I just want to say that I love this vet! I moved to Williamsburg a few years ago, and searched many review sites and took some personal recommendations, and settled on Northside. I had previously brought them a great vet in Manhattan, so my expectations where already set very high! For all there annual check ups I had Dr. Mann who was nothing but caring and insightful. I remember one of my cats ran into the sink and he ran to get his camera so he could take a picture and post it on catsinsinks.com! He recommended a great diet for my two cats, and he was so affectionate towards them. I just recently brought in my cat for an emergency check up (she started to have seizures), and I got Dr. Leiman. And I have to say he was also wonderful. He saw my cat right away, gave me all possibilities as to what might of happened to my cat. He also gave me the option of blood tests, even though he was pretty positive that she has epilepsy, I knew it was expensive, but I went ahead with the blood tests and lab work. I just think its a rarity that you get Vet's in nyc that are so caring, and who will give you options and not just tell you what you should and shouldn't do (like the blood work for example). I know some people seem to have a problem with Dr. Eisner, which I have no review for, since I have never met her nor dealt with her. But if you are in the burg near Northside, I highly recommend it! And just for a fun fact Dr. Eisner and Dr. Leiman both went to Cornell Veterinary school which is one of the top Veterinary schools in the country (they accept 40 students a year from all over the world!). read more

I have been taking my dachshund to Northside for the last couple of years and have been relatively pleased. Dr. Leiman has given us advice that vastly improved his diet, and I think, overall health and Dr. Colleran was immensely helpful when I recently brought him in and he was very sick. Everyone was so great--and they had no heat that day and it was below freezing out--especially Ginger and Dr. Colleran. We ended up taking him to the emergency room, but Northside helped with that as well. I really appreciate it. read more

I am writing this review just minutes after returning home from Northside Veterinary Clinic. Just days after a visit to this clinic my 16-year-old cat's health started declining rapidly. Prognosis was not good. Her health continued to decline, not eating or drinking, excessive weight loss, came on fast and furious. We (my wife and I) concluded that euthanasia was the most humane thing we could do to bring a peaceful ending to our 16 years long adventure. Having made our decision, we proceeded to make an appointment to the nearest clinic that could give us an appropriate appointment. We called Northside on 6/1/2021 for an appointment the next day 6/2/2021. At first, we were offered an early 11:30am appointment. I asked if there was availability later in the day. The receptionist then offered a 5:00pm appointment and we accepted that. I made my way home from work early to be present at the time of the euthanasia. We arrived early by half hour, being the responsible pet owners that we are, to get all the paperwork done and be in on time for our 5:00pm appointment. But that did not happen! After calling in two times and walking to the door, we were not getting the attention this type of appointment would require under normal circumstances. At this same time, my cat was getting increasingly stressed having to wait outside for almost an hour. My wife's stress was off the charts as well. My patience was running thin as well. What we received is excuses and the most insincere apologies from what seemed to be the most severely compassionless staff I have seen in veterinary practice. Why do I say this? I say this having worked in the veterinary field for the last 15 years as an LVT (licensed veterinary technician). Frankly, if I treated my clients in the same manner Northside treated me, I would be unemployed. If I treated my clients (in the most stressful life event possible when it comes to pet ownership) I would be deserving of the criticism levied upon me. It would indicate that I have no client service skills, have no understanding of compassion, and a severe lack of understanding of what the word euthanasia even means to a veterinary professional. I am quite sure lay people would understand the meaning of euthanasia having loved their own pets for many years. Northside staff is clueless. A masked, male human approached us outside it was only to ask if we wanted a communal or private burial. A subject we already covered the day prior over the phone. He promptly asked for our credit card and hobbled back inside. We waited another 15 minutes. My wife then walked to the door to inquire about our situation. More excuses and "apologies". When we finally made it into the practice (a half hour past our appointment time) some limping receptionist started barking that we were being "fit in". That is not the way it went down when I called the day before. So, I would call this person a liar to her face and would deal with her limping attitude some other time. Think about this limping lady. Think about that as you lay your head on your pillow tonight. Hope you sleep well! The only pleasant part of this whole debacle was the attitude of Doctor Ramos. She was pleasant and got the job done. Exactly what you would expect from a competent veterinarian. On my way out I came across that masked human again and I asked him if he was an LVT. He said no. I then asked him "do you aspire to become an LVT?". He said no. I told him point blank he needed to get out of the business. Look into civil service or some bureaucratic career where a cold temperament is more of an asset than a liability. I honestly cannot recommend Northside as your "go to" veterinary practice. High staff turnover, horrendous customer service, and mediocre to just acceptable veterinary medicine is the norm. It is just one of those veterinary practices that just gave up trying to be better a long time ago. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere for the care your beloved companion deserves. You might need to pay a little more, but I assure you the money will be well spent for your pet and for yourself. I would expect the practice manager to reply about how much they care and the good service they provide. I will graciously accept to meet with him/her personally (face-to-face) so that I can expediently call him/her out for their BS. read more

A year ago, my previous vet discovered a small mammary tumor on my dog Peanut and recommended that we have it surgically removed. The vet I brought her to for the surgery told me that it would not be possible to operate given Peanut's physical condition, and she gave her a prognosis of six months to live. Eight months later, the tumor had grown exponentially and had become infected. As a result, I needed to take Peanut to an emergency vet. I was certain the vet would recommend euthanasia and I was surprised when instead he urged me to a schedule a surgery. Feeling confused, I decided to seek a third opinion. When I called Northside Veterinary Clinic, they went out of their way to rearrange their schedule and fit Peanut in for a same-day appointment even though she was a first-time patient. Every person I interacted with at all levels of their office was extremely helpful, caring, and supportive. They agreed that we would need to operate as soon as possible or consider euthanasia. The vet and receptionist calmly talked me through both options and took the time to answer my questions. We agreed to do an x-ray so I could make a more informed decision. The vet reached out to me with an update later that same night (on her own time, long after normal business hours). The x-ray showed that Peanut was a good candidate for surgery and the vet at Northside fully supported my decision to fly home with Peanut to have the operation performed at a less expensive clinic. Before we could travel, I needed to update Peanut's rabies vaccination, which I also scheduled with Northside. Again, they quickly fit her into the schedule and they didn't even charge me a base fee for the appointment! It was refreshing to have them prioritize my dog's well-being ahead of making money, and their professionalism helped to reassure me through a very stressful situation. Peanut's surgery was a success and she is now bouncing back quickly. I am profoundly grateful for the care that Peanut received at Northside and I look forward to bringing her back to them as she continues to recover. read more

Dr. Leiman explained a lot of things during the exam and recommended what to do and signs to look for in the future. He also commented on stuff I did not even go there for, and the information was very helpful. I agree that the waiting room is too small, which makes it a bit whacky. And I see how it can be a wait. But think about it - there is no ER for dogs. When I had an emergency last week, they squeezed me in; today I paid it forward by having to wait. read more

my dog gosh, its just so easy and laid back here. The only problem is the small waiting room so sometimes is a barkfest. I find them to be true scientists. They love animals and can explain the logic behind why they suggest the procudures etc. A nice resource to have. Update: over new years my dog got sick. The first day back from NEW YEARS eve, they were able to get him a fecal test and a follow up visit the next morning 1st thing. I mean wow, thats pretty freaking cool The reviewers who say...person x,y is mean. I guess they don't know what its like to run a business, and be busy and provide a service to the community. If you want a cozy nice guy go to dr. M. However, I do think they are not aware of just how close to maxing out their little business is. They need to really start thinking about investing in a new location. Obviously not as easy as it sounds, but clearly the area is growing and they need more space. read more

After going to the Humane Society of New York for a few years, I was tired of the trek and needed to find a vet in the neighborhood. I took the chance to take my new 8 week old kitten here for her first check up and shots and was so thrilled with the whole experience. It's only 15 minutes by bus from my house, the staff is very friendly, the price for a visit $60 is insanely cheap for NY and $45 for a follow up-- and Dr Eisner is the most caring, love and friendly woman. The clinic is affordable, accessible and easy to book an appointment and as someone who owns 3 animals and loves animals as much as I do - you are in good hands here. read more

So I brought my 9 weeks old French Bulldog to this place for examination. The appointment I made was at 3:30pm, but I arrived 10 minuets late. However, I still pretty much got to see the vet almost immediately after filling out the information about my dog and I. The exam I order is a general wellness exam. The vet performed simple and basic examination on my dog, such as touching his body parts etc. My frenchie also got heartwarm treatment etc. The staffs and vet are in general very friendly and they try to answer all your concerns. However, I felt $147 for the visit is a little expensive. But anyway, it seems that this is the best clinic I can find in my area, so, I will come back. read more

Highly recommend!! After seeing so many negative reviews I was skeptical about bringing my cat here, but after I was assured by a few cat owning acquaintances of the wonderful care their pets received, I made an appointment when one of my senior felines was ill. Everyone at Northside Clinic was lovely, starting with the women at the front desk, to the vet and vet techs who showed genuine care and concern for my pet. They all put me and my cat at ease. Dr. Ramos was especially helpful and understanding, and always was available to speak on the phone and respond to questions I had after my appointment. I would also like to note that she was understanding of my financial situation, and did not suggest a litany of tests at the onset. After treating my cat for an infection, she recommended a homeopathic solution to help him with some behavioral problems, and to my surprise and delight my cat was extremely responsive. Also, the facility was clean, and they saw me promptly at the time of the appointment. Thank you, Dr. Ramos and team! read more

Very kind staff. They help me with Tora and made a last minute appointment. They were really kind with out cat. I forgot something when I left and the kind person who was a the desk that day (green hair) came running after me for about to blocks to return the item to me. read more

Northside Veterinary Clinic - Tora and James waiting for the vet - Veterinarians Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I was so shocked by all the negative reviews on Yelp about the Northside Veterinary Clinic they were so kind to my dog Coco and myself we are changing to Dr. Eisner for Coco's primary vet. I just like the energy of the clinic. read more

By very careful of Dr. Raud at Northside. This is a nice vet's office but it does have a scam artist working there posing as a vet. He will try to get you to sign up for getting your dog vaccinated every few weeks. I spoke with another dog owner at the McCarren park dog run recently and she said she had the same problem. He pushed hard on unnecessary frequent vaccinations. This is not only a big waste of money it is also unhealthy for your dog. I have a terrier and he told me after looking at his mouth that he must have most of his teeth removed. A Costly procedure that will require many trips back to the vet to check up on how his mouth is doing. He was completely sure that my dog's teeth had to come out. I took my dog to another vet who said he is fine. I took him to an oral specialist the next week and he said the teeth are fine. Raud was also very uncomfortable with the dog and thought that he would bite him. Watch out for this because it is a warning sign. Watch out for vaccination scams and in particular tooth scams. read more

Took a sick and stressed cat in for a fixed appointment time, ended up waiting 45 minutes past the appointment in a crowded and extremely chaotic environment full of big dogs. Not good for cats, nor for anyone who doesn't have a lot of patience. Suggest they offer fewer appointments and honor them. read more

Dr. Sylvia Nagy is a gem. She is young and knowledgeable. She was able to help us identify a problem with our dog in 1 visit, that Williamsburg Animal Clinic overlooked in about 15 visits. She has a very comfortable and gentle approach to the animals. It seems like she really cares and tries. Dr. Nagy took her time with our beloved doggie and tried her best to help him. This vet clinic is MUCH more affordable than WAC as well. read more

We have read some of the negative reviews and I'm surprised. Most of the places that you will take your pet or even doctors you go to yourself will try and up sell you. As in any situation, you have the right to say no. With that said, we took our American Staffordshire to Northside Veterinary because he was continuously breaking out on his legs even after we changed his food, tried medicated shampoo, etc. When we made the appointment, they called a day before to make sure he was ok and to ask if his symptoms had worsened, had gotten better, or were the same. During his visit the vet did a thorough check of skin as well as a full physical. She offered various additional tests which we chose not to purchase as we wanted to focus solely on his skin problem. She changed his diet and gave us antibiotics. Everyone on the staff was helpful and so very nice. And seven days later his skin problem has cleared up and he's feeling much better. read more

I have never felt compelled to write a review like this in my YEARS, like 10 years or so, of using Yelp. I am completely and utterly outraged by the treatment that myself and my beloved pet (Chuggy, a 2.5 year old dog) received here. I moved to Williamsburg a little over a year ago and had been using Northside because of the proximity to my home. I always had a decent experience at Northside, but nothing to write home about either. Cutting to the chase, Chuggy presented with lameness about 2.5 weeks ago and I noticed a rather large lump on his leg where the lameness was evident. He was not eating and very lethargic as well and he shrieked at even the slightest touch. I was absolutely terrified and my mind was racing...the lump was especially concerning because I thought it may have been a tumor. Immediately, I brought him into the clinic and we saw Dr. Eisner. She said she thought it might be Lyme disease, which didn't make any sense to me and I'm not trained in animal medicine, not even in the slightest. I let him have several blood tests and waited while they also did X-RAY. She let me look at the X-RAY with her and said it "looked like an injury" but said that she wasn't qualified to give anymore information.....I'm thinking "aren't you a vet, lady?" I asked if it was cancer or a tumor...she said "it doesn't look like it", but provided me with no other information. I asked her if she could biopsy it or do something else to give me more answers and she said it was "out of her scope" and referred us to see a specialist.......while smiling at me and calling Chuggy "kiddo". None of this made me feel at all at ease. I proceeded to make an appointment for Chuggy to see the specialist ... who in fact ended up being a surgeon (who wanted to cut my dog open and told me it would be like "removing a mole"..... This surgeon (Dr. Khan at VERVE Brooklyn also refused to take a phone call from my father who is more or less the joint owner of my dog and had been listed on the form as such). I was deeply troubled by all of this. I knew I didn't like the sound of this "procedure" of cutting open my Chuggy and I called and asked again if she, Dr. Eisner, could do anything else. They said again, "no". Something just felt so uneasy about the entire process and I was distraught over it. I love this pup like a child and I was having trouble sleeping. Fast-fwd to a week later, I decide to take my little guy an hour away to a vet that I used in the past...Sleepy Hollow Animal Hospital (Dr. Brian Green). I literally took my day off and went all the way up there because I didn't trust any of these quacks. I asked for Chuggy's medical records to be faxed over two days in advance of the appointment I had at Sleepy Hollow. I arrive to my appointment and nothing had been sent over. The receptionist calls and asks. Again, nothing is sent. Finally, my vet himself calls, and records are sent. This was one of the most frustrating and upsetting experiences of my life. As for Northside Clinic and Dr. Eisner, they are completely incompetent.........and my vet was able to do a needle aspiration of my dog's leg/lump within an hour of seeing me. There is a buildup of fluid and he also did new X-RAYS, which he explained to me in DETAIL unlike Dr. Eisner at Northside....who I am pretty sure didn't know how to read the X-RAY. Chuggy will be OK and I will NEVER go back to Northside again! AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both Northside and VERVE. Vague answers, completely incompetent, money hungry awful people! read more

Be careful, SCAMMER VETS. These guys unnecessarily UPSELL to you like crazy. I hate to say it, they're pretty nice, but after 1.5 years of taking my dog there, it just becomes apparent this is constantly happening, and they do it with a friendly smile. Google it. There are expose articles showing how the entire Vet industry is apparently corrupting, even reputable clinics with 'nice' vets. For ex, they up-sell expensive omega oils when you can get just as high quality online for far less $$. I'm into natural remedies but a vet in a lab coat hands you these things like they were medicine, not pointing out sometimes that it isn't, it's just a luxury supplement but with a high price tag. I knew something was definitively awry when my favorite vet there, Lieberman, insisted on a certain blood test on my elderly pooch in order to prep for tooth extraction surgery.."just to be sure that one of the lab results was normal vs a potential virus or something. It was over $200, and when getting the result, he said "It's good to know it's nothing...we see that virus a handful of times in a year." Um, what? This guy sees thousands of dogs a year. Many each day. My dog is old and that result was common for old dogs. Why on earth would he do this test (stressing and hurting my dog w/a needle unnecessarily) if the likelihood for it being a virus was -- minuscule? I smelled a rat. And was shocked and disappointed. And sure enough, when Lieberman had checked my dog's teeth, he concluded with total certainty that he needed some rotting teeth in the back extracted via surgery. Said there was pus (sorry) in the gums. I got the estimate: $1,300 or more. My dog's Michigan vet charges $200 for the SAME procedure! WTF? I know NY is pricey, but this was ridiculous. I also doubted it was necessary. At 16, she's only around a few more years, is that $ worth it? She shows NO problems like soreness nor eating issues. I got a second opinion and that Dr. said - don't do it. It's totally unnecessary. The gums were fine, teeth are old but if she's eating fine and showing no pain, why on earth would you put the dog through the stress of a big surgery unnecessarily?! So, BE WARNED. This lovely neighborhood vet is part good, part crooked..I hate to even say it. But now you know. read more

And just to add to my initial review... Dr. Leiman knowledge of "the" top specialists in the field - from their expertise to their "bedside manner" - is beyond extraordinary. And again, so thorough in even suggesting who to see for a second opinion. His communication lines are amazing with the specialists and then immediately back to us. So grateful for him. read more

Dr. Eisner and Dr. Leiman both have treated my dog, my sister's 2 dogs and a neighbor's dog with utmost attention, professionalism and success..... when other notable practices had not. My experience: My little Brussels Griffon ruptured a disc and was left crippled, barely able to walk and pee on her own. She has had 5 months of slow recuperation with ups and downs , a lot of medication and stress. Subsequently, i have turned my attention to NVC, specifically to Dr. Eisner FROM my long standing vet in NYC. She put her on a program of laser therapy & acupuncture and after just a few weeks, she is now zooming around and personality back full force! She is a happy girl after this prescribed treatment, and excellent care. It is extremely stressful to have a sick and vulnerable pet and I believe an authentic and quality bedside manner is part and parcel of fine care. The entire staff is so sweet and helpful. And animal lovers! So I know my dog and I are in very good hands. And, I'll continue to spread the word! read more

This veterinary clinic deserves no stars at all, but the website required me to give at least one! I am in love with my dog, she is practically my child. For the 7 years she has been alive, she has had no problems aside from the occasional allergy, so when I discovered what looked like a cyst on her gum, I looked for the best vet in my neighborhood. Boy was I misguided by the reviews for Northside! I called in advance to find out what an initial visit plus any extras for focusing on a particular problem would cost. They told me $80. I even told them what the issue seemed to be and they still maintained $80. I also asked if I should bring anything, they said no. As always, I brought my dog's vet history anyway. (I worked for a doctor for years. I know every little bit counts.) When my boyfriend and I arrived, the office seemed dirty and the receptionist was chatting with a friend most of the time. I had to push the vet history on them. Once in an exam room, the vet assistant was really nice. She was sweet to my dog and things seemed to be going well. The veterinarian was another story. When he came in, he barely looked at the oral mass in my dog's mouth. Instead he tried pushing organic dog food on us for the whole visit. He then told us we needed to buy fish oil pills and some enzyme powder and pulled the whole guilt trip thing on us for not giving it to her. They took some blood and gave us a quote for surgery - not explaining things and acting as if the $5000 surgery was no big deal and we should really focus on her dog food instead. We had to remind the vet about 5 or 6 times to weigh her and then when we got our bill of $279 (not $80), we were also given a stool sample cup to take a sample and bring it back. My dog's previous vet would always take a sample from the dog if one was not brought in. Why didn't they tell me to bring a sample when I called in advance? Why did they charge us for the sample before they got it? Why was the visit $279 and not $80!? Since then, I have done research on my dog's possible condition. Based on pictures and description of symptoms, it looks like she may have a tumor in her mouth. According to professionals, the entire patient must be evaluated for tumor spread prior to surgery. Usually examination of regional lymph nodes is given and chest x-rays are taken. The veterinarian may take a sample of cells from the mass and examine them under the microscope to give an indication of whether the cause is due to infection or tumor. NONE of this, I repeat NONE of this was done. My dog is a boxer and boxer's are prone to cancer. Tumors and masses found on an animal should be treated the same way a woman should be treated if she found a lump in her breast. The treatment received at this vet was deplorable. God forbid an animal with a malignant mass go here for help. It would have devastating affects on the animal and owners. read more

I had a series of awful experiences with the doctors at Northside Veterinary. The doctors botched a simple procedure on my cat; misdiagnosed her twice; and, subsequently refused to perform a procedure to rectify the problem. It took me five years and a move to another city, but I finally found a veterinarian who could restore my cat's health. For all the "kindness" these doctors show, their philosophy does not always result in what's best for the patient. Likewise, they seem to employ a business philosophy which involves grabbing market share, something that leads to inadequate care and long waits. read more

Going to the vet doesn't have to be traumatic, but I guess nobody's told NVC. Otherwise, this place was a complete horror show. We took our dog and cat in together for an annual checkup, and to have our cat screened for Toxoplasmosis at the request of our people doctor. We had to wait 30 minutes past our appointment time just to go into an exam room, and then another 15 minutes to actually talk to the vet. My cat was very nervous to be out of the house, and sitting in their tiny, crowded, and loud waiting area for such an extended period made the visit more stressful than it needed to be. We eventually saw Dr. Eisner, who was abrupt/abrasive to us, didn't listen to basic things we told her about our animals, tried to talk us out of the Toxo screening that our MD had ordered (weirdly implying that the AMA has an anti-animal agenda). She seemed uncomfortable talking to us or giving us advice, instead she just watched us read from pre-printed info sheets. People came in and out of the exam room every 2 minutes or so to get supplies from cupboards. Again, creating a stressful environment for the animals. One of these times our cat almost escaped into the waiting area/front door. There is no sound barrier between rooms, so you have to hear every conversation in the whole clinic all the time. I know that confidentiality isn't always a concern at a vet's office, but our animals were clearly more anxious with all the noise. Their handling of animals was really crude. Rather than soothing our puppy and distracting him with treats while they drew his blood, 2 people pinned him in a headlock while they stuck him- very hard to watch. After they had our cat's blood sample in a vial, the techs couldn't remember what test it was supposed to be for and we had to remind them. This did not instill confidence. This nightmare did not come cheap- almost $400 and neither pet was even sick. One star for Andreas, who was very helpful and friendly! read more

I have been bringing my cat to Northside since 2009. Overall, I have been pleased with the care he has received, although up-selling, as others have mentioned, is a real problem. Dr. Leiman is a gentleman, and has a wonderful manner and way with pets. Likewise, the younger vets have all been great, aside from the up-selling. Dr. Eisner is problematic. It is largely her unprofessional manner that has been off-putting. She is a fear monger - everything is a catastrophe and she seems to place herself in opposition to the pet owner, intimating that you do not take care of your pet. She speaks but does not listen. Which brings me to this sad post. I joined yelp a minute ago in order to leave this review to save you from the tragedy I experienced almost 2 weeks ago, when I brought my precious Frankie in for euthanasia, as he had collapsed at home and was clearly dying. He was 17 and Dr. Leiman helped me nurse him through a crisis a few years ago, for which I am grateful. I had hoped for him to die at home, but he was in pain, so I called and then brought him in to end his pain. Once there I waited to be seen. As Frankie's breathing slowed, I asked how long it would be. Eisner flew in and grabbed him away saying she had to run tests. "Why? I asked, he is here to be euthanized, he is dying" "I *have* to run an X-ray" she says. When I saw her after the x-ray she said "there's no hope." "Of course there's no hope, I said, he is here to be euthanized. Please euthanize my cat and end his pain". That goal was not met. The greatest urgency shown by the clinic staff was to get me to sign paperwork, and the credit card receipt and no move was made to end Frankie's pain until that credit card was all signed. I have been coming there for 6 years and am in every month for his medicine. I pay my bills gladly. Did I mention my repeated pleas for someone, anyone to out him out of his misery? That I told them they were giving him the painful death I had tried to avoid by bringing him in to be euthanized? I have been cooking for this cat for years, I have been hand feeding him as he aged, to see this delicate, intelligent and sensitive cat treated so callously while he was in pain has torn my heart. He died a horrible death on 2/28/15. I will spare you the worst details. He received a sedative shot that sent him into convulsions which is how he died. He never received the merciful euthanasia shot I brought him in for. When I returned home, they had left a message on my machine "Ms G, sorry to all you about this, but we forgot to bill you for the X-ray and office visit, and that is $165, please call us to settle up." click. No condolence, even after that shitshow we just went through. I admit, that put me over the edge into almost blind fury and frustration - talk about adding insult to injury.. I didn't call that day - I was offended and still had to go back for his ashes; I would deal with it then. I signed the receipt for $331 and change right before the shot that brought on pain & convulsions was given. When I went online the next weekend to check my balance, I saw that Northside had not billed me for $331 - they had billed me for $496.. without my authorization!! On the same day, so I never had a chance to speak with them before they did it. unbelievable So I wrote them a letter and they went into damage control . They said they would refund the amount. But they did not refund the full amount, just the X-ray that they shouldn't have done in the first place. So the refund went from $165, to $80.. Ginger asked "is that ok?" I said "whatever" by the time the receptionist was on the phone she told me that had dropped the emergency visit share so they refunded $105.. like they were doing me a favor, and not that they had down something wrong by putting unauthorized charges on my card after I left the building. So, please do not take you beloved animal to Northside for euthanasia. Bring them to VERG, or to Felton, or the AMC- all are places that have treated me and my pet with more sensitivity and compassion as a stranger than Northside did as an existing patient. And please make no mistake. Some of this is a question of character. For the offense of billing my card without prior permission, they should have refunded the full amount as a matter of courtesy and an expression of deep apology. In my own professional practice, I have refunded for my mistakes, and even taken a loss to so as to keep my karma clear. I spoke with my neighbor and it turns out several people I know have had terrible experiences with them, and they begged me to tell you . I imagine Dr Leiman will write in response to my letter. he clinic said they will change things as a result of what happened .. I know there are no guarantees in life, and I have made my peace that this was Frankie's fate to suffer an awful death. I still don't understand why they couldn't euthanize him while I signed; they knew me. Maybe he didn't have to die in pain read more

I would not recommend this veterinary clinic because I had a negative experience which has prompted me not to return. I had gone in for a simple eye pressure test which Dr. Raud performed, and as a result, it caused an eye ulcer in one of my dogs eyes. My dog has had this type of test performed on him many times, but this Dr. managed to cause injury. I had to go back to see my specialist and it was time consuming for it to heal. Additionally, I find their prices to be on the more expensive side. I was quoted $700-1000 dollars for a dental procedure for my dog that I went elsewhere to perform and it cost $350. They had also sold my husband a very expensive and new to market drug for killing fleas that has a lot of controversy around it as to its side effects. read more

Eisner the holistic vet is opposed to medicine at all costs. I spent 6 months and hundreds of dollars trying to fix my dog's hair loss and skin sores. She kept changing his diet, giving me herbal pills, meanwhile he kept getting infections and I had to beg for antibiotics. When I told her I was finished trying eastern medicine, she turned on me, she even treated my dog differently. As soon as I posted a poor review online, I got a phonecall from their PR telling me they'd be mailing me my vets records - so they broke up with me first! Honestly, why do you think they need a publicist? read more

ZERO STARS- This clinic has taken a nose dive. If you want your animal misdiagnosed, prescribed unnecessary medications, charged vulgar fees and enjoy being treated with condescension, this is your place. We were loyal clients, who have directly experienced what the neighborhood animal lovers have all been saying for the past 2 years. Avoid this establishment. read more

Our dog has been going here for around 3 years since we adopted her from Bideawee. She was in a high kill shelter in Georgia and was beaten when she was a puppy so now she is a bit hyper and anxious with strangers, but nothing too crazy. I always got a bad feeling from this place. They always try to sell us on extra tests. First it was lyme tests. coming from connecticut i know that these are important but we live in bushwick.....where are these lyme tics coming from. But this week was the last straw. First they tried to sell us on shots just in case we take her to Europe. WHAT? when am I going to Europe and why am i taking her there? THEN the vet actually said that he has to "block out the times he has to see our dog from memory". that its a horrible experience for him. Guess what doc. you're a vet. you should be able to deal with all breeds, all neurosis and not make us or more importantly our dog feel any more uncomfortable than she already is while getting goo shot up her nose. The same day we brought our new puppy to the Bideawee vet for his first visit. Both of our dogs will be going there even though it's all the way in Manhattan. Bideawee was also 80 dollars cheaper. read more

I have taken cats and my dog to Northside for about 8 years and have finally decided that they are too incompetent for me to continue. I have been to all of the the doctors Dr. Leiman (The best bedside manner, very sweet but takes 3 times as long to get an appointment with him since he is the nice one) Dr. Mann( The newest and at first he seemed really great until he recommended I take my dog to dog addiction (terrible) and get training from their trainer (expensive and not very helpful). Also from one visit to the next he completely flipped about if an expensive vaccine was necessary or silly. First he told me not to bother that it didn't make a difference if I did that or just gave them antibiotics for the problem. Next time he completely pushed me about how important it was for me to get it right then.) Then Dr. Eisner (I have looked past her lack of people skills for years because of her knowledge of homeopathic, but the past couple of visits have made me doubt what kind of grasp she has on that). Whenever I leave there I feel overwhelmed by the amount of the bill. I don't think I have ever been in there and paid less than 200$ for anything!! They are constantly pushing you to do more tests and quilting you if you are worrying about cost. They have no qualms about making you feel like you are just a bad pet owner/ terrible person for not throwing on the extra tests. Yet they have no follow up skills. So the straw that broke the camels back.... My middle aged male cat was having issues with his eye just mild funniness with crust, not bothering him but just to be sure I brought him in. 350$ later they tell me it should be fine, but they are not sure what it is. I am sent home with some drops and eye gel and they are going to call me with the results of the test. No call, I call no response I just figure it is fine or they will call me back. Then a couple of weeks later he starts having issues peeing. I bring him in and they tell me he has crystals in his pee and if it blocks up he will die to I have to do exactly what they say (this includes dragging the cat back for a second examination that day before work). We change food, I follow him around to collect pee ( a nervous wreck because I think he will drop dead if I am not diligent) so we can test the ph and determine what food he should be on. I make my boyfriend go by my house and get the pee to bring it as soon as they open so we can get the results back (should be back in 24 hours). 2 days later no results. I am leaving to go out of town backpacking with very minimal phone reception( I almost cancelled) and no results. The next day they call results are in. I call a Dr. needs to call me back. I call again the next day, same. My roommate calls we are out of food "what do I do?". I call them again, SAME, Dr. will call before the end of the day, I promise! NOTHING . I call and leave a message right after they close saying I need them to call my roommate with the results so he can get the right food. Dr. Eisner calls back right away to say they are not incompetent I just didn't give them the right number (But they called me days before to say they had the results??? My number has not changed for years) and that she is calling my roommate right after this message to give him the results, fine. I return home 3 days later to find that they NEVER called my roommate. I thought this was life threatening??? That is what you said when you were getting as much money out of me as you could by playing off my fear and love for my pet. This is not the first time, but is definitely the last visit my pets will have to their office. Thanks for reading the rant :) read more

I took my cat to Northside for nearly a year. He has had chronic problems for his entire life (he is 6) with vomiting. It has been determined he has irritable bowl syndrome. At Northside we switched his diet. The vomiting reduced - however he was ALWAYS hungry and started dropping weight rapidly. I called to make sure he was getting enough and they confirmed based upon the food calories he was fine and said I should bring him in for some blood work. After the test he was proven to be OK they recommended I simply switch up his food. So after trying multiple foods nothing works and he has dropped now to 7 lbs on a cat that used to be 9. I decided to try another vet in the neighborhood and she immediately told me that I wasn't feeding him enough food and needed to DOUBLE the amount I had been giving him. I spent over $600 at Northside only to find out from another vet that I was starving my cat based upon what I was told to do. To go to the vet because you are concerned about the health of your beloved pet only to find out that you were harming them based upon the advice you were given.. it's infuriating to say the least! If you need a great vet in the neighborhood.. go to Felton Veterinary Services. read more

Does anyone else feel like this place tries to upsell you on everything? I brought my dog in for a routine appointment back in October 2013, and right from the start they tried to get me to sign up for some animal insurance. First the person at the desk pushed the insurance. Once I was in an exam room, some other person came in and once again pressured me on the insurance. And then as I was leaving, they mentioned it again! Makes me wonder if they have some sort of financial/kickback relationship with the pet insurance company. The vet himself, Dr Leiman, was really weird and seemed almost nervous or something during the exam. My dog had severe separation anxiety, so he suggested some special collar that's impregnated with dog pheromones that's supposed to calm dogs down. I asked whether that was a prescription item, or whether it was over-the-counter. There was a weirdly awkward pause before he said something along the lines of "it's a specialty product." In other words, he didn't answer my question, but the implication was that I wouldn't be able to get it elsewhere. I went ahead and bought a collar from them for $45. When I got home, I looked online and found that it was indeed over-the-counter, and could be found for about HALF the price. That's an incredible markup (and profit) for them. Wow. Also, during the appointment he kept saying that there may be something wrong with my dog's thyroid. He pointed to the bald spots on my dog's hind legs and said that thyroid issues can cause that. However, my dog is a greyhound whom we had just adopted, so he was just off the track. It's a pretty well-known fact that greyhounds can have hair loss on their hindquarters from rubbing on the crates they live in. I mentioned that, but he sort of ignored it. In any case, hair loss like that is associated with HYPOthyroidism, if anything. He also pointed to the dog's skinniness as another possible sign of thyroid issues. However, weight loss is a sign of HYPERthyroidism, which is the opposite of the hair loss! Rather than argue with him, I let him order thyroid blood work. As it turned out, he didn't order a TSH, just a T3/T4, so when those results came back, he said I needed to come back for additional blood work to check the TSH. That should have been checked initially! It's stupid to order a T3/T4 and not get the TSH! I think he just did this in order to generate additional visits (and $$). As you can imagine, I did not go back there, and would never, ever go there again, even if my dog were dying. I would find a way to go elsewhere instead. read more

Not one to Yelp anything, but felt highly compelled TO MAKE THIS ACCOUNT to share my experience after using Northside for 5 years (I'm hitting myself that it took me this long to switch vets). The long and short of it it is that the customer care at this place is so, so bad it actually impeded the care my pet received. Here's my breakdown of everything. 1. The people at the front desk are so overworked (I'm assuming) that they hate their jobs and make doing ANYTHING at this place extremely difficult. From making an appointment, to getting a quote and just simply PAYING for services, you feel like they're doing you the favor of a lifetime. 2. This place is a god damn mess. From overbooking appointments (I probably wait at least 40 minutes past my appointment time every visit) to the files piling up behind the desk, it's a disorganized, claustrophobic nightmare. It's so disorganized, in fact, that they'll often carelessly book you with the wrong doctor and not let you know ahead of time. 3. The lines of communication are absent. After five years, I have absolutely no idea what the protocol is if you need to speak with the vet. Sometimes the front desk will disgruntledly "leave a note" (where? I'm not sure) for the doctor. Will they respond? Probably not. If a doctor responds to your email or calls you back, you've won the lottery. But hurry! Even on the phone they're in rush to get off the phone because they don't charge you for that time. Basically, if you're not paying for an emergency visit, they just want to send you to an animal hospital. And then when you do pay for a visit and YOU HAVE TO REQUEST THEM TO GIVE YOU A TREATMENT PLAN and then they just write it down for you on a tiny post-it note, it's kinda like, oh. I just paid $250+, waited over two hours, to beg you to help my pet. Thanks doc! 4. They up-charge you. Sadly, didn't realize this until I visited a new vet (who not only took us on time, but sat down and listened to us and then patiently explained their reasoning. That should be normal service, but we were literally on cloud 9 after switching). 5. Guess what? There's about a trillion more terrible experience, but I'll leave it at that. This place is a dump slash-borderline scam that happens to have a great location in Williamsburg, but trust me: if you love your pet, it's not worth the physical convenience once your pet gets sick and actually needs help. read more

The doctors are fine - nothing special - supposedly holistic (whatever that means). The office staff are simply horrible. Totally unaccommodating - I repeatedly had to call and bother them to get medical records....unbelievable. The staff are 100% of the reason why I no longer go there. They are also much more expensive than Williamsburg Animal Clinic. read more

Today is the 10 year anniversary of the death of my cat. I chose to euthanize my cat here and I am still traumatized by that decision. I'm not gonna get into all the details, I'll just say that these people do not care about you and, even worse, they don't care about your pets. They care about their bottom line only. Stay away!!! read more

I have been coming here do the last few years and I have to say I truly enjoy my experience An love all the Doctors They are all very caring . read more

I had been bringing my pets to this practice for many years. Many years of having no real issue with what the doctors have recommended. Then they brought in Dr Raud - IMO he is an idiot. NO bedside manner. Only interested in making money. He treats people like crap. He is the reason that I am never going back there. Up until Dr Raud saw my cat and sold me a $90 cream that you can buy at the drug store for $5 (no lie just read the labels on the pet vs human medicine) - I would have gladly given this place a recommendation. Now I am just going to tell people to stay away. read more

This same vet tech has been continually rude to me every time I have to deal with her. She blatantly insults me and my dog, and the way I choose to raise my dog. I really like Dr. Leiman and Dr. Eisner but still can't get over why they have a staff that most people in the neighborhood seem to have many problems with. And that one vet tech in particular is so nasty. Good thing she works with animals and not people, or she'd be out of a job in no time. read more

I am extremely disappointed and disturbed by the treatment that my Maltese puppy received at Northside. In January, my dog developed a terrible ear infection and it was clear that a simple ear cleanser would not work. I am in a tight financial situation, so I contacted the New York Animal Care and Control "Safety Net Program" for low cost veterinary services. http://www.nycacc.org/low_cost_veterinary_flyer.htm The program sent me and my pup to Dr. Eisner at Northside. Not only did Dr. Eisner refuse to accept the Safety Net programs discounted fee (which I qualified for and was pre-approved for), but she informed me that treatment for something like an ear infection would not qualify for a discount in general. Because my pup was in pain, and because she didn't inform me of her policy regarding the safety net program until after I was already in the room (mind you, I made the appointment and specified that I was coming in via this program), I went ahead and paid the fee for the exam and the prescription. I would've been ok with this, however two weeks later my pup's poor ear is still inflamed and infected. I come in for a second visit, and instead of being seen by Dr. Eisner, I was given another Doctor (a male, I cannot remember his name), who said he was leaving the practice and would not be able to follow up with my dog. I was given another prescription and told to come in a third time to have her ear checked. Her ear is still infected, and so visit number three rolls around, and I was given another round of pills to give to my pet. This time, because I honestly could not afford another visit fee, I requested to simply pick up the prescription instead of having an entire exam again. Once again, I was told to come in a week or so later and have her checked. At this point, my poor dog's ear is still red, she is itchy and scratchy, and I am told that she might have allergies and that I should do an extremely expensive allergy panel to see if that was the issue, or to start isolating foods and protein sources. I was skeptical, especially because my dog is already on a high-quality, grain-free, allergen sensitive food. SOOOO.... I took my dog to another vet. This time I visited the Williamsburg Animal Clinic on Grand Ave. I saw Dr. Poller. She was immediately taken aback at the terrible state of my dog's ear, and asked why the other vet hadn't plucked the hair and debris out on her last visit. I then wondered the same thing... It was two days ago that I visited Dr. Poller. She gave me a different prescription that had never been mentioned at Northside, and within TWO DAYS, my pup's ear is 100X better. I am planning on going back to Williamsburg Animal Clinic in a week to have the ear checked one last time, and then to get my dog's annual shots. I am so disappointed with Northside's lack of attention to detail, and for their obvious mistake in medicating my puppy. My dog has been grappling with a 4-month long ear infection all because of the poor treatment she received at Northside. All in all, if you are a pet owner living in the Williamsburg area, I would stay away from Northside, and go the extra few blocks down to Grand Ave. and visit Williamsburg Animal Clinic instead. read more

The vets and technicians are great, but the front desk staff is just rude and very very unhelpful. I've been taking my dog there for 3 years because it was conveniently close to my house, but after getting frustrated every single time I needed to make an appointment or get an answer or medicine or literally anything, I've decided it's time to move on. I wish they could hire people that care about the animals like the vets do. read more

I weighed my decision to visit NVC over other vets highly recommended by friends who are long term pet owners based off the reviews I read here. I had my reservations. The office staff is very attentive and pleasant both in person and over the phone - Dawn and Venus answered my many questions to my satisfaction. I had the pleasure of interacting with Dr. Eisner and my pet was seen by Dr. Raud and secondly Dr. Leiman. All my concerns were met with thorough answers. They respected my statement that I wanted to make the best choices for my pet given my limited financial resources. My options were explained and at no point did I feel pressured or guilted as other reviews lead me to expect. When dealing with a sensitive subject of pet care there must be a level of objectiveness maintained by all parties. After feeling as though other vets have tried to take advantage of my vulnerable state with an ill pet, I will say I feel comfortable recommending NVC based off my experiences so far. Visiting the vet I had to own that I am appealing to the expert and my only options are to digest the information given and then accept the advice or go elsewhere. For now I'll be returning to NVC. read more

Please take your pet elsewhere. Vet unable to troubleshoot problems and unreliable in diagnosis. I never had any problems with the front desk. They were always considerate and polite with me. read more