Pets bring so much joy into our lives, but they come with a lot of responsibility. They need to be fed well, groomed properly, exercised enough, and checked regularly for their health.
To make sure your beloved pets are well taken care of, we put together a list of the top vet clinics in Dublin. Read on to see how we rated each one of them!
Top Vet Clinics
After looking at clinics across the capital, we finalized this list based on the following metrics:
1. Fairview Veterinary Hospital
| Convenience | ★★★☆☆(3/5) |
| Services Offered | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Care | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Fairview Veterinary Hospital has been in operation for pets in the northside of Dublin since 1974.
One thing we love about them is that they have a dedicated facility for emergencies where at least one vet and one nurse are present at all times. This means pet owners don’t have to worry about anything urgent that may happen in the off-hours.
Use of the emergency facility always requires a deposit of €200, which may be a little intimidating. However, if the final charge comes to less, the difference will be refunded in the morning, which we find reasonable.
They also offer an extensive range of services that span routine, surgical, and diagnostic services. They are fully equipped with up-to-date facilities and technology too, from what we’ve seen.
Fairview Veterinary Hospital also offers cattery services for around 2 weeks, but there is no kennel for boarding dogs.
We’re a little disappointed because it would have been a lot more convenient for many pet owners to have a cattery and a kennel in one place.
We should also note that there is a tendency for scheduled appointments to be delayed, as their doctors like to be thorough with their services.
Although we understand this, it can really cause issues for busy pet parents who have to go back to their job or run errands on the same day.
Pros
- Offers emergency facility
- Offers cattery
- Wide range of services from routine, surgical, and diagnostic
Cons
- No dog kennel
- Time delays for appointments
Client Reviews
Extremely professional
Ciaran will answer all questions in relation to any issue with your pet. Sometimes there is a delay but that’s only because he takes his time with each consultation to make sure the pet is taken care off!! which to me is worth the wait. -Bob Cooke
I love Dr Ciaran
He always asks about everything, my pets habits, food, environment e investigate the problems eliminating simple ones first rather than getting into a conclusion without much evidence. But also he gives the medication when needed. My cat has an eye infection and the other place was just given him eye drops, which would make my pet good for a few days but it wasn’t solving the problem. Ciaran have him the antibiotics and after 3 months my cat finally got good and it never came back until now, 2 months already… I highly recommend Ciaran. I was there again and the only thing I can say is Ciaran is so nice to the pets!!! 🐈❤️💚🍀 -Alessandra Dianin
2. Sandymount Pet Hospital
| Convenience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Services Offered | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer Care | ★★★☆☆(3/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Sandymount Pet Hospital has achieved “companion animal hospital status” from the Veterinary Council of Ireland, which we think most pet owners would find very reassuring.
On top of that, their facility is quite spacious and includes a large yard, which we think larger and more energetic pets would probably adore.
They offer a good range of services, which includes diagnostics, nutrition, dental care, and wellness checks.
One of the veterinary surgeons even offers a referral orthopaedic service, which means they can treat patients with bone and joint issues.
It’s also worth noting that Sandymount Pet Hospital also offers healthcare plans that include routine vaccinations, monthly flea and worming services, discounts on dental procedures, and discounts on pet food.
This TrustVet Preventative Healthcare Plan starts at €16 for cats and €17 for dogs. We like that this is an option for many pet parents who want to save on some routine healthcare.
We also appreciate that you can book an appointment on their website, but unfortunately, some clients have expressed difficulty in reaching them both online and through the phone.
You could think of it as them being very busy because so many pet owners trust them, but there’s another school of thought that it’s hard to trust a vet when you can’t even book an appointment with them.
That’s why we docked them points in customer care for that. Furparents generally prefer vets whom they can get in touch with quickly, especially should an emergency arise.
Pros
- Offers solid healthcare plans
- Has a referral orthopaedic service
Cons
- Sometimes difficult to reach on the phone/website
- No boarding
Client Reviews
I strongly recommend this place, 10 out of 10.
I am a new mum , I found the clinic searching online and Richard was just amazing with my little girl. She was very calm around him while he performed a full check up. I am delighted with the service from him and the whole team. -Laine Tavares
Helpful and informative
Went here yesterday with my new puppy for his second vaccination, it was such a helpful and informative experience as I had a lot of questions which they were more then happy to answer for me. Christine was our point of contact and she was super friendly and gave us loads of information about what our next steps were. Really happy with this service! -Kate Buter
3. Castle Veterinary Clinic
| Convenience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Services Offered | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer Care | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
If you live in or near the Clondalkin area, you may want to give Castle Veterinary Clinic a go.
They offer consults, surgeries and anaesthesia, x-ray and ultrasound, and use of their in-house laboratory.
We find the last one especially good, because this means your pet’s problems can be diagnosed right away and there’s no need to take them anywhere else.
They also offer pet care plans that start at €14 for small dogs, €17 for medium dogs, €21 for large dogs, €25 for extra large dogs, and €16 for cats.
We like the variety, because it makes more sense than having to pay the same amount for a Chihuahua and a Great Dane.
Registered clients can also order both their pet food and repeat prescriptions on their website, which we think is quite convenient. This means you can get everything you need in one place.
Unfortunately, Castle Veterinary Clinic does not have a cattery or dog kennel for boarding.
While you can always find somewhere else for your pets if you have to go somewhere, we feel like a lot of pet owners would probably be more reassured if they can leave their pets with their already known and trusted veterinarians.
One more thing we love is that their website includes a blog about pet care and pet owner life, because it’s both informative and fun!
Pros
- Offers pet care plans
- Ordering through website
Cons
- No boarding
Client reviews
The best vet I’ve been to in Dublin
The way they cared for my cat earned a lot of trust. Their covid arrangement is spectacular (view the appointment through a window from the next room). 100% recommend Castle Vets to anyone. -Jody Lysaght
I can’t recommend Castle vets highly enough
They are consistently kind and thoroughly professional in all their dealings with me and my very needy rescue. Bailey seems to be there every month (or more often) and they take their time to make sure that he is well and thriving. All the staff are warm, caring and compassionate and gentle. Thanks for everything. -Sarah-Jayne Reid
4. Nutgrove Veterinary Hospital
| Convenience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Services Offered | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Care | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Nutgrove Veterinary Hospital offers first-opinion services including vaccines, health checks, neutering, dental hygiene, microchipping, pet passports, dietary advice, and pet cremation. They also have an in-house laboratory for blood and other samples.
Their referral services include cardiology, radiology, and endoscopy. We love that these are available with them so that your pet can be cared for right away should it be needed.
One of the owners, William Hayden, is also one of the first practicing vets in Ireland to be awarded the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Veterinary Radiology.
To add to that, his partner, Tom Mullany, was the first to be awarded the certificate in Veterinary Cardiology.
We think it’s reassuring for any pet owner to know there is a wealth of specialized experience between the two.
They’re also members of the Pet Emergency Hospital, which can be contacted at (01)2951202. Their emergency services are available 24/7, which we should note makes dealing with any urgent matter a lot smoother.
However, Nutgrove is another veterinary hospital that does not have a cattery or dog kennel for boarding. Sometimes, things come up in our lives that require us to go somewhere and leave our beloved pets behind.
This would have been especially helpful for pets with chronic illnesses or recurring ailments. If there’s even the slightest chance of something happening, we’re sure we’d feel a lot safer knowing we left our pets with medical professionals.
Another complaint we found is that waiting times in the hospital can be quite a bit longer than anticipated because of how busy the place can get. This can be a little upsetting for busy or anxious pet parents.
That being said, Nutgrove has been serving pets in Dublin since 1992 and have garnered the trust of their community, according to our client surveys.
Pros
- Veterinary radiology and cardiology specialists
- Offers emergency services
Cons
- No boarding
Client Reviews
Fantastic care
The treatment and care by Tom and all the staff at Nutgrove is fantastic. The team are always so friendly, thorough and willing to help. You couldn’t ask for better care for your pet. Thanks all for the ongoing attention and support. -Julie
Patient and thorough
They were very thorough, patient and kind with my nervous dog. Explained things very clearly and didnt rush me.
I had to wait a while before being seen for both my appointments, but that is forgiven as the service is exceptional. -Lisa Farrell
5. South Dublin Vets
| Convenience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Services Offered | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Care | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer Satisfaction | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
South Dublin Vets now has two veterinary clinics in Dublin, including one in Terenure and one in Dundrum. This means that you have options to choose from according to your location or preference.
They offer routine services such as consultations, vaccinations, worming and flea control, nutrition advice, and dental care.
They also offer diagnostics in their in-house laboratory, with x-rays, ultrasounds, endoscopy, ECG recording and interpretation, blood pressure measurement, and surgical facilities.
You can also order refills for your pet prescriptions online via their website. They also have an online shop up for pet food, vitamins and other treatments.
We think this makes it simpler for a lot of clients to shop for all their pets. They have a larger range of products on their site than other hospitals on this list, so we love that you can really get everything you need in one place.
Their emergency cover is provided by the Dublin Animal Emergency Clinic, which can be called at 01-2609920. They promise to give urgent care at any time when it is needed, which we think is absolutely essential for urgent matters.
South Dublin Vets also seems to care for the welfare of every animal, including strays. They work with multiple charities like Dogs in Distress, Westie Rescue, and the Cats and Dogs Protection League.
What’s more, their head veterinarian, Mark Heffernan worked five years at RSPCA Animal Hospital in Manchester, where he often attended to strays.
We love this because it gives the notion that they truly care about animals and their wellbeing. We know we’d want our furry friends looked after with as much compassion as possible.
Pros
- Work with charities
- Emergency services
- Online shop
Cons
- No boarding
Client Reviews
Professional care
The vet Mark is a great professional, treating my cat with a lot of care and respect. All the girls are lovely, genuinely interested if my cat’s health has shown improvement, even over the phone. I highly recommend this practice. -Marcela Burian
Amazing attention !!
I brought my cat in for the first time after arriving from Argentina, they checked him thoroughly, they went through all his records from Argentina, asked me a lot of questions about him and took amazing care of him. I felt super at ease knowing that he was being looked after properly. -Lali Maggio
FAQs about vets
We hope our list helped you find a trusted veterinarian for your furry friends. If you want to protect them and your family from pests too, here’s a list of the best pest control companies in Dublin.