I can't say enough about this wonderful gem of a vet hospital/clinic. Take it from someone who's owned many pets and who has frequented countless veterinarians..... I finally found the ONE AND ONLY VET hospital for my fur babies......I adore and trust them completely!! These people are the real deal. They've got all the qualities I look for in a veterinarian Hospital/clinic. Too much to say but the take away is this. The staff are intelligent and truly compassionate. Dr. Bowdidge is the vet I saw when I put my Tiger down. She has got to be one of the best vets I've ever seen. Smart, quick to diagnose, compassionate and was so very intuitive not only about my pet but about me. Prior to this event, I came here for another issue with another cat in the middle of the night, with the same experience. And mind you it was right before they closed their ER services during the beginning of Covid. My kitty got the best of care. Quick, thorough and spot on target with the Dx.... There are other places much closer to me, needless to say, I wouldn't for a second consider going anywhere else. if you want serious, no-nonsense and excellent care for your pets, look no further.....Thank GOD for Berkeley Dog and Cat!!! read more

Terrible staff. They'll double your bill after the fact and make up strange excuses. My dog got a vaccine here and they charged $22 for disposal if the needle. They didn't state this prior to the dose being given and all of a sudden my bill was doubled. read more

I've been thinking about his review for months. It's a heart breaking tale. I'm not going to go into every detail of what happen, but the short is I came into Berkeley Dog and Cat, in January of 2019, with a large adult dog that had been attacked by another large adult dog, it was a serious bite to the rear leg. We arrived at the vet around noon. They whisked the injured dog into the back and after awhile they told me she was stable and they'd have her for the day and would call me later with an update. After a couple of calls back and forth they said I could come pick up the injured dog. Which I did in the early evening. The dog was clearly in pain and had a drainage tube. They sent her home, with oral antibiotics and pain meds. I administered the meds that evening at home, the dog was very restless all night. The next day she was clearly still in pain and now was not eating. During the day I had a couple of conversations with the vet team, and agreed that I'd bring her back in the late afternoon, by the time I got her there she was much weaker and I needed help unloading her from the car. Her condition worsened that evening and she died the next morning of a septic infection. My issue with the vet care is that considering how sever the bite was that they didn't start IV antibiotics at the vet and that they released her too early; she should have been kept overnight to really make sure she was stable. Her death was preventable. read more

We love Berkeley Dog and Cat. They've been amazing with all the times we've had to come to them in the short time we've lived nearby. Our staffy loves the vet-- she always has since we've had her-- perhaps too much as we spend a lot of time there. She especially loves Berkeley Dog and Cat. Both my partner and I are disabled and Berkeley Dog and Cat was incredibly supportive dealing with the Hell that is torn ACL and navigating TPLO surgery and all that entails. They've always gone above and beyond to make sure we had what we needed, address concerns-- can't speak highly enough. Their orthopedic surgeon team-- especially Dr Watt whose one of the best in the field at TPLO surgeries, him and his vet tech have been fantastic. Two surgeries in- and our dog gets so psyched each time we go. The admin and office staff is incredible as well-- so on it, professional, great at customer service and supporting clients as well as asking questions. They're always so busy-- even before the pandemic as one of the best hospitals and a 24 hour emergency hospital. They adapted to the pandemic so well- you never wait super long even though we wait outside or in cars-- and its easy to walk the dog around while waiting so she can go the bathroom -though mine wants to make friends with everyone there, animals and humans and doesn't mind at all. its not nesecarily super cheap-- but you get excellent care and if you can afford to, its really worth it to really invest in pet health. I'm also unsure how they compare to other places nearby either--we've felt really lucky to be there. They were recommended to us by our old landlord. Not enough lovely things to say about them! read more

Growing up, my parents brought our pets to Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital. As an adult, I've been a client for almost 10 years. But the service and care have really gone downhill the last couple of years and my last visit was the final straw. I brought my older cat in for a wellness check. I wanted to be sure he was ok and in good health before undertaking a stressful multi-day move. I was told over the phone (since you cannot go in with your pet) that everything looked great and my cat was in excellent health. I specifically asked the vet about his teeth, since he is a senior. I was told by the vet that his teeth looked fine and there was nothing to worry about at this time, though I "might want to consider a dental next year". Halfway through my 2 day move, I noticed my cat seemed very uncomfortable and his mouth was red. I opened his mouth and his front fang was gone! It had completely fallen out! Since he had just seen a vet, I assumed he must've bumped himself or hit his face during the move, thus knocking out his tooth. Once I was able to get him to a vet, I was horrified to be told that his teeth were in terrible shape and his fang fell out due to decay. This is not a case of neglect; my cat is my beloved pet and sees the vet regularly. My new vet immediately called up bloodwork and said he needed a dental "right away" due to the horrible condition of his teeth. I feel awful that my cat has been in pain with decaying teeth and not one of the several vets or techs at Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital who have recently seen him mentioned anything to me. Instead, I was told his teeth were "fine" and I had nothing to worry about for a year. Now I wonder if they ever even looked inside his mouth. Disappointed does not really begin to cover the way I feel. I'm sad, angry, and feel like my trust in this office was sorely misplaced. Now my cat has a gaping hole in his mouth and needs emergency dental work. He's also lost weight from being unable to eat more than a few mouthfuls at a time. Do yourself a favor and find another vet who cares and takes the time to thoroughly check your pets. Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital ain't it. read more

I needed to take my cat into the emergency or urgent care this morning. I saw this animal hospital was close to my place and opened. I called the line and the receptionist asked if it was an emergency or to hold. I replied yes, and she still put me on hold. I waited for five minutes, then hung up and called back. I called back three times she was immediately put on hold. On the fourth call she picked up and she said would put me on hold (sounded irritated) and I made it explicitly clear I had an emergency. I described what happened and she told me there would be no doctor available until noon (this was 730 am), despite the voice recording saying earlier that urgent services were available starting at 7 am. I am new to the area, dealing with a sick cat, and was overwhelmed trying to find someone who would look at him in a timely manner. I do not recommend wasting your time. read more

Dr. Kelman was wonderful with our Saint Berdoodle. She performed a spay and gastroplexy so we were very nervous! She ensured we understood everything prior to moving forward. She and her technician, Wes, took great care is our puppy and were very understanding of our pup's anxiety. She will be our vet for as long as we have pets. Happy to have found her and her tech! read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Sleeping happy after surgery with her chew bone - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

My cat was hit by a car and someone who witnessed the incident took her to the Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital. Because she was chipped they were able to call me and let me know she was there. They insisted that I sign an estimate of care before I come via email. I was told she was critical and wouldn't start treatment without it. It was for $6k. I signed the agreement and headed to the hospital. When we arrived there was no one in the lobby. The place seemed deserted and we had to wait about 45 minutes before anyone bothered to wander by. We finally saw the vet who said she was critical and was explaining what was known about her condition - but no treatment had been started. I am hard of hearing and wear hearing aids. I explained I couldn't hear - his response.... to stop talking to me and talk to my daughter. Knowing the predicted costs and knowing my cat I opted to have her put down. The vets response was 'that is an option too' and left the room immediately. It felt like he was disappointed. Had to wait another hour for the paperwork to be processed and of course the highest cost is presented as the first option. The process of putting her down was handled well, with the exception of my being ignored because I couldn't hear him. This was my first experience with this place.They are money first and foremost. I think my cat got okay care. They kept her comfortable, but it truly felt like it was all about the money and less about animal care. read more

Truly a God-awful-run bureaucracy. Wait in your car for 10 minutes on hold on the phone just to tell them you're there. The receptionists don't seem trained or empowered to really help. Wait another 30 minutes for someone to come take your pet. (This is for a *scheduled* appointment drop off.) Next time, I could not pay my bill day-of, and needed them to invoice me (pet insurance complications, plus they had already invoiced me for my previous appointments, I assumed it would be the same for this one). No dice, they demanded full payment, and refused to give my dog back! I waited in the car on hold, back and forth with people who said the couldn't help me. I couldn't believe they were holding my dog hostage for money I didn't have on hand (but would be paid by insurance that week). I literally had to wait them out, sitting in my car, for over an hour. What are they gonna do, keep my dog overnight for ransom?? Eventually they caved and tried to make me fill out a debt form with my social security number (no way in hell I'm letting that machine get its clumsy jaws on my credit). I left that field blank, filled out the rest, and got the dog back before they noticed. They called 15 min later saying they need my SSN - yeah right!! I got out of there and am never ever going back. Pet insurance paid the bill in full the next day. The following week I got a call from my vet, he had quit his job there, too!!! Sounds like he was just as tired of them as me. I switched to Ocean Ave Vet Hospital in SF and have had (1) super smooth experience so far. read more

They should really let you give zero stars on here, because this place absolutely deserves it. Management is terrible. they treat their staff just as horribly as they treat customers. I asked for help from someone at the front desk and was treated very coldy and awfully by a woman that I later found out was the MANAGER. And on top of that they are incredibly understaffed and shouldn't have reopened their ER. I watched as every single line was on hold and this poor girl was trying to answer the calls and deal with customers in lobby ALONE!! They are money hungry and don't care about their staff, you, or your pets. It's sad because this place used to be really great. I will be taking my pets elsewhere from now on. DO NOT SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR CORPORATION!!!! read more

Complete bullshit that I have to chase after them in order to make a payment that's a billing error on their end.

This could have been a 1 star review. I had an appointment to take my cat Arya to the vet yesterday. On the way, the vet's office called me asking me if I was there. I replied that I was still driving and it was early. Finally I arrive and check in and they tell me to wait outside. I wait for a long time and then I walk back in. They tell me that the I missed my spot and we have to reschedule. Once I ask for clarification, the lady at the reception tells me that they had a misunderstanding but there is nothing they could do. I was so tired and exhausted and the concierge lady was very rude. However, after much fighting, a doctor decided to see my pet. Doctor Kristina Sirius was kind, nice, professional and everything someone can wish for for their pet. I can't stop recommending her! read more

I knew I made a mistake when I came here and there was only one receptionist taking in all the patients and phone calls. Her frustration expressed in her customer service, it was busy so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. The medical tech, she was on a whole different level, she didn't even try to fake a little niceness. All the other techs were nice with their clients and pets. The vet was aggressive and didn't tell me anything. The only thing they excelled in was the charge of $2081.00+ including a double charge for the consult. They didn't even bother to provide me a copy of the results and report of the tests and conclusion of the visit. My dog is still visibly uncomfortable and in pain, getting worse. read more

Without a doubt this is the most negligent, irresponsible, careless pet hospital. My dog comes here regularly, a few months ago she started to develop frequent urination. After performing UA, full blood panel, Addison's test, thyroid level analysis they still couldn't figure out what was causing the problem. So I decided to see an internal medicine specialist in SF. The internal medicine doctor diagnosed my dog with primary Hyperparathyroidism and she needed surgery. We went through with the surgery, but my dog's ionized calcium levels need to be evaluated post surgery. This is a critical test which needs to be performed in order to make sure she doesn't develop Hypocalcemia which could lead to seizure I called to see if they could perform the test at Berkeley, so I wouldn't have to drive my post operative dog into the city multiple times. I explain my situation and how my dog is a regular patient. Without even asking the veterinarian she blatantly says no. You have to be either extremely reckless or ignorant to turn away a sick patient without first consulting with a provider. read more

We had one late night emergency with our dog, Bebe as she accidentally swallowed a small round bully stick that she was given by mistake (not mine!) and she was choking so luckily a friend gave her the Heimlich maneuver and she expelled both ways (TMI) but still wasn't her normal self and we took her to a 24 hour urgent care pet facility in Berkeley but their wait time was a 6 hour wait into the wee hours! So they were nice to refer us to the Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital which was only 8 minutes away. They have a small parking lot in front but all the spaces were taken at 12 midnight! The lobby is spacious and comfortable, not even smelling like a pet hospital. Lakeisha at the front desk was very friendly and sympathetic and made us feel at ease. She even offered us coffee and tea which is available in the lobby. 15 minutes later, Jelani, the technician came out and reassured us and brought Bebe back into the examining room to check on vitals and see her reactions. He came back with Bebe and indicated that she seemed fine, her vitals were normal and said that the vet indicated we could just observe her behavior at home or get an x-ray. But indications looked like she was fine. So we opted for wait and see at home and so far so good. When we got ready to leave, we asked for the bill, and they said no charge! Wow, usually, we would expect a bill just for a quick visit but we were happy for the grace. Bebe is doing great! read more

THE GOOD: A consistently pleasant experience with the medical team. Thoughtful and attentive. THE MEH The front desk and admin customer service experience. Walking in is a total disconnect. Perhaps it's a timing issue but every time I schedule an appointment and show up, I always am reminded of the DMV. The front desk team folks are consistently cold, no eye contact, and are impatient with the clientele. They always give me the impression that I'm there to see them, that they're the main attraction, not that I have a pet that needs to see the vet in the back. THE FRUSTRATING The company's priority and lack of front desk training is obviously misaligned with the vet team's values: - overpricing (some of the med staff will even allude to the pricing issue on meds and service) - wrong or incomplete prescriptions - too many "that's not noted in the system, let me check in the back for you" moments - and the seemingly unfair decision to not be able to fill/refill prescriptions online only to strong-arm pet owners in emergency situations to purchase from them at a considerable markup or make another trip to their location for a written one. - again, the front desk staff It's a shame, because there are some good service providers behind that wall of ice and fog. Made a switch recently and feeling much better and validated by my new provider that my experience at BDCH is not the industry standard by a mile. read more

I've taken various dogs here for about 15 years and have been satisfied with the level of care, but it's been sporadic. I've recently adopted a cat and her two kittens from a foster person. The office staff has been repeatedly told by me and the foster person that they now belong to me and not the foster. After paying for 3 previous cat visits and repeatedly giving the office my info, they finally told me they needed the foster to email the office, or call, telling them the animals belong to me... sigh. And today, I took the Mama cat in to be spayed at 7:30am. The cost is $792.00(!). I called at 2pm, was told they'd call me around 4pm. I'm now in the parking lot, it's 7pm, no calls and wow... they seem Super disorganized. I mean for the serious amount of money spent for this sweet cat, you'd think they might call me with an update. read more

I went to the Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital in mid Sept. to have my cat's nails trimmed. I was given a bill of $75.50, $34 for a pedicure, $40.50 technician fee. Since the technician did the pedicure, I question what appeared to be double billing. I received no logical answer. This was the first time I used this facility for a trim. I checked my records when I returned home. The previous hospital I used was Claremont Vet which had charged me $30 three times for a trim and no technician fee. If this is indicative of the prices charged by the Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital I recommend you go elsewhere for your pet service. read more

I took my dog their because of their high reviews on yelps. I didn't find they are better than my previous vet. The service fee is twice as higher than other vets and customer service at the front desk are not great. I understand they are really busy yet they should be nice to each customer. Last Monday early in the morning at around 6:30, I took my dog for u/s. I thought I can drop her off and get the exam done later. The staff demanded me to pay the fee $603 before I leave there. I was shocked. What is a hell asking me to pay before the service is rendered? I love my pet that why I bought her to get treated. Why should I not to pay when I return to pick her up? It's all about money? The staff said it is their policy. I'm not sure why so many folks utilize their service. read more

I took my dog Remy here for an emergency care because he was very ill. The doctor made a diagnose on him and found many problems with his heart, liver, and kidney. Although I know there was not much that can be done to save him, I still felt like the doctor was not being very sympathetic towards him or with us. It felt like in order to save him we had to cough up $6,000 to keep him hospitalized and could be saved. He was pushing us towards euthanize him more. Remy was a long hair Chihuahua that was turning 12 years old. As we decided to put Remy down and help him out of his pain, the doctor had injected him so fast that he didn't even give Remy time to properly rest one after another injection. Remy didn't even close his eyes properly!!! This is what got me more upset. I don't recommend bringing ur pet here if you want proper care for him/her. Even if u know that u might have to put them to rest, find a doctor who will do it properly and not a half ass emotionless job. read more

This place prescribed the medication responsible for my dog's untimely death. Waffle was unusually healthy for an older puggle of 9. One day she started having really bad diarrhea. I tried the usual home remedies first for at least a week, but after her stool didn't seem to be improving, I brought her in. Dr. Jeffrey Freeman saw her and ordered a test to check for Giardia (a parasite), which came back negative. He prescribed her metronidazole, which is commonly prescribed both for Giardia and as an empiric treatment for diarrhea. Not only was the staff extremely slow about checking me out in a timely fashion, but they then started asking me which medications I'd like to give her, as if I know the first thing about veterinary medicine. I was there to seek their expertise because I didn't know how else to help her. So that was pretty frustrating. Then I gave Waffle the first dose. Then I took her hiking. We came back home and I noticed she'd started limping. I thought maybe it was related to the heat and continued the medication for about a week and brought her back in when her limping got really, really severe. Dr. Freeman charged me $100 for the visit, diagnosed her with canine vestibular disease, and suggested she stop the metronidazole. "Let me know if it doesn't clear up in a week or two. You can contact me by email." He never responded to my emails. A month and a half later, after about 8 vet appointments all over the Bay Area, I had to put Waffle down because she was severely paralyzed. Every vet I went to said it was likely a brain tumor that caused her death because of the progression of her neurologic symptoms. No vet says it was the metronidazole and Dr. Freeman said it was highly unlikely for her dose for that to happen. Yet the internet is littered with accounts of dogs dying from neurologic problems after taking this medication, and in many resources it is the only medication listed as a possible cause of vestibular disease. Vets get in their comfort zones and aren't familiar with the possible side effects of the medication they prescribe. I followed the vet's advice blindly and learned a hard lesson. Worrisome as Waffle's case of diarrhea was, I would never, never, never knowingly have given her a medication to treat it where one of the potential side effects was death. Since it was just diarrhea, it never even entered my mind to check the side effects. RIP Waffle, she was a wonderful dog and dear friend. read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Dr. Jeffrey Freeman of Berkeley Animal Hospital prescribed metronidazole and Waffle died a month and a half later. - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you like unpredictable billing, poor communication and gaslighting, then this is the veterinary clinic for you. To be clear, I can't comment on the quality of the vets simply because I could never get a clear understanding of what they actually did. I have many examples of poor communication and gaslighting, but the last visit with my dog was the last straw. My dog went in for a dental cleaning. I was given an estimate ahead of time with a low end price and a high end price. The prices were a little high (high end was around $1700) compared to other dental cleaning experiences my dog has had. The high end price included additional treatments that they couldn't predict ahead of time until they took x-rays. They took x-rays, called me and said my dog needed 9 teeth extracted! This sounded strange for a large dog. I asked if all of them were medically necessary to extract. The veterinary assistant said yes. I asked if the bill would exceed the maximum price quoted. The veterinary assistant said no. Feeling under pressure because my dog was already under anesthesia, I agreed to the extractions. When I went to pick my dog up, I received a bill that was several hundred dollars over the high end of the estimate. The front desk was confused by this and called the vet. It turned out there was a small code on the estimate that indicated the vet had initially assessed my dog's dental condition (without x-rays) as on the low end of the severity scale, and that is what determined the range of the estimate. I told the front desk that I was never told this information. Their response was "someone else should have told you that." I've heard that sentence a lot at this clinic. I asked to speak with the hospital administrator who told me that actually 10 teeth were extracted. I was very upset because I only authorized 9. The hospital administrator then told me that I must be "misremembering" that the vet assistant told me 9. She was clearly not interested in talking to me, and felt pressured to pay in full (i.e., I couldn't get my dog until I paid). I paid the full bill because I felt like I didn't have a choice. A couple days later I requested my dog's records and took them to another vet for review. The other vet stated that she couldn't determine from the records how many teeth they actually extracted. I called back Berkeley Dog and Cat and asked to speak with the vet directly. The vet left me a message saying that she extracted 9 teeth and wasn't sure where I got the idea that 10 teeth were extracted. The billing and communication practices are upsetting, but the most upsetting thing is that my dog was more nervous to go to Berkeley Dog and Cat than she's ever been at any other vet. That to me speaks volumes. I'm writing this to provide a cautionary tale. Berkeley Dog and Cat may have been a good clinic at one point, but it's clear that the administration and communication practices have declined considerably. read more

Took my Airedale there for several years for regular care and urgent care when possible. I gave 2 stars because Tesla had surgery to remove a tumor and I loved the surgeon. He was from Australia or New Zealand and was awesome. Otherwise I never felt like any of the vets Tesla saw particularly bothered much to really keep track of her. Also I brought her there because I thought it would be great to use a vet where they also provided emergency services because they would know my dog. Then I found out that there is no priority ever given to patients of the clinic. It's first come/first serve--even if you notify them that you are bringing your dog. So often as Tesla had more problems at the end of her life I had to take her elsewhere. That ended up being a blessing as I finally figured out the best Urgent Care to take her. Pet Emergency Center & Specialty Center of Marin. Also Tesla was put down at their urgent care. The process was fine and I was allowed to be with her. However unlike every other professional place (even her insurance company) there was no email or card to me acknowleging her death. Confirmed what I had felt about this place all along. read more

My 9 y.o. Australian Shepherd was in pain and cried out when I touched his back. I brought him to Berkeley Dog & Cat, where he had been a patient before. I left him there and then they e-mailed asking me to authorize $1000 of tests and x-rays and an additional $200 for anything else that would be needed in the course of the exam. Unfortunately I agreed, and ended up with a $1200 bill. They couldn't find much wrong beyond some signs of aging, gave him some Methadone, and prescribed a couple of pain killers. The total included $133 for the visit and an additional $244 for an examination. I don't know if this is strictly double billing, but it feels like it. There was no contact with the doctor until after the visit was over and the financial damage done. On the upside, my dog seems fine. read more

Best Vet experience ever!!!! Dr. Mariam saved us hundreds of dollars. Quotes for removal of a foxtail from Buddy's eye were upwards of $700. Our vet could not get close enough to him to even exam his eye. He has always been difficult, even for our groomer! We were told that, because he would need to be sedated, no price could be given. When we called around, the response was the same. Once sedation was required, all bets were off. So, ready to lay down some real cash, we got lucky. We chose, by mistake, this place we did not know and had not called. Fortunately, we arrived during normal office hours, albeit only a few minutes before closing time. The smart and helpful front desk staff quickly got us in to see Dr. Miriam since we worried the foxtail would further imbed. Dr. Miriam not only examined his eye without sedating him, which was a minor miracle; she returned with a vile containing the offending foxtail, a prescription for generic medication which, had the clinic not run out, would have saved us even more money, cone thrown in and, at our request, a look into his ears to assure us they were not infected. This already unique experience, was rendered even more remarkable by the bill presented. Thank you! Just want to let other pet owners know. We were blessed to find this place and this vet. read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat is easily 30% more expensive than others vets for literally the exact same procedures. Unfortunately, it is a corporation rather than a small business. The profits above all else model really shows. I recently took my dog in to assess a tumor on his paw. I paid for that initial visit, which was $643, and was told I needed to schedule a consult with the surgeon, which I did. I spent $174 for the surgeon to lay eyes on my dog's paw and confirm that he needs surgery. Berkeley Dog & Cat gave me an estimate of $5000 for the surgery, which included absurdities like a $109 bandage cost for the gauze and medical tape they would wrap around my dog's paw after surgery. Just didn't sit right with me. So, I started looking around to find a non-corporate vet clinic. Checked out a few and came across a great non-corporate run vet, which has much more of a small business feel--Mt. Diablo. And by coincidence, I learned that they use the same surgeon as Berkeley, but guess what? The start to finish cost for the same surgery by the same surgeon would have been $5817 at Berkeley as compared to $3900 at Mt. Diablo. And there was no $109 ridiculous bandage fee, in fact there was no bandage fee at all and this smaller clinic changes my dog's bandage every 3-4 days at no additional charge. That is a whopping 33% difference! That's also the difference between a corporate profit above all else model, and a more family run vet business. Well worth the drive from Oakland. Times are so hard right now for everyone, and especially financially. My heart breaks that people are paying Berkeley 30+% more for services for no good reason other than to enrich the company. For shame. I was lucky enough to realize it by way of such a coincidental apples to apples comparison, but I feel awful that others are paying more and don't realize that there are more affordable alternatives. The care and people at Berkeley were fine, but the inflated corporate pricing is unforgivable. Look around, support non-corporate owned and non-corporatized vets. Reward the littler guys, who in my experience, provided not just more affordable and better care, but they were also so much more attentive and generous with their time. I don't like writing negative reviews, but when times are so tough, I would really like to help spare people from paying more than they should. And ideally, I hope Berkeley Dog & Cat takes a good hard look at its pricing and does a lot better by people and their precious companions. read more

My dog Toto was diagnosed with a bad anal gland infection. Dr. Hancock was very mindful of my need to be cost conscious and outlined my options for treatment and associated costs. I went for the cheapest hoping that pain relievers and antibiotics would do the trick to no avail. I had to bring him back for a second visit to Dr. Lee and as previously explained to me by Dr. Hancock I moved forward with an ultrasound where they found a foxtail logged inside one of his wounds. They were able to get it out without having to put my doggy completely under and saved me about $300 on the entire procedure and visit! Yes they are expensive but they have a lab onsite for fast test results and diagnosis and my experience with then was very positive! read more

I took my 3-toed box tortoise here last week & was very pleased with the experience. I've had my tortoise for 21yrs, & have never taken her to a vet. I could never find one that I trusted enough who had a Dr. who was specifically trained & who primarily dealt with reptiles. Also, thankfully, there was never any problem with her that I would need to take her. I just wanted to do an overall checkup. I moved to the Bay Area a couple years ago, & thought it might be time. I decided to bring her in because I noticed her shell was flaking a little on the bottom & I was concerned with the overall condition of her shell (though the Internet is wonderful, it can be the devil at times! I was terrified she had shell rot. She does not. Whew!). Also I knew her nails & beak were way over grown & needed to be trimmed. Dr. Harkewicz & his understudy (I can't remember her name, but she was really nice) were both great. I was nervous bringing my lil tortoise in, but they both made me feel at ease. He checked her bowels & insides, her eyes, her lungs, etc. He informed me that my tortoise needs more vits & minerals, but overall, was very healthy. I was super happy to hear that. He gave me advise on where to go for supplies, & what to get for her, along with advise on feeding her earthworms, as opposed to mealworms, since she would get more nourishment from them. (I fed her a chopped up earthworm today, & my god was she excited to have it!) I left her at the vet for a few hrs so they could trim her beak & nails, as well as give her a vitamin injection. When I picked her up, so looked like a different tortoise! Still SO CUTE, but she looks so much better & healthier. read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - This was her beak before we got it trimmed - it was causing her some issues sometimes when eating.. - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Very long waiting times even when you have an appointment. Takes forever to get through on the phone.

I needed to get my cat an emergency e-collar in the evening after my normal vet was closed. Even though she's not a patient, the folks here made time for me to bring her in at night and fit her for a collar. It was so kind of them! Really lovely people! read more

I have had to use this hospital twice (my dog is living a well lived life that includes exploration, bumps, bruises and kitchen rummaging). In the first instance, he was bitten by another dog. And most recently he figured out a way past the baby gates to eat banana bread and chocolate. In both cases, I've found this hospital run so well and provide great through their guidance, instructions, and responsiveness. I only called them in the second instance, and they were able to help me- without even asking if I'm a current patient. I know what you're wondering- what about cost?They have a transparent form of pricing that is on par if not more reasonable than other hospitals I've been to in the area. Vet bills are pretty high no matter where you go. Thank you hospital and staff- I so appreciate having you during some of the most worrisome time in this fur moms life. read more

I called with a very simple question regarding removing leg bands on my birds. The young man I spoke with had absolutely no idea what I was talking about and sounded very uneducated. I would not trust these people with my pets. I called Montclair veterinary hospital and they were very helpful. read more

I would not recommend that you bring your pet here. The vets (have been there many times) have poor bedside manner. Even though it is very closely located, we will not be going there anymore. The staff are condescending and the prices are unconscionable. I would like to think staff dedicating their lives to animals have your best interest. They will charge 50% above the higher end for what you look up for a standard procedure - ex. $400 for a urinalysis. We have been to other vets in SF/LA for our current dog and other past dogs, and have received much better care and reasonable prices. This place will have you believe spending thousands of dollars a year on your dog is not enough and you are a bad pet owner. Pets Referral (though the emergency visit charge may be more) offers much better care and is our preferred choice. I keep giving this place 'another chance' but this will be my last time doing so. read more

The medical team here is wonderful. They are thoughtful and spend time with you to try to understand all the factors that may play into why your animal is experiencing symptoms. My 16 year-old cat developed a wound on her neck and we tried multiple treatments to get it under control, but unfortunately, it simply would not fully heal. After some time, she really became lethargic and her quality of life was diminishing so we made the difficult decision to euthanize her. The vets were very supportive and even reassuring during this painful process. I was prompted to write this positive review because A. they truly cared about her well-being and tried everything they could to treat her and B. the emotional support they provided during the last phase of her life was really amazing. We received a sympathy card with personal messages from her vets along with her paw prints (which we plan to frame). I would give 5 stars, but the pricing is a little random and skews toward quite high. Also, the front desk staff aren't always on the same page as the medical team. Overall though, I would definitely recommend Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital. Someday, when we're ready for another four-legged family member, we'll be bringing them here. read more

Had good experiences the first three times I went, the staff are usually stretched thin but they try their best. The last time though, they made a small mistake and underfilled my prescription. I was missing a third, or a whole week of it. I did the math for them, explaining that the bottle the medication came in (0.5oz or 15mL) could never have held the amount that they claimed (20mL). Ultimately, they were uninterested in figuring out why there was a mismatch between the prescription and what the tech fulfilled. I had to pay extra for medicine I had already paid for the first time. Again, the doctors treat the pets well. There is just some sloppiness with the techs (this and several syringe mixups) and lack of accountability and interest from the customer service / administrative side of the house. read more

We love Dr. Kenneth Harkewicz - he answers emails quickly which is a plus for bunny parents since bunnies are sensitive prey animals that can go quickly if they don't eat or poop for 12 hours. Our Kippy (female Netherland dwarf) was lethargic and not eating or pooping much and Dr. Ken responded quickly our email and we were able to get an appointment for her the next morning. The peace of mind was worth the money alone - that we have a doctor on call who knows bunnies well! Thank you Dr. Ken and the friendly tech and staff for helping our Kippy get well again (she just had a bit of gas and digestive stress from fire alarm testing at home during the week). read more

Don't bother! That place is complete rip off. We took our puppy who was lethargic and showing sign of mouth /jaw pain 2 weeks ago. On that first visit, they did a bunch of X-rays/blood test (essentially tried to rake in as much as possible even though we specifically told them pain was clearly in the mouth area) but found nothing and told us to come back to see the dentist. We made another appointment with their dentist. The ER doctor had not briefed the dentist so when we came back, the dentist had not clue what was happening and re-did a whole exam (after we complained they agreed not to charge us for the whole visit) but we had to make another appointment where they did another bunch of X-rays and still found nothing... All in all in 1 week they charged us over $3,000 but no diagnostic. Our puppy was still in pain and lump started to show on the side of her jaw. We called them let them know and they claimed they saw nothing, except it was now apparent for anyone looking at her. They just asked her to bring her back in at which point I said no thank you A*&hole! We ended up taking to VCA Broadway and they removed the abscess in 1 visit for a fraction of the cost. Bottom line, avoid this place. Drs are incompetent and don't even seem to care for the animals wellbeing (they asked us to bring our scared puppy at 8am, put her in a cage and did not start the consult before 1pm). Shameful! read more

Dr. Sip is the best! I have ducks and when one of them gets injure, sick, or just needs a checkup I take them to Berkeley Dog and Cat. It's one of the few places I know that looks at "exotic" animals. We need more vets in the area who look at ducks, chickens, goats, and so on... fortunately Dr. Sip is great and we will keep bringing her our animals if and when something goes wrong. Thanks Dr. Sip! read more

Terrible experience. I used to love this clinic, but probably due to the takeover by private equity, they did pretty much everything wrong over the 4 months we dealt with them. First, they managed to lose 3 appointments that we scheduled, including one that we had already paid a $2900 deposit for. (They are very good at collecting money.). They provided unnecessary care but discharged my cat prematurely after oral surgery, before he had recovered from the anesthetic. When we called to say that he was frantic and bleeding, having torn the hood off his head while still in the car, we were told to bring him in. When we asked what they would do, they said that they would charge us the emergency fee--nothing more. I think the staff is still caring and competent, but the systems undermine care to a dangerous level. I would never take my cat there again. It's a terrible loss of a local institution. read more

Please take your pets else where I had took my dog here about two months ago because this place had been open at the time and I gave them the benefit of the doubt especially because they're in Berkeley worst mistake of my life the front desk receptionist was so dismissive on her phone blasting inappropriate music door dashing Burger King had her feet kicked up and swearing in front of patients my dog was urinating blood and could barley move we had to pick him up and carry him everywhere to make matters worse they couldn't triage they had us waiting hours to be seen it was a matter of life and death with my dog and they took in a dog with a broken nail and a cat with a cough who had came in after us how ridiculous not to mention that the Dr who saw my dog said that my dog had a swollen prostate and he couldn't even explain himself he kept going around in circles damn near forcing us to nutter our dog he put him to sleep and put him on a lot of drugs and we left with a 4000$ pet bill we didn't neuter him because we knew something was off about that doctor he didn't have direct answers and was unable to answer ours so the next day our dog was trying so hard to fight for his life we decided to take him else where to get another opinion and they told us that his prostate was in fact not enlarged and that all the medications this so called Dr had put him on the night before were causing my dog even more harm and he took him off the medications immediately our dog was diagnosed with IMHA nothing to do with an enlarged prostate with IMHA you can't waste anytime you have to act fast I'm grateful that we took my dog else where and got healed these people do not care about your pets they just want money please look else where don't put your pets life at risk and get into debt without any solution I recommend everyone to go to (ADVANCED VETERINARY MEDICAL CENTER) in El Sobrante they saved my dogs life they were very compassionate and caring till this very day they are very welcoming and are always asking for my dog my dog would not be here today if I would've stayed with this sorry excuse of a vet hospital. read more