Gentle approach, being patient, knowledgeable, and treating pets like family. Clinic is a calm environment that can reduce stress for anxious animals. Convenience: Street parking near Safeway. While many find the medical care exceptional, pricing is a common point of discussion among reviewers: To manage costs, the hospital offers club that may include unlimited exams and select preventive services like vaccines and blood work. Costs for non-routine procedures or emergency visits can be significantly higher than average local independent alternat read more

This was the first time I went to a vet (first-time pet owner here!) and the team was super accommodating when I showed up 20 minutes late to my appointment because my cat threw a fit when I tried putting him in the carrier. Our doctor was really kind and patient and laid out the options transparently. It's a bit of a small clinic and your pet will likely interact with others on the way in and out, but it gets the job done and I'm grateful for the team's calmness read more

VCA MacArthur Animal Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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1 star based in this visit. We adopted a cat from outside. I called , scheduled an appointment and clearly explained he was picked up Outdoors and that I had had another cat seen for a first free visit and asked if this cat Clark could also have first free check up . They said yes and proceeded to schedule the appt. I arrived and after taking us back they said he could not be seen without being given a $140 rabies shot.... I'm like why was I not told on the call? That's too expensive he'll be going to a clinic for that... she stepped out to double check , comes back in and says it's ok for us to see him on this visit. Then she's like it's $140 for the visit..... I'm like $140 for what visit, today she says ...... again I'm like why didn't the person say that on the call . I clearly explained and ASKED of it was a free check up before scheduling visit. Basically they WASTED my time !!!!!! read more

If I could give this veterinary clinic a -10 stars I would. During our last appointment, we waited 90 minutes to be seen and they accidentally gave my dog a second rabies shot he did not need. Their technician was completely confused about what was due and what wasn't despite having a full print out of my dog's records in front of her. I booked another appointment today in part to get an explanation for what happened. After a 45 minute wait and no apology whatsoever, I opted to leave. Before I left, I asked the office manager who is the one bright light here if he could introduce me to whomever runs the place. He phoned her twice in front of me and it seems she had no interest in coming downstairs to meet with me. Please do not put your beloved pet at risk by using this facility. They give a discount to service dogs, which is what brought me here. But it's obviously not worth it. read more

Brought my kitty here for his first doctors visit . They were very welcoming and the establishment felt like home . I love the fact that they give you an estimate of prices before doing any services! They also gave me a free kitty packet with a free sample of hills, one dose of preventative and other goodies ! If I were staying in DC longer I would make them my primary vet ! read more

Wow, I wish I came here day 1 when I got my puppy. long story short, don't walk to VCA... RUN! They Are AMAZING! in a flurry I found them online because originally We were Banfield folks, and they let us down big time, inflated costs, no answer ( even during emergencies), horrible customer service to top it off. Contacted the VCA, Jeff was SOOOO understanding, and love and compassion for animals radiated throughout this whole process. A day later and my dog is literally doing circles around me in the yard with excitement compared to the anguish and hurt he was experiencing yesterday. THANK YOU VCA!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!! Oh and they gave us a free goody bag with dog food, toys, resources for new dog owners etc!!! read more

I have brought my cat here twice for checkups and will continue to use VCA MacArthur for her care. Both times we were seen quickly. I have only had great experiences with customer service and interacted with pleasant and thoughtful staff. Dr. Elkins never makes me feel rushed and is very thorough and knowledgeable. COVID precautions were clear and easy to follow. read more

I cannot believe this place. One bad experience after another. After my last visit (which was a bad experience - see prior review) my dog had conjunctivitis (a contagious eye infection). They gave me drops for my first dog. I called a little while later to let them know that my first dog had passed it on to my second dog and asked if I could get a second tube to treat my second dog. They insisted I bring him in for an "exam", which of course would be at least $100. It makes no sense and is very obvious they are just trying to get money out of me. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason they couldn't just call in a second tube outside of being greedy. I hope your greed was worth it to you. I've spent a lot of money on services there and I am now moving my vet clinic to somewhere that cares more about actually treating and retaining their clients than a quick dollar. Only go to this place if you want to spend above and beyond what other vets charge. read more

Expensive, particularly for the lackluster service. I've taken my pup here before and received decent care. Lately the 'general' staff has become less knowledgeable. read more

My dog has only been a patient of the MacArthur hospital for a few months and I am eager to find a new veternarian. Not only do I share others opinion that they are hyper focused on extracting as much money out of my pocket as possible, cloaked in concern for my pet's health, but the final straw is for that high premium of care comes with it mediocre service. I submitted a standard prescription for heartworm on Chewy to be filled and the Hospital dragged their feet for over a week and denied the approval, which caused my prescription to be cancelled. They never communicated to me the issue so it could be resolved in a timely manner. This isn't the first time this has happened in only 3 months. Meanwhile, they are quick to call when they are trying to 'check on my pet' (i.e. another potential payday.) When I called the hospital to find out what was going on because Chewy alerted me that there was a problem, they told me that I had purchased the wrong product, which is why they denied the prescription initially. I reviewed my Chewy order and it was indeed correct, I'm not sure how they came to any other conclusion. I refuse to pay exorbitant prices for substandard service....and be blamed for their mistakes. Filling a prescription shouldn't take up multiple days of my time. The cynic in me thinks it's because they want to drive me to fill the prescription with them so they can triple the price of the medication. RUN, don't walk, to another vet for your pet care. read more

Sadly, what happened this past Summer has made my previous 5-star review go down to a 1-star, but note that I still thank Dr. Polk for his great help last year (my previous review). However, the events of June are just unforgiveable... at least for this Goldendoodle Mom: The Beloved Goldendoodle needed his annual physical, and since it would be a good 6 weeks before we were home in Boston and some shots needed to be updated, I figured returning to VCA would be easy. During Dr. Hassell's check, he looked in the boy's mouth and told me that he needed to have his teeth cleaned, preferably within a few weeks. And it would be anywhere from $800-900. 8 to 9 HUNDRED DOLLARS. Now, if the Beloved Goldendoodle needs anything to keep him healthy and happy, he will have it. I would miss a week of food for myself before the boy went without, but I just could not believe he needed his teeth cleaned WITHIN WEEKS. 6 days later, I received a call saying that two nasty things had turned up in his stool sample (damn sick dogs in DC he had been in contact with and their humans for not taking care of them!) and he needed two different medications ASAP. It was 4:30 or so on a Friday afternoon, I was at work and could not get there by the time they closed, and said I would be there first thing the next morning. I arrived the next morning and the girl at the front desk seemed perplexed as there was no medicine ready. Couldn't find me by my name, my pup's name, by any name because it was not ready. I waited and waited, someone had to find the records and then get both medications ready; this visit took a grand total of 28 minutes (I know for sure as I was parked at the meter directly in front). He needed a follow-up visit to make sure all was OK, and as much as I did NOT want to bring him back, we were still weeks away from being home in Boston and he needed a second shot. I made sure that Dr. Polk was working when we returned, and the pup seemed much more calm in his presence. Note that Dr. Polk called me within 24 hours with follow-up lab work, unlike Dr. Hassell's SIX DAYS. When we were back in Boston, I took the boy in to see his lifelong vet so he could check him out and review all the paperwork/labwork. Guess what? NO DENTAL CLEANING NEEDED. Last month, I needed a vet in the DC area for something quick and found Clarendon Animal in Arlington (awesome, go there) and take another guess if he needed a dental cleaning "within weeks"? Right, NO cleaning needed. While our visits with Dr. Polk were good and the guy at the front desk (Jeffrey?) is nice, I just cannot forgive the dental cleaning thing, nor waiting 6 days for lab results. read more

We cannot say enough good things about our experience at VCA MacArthur. The staff is very friendly and professional. They always make our puppy feel welcome and loved. Dr.Frisch as well as the other doctors carefully explain the care our puppy is getting and are happy to discuss with us different options. Our boy had an allergic reaction to his first immunization and I rushed him back to VCA and they couldn't of been more caring and gentle with him to make sure he was ok and to help him feel better. Since then he has had a personalized treatment schedule when he has had his shots, taking into account his health. Our boy loves going to VCA and is always excited to be there. I don't know how many dogs love the vet but he certainly does. We wholeheartedly recommend VCA MacArthur. From the front desk, to the nurses and doctors everyone shows love, affection to our dog along with top notch medical care. read more

VCA MacArthur Animal Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

DON' T GO THERE! I am very disappointed. I brought in my cat because he had a lump on the side. (The suspicion is that it could have either been a Lipoma (fat cell tumor, very frequent in cats and dogs) or an abscess (an infection full of pus). ( I am a biologist with PhD in Molecular Medicine) I was recommended for surgery, since the vet was sure about the lipoma, without a biopsy and without even shaving the cat to check for possible signs of wounds, which would have excluded the lipoma. I ask and pay for the biopsy (aprox. 500$) which consists in 5 punctures of the lump. Unnecessary surgery is wrong, in humans and animals! I was waiting for the pathology results (I payed for them), but never got them. Instead I received the email with the costs for the surgery (over 4000$). The skin of the cat was not disinfected before picturing for the biopsy! I can understand that it may be unnecessary in animals but if the suspicion is an infection, you may want to do that! OVERNIGHT because of the pocking with the syringe the abscess deflated and the cat was immediately more active! I guess the lipoma wasn't a Lipoma! I wonder if I would have agreed on the surgery without biopsy...Would the surgical procedure still be lipoma removal??? SO UNPROFESSIONAL!!! TAKING ADVANTAGE of the health of animals we care for and love is unacceptable. read more

I usually do not write reviews but this was prompted. I will admit, the staff is friendly, which is always nice but the cost to bring a cat here is ridiculous. I came to VCA because I got my kitten at the shelter and they provided a coupon for his first visit and I still ended paying over $200 for a vaccine and blood work. Today, I went back and paid over $400 for a general consult, two vaccines & a fecal exam that I was not told would be part of this visit during my last visit. The general consultation is over $100 itself. I have decided to take my kitten to my regular vet, where I take my older cat and I know will be significantly more cost friendly. Again, nice staff but your pockets will hurt, no doubt. read more

As a first time pet parent, I'm crazy neurotic and worried about anything and everything with my puppy, Riley. I decided on VCA MacArthur Animal Hospital, because I've heard terrible things about Friendship ordering unnecessary tests - far more than the normal upsell at other animal hospitals. I'm so glad we settled on VCA. The staff at this small hospital always make you feel welcome, and treat your pet as if it's one of their own. Dr. Elkins is the best - she is knowledgeable and reassuring. And, my pup just loves her! Because she's still a puppy, we have to go in every two weeks for vaccines, and so far, she doesn't seem to mind! Pro tip: While it's somewhat expensive, I would highly recommend the Care Plan, at least if you have a puppy. The 24/7 text support from a licensed vet is so wonderful - it has calmed my nerves a few times! read more

Scooby and I both give VCA MacArthur 5 stars! Scooby a shy shelter dog, and I'm a first time dog owner, but Dr. Frisch made us both feel comfortable and well taken care of. She was patient with our many questions, and filled us in on everything we needed to know as a new dog family. Scooby warmed up to her quickly - which is saying a lot! The staff is extremely friendly, organized and responsive. I've never been sent to voicemail (and I've called a lot!). Five stars for VCA MacArthur! read more

I pay $140/month for the VCA MacArthur Care Club, which is supposed to provide my puppy unlimited exams. Today, she is not eating -- not even her favorite treats. We called at 8:50AM, and were told that we could not be fit in for a same-day appointment because everything was booked. I believe that VCA MacArthur has no incentive to fit in emergency patients who are on the Care Club plan because they have already received our commitment to pay. The receptionist suggested that we could try calling again at 8AM the next day to see if we could get an appointment, because we called too late today! This is an emergency, and the receptionist could not have been more uncaring. I will also have to pay out-of-plan, full-price, somewhere else simply because there are no appointments available. VCA MacArthur will not reimburse for out-of-plan visits. In January, I also tried to book a spay appointment for my puppy right after her six month birthday in February -- before her first heat. I was told by this same receptionist that the vet was too busy and could not see her until March. She told me that I could call back if my puppy started going into heat. When I told her that would be too late, she sounded confused and repeated that there was no availability. I called again that afternoon and spoke to a different receptionist, Jeffrey, who understood the issue, was able to call the doctor, and get an appointment for February. VCA MacArthur does not have urgent care capabilities like other vets, like VCA Alexandra or Friendship Heights Animal Hospital. If you want continuity of care or service, go elsewhere. read more

Excellent staff across the board, professional, thorough, and friendly. Ozzie, our aging 75 pound boxer mix, developed an ear infection just three weeks after we moved to DC. A relative recommended this vet office but warned it might take a while to get an appointment. When I called and explained our situation, they worked us in that same day. Dr. Myers was extremely thorough, dealing with Ozzie's immediate issues while also working out a long term plan for an aging dog. She even phoned the next day to see how he's doing. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing! The staff is so sweet and take such good care of my fur babe!! Couldn't recommend them enough! So kind and knowledgeable.

We've been coming to VCA for our energetic golden retriever puppy, Sammy for about 7 months now. It's such an amazing place because all the doctors and staff are super friendly and passionate about animals! They are kind, patient, and all around the best service in DC animal care. I highly recommend taking your fur baby here for all your pet health needs! Jeffery is so sweet and welcoming and Sammy is always ecstatic to greet him at the front desk. Dr. Elkins and Dr. Frisch are fabulous and are so patient with our goofy puppy! Our Sammy just loves all the staff at VCA! We have honestly had nothing but good experiences here. They are always available to help us with any problems our dog may have, big or small. I highly recommend VCA! read more

VCA MacArthur Animal Hospital - Sammy super excited to be at the vet and waiting patiently to see Dr. Elkins - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love this place, great first visit cost. Only 25 dollars. Also has nice fun wheel to play.

Honestly, this is a hard review to write. I thought that the vet I saw was kind and knowledgable, but all in all, it was not the greatest experience and OBSCENELY expensive. I moved into a new place in the District a few months ago, and somehow ended up on the mailing list for this vet. I received a special offer for a free first exam/visit and free vaccinations for up to two pets. I'd been taking my cats to a vet in Virginia, so I thought perhaps moving to one in DC made sense. And free exam and shots? Why not! First of all, there was no parking nearby. I toted my two cats in their carriers from far down the street. No one attempted to help me with the doors (there were two--and they didn't shut automatically behind you, so I had to place the carriers down, open the door, put carriers inside the door, close the door, then open another door, put carriers through, then close the door). Considering it was quiet in the lobby, I was surprised the woman at the desk didn't even glance in my direction. I had to fill out some paperwork and then waited in the lobby for quite some time. One of my cats gets REALLY worked up at the vet and so being in the lobby with dogs running up sniffing his cage is not a good combination with his general vet anxiety. Finally we were taken back to an examination room, and a vet tech came in. By then the male cat was so freaked out that the tech couldn't even touch him. He went and got a "party hat" (muzzle) to put on him, but couldn't even manage that, so he turned his attention to the female. By the time the vet came into the room, the male had jumped down from the counter and worked himself into a total frenzy. They decided that he needed to be partially sedated to complete an exam, so I agreed. However, although I am quite aware of the fact that my cat is an asshole, he has never had to be sedated for a vet visit before. The vet tech brought out an estimate with the various services, and I was pretty shocked at the figure, but showed him the coupon I had brought and so he went away and came back with an adjusted one. I was charged $99 each for the exam (whereas before it had said $199). The vaccinations were without charge, but I was charged for two fecal exams and two urinalyses. I was charged for the sedation, and bought three months of Heartguard for both. So even with the "free" exam and vaccinations, I paid over $750--for a WELLNESS check. They weren't even sick! Imagine if one of them were ill--I really cannot even fathom what the visit would have cost me. Now I get postcards in the mail every two weeks telling me Cosimo and Stella need teeth cleanings, and more shots. Um, no thank you. I'm broke for the next few months, thanks to you. For next time, I'll be seeking out poor, non-profit employee affordable options for my pets' care. read more

My dog, Ferris, has been going to VCA for most all of his care since I adopted him when he was 4 months old. He's a husky/shepherd mix and is now 14 years old and in astoundingly good shape; his care by VCA vets and techs has been no small part of that! Dr. Frisch knows my dog intimately and often greets him with "Hello friend!" Ferris absolutely loves going to VCA MacArthur --tail wags, he relaxes, and is thrilled with all the attention and treats. While generally health, Ferris has had a couple of tricky health issues, and so I value how carefully Dr. Frisch listens to me describe his symptoms. She is compassionate too, which is very helpful when dealing with an older dog. I appreciate the fact that the treatment / testing is always purposeful - she does not suggest things that are not useful or may be overkill. I don't think I'm alone in feeling anxious when my dog is sick; the only way for *me* to feel better is for my *dog* to feel better -- and I *always* leave confident that we have a plan to make him better! The group of techs at VCA MacArthur is nothing short of *excellent*. Ferris knows and loves each one of them! He's a big dog and very strong and they are extremely skilled at handling him (e.g. to hold him while he's receiving a vaccine). I am so fortunate to have found such a gem in veterinary care in Dr. Frisch and her team at VCA MacArthur. Cannot imagine him receiving more skilled, thoughtful and loving care anywhere else. read more

Awesome environment Jeffrey is awesome friendly and courteous my cats love their doctor cleaning professional if I could give him $6 I would :-) read more

After the appointment tonight, I will not be going back. I was not happy about the lack of service and the way my puppy was treated. We had a blood test done for heartworm tonight and, being a 5-month old puppy, he was squeamish. It did not help that it took them about 16 tries to draw the blood. The longer it went on, the more he cried. After it was over, I was told he needed obedience training. If any entity needs training, it is the staff at VCA - phlebotomy training would come in handy and would render the nasty comments about a puppy crying unnecessary. My puppy is a beautiful, loving golden retriever who deserves to go to a Vet who understands he is a puppy and, more pertinently, can draw blood on the first try to minimize the trauma any puppy would experience having blood drawn for the first time. I will not be going back and would not recommend any one else with a dog from ever visit this establishment. If you can't love a puppy and treat a puppy well, you should find another career, outside of animal care. read more

Love this hospital. My cat Lynzie can be a handful at the Vet. Dr. Elkins and Charity took their time with him. He was recently diagnose with diabetes ( I thought my world was going to end) and Dr. Elkins reasurre me he was going to be ok. I will recommend this place to family and friend. Ps: the whole staff is wonderful. read more

Excellent service! Jeffrey and Shayna that work the front desk were very helpful both times I came to visit!!! I wish the office wasn't so far away, I would love to continue to come here! read more

Excellent care for my Husky! She has all care since 4 months of age at this hospital. They genuinely care for her and treat her like family! They are worth the visit every time. read more

I'm a neurotic pet owner that just moved to DC. After my Kreature got into chicken bones and chocolate I was frantic. After calling every vet in town I was referred to this Vet from Union Vet Hospital. I drove across town and don't regret it at all. The receptionist was patient, the vet techs understanding and the Doctor so friendly. They never even charged me for the visit and the store next door gave me 5 free bags of dog/cat food on the way out. read more

I moved to DC from Florida 3 years ago and this is the first time I have taken my cat, Nova, to the vet. I noticed worms and that her ears were hot so after checking reviews from local vets I decided on VCA because they had positive reviews and a FREE first visit. I couldn't be happier with my choice! My initial call to make an appointment was warmly greeted and they had availability to see her that same week. When I got there the receptionist was kind and helpful. The waiting area was simple and clean. I was quickly taken back to the exam room and had a great experience with both the technician and the doctor. Both women were super friendly and welcoming to both me and my cat. I had a whole bunch of questions about Nova's hot ear and the doctor was super patient with me, answered all of my questions, and even double checked Nova's ear when I asked! Shortly after the doctor evaluated Nova and discussed with me suggested treatment, the tech came back in and presented me with a list of the suggested products and the prices for each. Again, the first visit was free so that cost was deducted. I decided to purchase one medicine, but loved having the option to just walk out. Also, while she suggested vaccines she didn't force them on me, which was certainly appreciated. We were given a goodie bag with 2 toys, a free dose of heart worm/flea medicine, and written instructions on how to clean her ear out! Such a simple but nice touch. I will definitely be back! Strongly recommend! read more

Great staff. Great Doctors. Amazing hours. My dog, Tucker, and I are very grateful to have such a great vet! Oh - they also file your insurance claim for you if you want them to. read more

As someone who recently moved to DC from California it has taken a while to acclimate to poor East Coast customer service. That being said, I was very pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of the people at the VCA on MacArthur. I ended up being 40 minutes late for my appointment and they were very accommodating and pleasant about it. The vet I saw, Dr. Polk, even stayed after closing time to help. He was funny and friendly, and had lots of tips on how to take care of my new cat. I highly recommend going here! Five stars for great customer service and helpful staff! read more

We purchased our puppy from Just Puppies in Rockville, MD and VCA is listed as their partner veterinarians. We've been taking our puppy to VCA for the last almost 4 months and we just love this practice. Jeffrey at the front desk is so friendly and warm, he remembers us and our puppy every time we visit. Dr. Elkins bedside manner is just wonderful, we feel safe and happy with her care of our little guy. We also love the location of the practice. There is always street parking across the street. There is a small Safeway across the street so we're able to pick up some odds and ends before or after each visit. It's funny but we actually find visiting the vet to be a rather enjoyable experience all around! read more

This vet is amazing! If you are looking for a good place to take your furry family, I highly recommend this group! They gave me the first visit, for my new kitten, free and included a goodie bag at the end! I admit I had to reschedule the vaccine follow-up several times but they were very understanding. This time I had both cats with me and the doctor was very gentle and patient! She calmed my very scared kitty through her shots and had my four year old tabby more relaxed than any of us could. Finally because we are low income they gave us a lot of discounts we really needed! I will definitely be back! read more

A good vet has to treat both animals and their owners. This practice understands that. I've seen every doctor here and they all have a shared concern and expert knowledge of what it takes to treat pets and comfort humans. read more

This is a fantastic location for veterinary care for your pets. I have been pleased with the personal attention, honest and caring advice from the veterinarians as well as the competent and friendly assistance of the technicians. Dr. Polk is very pleasant to work with; he shows such genuine care and concern for the pets. He is also extremely professional and discusses pet's issues and treatments in a very plain-spoken manner. it is a relatively small clinic by standards of this area making it more intimate and assuring more time with the technicians and veterinarian. In each of our visits the vet has spent far more time with us and our pet than I would have thought and, certainly, more time than at other clinics. Would highly recommend for primary care services for your pet. read more

Love VCA MacArthur. We have used them for the last 3 years since adopting our beloved pup. We've seen both Dr. Frisch and Dr. Ottinger (now moved away) and both vets and their staff have always been kind, attentive and knowledgeable. Highly recommend. It is a bit pricey but we have an older dog and do the VCA Care plan which covers all of his routine services which is really helpful with an older pet. read more

We've been going to VCAs around the country since we first got our little maltipoo. When we moved to DC from LA few months ago, I decided to try another vet that was closer to us and had lower prices, since it had good enough reviews. I immediately regretted my decision and wished I had stuck with VCA. We just visited VCA MacArthur this week, and I can still say I've never received better service than I have at VCA hospitals. The front desk staff are always friendly and helpful. The doctors and techs/assistants and always knowledgeable and never make you feel like your questions are stupid and they don't aggressively push unnecessary vaccines or treatments. Jeffrey, Charity and Dr. Frisch made me feel at ease and they truly cared for our dogs. Despite what some reviewers have noted as higher prices, we'll definitely stick with VCA. read more

This is the best VCA animal hospital I've gone to. My puppy is always so excited to come and greet everyone here. The front desk staff is always very professional and courteous. Everyone here is always friendly and attentive to you and your pup's needs. I've been taking my puppy here for a few months and am really appreciative of the veterinarians here. Whenever I have had any concerns related to my puppy, they have always been very diligent in resolving it. They are quick to return your phone calls and walk you through appropriate next steps. I would definitely recommend bringing your furry friend here! read more

Very professional and great with puppies. They informed us of all required do's and don't. The staff is very knowledgeable over the phone. While our puppy was ill everyone did their best to help us out over the phone to avoid a visit if it wasn't necessary. read more

VCA MacArthur Animal Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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