Vet in Belfast!

*max*

Hi all! I am picking up a wee kitten on thursday, and will need to bring her to the vet to have her shots done, as well as general check up. Can anyone recommend a good vet, preferably in the East Belfast area? Also, how much can I expect to pay for this? Many thanks in advance!

Bigcammy

There's a vet in Holywood with a surgery on the Castlereagh Road called Karl I think. The surgery is close to S&L Furniture and when i had cats he was very good. No idea about costs though, sorry.

Jon_C

Garden Lodge Veterinary Clinic, 397 Old Holywood Road, Holywood
Tel 028 9042 6587 or 9042 6408

112 Castlereagh Road, east Belfast
Tel 028 9045 9799

122a, Malone Rd, Belfast
Tel 028 9066 8805

These three practices are all linked. The vets work on a rota.

The main two are Karl Smyth and Tom Fitzsimons. There's a newer one called Gina but I don't know her quite as well, having dealt with Tom mostly. He's been really good with my two cats. I haven't been to the Castlereagh one but the other two really appreciate how important pets are to their owners. Nothing is too much trouble and every little worry is taken seriously.

I don't know about how much vaccinations will cost, as my two had their first ones already done at Assisi Animal Sanctuary before I picked them up and I can't remember how much their boosters were.

I recommend getting your pet microchipped with the thermal scanning chip because as well as the ID issue it also means your pet won't have to undergo the rather traumatic experience of a thermometer up the bum (mine did NOT find it very pleasant that first time and I swore never again).

Remember to take out pet insurance. I'm with Marks and Spencer, which costs about £65 a year per cat.

It proved worthwhile within three or four months, when my Charlie developed a urinary infection. He was miaowing/crying a lot more than usual and kept trying to use the litter tray without success. Luckily, by coincidence I had read about this and knew to take him to the vet straight away - it could have been fatal within 24 hours otherwise.

Charlie had to stay two nights at the Holywood practice where they treated him really well and he made a full recovery. If I remember right, the treatment including antibiotics (which I had to give him for a week or so afterwards) amounted to more than £200. I was able to claim most of that back from the insurance but I would have paid any amount to make him better, so it was worth every penny.

Anyway, as a result of the infection Charlie has to eat special Royal Canin food to prevent further problems. It's expensive but because the vet prescribed it, it's a dietary requirement and the insurance pays for it. The money goes directly to the vet (no having to pay first and then claim it back).

Charlie's brother, Basil, has to eat the same food (if he didn't, I would find it difficult to make sure Charlie ate from the right bowl) so his food gets paid for too. I pay about £130 once a year to M&S and I get hundreds of pounds worth of high-quality cat food for that. I keep expecting them to put the premium up but they haven't yet and I've renewed it twice.

Good luck with your new arrival. If she's a bit fearful at first I recommend getting one of those fishing-rod-type toys and a red pointer-type laser dot torch for her to chase around the floor. My two love that.

micheline

I've been going to this vet for over 10yrs with my cats, they are great and friendly and do not over charge. You'd have to ring for an appointment cos they are very busy, that's if you want to use them.

Gortlands Veterinary Clinic
162-164
Gilnahirk Road
Belfast
02890 796005

jetboy

I use Gortlands. Personally I have seen them stick the arm in on occassion. Depends who you get really. My overall experience with them is OK.

*max*

Many thanks everyone! I have made an appointment for Jess on Friday at the hollywood clinic. I'm very nervous...I hope she doesn't hate me forever after that, poor wee mite! lol
I am also thinking of taking up insurance, I have found the Tesco insurance which is half price at the moment, £3.89 for extensive cover, but still a £50 excess (seems they all have an excess). This seems good value, as she will not be going out, so will be safe from most "usual" injuries / contagious illnesses I guess. I can't wait now!!!

Sandollar_2

Congrats on your new kitten.

Another vote for Garden Lodge. Tom and Carl really do come across as pet lovers. My kitty even climbed on to Carls pc whilst Carl was using it. Carl lifted him on to his lap and just continued on typing with one had and petting kitty with the other.

My kitty has the cat equivalent of eczema. I had always used Gortlands as it was my nearest surgery but after 4 courses of treatment it wasn;t clearing up. I took him to Garden Lodge as I had used them when I lived in Holywood. One course of treatment and his skin cleared up.

When you get your appointment you are taken more or less on time. With Gortlands there was always a queue and appointments didn't seem to mean much. Gortlands have a reputation for being cheap but I have found Garden Lodge's prices on a par with Gortlands but with better service and friendlier staff.

esson1

I can recommend Lisburn Veterinary Clinic , Sloan St , Lisburn

Very pet and owner friendly and very reasonable.

PandaPants_2

Please do not use Dohertys Vets in Carrickfergus. My brothers cat was run down outside the house when he was the only one home. He rang the vets to come and help him (bearing in mind he was about 13) and he was told bluntly "No, we dont come out for cats". My brother had to watch his pet cat die slowly over a period of about 2 hours. It makes me cry to think about it to this day imagining the cries of the cat.

What kind of person, never mind a VET could do that??? :mad:

Bigcammy

esson1 wrote: »

I can recommend Lisburn Veterinary Clinic , Sloan St , Lisburn

Very pet and owner friendly and very reasonable.

Agreed on this practice, I know one of their vets and she's very caring about animals.

Cee

Took my Kitten a year ago end this month to Gortlands, they gave you a introductory pack of kitty bits and bobs, info on pet insurance and electronic tagging as well as treats and whiskas samples, as for the cost, it depends on what you want the cat to be vaccinated against, there is one you don't need unless you are going to let it outdoors, I opted for both as at the time I wasn't sure wether I was going to let him out, due to our plans to move house at the time.

The cost was around the £50 mark but he was being treated for ear mites too into that.