I just had a wonderful customer service experience. I made an appointment for my new puppy. I immediately received a call and provided additional info regarding my appointment request as I would be traveling overseas. I learned that I would need to go to another vet to have this done. The receptionist, Mia was extremely knowledgeable and provided me with a vet that could assist with the travel requirements. When we move back to the area I fully expect Highway Vet Hospital to be our new vet. read more

RESPONSE TO THE OFFICE MANAGER: You are rude and disrespectful and could benefit from customer service training! It's unfortunate that you are oblivious to the occurence that resulted in my removing Khai from this establishment! Now, instead of apologizing for your unprofessional conduct, you are attempting to CYA. Our conversation pertained to you discussing my private business in front of other customers. This was inappropriate! Everything else was resolved prior to Khai going to a room for treatment. Therefore, the concern had nothing to do with resolutions that uphold the policies and standards of the establishment. I suggest that you treat others with respect and adhere to best practices, if you expect customers who have spent thousand of dollars to remain. I am appalled that you had the audacity to try to CYA when you initiated the move! read more

reception and vets were so so friendly. they actually listened to my concerns abt my dog and made me feel heard. clean facility and thorough procedures. will be returning for future appointments. read more

I found Highway Veterinary the most unprofessional Veterinarian Hospital. The staff's lack of professionalism was so disappointing. The receptionist was rude with an attitude that lacked professionalism. The manager couldn't care less about working on training her staff to do a better job of communicating with patrons. Their prices are extremely high in comparison to other Veterinarian in the area. They need to also do a better job of cleaning their examination rooms. The triage experience was horrible. The nurse showed a lack of empathy for my sick dog. After a few minutes providing information to her about my dog I knew immediately this was not the place for my pet. Her mannerisms were disgusting. I thought what is wrong with her? Highway Veterinarian Hospital is not the place to take your pet if you want the best care for your pet then I suggest checking out other facilities with a better rating in the area. read more

The last negative review had me a little skeptical but I can absolutely say that was not my experience at all! EVERYONE we encountered were so nice and personable. Our appointment was at 9am we checked in and were seen within 5mins or less. They treated my baby (puppy) like their own and I have zero complaints. 10 out of 10 experience! read more

We no longer trust this vet. My wife spent thousands of dollars, but they failed to diagnose our senior cat's blindness. The cat's condition worsened, and a relative took her to this vet, who finally discovered she has cancer. We aren't happy. read more

I have lived all over the country thanks to the Army, and without a doubt Highway Veterinary Hospital has the worst customer service of any vet I have ever consulted. We showed up 10 minutes early for our 10:30 appointment and checked in via text as the signs in the parking lot instructed. The nurse responded that there were no available rooms and that they would notify us when we could come inside. We waited outside for 30 minutes. When it was 20 minutes past our appointment time, I texted again, and was again told that a room would open "soon". I requested that they cancel the appointment as it was already so far past the time and told them I was leaving. I said that I would find another provider because I don't care to do business with people who are so poorly organized. Almost immediately I received a text that a room was being cleaned. I ignored it, and received a call moments later. This is when the customer service went from being disappointingly bad to being downright unbelievable. The office manager tried to gaslight me, saying that we hadn't shown up for our 10:30 appointment. When I corrected her, she changed gears, saying that when we texted our arrival, that was the start of our appointment. She claimed that while we had been sitting outside waiting to be allowed in the building, that we had actually already started our appointment. The one she originally claimed we never showed up for, remember. The office manager continued trying to argue with me over what constituted the start of an appointment until I said that I refused to debate the point. It is their prerogative to provide care in the manner they deem fit, and it is my prerogative to decide to do business with someone else who can provide a level of service that I find appropriate, respectful, and professional. Forcing me to wait outside, being at least 30 minutes late for a scheduled appointment, then gaslighting me and arguing an absolutely ridiculous point with me are inappropriate, disrespectful, and unprofessional ways to conduct business. So congratulations, Highway Veterinary Hospital. You lost the business of a woman with five pets who shows up on time and pays her bills immediately, in full. You also won the Worst Customer Service in the Country medal. I recommend investing in seminars to boost communication skills among your nurses, and fire that godawful office manager. People don't like being stood up for an appointment, but they really don't like someone gaslighting them. read more

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You can read my prior review in 2018 - but nothing has changed; Highway is nothing but excellent service and great people. My extremely large 110lb (scary) German Shepherd was nothing but a big teddy bear and other practices would be too nervous to treat him. My German Shepherd, Duke has been put through the ringer in the last couple years. One day I returned home from work to find Duke not being able to use his rear legs, a quick call to Highway - they got me in immediately and referred me out to a specialist which added FOUR YEARS to his life! From (2) knee surgeries-TPLO, open leg wound, spine surgery, and a severe spine infection, the staff at Highway were there all the way. Recently, my wife and I had to put Duke to sleep due to the complications of a severe lung infection and leukemia. Prior to deciding what course of action is to be taken, I was given options, prices, and the outlooks for each course of action. And when it was time to say goodbye for the last time, I was surrounded by all the people that made his last few years of life THE BEST he could have asked for. Duke has been to this practice numerous times and was loved by all the staff and for a "big scary dog" that's all you can ask for is for staff to treat him with the respect provide the care he deserves. I would highly recommend this practice to anyone with any age pet, regardless of their size, or temperament their staff is trained to handle them all. read more

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The price of having my dog's teeth cleaned was equivalent to buying a used car. $4k. I had 5 dogs at the time and nearly had a panic attack. Was told it would be more of a molar had to be pulled. This was my first and last visit to this vet. Luckily I was able to find a reasonably priced vet where I wouldn't have to mortgage my house to get my animals the healthcare they need. Only gave a second star cause they were nice. You should be ashamed of charging that kind of money. I've owned 20 animals in my life and this is the first time I've experienced this kind of gouging. read more

This Hospital has the nicest people ever. As my dog was transitioning in life, I called this place. First they squeezed me in as they were booked until the end of June. Dr. Jim has to be the most compassionate and caring doctor ever. He took the time to talk to me. He took the time to explain to me what was going and on the day it was time for my dog to be euthanized he actually talked me through it. The nurse Jesse and the front office administrator were just as nice and friendly. During the pandemic it was good to know there are people that cared and still allowed me to spend my last moments with my dog. The only thing I wished was, I would have taken my dog there sooner, I would have taken my dog often to him like once or twice a year. I loved my dog very much and I'm happy that in his last nice days they treated him the same way. THANK YOU! I love you sparky..... read more

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A separate room for sick and well dogs would be smart. I don't want to sit there with my dog, and have other dogs come up to me and they're sick. Ew. They facility is actually old as dirt. You can smell the generations in there. Lol Also, not only are the prices very high, but they act like their time is so precious, yet will have you waiting at least 30 minutes or more to be seen. If I go back, I'm not waiting more than 15 minutes to be seen. I'm walking out and they will miss out on all of that money that they were going to charge. read more

I had some trouble here.. I won't bother because they rectified it. Two bottom lines - EXPENSIVE and Triage needs Work (identifying at the front door when your case is an emergency and behaving in a manner that shows you recognize it and are equipped to take ownership of the worried pet owner's problem). I ended up leaving to go to an emergency vet hospital in Rockville that I love, and they called me back while I was enroute to say they could help me. As I stated, it was resolved but because these are medical situations, trust can be easily established or broken... I might go just because they are close.. But I doubt if I will return. read more

If your reading reviews you see a lot of "five star facilities" this one is truly among the top. They see ALL surrounding area working K9s and have for several years. They have a great waiting area and a wall full of awards. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and caring of you and your animals situation. They see all sizes of animals and are not afraid of the "big scary dogs". They have written basic standards of care and will not skip steps in order to make more money off you. ----Today 18 June; I was a walk-in for a second opinion, my "big scary GSD" was treated so well I am speechless. He received a full physical, tests, x-rays, feeding info, supplements info, a full plan of care, some treats and a lot of love. -I was offered a books/pamphlets to read the information -I was shown several models of that same information -I was also given a verbal detailed description and care plan before I left out the door. Needless to say I am extremely please with this Vet/Staff/Facility and you would be too. read more

I'm so lucky to have Highway Veterinary Hospital as my dogs vet. It's convenient and the staff is always super friendly and helpful. We never wait more than 5 minutes before we are called and we all leave happy. The nurses are more than helpful in providing an explanation of costs before your visit and will help you stay on budget as well. read more

I know the other reviews have been wonderful, but our experiences have been anything but positive. The practice is expensive, and the office does not follow up as they promise to do. We first took our chihuahua puppy here in March 2012 when he became suddenly ill (shaking, trouble walking.) The staff promptly diagnosed hypoglycemia. The dog was given fluids and antibiotics, and held overnight. The bill was over $1,000. He recovered quickly, for which we were grateful, but the bill came as a surprise and not a cost that was discussed at the time of treatment. Because he was ill, the staff advised against giving him the immunizations that were due, and told us that they would follow up with a reminder in a few weeks. They never did. When I called, first thing in the morning, to make an appointment for our puppy to get his shots, the staff reprimanded me because they were "overdue." I explained the situation from the spring, and that the office hadn't contacted us to make the followup appointment, which is why I was calling. I also requested a list of shots that would be given, and an estimate for the bill. The receptionist told me she would have a nurse call me back with an estimate that day. I didn't get a return call. When the nurse called the following day, she said the cost would range between $435 and $508. She also said the dog would need a second round of shots in a few weeks, which would be $250. The nurse also made mention of the vaccinations being "overdue." I understand that there are costs associated with pet ownership. However, these prices seem high. I also didn't appreciate the staff making mention of the shots being behind schedule, as it was their lack of follow up that led to that situation. Bottom line: We are getting pet insurance for the puppy, and finding another vet. read more

We have been to this vet twice. The first is when we moved to the area and someone reccommended this office. We just needed to have annual vaccinations done. They were prompt when we arrived and gave him a clean bill of health. However, they are terribly expensive. I have owned animals my entire life so I know they costs associated with them. Just to have an exam is over $60. We of course had the vaccinations done and went on our merry way. The second time we came back, our Greyhound dislocated his toe. This is very common with the breed and we just wanted them to splint the dislocated toe. The doctor came in and looked at the toe (which was dislocated at the time of visit), they didn't even pop it back into place and/or splint it, nor did they take an xray. They went right to amputation. They said because it was the best and basically only option. They gave us pain meds that they wanted us to purchase there vs writing a prescription. So not only did they quote us $1500+ to amputate the toe (which is the last option per the second opinion we had) they were going to make us pay basically double just to get the pain meds there. We left without any splint or bandage or the doctor putting the toe correctly back into place. This place just wants to make money off the clients. read more

Highway Vet is the best. Everyone is friendly and truly loves their furry clients. Dr. Jim leads the way and the staff follows. It is welcoming and they always have a candle burning. I bought two yesterday. My favorite is Evergreen Holly. I have been a pet parent with Highway Vet for over 25 years. read more

An absolutely wonderful Vet Clinic!! If you are looking for a vet, this is the place to go. My wife and I had issues with a previous vet, and a friend recommended we try Highway Vet, especially Dr. Elise. My wife and I made an consultation appointment for the close of business one day, and Dr. Elise stayed about an hour after closing talking to us about our pets and our concerns (based on experiences at the other vet). We have been with Highway vet for about 2 years now, and there is nothing negative about the office, the staff, or the care they provide. Doctors Jim, Elise, and Kortney are all fantastic. The office is always clean, the waiting area is spacious, and, they never seem to overbook and keep you waiting too long. I think the longest I've ever waited to be seen there was 15 minutes beyond my appointment time, and that happens very rarely. One other bonus of Highway Vet - they are BBB Accredited with an A+ Rating. read more

I cannot say enough great things about this facility and the staff. We have been going here for over 10 years. Our dogs have grown up with this facility and some have bid their goodbyes here. We are now on our 5th and 6th dogs. All were taken care of by Highway Vet. The skill and knowledge of the staff is beyond reproach. Their compassion and thoughtfulness make them feel absolutely part of the family. We will never take our pets any place else. If you are looking for the best, stop looking. THIS IS IT!!!! read more

You want the land of high prices? Then go here. As others have pointed out, you might find yourself getting suggestions for treatment your pet does not require. More money for the practice! Many, so many of Santa's little helpers running around the place. This inflates the overhead expense. Business savvy left the station when it comes to this place. read more

Prices are unreasonably expensive. Most often the recommended services are left without explanation of necessity and indeed turn out to be unnecessary for your pet. Dr. Jim (owner) comes across as a used car salesman and takes advantage of the knowledge disparity between staff and client, failing to explain his thought process and proceeding without caution. I felt bulldozed and walked over. Will not return. read more

The team at Highway Veterinary Hospital is exceptional! We've trusted them with our pets for 10+ years. The care we receive is always personal and thorough. Would highly recommend them for your pet. read more

Outstanding care from Highway Veterinary Hospital. All of the staff there are loving and caring. I can't imagine going anywhere else to have my fur babies taken care of. My husband and I will continue to bring all of our fur babies here. I also think it's sweet that after we hand an appointment, they call to check on Jemma and Yoda to make sure everything is going well. read more

The staff here is amazing. Very knowledgeable and super friendly. They have been great to work with during the pandemic by providing a safe environment and making me feel comfortable bringing my pet here. Always courteous and they take the time to listen and don't rush you. read more

I really believe that God drove me to this place. Fantastic staff from the front desk girls, the nurses, Dr Jim and Dr Leslie Meadows!. My dog had an unusual bump in her nose with no cause apparently. They treated us like family. I felt so safe!!! They will be my pet's vet from now on!!! God drove me to this place, definitely! Coming from another state and knowing nobody in the area, I was really guided to this wonderful place! Highly recommended!!! read more

I am new to the area. They got my sick kitty an appointment on short notice on a Saturday. Everyone was great with me and him. They understood my need to be near my man and that I was upset he was sick. They really were great with me too. There are 2 reasons I am not giving 5 stars. First, they did a lot of the exam with him out of the room. I am a nervous cat mommy and prefer to have the exams run with me there. Second, I really needed to get a payment plan. The bill was high and I told them I couldn't afford it unless I have a payment plan. They told me after all the tests were run that I couldn't have a payment plan and I spent my rent money for the bill. I wish I had known ahead of time I couldn't have a payment plan. read more

There is no finer animal care facility in this area. The entire staff is attentive, expert, compassionate, and thoughtful. These are hard-working, wonderful people. From the tiny beginnings of our new pets' lives to some heart-wrenching farewells, Highway Vet has been there for us again and again and again. Our entire experience with Highway Vet has been nothing but stellar. We are so thankful for their care. read more

Truly phenomenal! A month ago we relocated with all of our pets to Bowie. Finding Highway Veterinary Hospital was a wonderful relief after the stress of the move on our animals because this facility is not only warm, caring, friendly, professional, courteous, conscientious, and thorough, but also fully-staffed, convenient, knowledgeable, and reputable...lucky for our companions the list goes on and on! Thanks so much for everything guys, "Kitty" and "June" certainly appreciate you :) read more

This is by far the best veterinary center I've ever been to. I have yet to encounter a person on the staff that is not extremely friendly and caring. My dogs absolutely love going here which is a testament to the great care they receive. I am so grateful to have found this wonderful facility. read more

We had mostly positive experiences here with our cat and our dog for the last three years. However, a recent experience has drastically changed our experience. My dog had a significant limp in her back leg so we brought her in; an examination indicated that she likely tore her CCL. The doctor recommended rest and pain medication/anti-inflammatory medication for 14 days. The doctor did not recommend x-rays due to the nature of the tear but we openly said that they could do whatever diagnostic imaging was required. They also gave us numbers to call for surgery, but after calling the referrals, we realized surgery was far out of our budget (a very invasive $4000 procedure + 8 weeks rest + physical therapy) and began exploring other options, such as orthopedic braces. We dropped the paperwork off at Highway Vet Clinic a week before the appointment and they agreed to complete and fax it immediately. However, when we called a week later to follow up before the knee brace appointment, they had not completed or faxed the required paperwork. We talked to 3 different people and 2 said the paperwork had been faxed, but it hadn't because the doctor who did the exam was on leave. They openly lied about completing and faxing the paperwork. In order to complete the form, they said that we could bring our dog in anytime the following day to do diagnostic imaging to confirm the diagnosis, so we brought her in first thing in the morning and rather than following their word of completing the imaging right away, they treated her as a "drop in" and kept her isolated for 1.5 hours without seeing a doctor or giving us any sort of call to keep us abreast of what was going on. When we tried calling there was no answer and when we returned to check in on her, they avoided coming out to talk to us. We asked for her records and the dog to come back out so we could take her somewhere else and it took them another 10-15 minutes to bring the dog back out. Then, in reading the paperwork, they documented that WE declined diagnostic imaging due to sedation at the first appointment which is simply not true, we told the doctor to do whatever was necessary to know what was wrong with the leg. Now, we had to cancel our knee brace appointment (with a cancellation fee) and have a very hurt dog. This place does care about animals, seeing as they took her and planned to have her locked in a room until the doctor could do an exam that we had already received two weeks prior! They took advantage of us, lied to us, and falsely documented the visit. How long would they have kept the dog isolated in there before seeing her? Why did she suddenly need x-rays when the doctor originally said she wouldn't? Why was the documentation inaccurate? The worst part of all was the lack of communication and compassion. Rather than be a money mill, they should really be more compassionate to pets. read more

Paws down, it's the best place to take your pet!!! I drive nearly an hour to take my cats there...the doctors, techs, and staff are amazing!! Professional, caring, and so personable!!! read more

If you and your animals are lucky enough to live in the Annapolis area this is the only place you should be taking them for medical care. Dr Elise and the rest of the crew are absolutely incredible. They care about your animals as much as you do and only want the best for them. They are patient, kind and understanding about us overly obsessive pet parents, not to mention on the top off their games. Take your animals here, they will love you even more for it, guaranteed. read more

Dr. Jen, thank you for the very considerate discussions for Shani's procedure and for the follow up calls after her procedure. Many thanks to the nursing staff and office staff - for follow up calls and for answering my many questions. Recommendation: we did not expect the E-collar for the recovery at home : a mini session on E-collar on and off using the Feline or K-9 who will wear it and what to expect (for anyone who never had to use or forgot how to use an E-collar :-)) We actually ended up trimming the E-collar shorter for Shani and it works much better for eating and drinking : kitty litter use with the E-collar is a different story yet ... Again Shani team: thank you very much for exceptional care and we are looking forward to our follow up in two weeks. read more

I am pleased to recommend Highway Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Peterson and his entire staff are consummate professionals dedicated to providing our pets with uncompromising medical care. Their love of animals is apparent in their physical treatment and gentle touch. The staff provide complete examinations, diagnose the problem, and provide the pet owner with a thorough explanation of the care that will be provided to the owner. Dr. Peterson and his staff go out of their way to provide genuine empathy comfort, and assistance to worried owners. read more

Competent team and compassionate too. We've been going here since 1999 and feel at home with every visit. Our miniature poodle, Shaunti, is a poster "fur kid" for clean teeth and is always treated like the cutie she is. All the vets and the techs and the support staff are welcoming and caring. It is an absolutely marvelous vet.. read more

This is your WARNING! So my Maltese has intermittently been bringing up his food. I called the Vet to speak with them to see if I could explain the symptoms and if I should be alarmed. No one returned my call. I waited several hours until almost closing time and called back to set up an appt. since no one called back. I got an appt. for the next morning. (Hustle #1) Apparently they didn't want to talk over the phone they wanted me to make an appt. Next day...I explained to Dr. Elise what he's been experiencing. She checked all his vials,etc. took him out and examined him. She came back and said everything looked Normal. She continued to check his tummy (squeezing, rubbing, pinching, etc.). She then says it looks like he doesn't want me to touch his tummy like he may be sore or something. So I think it's best if we complete an X-Ray, fecal exam, and cPL test. The way they do things is they come back afterwards with a cost breakdown on what your bill is before they complete anything. I almost swallowed my tongue but I obliged anyway. Didn't want to curse and scare her. The exam took 10 mins. she returned and WaLaaaaaaaa! Nothing found!!!! As I expected. He was clear as water. He looks extremely healthy! BUT I'm not finished yet. Dr. Elise explains that in cases like his they recommend that I purchase this Gastrointestinal Canine food for him to eat for 5 days along with these 2 different pills. And we'll be right back..... She returns with another balance sheet that adds another $150. Binding my total to 598.98 now. Oh and we noticed you called earlier and he needs a Heartworm refill. So that's been added...new balance is 636.36 I was so flushed I had to walk out and have my husband take care of everything else...b/c he is my voice of reason. I was livid to say the least. Lets not get it twisted. I totally understand there are cost associated with owning a pet and caring for the pet, but I feel like this office preys on your emotions and your "ability" to pay. When my husband and I walked in I felt like they assessed us and decided we weren't walking out with just a $63.00 exam fee! I had so many emotions running through me it's shameful. My instinct said we were being hustled. It was interesting how when we were at the counter paying the bill another customer walked in and walked straight to the back. Hence, they didn't want the new customer to hear what we were paying or me go off (which I decided it was no need for). Find someone you can trust that won't price gauge you for NOTHING! I'll allow myself to calm down first and call to have his records sent to me so I can find another Vet. Again, this is your warning. I can't believe I was hustled by a dern Vet!!!! ***Pet parent client for almost 3years.*** read more

James Peterson, DVM - Highway Veterinary Hospital - Bowie, MD -- At first I thought this was a great place to take my GSD puppy . Little did I know. I got my puppy at 8 weeks of age. He has had his first set of shots, and i brought him in to Dr. James for his next series of shots. He told me that puppies need a series of shots every 3 weeks untill they are 6 months old. I paid $400 EACH TIME for the vaccines. I spent over $2000 for the shots. I later called my breeder from which i purchaced my puppy and the breeder couldnt believe his ears. He said the puppy only needed one more vaccine, and the rabbies shot later. He also said vacciences should NOT COST MORE then $15 a piece. Which would make it max about $75. My breeder also told me that theyve been getting a lot of calls like this regarding vets charging so much since the economy went bad. At 6 months old Dr. James P told me my dog needs to have his baby canine teeth pulled, otherwise his adult canines would grow in crooked and need to be caped or removed or put braces on them. I found this strange. Ive had dogs all my life and never heard anything like this. I took my dog to get a second oppinion with a dental vet specialist. Who right of the bat told me that no such thing can be diagnosed with out xrays! Which Dr. James P did NOT do. The specialist also told me that it is common for dogs to have canines grow in croocked but ONLY in SMALL breeds. He said it was extremly rare for this to happen in large breeds such as GSD's. He also added that even removing the baby teeth would have NO EFFECT of where or how the adult teeth would grow in. Wich Dr. James P told me "once we pull out the baby teeth the adulth teeth will find their way to the whole where the baby teeth were and automatically grow in right". He wanted to do this procedure as quickly as possible because his adulth teeth were already coming in. When I told the specialist this he said, "He just wants to pull his teeth out and you will think that he solved a problem that never existed in the first place. His baby teeth will fall out no matter what. So by pulling them out he is not doing any harm to the dog. But at the same time hes making you think he made the dog better" . This made perfect sence to me, ESPECIALLY since Dr. James P wanted to charge me $600 for this procedure. I wanted what was best for my dog. But i later realized Dr. James P used me and cheated me. He knew that i got my GSD from a reputable GSD show dog breeder and thought i would pay anything. Save your MONEY!!! get SECOND, THIRD oppinions. Dont fall pray to their scam. They feed on the lack of knowledge people have about vet medicine and use it to charge outrageous prices!!! NEVER AGAIN!! read more

I have been taking my 5 cats to Highway Veterinary for 3 years. I have gotten excellent service from all! Dr. Jim and the other doctors and staff are friendly and efficient. Highly recommend! read more

First, I'm sorry this is so long-- I completely agree with the majority of the posts here. Highway Vet is the only vet I will take my rescue mix Sophie. We usually see Dr. Kourtney or Dr. Elise, but Dr. Jim is great as well! What I really appreciate is the fact that all three of these vets come from different backgrounds, yet do not hesitate to confer with one another about a patient to really get a good feel for what is going on. For example, Sophie was having some major respiratory problems last summer, frequently sneezing so violently that she would hit her muzzle on the floor or the wall, furniture, etc. I rushed her to Highway Vet when she got a terrible nose bleed after hitting her nose on the deck. They took her in right away and took the time to address her issues, yet include me in the decision making process at the same time. Turns out she has developed severe allergies in her golden years-now we both take Claritin when spring rolls around and Dr. Elise gave some good suggestions for changing the environments she is exposed to in order to decrease medications and make Soph comfortable as well. They gave me a breakdown of the cost before they started, so I knew what I was dealing with (and how to prepare my wallet). Once diagnostic tests were completed all three vets took a look at the results and then conferred with me so that I could make a decision. Since Sophie is an older dog and has had recurrent health issues, we are frequent fliers at this hospital. They know her when she walks through the door (they actually greet her before they greet me-and I love that!) Dr. Kourtney always sits on the floor and talks to Sophie on her level and gives her kisses, loves and belly rubs before beginning her exam, and it clearly makes her more comfortable. Dr. Elise is great at addressing behavioral issues and I respect her because she does not hesitate to advocate on behalf of an animal, even if it ticks the human off. I know this because I have seen it myself, and a close friend that actually works at Highway Vet says the same thing. When I have been in for a visit they ALWAYS call to follow up and check on her. In fact, one of the nurses called me last night to inquire about Sophie and it had been two weeks since my last visit! I almost had no idea what they were talking about at first! I love this practice and really could not see myself going anywhere else. I'm sorry for the people who have had a bad experience, because this is a great place to take your furry children HOWEVER, the only reason that I did not award five stars in this review is that they are very expensive. Even the friend I know that works there admits that their prices are high. And I hate that they charge you for follow-up visits. There have been several times that I considered leaving the practice because of this lone issue. BUT, they always give you a price estimate beforehand. I have never felt that they pressured me into unnecessary tests or medications. In fact, with my most recent visit with Sophie, Dr. Kourtney has been very conservative about starting Sophie on a medication without trying other remedies first. Also, it has been my experience (and I've had lots of them) that if you ask to break up the payments, they are willing to work with you. They don't want you to delay care of your animal because you're worried about the up front cost. I haven't found that at any other vet that I've been to. I am sorry that there are few people who have had less than positive experiences with Highway Vet, because I honestly feel like it was probably a fluke. I highly recommend purchasing pet health insurance (I use trupanion) because it can really help with costs. Just make sure that you get the plan best for you. read more

You don't go into veterinary medicine unless you are compassionate and love animals, at least in my experience. Highway Vet Hospital is no different, but what makes them so wonderful (and why I drive from Alexandria VA to Bowie, 45 minutes in case you were wondering) is the quality of service. When we first went there over a year ago, we received a welcome packet with everything from area pet sitters and emergency clinics, to magnets and pencils. The office is warm and friendly and every nurse is caring and knowledgeable. Drs Jim and Elise are fantastic. They take the time to ensure that you really understand your pet's condition and even print out pertinent information to take home. I will happily pay for extra gas to commute and make sure our pets get the best care possible. Now the cat's appreciation of a long car ride is another story... :) read more