Went to Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital for an urgent visit because my dog got a large laceration that required stitches. This vet hospital says it provides 24/7 emergency care. I waited for 4 hours from 3 PM-7 PM and was told they were busy but the new doctor coming in at 7 PM would see my dog. When the doctor arrived I was told that this new doctor does not feel comfortable with performing procedures including stitches. They then told me I should go down the street to another emergency vet hospital to get taken care of. This is simply ridiculous and wasted 4 hrs of my time. I came here because I heard good things about this place from one of my friends. First off, what type of emergency vet facility can't do simple sutures and why would they hire an emergency vet that does not feel comfortable with performing procedures. The staff were lovely and super apologetic however will never be coming back here. read more

SCROLL DOWN AND LOOK FOR "114 reviews not currently recommended" near the bottom of this page. These are reviews that Yelp has obscured from ready viewing by moving them off this page. Yelp accepts money from businesses in exchange for hiding bad reviews. They'll swear up and down that they do not do this, but I've spoken with more than one person who worked for businesses that Yelp contacted for this purpose. If you click the "reviews not currently recommended" link, you will find many, many one-star reviews for Berkeley Dog and Cat, and a lot of them are from people who've only ever reviewed one business: this one. That's how much they dislike Berkeley Dog & Cat. Also, my review used to have around 20 "helpful" votes, not 6, at the time of this writing. I'm guessing Yelp is either selling reductions in "helpful" vote tallies for negative reviews, or maybe they just reset the counter to zero now and then. In any case, this is a terrible vet practice, and if you value your pet, you'll take it elsewhere. read more

I brought my cat in at noon on a Saturday with a foxtail in her eye. The staff was efficient and friendly. There were many more extreme cases they needed to tend to first but they were able to remove the foxtail within 1.5 hrs. They then suggested several other diagnostics tests which they said would take several hours. I left and came back 3 hrs later. The admin up front had changed shift. I asked the new admin for a checkin and was told they had NOT YET STARTED WORK on my cat, that I should leave and go get dinner (another couple hours) At that point after 4.5 hrs I was exhausted. I requested the admin tell the vet that I no longer wanted to do the extra work. Then began a very convoluted set of exchanges over 20 minutes in which the admin became increasingly unclear and changed her story several times. First she said they hadn't started the work and it would take a couple hours. Then she said they were coming out to discuss not doing the diagnostic, then she said she wasn't sure what was happening in the back, began referencing a bobcat they were treating that had no significance whatsoever to the questions I was asking. Then she said (180 degree pivot here) that they had already done the work. ‍ She explained that she had just started her shift and hadn't known. But no apology. Getting clear info about your pet the first time is a basic expectation for a vet office. It would have avoided 25 min of frustrating and unclear communication. Would have been 5 stars weee it not first that last interaction. read more

The day of our loss was May 21 and I don't have any complaints about the services we received that day, though I truly didn't expect it to be so expensive. We paid in full (as we would not have been able to receive emergency services otherwise), and got an itemized bill, which is attached. Since that day we have gotten no less than 3 bills in the mail (2 of which are attached below) for more than 1.5x the cost of the original bill with NO itemized description. We called when we got the first one and were assured that it was a mistake, but we are still getting these bills. The bills are both bothersome and unprofessional. The fact that there is no itemized description on the fake bills is unethical. The fact that this keeps happening, despite repeated phone calls is disappointing and wasteful and I am going to have a real problem if they attempt to send this bill to collections. Do better, Berkeley Dog and Cat. read more

See all

I don't know where to begin with this vet hospital. They were a great option for my cats up until 2020. Then, after the pandemic, things started to go downhill. My most recent issue had to do with FOH staff, scheduling, and a vet who did not read my cat's history. My cat is a special needs cat. I had been taking her to this vet hospital a lot recently to treat a recurring UTI that's been going on for over 2 years. When I called Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital, I asked for a "routine followup appointment" to get what vets call an "in-house culture" to see if my cat still had a UTI, as she had just completed a second round of antibiotics, and we were just trying to find out if she still had a UTI. The receptionist told me it would take a few weeks to schedule an appointment, which I knew was not true, because what I needed for my cat should only take 10 minutes, and it could be done by a vet tech, who just needed to express the contents of her bladder to get the urine to use for the in-house culture. Nevertheless, the receptionist told me 2 weeks was the best they could do. I hang up the phone to tell my partner what the receptionist said, and she insisted she call back to get this appointment, because UTIs can be stubborn, and my cat's Vet would absolutely want my cat to have this in-house culture sooner rather than later. So that's what she does. She calls back and asks for a routine followup appointment for an in-house culture to see if my cat still had a UTI. The receptionist my partner talks to on the phone says that they see there has been a cancelation, and can schedule my cat an appointment for the following morning. So I take my cat in, and instead of having a vet tech come take my cat to express her bladder, I see a brand new vet (who charges a fee for an examination btw), who I guess doesn't read the files on the animals she sees??? Otherwise, I'm guessing she would have seen that all my cat needed was a follow up appointment for an in-house culture to check to see if she still has a UTI. When I go to check out, I realize then that there was a big mistake, because this vet was trying to up-charge me, not only for the exam, but also for a culture to send out-of-house, which runs about $400 more than an in-house culture. I was visibly upset, and the person behind the desk was smug in her response to me, and acted like I was being unreasonable for being upset about a mistake that they made, that was costing me $700, when it should have only been a $200 bill. In the end, I had to fight them to do the in-house culture, but still had to pay for the vet exam. Needless to say, I am finding a new vet. read more

The customer service here can only be described as bad at best and sometimes horrible. We have brought our dog here at least five times for various emergency and non-emergency issues. The time before last we had an appointment for an eye emergency issue that took two weeks to get. A few days before the appointment they called us and told us they had to cancel the appointment due to scheduling issues and reschedule it for two weeks out. We said that there was an issue that we needed to have them look at soon and they said that we could bring him in for an emergency visit, but it would cost more, or we could wait an additional two weeks. Completely tone deaf. We recently brought him in for an emergency issue and called before we came in. They said two hours max. We were in less than 10 minutes later, and the weight had ballooned to seven hours with no recognition of what they just said. They suggested we go someplace else! It's 1pm on a Wednesday--people have jobs. Picked him up. They tried charging me without showing me itemized invoice. I reviewed the invoice and it included procedures that he didn't receive. They removed it, but only after I asked. I would recommend taking your time and money elsewhere. read more

I am pretty pleased with my recent experience. My dog Daphne is elderly now and has special needs. She came in presenting a few different symptoms that needed to get diagnosed & treated. With the Covid restrictions in place, we had to wait out in the parking lot and were not able to go in with our dog. This is pretty standard practice with veterinarians right now, so I was not surprised. The parking lot was a bit chaotic with so many patients, including emergencies. Even so, I felt like the staff were pretty efficient and communicated with us well. I especially appreciated Tito, the vet tech who assisted us. Dr. Freeman, whom I have still not met face to face, did an excellent job of diagnosing Daphne and giving her the right medication. It is definitely a challenge to convey multiple symptoms going on with your pet when all communication is on a phone, but I think Dr. Freeman went out of his way to listen & ask very good questions. He was easy to work with and I felt like Daphne was in good hands. Daphne is doing so much better since our visit. She is not completely out of the woods, but I have found their staff to be very cooperative in communicating with me about meds, etc. I asked for Dr. Freeman to call me about one of her conditions and I received a phone call I promptly the next morning. He did a great job of communicating with me about next steps we might take, also keeping my budget in mind.I feel confident that they will give her the best care and that is the most important thing to me. read more

I cannot say enough good about the folks that work at the Berkeley Dog and Cat hospital. I have never met kinder more dedicated workers. From the receptionist to the vet tech and doctor we could have not felt more cared for. Our cat Gigi is an outdoor indoor girl. We tried solo indoor but she would not have it after the first year. Recently she was bitten by one of her meals. Most likely a vole. She swelled and cried a lot when touching the swollen area. We called on a Sunday and they took her right in, 12 noon. There were two very serious cases before us that were lengthy so we picked her up at 7:30 pm. How can one rush healthcare? No rush with us. Gigi was lanced and drained after shaved; we got attentive information, care, medication and assurances. Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital is thorough, run well, clean and very hospitable. So happy they could see us at the weekend! Please read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - The bag they gave us with instructions and medicine and a caring name doodle - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

We've been getting care at BD&C for 10 years, and I'm going to be as honest and fair as I can about the mixed bag it's been: * Receptionists are mostly helpful, but semi-regularly answer questions with inaccurate information. I get that their jobs are stressful, though, and imagine they're doing their best. * Vet techs are mostly great. I can tell they love animals, and I always appreciate the care and affection they show toward my dog and cats. * Doctors are hit-or-miss. We've had numerous visits with Dr. Minturn and it's always a lovely experience-- he's warm, kind, and efficient. We've also seen Dr. Sirkis, whose bedside manner has ranged from cool to condescending. She tends to use lots of medical jargon, and once smirked in response to my questions. Could use training on how to interact respectfully with pet parents. * Communication is fragmented-- information about your pet's needs typically passes through multiple nodes before it reaches you. When it gets to you, it might be incomplete or incorrect. When you call to clarify, the answer you get might not be helpful or accurate. For us, this has resulted in wasted time and resources, and extra stress. Just had an unpleasant brush with Dr. Sirkis, and the condescension is hard to stomach when taken together with the frequent miscommunications and bureaucracy of this place. I'm starting to explore other vet care options-- and I hope this review helps others! read more

They killed my best friend. I took my baby here for several years and the care was exceptional. In June, he went in for a cough. Their phone lines were broken. Everything seemed out of place. The doctor was hurried and rushed. They prescribed a medication that was contraindicated for my dog's condition. They didn't review the medical records. And it led to his untimely death. I overheard the front desk get a call that went like this... "Wait, we got a e-mail?" "Oh, yeah we got an email" "Oops I haven't been checking that shit." I recently discovered that "Petvet Care Center" a national chain purchased this clinic. And they've had a revolving door of inexperienced, discount pet nurses providing questionable and shoddy care - which directly led to the death of our beloved family dog. Jennifer A. Brown. basically threw Scottie at me when I questioned their practices, workflows, and negligence. Their medical director called us finally: "This never should have happened," she said. The clinic never operated like this. We trusted them. And now it all makes sense. This is a dire warning to anyone seeking veterinary treatment. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PETS HERE. I'm filing a complaint with the veterinary board today. read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

The admin staff was great, but I had a rough experience with the doctor for our 1-year check up. Dr. Kristina Sirkis was cold and very condescending and seemed annoyed that I thought my cat might have asthma (it was just 'coughing' - this is my first pet). She was nicer to my cats then to me, which is good, and I know her job is stressful, but it was unnecessarily rude for check up - I would never go back to her. read more

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at approximately 6:30pm, my partner and I took our beloved dog, Nia (a 3-year-old Rottie) to Berkeley Dog and Cat hospital because she was limping and in obvious pain. When we arrived, we spoke with a woman named Nayely at reception. She checked us in and let us know that there was 1 patient ahead of us. My partner asked about how long the wait might be. Nayely then went to the back to check. When she came back to the front desk, she informed us again that there was only 1 patient ahead of us and that it shouldn't be long. Her exact words were that it wouldn't take long. Shortly after that, a technician came and weighed Nia and took her vitals. He led us to a room in the back and took her temperature. He then informed us that there was 1 patient ahead of us and that there was going to be a doctor switch at 7:30pm. We patiently waited in the cold room with a dog that was uncomfortable and in pain for approximately 2 hours at which point I asked my partner to go check with the front desk for an update. When he checked with the front, Nayely was apparently surprised that we had not been seen yet. It took another 15-20 minutes for a doctor to walk in the room. The doctor that came in was Moses Bosire. I asked him out of curiosity, how come it had taken so long. He then angrily told me that he was seeing other patients. So, I told him, I thought there was only 1 patient ahead of us. That was the point at which he started saying that I had an attitude. This surprised my partner and me. I am entitled to ask a question. I was not rude in asking the question and my tone was calm. I was simply curious as to why it took so longer than expected. He then proceeded to inform us that he was not going to see Nia because I had an attitude. I offered to step out of the room because clearly, he had a problem with me not with her or my partner. He simply refused to see her even after I offered to step out. We then walked back to the front with Nia, still in pain and discomfort. At this point, I had become upset. When I went back to the front. There was another woman who came to the front. She told us that Moses Bosire was not going to see Nia and when I asked why they would send us home with a dog that was in pain and discomfort she said that they would give us a referral to another clinic. We got home around 10:30pm with Nia still unable to walk. None of us really slept that night. The following morning, I took Nia to OakVet. When I called OakVet in the morning, I was informed that the wait would be 3-6 hours and if a critical condition came in, they would have to treat that first, which I was more than okay with. When we were waiting 2 critical conditions walked in and were treated first. After 4 hours of waiting, I asked for an update and instead of being told that I had an attitude, I was provided with an update. She had not been seen yet, but they had had 2 critical conditions walk in, and she was next to be seen. While in the waiting room at OakVet, I saw something I had never seen in the 3 years that we have been going to Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital. The staff was happy and jovial. They seemed to really care for the pets that were coming in. Communication was clear and direct. The pet owners who came in where thankful and their interactions with staff was wonderful. The staff did not get combative with anyone, which happens often at Berkeley Dog and Cat. In the end OakVet was a lifesaver. Nia did not have a Foxtail as we had suspected. She had a soft tissue injury. They gave us medications for her. They also followed up with a phone call today to check how she was doing. The vet we saw, Natalie Pfaff, was incredible. To refuse care to an animal in pain and discomfort because you did not appreciate a question is insane. It leads me to conclude that Moses Bosire and Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital do not care about the animals that walk through their doors. If he can get upset about a simple question that could have been answered in several different ways like "we got a critical condition, so we had to push your wait time" or "the patient I had took longer than expected" or "we forgot about you" is not okay. Evidently, his communication skills are lacking. This makes me think that if we had medical questions about Nia, we would not have gotten clear answers or any answers at all. This visit to Berkeley Dog and Cat was our last. We have found Nia another vet and we know where to take her for emergency care now. read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

I took my sick cat to Berkeley Cat and Dog last night at about 7:45. I was there for 4 hours. they said my cat needed surgery, and it would cost $10,000. yes, you read that correctly. When I said I couldn't afford that, both the doctor and the nurse became dismissive, cold, and almost rude. They behaved as if I was beneath their time, a bad cat mom, and too poor to deal with. they came back to the waiting room 5 times to try to convince me to sign the invoice and commitment to pay. they sent me home after giving him 2 shots. an altogether terrible experience. they also said that they reserve the right to not provide services to me in the future. as if I would use them again. read more

They took great care of my puppy when he had a severe corneal ulcer that got infected. They took him back right away and were communicative and empathetic. He's on the mend. I would definitely go back here for emergencies. read more

My dog partially tore her dew claw on a Sunday and needed urgent help to fix her very painful/ nail and paw. I'm newly living back in the area and several friends recommended Berkeley Dog and Cat to me. They were able to fit her in the same day, remove her damaged nail, and she came home within two hours of being assessed. They wrapped her foot up nicely and she got sent home with antibiotics, pain meds, and a soft cone. The vet called me to give me a personal update on my pup and answer questions and the vet tech clearly went over all care instructions, plus they gave me a written copy as well. The pricing was very reasonable for an urgent care visit. I was super happy they could help my pup and their attention to detail was very much appreciated! Thanks Berkeley Dog and Cat! read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Bandaged foot - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

These people are not only unprofessional but they're insane! All they cared about from the moment I arrived was money. I was standing at the front desk when a couple came rushing in and interrupted, & were panicking over their large dog ingesting a small piece of chocolate. I simply told them that their dog wasn't going to die and that they'd have to eat a lot to die. The lady working at the front desk lost her mind, told me these were paying customers, and she yelled at me and ordered me to take my dog back and leave. My dog was in the back in some cage they put him in. It was worse than I have room to describe. It was a terrible and terrifying experience. I will never in my life ever go back there. read more

My pet bearded dragon was not feeling well last week so we brought him in to ER care last Friday. I'm happy with the care that Dr. Luehman provided, she is attentive and compassionate. We had blood work sent to Idexx, and the results came back Monday 2/1. Dr. Luehman left a voicemail with a 3 minute long analysis and possible diagnosis. Idexx did not have the expertise so they sent out the results to a reptile pathologist. I'm sure that they are doing everything they can. Logistics: 3 hour wait time until seen, 4.5 hours total (8pm-12:30am), $800 total ($118 ER, $120 X-ray, $330 Idexx blood work, remaining are fluids and medicine used in-facility and take-home). What I'm not happy with is the same line the receptionists answer with and the non-existent results after - "Here's what I can do, I'll leave a note for the vet." That is fine, but I've been asking for the blood work records for 3 days. The results should belong to me and not require a vet's authorization (disruptive workflow in my opinion). Vets are extremely busy, I get that, but I don't understand why authorization takes 3+ days. Manage your time better, carve out 20 minutes at the beginning and end of each shift to attend to emails, notes, concerns. If you're too busy, refer us to another place. These pets don't stop being your patients once we walk out the door. My beardie is having a rough time and is very lethargic. I'm sure these results are only a phone call to put on hold and deal with, but to me it means the world. I don't want to be writing this angry review, I just want a response with results. I hope that the workflow and process improves ASAP. read more

If I could give zero stars, I would. Took my dog in on June 1st because one of her paws was swollen. I thought she may have gotten an embedded foxtail in her paw pad from a walk. The vet denied it could be a foxtail, and tried to blame it on my dogs age claiming arthritis or "soft tissue injury" for a red inflamed and swollen paw. I asked if it could be a new trigger for her allergies she is prone to, or maybe she stepped on something. All my concerns rejected by the vet and put back on my dogs age. Recommended pain killers and anti inflammatory meds and told me to consider Arthritis injections, which i denied because my dog may be 11 1/2, but she is extremely healthy. Followed the doctors recommended care plan anyways in hopes it'll relieve my dogs pain, and all 4 of her paws became inflamed, oozing brown pus, micro tears, and spread to her face causing her face to bleed and swell as well. I emailed them multiple times photos and updates of her paws and they ignored me until I sent a very heated email, in which they changed their tune on voicemail stating "it could be a foxtail, or maybe allergies." If that was the case, why was I so quickly dismissed by your staff when I inquired about both possibilities? If it was a foxtail, your facility would have left it in my dogs body for over a week by pure negligence. You could have killed her. I spent $600 at this facility just for my dog to get significantly worse to the point where she currently struggles to walk on her paws, for them to ignore, deny, and suddenly request i bring her in again to "look her over." I firmly believe they did not do their due diligence on my dog, they did not listen to my concerns, they tried to write her off because she's up there in age and sell me on medications she doesn't even need. This facility is purely neglectful, a waste of money, and they do NOT care about your pet, their health, or any concerns you may have. read more

Absolutely horrendous. Dr Olsen made racists remarks when I brought my dog in and I was so taken back at the time that I didn't say a word. My dog did NOT like Dr Olsen and could sense danger when in the exam room. I would never trust my beloved pets with this vet again! read more

Wow, downgraded to one star guys. We're done with you. Warning to everyone out there, they recently changed their Covid policies and even the staff is mask optional. Pretty odd given that there's a deadly, disabling virus going around, one which animals can't mask or vax for, as well as the many other diseases present in a vet hospital--obviously we need to keep masks as a basic element of hygiene in medical areas guys...duh... Additionally, as far as prescriptions go, just don't bother. Seriously, take your pet anywhere else, these guys were blacklisted from all the local pharmacies because they wouldn't fill prescriptions right, wouldn't fax papers correctly or timely, wouldn't answer real pharmacy calls. Now they don't even *pretend* to fill orders this way, except that they WILL tell you that you can take your print out of an emailed scrip (the only thing they give you) to CVS and have them fill it--they won't fax it. This is categorically wrong, and when I called CVS about this, they said several people from this place had come in with invalid rXes, after being told by these amazingly incompetent folks that a print out was enough. The pharmacy tech on duty at BDCH told me all this wrong information today. What is going on here? It doesn't sound above board, because this is pretty clear in California law. God I am embarrassed for these people. read more

My cat died due to medical negligence on the part of this hospital. He came in and it was thought that he had been hit by a car and yet no x-rays were done. At this point he was still able to walk. Three days later I bring him into his usual vet because his legs have stopped moving and he won't walk. They ask for the x-rays from here. We say we don't have any and they are audibly shocked over the phone. They rush him into radiology and find that his spinal cord is fractured. He had to get put down because of that. If Berkeley Dog and Cat hospital had done its job, by baby boy would still be alive. But they didn't and now he's dead. read more

Our dog had an ear infection. We brought him here because it looked pretty bad and the said they had availability. The get one star for providing a refund. Frustrating to have no actual communication of care for the duration of care. The staff is completely indifferent to the experience of reality this provides to owners. I honestly think they hide behind the lack of communication to cover up a mixture of miss management and staffing issues. I have compassion and I am deeply saddened by the experience. My dog stayed there for over 14 hours and did not see a vet. read more

I took my 17yo dog here for some mobility troubles. Dr. Sirkis saw us and freaked me out so much that I didn't even feel comfortable letting her vaccinate my dog. She couldn't access the details of my precious dinosaurs extensive medical records. She couldn't tell me when the last time my dog was vaccinated, or why we had an open prescription for gabapentin. She prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain which made my dog completely immobile and worsened her incontinence. We stopped the gabapentin and read online there is no evidence to support gabapentin for nerve pain in dogs. At least we got a referral to a specialist? Possibly? Hard to say since I basically ran out of there with my dog in her stroller. She was only on the gabapentin for 2 days. I forgot the worst part. A gentleman came in while there was a rush to see his dying cat and expressed that they were not receiving the care they need. The person in training at the front desk smirked behind his back. The same trainee at the front desk also couldn't tell me when my dog was last vaccinated while looking at my dog's file. read more

I get that wait times for emergency services are long; what I don't get is why you would leave clients waiting from 10:30 AM to 5 PM before they even get facetime with the vet. I am not exaggerating: my wife and I brought my dog in at 10:30 AM because she had a swollen rectum that was bleeding; the vet technician didn't come to get the details until a little after 12 PM; then, after being rude and dismissive, she left us in an exam room until 5 PM. Nobody came to check on us, or to let us know our status in line. I'm convinced they would have left us there even longer if I didn't go to the front desk to inquire about the remaining wait time myself. The single star is for the front office staff, who were efficient and kind. After I spoke to them, the ball started rolling. It turns out that my dog had an abscess in her anal glands. We suspected that was the case, and the vet technician confirmed it during her check in. She also told us it was a problem that could be easily resolved with a vet tech appointment or even a visit to the groomer's. According to her, this was to "save us" the $160 bill for an emergency visit, but 1) I already paid the bill (two hours ago, mind you) and nobody was offering a refund; and 2) a groomer, seriously? So really her comment just came across as dismissive. Before I go any further, I'll add a disclaimer that my dog was aggressive. She lunged at the tech and tried to nip her when she approached. It's unfortunate, but my dog is terrified of the vet and has many issues with anxiety. My wife and I agreed to muzzle her, and to stay with her so we could keep her calm. We were willing to do anything within reason to make the staff's job a little easier. However, it was clear that the vet tech had taken a dislike to our dog. She kept complaining that she "couldn't handle this dog on [her] own," which was why we had to stay (after we'd already agreed to this) and acted like my wife's questions about potential side effects of a sedative were ridiculous. When we asked how much longer we would have to wait (again, we'd already been there two hours) she said, "Well, it IS emergency services." All of this I could have dealt with. You work long hours and aggressive dogs are an annoyance at best, a danger at worst. But after my dog growled at her as she passed by the exam room, the vet tech closed the door, and we didn't see hide or hair of anyone for the next 4 to 5 hours. When I spoke to the receptionist at around 5 PM, she seemed shocked that we'd been in the exam room for hours without anyone even checking in on us. It's hard not to feel like this treatment was in some part retaliatory, especially since after I spoke to the receptionist, another vet tech came to check in on us, and we got to speak to the vet within the hour. It's worth mentioning that my wife and I are Asian, and the vet tech was white. In the end, my dog's abscess ruptured while we were waiting, so all she needed was a shave around her butt and antibiotics. So we spent an entire work day at Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital for a 10-minute consult with the vet (who, by the way, asked us the same questions that the first vet tech asked, so...what was the point of that first check in, honestly?) and a 10-minute procedure. Oh, also: maybe security is not the top concern at a vet clinic, but I was able to walk in and out of the back rooms several times (one time with a giant paper bag; it was just lunch, but you know, it could have been something worse) without being challenged. I don't think it's because the front desk knew who I was, since they didn't seem to know that I'd been in an exam room at all until I told them. Next time I need to take my dog to the ER, I'll go somewhere else. Even if the wait time is just as long, at least the vet techs might be a little more polite. read more

If you need to have thousands of extra dollars extracted from your bank account, this is a great place to go, but although my experience here the medical staff was great, while i was trying to deal with my grief from learning my 18 y/o cat was dying of liver cancer i was severely castigated and lectured by the staff for daring to question the last thousand dollars of the bill. After forty minutes of angry lectures from the administration, an actual itemized bill was finally produced which showed, lo and behold, that i had been correct the whole time, and the extra grand disappeared like magic. My wallet was spared, but i will never forgive the staff and administration for picking that particular day of my life to be utter ******** read more

I love my dog Rocky, a brilliant, lovable, mixed breed mutt I adopted from an animal shelter almost 14 years ago. As many dog owners would attest, through the years Rocky has become one of my best friends. When he was treated for a hematoma in his left year earlier this summer at Berkeley Dog and Cat hospital, I discovered - for the first time - that there are veterinarians and animal healthcare specialists who appeared to care for Rocky's health as much as I do. From the moment they admitted him, through his surgery and for weeks after, I witnessed the BDCH team care for Rocky as if he was their own beloved pet (seriously). I was particularly impressed with their follow-up care as well; they even asked me to send a picture of Rocky so they could see how well he was recovering - incredible! If there's such a thing as "Bedside Manner" for veterinarians. Dr. Laurie Pearlstein and her staff demonstrated this rare level of patient care in spades. read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - My dog Rocky with a Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital nurse when he was released and I was elated. - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

I don't write reviews often, and rarely a low review. I come to Yelp more often to rave about places I love. But today, I am going out of my way to write this. Because I love my dog a lot. I've taken my doberman here twice, and both visits were awful. The bottom line is that this clinic is unprofessional and rude. The vets who work here are apathetic, and the office staff is rude. I suspect there's some toxic work culture here? I'm not sure what's happening. The first vet was an older lady, who never owned dogs. I should have immediately requested a different vet, but we already waited for a while to see her. We brought our pup there for a string of issues we were experiencing after getting our pup from the shelter. It was her first vet visit! It felt strange getting advice from someone who never owned a dog before, and had a general air of indifference towards us and our dog in her bedside manner. She even stated she was a cat person, which was unprofessional. After doing a general physical exam and listening to our concerns, we were advised to give her more baths and feed her omega 3 oils, which they tried selling to us for $14 more than market cost (which we politely declined). A few months later, the omega3s gave my dog sebaceous cysts. We discontinued use. It turns out, for dobermans (if the vet knew anything about dogs or the doberman breed) dosage is key -- for oils it must be low. Dobermans are prone to developing pimples from oil excretions. That visit cost us $250 out of pocket. The second visit was for a wound on the end of her tail, an emergency visit. For this visit, I learned that after they charge you for the consultation, you have to sit in their waiting room until it's your turn. Even if there's a 2.5 hour wait, you must stay in their waiting room. I decided to come again early in the next morning at 7am to avoid the wait. I think it's unprofessional that this clinic takes your money before providing any service, and then doesn't have the courtesy to give you a call if you have a long wait. Who takes your money before giving you anything? During this visit, which lasted 10 minutes -- I was serviced by a junior assistant vet. This was at 7am when it wasn't super busy (why didn't we receive the main vet?). She looked at the wound and basically said it wasn't anything to worry about. I touched her tail and could feel her bone. Still, she looked again, and insisted it was minor. She gave no advice about how it happened, what to avoid to minimize future wounding, or other avenues for treatment like stitching or re-docking. Simply, to keep it clean and give her an antibiotic. She also tried to sell me some pain meds and steroid injection, which seemed unnecessary if she claimed it was minor. The women at the front desk for this visit were *so mean and rude* today. They avoided eye contact, spoke to me in a rigid and indifferent tone of voice, charged me and didn't smile or say thank you. Zero kindness or warmth, zero f*cks given. This is a veterinarian office, not McDonalds. What got me to say "never again" today was how rude and apathetic everyone was we interacted with. Do not take your beloved pet here! You and your fur baby are worth more. read more

I truly cannot thank Dr. Sip and staff enough for what they've done for my bunny, Sprout. We're still reeling from a stressful beginning to the month. My darling Sprout was attended to by our regular vet for his neuter surgery, when he began to have cardiac arrest. As the day ticked on, Sprout wasn't improving and needed to be taken to a vet with adequate overnight support (our regular vet closes at 6 each day). After many tears and a harried drive through traffic flow from Walnut Creek to Berkeley, we made it inside in an upset mess. The vet techs took him right away for continued emergency care, while I sat down tearful in the lobby. A tech handed me a box of tissues, and I'm very thankful for that too, I'm sure I was a mess. They did a wonderful job with monitoring him throughout the night and pulling him through to safety. Dr. Sip spoke with us about his gameplan, and that she had already been filled in by our regular vet who was using the same drug protocol. I was so soothed by Dr. Sip and her advice, and I understand that many bunnies would not be so lucky, and being the delicate creatures they are, I was truly unsure of Sprout's outcome of survival at this point. I am so grateful that I get to have more time with my little guy, and I am so thankful to the entire team at Berkeley Dog and Cat. read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - My happy guy, all better! - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

Do not go here for any regular vet services. Not only are they expensive, they make errors that are costly with both time and money. I have been twice now, and both times they have made errors. The first time they ran the wrong lab test for one of my cats, then said I only had a limited time to come back for the right test (like it's sooooo easy and not traumatic at all to wrangle cats into a carrier and get them to the vet!!! especially mine that have a history of trauma). The second time was a medication error. And the 1st vet I saw couldn't clearly explain her way out of a paper bag and had zero people skills. And I am quite familiar with vet services, and I am nurse, so I understand medical terms. This lady was just awful! So now I either need to find another new vet in the Oakland/Berkeley area or go all the way back to the city where my old vet is. PS... giving it 2 stars only because they offer emergency vet care read more

I've been here twice for emergency appointments one for a kitty and the other for a dog. Overall their customer service has been pretty good, all the employees are helpful, patient and truly have a passion for pets. My main concerns are the price and long wait times. Every time I've been here whether for an ER visit or scheduled checkup, I've had to wait for 45 minutes to 2 hrs to be seen. Which can be very hard on pet stress levels. Especially since they kennel pets, while other pets are being seen. I wish they could give proper time estimates so my pets weren't stressed out waiting. Possibly if they had a call system to notify owners, when their pet was ready to be soon. That way people and pets could wait outside or go on a walk. I appreciate that they give an itemized price estimate of all the expenses. However their ER prices are extraordinarily high. An X- ray and temporary splint along with appointment cost almost 1,000$. A week later I returned back and they said my dog needed a permanent cast which would be another 600$. I would definitely negotiate with them to see if there is Lee way in pricing. Overall check other places before committing here. read more

TLDR: Don't visit unless you have an emergency. Reception will make you cry lol I dislike doing less than stellar reviews for local businesses. Why potentially blemish the online reputation of a business when one could easily give feedback directly? Unfortunately, my most recent experience with BD&C has forced me to be the narc I so despise. Moreover, it wasn't until today that, through dumb luck, I was able to speak with someone who could help me and my pup. Therefore, I'm left to assume that communication lines are clunky at best. Naturally, that forces me to assume that my messages and questions are not being adequately and accurately relayed to relevant peeps. Okay, so my dog has a lot of medical issues. Over the past year, he has been put through the wringer. My first few visits with this facility were emergencies. Because those visits went relatively well, I decided to continue taking my pup to this facility. I understand that vets and their support staff are going through a lot of crap; stress, disrespect from clients, you name it. It sucks and it's not acceptable. Because of this, I'm semi-empathetic, but ultimately bewildered by the front desk manager's decision to adopt a combative approach to running things. Yes, I absolutely understand the need to be assertive given the nature of the biz, but their behavior is counterproductive and ornery. This has been my ongoing experience with this specific staff member over the last few months. It's unfortunate. So, if you've found yourself feeling gaslit into oblivion and have resorted to sleuthing online reviews to see if you can figure out why this vet has ghosted you, then, congratulations for getting this far, and if you can, get a second opinion from a different vet. If you have no real choice but to continue working with these folks, I advice you to be an advocate for your animal. If you have questions, or need to discuss something about your pet's treatment, make sure that you stay on top it. There is absolutely no excuse for you, as a client and patient rep, to be left in the dark for an unreasonable amount of time. That is not how a business is run. read more

S/O to the front desk (you ladies know who you are!)! Sick fur babies bring on all kinds of unwelcome worry and stress. These feelings don't magically go away with a call to the vet, but greetings and assistance filled with kindness, empathy and warmth certainly help. All too often we recognize the docs and don't take time to thank the staff who keep the operations up and running. This is my feeble attempt to say thank you. read more

My bunny honked! (I think she's saying thank you!) In short: (ER Visit+overnight stay) Great clinic for a bunny parent!! The doctors gave detailed med instructions and attentive after care/ monitoring tips. (Honk of approval) I can't thank enough to Dr. Cynthia and Dr. Tino. My bunny Blubby had GI stasis and I was starting to panic because all of emergency vet clinics I had on list did not have a bunny savvy vet attending for the night. After she got admitted and had IV fluids, Dr. Cynthia gave me updates and answered all of my questions so patiently. I could tell that my bunny was being taken care of with love even through the phone. When it was time to check Blubby out, Dr. Tino took the time to share how Blubby did overnight. He even demonstrated how to medicate, so I wouldn't struggle giving her medication at home myself. He was so kind to share the photos of himself medicating Blubby so that I would literally have a better picture of how to hold her safely. For each medication, a syringe with tapes to clearly indicate the dose was provided. And the discharge instructions and warning signs were very descriptive and helpful. She is healthy and powerful as ever after the loving care from the clinic. *thump (of excitement from Blubby) read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Healthy and ready to shred more paper!! - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

I had the unbelievably hardest decision last night to put my baby down, but I'm leaving this review for Dr. O'Sullivan. seriously you are an angel you made this transition much easier, thank you for caring for our baby like your own, my husband & I want to think you from the bottom of our hearts for being there with knuckles and being such a wonderful wonderful person. I feel lost but I'm comforted knowing that he's not suffering anymore. thank you so much again you are a wonderful person & such a kind kind doctor I needed that last night thank you read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - My baby boy we had him for 12 years the best dog ever he was pretty much perfect! Run free sweet boy run free RIP Knuckles - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

My mom had a fantastic experience her with her 13 year old dog. Wait times varies significantly based on the day. The day she did come in the way was about 2 hours. They did not recommend super expensive tests based on her age. As her condition worsened, the original doctor was readily available by phone to offer a slightly different diagnosis. We are very happy with our experience. read more

I do not know what happened to this hospital.. I have brought my pets here for the past 6 years (when I moved to the bay area) for regular medical services, sometimes emergency etc. Even during the pandemic they were always great. I recall reviewing their website from years past and it was full of pictures and bio's of staff veterinarians. Now it is just hit or miss; I am not sure what happened but there was a mass exodus of the veterinarians that had practiced there for a long time. And they were good veterinarians. As was the front staff...not even going there on this sub zero review. I took my cat in on emergency a couple of months ago. He was breathing hard and coughing, but still eating etc. He was fine in the exam room when the technician came in to check him out before "bringing him into the back for the vet to see him" 30 minutes later this vet casually tells me that he is 'open mouth breathing, is in an oxygen cage, will need to be sedated before they can get xrays and will most likely have to stay there 24 to 48 hours." I told the front desk and the technician that this cat is absolutely terrified of strange people, strange surroundings unless I am around him. He is a rescue cat with bad arthritis and needs to be handled gently. So, taken back by this news from the vet I said yes, please get me the estimate for the sedation/xrays etc. and lets see what is going on. The cat is FIV positive and if it looked like cancer or something ominous then I did not want the cat to suffer. Another 20 minutes....and by then I was getting upset......asked the front desk what was going on....they were indifferent.....asked a tech walking by what was going on.....same response......finally got the estimate and was handed a two page ink laden novella of an estimate, no wonder it took so long. By then I gathered this vet did not know how to triage and was perhaps under pressure to put every single thing into an estimate for, you know, money (not for her, unfortunately but for you know, whoever owns the place) I asked for my cat back. Was rudely told "he can die" to which I said "he could die here" In short, I took him home, and he was not open mouth breathing or looking any worse than he was when I first got there. I got in contact with vets I have seen before, got him on some heart medication and he did much better for a while but his arthritis was so bad and the medications made him have to pee a lot and he just could not swat that much and he was in pain even though I had him on every pain medication I could safely give him. I called a house call vet and had him euthanized. As this hospital fit into the situation: paying attention to what the client says about their pets fears etc., getting a diagnosis before writing up an estimate for 2 days worth of hospitalization (in hind sight, this cat would have suffered needlessly in their hands), and not treating people with indifference. Here I had this sick cat and I am entrusting him to strangers, albeit educated strangers who have the equipment needed to help my pet, and being treated with this casual indifference. Such an absolute night and day difference what what I experienced with this hospital a couple of years ago. Even during the pandemic they were great so I do not know what the hell happened. So, long story short: I think this place has been sold out to corporate, though cannot be sure, but just by comparing the web site when I first started going there as compared to now.....the vets have not even graduated from veterinary colleges in the united states (vet school is more competitive to get into than medical school). Not to say said graduates of these easier to get into schools are not qualified, but it sure looks like this hospital is grossly understaffed as compared to how it was before. Oh, and now they have hired someone to be a 'medical director.' Really? Competent medical teams usually do not need direction etc. they communicate and get the job done. Do not go there. There are other emergency hospitals in the bay area and other good general practice veterinarians, even if you have to travel a bit. read more

My kitten was having sudden issues with aggression and coordination--as both issues came on suddenly, we were worried about a potential neurological issue. The staff at Berkeley Dog and Cat helped us immediately when we showed up close to midnight on a weekday. We were able to have our kitten's vitals checked and to discuss our kitten's symptoms with the vet. We are super grateful to everyone at this clinic for their help. read more

The staff is efficient and works with a sense of urgency. They're very respectful and polite. I recommend going here. They had my cat treated in a timely manner and we're very considerate about the wait time. The pricing sure on point with a emergency pet hospital. I recommend them and give them props for all the hard work they do! read more

Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Berkeley, California

Summary: Good: 1. Dog seems to like them. 2. Dog still alive. Bad: 1. Had to pay for same surgery twice one month apart. 2. Second time they went over estimate. 3. Twice told me they would submit to my insurance and they did not. 4. Complained and was told manager would call- manager did NOT call. 5. They insist I owe them a balance even though I paid- twice. So, my dog got a foxtail in his leg. It got scary. I took him here. They said he neeed surgery to remove the foxtail. They gave an estimate that had a lowest possible and a highest possible. I agreed. They did the surgery. They did NOT find or remove the foxtail. The bill was near the highest possible end of the estimate. I paid the bill. They submitted to my insurance. I got like $20 from my insurance. About a month later, it flared up again. Because the foxtail was still there. I took him back in. They told me he needed surgery again. They gave me an estimate with a low end and a high end. They did the surgery. This time, they found the foxtail and removed it. Then they called my husband and told him it had gone over the estimate. I went to pick the dog up. I saw that it was over the estimate. I complained that they'd gone over. They said yeah well. I said I already paid you to do this surgery. Then I agreed to pay up to x amount. Now you want me to pay more than that? That seems unreasonable. They said you can complain to a manager. I said, super. They said there is no manager here right now. I said, ok can the manager call me? They said yes. The woman at check out said she would charge me the maximum and I could then work it out when the manager called. I agreed. Then I checked in to make sure they were submitting the claim to my insurance. They said yes. A week later, I had not heard from them. I called to check. The guy said the manager was not there and that he would make sure the claim was submitted and call me back. He did not. The manager did not. Today, more than a month later, my husband called to check in again. They complained that we have an outstanding balance. The manager still has not called. They still have not submitted the forms. Surgery is dangerous. Recovery time is torture for a big dog who wants to run. Pain killers are awful. It's super yuck of you to make a dog do that twice. It's worse to over charge. I wouldn't have even charged you a second time. I'd just be like, "Damn, I'm sorry read more

If I could give 0 stars I would. First let me start by saying the receptionist are all incapable of handling minor issues they put false statements on my dog's paper work and are refusing to remove it secondly Dr O'Neil hasn't completed the SOAP note which is prolonging the process for my ins to reimburse. If you can avoid this place please do so at all cost. read more