Dr. Kristie is everything you could want in a vet. She is kind and compassionate and patient. I've been bringing Kona here for six years, since she was a puppy. I'm so happy to have found a low stress facility that is flexible with procedures and processes to make things less stressful for your pet. They don't have a waiting room so you go right to the exam room. You can also wait in the car until the vet is ready if your pet is particularly anxious at the vet. Additionally their exam rooms are very comfortable with couches and dog beds rather than exam tables and hard chairs. We love the staff and the clinic! read more

Heal Veterinary Clinic - Happy Kona waiting for Dr. Kristie - Veterinarians Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

I've been taking my cat, Mango, to this veterinary clinic for a few years now, and I am still very pleased by the care. I was originally waitlisted, and I am so glad that I held out to give this place a try. Not only is the Heal team amazing, kind, and very knowledgeable, they also provide an environment that makes my cat feel comfortable. I love their aesthetic of having furniture that looks like home and getting on the floor to do the exams. I think that probably mean so much to my cat and the other animals to have them meet them down at where they are most comfortable. Thank you Heal for taking such good care of my loved one. I 100% recommend you!!! read more

See all

Apologize for the delayed review......I've been coming to Heal with my boy Rocky for a few years now. Exceptional doctors for my nervous little man. Exceptional care and attention to the pets' needs and quirks. Exceptionally thorough exams -- every time. Hope to bring my new little one in soon. Pretty boring review: All great. Every single time!! I started off loving the environment.....and very quickly loved the doctors' attention to care! read more

Heal Veterinary Clinic - Rocky! - Veterinarians Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

I thought I wrote a review for Heal YEARS ago, but apparently not. I absolutely adore everyone at this practice, and they do an amazing job with the pets they treat. One thing that I really love is that everything is set up for the comfort of the animals, not the humans. For example, they do all of their examinations on the floor, which is much less intimidating for our furry children than having to thrust them up on an exam table. They also have toys in all of the rooms, which my cats really love. Outside of the great atmosphere, they do a really thorough job of understanding what's going on with your pet and coming up with the best treatment options. For what it is worth, I have used the same vet since I adopted my first cat in 2007 and I absolutely do not trust most people with care of my pets. When I moved to Massachusetts and needed to have a rash checked on one of my cats, I very reluctantly went to Heal instead of making the drive all the way back to my hometown in NY. They impressed me so much that I finally felt comfortable enough to use another vet (them) when driving 200 miles wasn't practical. Rest assured, your babies are in good hands at Heal! read more

Everything was great here! I highly recommend this place! It was worth waiting a month for the appointment.

Very kind, very communicative and answered all our questions about care for our senior dog. She gets anxious at the vet appointments but this is the first time she calmed down and felt comfortable enough to eat a snack from the vet. read more

Previously reviewed but would like to reiterate that joining the clinic's waitlist months and months ago, but never getting notified that they stopped taking people off the waitlist put a huge delay in my pet receiving medical care. If I had been notified then I would've searched for a new vet sooner. Seems like they don't prioritize all animal wellbeing by keeping a secret of when the waitlist is put on hold. Found great care at a clinic right down the street. read more

I can't say enough how wonderful this vet clinic is. Our pets have been patients of Dr Leef (the founder) since before she opened Heal and we have seen how she has built an amazing clinic with a caring and compassionate culture shared by all the staff and vets. read more

There isn't much more to say than Heal is as good as it gets. Nothing but attentive, thoughtful, thorough, timely service and communications, and reasonable fees. No upselling of services or treatments. Collaborative and considerate of personal needs and options. Always. They do good things. And convenient with rear parking. A model really, for how all businesses should be organized and run read more

I switched vets about a year ago because I found the communication somewhat lacking, especially between visits. I'm so glad I did. I didn't know it at the time, but one of my cats (Polonius) and I were headed for a difficult year (kidney disease), and I'm so grateful I had HVC on our team. For one thing, no communication problem. Quite the contrary. I was often surprised at how quickly everyone on the staff seemed to know the current situation with me and my cat, down to the detail. I also got timely, detailed responses back to questions and concerns between visits. But even more than that, there's an exceptional level of warmth and professionalism across the entire team. That proved more important than I ever could have ever imagined as things got more difficult. I've met several times with 3 of the doctors on staff (Leef, Davis, and Mientka) as well as many of the techs and reception staff, and always felt I was in good hands--the right hands. When the time finally came that I had to make a decision whether to euthanize, I'm so glad I had HVC to guide me through the experience. I have one surviving cat, will probably adopt another soon, and will continue using HVC as long as I'm in the area. read more

My new vet. Less expensive than others I looked at, the people are super considerate, attentive and up-front. I really couldn't ask for anything better here. They gave me all the information, a range of possible costs and what those costs meant. I also didn't feel like I was getting pressured to get the most expensive option, which is a big deal for something sensitive like this. So I'd go here 100% if you're looking for a vet. read more

How fortunate am I to have found my way to Heal Veterinary Clinic. This is a highly skilled veterinary medical practice with an outstanding level of professionalism and compassion. Every aspect of care is thoughtfully designed in the interest of the animal. All procedures (and expenses) are thoroughly explained. The physical space also reflects the warmth of the practice. I just received a hand-written condolence card following the death of my beloved kitty; it is signed by every member of the staff. Deepest thanks to Heal. read more

Dr. Leef and team are awesome! Great to work with and take wonderful care of our pets. I really like that exams are done in Cat and dog specific rooms. It is really unique that the staff literally get down on your pet's level for their exams. They even do cat nail clippings complimentary - helpful for the talons on our girls. Also Dr. Leaf has done a few surgeries for our pets and we wouldn't trust anyone else. She does such a great job and they always leave with great post-op care and follow up. We also always get a follow up call and the follow up check in is also complementary. When you're all done, it is great that you can check out right in the same room. No need to wait in lines or re-explain anything again to someone. They also email you all your receipts and are always quick with those prescription approvals for chewy! BIG BONUS: there's free parking!!!!!!! Thanks for all you do for these furry kiddos - readers, take yours to Heal - you won't regret it! read more

We love Heal and so does our dog. I think we started going about three years ago and I only have great things to say. The level of care is fantastic. I always receive great explanations of what they are recommending and why, and the cost always seems very fair. I also love the email visit summaries and receipts, it is so helpful for easy record keeping. Our cats are...well, cats... and they are never thrilled to be put in their carriers and taken to a new place. With that said, I'm amazed by how well the doctors and staff are able to handle our cats so that it doesn't stress them out (especially our 17 year old one). We used to take our cats to a different vet's office in Watertown and wow what a difference - they do so much better here and I'm honestly kind of horrified of what our cats went through at the last place in comparison. Our dog has only gone to Heal, so he loves going to the vet since Heal is all he knows - he thinks it's this magical place where he just gets loved on and gets to meet nice people, he practically pulls me through the door. Thank you for taking such great care of our pets. read more

From the very first interaction I could tell there was something special about this place. Walking in the door, you immediately feel the genuine care of the entire staff and thoughtful planning that went into the physical layout. The reception area has a digital scale with a treat jar next to it. Each exam room is comfortable and modern. Dr Leef enters the room with an assistant (carrying a laptop for note taking) and will sit on the floor and engage with my dog directly. The exams are always thorough and in fact, after being told by another vet that my dog would need to be sedated for xrays... Dr Leef and team gently and easily were able to take the xrays in short order while I waited. One other example is the recommendation around diet and weight. I was asked what dog food I use (wellness) and the assistant provided me with the exact amount to feel him each day to ensure proper weight maintenance. They explained that not all dog foods are the same, so knowing exactly what I feed him they could ensure they were advising me properly. I highly recommend Heal Vet Clinic and wish Dr Leef and her team much success. Honestly, its like being in a very well run pediatricians office. read more

Dr. Leaf is everything a vet should be. Kind, Compassionate, gentle. Unfortunately, she isn't seeing my cats anymore. Dr. Christie saw my diabetic cat last. First, he always pees when he's in the cat carrier. Dr. Christie let him languish in it for 9 hrs. Second, she put him in a position he was so stressed he was hoarse from meowing for 9 hrs. Third, she didn't even finish the BG curve that I brought him in for (supposed to be 12 hrs), and she charged me extra for an unauthorized check-up. AND she never gave me the numbers from the curve, but the next morning when he had calmed down, it was 124. If you go here, Dr. Leaf is wonderful. Dr. Christie is not. read more

Unbelievable! Where do I even begin? I thought we had an amazing vet to start, but this place just set the vet standard to whole new level. First off, the outside looks so cute, right? Wait until you get inside - everything feels homey, safe, and just not a scary doctors office feel. Me and my pup were comfortable from the start. The actual exam rooms are fantastic, I sat on a couch, my dog sat on the couch, there's a dog bed, etc - feels like home, so my pup didn't even know she was at the doctors office. Both the vet and the technician were SO knowledgeable, we went through every single solution/option to our problem. There were no cold tables, no going into the "back room", everything was done in the room with me and our pup just thought she was just getting a massage the entire time. I am so relieved to have found this place. If your fur baby is the most important thing in your life, you want to make sure the care they're getting is at the highest level from the smartest people, and the most comfortable place to ask the most challenging questions. This place is it. read more

This full service vet clinic is well organized, clean and very compassionate. The vets and techs are conscientious and really knowledgeable. Vet services are always expensive and Dr Leer worked with me to find a treatment plan that I can afford and be able to follow through. Everyone in the office is so nice and so focused on minimizing stress on the patient. There are separate cat and dog examination rooms and there is a family room, should one have to say a final good-bye. read more

We are first time pet (dog) owners. We started seeing the dr's at Heal in Nov 2019 for our 2 month old puppy. They are AMAZING. They're so kind and so helpful and email detailed notes and information with each appointment & include a receipt. They're super responsive, I couldn't ask for a better Vet Clinic- all staff have been great! read more

I took my cat for an eye checkup and I was sold examination that I did not need. I was sold an ear examination which I was talked into getting one. The medications are way pricier than what you would pay online. Overall walking out of the clinic, I felt like I was ripped off. I would not recommend this clinic. Make your own judgment when the vet suggests extra examination and keep asking for costs for all medications and procedures before they perform them, otherwise, you will be given a hefty bill that you did not expect. read more

Dr. Leef is the best. She's very attentive and gentle with our highly sensitive rescue dog. She spent a lot of time with us while we were trying to figure out some recent behavioral issues. We're happy she opened up her new clinic after leaving Huron. The clinic is recently renovated, she has separate dog and cat rooms as well as a comfort room for people saying goodbye to their pets. There's parking in the back. read more

My 10-year old dog and I were looking for a new vet -- the doctors who had a history with her had left the practice that had always taken care of my dogs. We received multiple recommendations to transfer to Heal. A superb choice. Dr. Kristie was on top of my dog's huge chart from the minute she walked into the room. Wow! We are on a very good track to address my dog's medical issues now. The clinic itself is a breath of fresh air. Plants, chaises and floor pillows -- you can sit around while your dog is examined, and the doctor can observe your animal in a relaxed setting. Heal is woman-owned and operated -- a very important factor in my selection of them. read more

I followed Dr. Leaf from another clinic for my cat care when she opened her own practice. My cat had a weird incident where she licked a patch in her fur. I brought her to HEAL. Dr. Leaf didn't know what it was, did some testing, and said she would follow up but never did, in fact, she didn't do much at all. Very disappointing. I've decided to go back to the clinic I left and just made the move. read more

WOW! If I lived closer I'd bring my own pets there. I came across a stray and was fortunate enough to be referred to Heal by one of my coworkers. I was taken immediately and the service and care were above and beyond. The pricing is transparent and a lot was thrown in out of the kindness of their hearts to make sure the little guy was okay. When I left I was even given extra food and packets of information regarding how to care for him. Dr. Leef is the nicest vet I have ever met, she truly cares about the animals and goes above and beyond to ensure they are healthy. I cannot thank the staff at Heal enough for helping me save this animal!! read more

We couldn't possibly be more pleased with Heal. I wish I got this type of service from a human doctor! The entire office is friendly, responsive, and helpful. When our puppy had a night of diarrhea and vomiting, by 8am the next morning, I was able to speak to a vet, and have meds waiting out for my dog. Heal then followed up by email for the next few days to see how he was--which was honestly amazing and so kind of them. I love that they email detailed notes after each visit and are so responsive. Choosing Heal was one of the best choices we ever made--I truly cannot say enough good things about this office. THANK YOU to all of the folks there for providing such excellent service for our furry family members! read more

We love Heal so, so much. When we moved to Brighton a year and a half ago, we needed to find a new vet and after reading all the reviews, we went with Heal. Since then, we have been blown away by their amazing service. I have two cats. My more curious cat is obsessed with their cat waiting room. When you arrive, you and your cat get to hang out in a room by yourself that has toys, treats, and scratchers to get your cat comfortable. She loves it and explores all over. She also loved that the vet came in and sat on the floor with her and was so gentle and calm while examining her. My other cat is very personable but hates being held or confined. He had to go in during COVID, and they were able to call me while he was in there and let me know that he was doing great. They even got him into his crate way easier than I ever have. We are so grateful for their animal centered approach and welcoming environment. And the kicker is that it's very affordable. I expected this kind of care to be pricey, but it was similarly priced to our last (not so good) vet. I can't recommend Heal enough! read more

The team at Heal Veterinary Clinic is an incredibly talented and compassionate group. Dr Leef has been my 12 year old labs Doctor since we moved to the Boston area. Not only has she provided excellent care to resolve a few medical issues, but she's done an amazing job at helping me plan for the inevitable issues that come with senior dogs. I really appreciate the time that Dr Leef and the Heal team takes to talk with me about any concerns and all options so that I'm able to make informed decisions. I feel totally confident that my dog and I are in the best hands possible for veterinary care. I couldn't recommend Heal more. read more

See all

We have nothing but good things to say about our experience so far at Heal! Dr Kristie Mientka has been so warm, kind and helpful assisting us as we deal with post surgery care for our dog. She has made herself available over phone and email to answer any queries quickly and always follows up and checks in to see how we are doing. One morning she even made the effort to see our dog at the very last minute, before her morning appointments began as we had some concerns. It is a pleasure dealing with her and my mind is at ease knowing she is on hand to help us. I would definitely recommend Heal if you are in the Watertown area...or even if you're not, it's worth the drive! read more

I recently had the opportunity to take my two cats to Dr. Leef and her team. To say I am impressed is an understatement. Dr. Leef is intuitive, professional, empathetic, and very intelligent. My cats wildly misbehave at the vet, one of them trying to bite; the other a scratcher. But they were surprisingly calm at Heal. We were led to a cat-only room so they would not be stressed by the smell of dogs. Dr. Leef and her vet techs were calm and spoke softly. While there was a little noise from the cats, it was nothing like I experienced at every other vet I ever took them to. Fear-free is accurate, I truly don't think my cats were unusually scared. When we got home, there was no hiding for hours. If you have vet-shy cats, you will be happy with the atmosphere at Heal. And Dr. Leef will amaze you. She is the best veterinarian I have ever met in the Boston area. My cats are happy and play like kittens again. read more

It's hard for me to put into words just how wonderful Heal is. I first got in touch with them in September of 2018. My geriatric cat, Porki, had a number of health problems that were fairly normal for a cat his age: diabetes that I was trying to control through diet, chronic ear infections, and serious dental decay that made his upper canine teeth loose and uncomfortable. His old vet in Brighton straight up refused to see him unless I could pay cash up front for the visit and any medication / aftercare he might need, but couldn't give me any kind of even ballpark estimate for what that bill might come to. When I had gone to them in the past, they would more or less hold my cat hostage at the front desk while demanding that I pay $200+ for a simple exam and antibiotics, or $150 for a blood draw (not even a glucose curve). I simply couldn't afford to keep going to them, and their rudeness and honestly scorn made me feel ashamed to bring my cat in, even though I was doing everything I possibly could on my miserably $20k/year salary to take care of him in his old age. Not only that, but he hated that vet desperately; they were so flippantly aggressive with their exams that he made himself sick with anxiety every time we went, and often peed himself as I put him in his carrier. So I was at a loss for what to do when one of his canines became seriously loose. I wasn't sure I could afford to take him to his old, awful, surprise-pricing vet, so I called around to a few places in the Belmont / Watertown area and happened to stumble upon Heal. Not only could they see him that very day (despite the fact that he was a new patient), but they gave me a clear and straightforward price estimate upfront and worked with me to make sure that I could afford his care. When I brought him to his appointment, every single person -- from the receptionist, to the tech, to the vet herself -- was extraordinarily kind and gentle with both of us. Instead of chokeholding him on a cold, metal exam table to check him out (like our old vet), Dr. Kristie sat with him on the floor and played and talked with him as she did his examination. Once his tooth was taken care of and his aftercare made clear, Dr. Kristie worked with me to make a plan to start treating his diabetes with insulin, and assuaged all of my fears, both health-related and financial, about its administration. Porki and I made frequent visits to Heal over the next several months, and every single time, the place wowed me. I talked it up to friends with pets incessantly. Every single member of the staff was incredibly generous with their time and emotional energy; the place is spotless and beautifully and comfortably furnished; even Porki, who had put himself into a genuine panic every time he had had to go to his old vet, started looking forward to his vet trips. He would literally purr in the car on his way over, and he grew not only to trust but to love everyone there with whom he interacted. Right up until the end, when my boy developed GI lymphoma and had to ultimately put down, Heal came through for us in unbelievable ways. They were unfailingly reliable, and made time even for the silliest of questions with an enthusiasm and care that always felt sincere. Even on the tragic day that Porki was euthanized, the staff went above and beyond. They stayed an hour after closing to help us say our goodbyes; they never once rushed a decision or left us feeling unsupported or uninformed. They are the true and undisputed MVPs of pet care in Metro Boston, and you are going to make your and your pet's life so, so much better by going to them. They made us feel, every single time, like our pet was the only pet in the universe. I can't imagine the sheer emotional energy that goes into providing that sort of security, care, and support for all of their patients, but I hope everyone at Heal knows how deeply it's appreciated. read more

In December '18, my sweet kitty had to have extensive dental surgery. Being an anxious cat mom, I was paranoid about my 10 year old cat undergoing major surgery for the first time in her life, but the vets at Heal put me at ease throughout the entire process (before, during, after, etc). Thank you so much to everyone at Heal, my kitty is doing great and thriving. read more

i couldn't possibly be a bigger fan of dr. leef or her team at heal veterinary clinic. i got lucky enough to meet dr. leef years, ago, and have taken my pets to her ever since. she's smart, knowledgeable, kind, empathetic, generous with her time, and such a talented veterinarian. i am so pleased she has opened her own practice; i've already moved my crew over to her team's care at heal. over the years, dr. leef has helped me with a variety of pet care issues, from regular preventative care and the occasional stomach bug to referrals for behavioral issues in an age-ist puppy and neurological issues on a sweet, old pug. i have consistently been impressed with her ability to help me find the right solution to whatever shows up. i've been to the new space for regular appointments with my dogs, as well as for a first aid training that was fun and educational. we even got an opportunity to practice what we'd learned with the help of some very accommodating practice patients (who were terrific sports and clearly game to patiently let us try out our new skills on them). that heal makes these types of resources available to the community--and so soon after they open their doors--demonstrates a commitment to animal care and community education that goes far beyond anything i've seen elsewhere. i recently had a bit of a scare with one of my dogs, and dr. leef quickly got back to my message, despite it being after hours. she met me at the clinic, though it was already closed for the day, and helped me get my sweet girl some relief. it's hard to describe how grateful i am for that kind of care. as long as heal veterinary clinic and dr. leef are around, i'll happily be a client. dr. leef and her team are clearly dedicated to their community and their practice, and it shows in all they do. they go above and beyond, and i can't recommend them highly enough. read more

Dr. Leef and her team are beyond caring, kind and attentive. I could write a book about the practice and how thoroughly impressed I am with the Clinic as a whole. The staff is very responsive to any calls and emails; which eased angst when my puppy ate/chewed/destroyed several foreign objects etc. I felt I could rely on them for honest feedback and if they felt my pup needed to be seen, they got him in ASAP. They also would take the initiative to check in with me after any inquiry or visit to ensure my pup was doing okay, no matter how minor. Additionally, the clinic itself is clean and welcoming. Each exam room has comfy seating clean couches, toys etc. We just moved out of state, and sadly have to part ways - but I love this practice and wish Dr. Leef and team the very best in all future endeavors! Perhaps another practice in Rhode Island so we can come back to you!! read more

We have been so happy with the care Heal Vet has provided our dog since he was a just a few months old. They are responsive and thorough. The prices seem very reasonable. They are always pleasant and so happy to see our pup. Very highly recommend! read more

Dr. Amanda Leef is amazing! I came to learn about her new practice from my previous vet and am beyond thankful for the recommendation. Dr. Leaf is so nice, very thorough, and my fur baby Nola just adores her (and her staff)! Please check Heal Veterinary Clinic...you won't regret it! read more

Wonderful clinic. I went in based on the Yelp reviews, and wasn't disappointed. They are wonderful with my dog Spike. He isn't great with other dogs in these settings, and they're wonderful about that- he enters right into the examination room from the parking lot. They also let you pay right in the exam room, so there's no stress. They've very kind and understanding- it's clear they've seen it all, and never seem to face a situation they can't handle. They meet with the dogs on couches or get right on the floor with him, and are so kind- from the doctor to the vet techs, reception and so on- I haven't met anyone on staff who hasn't impressed me. And Spike loves them. Finally, they're understanding of the importance of balancing doing anything for your pet with the cost of vet care- they're incredibly transparent about costs and working with you to figure out what you need versus what you can do. We met with Dr. Kristie last week, and they followed up to make sure he was feeling better a few days later- an example of those little things that really make a difference. read more

After just moving into the area, HEAL was an incredible find for our pit mix Dennis. Even during the COVID19 crisis, HEAL was super accessible, incredibly caring and transparent in everything they did. Jamie at the front desk talked to us for over 15 minutes and helped get us in for a same day emergency visit. The whole team, front the front desk through Dr. Leef are totally wonderful and we can't speak highly enough. read more

My dog and I both love Heal Vet Clinic. Dr. Leef and her staff are kind and competent and the space is beautiful. We feel so lucky to have found Dr. Leef. read more

Dr. Leef has the great combination of both professional smarts and human empathy. During regular and acute care for two dogs, she has been an excellent partner in deciding care for my four legged family. She not only communicated different treatment options in a way that made clear the impact of each, but she was patient throughout many months of detailed questions as I sought to best understand the cancer my dog was fighting. She appropriately balanced realism and facts with optimism and hope. With my new pup, she's genuinely cared as if my pup was hers, and I would and have literally trusted her with my dog's life. I would recommend Dr. Leef for anyone who loves their pet and who wants to be an active participant in keeping their animal healthy. read more

This is a great, smart, caring, experienced and efficient group of animal lovers. And they have free pahking too! Upon my first visit, with my dogs, I immediately had a sense of confidence and trust in Dr. L. and her team. It's also great to support a locally owned business in the Cambridge - Watertown - Belmont area. read more