Riverside Veterinary Clinic – Vets in Ballymoney
Clinic Overview
Riverside Veterinary Clinic is a general small-animal practice (ownership group not stated in the available data) and is also listed as a Veterinary Nurse Training facility. From the latest reviews, owners describe a mix of routine and urgent situations being handled here—ranging from rabies vaccination for a dog passport to same-day help for an injured hedgehog, including an evening follow-up call with an update after the animal was transferred to a rescue place.
Feedback is sharply split: several reviewers praise Nigel and the team for being helpful and for working well with animals, while a small number of recent reviews describe serious concerns about communication and clinical decision-making, including allegations of being dismissed during a consult and dissatisfaction with how an animal was handled on lead.
Services
Based on the structured clinic data and what reviewers explicitly mention
- •Veterinary Nurse Training facility (listed specialisation)
- •Rabies vaccination for a dog passport (mentioned in a review)
- •Neutering/spay surgery (mentioned in a review; one reviewer alleges their cat was spayed at an inappropriate age due to a mix-up)
- •Assessment of vomiting in a cat (mentioned; one reviewer alleges insufficient investigation at this clinic before a second opinion elsewhere)
- •Help for injured wildlife (hedgehog), including arranging a rescue placement and providing an update call later the same day (mentioned in a review)
People
- •Nigel (vet, named in reviews): Some owners describe good experiences and say he and the team “work wonderful with every animal.” Others report the opposite—describing him as dismissive or disrespectful during consultations, and one reviewer objects to his handling technique using a slip lead.
- •Feargal (clinician named in a review): Credited with quickly providing care to an injured hedgehog brought in urgently.
- •Reception team (not named): Mentioned positively for reassuring a client who brought in injured wildlife and for showing compassion.
Reviews
Google rating: 4.7 stars from 104 reviews.
- •Wildlife help with follow-up: One reviewer describes the team taking an injured hedgehog seriously, providing immediate care, arranging a rescue place, and calling later with an update.
- •Positive routine care: Reviews mention straightforward visits such as a rabies vaccine for a dog passport, and multiple reviewers praise “Nigel and the team.”
- •Conflicting experiences with respect and handling: Two 1-star reviews describe being spoken to harshly/berated, feeling dismissed, and concerns about how an animal was handled (including use of a slip lead).
- •Allegations of clinical errors or insufficient investigation: One reviewer alleges a cat mix-up leading to an early spay, and another says a vomiting cat wasn’t properly checked before receiving a diagnosis elsewhere.
Contact
Special Services
Animals Treated at Riverside Veterinary Clinic
Animals We Treat
Animal type information not yet available for this clinic.
Opening Hours – Riverside Veterinary Clinic
Opening Hours
Hours
Reviews for Riverside Veterinary Clinic
Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 104 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.
Debbie Sloan
a week ago
Was very surprised given the number of Positive reviews to find this vet dismissive, negligent, incompetent and egotistical. I’ve never raised a complaint before, but my experience in this practice left me wondering why the vet in question decided to treat me and my partner with disdain and disrespect from the moment we entered his practice. If he is the patient and attentive man ive read of in other reviews, I can only assume this was a terrible day or an inherent prejudice. I sought out support for an animal exhibiting pica behaviours who a number of weeks prior Nigel has stated may have digestive issue. He decided he couldn’t be bothered the day we arrived and instead decided to go on an irrelevant journey where he cosplayed as “the dog whisperer” and insisted her health concerns were nothing but a result of bad walking technique. He demonstrated this by using a slip lead on the neck of a Pomeranian and dragging her through a busy car park. I was horrified, issued a complaint and he responded telling me everyone else likes him And he works 100 hours a week. Also made a point of ramming home how he runs the practice so he won’t take any accountability. Needs to get off his high horse and go on holiday. Never taking my animal to him again. Second opinion sought, dietary change implemented and wouldn’t you know, the issue has been resolved. You might get him on a good day…but on a bad one he might take it out on your pet. Avoid.
AdyG
4 months ago
Shannon Mustoe
6 months ago
Lisa McAfee
6 months ago
Best veterinary practice around. Nigel and the team work wonderful with every animal X
Lisa McAfee
8 months ago
Best veterinary practice around. Nigel and the team work wonderful with every animal X
amcalonan303
10 months ago
Absolutely 100% do not bring your pets here. I have moved my own pets to riada who actually know what they are doing. Riverside spayed one of my own cats when she was just 8 weeks old (massive health risks with this) blamed us for their own mistake and they shouted at my wife saying it was our fault? Turned out they mixed up 2 different cats. It's good that a "professional vet" can't tell when a cat is too young for that type of operation. Yesterday my sister took her cat in because he was being sick. The vet berated my sister and accused her of "abusing the cat" and saying he was malnourished. My sister is obsessed with her cats and there is always food for them. Again he kept commenting on the cats weight and did nothing to actually check what was wrong. My sister then took him to radar and within an hour they had confirmed that the cat sadly has liver failure. Roada actually carried out a few tests and done what they should have. Riverside are a joke, and the staff there should know better. I don't make a habit of posting negative reviews u less they are really needed. However when people's pets which are basically members of the family are treated the way they they are there, no one should be taking their own pets to them. A disgrace what happened to my own cat and a disgrace what they said and done with my sister and her cat yesterday. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PETS THERE.
amcalonan303
8 months ago
Absolutely 100% do not bring your pets here. I have moved my own pets to riada who actually know what they are doing. Riverside spayed one of my own cats when she was just 8 weeks old (massive health risks with this) blamed us for their own mistake and they shouted at my wife saying it was our fault? Turned out they mixed up 2 different cats. It's good that a "professional vet" can't tell when a cat is too young for that type of operation. Yesterday my sister took her cat in because he was being sick. The vet berated my sister and accused her of "abusing the cat" and saying he was malnourished. My sister is obsessed with her cats and there is always food for them. Again he kept commenting on the cats weight and did nothing to actually check what was wrong. My sister then took him to radar and within an hour they had confirmed that the cat sadly has liver failure. Roada actually carried out a few tests and done what they should have. Riverside are a joke, and the staff there should know better. I don't make a habit of posting negative reviews u less they are really needed. However when people's pets which are basically members of the family are treated the way they they are there, no one should be taking their own pets to them. A disgrace what happened to my own cat and a disgrace what they said and done with my sister and her cat yesterday. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PETS THERE.
Donna Shirlow
a year ago
I was so impressed with team at this practice as I found an injured hedgehog this afternoon and knew immediately that it needed urgent help. Unfortunately this was dismissed by another vet surgery in the town who could not offer any care and encouraged me to to leave it back where I found it. When I arrived at Riverside Vets the reception team put my mind at ease with their compassion for wildlife. They immediately alerted Feargal who quickly provided the care that it needed. I was so touched that they called me this evening with an update that they had managed a rescue place. Thankyou so much to all the ream for all your compassion and diligent care for wildlife. I can't recommend this practice highly enough. ❤️❤️❤️
Ragnar Ironspear
2 years ago
Brilliant Vets always helpful and doesn't break the bank
Richard Green
4 years ago
A good experience. JJ was getting the Rabies Vaccine for her Dog's Passport. I felt a little guilty because I was taking up Nigel's time while he had so many sick pets to see. So I did apologise for taking up his time. But we can thank Brexit for Dogs now having to have Passports to cross boarders with these Iislands... Ted
