My dog started peeing blood three days ago, very scary experience. I called Madison Veterinary…read moreHospital and they immediately got my little girl in. Very efficient staff, very friendly in calming my nerves, and working with a reactive dog. Started medication and she's as good as new! Highly recommend.

I brought my dog from Massachusetts to have his eye removed. These vets were the quickest and…read morekindest vets that I encountered while vetting my options. The day of the surgery everything was very smooth. His eye healed up exceptionally well. And they were very good at follow ups with me regarding biopsies and medicine use. Extremely nice people. Highly recommend them.

I have an older diabetic dog and I had a lot of trouble finding a good vet. I went to 2 different…read moreprivate equity owned vets and they were terrible. Lake's vet was the opposite in every way. They don't try to up sell you on unnecessary procedures, they don't spend 20-30min going over every imperfection in your dog hoping you'll order a test, they only charge a slight markup on medicines over what online pharmacies do (the private equity places were charging more than double), etc. They provide good straight forward competent care not focused on squeezing every last dollar with extras. One particular incident that incited me to leave my last vet was they pressured me multiple times to bring him in for an overnight visit simply to monitor his glucose curve. This was after him being on insulin for 8 months with no incidents and well control fructosamine levels. We had already done a 12 hour glucose curve when he first went on the insulin. I explained to him that he is a very old blind dog and would not do well being in their facility for over 12 hours over night and considering we had a curve and a history of how he was doing on his dosage I couldn't see the point. But they wouldn't stop pressuring me to do it. I don't mind them padding the bill with extra tests or charging more for whatever, I was just concerned with getting my dog care. But if they were going to pressure me into something that would cause him stress or harm for something they made clear to me was just their blanket policy and that was all that was behind it I was out. Lake's vet has never done this and is willing to work with me on what would be best for the dog over corporate policy designed to maximize the money they make off of him. The techs are also very good. My dog cant have blood drawn from his paws so we have to get it from his neck. Previously I had vet techs who were either too rough with my dog or too tentative allowing him to fight and struggle, both of which made the experience more stressful than it needed to be. The techs at lake's were very quick and firm with holding him, but not rough or in a way that stressed him, but they also didn't give him wiggle room to struggle and it made the whole process go very smoothly. They were also good at giving reassurance after to keep his stress down. I can't recommend them enough.

I went one time with my older dog. all the Vet wanted to do was focus on extraction of his teeth. I…read morehad to ask him to please take his temperature and also asked him to weigh my dog. for a first visit I would have thought this would have been a normal protocol so they could establish a baseline. I left very disappointed for having to pay for nothing.. and then the same Vet was arrested a week later for sexual harassment of an employee...and same Vet works there today... so many other very caring Vet's in Branford, go elsewhere!!

Pet Emergency? Keep Driving. My dog had digestive issues and…read moreI spent 3 frustrating hours waiting to see a doctor, before leaving for another clinic. Apparently one doctor on duty and the staff couldn't handle 3 animals at once? Terrible service, went to a nearby clinic, saw a vet, home with my puppy in one hour.

I don't know why there are so many negative reviews. My dog wasn't acting like himself and we knew…read moresomething was off. Called Central ER in North Haven and they were full. Then called another hospital and they were full as well. Finally got him in to be seen at Central in Guilford. Yes, there was a long wait. And they do triage the pets.. as our dog just wasn't acting right, other pets were seen first, naturally. We were asked to leave our dog there and we'd get a phone call and naturally, were scared leaving him behind. Finally, we got a call 7 hours later that our guy was doing better. Stressful, but much a relief. The doctor was amazing. He explained what had happened, given us what he recommended. He took the time to answer the questions we had and explained how different more expensive treatments would yield the same results as they are treated the same way. How cool (and honest!) is that? Granted, I hope no one needs to go to the vet ER, but they did right by us when we needed them. And, our 12 year old lab rescue we got 2 years ago is doing fine now.

Amazing doctors. Great staff. A little expensive but always good value! 10+ years and 4 different…read moredogs in great care.

We love GVH. They're Dr.'s have always been so kind and supportive. For over 35 years, we have…read morealways come back to Guilford because it is the only place we have felt truly comfortable, our dog /cats too! They are a tad more expensive than others, but it is worth it. I found them to be honest and forthcoming with services and cost. Dr. Pixton and Dr. Dale are both wonderful. (dr. DellaMonica who retired recently) I feel seen and they gently guided us through our losses and made themselves available to address concerns and what to expect. They have made changes in the front desk/admin staff to accommodate the sheer volume of patients which at first I felt was too businesslike, and a little wonky. Now, I see totally make visits seamless. We have rarely had to wait more than a few minutes. To be fair, it is cheaper to use Chewy for some OTC's/food and prescriptions (heart worm) etc, which I do. They have a portal where they can connect with Chewy to send prescriptions through. At this point, I would not trust any other vet with our pets.

I had a German Shepherd puppy with Level 4 hip dysplasia. Without going into details because most…read moreknow what it is, how to treat, etc., I went to Merryfield and the vet told me to put the dog down. He had 3 other occasions in his life where he couldn't get up. We left him alone, let him rest and hopefully sleep, gave him Aspirin and shortly he was about to get up and RUN. You could tell this vet disliked GSD.

the worst. absolutely terrible service, dirty and old. will never take my pets back there.read more

My name is Paula Inglese. i've been going to Branford veterinary Hospital for many many years and…read morenever had a problem with anyone on the staff until today when I called on the phone to return feedback to Dr Griffith the outcome of having given my cat probiotics to solve a digestive problem. I attempted to tell my story to the assistant manager, Jeanine who wasn't interested in the feedback I was asked to provide. She was dismissive and began talking over me which frustrated me. Then she got rude and over reacted to my frustration and told me I am under review and should look for another vet. I was shocked by the cold, unprofessional way I was treated.. Instead of an apology, I was kicked out and they said they would send my records to bring to another vet.

I liked everything about this Vet practice from the minute I walked in the door. The way the…read morereception lounge was set up, the people working the desks ... everybody was friendly, and the place was very clean. Went in for my appointment. First time meeting Dr Mary Griffith. Loved her! She and her assistant sat on the floor so my two dogs could come and sniff them without immediately putting one up on the table. She explained as she examined my dog including the condition of her teeth in a way that no other Vet has explained to me. I really appreciated that. I know it's only my first visit, but it was definitely a good start!

I would first like to acknowledge the many positive experiences I had at this practice in the past…read more Dr. Lang, Dr. Marotta, and several technicians cared for my dogs from 2020 through early 2026, and during those years my visits were consistently professional, calm, and respectful. Unfortunately, my visit on February 19, 2026, was completely different. I would give this place a zero star. I brought my healthy dog in for a routine checkup, fecal exam, and vaccines required for boarding. What should have been a straightforward preventive appointment quickly became uncomfortable and confrontational. During the visit, Technician Laura Kelly repeatedly spoke over me, raised her voice, and addressed me in a way that felt accusatory rather than informative. Each time I attempted to respond or ask a question, I was interrupted and not allowed to finish a sentence. The tone was not educational or collaborative. It felt adversarial. When she stepped out of the room, I could hear her speaking about me behind the door. Shortly after, Dr. Ashley Jackson, whom I had never met before, entered the room. Rather than asking about my dog's routine, training, or overall health, the conversation immediately turned critical. The entire interaction also felt rushed. Dr. Jackson repeatedly mentioned that she had a lot to say but might be pulled out of the room soon. She spoke at length, delivering a stream of general advice without first taking the time to understand my dog or my experience as an owner. I have had German Shepherds for six years, yet I was spoken to as if I had just adopted my first dog, receiving very basic instructions such as not exercising a dog immediately before or after eating. There was no attempt to ask what I already knew or what I was already doing. Most concerning, while we were still in the room and without discussing it with me first, Dr. Jackson instructed the technician to administer an anti-parasitic medication before any fecal test results were available and without asking for my consent. Decisions were being made between the two of them as though I were not present. In the moment I was shocked and frozen. Looking back, I wish I had stopped the situation and left. This was a routine visit involving a healthy dog. The escalation into a hostile exchange, combined with medical decisions made without discussion or approval, was deeply concerning. No client should feel spoken over, dismissed, or excluded from medical decisions during a preventive appointment. The experience left me deeply upset, and it took nearly a month to recover emotionally from what should have been a simple routine visit. I hope the practice reflects on what occurred so that no other client has a similar experience.

Just trying to be a responsible cat owner and brought my cat because he has a huge bald spot on his…read moreleg. $827 later and I still don't know what the bald spot is due to. First visit I was charged $360 for blood work; which came back fine. Second visit I was charged $457. Second visit was a week ago and haven't heard anything back. The receptionist did call me after the visit to tell me they overcharged me $70, but that they can't refund me the money. I can only use it as a credit. I will say, the staff is nice and cares about animals. UPDATE: After my post, I was contacted by Laura, the manager. and I was refunded the overcharge. There was also miscommunication about the wait time for test results. I was just told the results could take 7-14 days and that was why I hadn't heard from anyone.

I would strongly advise against using Ridgehill Animal Hospital…read more I arrived right when they opened without an appointment because my dog had been in visible discomfort for hours and I was hoping they could fit him in at some point during the day, given they had his full medical history. Instead, I was immediately turned away by a receptionist with no compassion and told to go to the emergency vet down the street. I spent time outside trying to keep him comfortable, and after seeing other clients arrive, I went back in to ask if there was any chance he could be seen later that day. I was told "nothing today" and dismissed again. During this time, Dr. Pearce did not acknowledge me or my dog at all. I later went to Central Emergency Veterinary Clinic, where the level of care and empathy was night and day. Ridgehill never followed up to see how he was doing. When it came time to euthanize my dog, I was told there were no appointments available with his primary veterinarian until the following week. I was offered a late Friday appointment with another provider, which I accepted. On the morning of that appointment, I called inquiring about the process I wanted to be present for the entire process, including catheter placement. I was initially told "you can ask when you get here". The receptionist did ask and came back and I was told no. Then, I received a call a few minutes later saying the owner had canceled my appointment entirely and that I should "go somewhere else." Canceling a same-day euthanasia appointment and turning away a distressed pet owner in that moment is beyond unprofessional--it's inexcusable. This practice demonstrated a consistent lack of compassion, communication, and basic decency. I would never return and strongly recommend others seek care elsewhere.

My partner and I brought our dog Koda to Ridgehill almost his entire life, and after our last…read moreexperience, I would never bring another dog again. I am truly blown away by the blatant disregard and disrespect we experienced at the end of our dog's life. We brought our dog in Monday, 7/6 after he began to experience some discomfort in his front right paw. Our appointment was late at night, and we understand they close at a certain time, but we felt ignored and rushed out by the vet that we saw. Not only did she completely disregard what we were telling her about his limb lameness, lethargy, etc., she chalked it up to allergies, which he has had his entire life. She prescribed an antifungal, apoquel (which we expressed we have tried and it has never worked, and we had switched to cytopoint), and gabapentin that we later learned was not appropriate for his weight. We told her he wasn't eating or drinking, she didn't bother to pursue that further. She essentially said his allergies were bothering him, we could take x-rays, and then proceeded to tell us she didn't have time for x-rays, and sent us home. We gave him the medication, he showed minor improvement. On Tuesday, 7/14, our dog started to show signs of total paralysis and he couldn't move at all. We brought him in that day to see Dr. Pierce, who is FANTASTIC. She was kind to Koda, listened to us, and showed compassion. She told us half of the medications the first doctor prescribed were basically pointless, and the gabapentin was 1/3 of the appropriate dose for his weight. Dr. Pierce hydrated Koda, gave him food, and took x-rays, which should have been done the week before. Koda was given steroids, and we were told to check-in. Wednesday, Koda did not improve. He got worse. We had to give him water through a turkey baster. We were told we would be called in the morning for his x-ray results, and we weren't. We had to call. We didn't get a call back until almost 4:00 in the afternoon. As the day continued, Koda continued to go downhill, crying in pain, unable to move. We called them back around 5:30 seeking advice, expressing fear he needed to be euthanized, and asked for a call back and appointment. The person who answered the phone said, "um, no.... I need to talk to someone and they'll call you back." Nobody called back that evening, and we had to take Koda to the emergency vet to get euthanized. The following day, 7/16, as I am typing this end of day, nobody returned our call. I am willing to wager we will never receive that follow up call. I am absolutely DISGUSTED at the way Koda and his symptoms were ignored the initial visit. I am disgusted that Dr. Fracasso didn't dose him properly, listen to our concerns, x-ray him (even if that wouldn't have made a difference), and diminished his pain as allergies. I am disgusted that we were dismissed when we called back scared and seeking advice, and I am DISGUSTED that nobody bothered to reach back out. I would NEVER bring any pet I may have in the future here again, and based off of several recent reviews, I know this is unfortunately not unique to my partner and I. Ridgehill wants to get paid, they do not care about your animals, or you. It is absolutely disgusting to me that an animal hospital would treat an animal at end of life like this, and their family. I saw more compassion in an hour at the emergency vet we had to go to than I ever had at Ridgehill. Avoid them at all cost.