews, owners describe practical responsiveness—such as a vet doing a house call for an unwell cat, and being asked to come in early the next morning after a phone triage—alongside specific clinical work-ups (blood tests with results back within about an hour, full examinations, and medication provided after a problem was found). One reviewer also reports two earlier bad experiences but describes a later out-of-hours call being answered (despite the clinic being closed) and help provided at the requested address. ## Services From the clinic website summary and the reviews, the services and facilities mentioned include: - Companion animal care, plus farm animal and equine services - 24/7 emergency service (as stated on the website) - Health checks, vaccinations, microchipping, and worming - In-house digital X‑ray - Grooming, kennelling, and a shop - House calls (a vet visit to the home is described in a review) - Diagnostic testing and treatment mentioned in reviews: - Blood work (with results reported back within about an hour) - Full clinical examinations - Medical treatment/medications provided after assessment - Treatment for an intestinal blockage (life-saving care described by an owner) ## People Named team members mentioned in reviews: - **Tony (vet, role implied in review):** Seen by an owner as kind and attentive during a dog visit, and arranged blood work with results back within about an hour. - **Michael (vet, role implied in review):** Praised for phone triage (listening, asking lots of questions, not rushing), then doing a complete exam and identifying the problem; another review credits “Michael and the team” with saving a puppy with an intestinal blockage. - **Jasmijn Slob (woman vet, named in review):** A reviewer describes her answering the phone after closing time, coming to the address requested, and providing help; they describe her as professional and highly engaged. - **Reception team (unnamed):** Mentioned as friendly/helpful in a review where the clinic “found time” to provide what a dog needed. ## Reviews **4.7 stars from 163 reviews.** The latest written reviews available to us include a mix of brief ratings and several detailed accounts of specific care episodes. **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Fast access to care:** reports of a same-day appointment being typical, plus a vet doing a house call “within a short time.” - **Thorough assessment and diagnostics:** examples include blood tests with results back within an hour, complete examinations, and follow-through with relevant medication once the issue was identified. - **Out-of-hours responsiveness is mentioned:** one reviewer says their call was answered after closing and a vet came to the address requested. - **Serious-case treatment described:** one owner says their puppy was saved after an intestinal blockage. - **Conflicting experiences:** one reviewer describes two earlier “bad” experiences (cat and a stray dog) but later describes an excellent emergency interaction with a newer vet.