This is the vet experience I have ever had. Everyone is friendly, helpful, reassuring, etc. my dog was diagnosed with mast cell tumor and Dr. C did an incredible surgery within 1 week of diagnosis. They are incredible and I recommend anyone to go to them! read more

I was 15 minutes late for my appointment and they would not see me. I drove over an hour to get there, had trouble finding parking (it's in Georgetown) and I was rudely told I missed my appointment. Really? I was told to go home and come back tomorrow. What? I do not think anyone can guarantee timing in dc traffic and Georgetown parking. You can work me in tomorrow after I go one hour home and one hour back but you cannot work me in when I am there?! The waiting room was empty ya'll!! Well I won't be back. Really, the woman behind the desk treated me like I was getting something for free not coming to spend my money for a service. She really should get a job at the Food-stamp office not a vet office in Georgetown. On second thought no, they don't deserve such treatment either. Find another vet. That is what I will do even though it's hard since there are not that many avian vets around. I have to find a better practice than this one. read more

Dr. Fischer and the rest of Collins Hospital are all just the warmest, nicest people. I've been taking my pup there since his first vaccinations, and he still gets excited when we approach the front door. I have no idea what kind of magic treats they give him back there, but whatever it is, he loves it. Since Covid, they greet you at the door upon arrival, and ask that you hang out nearby. A few minutes later, Dr. Fischer calls with relevant updates, to confirm info, and to just generally chat about how he's doing. She never rushes that call, always answers every question thoroughly and with care, and is a pleasure to speak with. I'm very grateful to live so near such a wonderful vet. read more

I've been bringing my dwarf hamsters here for years and will continue to take them (and my baby chinchilla) as long as I live in DC! Dr. Laporta is so good with my "exotic" tiny pets, and I love that she thinks they're as cute and sweet as I do! She's incredibly attentive, listens and cares about all the details of the pet's situation, and she keeps me informed about all of her thoughts on what could be going wrong, even when she's not sure. She says here is what we're going to do first, and in case that doesn't work, this is what we can do next. My previous hamster had recurring seizures. After witnessing one of them, Dr. Laporta took out a medical book, explained an anticonvulsant to me that they usually make for cats, and then did the math right there in front of me to figure out how to make a dose small enough for my baby! It was chicken flavored since it was made for cats, but she told me to mix it with a little apple sauce and that did the trick! Most recently I brought in the tiniest of my 3 Russian dwarf hamster sisters (for the second time), and Dr. Laporta guessed that this one probably has a chronic respiratory infection, which is what stunted her growth compared to the others, and made her sound all stuffy/wheezy! She gave me a tiny thing of fruity medicine and recommended a supplement to help with her immune and digestive systems. Within 2 weeks her wheez was almost entirely gone, and she was pudgy like her sisters, no long skin and bone! They also do great hamster manicures here ;) In sum - I'm thankful for this place for taking such good care of my "exotic" pets! read more

Collins Hospital for Animals - Hamster carrying cage on vet examination table with note from vet - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I like Dr. Cabaniss, but sometimes when I get there I get bumped to other doctors I've never met. Every visit a different doctor. I'm not saying they're not good doctors, but there's no continuity. Also, I certainly understand Covid concerns. I've had both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, including boosters for both, and wear a double mask. My dog gets extremely stressed at the vet's, and I wish I could be in the exam room with him. I respect whatever they want to do. I just wish things were different. read more

Our guinea pig Milo just spent 11 days at Collins while we were out of town! I want to thank the entire staff for taking great care of our little piggy. He is dealing with an infection and he came back home and I could tell he was better off than when we left town. Thank you to the entire staff for being there to care for our lil' guy. read more

Collins Hospital for Animals - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I just had the best check-up for my rabbit at Collins, and would highly recommend them to others seeking bunny-specific care. I found a lump on my rabbit and was obviously worried (read my previous review when she just had something in her eye!) so I called for an immediate appointment. The staff we spoke with on the phone worked with our busy schedules (and that of the vet!) to find a way to get us in quickly and as conveniently as possible. The vet was so gentle and kind with my rabbit, who was very scared to be in her carrier and then in a strange place with strange people poking and prodding her, and was also kind and gentle with me, and went over everything she was looking for/concerned about, and what next steps might be. We should get the results in less than a week, but I already know what all of our options probably look like, and even if it is the worst news, I know I can trust my baby here. read more

Collins Hospital for Animals - View from the reception area. - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really can't say enough about the quality of care that the team at Collins consistently provides! I have a pair of fancy rats, and it can be hard to find a vet who will treat them--I tried two other vets in the DMV before coming here, and I really wish I'd come sooner. Dr. Cabaniss is very familiar with rats; they've received excellent treatment from her. She is honest and doesn't sugar-coat your animal's prospects, but her focus on making sure your pet has the best life possible is really appreciated. The front desk staff and vet techs are super friendly and efficient, too. Prices for care are quite reasonable considering the size of the practice, and the fact that they operate out of a building in Georgetown. It would be nice if there were a place for people to sit outside if they didn't come by car, but there's always the Starbucks next door if you need to wait a while for your pet. Overall, I'm really grateful for the care my rats have received! read more

Everyone at the hospital is kind, welcoming , efficient and thorough. We have always had a positive experience and highly recommend them.

I brought my two Guinea pigs, Pepper and Paprika into Collins Animal Hospital for a genera check up. Dr. Cabaniss handled my two pigs with thought and care while making sure they felt safe during their check up read more

Collins Hospital for Animals - Waiting for their check up - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We've been bringing our rabbit here for a few years, and we're just so happy with the veterinarians and their staff. Both Drs. Cabaniss and LaPorta have been really good with our rabbit, and everyone is very sensitive and gentle, and treats her as their own pet. The prices are also very fair, particularly given the Georgetown location. We would highly recommend Collins to anyone with a rabbit. read more

I just moved to DC, and I make it a point as part of settling somewhere new to find a new vet for my animals that way if a time arises when they need something I don't have to stress about finding a vet. So I made an appointment to get an exam for both of my dogs. Scheduling was easy, and I only had to wait about 20 minutes from walking in the door to seeing the vet. Normal check up, and we were on our way. The very next morning I notice my dog has unusual eye discharge and I leave a message for Dr. LaPorta, who isn't in that day. I end up going in the next day to pick up some eye drops for my older dog. After a few days her eyes had cleared up and I stopped administering the drops. Yesterday my older dog starts throwing up around 12pm. I call around 3pm and the receptionist says she has no idea if the vomiting could be related to the eye drops and I'd have to leave a message for Dr. LaPorta since she's not in that day. I called the next morning, and Dr. LaPorta isn't in until 10am. I call again at 10:30, and she's in an appointment. My dog throws up again for what is now the 6th time in 24 hours. I call again at 11:30 and she is in another appointment. The receptionist isn't empathetic to my concern and just says I'll have to wait for the doctor. At this point I just ask for my dog's records, but I can't have those without approval from the doctor. I call another vet's office and the receptionist is empathetic and tells me some things I should try and if they don't work then to call back and actually take my dog in. If only the receptionist at Collins had been competent to do the same, I could have been saved from worrying about my dog all night and half the next day. Dr. LaPorta finally calls me back at 1:30pm. She is surprised that I want my dogs records and want to go to a new vet hereafter, saying that she's been in appointments and is just now getting to her voicemail and other clients. I get it, I don't expect my dogs to be your first priority all the time. But if I'm having a problem, I do expect to feel like my dog's health is a concern, and having to wait nearly 24 hours to get any input whatsoever is not a timeline I'm comfortable with when it comes to my dogs. read more

I took my guinea pig here for an emergency appointment for bloating. Dr. Laporta was warm and friendly, performing a full exam and alleviating my fears of cancer, cysts, and blockage from all of the internet reading. She handled my pig so gently and carefully. She didn't push for extra expensive testing and understood the practical need to treat conservatively. She took the time to answer all of my questions, and I was pleased that I was not rushed out the door. Before I left, she made sure that I had all of the references for nearby vets if I had to make a weekend emergency appointment. With the expertise from the Collin's Animal Hospital, my guinea pig is now healthy and happy. Staff was friendly, and I left feeling like I was getting the best possible care for my pet. I was pleased that the fees for services were not out of my budget--competitive for the area. I highly recommend this animal hospital and will come back for all of my pet's health needs. Thank you, Collin's Animal Hospital, for helping me save my guinea pig's life! read more

I have been coming here for over 20 years, seeing the owner Dr. Lynne Cabaniss. She has cared for 4 family members, a cat and 3 dogs. What I love about her is not only her depth of knowledge, experience and intelligence but her ease with the animals and also importantly a respect for the owner /parent. She knows that we know our animals best and listens and considers our opinions and input when it comes to our observations as pet owners while not pushing unnecessary treatments or tests. Because of this I completely trust her and what ever she recommends (and she has never been wrong) And she is also a skilled surgeon whom I've trusted with my pets as well. Old and new born. I can't be more grateful for this practice. Having relocated outside of DC, I drive now into the city just to have peace of mind and the best possible care for my pet. read more

I have used Collins for more than 15 years because it is closest to my house and I never needed much. So when I got a new pup in October i turned to them for the "meet and greet" visit the breeder required within 3 days as a handoff from the breeders vet. All I can say is their communication was terrible. When I arrived with the new pup at the appointed time I found the door locked. They finally opened and informed me the I had to give the pup to a receptionist and would not be admitted or to ask questions. I had a complete record from the breeder's vet and got the receptionist to accept the file which included 9 questions I should ask the vet. I also gave her a fecal sample to check if any worm treatments or guardia precautions were needed. I waited 20 minutes on the Wisconsin Avenue sidewalk. The receptionist then returned the pup and charged me $68, which turned out to be $70 because she said I needed to provide exact change. I said I still had questions and did not have a cell phone to get answers. So a Dr. Woolley appeared and informed me there was nothing to discuss because the second DPT shot was not due until November 14 which I already knew because it was on the breeder vet's report. II was not able to ask my 9 questions because I'm standing on Wisconsin Avenue with a pup and a file folder in my arms. In ensuing days I left three messages for Dr Wolsey but my calls were never returned. On the fourth call an office manager .., not a vet ... took over and I was able to ask some of the questions. But I never got results from the fecal sample because she said it was never submitted for analysis. Thus I really learned nothing and had to repeat the process all over again with another vet. All this could have been avoided if Collins had informed me of their protocols when I made the appointment. read more

We recently moved back to DC and I scheduled an appointment for my dog to get his vaccinations. The only good thing perhaps I could say was the nurse who greeted us was nice. The rest was pretty annoying. First of all, they still don't allow the pet owners to get into their office. Everything was communicated over phone but the signals outside their office was terrible. Then on the vaccinations, I was specific that I don't want my dog to take too many vaccinations at once and I don't mind to come again shortly to get him other vaccines completed. Then on the bill, I got charged $78 for some vaccination I wasn't plan to do this time and it cover stuff 3 out of 4 I have no clue what's for. The vet didn't explain at all. Finally as a first time client, I was suppose to get 15% off on the vet exam. The receptionist confirmed the discount was applied but when I received the bill, the discount wasn't shown anywhere. They were so quickly to close the door as if we would bring them virus otherwise. So instead of asking further clarification on the bill, this will be the first and last time I bring my pets to this clinic. read more

I took my kitten to Collins Animal Hospital when I first moved to the District, and was a regular client for many years, but have finally decided to change practices. The care that I got here varied quite a bit depending on the vet that I saw. The vet that I really liked left the practice about three years ago and was only replaced in the last year. My one and only appointment with the replacement vet left me feeling like she was a hypochondriac and that she would never see my cat again. I initially was really pleased with the fact that Collins had late and weekend hours, until I realized that vet covering those hours does not like cats. That's a problem for me as a cat owner. So I still ended up having to miss work to go to the vet, so that I could see a vet who wasn't afraid of cats (!!). Also every time I have an appointment they keep me waiting. I started scheduling appointments first thing in the morning to avoid this, but apparently they make appointments for before the docs arrive, so I still waited! All in all, after 8 years of taking my cats there, I am done. I can't say that I have have been given overtly bad or endangering care there (hence the three stars), but that is really the only positive thing I have to say at this point. read more

Dr. Fisher is an outstanding vet in terms of empathy and knowledge. She cares for my rescue dog and three cats and is attentive to all. She helped me when I needed a letter for a rescue organization and is in energetic helpful mood each time I visit. I have also seen Drs. Cabiniss and La Porta at other times and they too were both wonderful. Love this place... read more

They don't overcharge, and I'm sure the vets are competent. But they're always running 40+ mins late, and once you get called back with your pet, they're always rushed. The front desk staff constantly take clients' phone calls and then talk trash about the callers as soon as they hang up. With other clients sitting in the lobby. Not reassuring. Exam rooms could use a mop, or at least a sweep every now and then. Overall: cramped, lots of waiting, rushed appointments, and a general feeling that nobody's especially happy to be working there or cares a whit about your pets. read more

Our pup came here for his routine vaccinations and check-ups when he had an ear infection. He had previously been extremely anxious about going to the vets, but from the moment the vet nurse greets him to the end of each appointment he is happy and relaxed. On each occasion the vet has been very helpful and attentive, taking the time to explain what's needed and giving us opportunities to ask questions. Pricing could be more transparent online, but the receptionists are happy to walk through them if asked. Overall a great experience and would highly recommend Collins hospital for animals. read more

AMAZING STAFF & DOCTORS . Very Helpful And throughout Will Details And My Pets Will Become My Family Vet !!!

Dr Cabaniss is a wonderful vet for my furry friends- our hamster has passed away but we still take our bunny to her. She continues to surprise me with her true knowledge of rabbits, and has my best interest in mind at all times. Yes, vet services are expensive, but she has actually advised against certain procedures if she thinks they won't yield results. She's very warm, comforting at times when you need it, and returns my calls very quickly in between visits. The only reason I didn't give the hospital 5 stars is because their boarding services seem to be very sad [especially for the price], as is the case with any kennels. I don't think they treat the animals with any attention or special care, even if you leave treats/snacks. I once picked up my bunny and he had torn out almost all the hair on his face, and then inhaled his food like he hadn't been fed in days. I now take him to Stargazing Farm bunny motel when I leave town. read more

I have been taking my terrier, Kacy, to Collins since she was a puppy, and I've had excellent experiences with all three of Collins vets and all of their staff. Dr. LaPorta, who is part-time, diagnosed my dog with a rare disorder that wasn't presenting like it typically does. A good catch that saved Kacy's life! Dr. Lynne Cabiness is laid back and cool, and acts more like an educated, trusted adviser than an authoritarian "do what I say" doctor. She also treats exotic animals. Dr. Jay Merker, Kacy's primary vet, is extremely thorough. I trust him completely. If anything, he can be a little overly conservative in medical matters, though I know he is always looking out for my old lady's health. The support staff at Collins is great. There is some turnover, but standbys like Niki, the receptionist, and Holly, the practice manager, are fantastic and consistently pleasant and helpful. There are only two drawbacks to Collins for me. The first, a minor annoyance, is that sometimes Dr. Merker doesn't run on schedule. I understand that this happens in medical practices, and is in part due to the fact that he spends time with his patients. Still, I've taken to scheduling his first appointment of the day, or calling to check if he is running way behind (and adjusting my arrival accordingly). The bigger issue is price. I have always felt that Collins is on the pricey side, and reviews on Angie's List seem to confirm this. However, Cabiness and Merker have been practicing for many years, and you are paying for that expertise; these are not doctors just out of veterinary school! The thing that chaps my hide is that Collins charges a $5.00 fee for "hazardous waste disposal," which includes things like disposing of a needle after a blood draw. Seriously?! I've been tempted to bring my own sharps container. This seems like a spurious charge, especially in light of the fact that the prices for their services are already on the high end. Ok, deep breath. Now that I've said that, I still bring little Kacy to Collins. They have never steered me wrong, even though my wallet is a little lighter. read more

When I got my kittens, over two years ago, I delayed for weeks taking them to the vet and getting them spayed and neutered. I was not looking forward to going to a vet, given that my previous experiences had usually involved putting childhood pets to sleep, but I was extremely pleased with this place. The staff are extremely warm and inviting, and the veterinarians themselves are fantastically personable. The cats actually seemed to enjoy their time there and were well taken-care of, even during their overnight stay after surgery. They called me the next morning and informed me that they were doing perfectly well, and asked me when I'd like to come pick them up, which was an extra-nice touch -- I didn't even have to call them, worried. Of course, as a college student, I think they woke me up at around 10:30AM when they called. There were only two cons. It was definitely pricier than going to a neuter/spay drive. As a college senior, I wasn't making much money, and the initial batch of inoculations as well as the neuter/spay fees put me nearly $500 in the hole. But I gather that their fees are average for vets in the DC area, perhaps a bit on the pricey side, and well worth it for the peace of mind. (I went for the extra blood checks and such, because I'd rather plunk down another $40 than come by in the morning to find one of my kittens dead from snake oil or something.) Also, it's out of the way from metro, so be prepared to drive (not great parking) or take a cab. read more

Awful! Dear Lord, for everyone who loves their pets (and I'm guessing that's everyone who owns one), DON'T GO HERE. It's almost too much to yelp about, and believe me, my protests will go beyond the internet. I'm dissatisfied and that's the bare minimum. Past a poor phone/receptionist experience it was simply not a compassionate interaction with our vet. Our sweet Westie not only did not feel better after her assessment, but our overall experience left us feeling wanting for more. Please investigate other options before turning to Collins! K read more

First let me say, I think this place is fantastic. I took my pet rat Piggles here for her returning ear infection. Previously, being dissuaded by the bad reviews here, I took her all the way out to Fairfax. But I canceled my Zipcar account (moving to a different state soon) and no longer have access to a car. So I grudgingly made an appointment at Collins. I was pleasantly proven wrong. I saw Dr. Cabaniss, who was wonderful. She spent quite a while with us during the exam, and patiently answered all of my anxiously asked questions. I do have to say, a few years ago when I first moved down here, I tried to make an appointment for a rat that was having breathing problems, but the staff member that answered the phone was so rude that I ended up not making the appointment. However, a few years later, this time around, it was completely different. One of the staff members even came in to feed my rats some treats and fawn over them! Dr. Cabaniss seems more than qualified to deal with rats, and is quite knowledgeable. And I'm sure all you rat owners out there know how hard it is to find a good vet who doesn't charge an arm and a leg. Don't quote me on this, because I'm sure the rates differ depending on the situation, but the exam ended up costing $65. Which, for the unlucky combination of being in DC and owning an exotic animal, is beyond reasonable. I hope for Piggles' sake, I never have to go back. But if anything does come up, Collins will be the first place I'll go. read more

The first few years after I adopted my first pup Ruthie we used to drive 8 hours to my home town to see my family's vet in Massachusetts, but now that I have found Collins, I totally trust my 2 babies to them. The first time we went to Collins was after adopting my second dog Jilly in May 2020. Because Jilly is an older rescue, I wanted her to get looked at ASAP to know what we were working with and where we should focus. I wrote down a list of about 10 concerns. The whole staff, from reception to vet techs to Dr. Fischer were WONDERFUL. I was able to make an appointment on short notice and procedures were modified to account for caution around Covid-19. After the appointment, Dr. Fischer called me to talk through all ten (!!) of my concerns and provide helpful information and words of comfort. Dr. Fischer was empathetic, informative, and also very sensitive to cost in ordering tests and panels, giving me an option about how aggressive I wanted to be. She stayed in touch as test results came back and proposed a tiered approach to treatment instead of going all in on the most aggressive (and expensive) option first. In July 2020 my pup Ruthie was seen by Dr. Cabaniss for recurring UTIs and our experience was equally wonderful. Dr. Cabaniss called following her exam of Ruthie and provided so much helpful information, different treatment options, and also proposed testing to better understand the germ causing these infections and know best course of action. We settled on a plan to start treating Ruthie with antibiotics but submit blood and urine for testing and modify treatment if needed based on results. Dr. Cabaniss stated up-front that testing was somewhat expensive, and while it could be helpful, very much optional at this point -- not at all alarmist or trying to upsell me. It made me feel so comfortable electing to do the testing -- because I had no concern about the reality of the need. It is so clear to me that the doctors and staff here love animals and understand how vulnerable we feel when we ask them to heal our babies. But I also really appreciate that these docs never use our vulnerable state to extract expensive testing. I haven't had a lot of experience with vets who present different options and are happy to move through different tiers of treatment instead of starting with the most expensive, given that many folks would sell their organs to get the best treatment for their beloved pets. When I ask myself "should I take my little one to the vet or just watch this for a few days?" it is just a no-brainer. I really appreciate and trust the team at Collins. read more

The other reviews on here are really odd to me? I'm confused because it seems like other reviewers are having a totally different experience than us. I was recommended to Dr. Merker at Collins by my best friend. She loves him, and so do my husband and I. In fact, I have recommended Collins to many people. I have been consistently blown away by how nice everyone at Collins is... from the front desk staff to Dr. Merker himself. And, trust me, my dog is not an easy customer. He's extremely nervous and visibly freaked out anytime we take him to a vet. (We tried a couple different places before Collins.) Collins has been amazingly kind and compassionate with him. The vet tech in particular takes time to try to soothe our little guy. I can always get an appointment when I need one and I've never waited more than 5 to 10 minutes. I've also found Collins to be pretty reasonably priced by DC standards. Sure, some of the pet medications are expensive. But, they are pricey everywhere and Collins has taken steps to minimize costs for us elsewhere. For example, because our dog is a rescue, he was on a strange shot schedule that required us to bring him in every six months. Dr. Merker worked it so we only have to come in once a year, saving us an office fee every year. Collins also has a referral program with South Paws, the regional specialty vet for this area. Patients of Collins can call South Paws 24 hours for advice. This was huge for us during a recent health scare. read more

Great vet! Dr. Fischer is amazing and is so good with our dog. She's always happy to answer any questions we have and is available for a phone call in between visits. Highly recommend if you're looking for a caring group of doctors to look after the health of your furry family member. read more

Excellent staff, the doctor was extremely nice and took her time seeing my pet rabbit for a checkup. The experience was positive, and the price was not beyond what I expected. I strongly recommend going there if you need vet care for small exotic pets. read more

I'm very surprised with the average Yelp rating. I just had an absolutely amazing experience at Collins. Though I swore to myself I would never do it, I decided to take my hamster in to see the vet after she suddenly became very sick. I wasn't sure exactly what was wrong, but I feared it was the end, even though she hadn't quite hit "old age." This was the only vet I found in the DC area that would see "pocket pets," and I only had to wait a day for an appointment. The receptionist was welcoming and the assistant was very kind and attentive when taking us back to the exam room. Dr. Cabaniss was extremely gentle and through in her examination and spent much longer with us than I thought she would. She carefully listened to my long, rambling description of the symptoms and gave me very detailed feedback. She didn't try and push any unnecessary treatments or procedures, which was a worry when I went in. She walked me through how she ruled out each possible diagnosis and why she was assessing the situation as she did. During the whole exam, she treated my hamster (and me!) with the highest levels of respect and care... which was a concern I had taking a $6 animal in for a vet visit. It was obvious Dr. Cabaniss takes her job seriously and has an excellent "bedside manner." I walked out with detailed instructions on how to assure as full of a recovery as possible given the circumstances and only $80 lighter. I'd go back in a heartbeat. read more

Do not come here if you have reptiles. I came here with my corn snake and the advice I got from the vet essentially just confirmed everything I'd already researched and tried to do on my own. The only thing they suggested for me to do was also googled. ~$300 for an x ray and a shrug of not knowing what was going on with her with a suggestion to see an exotic vet. They do not have the equipment needed for an ultrasound which is necessary to diagnose many reptile issues. They did not even suggest doing a fecal for her to eliminate any possible parasitic issues. The staff were very nice and seemed to be a good place for warm blooded animals. Just not reptiles. read more

How Dr. Lynne Cabaniss, the owner of Collins Animal Hospital, who is an extremely competent, ethical vet ended up with Jay Merker as an associate vet is somewhat beyond me. In our experiences with him, he ordered expensive tests without discussing the rationale. The money was less a factor than his poor communication skills. His manner is at best off-putting, at worst arrogant and puerile. Here's a link to a City Paper article involving Jay Merker in his role as a member of the DC Vet Board (and as a vet clients have filed Board complaints against). You'll have to read pretty far down before you get to the part that involves him (if short on time, just read what follows the heading "The Doctor Is Out." You'll see I'm not alone in my assessment of his character and competence. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/cover/2005/cover0527.html Rather than filing a complaint and becoming embroiled in a protracted matter, I simply chose to go to another veterinary practice. It's just not possible to guarantee that you'll see Dr. Cabaniss if you make an appointment with her. A fair amount of tag-team medical practice goes on at this clinic. read more

I went here for my sick guinea pig. They wanted to do surgery on him. I asked about the price and was told $200. They handed me the bill an hour later for over $400. I should have argued, but at the time I was worried about my guinea pig, so I just paid it and left. They told me he'd be fine in a couple days. He got sicker and sicker. I reached out to the vet at collins and she wasn't helpful or sympathetic and wouldn't even make time to see him again. I finally took him to Kindness Animal Hospital and they fit him in right away. Unfortunately he didn't make it. I don't know if it's Collins fault that he died, but I do know that they weren't sympathetic and charged me twice what they had told me originally. I won't ever be going back there. read more

I took one of my sick budgies to have looked at awhile back. The doctor was a lady; pretty, very kind and patient. She handled my bird carefully, answered all my questions and explained things thoroughly. My bird passed away a few weeks later from kidney problems, but thanks to her diagnosis and the medicine, I was able to prepare myself and really make my budgie as comfortable and content as possible for the remainder of his time with us. Since it was my first time visiting a vet, I was glad for the overall smooth and caring experience. I'm grateful for their services and that they're so close to me in DC. My only wish is that they were more available since most sick birds need immediate attention. But I'm happy with them and would gladly recommend them. Thank you! read more

My guinea pigs are patients of Dr. Lynne Cabaniss. She has been a wonderful vet. She is knowledgeable about exotics and has a great cage side manner. Most vets will "see" exotics, but have little expertise in the area. This is not the case with Dr. Cabaniss. The price is a little high- but to me that's what I pay for the convenience of a vet located in the District. Since sick guinea pigs need immediate care I think it's worth it to pay more for a 10 minute drive than a cheap vet 45 minutes away in Maryland. By then it is usually too late! read more

Finding an avian vet in DC is not easy, and I have been very pleased with the care given by Dr. Cabiness at Collins. She is patient and kind with our sun conure and willing to answer all my questions. They board birds as well! The receptionists, who are always busy, are quite pleasant. read more

We've used this clinic and vet for over 25 years and are totally satisified with the care our pets receive. We have 3 Borzoi - and have had several sets and always had consistent, loving care from the staff and great advice from the vet. Our breed is a bit difficult to deal with and have special needs when it comes to things like anesthesia and medications. Collins has researched these issues for us each time to ensure no difficulty and we have come through it all perfectly. There are times when procedures that are needed cannot be performed by Collins staff but we've always been referred out to the specialty vets for those times. We are very, very fussy about our pets but have a "common sense" approach to pet ownership and have found that Collins respects that approach and is knowledgeable and extremely easy to deal with. Terry P read more

I read these other comment about Collins Animal Clinic and I couldn't believe they were talking about the same place where I took my dog for 15 years. I always found Dr. Merker extremely helpful. When my dog developed Cushing's Disease, the doctor picked it up eight away and referred me to a specialist who could give further diagnosis. I never, ever thought I had less than the best care. I have a new puppy now and took him right away to Collins. And I'll keep taking him there. Peyton L. read more

I have been taking my Shiba Inu, Quakey to see Dr. Lynne Cabaniss for over three years. I had taken my dog to two other vets in the area and they were so aggressive with him that he developed a vet phobia. Dr. Cabaniss has been wonderful with Quakey and I cannot thank her enough. She is highly skilled as a vet and is so very kind and compassionate with the pet and with the owner/parent. My dog absolutely loves Dr. Cabaniss. I think she is wonderful. read more