Having worked in nearly every facet of animal care in the Kansas City area, I know a LOT of vets. It says a lot, then, that I continue to recommend this clinic to everyone I meet who asks about good l... Read More
Having worked in nearly every facet of animal care in the Kansas City area, I know a LOT of vets. It says a lot, then, that I continue to recommend this clinic to everyone I meet who asks about good local pet doctors. My family has been going to Knappenberger Vet Clinic since we moved to Olathe in 1991. After two decades, we've used nearly every service they offer, from simple things like wellness visits and vaccinations to more complex things like spay surgeries, emergencies, and euthanasias. I have never been disappointed in them.The clinic is a family-run operation, lead by a father/son team of veterinarians and staffed by the rest of the Knappenberger clan. Tom, the older vet, is the one I have had the most personal experience with. He is a gentle and caring person, and very conscious of the fact that many pet owners have financial constraints to consider when outlining a plan for their animals' healthcare.Perfect example of this: I had to call him at around 2 AM one summer night seven years ago when one of my cats, Sebastian, had a blocked urinary tract and a full bladder that felt hard as a rock. I was still fairly new at veterinary medicine, but I knew enough to know that this was a serious situation; if we didn't get his urethra unblocked, his bladder would rupture. I had originally taken him to Mission MedVet, where they wanted $600 to place a catheter and keep him overnight. No amount of love I had for my cat was going to make that much money magically appear in my bank account, so I called and explained the situation to Tom, who told us to meet him at the clinic as soon as possible. He catheterized Sebastian and drained his bladder, relieving the pressure and likely saving his life. When my then-boyfriend explained our financial situation (which, at the time, was pretty pitiful), Tom let us write a postdated check for the cost of the procedure so that we could pay him after our next payday. I don't know that he would do this for just anyone who walked in off the street, but he'd known my family for nearly fifteen years at that point, and it is a testament to how much he values his clients' loyalty that he bent the rules for us.Tom has also euthanized two of our family pets, and was very helpful and supportive throughout the whole procedure, especially to my mother. As awful as that experience always is, I'm glad it was him helping us through it.I have also used the clinic's boarding facility, Paw Palace, when my normal petsitter has been unavailable. They've cared for my two miniature pinschers, Luke and Fox. They always take great care of my dogs and never seem to have issues with Luke, who has a bit of an... attitude. Their kennel staff is really nice, the cost is reasonable, and I always feel good knowing that the boys are in good hands while I'm out of town.The clinic is located in southwest Olathe, so it's a bit of a drive from some parts of the Metro area, but I really feel like it's worth the drive. After twenty years, we'd have gone elsewhere by now if it wasn't. Read Less