Dr. Bender is the best vet I've ever known. I met him at a social event 12 years ago and mentioned my cat's chronic health problems that 4 other vets could not figure out. He suggested I bring her in to his clinic, and when I did, he diagnosed her in just a few minutes. After providing the correct medication and guidance, he helped me bring her relief, elevate her comfort, and extend her quality of life for many years. All my cats since received the best care possible from this clinic, including house calls! Read Less

My fiancé and I adopted a 10 week old puppy who was very sick, and Dr. Bender and the nurses took very good care of us. They very carefully and clearly explained everything that would be required in the coming weeks, gave us everything we needed to get him well again, and gave us the assurance we needed. We could not have chosen anyone better for our little man and look forward to future visits, knowing he is going to be well taken care of. Read Less

Dr. Bender and the Grove Center team have been my vet of choice for nearly 20 years. They have helped me and my family through new puppies, kittens, health emergencies and well check-ups. I have always felt 100% confident in Dr. Bender's diagnostic skills and providing me appropriate and cost-effective options for my pets. The staff is always friendly and helpful and it feels great when they remember my pets. I would highly recommend Dr. Bender to anyone looking for a caring, thoughtful and responsive vet. Did I mention he does housecalls?! Do beware of his dry sense of humor. I've always been a fan, but it may take getting used to for some. Read Less

I've have taken my pets to Grove Center Veterinary Hospital for almost 10 years now. First treating my Senior cat then a my dog. A year after we adopted our dog she became very ill with a mysterious illness. She lost a signification amount of weight and almost died. Thankfully Dr. Bender didn't give up on her and was able to diagnose her with a rare condition that effects her Pancreas. Luckily its an easy treatment of enzymes. With in no time she gained the weight back and is back to her old self again. She's now almost 6 years old and wont be slowing down anytime soon. His knowledge and ability to diagnose issues most vets would have given up on rates him above the rest. He even does home visits. You wont find a better vet. Read Less

I've have taken my pets to Grove Center Veterinary Hospital for almost 10 years now. First treating my Senior cat then a my dog. A year after we adopted our dog she became very ill with a mysterious illness. She lost a signification amount of weight and almost died. Thankfully Dr. Bender didn't give up on her and was able to diagnose her with a rare condition that effects her Pancreas. Luckily its an easy treatment of enzymes. With in no time she gained the weight back and is back to her old self again. She's now almost 6 years old and wont be slowing down anytime soon. His knowledge and ability to diagnose issues most vets would have given up on. He even does home visits. You wont find a better vet. Read Less

Dr. Bender and all of the staff at Grove Center Veterinary Hospital are the absolute BEST! Kind, knowledgable, professional, courteous and caring. Dr. Bender saved the life of a kitten we brought to him in 2003. Thirteen years later our little Pumpkin is still going strong, thanks to him. He has won our loyalty forever. Read Less

The morning I first contacted Dr. Bender, I was in tears trying to find a vet who would come to our house. Our Aussie had been having terrible seizures all night and we knew it was time, but we couldn't bear the thought of forcing her to endure a painful car ride. Although Dr. Bender didn't know us, he agreed to come to our house and SO kindly and gently examined our dog, gave his assessment, and waited while we made a very difficult decision. He then did what needed to be done with the utmost care and sensitivity. Of course, when we adopted a little rescue pup a few months later, I wouldn't consider going to any other vet. He's now been Zoe's doctor for five years, and we couldn't be happier. He's knowledgeable, kind and professional, as is his staff. He'll even call to check up on Zoe after we bring her in due to illness or injury. 5 stars all the way for someone who truly cares deeply about his furry patients.Read Less

The morning I first contacted Dr. Bender, I was in tears trying to find a vet who would come to our house. Our Aussie had been having terrible seizures all night and we knew it was time, but we couldn't bear the thought of forcing her to endure a painful car ride. Although Dr. Bender didn't know us, he agreed to come to our house and SO kindly and gently examined our dog, gave his assessment, and waited while we made a very difficult decision. He then did what needed to be done with the utmost care and sensitivity. Of course, when we adopted a little rescue pup a few months later, I wouldn't consider going to any other vet. He's now been Zoe's doctor for five years, and we couldn't be happier. He's knowledgeable, kind and professional, as is his staff. He'll even call to check up on Zoe after we bring her in due to illness or injury. 5 stars all the way for someone who truly cares deeply about his furry patients. Read Less

I found Dr. Bender through a family friend. He was so knowledgeable and supportive. He was quick to reassure me when I was concerned about my dogs health and offered recommendations on how to handle her medications and recovery. When I drove in to pick up her meds, he took time to come out and speak with me even though I didn't have an appointment. The girls in the front were very friendly and you could tell how much they loved the animals and their iobs. Highly recommend this practice to anyone who wants a vet who loves their animals as much as they do! Read Less

I took my dog here for his first appointment with them today. They were really awesome!! They were very sweet and understanding. I really appreciated their patience and they also took the time to explain everything. The exam was very gentle and they seemed caring. They helped my dog and I feel at ease. I already have his follow up appointment scheduled for next week. We look forward to going back! Read Less

Finally, after trying vets around the area over many years -- we have OUR vet!  Dr. Bender's thorough, gentle exams (both in the office and in our home -- yes -- home visits!!) are excellent.  He answers all our questions and really listens to our input.  Dr. Bender goes above and beyond -- he came to our home on Easter Sunday to send our darling Tommy on his way after kidney disease got the best of him.  He didn't hesitate when I called -- "Tommy needs me and you need me -- I'll be there" -- he was at our door in under 30 minutes and helped us all through a heart-breaking goodbye.  I must also say that Dr. Bender's staff is excellent -- always, always welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and caring.  I cannot recommend Grove Center Veterinary Hospital highly enough -- we feel lucky to have found them and so does our furry family! Read Less

HiMy cat came down with a mysterious illness a week ago.. He would not eat or drink.. He was sleeping all day and did not have much energy. I had Dr. Bender come over and look at him and then it was determined that the cat needed to go to his office. I know that the cat was subjected to many tests and an Xray but his health turned around under Dr. Bender's care. He is still recovering but Dr. Bender was thorough and worked hard to solve the problem. My cat is alive thanks to Dr. Bender. Read Less

Dr. Bender and his staff were exceptionally thorough in examining and diagnosing my twelve year old cat, Molly, who had developed a poison ivy like rash on her paws, ears, and nose and was extremely uncomfortable day and night until she visited the Grove Center Hospital and was diagnosed with an auto immune disease. She now receives medication to control her symptoms and is a happy kitty. Read Less

We've been taking our cats to Dr. Bender for 10 years. We've brought in new kittens, said goodbye to old friends, and we went through a very difficult illness that we feared may have been cancer. Thanks to Dr. Bender, that cat is now alive and well 2 years later. Dr. Bender was compassionate and supportive through the difficult times, but was never afraid to tell us if something needed to be changed for the best interest of one of our pets. In addition to our own experience, we have friends and family that have taken their pets to Dr. Bender, all of whom had wonderful things to say about him. Sadly, we moved away from the Gaithersburg area last year and had to change vets, but we will always be grateful to Dr. Bender for all he's done for our family over the years. Read Less

We met Dr. Bender by chance when our cat, Charlie, became very ill with advanced kidney disease. On the same day that we called he came to our house for a reasonable fee and was wonderful with Charlie and with us. He presented us with various options, and recommended an antibiotic that seems to have helped greatly. Despite earlier experiences with vets, whom Charlie greatly distrusts, he responded well to Dr. Bender and didn't run away from him even after having blood drawn. We are very grateful to Dr. Bender and will continue using him as our vet. We would highly recommend him; we've also learned that he has an answering service that is very helpful after office hours. Read Less

We unexpectedly needed to put our 13 year old lab down and Dr Bender came to our house within hours to help us out. We were not patients of his but he treated us kindly and took great care in relieving Gracie of her pain. In addition, his fee was reasonable and our family's experience while sad, was bearable. Thank you Dr Bender. Read Less

We unexpectedly needed to put our 13 year old lab down and Dr Bender came to our house within hours to help us out. We were not patients of his but he treated us kindly and took great care in relieving Gracie of her pain. In addition, his fee was reasonable and our family's experience while sad, was bearable. Thank you Dr Bender. Read Less

I have been a patron of Grove Center and Dr. Bender for 15+ years. It easy for me to say that they have always provided the best care and advice for my pets. It is wonderful to walk into an office where they remember you and your pet, or pets in my case. And of course the fact that they will do house calls is such a plus! Dr. Bender helped my family and I navigate the difficulties of a dog with a multitude of health problems. He has the patience and expertise to work with you to diagnose any problem. With his help our dog lived a wonderful 10yrs. I don't think this would have been possible without his guidance.This is my vet for life! Read Less

We have been struggling for almost a year to find a diagnosis for a chronic problem with my cat.  We tried various medications and procedures and nothing worked.  Finally, we opted for a second opinion and took our cat to see Dr. Bender.  Within the first visit he had a solution that logically made sense and set forth a treatment plan that has worked.  We were so close to putting our little girl down and Dr. Bender saved her! Read Less

We have been part of the Grove Center "family' for over 10 years; from saying goodbye to old and well loved companions to welcoming new furry friends into our our home! Dr. Bender, Cindy and Mandy are always there to make every experience the best for our pets. I really appreciate that Dr.Bender is willing to make house calls when it is more traumatic for the animal to be brought to the office then to be seen in her environment.Read Less

Dr. Bender is the first vet who I've had do a house visit. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but he immediately scared the s_ _ t out of my cat. Not at all gentle and took no time to meet her before going after her. He also basically told me to sit in the corner and be quiet.  I don't think he wanted me in the room--but there was no way I was leaving her with a stranger--DVM or notAfter discussing the visit with a friend as I drank a very strong margarita,  I've decided he won't be asked back. Read Less

I just love Grove Center Vet....they are always friendly and even do house calls.  Dr. Bender even calls to check on each pet as if it were his own!  My dog, Angie was mischieveous and got into some candy and had a negative reaction.  We tested her blood levels and had to put her on a low protein, easy to digest diet.  All seems well, but she is 13 so we have to watch her.  Each day is a treasure...too bad they don't live forever. Read Less

I wish I'd known about Yelp when I was going to Dr. Bender.  I went to him because he did house calls (at an additional cost, but that's totally fair), and I had a very high-stress cat who needed that.  I always found him unpleasant, giving me an attitude like I'm an idiot when I had too many questions.  But, I felt like the care was fine, and as my other cat was living with cancer, I was afraid to switch vets in the middle of his care, so I hung in there.  Since it's been so long, I can't give accurate comments, other than to say the reason I finally left Dr. Bender was because he was CRACKING JOKES as he put my cat to sleep.  I will never forgive or forget that as long as I live.  It hurts, even years later.  That's not acceptable under any circumstances, ever.  I was sitting next to my cat bawling my eyes out and saying my goodbyes, and he was making jokes.  JOKES.So, I left him for a wonderful vet and never looked back, except to wince when I drive past his street now.  I will add that Bruce, one of the vet techs there, was FANTASTIC - very compassionate.  Sadly, it wasn't enough to keep me there. Read Less

I've brought my various cats and dog to Dr. Bender for the past 15 years because I trust their care to him. One of my cats is diabetic and Dr. Bender was very thorough in diagnosing and treating Seeley. He took a lot of time explaining diabetic care to me . . . and Seeley has a lot of special needs. Dr. Bender promptly returns call and doesn't seem too busy to explain labs results or answer questions. He is very knowledgable and really cares about the pets in his care. Since I have two special needs cats I am in frequent contact with Grove Center Veterinary Hospital and make frequent visits to the office. Dr. Bender and his staff feel like family. Much of my regular contact is with Kierstin and Mandi . . . and they are so helpful, cheerful, and friendly. All this and Dr. Bender does house calls too! How cool is that? I know my skittish cats thank him for the home visits - they hate that cat carrier. Finally, I think Dr. Bender's charge/fees are quite reasonable and affordable. So I recommend Grove Center Veterinary Hospital (Dr. Bender) for anyone's beloved pet. Read Less

We love Doctor Bender and would never go anywhere else!! His office staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they make you feel like family. Doctor Bender is available for house calls and can be paged at literally any hour outside of office hours in an emergency. You get the feeling from him that he just really cares about his patients and their owners as well, and it is always reassuring to know that he is just as invested in getting to the bottom of our pet-issues as we are. I couldn't say enough wonderful things about Doctor Bender and his staff and felt obligated to note how happy we are with him as our veterinarian. Read Less

I first heard about this place from a friend who treasures her cat more than anything in the world (other than her husband, lol).  I figured wherever she takes her cat must be amazing.  I was right.Dr. Bender (the only vet at this hospital)  is a very good vet that uses scientific logic with his diagnosis (no automatic guessing as some MDs/VMs do, he takes his time).  He is thorough and does everything necessary to know the exact problem and best treatment.  He acknowledges your background/knowledge level and talks to you accordingly.  As a scientist, I really got tired of vets that explained what a bacterium is to me after I already told them what I do for a living.Another amazing thing about Dr. Bender is the personal attention.  First, he does house calls, which is the first I've seen in this area.  Second, when I call with an issue, I am able to speak with him directly.  He is also the one calling me when updating me on the progress of said issue.  Third, he takes his time to talk to you and give you an in depth explanation, along with giving you time for questions.The prices are pretty reasonable too.  So, this is our vet from now on :) Read Less

Thank goodness I found Dr. Bender (through a friend). Here's why. Suddenly, my healthy cat took sick with multiple sickly behaviors. Over time, and with the help of Dr. Bender, my cat came through what had been a serious protracted illness. The excellent medical veterinary services of Dr. Bender were accompanied by humane care and attention to my cat's needs and to my concerns. A few salient observations/items: the staff is genuinely warm and efficient too, Dr. Bender took care to minimize the stress to me and my cat, Dr. Bender makes himself available whether it's in the office, by house call, or as was the case several times here, through a phone call. Once, he returned a call at 1 AM Sunday morning when the cat was experiencing distress. I can't express how valuable it is to me in knowing that Dr. Bender is available in some fashion 24/7. Within my budget, the cost of care was very reasonable, I trust Dr. Bender because the positive outcome(s) for my cat proved the medical/non-medical choices he had given to me were the right ones. Thankfully, he's both a good veterinarian and a good man. Read Less

I have been bringing my six pets to Doctor Bender for the past four years and I can't imagine ANYONE having anything bad to say about him or anyone at his practice! The staff is warm, friendly and knowledgeable....and we just LOVE them. Doctor Bender can be a little awkward with people, but it is because of him that two of my "tough" pets were diagnosed with things that no other vet had picked up! He is an excellent diagnostician. He never seems like a vet who is after your money, he just wants to help you take great care of your furry babies! He really cares about his patients, and he'll be our vet for life! Read Less