Specialist Vets in Carlow

Specialist Vets in Carlow

Advanced care, referral centres and specialized veterinary services

About Specialist Vets in Carlow

Updated January 2026

Understanding the role of mid-ranked or routine-focused clinics can help pet owners make informed decisions.

In Carlow, each clinic plays a significant role in providing routine-focused care. The town lacks clinics with specialized or emergency services, highlighting the importance of maintaining regular appointments for preventive care. These clinics are well-suited for handling everyday needs such as vaccinations, non-urgent treatments, and chronic condition management. With all clinics having high review ratings, pet owners can be assured of reliable care across the board. Carlow exhibits strong clinic depth in terms of routine care, though specialized services are concentrated among a smaller number of providers.

There are 3 veterinary clinics listed for specialist vets in Carlow.

Top Rated Specialist Vets in Carlow

Top-ranked veterinary practices based on quality, service, and customer reviews

#1

Oaklawns Veterinary Surgery

4.7(281 reviews)
Independent Clinic
📞059 9143301
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
fish
horse
cow
sheep
pig
chicken
## Summary Oaklawns Veterinary Surgery offers **both large- and small-animal veterinary services** and has been operating for **25+ years** (per its website). Reviews most often describe help with **urgent illness in dogs** (including a puppy that “licked up something dodgy” and was treated as life-threatening), **routine care like vaccinations**, and **longer-running problems such as skin issues** that improved over time with ongoing treatment. Owners also mention supportive **end-of-life arrangements**, including organising a **private crematorium** and providing a **paw print and death certificate**. ## Services - **Large animal services** (website) - **Small animal services** (website) - **Vaccinations** (review: visits “through sickness and getting vaccines”) - **Treatment for acute illness/possible poisoning or ingestion** (review: puppy “licked up something dodgy” and was “basically saved”) - **Management of chronic skin issues** (review: “ongoing skin issues… significantly improved” under the vet’s care) - **End-of-life support** including arranging a **private cremation**, and returning ashes with a **paw print** and **certificate** (review) ## Pricing - No specific fees are listed, but multiple reviewers describe pricing as **“very reasonable”** and say they didn’t feel the practice was “just for the money.” (No amounts given.) - Website mentions **Pet Health Club® Plus** with “consultations included as part of a plan,” but **no prices or inclusions beyond consultations** are provided in the information available. ## People - **Keith (vet)** is named repeatedly. Owners say they specifically **request him**, describing him as **patient with questions** and crediting him with improving a dog’s **long-standing skin condition** that hadn’t improved elsewhere. - **Front desk team**: one reviewer highlights the “girls at front desk” as consistently pleasant to deal with. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 281 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Urgent care outcomes:** one owner says the clinic treated a puppy after ingesting something harmful and “basically saved” the dog’s life. - **Clear explanations:** reviewers mention staff “explain everything clearly,” alongside being friendly and professional. - **Continuity and problem-solving over time:** an owner reports a dog’s **skin issues** improved with ongoing care after not improving with other vets. - **End-of-life handling:** one review describes **private cremation arrangements** plus a **paw print and certificate**, which they found meaningful. - **Value perceptions:** several reviewers explicitly say prices felt “reasonable,” though no concrete pricing is provided.

Why This Ranking:

Oaklawns Veterinary Surgery in Carlow ranks highest due to its strong Google rating with a high review count, indicating reliability and trust. The clinic is praised for its compassionate care and comprehensive services, including emergency care, making it a trusted local veterinary clinic.

#2

Vetcare Carlow

4.7(190 reviews)
Independent Clinic
📞059-913 0988
Treats:
dog
cat
bird
rabbit
fish
## Summary Vetcare Carlow is part of the Vet Care group (described on its website as four Vet Care practices) and offers consultations as part of a Pet Health Club® Plus plan. Reviews repeatedly describe the team taking on urgent problems that other clinics turned away, including an “emergency matter” for an injured dog where owners say it was “no hassle” to be seen. Owners also mention dental care (with pets coming home “in great form” with “lovely clean teeth”) and practical handling for difficult appointments—such as vaccinating a reactive dog outside to keep them more comfortable. One review also notes the clinic is spacious and “well-supplied with pet products.” ## Services - **Urgent/same-day help mentioned in reviews:** an owner reports calling about an injured dog “on emergency matter” and being able to bring the dog in when other clinics “rejected to help.” - **Dentistry:** multiple owners mention dental work and mouth/teeth problems being treated, including a cat “in for a dental” and a dog with a “bad mouth” and sore teeth. - **Vaccinations:** one owner describes their dog’s vaccination being done outside due to reactivity around strangers/other dogs. - **Pet products available on-site:** one review describes the clinic as well-supplied with pet products. - **Pet Health Club® Plus (from the website):** consultations are included as part of this plan (no prices or full inclusions stated in the information provided). ## People - **Emma Hutton (vet)** is named in one review. The owner credits her and the team with getting their dog “back to himself” after mouth/teeth problems and speaks positively about follow-up appointments for ongoing dental discomfort. - **The wider team** is repeatedly described as kind and helpful, with one clear example of adapting the vaccination setup for a reactive dog by doing it outside where the dog was more comfortable. ## Reviews **4.7 stars from 190 reviews.** The comments we have focus on urgent access, dental outcomes, and accommodating nervous/reactive pets. **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Owners describe being accepted for urgent injury cases when other clinics wouldn’t see the pet (“no hassle at all to bring my dog in”). - Dental care is mentioned more than once, with owners reporting good post-procedure recovery and visibly clean teeth. - Handling of challenging pets is highlighted, including vaccinating a reactive dog outdoors to reduce stress. - Several reviews comment on the clinic environment (spacious) and the availability of pet products.

Why This Ranking:

Vetcare Carlow scores well with a high Google rating and positive review sentiment, particularly for emergency services. The clinic's spacious facilities and range of pet products enhance its appeal as a trusted local veterinary clinic in Carlow.

#3

Clinic na gCapall

4.8(23 reviews)
Independent Clinic
📞059 972 2677
Treats:
horse
## Summary Clinic na gCapall is an equine-only veterinary clinic focused on “precise diagnosis and targeted treatment,” backed by on-site facilities such as an in-house lab plus digital radiography and mobile digital ultrasound. The clinic advertises specific sports/orthopaedic-style diagnostics and therapies (for example lameness exams, ultrasound-guided joint injections, PRP and shockwave therapy), and notes that emergency cover is available to registered clients only. In reviews, owners repeatedly describe thorough investigations (“leaves no stone unturned”), clear/“honest communication” during a multi-stage pre-purchase vetting, and practical help in urgent situations (including getting to cases quickly and even changing a tyre on a horsebox). ## Services Based on the clinic website and the written reviews available to us, the clinic’s services/capabilities include: - Lameness examinations - Extracorporeal shockwave therapy - PRP injections - Ultrasound-guided joint injections - Mesotherapy - Pre-purchase examinations (a “5 stage vetting” is specifically mentioned in reviews) - Reproduction services - In-house laboratory testing: - Haematology - Biochemistry - Bacterial culture - Antibiotic sensitivity testing - Faecal egg counts - Diagnostic facilities and equipment listed: - Digital radiography - Modern mobile digital ultrasound - Rubber-lined examination rooms - Trot-up area and hard-surface trotting circle - Secure lunge arena - Pharmacy - Emergency arrangements (as stated on the website): out-of-hours/emergency cover is for registered clients only. ## People - **Gillian (vet)**: Mentioned by name in reviews. Owners describe her as thorough in investigating problems (“leaves no stone unturned”) and as providing clear, honest communication during a multi-stage pre-purchase vetting. - **Reception/support staff**: One reviewer explicitly praises the service “from the receptionist up to the vet,” describing the process as easy to do business with. ## Reviews **4.8 stars from 23 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - Thorough diagnostic work-ups for ongoing issues (one owner says the vet “leaves no stone unturned”). - Pre-purchase vetting experiences: a “5 stage vetting” is described as smooth to organise, with “honest communication.” - Handling urgent needs: reviewers say the practice is busy but tries to get to you quickly if it’s urgent. - Practical, above-and-beyond help is mentioned (a reviewer notes staff even changed a tyre on their horsebox).

Why This Ranking:

Clinic na gCapall in Carlow excels in equine care with a high Google rating, though with fewer reviews. The clinic is noted for its expertise and thorough care, making it an experienced team of vets and nurses for horse owners in the area.