Somehow my dog was given a Gabapentin prescription which is a medication for seizures, anxiety, and (maybe) pain. Gabapentin is not a drug approved by the FDA for dogs. An extremely common side effect of Gabapentin in a dog is confusion and wobbly walking. I took my dog to the Norbeck Animal Clinic because of these side effects, and the vet I got on that particular day was bad. That vet decided that the problem was a cognitive disorder and thought the Gabapentin would cure it (which is not what Gabapentin does). She also prescribed clindamycin for meningitis. Clindamycin is not recommended for meningitis (at least in humans), and she had no reason to say that it was meningitis except for the wobbly walk. (I do know that medical doctors never prescribe medications until they test for the disease.) After three weeks my dog was in really bad shape, and I was informed that the dog should be put down. Fortunately I was able to make enough sense of what the vet was trying to do, and I stopped giving my dog Gabapentin, and he had a total recovery in less than two days. There are so many vets in the Norbeck Animal Clinic. I don't know how informed all of the vets are, but I now wouldn't trust any of them. I feel very lucky that my dog survived Norbeck Animal Clinic. read more

Great job with providing excellent services to diagnose and surgically remove the growth on our cat's hip. Look forward to getting his staples out in two weeks. Also, special thanks to the staff for their quick help calling 911 when the pets owner almost fainted in the office. read more

Norbeck Animal Clinic - My cat had a golf ball fatty tumor removed off his hip before it affected his movement. Now the fur has grown back and playing. - Veterinarians Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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We brought our grand-dog in to Norbeck Animal Clinic and were very pleased with everyone there. They calmed our pup's nerves as well as ours and explained everything that was happening. We highly recommend!! read more

This is the best clinic. They saved us thousands of dollars on a surgery by helping us find a non profit that could take care of a growth in one of one cats ears when we couldn't afford the 5-7k that had been quoted at other places. They didn't stop until they helped us find a path forward. read more

We had an incredible first visit at Norbeck after learning about the animal clinic from a colleague. They were patient and kind and took their time to answer every question and provide information we needed before we even knew we needed it. It felt a bit like mind reading! It was wonderful. We were especially grateful to Becky, Dr Ivanov and the full vet tech team for being so thorough and accommodating despite our anxiety for a first visit with our two pups after some terrible experiences elsewhere. They genuinely care about the pets and it really shows. Especially when the vet sits on the floor to administer the test because your pup is scared! We will absolutely be coming back again and again. Thank you!! read more

Norbeck Animal Clinic - Pups - Veterinarians Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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norbeck animal clinic is awesome. from the first person u see coming inside the door at the front desk from the last time the doctor or technician comes in the room andwith final thoughts or instructions/advice every one there really do make you and ur pup feel comfortable and right at home. I'd recommend them to anyone In Montgomery countyhands down nicest staff and I used to work for a vet. he was horrible to the staff. anyway glad I found norbeck! read more

Completely inept and unresponsive! My dog was experiencing bladder issues. We were visiting from out of town and we couldn't wait to return to our primary care veterinarian in another state. There were multiple potential causes so we had to bring her back a couple times to get a true diagnosis, once we could exonerate the initial diagnosis. This was to be expected with illnesses especially in pets. No issue there. The issue arose when we came back for our second visit. Her condition hadn't improved enough which prompted us to take x-rays of the area in question. Barely saw a doctor, the technician took 1 x-ray and said all looked good: nothing there to see. We never got to see the x-ray ourselves, so we moved on to other potential causes. When we noticed still marginal improvement we took her to our primary vet upon returning home. We retook x-rays and very clearly could see large bladder stones. We had been chasing different diagnoses for over a month because Norbeck didn't do a thorough reading of the initial x-ray. Money wasted and my poor dog was in pain for a month dealing with this! We later learn it's customary to do at least 2 x-rays to make sure you can see from multiple angles so you don't miss stuff like this. When we learned this we asked for Norbeck clinic to send the records to our primary vet with the x-rays. We contacted them at least 3 times asking them to send the files, which they apparently were having difficulty doing (not sure why). Literally had to sit on the phone with them to make sure this got done properly. When we finally saw the x-ray they took, even the 1 view they took DID show questionable signs of bladder stones. My dog underwent surgery this week to get these removed, but so much time and money was wasted chasing other causes because of their negligence! This place is the worst. read more

Noel is a jewel. What a fine young man. Always happy to see him. He trimmed my kittens' claws. Have gotten nothing but good care from Dr. Gonzales. Haven't worked with any other vet there. read more

Quick and efficient. I feel confident in the way they will care for my dog and in the advice they provide me.

My 13 year old Springer Spaniel has had an ear infection for over 6 years. (half of her life!) 4 Vets have seen her and tried to treat it but failed. I had just given up and taken it as a chronic problem that would never be resolved. Dr. David Tuthill was seeing her for a laundry list of other issues and he worked his magic on everything including the ear infection. I so wish I'd brought her to him so many years ago! He also suggested some natural remedies that NO one else ever has. I had fish oil prescribed but her stomach wouldn't tolerate it. So she had no replacement until David prescribed instead fresh salmon for dinner twice a week! She LOVES it! I wish I'd been doing that for her for years. And he prescribed Fage plain yogurt for her tummy. I thought i'd have to doctor it up with broth but she eats it like it's ice cream and it works. I am SO SOSOooooo happy with Dr. Tuthill!!!!! read more

Norbeck Animal Clinic - Thank you, Dr. Tuthill from a very happy Doggy named Kairi! - Veterinarians Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Each veterinarian and each vet tech at Norbeck Animal Clinic treats me and my cats like family. I've been taking my cats here for over 10 years and now these old cat ladies :) are 17 years old. As maladies due to their age start to affect them, Norbeck Animal clinic keeps me informed on how I can keep them as healthy and comfortable as possible. I've moved out of the immediate area and still make the trek back to Norbeck Animal Clinic because this veterinary practice is the only one I trust with my fur-babies. read more

Exceptionally kind staff and providers who are very thorough with their care. We have been taking our pet here for many years and know that she is in great hands! They always call to check in on her whenever there is an issue. read more

I switched to your clinic after more than a decade with another vet office, and after three visits to Norbeck, I'm SO impressed. Your communications are excellent, and you clearly care deeply about the pets you care for - and their "moms and dads," too! read more

Forcing your clients to wait outside in cold vehicles while you take hours to see them is ridiculous. What makes your time so much more valuable than mine? Why are you not allowing pet owners accompany their pets in Dec 2022? When I arrived ON TIME and asked to come inside, I was told by your RUDE staff that I would have to wait a completely undetermined amount of time in the parking lot in my car until a room opened up that I was allowed to enter. Insane! I was on time - I took the afternoon off work for this appt - and yet was told I would have to wait 10 minutes to one hour to be seen! My father is going through cancer treatment at Sibley Hospital and their oncology department is less strict with their covid policy than your veterinary clinic! Your staff was rude and unhelpful, and I will write my review on Google and wherever else I can find. I wasted an entire afternoon on your total nonsense. To have big red signs on all of your doors saying Employees Only is beyond insane. read more

I have been taking my 3 cats (two of whom are both 21-years-old... ancient!) to Norbeck Animal Clinic for their entire lives. Three times over those many years, 2 of my cats have been attacked by some unknown animal, nearly losing their lives, but Dr. Gonzalez pulled them through each time with incredible care. Also, I appreciate that there is a separate cat exam room that can be accessed through it's own entrance. The entire staff at NAC is incredibly caring and know my cats by name. They are such an integral part of the entire team. I can't recommend Norbeck Animal Clinic highly enough. read more

Dr Gonzales is very good at explaining my cats' health issues and answering any questions I have. Noel is a great vet tech. The office staff is friendly and competent. read more

I like the attention of all tve start, but Dr González, provista a very caring and proffesional attention, i highly recommend him

Dr. Gonzalez and his staff (David) were awesome. They explained what was being done to our cat step by step. If we didn't understand something they took the time to explain it in simple terms. Dr. Gonzales made a few suggestions and our cat's health is already improving. I would highly recommend Norbeck Animal Clinic to my family and friends. Thank you. read more

The Vets and the staff are extremely competent and this week Dr. Tuthill's diagnosis and treatment plan literally saved my dog's life. This could have been an entirely different outcome as the problem was complex and I am immensely grateful for everyone on this exceptional team! Bravo!! read more

Everything about Norbeck Animal Clinic is first rate from the desk staff to the veterinary techs to the vets. We feel blessed to have it located so close to us. read more

Hard-working staff and responsive doctors make this one of the best clinics. They treat your pet like a family member, and provide detailed information about any problems, as well as treatment alternatives. read more

Great service and staff. Very supportive of my cat and me. We just got through some tough times. Could not have done it without Dr Gonzalez and staff. read more

Used to be good, but rude, unhelpful, and greedy lately. Try to sell you prescription drugs there instead of giving you a prescription that would let you buy the medicine at half the price at a pharmacy. read more

I've been a client of this clinic for ten years - they have cared for my dogs and cats with professionalism, wisdom and deep compassion. Dr. Castellanos is remarkable, and the staff are part of my extended family. When my 15 year old dog passed away, I was given great consideration and care - it was a deeply sad, but treasured experience. I didn't hesitate to stay in contact, and indeed they helped me adopt two wonderful kittens and found a wonderful puppy that is now mine. I cannot recommend them highly enough! read more

Our dog is never apprehensive about visiting the vet. She bounces out of the car, in a happy way when we arrive at Norbeck Animal Clinic -- this, in spite of ailments she has had since we adopted her 10 months ago. The attention and treatment is always thorough and done in a very caring way. We like both Dr. Tuthill and Dr. Gonzalez. Both are great at explaining clearly what treatment they recommend, why, and what we can expect during her recovery. read more

We have been taking our dog here mainly because of Dr.Ivan C. He was outstanding,also put us at ease. They now have dif.veterinarians working. They run a good basic clinic to keep your animal healthy. They are caring and flexible with reasonable rates. If you want a full service practice that does its own labs on site and has tons of expensive equipment , there are clinics like that in the area. This is not a fancy showcase. It depends on what you want, what you are willing to pay, and how severely ill your pet is.I can recommend them, they are caring and knowledgeable. Remember this is Silver Spring, Not NW DC . read more

As long-time clients of Norbeck Animal Clinic, I continue to be impressed by the quality of care. Everyone truly cares about the pets. Also, I appreciate Dr. Tuthill calling after Charlie's procedure to review everything. It feels very personal which is exceptional. We have been clients since the early 1980's when we had our first dog. Since then, we are now up to #4-all cared for by Norbeck Animal Clinic. Our dogs are family members and we only want the best for them!!! read more

Our three dogs have been treated at Norbeck since they were puppies (13 years ago) and they have always received excellent care. They have had numerous health issues and Drs. Tuthill and Gonzalez cared for them each time with patience and extensive technical knowledge. They have called me after hours to discuss the issue. I wouldn't take my dogs to any other vet. read more

I trust Norbeck Animal Clinic because of the care and concern they show for my dog and me. The veterinarians and all staff are always willing to listen. I really appreciate their preventative approach to patient care. I am grateful for the processes they put in place to continue to serve my dog during the pandemic. read more

I'm very upset that my collie's stomach was shaved when she was groomed yesterday. I wasn't called to give permission for shaving and wasn't told when I picked her up. The rest of her coat looked normal, so I didn't see that she was shaved until I got back home. When I came in to talk to them about it, they said the Grooming Notes stated that she was heavily matted on her stomach. That isn't true. She's a very fluffy dog, but her stomach has the least hair of any portion of her body, and I completely brushed out her stomach area a few weeks ago. She LOVES going outside and loves playing in the snow. She won't be able to enjoy winter this year. She went outside several times this morning, tried to lie in the grass, and immediately got back up. After several tries, she gave up and came back inside. read more

Norbeck Animal Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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They've come very close to killing one of our cats twice in the past 18 months. My family has brought our pets to this vet for the past 30 years or so, but they've seriously declined in the past 5 years or so. One of my elderly cats is on thyroid medication, and within the past 18 months the vet has given us the wrong medication for him TWICE. We didn't notice the medicine was wrong until he could barely walk and almost died--not only was it the wrong medicine, it was a dosage meant for a a dog 5x his size and they overdosed him. He almost died. They were slightly apologetic, but made the exact same mistake with the next batch of medicine they gave us for him. Once is a mistake, we moved on after that, but twice is careless and unacceptable, and we haven't gone back since. The vets and vet techs are condescending and rude, and they all push all kinds of unnecessary and expensive treatments on all their patients. They inflate the prices so much. We've switched to Wheaton Animal Hospital and are SO happy with the new vet! read more

In the past I've wanted to give at least 10 stars to Norbeck, as I've been going to them for over 10 years. Started with Dr. Mancino and when he left/retired continued getting the same excellent care from Dr. Ivanov Castellanos. I trusted both of them implicitly. Dr. Castellanos has essentially now left Norbeck, although he is still the owner and comes back a couple/few times a year for a finite period of time, but he has left the clinic in the hands of two relatively new vets, who I really don't like very much, or trust. When Ivanov said something was something he was sure/thorough in his diagnosis. The two vets there now tell me - well maybe it could be this or it could be that or we could try this or let's wait and see if this - and they don't know my dogs at all, one of whom is old and with a variety of ailments. She appears to be getting worse but neither of the vets has suggested blood tests, an x-ray, or any other diagnostic tests. They are young and I guess most of the animals they see were patients of Dr. Castellanos. I am losing trust in them and I hate to write this but I don't want someone to start out fresh there and think they are getting the best possible diagnosis. read more

I initially brought my first dog here based on positive reviews and word of mouth. The technician who met with us, I believe Rachel, was fantastic and knowledgable. When I came back for another booster for my pup, they were clearly overbooked, but my dog and I patiently waited. The vet, Dr. Wuerhl (spelling) came to visit us in the waiting room. Another technician came out to give my pup his shot, and after he was injected informed me of what it was -- IT WAS THE WRONG SHOT! Luckily, my pup was fine, but how do you administer the wrong meds? This could have been a malpractice suit. Perhaps what was worst, is that no one offered any apology, and I was just berated by the tech for not giving my pup this shot anyway. Is this how you treat someone when you're in the wrong, and I didn't even complain? Needless to say, my dogs are now seen elsewhere. read more

I am so thrilled to have found this animal clinic to handle my cat. The staff are very professional and courteous. The doctor spends quality time in explaining his diagnoses and directions for me to follow. The technician is kind to my cat in a very caring way. read more

I've taken my pets (2 dogs and a cat) to a few different vets and this is by far the best one I've found. The staff is made up of friendly, knowledgeable people who are also extremely efficient. The Vets are really good and they keep up to date with the latest in animal medicine. Both of my dogs love going to the vet, no matter what they have to do to them. I highly recommend this clinic. They have also started an online service so that you can plug in to your pets records and keep up to date with vaccines and medicine, email questions and get appointments - very cool. read more

****UPDATED REVIEW 7/12/2018**** I upgraded my review from 2 to 4 stars because I came back year after living in another state the last 5 years, and they have greatly improved. We've been taking our pets here for 22 years and seen at least 6 or 7 vets, but now it seems that the vets are less transient and here to stay. Dr. Castellanos has always been wonderful and very helpful, but in his absence, Dr. Gonzalez and Dr. Tuthill have also been great! Dr. Gonzalez diagnosed a condition that my last vet missed that had been causing my young-ish Sheltie (7 years) to limp for longer than necessary. They're both very personable, very good at explaining the condition and your options, discussing preventative care, and following up. And no vet's office would be complete without the dedicated staff of receptionists and vet techs! Eileen has been working there as long as I remember and she is always super on top of things! ****ORIGINAL REVIEW 1/2/2013**** My family and I have been bringing our pets (4 dogs, 2 cats) here for 17 years, starting with Dr. Mancino in 1995. Dr. Castellanos was a wonderful addition but in recent years, I feel the service here has changed to an extent that it no longer suits me. I miss the personalized touch this clinic used to have. The doctors used to allow me to be more involved in our pets' care, and were better at helping us weigh treatment decisions with realistic costs. The newer vets seem much less conservative in their treatment approach and willing to run many more tests. While I understand they are trying to maximize my pet's health by using all the available tools, costs are a realistic, limiting factor and treatment can be done within the scope of a client's financial abilities. (For example, X-rays for dentals may be the "gold standard," but the added cost can make any dental work at all prohibitive, which is why I opt for simple cleanings as they were offered/marketed in the past). All the staff is friendly, but the clinic has taken on a faster pace and time with the client is limited. Dr. Castellanos is a wonderful, loving vet, and my hope is that he returns to this clinic full-time to re-instill the type of excellent service and care that I have known Norbeck Animal Clinic to exemplify. I feel personally tied to this clinic, where I've brought my young 8-wk old puppies and old friends to rest, but if nothing changes, it may be about time for us to move on. read more

This is a wonderful veterinary clinic. From the front staff to the doctors we have received thoughtful, considerate and compassionate care for our cat. Thank you for taking such good care of us and our kitty! read more

The fees here are pretty reasonable and I can tell the vet really cares about the animals that come into his practice. I seem to come across vets of two extremes: the "anything at all costs" vet, and the hands off, "whatever" vet, and my experience with NAC is more of the former which can be a good and bad thing. When I was treating elderly diabetic cat he was able to diagnose our cat with diabetes within our first visit which was a RELIEF because it was something that I suspected but was brushed off by more than two other vets. Now here comes the tricky part- I felt pressure to treat my cat because "there are options" but I believe treatment differs on a cat by cat basis. We did our research and were aware of the possible outcomes for cats with diabetes. Diabetes treatment in cats is uncertain and from what I gathered would have just been uncertain torture for our cat. We had an old, irritable cat who HATED vets and would practically have a panic attack every time she was at the vet. Her sister from the same litter exhibited the exact same symptoms and had to be put down suddenly months before our diagnosis so from what we gathered her prospects where already grim. Monthly vet visits and shots just seem like hell for a cat that is even temperamental about being touched. We believed we had her best interest in heart and decided to put her down. We were able to follow through with our decision but not without a bit of a guilt trip. I understand vets have the training and experience that I do not as a cat owner, but when it comes to ethics it's not about passively nodding your head to the doctor and submitting. It's about looking out for your loved ones and making the hard decisions; I staunchly believe that quality of life trumps longevity. I will still seek treatment from NAC for my second cat and I believe they care about our pet(s), but I would like to highlight the need for pet owners to advocate for their pets when it comes to ethical decisions. read more

No. The two stars are for the vet herself, who seemed very nice and did a thorough enough job. The reason I'm not giving this practice any additional stars is that they have inflated fees. I went there with a kitten for an initial checkup. By the end of the visit they had tried to sell us a $35 tube of ointment (having first stated it would cost $13) and had tacked a $5 "dispensing fee" onto the bill for the eye drops the kitten needed. When I questioned the fee I was told that it was for giving us the drops. Literally - for handing them over. You've got to be kidding me! I protested and they said they would refund the $5. We left and didn't realize until driving home that nobody had given us a record of the visit for our records. We also needed written instructions for the medication we purchased plus the stuff we will buy at the drug store, but the vet had whisked herself off to the next patient so fast that we didn't get those either. These folks just weren't thorough. read more

I have been taking my 3 cats and 3 dogs to Norbeck for 6 or more years now. I had the pleasure of having Dr. Ivanov and have watched several young doctors come and go in the practice. I am happy to say that most recently DR Cohen has been treating my pets and she is wonderful. Very hands on, great demeanor and extremely knowledgeable. The rest of the staff is great too!! read more