You understand the meaning of the phrase "man's best friend." Your pet is loyal, provides companionship, and is there for you through good times and bad. So when your pet is injured or feeling under the weather, you want the best for it-though you'd like not to have to declare bankruptcy to get it. We rate area veterinary practices for both quality and price.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

Back to Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.

Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Veterinarians

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Veterinarians Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Veterinarians.

• Subscriber from TACOMA, WA wrote Another Vet: This vet office is shabby but staff are polite and competent. Though really busy all..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: I did not appreciate the hardsell when I had a cat with a terminal heart..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Very thorough follow-up. Compassionate care........
• Subscriber from BOTHELL, WA wrote Another Vet: The veterinarians at Canyon Park Hospital are wonderful. They have helped my border collie for..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Good care, but expensive, and there can be quite a delay in getting in for..........
• Subscriber from BELLEVUE, WA wrote Another Vet: The service and quality of care has always been excellent. Recently I witnessed that caring..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: The woman working at the reception desk was rude and condecending. If you had a..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Other than a difficult receptionist, this veterinary hospital is outstanding. Well worth any inconvenience. I..........
• Subscriber from STEILACOOM, WA wrote Another Vet: Expensive, long waits, uninterested staff........
• Subscriber from REDMOND, WA wrote Another Vet: as a former vet. clinic worker, i always found it annoying that I had to..........
• Subscriber from KENMORE, WA wrote Another Vet: We had a dog with ongoing medical problems. Kenmore Veterinary Hospital was very helpful in..........
• Subscriber from PORT LUDLOW, WA wrote Another Vet: Until I moved away from Seattle, I used NW Veterinary Hospital for over 20 years...........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: The two best vet's I have ever had in my long history of vet care:..........
• Subscriber from EDMONDS, WA wrote Another Vet: Very, very expensive and they never, ever give self help advice over the phone. Every..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: I brought our diabetic cat in with Insulin shock and they said it would cost..........
• Subscriber from SAMMAMISH, WA wrote Another Vet: Mostly a competent crew with good intentions, and the benefit of expanded hours, with weekend..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Bedside manner not the greatest, but he's good on alternative care -- accupuncture, herbs........
• Subscriber from BOTHELL, WA wrote Another Vet: Quite expensive for tests. Vet was very nice but office very small and seemed to..........
• Subscriber from PUYALLUP, WA wrote Another Vet: We have used this clinic for many years. Our experience varies a little with the..........
• Subscriber from RENTON, WA wrote Another Vet: Insists on xraying everything ($400) first before inspecting pet. Charged me $5 for every poop..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Good people, but notoriously poor service and always "too busy" to spend time on follow..........
• Subscriber from BELLEVUE, WA wrote Another Vet: Seldom see the same vet twice, but they all seem compassionate and capable. Very busy..........
• Subscriber from WOODINVILLE, WA wrote Another Vet: This rating comes from two perspectives: first from an unexpected visit after accepting a recommendation..........
• Subscriber from EDMONDS, WA wrote Another Vet: We love this clinic. Our family has been coming back for over 15 years with..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: We use them for emergency because they are so close........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: For an emergency I was very impressed with the level of care and the cost...........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: I brought my dog in on a Sunday morning as she was vomiting and had..........
• Subscriber from ISSAQUAH, WA wrote Another Vet: Outstanding for putting pets at ease.......
• Subscriber from REDMOND, WA wrote Another Vet: The doctors are the best ever. The reception desk is understaffed and occasionally incompetant........
• Subscriber from KENT, WA wrote Another Vet: All the Vet's and assistants obviously love animals........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Good diagostician but poor communication skills and lack of empathy........
• Subscriber from REDMOND, WA wrote Another Vet: labs, x rays, etc entirely too expensive.......
• Subscriber from BOTHELL, WA wrote Another Vet: One of the vets, a dark and slender woman, could be friendlier and more accommodating........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: the office staff are exceptionally friendly and compassionate.......
• Subscriber from MERCER ISLAND, WA wrote Another Vet: Gary Marshall and staff do a great job.......
• Subscriber from BAINBRIDGE IS, WA wrote Another Vet: Have dealt with three different vets there -- all thoughtful and careful........
• Subscriber from EDMONDS, WA wrote Another Vet: Don't let the old building/office fool you. It is very clean and the staff is..........
• Subscriber from MONROE, WA wrote Another Vet: I found that they promptly saw my cat when he needed to come in. The..........
• Subscriber from MCKENNA, WA wrote Another Vet: Absolutely the best. Technical knowledge, staff courtesy and veterinary expertise........
• Subscriber from KENT, WA wrote Another Vet: Desperately needs to hire extra front desk help........
• Subscriber from MILL CREEK, WA wrote Another Vet: Extremely expensive. I think they have additional costs because of the level of service which..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Only utilized Aerowood during an emergency situation where a feral cat was badly injured. The..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: Feel they are only marginal, and have had difficulty with billing practices & animal treatment..........
• Subscriber from RAVENSDALE, WA wrote Another Vet: Fantastic Veterinary hospital!! My vet even gets down on the floor to examine my dog..........
• Subscriber from SHORELINE, WA wrote Another Vet: A very good facility for special problems; but the charges are really high........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: My pets see Dr. Adawna Windham and she is so easy-going and friendly with them..........
• Subscriber from FOX ISLAND, WA wrote Another Vet: This clinic has changed hands in the last couple of years, so earlier evaluations are..........
• Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote Another Vet: I can't praise them highly enough. Dr. Keast and the staff at the West Seattle..........
• Subscriber from BOTHELL, WA wrote Another Vet: Very caring office staff. Dr Marsh is an excellent Vet, very experienced and good practical..........
• Subscriber from ISSAQUAH, WA wrote Another Vet: Dr.Jason Laramore is fantastic. His office is well run. Very little wait and always has..........