We love Dr. Wendy and all of the staff at Critter Doctor. They have taken excellent care of our large dog -- going above and beyond for his healthcare and our peace of mind. Our dog loves to go to the vet! He is happy to see the staff and we trust that he is being taken care of by the very best. Most recently, our dog has benefited from the pet rehab therapy services that Dr. Wendy provides. It has improved his flexibility, decreased pain, and increased his mobility. Our older dog is back to his energetic self because of the great work at Critter Doctor. read more

My dog gave a blood sample on Monday for a test that can be done in-house. I called to follow up 3 days later and they told me "the lab" lost the blood sample so we need to go in to do a new one. When were they going to tell me if I didn't follow up? When I called to schedule a new blood drawn, the front desk person said "you can drop off a new sample anytime". We have been with Critter Doctor (the former name of this place) for 10 years. They are now a pet urgent care and wellness center. Not sure if the change is impacting their service level but this is not good. read more

I'd like to improve my prior review from 1 to 3 stars since the manager of Booster Pet in Kirkland contacted me to fix the problem and they just issued a refund for the doctor exam charge that didn't happen, so I complained about. Although I'm very pleased with the resolution, I can't rate them with more than 3 stars since this shouldn't have happened plus the time spent to resolve a problem that never should have existed in the first place. read more

We had to put our dog, Chunk, down and they were so kind and thoughtful. Had him cremated and his ashes came in a beautiful rosewood box, with a paw print clay disk, some fur, and a really sweet note. The procedure was sad, but it was handled very nicely. Would highly recommend. read more

BoosterPet - Chunk at ease - Veterinarians Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Yesterday I had to put down my sweet baby. We have been coming here for years and the staff has become a part of our family. One staff member in particular, Sheppard, has always been so caring towards us and came in on their day off to help us through the painful process. The tender love and care they showed her was the same they had always shown and my girl knew she was safe. I simply would not have been able to make it through yesterday or the past several years of health concerns without Booster Pet and I am forever grateful. It is clear that these people love what they do and truly care about every patient. Thank you Sheppard and all of the Booster Pet staff for all you do. read more

New owner/management. Doc Wendy is gone and so is the personable, caring vibe. Not the friendliest people either, so we decided to look for a new vet. Asked for our records to be sent via email and the guy sent it over without a word of "thanks", "please reconsider", or "have a nice day", you know, customer service 101. We've since found Bothell Pet Hospital and a personal relationship has already been created and we feel "at home" there. read more

This place is amazing!! Friendly knowledge people and take great care about your pet with COVID-19 issues. Scrappy has a new veterinarian! read more

BoosterPet - 2021 rabies vaccination time. - Veterinarians Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

As a certified professional dog trainer I trust my own dog and puppies care to Critter Doctor Animal Hospital. Highly recommend them based off of their knowledge of animals and, very importantly to me, how they actually handle the dogs. The vet can be a stressful experience for dogs and in my professional opinion they do an excellent job understanding that and treating the dogs in their care with compassion and understanding. read more

I took my dog in because he was limping, they checked him out and said nothing was wrong. Now he is limping really bad. They miss things, and they won't let you go in with your animal. DO NOT TAKE YOUR ANIMALS TO THIS VET read more

My puppy died during neutering surgery at Critter Doctor hospital on Nov 2nd. My puppy is a 7-month old Yorkie boy. He passed away during pre-medicine step, after took induction. He was completely healthy before surgery. No heart disease no any problem. He was already 5lbs and very strong. He is mommy & daddy's sweet heart. I gave myself several weeks to clam down to write this review. I brought my puppy to critter doctor hospital at 08:00 am. On 09:46 am I received call from them that my puppy's heart stop beating. We went back to hospital and saw his body at:10:20am. Before we took the puppy home, we asked them to send a copy of operator logs to our email and they said they will do. However, we didn't received it until 4:40pm, so we checked with them. They said they will send it by the end of day. At 7:30pm I received the log (pic 1) Then we found that the time for logging pre-medicine and induction was 10:40am. Next day we went back and asked them many questions. For this wrong time, they said they record the medicine and time on paper and logged into system later. They then showed me the paper (pic 2). Starting from here is my guess and why I gave 1-star to this hospital. I am heartbroken, I may already mad and wrong: 1. I asked my friends who are doctors or working at shelters. They said it's likely the propofol which caused the incident. Propofol can cause significant decrease on heart rate. According to the paper log, they injected 1.25ml propofol for induction. 1.25ml is a small and safe volume even to a small size puppy. However, this is a paper log not from logging machine. I don't believe its authenticity. 2. I know every surgery has risk. But male dog neutering surgery is really a small surgery based on my knowledge, very unlikely to be an accident like this. The technician who did the induction was holding a license in PENDING status. It should be legal since the main veterinary has active license. However, I think the lack of experience might have increased the risky of the surgery. 3. I talked with them on the next day. The doctor kept saying that many potential diseases can be the reason of the death like heart disease. While my puppy is not a new patient to them, he did the well exam at this hospital and the report showed that he was a very health baby, no issue include heart murmur. Doctor then said he probably has some hidden diseases which cannot be found by physical test. And then the admin told us that they hold meeting discussed about how could avoid this accident, and the conclusion they got is that they have nothing to improve, they have done everything correctly. Therefore, I didn't received any apologies and reflection from them. They said they also sad about puppy's death and they all cried, I believe it, I believe this is not what they wanted to see. However, I don't believe they have no responsibility on the accident. I was with my puppy all the time, he was an energetic and health boy. He was from an experienced AKC breeder, both his parents are healthy. At the time we adopted him, we signed the contract that we have to do neutering for him at 6-month. This policy wouldn't be there if there are any genetic problems in his family. Like I said I am not a doctor, that's all my guess. I maybe wrong and I am not intend to wrong them. My puppy received a free nail cut from them before, he must be appreciate that. He is a sweet heart, he wouldn't happy if mommy wronged them. So if I am worry, I say sorry here to the doctors and technician for this negative review. Regardless, I still have to comment this down, this review is not for my puppy and even myself. It's a torture for me to think about that day and write this down. This is for other puppies, this is the request from all my friends who have furry babies. That's all I have, I completely don't recommend this hospital based on my experience. PS: I truly believed that neutering is a 100% right thing, it was totally good for him and it's a small/safe surgery. But is that too risky for a small breed like yorkie? Maybe I could wait for him to get older, maybe wait till 1-year-old? And there were more things I could do to avoid this accident, I could check with hospital what medicine to use, who going to perform the surgrey. Or maybe listen to what he really wants? He loves riding his unicorn. he will definitely say no to the the neutering if he can! It's me who made the wrong decision, I gave my puppy to the hospital and he passed away here. I sent him to death. I wish every owner could do fully consideration, preparation and investigation for every decision they made on their puppies. Not like me. I wishes God could give me the second chance, I wish my puppy could back, as a real boy / girl. MomI wishes God could give me the second chance, I wish my puppy could back, as a real boy / girl. Mom and dad really hope to have more time with you, mom and dad will wait for your back. read more

BoosterPet - Operator log - Veterinarians Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Melinda of, Critter Doctor Animal Hospital in Kirkland, Washington helped me at a very critical moment on a Friday afternoon. I realized that I was completely out of prescription cat food and it was on back order everywhere, due to Covid! Melinda was kind enough to provide me with enough to hold my pet over until the cat food can be delivered!! When you think about what they did for me, stopping everything in the middle of a busy Friday afternoon to go gather up the items, make sure they had a new diet cat food prescription put on file, and when I arrived at the animal hospital, they brought the Prescription cat food right out to my car! Melinda did all this in a kindly and gracious manner, with a smile on her face, and would take no money for this wonderful service! All this at no charge, whatsoever!!! It doesn't get any better than this! Critter Doctor Animal Hospital of Kirkland is the most caring and loving animal care Hospital And veterinary clinic of all the animal hospitals and veterinary clinics I've ever frequented in over 45 years! They are such an asset, not just to the neighborhood, but to the entire community! If I could give Critter Doctor Animal Hospital of Kirkland more than five stars, I would!!!!! Thank you from all of us in the Community for providing our Pets with such wonderful care read more

My parents took their cockapoo to Critter Doctor for 6 years. After weeks of my parents spending thousands of dollars at this clinic treating his declining health with very few answers, their dog passed away at the age of 14 last week. We don't blame Critter Doctor, of course, but my parents left a voicemail after hours informing the clinic of his death. It's been over a week and no one has bothered to call them back. You'd think after years of treating him and them being faithful customers, they'd bother to call. Disappointing and hurtful. The dog food delivery service showed more sympathy than the vet that treated him for a large amount of his adult life. read more

Criter Docter us the best BEST care in all vets. I have loved them for years and know they can help my fur kids when they are ill. Never turned awy read more

Do NOT take your pet here! We took our dog for stomach issues and the Dr. recommended a whole set of exams, X-Rays and blood work without giving us any sort of treatment for symptoms. They always look to 'upsell' you into more services with little care or sympathy for the animals. read more

Amazing and kind staff. You can tell they love animals and the care they provided my dog was exceptional for a very good price.

I have used Critter Doctor for the last few years and have been very pleased. The staff are kind, caring and always efficient. I have been empressed by how they got my pets records from a previous Veterinarian clinic and helped me get the information to renew lisences. My one cat has diabetes so ensuring her insulin is correct has been a major factor in her overall heath. The Dr and staff are so supportive. I highly recommend this business. read more

I stopped by to have my kitties nails cut. They were so sweet and nice and helped us very quickly! 10/10 amazing staff!!!

First of all, I have to say my one experience with this place was horrible! I had a rat with a respitory infection, and thus made an appointment. Upon taking the rat in, they first accused me of keeping them in a 10 gallon tank - in reality I had them in a 4 story wire cage, and let them run around my bedroom whenever I was home. I changed the cage about once every 3 or 4 days, fresh food and water, etc. After I established many times I don't keep them in a glass tank, I don't use the litter's they were accusing me of using, I change the cage often, etc etc, they accused me of neglect. For crying out loud, here I am paying $80 bucks to bring in a sick rat, and they say I'm an irresponsible owner and it got sick because I had it in a glass tank. Finally, reluctantly, they gave me medicine for the little guy. I later found out that this disease affects 99% of all pet rats out there, it is similiar to pnemonia, and there isn't much you can do but prevent the symptoms until it finally claims the rat's life *sob*. I took any future rats to two other vet's who gave great care, and told me the above. Critter Doctor was not only cold towards their customer/patient, and unknowledgable, but they spent more time pointing fingers than trying to help my poor rat. I'd avoid them and go somewhere else if at all possible. There are several other good vets on the Eastside. read more

Dr. Alt and the staff at Critter Doctor are amazing! We have worked very closely the past 2 years with Dr. Alt with our dog's health issues. She is so kind, compassionate, informative, and ALWAYS goes the extra mile to take time to come up with a health plan. In our years of using various vets, this is the first time we feel our concerns are being listened to, and we are treated so genuinely. Our dog, Ripley, loves to see Dr. Alt! read more

I withdrew our earlier endorsement from my first dog Mocha last year after we had left our two darling jack-a-poos (mork and mindy) with them for spay/neuter and an extended stay while we were away for a week in September. they both came back traumatized (they were then 6 months old) and tails tucked while eating for the first 48 hours home...so sad. We weren't informed they had had issues eating until we brought the issue up that the food we provided was almost unused...then we heard why. They had trouble eating in the noisy and strange environment and had severe anxiety as a result. I followed up a few days later as Mindy (darling 9# female) was having bloody stool issues, after several tests, I was told it's most likely the diet, to ease her onto a mild diet and work her back up...so a waste of near $100 in diagnostics. I was assured by Wendy she would follow up with me the following week to make sure all was well....never happened. This year, my fiance received a call chastising her for not bringing Mork (the male) in for his shots...and how could she miss this? We had since switched vets due to the poor follow up and expensive charges. I had doubted this previously, but am a convert to Dr. Call in Snohomish County. Seriously, the lack of followup, poor transparency and then the poor demeanor on the phone is three strikes in my book and I'm pretty tolerant. Find someone else, they may give a good front, but buyer beware, there are others with better followup and won't gouge you on the charges...the bills for their stays were ridiculous read more

First of all, I am obsessed with my Syrian hamster. She's my first pet ever, has the biggest cage I could find, every chew toy purchasable, and is beyond spoiled. So this may be a biased review because I love my hamster as if she were my little daughter. Also, she's a very gentle hamster. She's never bitten anyone, even when I smell like food she just licks me. I thought that my hamsters teeth were uneven and was worried she had broken a tooth so I took her in (for the free visit) since I couldn't get her to open her mouth large enough to get a good look. The facilities are clean and the front desk staff is pretty nice. I really liked the vet tech that took measurements of my hamster. She was nice, gentle, kind, and honest. She talked about her pet experiences and how she used to own rats and I liked the way she interacted with my hamster. Now the vet. Bernstein. Came in, very perky and nice (albeit a little artificial compared to the vet tech). I explained why I came in and so far so good. How she handled my hamster is where I started to deduct stars. She picked up my hamster by the back, holding her between her front and back legs with one hand and used the end of a Q-tip to try to get a look at her teeth. Not abusive, but my hamster, obviously uncomfortable, wriggled to get free and the vet commented on how difficult it was to get her to be still and open her mouth. If the vet had just held my hamster differently, it probably would've been easier since she's a really calm hamster. The mouth opening thing, understandable. I couldn't get her to open her mouth either. According to the vet, her teeth looked perfectly even and were of a good length. I did appreciate how the vet wanted to talk about general hamster health afterward: diet, activities, toys, etc. That was nice and added a star to the review. I was satisfied, at that point the review would have been a 4 star review. But I got home, and my lovely hamster decides to yawn in front of me. Her teeth were UNEVEN!! Now I'm going to watch to see if they even out on their own and that she's eating properly since I won't have time to take her to the vet for another week or so. I wonder if the vet even got a look at her teeth. =/ ----- Summary: Positives: + Awesome vet tech (huge plus) + Clean facilities + Free first examination + Vet appears to care + Extra information/care tips Negatives: - Vet hamster handling - Telling me my hamsters teeth were even when they weren't ------ Would be willing to give them another shot because it is sadly uncommon to find a vet who sees hamsters. read more

$850.00 for ofa hips and a regular spay! That was my quote. Yikes! Sorry, I think not. The reason why there is a payment plan is because they charge so much for any procedure they offer. Next! read more

When I noticed blood all over my beloved hamster's cage, I knew something was wrong. While it didn't seem like anything serious, just a cut on his foot, I decided that it would be good to take him in and make sure that nothing else was wrong. The doctor handled him with care, gave me liquid antibiotics to put in his water, and told me to change the bedding I was using to one that was softer on his feet instead of the pine which I had been using previously. Sure enough, the cut healed quickly, and while my hamster eventually died a while from then, it was because of old age, and nothing else. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Thanks so much! read more

This is a great place to take your pet. I have been taking my pup here since he was 7 weeks old. The front desk staff is so friendly and nice and go out of their way to acknowledge your dog and give them a treat. They really are dog people who love animals. Every interaction that I have had with the staff has been positive. They are patient and kind to both animals and humans. Dr. Jessica Van Noppen, D.V.M. is an incredible veterinarian, she is so patient, kind and thorough with her exam and will always give you many options and is upfront about cost. You can tell she is truly passionate about animal care. Even when I call in with a question they always make time to answer me thoroughly and give me advice as to what to do and whether I should bring in my dog. Overall, a really great vet that cares about your furry loved ones. read more

My six-year-old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was first seen, by the Critter Doctor staff, a couple of months ago to treat an ear infection. The ear infection seemed bad and I was worried. The staff was able to fit me in on the same day. After an initial conversation and assessment, the Dr. Alt provided me with an estimate for my dog's care before proceeding further. I agreed to the estimate. Once the doctor examined the material swabbed from the ear, Dr. Alt explained the diagnosis and the treatment. The cost of the visit was less than the estimate, because a less-potent prescription medication was necessary. I was so pleased with the service that all of the staff provided, during my first visit, that I inquired about teeth cleaning. Dr. Alt assessed the condition of my dog's gums and teeth and rendered an estimate that was much less expensive than the one I had received from our vet in Ballard. We moved from Seattle to Kirkland, so the smalled drive, coupled with the lower cost estimate and the team's great care made booking the procedure with Critter Doctor a "no-brainer." The information delivered before the procedure and the post-procedure care instructions were outstanding. A staff member called, the day after the teeth cleaning, to inquire about my dog's condition. I recommend Critter Doctor and will continue to patronize the clinic. read more

I cannot say ENOUGH GOOD THINGS about Dr. Kat and her team to do them justice. I have lived in this area for 62 years, and have always had pets. I have never found a vet that even came CLOSE to demonstrating the professionalism that this team has given me....and I have been to MANY OTHERS, with numerous bad experiences. From our initial visit to The Critter Doctor, and several followups for tests and dental work, I felt well-informed, respected, and cared for, and I knew my 2 cats were in the right hands. The prices are excellent, there is plenty of parking, and they aren't too busy that you can't get an appointment in a reasonable amount of time. Dr. Kat called me personally to discuss the course of action, and answered all my questions in a very thorough, educational, and caring manner. I am happy to report that both my cats are now in good health, thanks to Dr. Kat and her team of experts!!! Highly recommended--you won't ever go to another veterinary clinic once you have visited The Critter Doctor!!! :) read more

BoosterPet - Romeo (bottom) and Juliet (top)--at age 1, and 1/1mo., with their birthday present. They are now almost 12yo, and in excellent health! :) - Veterinarians Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I was previously taking my pets to Aerowood Animal Hospital in eastgate and it was getting to be extremely expensive. I found Critter Doctor and I tried it out, I love their vets here. They are extremely friendly and they even give your animals their vaccinations in front of you if you're okay with seeing it done. The vet spends a lot of time talking to me and always calling and checking up on how my dogs are doing. The amount that I pay for shots, etc...has gone down an immense amount from before when I went to the other veterinarian. I highly recommend bringing your pets here! read more

Nice clinic, reasonable prices, people there are polite, enthusiastic, and not too pushy.My cat said "meow"

The Critter Doctor is just awesome! They have been seeing my two cats since 1993. They are always friendly and the staff goes out of there way to check in to see how they are doing and remind me of future appointments. I am really impressed to see how they have taken a personal interest in my cats welfare. They are my first choice for a Vet! They should be yours too! A very happy client! Jeremy Whiteley read more

At 8:49 AM on a sunny March morning, I rushed my boy to Critter Doctor in severe distress. I didn't know what was wrong, just that he could not breathe I was seriously upset, emotional and afraid for him. The staff calmed me, let me know the ETA for the Vet and started giving Mason the care he needed until she got there a few minutes later, he was NEVER left alone. They were very sensitive to my needs and honored Mason but helping him to exit with quiet dignity. When it was time to say goodbye, they allowed me to hold him, kiss him and love him until the end. They made the funeral arrangements seem very simple. They made the provisions for his cremation, took a paw print and made sure I was OK to drive home. Mason had been my boy for over 13 years. Luda is on her way for a check up this week. I'm sure of the great care she and the others will get from Critter Doctor. Brenda Means read more

I had searched for years for an honest veterinarian in my area. I had gone all over the eastside with my doggy and got a lot of bad suggestions and alot of overpriced services that my dog didn't need. Finally, when my pet was in his later age I found Critter Dr. I found that both the vetrinarians and the staff were very friendly and honest about my pup. We took him there for the last few years of his life. When it was time for him to go I wouldn't have ever considered any other vet. My family and I were comforted not only before the date, but the doctor called me a few days later to check on us. They were so kind and thoughtful, in such a horrible time I feel greatful for the entire Critter Doctor staff. I am still recovering from my loss but when I get my next pet there will be no hesitation that I will return to Critter Doctor. I recommend them to all my friends. Its worth the commute, good care is worth everything! read more

We have been customers for many years and they charge our credit card monthly as part of the program to attend our cat. Our cat had an emergency today , it seems like he had a piece of grass stuck in his throat and was unable to breath well and looked very lethargic. We call Critter Doctor for many hours during the day and they never returned our calls. I tried other veterinarian hospitals and emergency pet services but they were unable to see my cat since they were at full capacity. I drove to the Critter doctor animal hospital, hoping they could help me with my cat , 2 hours before closing they refused to see it and they told me they were full, but the parking lot was empty. The person only gave me a list of other emergency services and didn't even want to take a look at my cat to see if this was a life threating emergency. I couldn't believe after we have been customers for many years and they have been charging us monthly for services, didn't care for our pet, but just to leave in time from work. We always pay what they ask for. That's not what a responsible animal care place should look like. read more

I have never had such a pleasant vet experience! Not only did all of the vets here essentially save my cat's life due to reasons other vets were unable to put their finger on, but every encounter I had here exceeded my expectations. From the extremely friendly, knowledgeable front desk workers, to the one on one phone conversations over the phone with the vets who answer any and all of your questions, all of the employees here are wonderful! My cat had a reoccurring issue and I had to take him in pretty frequently for a bit, and the vets here were able to work with me to lower the prices, proving they care about our pets, not the money. They knew I was moving out of the area and not going to be bringing him in anymore, and they went above and beyond ensuring he had everything he needed to travel safely and have a speedy recovery. Today, I found out he is healthy and recovered from his issues he was experiencing, which is all thanks to the doctors here! I am so grateful for them, their generosity to me and my kitty, and their dedication in helping our animals get better! I could not recommend them more! read more

I am writing this review with the hopeful intent that no one has to experience the nightmare that my husband and I did with this clinic. We took our 2 cats and dog to this clinic for several years. We were seeing Dr. Alt who we loved, but who left the clinic in the early part of 2013. Upon hearing of her departure we decided to look for another clinic, as we did not have the same trust and rapport with the other Dr's at Critter Doctor. However, before we were able to do that our cat was due for her yearly exam and we decided to go ahead and give the new Dr's a shot. We were very surprised to learn she had lost 1/3 of her weight and developed heart murmurs. The blood work showed that she had some abnormal liver functions and she suggested $360 ultrasound. We did not feel comfortable pursuing expensive diagnostics (based on pervious experiences). We began watching her more closely and could see changes in her appearance as well as behavior. The Dr. suggested that we try steroids. During this time the owner Dr. Bernstein called and spoke with me regarding her health and wanted to do x-rays (no mention of ultra sound). Within a couple of days of that conversation we awoke around 1 a.m. to our cat constantly meowing. At 4 a.m. she had lost control of her bodily functions and began frantically trying to claw her way out of our windows. We knew she was suffering and there was no other decision at that point but to euthanize her. We called at 9 a.m. when the clinic opened and the receptionist stated we would have to drop her off and the Dr. would then determine if they would be willing to do that. We had her up there 5 mins later and the receptionist told him at that point if the Dr. was unwilling to euthanize we could take her the humane society. We were grateful for the information but confused that this decision was not ours to make. At 12:30 p.m. we had still heard nothing and called ourselves. My husband was talking to the vet (we had never met her nor had she ever seen our cat before) and getting nowhere. I asked to speak to her and she immediately was rude, judgmental, and uncaring. She said, "All I know is that I have an order here for euthanasia and you don't want the ashes back.". This was said in the rudest way imaginable. She also said she was "busy" but watching our cat she looked "perfectly normal" which was absurd and shocking to me based on her appearance (she had also lost muscular control and was walking like a drunk person when we dropped her off). The Dr said she didn't know we wanted her to call us with an update?!?!. Ridiculous. Through my tears I explained what she had been doing the night before & questioned letting an animal continue suffering like that. She stated that this had not been explained to her and finally agreed to euthanize her "shortly". My husband heard this entire conversation and told me he had relayed the same info the receptionist. This was the hardest experience of my life compounded 10 fold by the way the clinic handled it. Having no communication from them for hours and having to ARGUE with them about ending her suffering was beyond appalling. They charged $200 for an exam, the cost of euthanizing her, & cremation. I would have gotten her ashes but they wanted another $100 just for me to be able to have them. I picked up our records today as we will not be going back there. I had a conversation with the owner Dr. Bernstein about how horrible this experience was. She proceeded to blame us (primarily my husband) for the situation and "lack of communication". I was appalled at her responses and how rude she was. She explained that she doesn't care about how the client feels and that they make their own determination on whether or not they will euthanize a pet. I would understand this in a situation where the animal was obviously healthy. However, they knew our cat was not healthy and we were long-term clients. Not to mention the amount of time she was up there with no medication to alleviate her suffering and NO communication with us. Dr. Bernstein told me she was there doing paperwork during this and overheard the conversation so she could've gotten involved at that time. This was honestly a nightmare and I never even fathomed of something like this occurring. Losing my beloved cat of 10 years was hard enough but they made it abundantly harder than it ever should have been. I worked in a vet clinic and had pets growing up and have never heard of such a horrible situation. I was sickened by Dr. Berstein's responses and lack of ownership for the way that they handled the situation. She actually said to me that I should've been the one to bring our cat in and not my husband! He is an intelligent man and told them exactly the same things I did when he dropped her off. Irrespective of that it's obvious that they handled this horribly at every turn. I would honestly go to any other other clinic but this one. read more

This would be zero stars but, Yelp doesn't make that an option. One morning months ago, I was home in bed sick. Our beloved family dog, a 4 year old yellow lab named Addie came into the bedroom to tell me something wasn't right. There was brown liquid coming out of an area that shouldn't be. Long story short, we called our vet to be told they couldn't see us, but the description sounds like it could be Pyometra which is a deadly disease of the uterus and we needed to get to an emergency vet immediately or she could die. We learned Pyometra happens rather suddenly and there are roughly 24-48 hours before death (often compared to acute appendicitis in humans). We arrived at the Critter Doctor by mistake as the Lake City emergency vet sent us to the wrong address. By this time, it was mid-afternoon. We needed immediate care and the emergency doctor called Critter Doctor Animal Hospital ensure they could perform the surgery. Over the phone I heard them explaining the urgency of care needed. Getting through a migraine and operating on adrenaline, I immediately drove to the Critter Doctor, losing more time in traffic. We arrive, finish the paperwork, and Addie is lethargic. Dr. Wendy Bernstein says that'll be $2,100 before we start the surgery and they accept cash or credit only. I only had my checkbook with me and needed to make a transfer after spending a significant amount at the emergency Vet. Being time was of the essence and our dog was dying, I asked if she could please start immediately and I would most certainly personally deliver a cash or a check at the start of business in the morning. She said sorry - she doesn't know me and she can't trust me. I offered my ID, my auto-registration, anything and everything I had on me because there was not enough time for me to get home (Seattle) and back before closing which would ultimately be the death of our family dog. In tears, I run to the car, start making calls, can't get a hold of anyone mean while our dear dog is in the car with me getting sicker and sicker. Luckily, we were able to find a vet that not only immediately took us in during the 11th hour, they allowed us to get payment to them after surgery that saved our dogs life. Incidentally, they also charged less than half the amount the Critter Doctor was intending to charge. The new vet ended up being the epitome of an honest, caring and professional hospital. That was our experience. We wouldn't want anyone to go through what we went through with Critter Doctor. Beware. read more

To be honest, I'm surprised by all of the negative reviews this place has received. I have a dog with some health problems, so I've been here quite a few times, and I've been nothing but satisfied. They have very friendly staff, and they seem to have more technicians than I'm used to seeing at a veterinary office, which is great because I'm usually in and out in 15-20 minutes. My dog usually sees Dr. Alt, and my girlfriend's dog usually sees Dr. Bernstein. It seems like people have taken offense with Dr. Bernstein in other reviews, but I haven't had any such experience. Both doctors are very thorough, and make a point of educating their clients and answering questions. Of course there have been times when I wasn't very happy with what they had to tell me, but it's not their fault that my dog has health problems or that there was something I could've done better to prevent the issues. It does seem like their prices are a bit higher than other vets I've visited, but it's not so much higher that I wouldn't go back. Here's the thing... I can pay a little more and have quick service with friendly staff and thorough vets, or I can go to a cheaper vet that's under-staffed and doesn't respect my time or intelligence. I guess a "perfect" vet would be cheap and have great service, but I'm not convinced a place like that actually exists. If you live in Totem Lake and are looking for a great veterinary office with great service, I highly recommend Critter Doctor. read more

It is difficult to rate Critter Doctor, because everyone besides Bernstein is kind and amazing. However, she has been difficult to work (unfriendly, cold, and spoke down to me) with the two appointments I have had with her. Although I adore Dr. Alt and the rest of the staff, I will be collecting my animals records and using the services of another vet in the future. It is unfortunate that the clinic has to suffer in its ratings on many sites due to Bernstein alone. read more

We go to Critter Doctor for our 13yr old cat and our 9yr old dog. We typically see Dr Alt but on occasion see Dr Bernstein. Both are very capable and handle our animals with great care, as do the assistants. They're always prompt with test results and we generally don't have much of an issue getting into see someone within a couple days. Our cat had a thyroid issue that was making her extremely lethargic. They diagnosed the issue, recommended a couple different approaches - radioactive iodine treatment or daily medication. I appreciated the choices so we could decide what we could afford. We ultimately went with the iodine treatment and after a few weeks, the difference in out cat's behavior was night and day. A couple years on, she's doing fantastic and back to her old, crabby, self. :) Our dog is a recent rescue. She's been in for an initial checkup. They looked her over and confirmed the vaccines and diagnoses that the previous vets have given. They found a minor issue and gave us an easy prescription to deal with that. Oh, and they threw in the Humane Society exam for free even though they didn't have to because she was a rescue. Very cool. They also recommended a groomer to remove her matted and long hair. The groomer was great. Our dog looks great, she seemed relieved and happy after the visit. The only downside to Critter Doctor is that they can be a bit expensive. But, judging by previous vets both here an in Canada, the rates are in line with the norm. read more

My 16 month old Syrian hamster was urinating blood and was in so much pain. It was difficult to find a veterinary clinic in Seattle that would treat hamsters and a lot of their hamster doctors dont work on Mondays. Dr Wendy Bernstein of CDAH was the only one willing to see my hamster on an urgent basis on Monday. Ham's first visit here, and I was sold. The receptionist who handled my call and appointment was helpful. Dr Bernstein was kind , and her approach to the management of my hamster's illness was honest, realistic and dedicated! My hamster was likely to have a urinary tract infection or stones or a tumour. She ended up giving my hamster the much needed hydration under its skin (poor Ham was severely dehydrated for he was not drinking), and prescribed antibiotic suspension to treat a possible infection. What I liked most was that she took the extra mile to explain to me and gave me ideas on how to care for my ill hamster (eg using a syringe to force feed my hamster with pureed baby food/water). Consultation fee: $57 Hydration: around $20+ My drive from Seattle to Kirkland was totally worth it. read more

We first started going to the Critter Doctor in the early 90's because they treated our pet rats. That was an uncommon thing back then. Since then, we've been taking our cats and kittens there; most notably our newest, tiniest kitten. Instead of considering what was best for our little Jack, they decided to pump him full of unnecessary vaccinations. He is an indoor cat, and did not need many of the chemicals they injected into him. The worst was the chlamydia shot, which he had had a small dose of early on and had a bad reaction to. They decided to give him yet another dose despite his earlier reaction. Because of this, he got very sick and it became necessary to take him to an all night ER vet who could check him out and replace the fluids he needed so badly. I'm sure these vaccinations are an economic boon to these vets, but they put my little kitty at risk! We will never take our beloved animals here again. read more