Do your love your DC-area vet?

[Anonymous]

In my 30 years of owning animals, dogs and horses, I’ve never met a vet who I didn’t think was doing their best by the animal and me. There have for sure been equine vets I think were better at sports medicine than others, but I’ve never felt like anyone was trying to “upsell” or whatever.

I think maybe some of you just had a bad situation or thing with a pet and it colored your perception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in close-in Silver Spring, but would drive to DC, Rockville(ish), or NoVa for a good practice. Two dogs (one medium, one large), two indoor-only cats.

Not. Friendship. If you had a great experience there, good for you. My answer is still no. Thanks.

I'm currently paying corporate-owned prices, and would love to pay less for better quality. If you love your vet practice, please let me know.

Why do I need to "love" a vet, or any other provider? I just need a competent professional. I'm not going to wine them, dine them and sleep with them.

Not the OP, but if you go to Friendship Hospital you will be fleeced for whatever procedure they conduct, and they will recommend the highest cost procedures possible. (They were bought by private equity a few years ago, and we had a terrible experience there that damaged us financially.)

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with Hayfield Animal Hospital in Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

We like District Vet in Brookland. The Capitol Hill location is also good, but the one in Brookland has a parking lot which earns them major points. My dog was always afraid at our old vet. He loves this place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in close-in Silver Spring, but would drive to DC, Rockville(ish), or NoVa for a good practice. Two dogs (one medium, one large), two indoor-only cats.

Not. Friendship. If you had a great experience there, good for you. My answer is still no. Thanks.

I'm currently paying corporate-owned prices, and would love to pay less for better quality. If you love your vet practice, please let me know.

Why do I need to "love" a vet, or any other provider? I just need a competent professional. I'm not going to wine them, dine them and sleep with them.

Not the OP, but if you go to Friendship Hospital you will be fleeced for whatever procedure they conduct, and they will recommend the highest cost procedures possible. (They were bought by private equity a few years ago, and we had a terrible experience there that damaged us financially.)

I’ve been going to friendship for emergencies and specialty care for decades. They’ve always offered extensive/expensive options. That’s what they’re for. But I never felt pressured to spend more or do more - it’s their job to present options. They have the stuff. You don’t go to the hospital for a cold. If you do, it’s going to cost a lot.

Did I spend 3x on an exam and euthanasia at Friendship vs somewhere else? Yes. It was 4am on a Sunday and I’m very grateful they were there. Did I spend thousands there on oncology with another dog? Yes, but I certainly didn’t have to and I was given options and counsel all along the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in close-in Silver Spring, but would drive to DC, Rockville(ish), or NoVa for a good practice. Two dogs (one medium, one large), two indoor-only cats.

Not. Friendship. If you had a great experience there, good for you. My answer is still no. Thanks.

I'm currently paying corporate-owned prices, and would love to pay less for better quality. If you love your vet practice, please let me know.

Why do I need to "love" a vet, or any other provider? I just need a competent professional. I'm not going to wine them, dine them and sleep with them.

Not the OP, but if you go to Friendship Hospital you will be fleeced for whatever procedure they conduct, and they will recommend the highest cost procedures possible. (They were bought by private equity a few years ago, and we had a terrible experience there that damaged us financially.)

I’ve been going to friendship for emergencies and specialty care for decades. They’ve always offered extensive/expensive options. That’s what they’re for. But I never felt pressured to spend more or do more - it’s their job to present options. They have the stuff. You don’t go to the hospital for a cold. If you do, it’s going to cost a lot.

Did I spend 3x on an exam and euthanasia at Friendship vs somewhere else? Yes. It was 4am on a Sunday and I’m very grateful they were there. Did I spend thousands there on oncology with another dog? Yes, but I certainly didn’t have to and I was given options and counsel all along the way.

Good for you but money doesn’t grow on trees for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in close-in Silver Spring, but would drive to DC, Rockville(ish), or NoVa for a good practice. Two dogs (one medium, one large), two indoor-only cats.

Not. Friendship. If you had a great experience there, good for you. My answer is still no. Thanks.

I'm currently paying corporate-owned prices, and would love to pay less for better quality. If you love your vet practice, please let me know.

Why do I need to "love" a vet, or any other provider? I just need a competent professional. I'm not going to wine them, dine them and sleep with them.

Not the OP, but if you go to Friendship Hospital you will be fleeced for whatever procedure they conduct, and they will recommend the highest cost procedures possible. (They were bought by private equity a few years ago, and we had a terrible experience there that damaged us financially.)

I’ve been going to friendship for emergencies and specialty care for decades. They’ve always offered extensive/expensive options. That’s what they’re for. But I never felt pressured to spend more or do more - it’s their job to present options. They have the stuff. You don’t go to the hospital for a cold. If you do, it’s going to cost a lot.

Did I spend 3x on an exam and euthanasia at Friendship vs somewhere else? Yes. It was 4am on a Sunday and I’m very grateful they were there. Did I spend thousands there on oncology with another dog? Yes, but I certainly didn’t have to and I was given options and counsel all along the way.

Good for you but money doesn’t grow on trees for everyone.

+1. Friendship pushed a 15k surgery on us and told us repeatedly our pet would be completely normal afterwards. Our pet had a horrible painful recovery and if she survives 2 years we will be surprised.

And they have terrible admin and billing. They gave us a bill prior to the surgery and then said whoops we forgot to add $3k there-you have to pay it. Our kids didn’t go to summer camp that year thanks to them.

[Anonymous]

Marymont Animal Hospital. We’ve used them since I was a kid for our childhood dog and now with my own family’s dog.

It’s a husband and wife practice (formerly owned by the husband’s father). We’ve had great care for our pets without the upsells.

[Anonymous]

Might be a bit of a hike for some, but Pack Animal Care in Lorton, VA has been absolutely amazing. We see Dr. Robinson and he is truly amazing. I’ve never met a vet that’s just so truly caring for animals. I never feel rushed with him. I could go on and on. He’s really one of the good ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My cat almost died because of negligence at palisades vet - I suspect it was to delay the appropriate treatment so I could come back the next day and spend a ton more money to get the treatment I should have received during the first visit. However, they are one of the few clinics in dc that is not corporate owned, so I really do not know what to do.

At Palisades, we like Dr. Elliot specifically. Some of the other doctors in the practice recommend more treatments/procedures, but she is always like, “let’s recheck the bloodwork in 3 months” before jumping in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping! Looking for a new practice in Montgomery County or nearby. Would consider Columbia, Olney, even Frederick. Thank you!

It’s a chain and it’s not one of the cheaper ones, but we love Caring Hands in Wintergreen Plaza on Rockville pike. We have gotten great care there with our dog.

[Anonymous]

We love Seven Locks Animal Hospital, Dr. Poppa is the best.

[Anonymous]

I go to Palisades Vet on MacArthur. Are there other recommendations even a bit farther out where the prices are more reasonable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in close-in Silver Spring, but would drive to DC, Rockville(ish), or NoVa for a good practice. Two dogs (one medium, one large), two indoor-only cats.

Not. Friendship. If you had a great experience there, good for you. My answer is still no. Thanks.

I'm currently paying corporate-owned prices, and would love to pay less for better quality. If you love your vet practice, please let me know.

Why do I need to "love" a vet, or any other provider? I just need a competent professional. I'm not going to wine them, dine them and sleep with them.

Not the OP, but if you go to Friendship Hospital you will be fleeced for whatever procedure they conduct, and they will recommend the highest cost procedures possible. (They were bought by private equity a few years ago, and we had a terrible experience there that damaged us financially.)

I’ve been going to friendship for emergencies and specialty care for decades. They’ve always offered extensive/expensive options. That’s what they’re for. But I never felt pressured to spend more or do more - it’s their job to present options. They have the stuff. You don’t go to the hospital for a cold. If you do, it’s going to cost a lot.

Did I spend 3x on an exam and euthanasia at Friendship vs somewhere else? Yes. It was 4am on a Sunday and I’m very grateful they were there. Did I spend thousands there on oncology with another dog? Yes, but I certainly didn’t have to and I was given options and counsel all along the way.

Good for you but money doesn’t grow on trees for everyone.

+1. Friendship pushed a 15k surgery on us and told us repeatedly our pet would be completely normal afterwards. Our pet had a horrible painful recovery and if she survives 2 years we will be surprised.

And they have terrible admin and billing. They gave us a bill prior to the surgery and then said whoops we forgot to add $3k there-you have to pay it. Our kids didn’t go to summer camp that year thanks to them.

Yep. Their MO seems to be to tell you, "we could do this $$$ procedure or let your pet die." So then you do the procedure, it's inconclusive, and they recommend another procedure vs. letting your pet die. That was our experience. Friends spent thousands so their cat could die in a kitty oxygen tent at Friendship. At some point, you just need to say, pushing all these procedures on animals who don't understand and/or are in pain is simply inhumane.

[Anonymous]

I really like Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. Small family owned practice.