Blacklion Vet Hosptial, Greystones

buzzbuzzbuzz

Hi There,

I have nothing to compare this vet to but does anyone know if it is more expensive than other vets in the area, I took my dog there a while ago for vacs, microchip, worms etc and it cost around 180 ! is this the norm?

I was told too that to get my dog spayed it could cost over 250, she is a medium sized dog,

I think it sounds pricey but again i dont know, first time dog owner

thanks
Buzz Buzz Buzz

Sparks

Dunno about dogs, but I took my cat to a vet in the town when he was a kitten (he had a nasopharnagyl polyp), and they refused to remove the polyp (which was interfering with breathing and feeding) but offered to put him down as he was unsaveable. Blacklion warned me that the op was difficult (they had to get a breathing tube into what was a comprimised airway as soon as the anesthetic hit, which was tricky timing and which would kill him if it wasn't successful), but agreed to try. The op was completely successful and I didn't have to put down a third cat inside of a year (one from cancer and one from a dog attack, both of which had been family pets for the best part of a decade).

They're very competent and they get the whole "pets are not food animals" mindset, so I have a bit of a soft spot for them. As to price, they were about par when I first came to them. Today, I wouldn't know - I've never needed to go elsewhere ever since.

Sparks

And while I wouldn't know about dogs, the sister brings her dog there for diabetic treatment (isn't it lovely when all the neighbours feed your dog sugar-laden biscuits intended for human consumption? :rolleyes: ) and I've never heard a bad word about it from her.

buzzbuzzbuzz

Thanks for the reply sparks, good news about your cat!
I did think they were really nice to deal with and gave great advice and spent a good while with us. I will take my dog back there but just wanted to know how they compared in price .Thanks again

dh2007

my parents bring their dogs there and they've never found it too expensive. Get pet plan though. I don't think it's too expensive. My boyfriend's family have the unluckiest dog ever and is constantly sick. She had thousands of euros worth of treatment over the years but because of petplan they only had to pay a nominal fee

boo-urns

€250 is a bit pricey to spay a dog. I got my dog spayed last year for €160 in Deansgrange. I'm a Charlesland resident but always go back to the Vet in Deansgrange as I find them very good and a lot cheaper than the local vets.

Like everything else, I think you should shop around and see...

buzzbuzzbuzz

Thanks for the advice everyone, yeah i was thinking 250 is a bit steep. I think i'll shop around and see what the norm is.They are a great vet but i havent got 100 or more euro to splash about if its not necessary

I have gotten pet insurance too, definately think its worth it.

thanks again

Eoin

We got our two dogs spayed / neutered for ~ €180 a pop in Dun Laoghaire - probably the same place as boo-urns.

Maybe check out the animal & pets forum, and see what the norm is?

cotton

I use the Harbour Vets in Greystones (I've 9 cats & 4 dogs so I am there a lot!)
They are brilliant - not cheap, but the level of care is second to none.

Sparks

Hmmm. Harbour Vets are the ones who offered to put down my cat...

cotton

That's mad Sparks. One of mine, Cotton, was having serious problems about 6months back. They found a nasopharyngeal polyp in her pharynx & they removed it without question.

I used to use Blacklion until they sent home a gravely ill foster dog to me, against my wishes. I got her out of there & straight down to the harbour. Enda in turn, managed to save her life. She had parvo & would definately have died if I'd listened to Blacklion. (Foster dog became a permanent resident!)

I suppose everyone is going to have good & bad experiences with both.

delgany

I'd have to agree with Cotton - the Harbour Vets are second to none. I would never hesitate to recommend them.

NarkyBoots

I agree with Cotton and Delgany.

My cat may have been extremely ill only Harbour vets did a thorough investigation after Blacklion said "He'll be grand" down the phone.

VN101

Hi all,

I came accross this thread by accident but feel I have to reply. I am a veterinary nurse living in the general area, not working now as I have a young family, but I know what I am talking about. I have used both practices in Greystones and I want to tell you one thing - you don't know how lucky you are! Both of the practices are excellent in the type of service they offer. A lot of vets in Ireland are still of the farm animal mindset and look at a few dogs and cats inthe evening because they have to. They just don't care and don't know enough to offer a decent service. Either of these practices in Greystones would hold their own in any large city in the UK where the standard of veterinary care for pets has historically been far ahead of what was offered in Ireland (although we are catching up rapidly). If you have a gripe with either of them it is only becuse one is 9.5 out of 10 in what you saw compared to the other being 9.6 out of 10. Honestly, it's like saying a top of the range Mercedes has a slighly smoother gear change that a top of the range BMW! Go back to an old banger and you'll soon see that either are brilliant!

As to prices - €250 is not an unreasonale fee for a major operation like a spay. Too many vets look at this procedure as 'routine' and therefore can be done for cheap. Would it be routine for me to have my womb and ovaries removed? They may do it routinely but it is not a routine procedure - it is probably the most serious procedure your dog will ever have done and they treat it this way as should you. I had my bitch spayed there and they said I could stay for the op if I wanted (as I'm a vet nurse). Everyting they did was superb and I was watching with a well trained eye: calling me the day before to check all was OK and not to forget to fast her; admittance and going through the consent form and explaining the anaesthetic and what was going to happen etc; using the very safest (but expensive) anaesthetic drugs; using the best (but expensive) suture materials to tie off her arteries and sew her up with (no one would ever think of this but as I said, I know the difference and know it ads about €15-€20 to the cost); using really good pain relief meds; using all disposable surgical drapes, gloves, gowns etc (more expense); having a nurse with her all the way through from being anaesthetised to waking up and monitoring her anaesthetic with all sorts of gizmos (again more expense); calling me that evening and the next day to see was everyting ok and seeing her 3 times in the next 10 days until we took the stiches out (for no extra charge). Honestly, you can't have the best of care aand expect it cheap but as long as you get alue for your money you can't really complain, can you? To be fair I know the other vets offer the same sort of care but that was my experience with Blacklion when my dog was spayed and it couldn't have been better - it was textbook. Also I asked could I pay half of the fee at the time and the other half a while later and there was no problem. And then they got me in 3 months later to weigh her and make sure she was fine and not putting on weight - for no charge.

As I said I know what I'm talking about - I've worked all round both here and abroad, I've seen some fairly bad places and I've seen some really good places. This compares well to the best and perhaps is the best of all I've seen. They have all the equipment needed, it's all new, and they seem to really care about the animals and all the staff there are lovely. Alan spent ages chatting to my kids and let them listen to our dogs heart and gave them stickers and even took then out to the kennels to show them some kittens they were rehoming. And the Scottish nurse there (Ilay I think) was lovely - kind of held my hand the whole way through as she knew I was a bit nervous.

Sorry for rambling on but it just annoyed me to see little complaints about a place that I think is great and that looked after me so well. They really are great and I'd never go anywhere else. They have a website too.

wicklowgal

I got a cat not too long ago.I got her vaccinated in Blacklion,however,I later found out that the Harbour is slightly cheaper for spaying,micro-chipping,vaccinations etc.I had some trouble with the cat at first,and it being my first cat,I was a regular caller to the Blacklion vets.Anytime I rang,I spoke to a lovely vettinary nurse called Leona/Leonie???She was a huge help to me everytime I rang and never made me feel like the inconvenience that I was!!Despite the small price difference,I am still a loyal customer of Blacklion as they were so helpful and good to myself and the cat!

VN101

Yeah, I've met Leonie several times and she's lovely as were all the other vets and nurses there. The ethos of Blacklion seems great - always friendly and always having plenty of time for you and always taking the time to explain all the options. As I said I've used both places I actaully found their (Blacklion's) prices about the same as the other vets but their care is second to none. If they do charge a bit more all i can say id they're worth it!

VN101

wicklowgal wrote: »

I got a cat not too long ago.I got her vaccinated in Blacklion,however,I later found out that the Harbour is slightly cheaper for spaying,micro-chipping,vaccinations etc.

Actually did a bit of research last week and it turns out that Blacklion vets are actually CHEAPER than the other practice in Greystones for many things - including kitten vaccinations and spaying so I don't know where you got your info wicklowgal but it's wrong.

littlefriend

God I had a really bad experience w/ Blacklion although in fairness it was a locum that I was dealing with. My brothers dog had been knocked down and they had operated on him. About a week later I was looking after him and as the day went on he was becoming more distressed and seemed to be going a bit crazy. His injured leg had been left without a bandage [as per vets instructions] to heal and it was starting to look infected so I brought him back to the vets.
When I got there it was just after lunch and there was no one else there yet I was left with the dog barking and whining non stop for about 15 mins while the locum and girl at the desk discussed their holidays. Then someone came in with their cat for an appointment and they saw the cat first? I was there for about an hour with the dog really going out of his mind before finally we were called in.
The vet [locum] kept telling me my dog wasn't well behaved and I kept saying its not my dog and also he is distressed so acting out of sorts. We were having this same ridiculous conversation over and over again. Anyway, I wasn't able to hold him down right while she was going to bandage him so the girl at the desk came in to help. They started talking and the vet started bandaging his leg without cleaning it - the leg was clearly infected and there was dirt in it as the wound had not been bandaged for a few days [as per her advice]. I stopped her and she then spent about 30 mins cleaning it. WTF why would anyone in the world put a bandage over a dirty infected wound???
The whole thing was unbelievable and cost something crazy for an 'emergency appointment'. Amazing. I was actually crying with frustration when I was leaving. I know I probably sound like a total nut job but this is actually what happened. NEVER again

julieq

We got our first puppy last November and I have been attending Kilcoole Animal Hospital with him since his arrival. I have to put up this recommendation as I have used two Vets in Greystones in the past with our cat, and there is no comparison (too costly). Kilcoole animal hospital's service has been superb, worming on text alert, €3 per dose, €9.00 for flea treatment and any small problems that we have had were looked at a cost of next to nothing. The innoculations and neutering were all very reasonable and their friendliness and professionalism is fantastic. I wish Gail, Shane and the other staff the very best with their relatively new business in Kilcoole. I think that in times of recession with so many businesses going down it is only fair to credit those doing their best and I suggest trying them out to see what good quality service and fairness is available not to mention a genuine love of animals ! Our dog loves them so much he pees and jumps around in excitement everytime he goes there !!

pixbyjohn

http://www.kilcoolevets.ie/ These vets give a very good service. Very genuine and kind as well as very efficient.

julieq

That's the one ! Great logo too !

The Guide

Just had dealings with Kilcoole Vets and I couldnt praise them enough, Our poor dog was very ill and unfortunately he died two weeks ago but the hospital couldnt have done enough for him or made him more comfortable, they were so good with the whole family too and I would certainly return if or when we decide to get another dog. After 10 years it is very upsetting to lose a dog but they were excellent. Full recommendation from me

julieq

Oh, that is so sad, you must be so upset. We have only had Alfie for six months and we are already besotted. (took about a week ... he sleeps on my head ! ... so much for crates !) It is amazing how a dog can become such a great part of a family but I believe that you must now cherish your memories and the joy that you pet had in their life and gave to yours. I am so happy that I decided to praise Gail and Shane as I believe that they are doing such a good job. I hope that you do decide to get another pet, so unfortunate that their life span is not as long as ours and we have to feel such pain. (I still miss my dog, that I had as a child, but lovely memories). If, in the future, you do decide to fill the gap of your pet with a small dog, please be in touch, I know an amazing breeder of Cavachons and I can only recommend highly ! I hope that the fact that you sourced really good final care is of some condolence for you and all the very best with your future pet endeavors and thank you for supporting decent and fair business. Before anyone asks, I am not related or with any business interest in Kilcoole Animal Hospital but I run a business in Kilcoole and I love when I get great feedback so I like to pass it on to others.
Julie.

The Guide

Ye, we most likely will get another dog, but in a while, its still raw, and then will have to make a point of not comparing. Bailey was a one off.

ciaran67

20 years and i still wont get another dog!

pixbyjohn

wicklowgal

pixbyjohn wrote: »

http://www.kilcoolevets.ie/ These vets give a very good service. Very genuine and kind as well as very efficient.

I see the hospital has a cattery, has anyone used this??? Thinking of taking a look for my holiday in October.

Merrilady

I have also used both vets in Greystones, but bring our dog to Gail in Kilcoole, I find the great.

Our dog loves them there, unusual for a vets practice.

They are also very kind on the pocket

artvandelay48

wicklowgal wrote: »

I see the hospital has a cattery, has anyone used this??? Thinking of taking a look for my holiday in October.

We use Sophisticats (http://www.sophisticats.ie/) in Templecarrig occasionally. Uta and Colin run it and Uta is a veterinary nurse at Blacklion Pet Hospital. Both are amazing with the cats and their set-up is first class. We initally thought it would be difficult to put our cat into a cattery but once we saw Sophisticats, our worries disappeared. They are simply outstanding.

As for Blacklion Pet Hospital, they are terrific. Our little cat has had a very hard time of it and we have been in there more times than we would have liked. But Alan and Lesley have always taken as much time as we needed with them to talk through the issues.

audreyp

My two cats have been going to Blacklion since they have been kittens and we have found them fantastic. When our cats were about 7 months old they got very sick. We brought them in and Blacklion was fantastic. The vet spent hours (even after he was supposed to close up) asking us questions to figure out what could be wrong. We eventually narrowed the issue to Lily Poisoning, we got a bunch of flowers from our friends and didn't know they were toxic to cats. The cats spent the night and the rest of the day in Blacklion and Alan even came in on his day off to look after them.

Thankfully they pulled through and it was all thanks to Blacklion. I cannot recommend them enough!

Our cats also stay in Sophisticats when we are away and we always feel so reassured! Its obvious they are both crazy about cats though I still feel guilty leaving them!

Bettyboop

I used Blacklion hospital for my dogs I got a puppy who had blood stained diarrhea and the vet Alan told me to starve him for 5 days,surely an 8 week old pup would die from starvation:eek:but he insisted it wouldn't anyway I starved it for one day and then fed it chicken and rice. It recovered tg but I was given no medication. The cost was 120 for a 5 minute chat. I now have my dogs registered in Kilcoole vets as one of my dogs got run over and I rang Blackion and they told me to bring it to the vets in UCD as they were closing in 10 mins however I rang Kilcoole vets and they told me they were just closing too but to rush him there and they would wait for me,they stayed all night with my dog and although it was touch and go for a while with my dog he recovered. All this for 170euro for 3 days that he was there . Blacklion prices are way over the top imo.

Moobui

I can't recommend Kilcoole vets highly enough. I've attend a few vets in Bray/Greystones and none of them compare to Kilcoole.

squeez

Hi there, I had my dog spayed in Blackion and as she was a very active puppy she burst her stitches and Alan in the vets looked after her straight away and fixed them. The insurance covered most of it. I'm sure if you found it too expensive in one go, he would be open to letting you pay it in installments but I dunno. Great vets.

AJCOT

I think the guys here do a wonderful job & my dog constantly meanders over to their door on harbour walks, unlike my last beast who had a fear of vets to rival my dentist phobia.

DS333

buzzbuzzbuzz wrote: »

Hi There,

I have nothing to compare this vet to but does anyone know if it is more expensive than other vets in the area, I took my dog there a while ago for vacs, microchip, worms etc and it cost around 180 ! is this the norm?

I was told too that to get my dog spayed it could cost over 250, she is a medium sized dog,

I think it sounds pricey but again i dont know, first time dog owner

thanks
Buzz Buzz Buzz

Course of vaccines about 48 euros per injection
Booster vaccine about 48 euros, single injection
Microchip about 42 euros
worm tablet 7.40 euros for medium sized dog

Does that help?:)

psycho-hope

We use the vet in kilcoole, its the only vets we have been to that the dog dosent freek out goin to.

audreyp

Blacklion are great vets. Our cats are not fond of going though. One of our cats had a nasty cut on his leg so we rang them that morning and they squeezed us in first thing. They always have time for us and never seem to get tired of our endless questions. At the start when I only had the cats a few weeks I was quite nervous and forever ringing them with questions and they were always so nice and understanding.

Can't recommend them enough!

mikedragon32

We've moved ours from Bray Vet to Blacklion even though we were very happy with Pete and the other vets there, as we got sick of the attitude of whoever answers the phone when trying to arrange appointments. You'd swear you were asking for her first born. As for trying to get a Saturday appointment!

Blacklion was our first port of call following AudreyP's recommendation a few weeks ago and we got an appointment for a Saturday morning no problems.

The vet nurses are great, happy to help and very knowledgeable. The vet who dealt with my two cats was lovely and I was very happy with her handling of them. Very glad I switched.

audreyp

The nurses are great so patient with our cats. We also got one of our cats teeth cleaned there a few months ago and they did a great job.

The do free six monthly checkups too! And if you buy flea treatments annually they will give a 10% discount, though I have never managed to do that!

They do think i'm a cooky cat lady, but I am so I don't mind :-)

DS333

Bettyboop wrote: »

I used Blacklion hospital for my dogs I got a puppy who had blood stained diarrhea and the vet Alan told me to starve him for 5 days,surely an 8 week old pup would die from starvation:eek:but he insisted it wouldn't anyway I starved it for one day and then fed it chicken and rice. It recovered tg but I was given no medication. The cost was 120 for a 5 minute chat. I now have my dogs registered in Kilcoole vets as one of my dogs got run over and I rang Blackion and they told me to bring it to the vets in UCD as they were closing in 10 mins however I rang Kilcoole vets and they told me they were just closing too but to rush him there and they would wait for me,they stayed all night with my dog and although it was touch and go for a while with my dog he recovered. All this for 170euro for 3 days that he was there . Blacklion prices are way over the top imo.

Bloody hell. That's the worst I've ever heard! :eek:Aren't they obliged to provide an emergency service?

Imhof Tank

DS333 wrote: »

Bloody hell. That's the worst I've ever heard! :eek:Aren't they obliged to provide an emergency service?

Obliged by who exactly? The secret police?

They are a small local business for gods sake - they provide a service, they are in competition with Kilcoole and if people arent happy with their opening hours, then people will go to Kilcoole or elsewhere. Are you seriously suggesting that they shouldnt be free to fix their own hours of business?

On topic, I find Blackion expensive and eager to push add on treatments which are possibly borderline unnecessary. There is a general feeling of being given the hard sell at times - the insurance policies, the cheesey letters addressed to the pets

At the end of the day, they are what it says over the door - a "Pet Hospital" - their target market is people with cats, small dogs, hamsters and so on, people with deep attachments to their pets, for whom money is often no object when it comes to the family pet. This is the business they are going after which is fine

The polar opposite of the "Pet Hospital" would be Larry Dunne in Enniskerry, where we now go -no sentimentality or small talk there. Just gets on with the job and does everything properly

DS333

Imhof Tank wrote: »

Obliged by who exactly? The secret police?

They are a small local business for gods sake - they provide a service, they are in competition with Kilcoole and if people arent happy with their opening hours, then people will go to Kilcoole or elsewhere. Are you seriously suggesting that they shouldnt be free to fix their own hours of business?

On topic, I find Blackion expensive and eager to push add on treatments which are possibly borderline unnecessary. There is a general feeling of being given the hard sell at times - the insurance policies, the cheesey letters addressed to the pets

At the end of the day, they are what it says over the door - a "Pet Hospital" - their target market is people with cats, small dogs, hamsters and so on, people with deep attachments to their pets, for whom money is often no object when it comes to the family pet. This is the business they are going after which is fine

The polar opposite of the "Pet Hospital" would be Larry Dunne in Enniskerry, where we now go -no sentimentality or small talk there. Just gets on with the job and does everything properly

Obliged by their code of ethics, FOR GOD'S SAKE! Obliged by the Veterinary Council of Ireland FOR GOD'S SAKE!

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...

Imhof Tank

DS333 wrote: »

Obliged by their code of ethics, FOR GOD'S SAKE! Obliged by the Veterinary Council of Ireland FOR GOD'S SAKE!

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...

Ok then why dont you report Blacklion to the Vet Council and see if they agree with you.

My father is a retired vet so I have plenty of knowledge of this particular subject as it happens. You have possibly watched a few too many episodes of All Creatures Great and Small.

Your initial comment to the effect that the vets were surely "obliged" to be available to the whole world at all times annoyed me. That real "I know my rights" attitude - there is enough of that on Joe Duffy every day.

LEIN

Guys can we get back on topic now?

If you wish to discuss how they run their business please go to link below.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=240

DS333

Damo9090 wrote: »

Guys can we get back on topic now?

If you wish to discuss how they run their business please go to link below.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=240

That's torn it!
And I was just sharpening my scalpel.:D

Daniellek.

I LOVE blacklion vet , highly recommend them , they are great with animals and always have time for you. My dog had a phantom pregnancy which got pretty bad and if it kept happening would of ended badly. They looked after her and ever since she has been perfect. Every vet seems expensive but arent are pets worth it?? mine are like family and i found blacklion vets to be competive with prices but yet there service is one of the best in my opinion. I got a puppy this week and he is going in tomorrow for a quick check up and im happy to bring him there since i know they will look after him.

cocker5

I have to say I don’t like black loin Vet clinic at all....

We used to bring our cocker to Eamon in Blackrock veterinary until we moved to Greystones, brought him to black loin first year we were here... he charged me €215, this was for a 3kg bag of Hills science diet, my cockers usual yearly shots and kennel cough.... of yeah and he cleaned his ears out “an ear bath he called it”...he didn’t have an infection of anything just said cockers ears sometimes need a bath (which is fine) i honestly nearly died with the price.... plus he was a little odd if I’m honest.

I’m used to Eamon in Blackrock and he is all about the animals.... Alan was a tad distant, plus at the time he had a notice in the surgery with two KCS up for adoption... i enquired about them he said their owner had a new baby and didn’t have the time anymore.... i said it’s a pity etc “a dog is for life etc” and he was like “ah sure whatever these things happen” sure if she’s busy she’s busy kinda attitude......... his attitude and very high price put me right off... we never went back. Have to say the girl on reception was very nice though as was the vet nurse... it’s the vet himself that put me right off.

Friends of mine have two yorkies.... they too attended blackloin vet clinic and found Alan odd and put the right off too..... just my opinion!

We now go to kilcoole veterinary and find them great, the vet is a lady and great with my dog... he got his shots this year €126, for all his usual shots, kennel cough and 7.5kg of Burns dog food. We have been a few times since with other issues my guy was having and have always found they great... plus one evening they stayed back an hour after closing to see my guy (kinda of an emergency)

hamstervision

cocker5 wrote: »

I have to say I don’t like black loin Vet clinic at all....

I'm surprised to hear that. I've always found them to be excellent, and Alan himself to be a very nice guy. In fact, sometimes it's hard to get out of there because he can be so chatty, but never found it to be in an "odd" way. He's saved the lives of 2 of my cats on at least 2 separate occasions, each time going the extra mile, coming into the clinic on his days off to check on them, etc. And just in case somebody suggest that he's any different with cats vs dogs, I know for a fact he's more of a dog person than a cat person - he's just a good vet in my opinion.

cocker5 wrote: »

i said it’s a pity etc “a dog is for life etc” and he was like “ah sure whatever these things happen” sure if she’s busy she’s busy kinda attitude......... his attitude and very high price put me right off...

I find that surprising, maybe you took him up wrong? When our cats were sick we were apologising for contacting them so often but we were concerned and wanted frequent updates (he would ring himself often to give us updates too). Anyway, he laughed off the apology saying he has no problem whatsoever with that, the only thing has a problem with people who don't give a sh*t and abandon their animals or bring them into him and tell him to put them down because they don't want to deal with them any more.

I can't comment on prices as I don't really have a point of comparison, but I've never found them to be a rip-off. With costly surgeries (we had a cat whose tail needed to be amputated, for example) they went and got pre-authorisation from the insurance company and absorbed the cost until the insurance company paid out, so we only had to pay the excess.

Overall it's a personal choice I guess, but I can't recommend them enough.

Bettyboop

Agree Kilcoole vets are brilliant, saved my dogs life. Blacklion told me to go to UCD as they were closing even though I was a customer for years.My dog wouldn't have made it to UCD.

Jelly2

I can't comment on comparisons between different vets in the Greystones/Kilcoole area, but I just wanted to say that we have always found Alan, Ellen, and their nurse Mark at Blacklion to be incredibly caring when it comes to our dogs. Alan most definitely DOES care about animals, and has often gone far beyond his duty to help our animals. I think it's only fair to say this; one person may have had a bad experience with his comments, but our experience has been the exact opposite.:)

artvandelay48

We have also had great experiences with Alan and Uta (vet nurse) as well as the rest of the staff. We had difficulty with our first cat and Alan was a brilliant vet. He explained everything in layman's terms so that we could understand what they were doing. He routinely stayed after closing to help us with the cat. Uta was just as good and her cattery, Sophisticats, is a great place to board cats.