This review is from my cat Tessa! She and I had a wonderful experience during the medical care visit and the staff gave me a tour of the boarding and lodging available. The Vet was completely detailed and the staff treated Tessa as if they knew her for years. She is a house cat and does not like leaving the house much. After the tour-- I would bring her there for care or lodging without a second thought!Friendly, clean, and home like! Read Less

I am new this areas and In a pinch, I took my dog there, they charge $85 to check the dog before boarding was allowed.  I had my dog shots up to date. I was so happy and grateful, they could take me at the last minute, I was leaving on trip the next day, I didn't have other options.  My impression was changed when : The vet didn't even touch the dog for more then 2minutes, she was so rushed, I didn't caught her name.  They did recommend a booster for influenza that add an additional fee. I was grateful they could take him at the last minute,  after my visit there was not too thrilled to be leaving him there for a week.  I had seen many positive reviews about this place but I my experience was not great.  I don't think I will be returning.  My dog came with kennel cough and when I called to inquire about his nasty cough, they wanted me to bring him in for another fee.  I opted to see another clinic The facility waiting area looks nice, they have free coffee.  the pet sleep quarters were fouling smelling, The staff was not warm and fuzzy but my visit was at night.   looked like the waiting cages at the groomers, air circulating in the area would be vastly improved my first impression of the place.  they have free parking, they have a pet supplies store with very nice and helpful staff.  I am still waiting for a dental estimate they were suppose to send me months ago Read Less

Took my 4 year old kitty here for grooming - I had to find a new place as the previous place I was going to no longer does cat grooming. I told the person when I made the appointment and also when I brought my kitty in that she is very feisty. The only reason I looked for a groomer at a Vet place was if she was too difficult, she might need to be sedated. Well, needless to say she was and they stopped about a quarter of the way through the grooming and called me to pick her up. She is a Persian. She was returned with most of her back shaved - she looks awful. I'm still pulling hair off of her left over from the grooming and you can see where they just stopped midstream in the shaving process. I was told that they would have to sedate her next time, but they could not do it until she went through some tests - estimate ~$500! I will NEVER go back to this place!! It's 1 start because I had to select 1 to post. Read Less

I'm actually still sitting here with my poochie who is almost 15 years old...and was so impressed with everything here that I felt compelled to rate and review them immediately. My dog had some light blood in her vomit....having just moved to the area recently - I didn't have a vet to go to. My coworker recommended this place - as she's been coming here for years. I called last night and they got me in here first thing this morning. I explained to them the situation and also that my finances were tight as a mom who doesn't get child support. Dr. Conner came in with the recommended tests that needed to be run and went through each of them and their reasoning.....AS WELL as going through the ones she felt we could hold off on until we got the results of the other test....and if it were needed, we can make the decision later. That alone will have me coming back again and again. Is it the most modern high tech vet hospital??? Nope.... But with their excellence in service, responsiveness, understanding and care....they win 5 stars from me. 12/16/16 - just wanted to update a few days after and say - I continue to be impressed by Countryside. Dr. Connor has called me everyday to check in on how my dog is holding up and if there are any changes. I seriously have not received such excellence in care and service anywhere - in a long time! AMAZING!!!! Read Less

Last night we had the horrible task of putting our beloved little boy Ollie down. He had kidney disease and it had progressed to where he lost much weight, had trouble walking and seemed in pain. We met with Dr Brooks, and she and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. As bad as having to do this is they made sure Ollie and both of us were taken care of. They have wonderful compassion for the pet and the owner. Thank you Dr Brooks and Staff. Read Less

I was raised that if I didn't have anything nice to say, I shouldn't say anything at all, but I can't adhere to that this time. We brought home our Irish Wolfhound puppy 8 weeks ago and for 3 well visits, routine vaccinations, and 1 sick visit for diarrhea, we've spent over $800. $800 in 8 weeks for a dog is ridiculous. The final straw was the latest visit this weekend. Rather than waiting for the results of the poo sample, I was sent home with 3 different medications to give her. Come to find out, they weren't necessary, I had to go back and pay for something else to give her. When I asked if something could be done regarding the costs of the unnecessary medicines, I was told that because they help with inflammation it probably helped her anyway. I inquired about the cost of this new medicine they want her on, and they quoted me $134 and change. The medicine is available OTC on Amazon for $13.97. I am done with this place treating us like we're a private bank. While I appreciate the veterinarians themselves are knowledgeable and polite, the one technician at the desk did NOT like that I called them out on their price gouging. 2 stars ONLY because I did like Dr. Brooks, I just wish she worked somewhere else. Otherwise, negative stars aren't an option.Read Less

My dog Manny loves Countryside Veterinary hospital. He especially loves his favorite groomer Amanda! I have been taking all of my pets there for the last 8 years or so. All of the Receptionists, Technicians, Veterinarians and Groomers have been amazing. They go above and beyond in so many ways. Thank you so much! Read Less

Countryside Vet Hospital was recommended to me when I got my 1st French Bulldog which I knew absolutely nothing about the breed ( always had Labs). There is not enough time or space to say how wonderful the whole hospital, store, staff & groomers are! Everyone is kind, understanding & professional. The above and beyond things they have done for me & Mocha are unbelievable in this day & age. Actually have an appt today at 3:00 for an emergency procedure from Sunday follow up. They are all very skilled and 100% customer service- 100% of the time!Read Less

We started bringing our puppy here a few months ago. The facility is modern and clean. The staff is very friendly. The doctors seem very knowledgeable. The waiting room has a kid's play area, which is very helpful since I always have two kids with me. They also provide snacks and drinks, which the kids enjoy. We originally found this place because there are so few day boarding options for puppies. As one other reviewer commented, we were required to have an exam even though we had evidence of an exam completed at another vet just a few days earlier. The person we spoke to when booking the day boarding failed to mention that, but luckily I knew to ask from reading that other review. We weren't happy about that added cost but had no other option at the time. That's the only negative thing so far. They've been great about everything else. Read Less

I always feel that Dr. Julie Kopser does a lot of extra things to make sure that I dont worry about my Chihuahuas she always communicates with me either on the phone or thru e-mail when she has relevant information Some of my friends, why are also your customers, sometimes mention to me that they dont always get calls they expect, but it never happened with Dr. Julie she even called me once when she was away on a business trip! In addition to being a brilliant veterinarian technically, she definitely has those special human attributes in her character that really make the best and beloved doctors. Read Less

My childhood dog was a patient there for 8 years and now my dog has been a patient there for 7 years, same Primary Veterinarian for both dogs, Dr. Julie Kopser. Our Maltese has always received excellent care at Countryside. Staff is kind, caring and knowledgeable. Highly recommend this Vet Hospital. Read Less

We had a TERRIBLE experience at countryside vet today. Arranged an appointment for my 21 year old sun conure (small parrot) last week. Asked the person who took my call, Jasmine, (who I was later told was the MANAGER) if the vet she was assigning us to was skilled in bird medicine and she emphatically said yes, that all the vets were, she assured me. We scheduled for Sat. afternoon at 2:50pm and lost the whole day waiting for this appointment time. Loaded birdie and cage in car and drove 20 minutes there. When we arrived, they told us that they were sorry but that the vet was in fact NOT an avian vet and could not see my pet. I had cancelled an appt with a general vet today in order to come here instead, based on the fact that they said all their vets were gifted in bird care. Then they said that because we were inconvenienced, they would still trim her nails for us even though they couldn't do the exam. I asked to meet the vet prior to this happening. 1/2 hour later we were still waiting for the vet to come into the room. Instead, the same, poor receptionist/vet tech came in to tell us that after all, the doc was NOT GOING TO TRIM NAILS. We waited more than 1/2 hour to meet this damn doctor (Dr. Rule, so you know her name) who didn't even have the guts to come in and tell us herself that she changed her mind. This day was shot. The worst service, inconvenience and incompetence I have ever encountered in a veterinary office. We got an apology only from the same young person who greeted us at the desk, which wasn't adequate. What a disaster of a practice. Do not go there! Run for the hills and take your pet someplace competent. That is my advice. They get zero stars from me (but I couldn't post my comments until I added a star!). In fact, this is a 100% negative review. I've got nothing good to say about Countryside Vet. Read Less

I have been taking my animals here for many, many years and they are the most kind, dedicated people I have ever met. Front desk, techs, groomers, vets, everyone is loving and kind. When I needed to ask a question at 2am my vet was available and warm, not even a little rushed. When I needed to make small payments over an extended period it was no problem. Yes, they are expensive. You get what you pay for and for me, my pets are my family and my family deserves the best health care. Countryside offers that. Read Less

My dog Ruby has been doing Physical Therapy here. Hollie is wonderful and Ruby loves her. Although we are not local to the hospital based on the service we have received for the physical therapy I Am confident this would be a wonderful place to bring your pet on a regular basis. Unfortunately we live too far away for that. Read Less

After calling many places to try and have my Bearded Dragon seen, Countryside was the only vet to actually accommodate us and have him be seen promptly. I was very impressed with the whole experience ~ beautiful facilities, friendly & helpful staff, reasonable costs and excellent, knowledgeable veterinarian. I am actually a vet tech myself at another clinic, so I am extra observant about all the details in an animal hospital. This place is top notch. So clean & spacious, efficiently-run and personable, considerate staff. We were seen on time and our vet (Dr. Field) was wonderful. Spent a lot of time thoroughly examining our BD and discussing his issues. Took an x-ray which was done while we waited and were given the results on-site. As someone who is familiar with the costs of vet care, I found them to be very reasonable and comparable to others in the area, as well. Thank you for the great care!Read Less

I am actually a vet tech at another hospital, but my Bearded Dragon had been sick and I needed a specialty reptile vet. After calling several places and either being told they don't see them (despite claims on their websites that they did) or we couldn't be seen for a couple weeks, Countryside gave us a prompt appointment on a Sunday. I was very impressed with everything about this hospital. Upon entering, it was spacious, bright and welcoming. The front desk staff was very friendly and personable. We were seen in a timely manner and our vet was wonderful. We saw Dr. Field and she was very knowledgeable about Bearded Dragons. She did a full exam, discussed his issues and care and recommended x-rays, which we agreed to. Those were done quickly while we waited and she went over the results with us in the room. She spent a good amount of time with us, was patient and understanding. She even called us the next day to follow up. Everyone we encountered here was fantastic. The techs, the front desk staff and the veterinarian were all so nice & helpful. The facility is beautiful. I can only hope the clients at my hospital have an equally positive experience.    As for other reviewers who complain about costs, I have to say this place has very comparable costs and were actually less expensive than the clinic I work at (as well as others I know of). I actually found their prices to be quite reasonable for the high quality of care we received. I would definitely recommend Countryside Vet to anyone in the area and especially anyone needing an experienced exotics vet. Read Less

I love the staff and the doctors at Countryside so much. They have really convenient hours, are always able to get me in to see someone if I have an emergency. The place is clean and bright, and everyone there is so kind to both humans and animals. In terms of price, I find the comparable to other vet offices in the area. Being open until 9pm and on both Saturday and Sunday without charging me a higher price for the convenience is SO WORTH IT! Dr. Connor and a few others have recently helped save my cat who was dehydrated and had his liver start shutting down. We hospitalized him for two days and they were in constant communication with me through the process. They even call the next day to check up on your pet - even for non-emergencies. They all really seem to care about their jobs and their patients. I can't recommend this place enough. It was worth the hour drive when I lived right outside of Boston and now that I live even closer, it's even more worth it. I've never had a bad experience there at all. Even on terrible days when you think you are going to have to put your pet to sleep, they are nothing but kind, patient, and understanding - treating their clients (human and furry) with the utmost dignity and respect. Read Less

Best Vet hospital!  They saved my dog who collapsed, the doctors and staff really care about what they do!  People complain that their prices are high BUT you get what you pay for I would never go anywhere else! Read Less

We love Countryside Vet.  I have a 10lb Shih tzu who is sassy, spunky, feisty, frigidity.... and she LOVES going to the vet.  Yes I said it....She adores the nurses, and countryside is the only groomer I have been able to find to give my dog a good cut since she WILL NOT sit still.  They are patient and kind and very helpful.  They are a little pricey, but I would pay for the services I get from them.  Recently we moved to Beverly and now are a farther away, but continue to drive to Countryside as their services are unparalleled.Also, their doggie daycare is great!  Personally, I have no kids and work in Burlington.  Bringing my dog to their doggie daycare to play and know that if something were to happen there is staff literally right there to help her makes me feel so much better. Read Less

We have been here a week and are already huge fans. Our last vet wasn't able to do anything with our 8yo male cat and they got him in, calm and showed me how to help him with the "vet anxiety" They also diagnosed several things that our last vet missed with our rescue kitten and we are able to address and help her easily and at home. The facility is gorgeous, front desk staff is amazing, lobby is so clean - coffee for me and snacks for the kids. Bonus! Read Less

We have been here a week and are already huge fans. Our last vet wasn't able to do anything with our 8yo male cat and they got him in, calm and showed me how to help him with the "vet anxiety"  They also diagnosed several things that our last vet missed with our rescue kitten and we are able to address and help her easily and at home. The facility is gorgeous, front desk staff is amazing, lobby is so clean - coffee for me and snacks for the kids. Bonus! Read Less

I was truly displeased with the robbery this business has made and the unprofessionalism of these convicts they call Caring Vets. Our cat, Kingston, injured his paw last weekend during a snow storm. Instead of driving to Rhode Island (where we are originally from), we brought Kingston to Countryside Animal Hospital. So $356.00 later, an X-Ray revealed that Kingston had fractured his paw. The Vets treatment plan was to wrap him up with a bandage that we needed to go get changed once a week for 4 weeks. At the following visit, Kingston's 10 minute check up turned into a $124.50 visit for just changing his bandage. As college students at UMass, we expected the regular fee of a wellness check since it was just changing his wrap around the bandage. After doing some simple math, we calculated that it would cost over a grand for Kingstons recovery because it was $124.50 to change his bandage once every 4 weeks and including two X-Rays. I found out with our family vet that the price would be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper; at most we would be paying $67.45 for Kingstons bandage adjustment. So basically we were robbed. I agree with this treatment plant, but thought the price was a little excessive so at this point we established that it is cheaper to drive to Rhode Island and back. So we called and cancelled our follow up visit with Countryside Animal Hospital. After explaining the circumstances, she said that we are better off being a patient at Countryside Animal Hospital because the price is the same everywhere we go and other Vets might suggest surgery. We told her the price we got somewhere else and the tone in her voice was very doubting. Also our emergency visit for our other cat at Westford Animal Hospital was cheaper than changing Kingstons bandage. I will not be returning ever again nor will I ever recommend this Vet to my colleagues who own pets around this area.Read Less

I was truly displeased with the robbery this business has made and the unprofessionalism of these convicts they call "Caring Vets". Our cat, Kingston, injured his paw last weekend during a snow storm. Instead of driving to Rhode Island (where we are originally from), we brought Kingston to Countryside Animal Hospital. So $356.00 later, an X-Ray revealed that Kingston had fractured his paw. The Vets treatment plan was to wrap him up with a bandage that we needed to go get changed once a week for 4 weeks. At the following visit, Kingston's 10 minute check up turned into a $124.50 visit for just changing his bandage. As college students at UMass, we expected the regular fee of a wellness check since it was just changing his wrap around the bandage. After doing some simple math, we calculated that it would cost over a grand for Kingston's recovery because it was $124.50 to change his bandage once every 4 weeks and including two X-Rays. I found out with our family vet that the price would be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper; at most we would be paying $67.45 for Kingston's bandage adjustment. So basically we were robbed. I agree with this treatment plant, but thought the price was a little excessive so at this point we established that it is cheaper to drive to Rhode Island and back. So we called and cancelled our follow up visit with Countryside Animal Hospital. After explaining the circumstances, she said that we are better off being a patient at Countryside Animal Hospital because the price is the same everywhere we go and other Vets might suggest surgery. We told her the price we got somewhere else and the tone in her voice was very doubting. Also our emergency visit for our other cat at Westford Animal Hospital was cheaper than changing Kingston's bandage. I will not be returning ever again nor will I ever recommend this Vet to my colleagues who own pets around this area. Read Less

I've been coming here for almost 25 years through several generations of cats. My cats have always received the highest level of care, so much so that I once asked them if they handled large primates because my cats were getting better care then my human doctor gave me. I've had a diabetic cat that had also had lots of other health problems and the took great care of him through is various health crisises. I also had a cat who had surgery here because "he ate somebody he shouldn't have" as the vet put it. I've also frequently boarded my cats here. Read Less

This is the first time that I had to bring 2 dogs there and they both did great. I had to rearrange my drop off date and pick up date and the staff was professional and very accommodating. One of my pups needed some vaccines and we were able to get everything done prior to their boarding. Most important was my dogs came home not stressed or anxious. Read Less

Great office. Clean, friendly, gorgeous structure. The front desk was super friendly and the appt was timely and informational. The doctor was receptive to me as a patient (in regards to being an experienced ferret owner) and did not act condescending towards what we thought was the right diagnosis (which ended up being right). I felt accepted and immediately cared for which made the visit comfortable. I can't wait to bring the whole pack back! Read Less

My old pup Pebbles was treated very well in her last few years. Woburn animal hospital gave her 3 months. Thanks to Countryside we got 3 more YEARS! They even sent a card when she was put down. Tucker absolutely loves it there and loves the daycare as well. He always has so much fun and comes back worn out and sleepy which is good for us. And the cat always has an easy time getting behaved and they tell us that she's such a sweet girl. We are never disappointed with any of the service we get there. When we say it's time to go to the vet Tucker runs to the car he's not even afraid to go. He's even phone asleep on the table getting his shots before! We love it there!!! Read Less

Want to thank Sacha, the wonderful receptionist at Countryside, for helpingus make a poster for our beloved cat Mikey, (who has been missing for 3weeks)She was so kind and compassionate...just another example  of how this practicereally cares about their clients. Have been a client for over 20 years...Dr. Kopser, and all the docs are wonderful.......They truly LOVE animals, and are always therefor you...can't thank them enough!!!!!!! Read Less

We had been going to Countryside on and off for several years. A month and a half ago I brought my wife's cat Mattie in. Mattie was 14 year old cat and became suddenly ill and  lost a lot of weight. the doctor said the blood worked looked good and felt she needed to be hydrated and put on medicine right away. The doctor reviewed our options A) send her to a 24 hr. clinic for a few days to get re hydrated and medicated. B) we could take her home and treat her ourselves. The cost for option A) well over $1000 and B was the cost of the medicine and visit $390.00. I ask the doctor if she was dying and should I invest $1000 in to her life. The doctor could not tell me but she but felt she had months left if not longer. At that point we decided to move forward with option B which involved an IV bag and a pill. The doctor trained us which was actually real easy and our plan was to nurse her back to health. This was a Sunday around 3:00 in the afternoon. On Monday at 2:00 my wife called me and told me that Mattie had just dropped to the floor and died. She was devastated. I came home from work calmed my wife down and buried Mattie in our yard. I called the Vet office the next day and told them Mattie had died and I was shocked and surprised. They said they would inform the doctor and did I need any more services????/I guess my complaint is simple, we never received a call to follow up, no offer to refund our money (sorry I know it sounds cold) nothing at all. To me a very cold response from a Vet office that had been voted number 1 several years in a row.Would I recommend this office not sure I would*************I had a follow up call with Country side and have to say very pleased with their response. Read Less

Stay away! I agree with a previous reviewer. Terrible communication, too expensive, not worth it. I have been going here for two years with the hope that the next visit will be better. However, I have simply accumulated a series of bad experiences. I am currently looking for a new vet. I like to try and leave a balanced review with mixed positive and negative feedback so I will do that here. Positive:They offer free snacks. I always take some because I know I'm over paying for the vet services. The puppy training class was good and convenient. They have one groomer that we like a lot. The doctors and technicians are knowledgeable I just wish they talked to each other or read the file before coming in to the appointment. Negative: I dropped my dog off for a grooming session on a Sunday, left for a few hours came back to pick him up (he looked great) went over my bill and found out they had given him a flu shot with out asking or notifying me!!!!! I confronted them on this and they said that their policies had changed and my dog didn't have a flu shot so they had to give it to him in order for him to be groomed. There was no phone call, no notification when I dropped him off.  a) how was I supposed to know their policy changed? b) The flu shot takes time to develop the immunity so what the heck is the point of giving it to him that day? c) why in the WORLD would you not get my permission?! What if my dog had an allergic reaction?! d) I was leaving on a business trip and wold not have been able to get him the booster even if I did want him to have the flu shot (which at the time I did not!) After speaking with 4 people the only resolution I received was that they didn't charge me for the shot (but this left me deeply concerned about their communication skills).  They also gave me attitude about asking for a refund. I should not have had to ask for this it never should have happened in the first place. After the flu shot incident I went in for my dogs annual check up. I wanted everything done at once with only one follow up visit required for boosters because of my hectic schedule.  They assure me multiple times that we are getting everything taken care of. I ask three people to make sure that I only need two visits and my dog is set for the year. A few weeks later, I get a post card in the mail that they forgot something and my dog needs to come back in for a third visit!! GRRRRR!!!!I have more smaller negative experience but these are the two that are the easiest to summarize. Please don't go here you will thank yourself later I wish I had left sooner. Read Less

I don't know how this place has bad reviews. I took my cat to see Dr. Cohen after he was throwing up for days and within 2 minutes she diagnosed him with a ring worm. The emergency vet the night before missed this and guessed it was cancer. Glad i got a second opinion!I don't think this place is more expensive than any other vet's office. When it comes to animals, be expected to pay a lot no matter where you go. I can't recommend Dr. Cohen enough. She had a great sense of humor as well. The office called us to check in on my cat, which was also appreciated. I'll be taking my animals here from now on! Read Less

We love sending our dog to camp here each week!  It's a great place for her to run around and socialize with other dogs while we're at work.  The staff is very friendly and clearly love working with all the "campers" :)  Also, the hours are extremely convenient for pet parents working full time--7AM to 7PM. Read Less

I love the Vet side of the business- My dog loves it.The grooming department- I went there 10 Times and was charged 60$ to get myh dog groomed every time. The last time i went i was charged 85$ and when I asked why they said "the groomer can charge what they want- That is a JOKE. I was scheduled for 9am on Saturday and the groomer walks in at 945 super late and still charges me an extra25$ for no reason. I asked for an explanation and was never given one- I WILL NEVER GET MY DOG GROOMED AT COUNTRYSIDE AGAIN.VET IS AWESOMEGROOMER IS A JOKE!! Read Less

I have only been here twice, but I wanted to let others know that I was impressed by their customer service.  I am a veterinary technician who works at a large hospital in Boston, but  I took one of my dogs here a) to check it out and b) because it was closer to where I live.  I definitely understand everyone's concerns about the money, but the price points seem comparable to other clinics and they did not charge me for anything in advance (hopefully that practice has changed).It is clear that they put the customer first and all the staff appear to go above and beyond.  Everyone was incredibly friendly - they even called me to let me know that a new shipment of my prescription food was in, and held it aside for me.I just adopted my dog from rescue so I had no idea how he would act with a vet.  Dr. Arsenault was very sweet with him and the visit went incredibly well.  Yes, she offered me many options when I just went in for a simple vaccination, but since I work in the business, I know that is PART of the business.  Animal clinics need to make money, yes, but so does your dental office or your own personal medical clinic.  You are always going to experience a possible 'up-sell'.  Be your own advocate, ask lots of questions, and make sure there are levels of treatment offered that *will* fit your budget, while keeping your pet comfortable and being realistic about their prognosis. Read Less

I gotta agree with everyone else. The fact that Countryside survives is a testament to how attached people have become to their pets. This place will provide the same service most other vets provide but you will leave without one arm and likely a leg and your ANIMAL will be prescribed a battery of tests fit for a human. When the vet fought us over getting our dog fixed she said if I didn't it would increase his chances of getting testicular cancer. I asked her if they could also remove the kidneys while they had him under so he wouldn't get kidney disease. I also told her that having my testicals increases my chances as well but you don't see doctors trying to remove them. If she had said we don't want to increase the pet population I could understand but it increases the chances of testicular cancer. Come on. $$$We've been taking our dog to PetSmart for his vaccinations for a couple years and having meds filled elsewhere. PetSmart had an actual vet for half the price of what countryside would charge. These are animals folks and while us being attached to them isn't Countryside's fault, making profit the bottom line is. Your animal will get seen by a competent vet at Countryside but go down the road to the smaller practice and you'll find cheaper prices and vets who care about animals just as much as anyone at Countryside. Read Less

TIP 1: Don't buy your pet's medicines from Countryside. Have them write you a prescription and fill it at Costco or Walmart (you don't need a membership card to go to the pharmacy). Countryside charges a lot for medication (even for generics, which is just ridiculous) AND on top of that, they charge a $6 "dispensing fee." Countryside is the place to go if you want to be nickled and dimed. TIP 2: They'll charge you for a fecal test even if you don't bring in a sample. They claim it's so you don't have to pay when you DO bring it in. Tell them to remove the charge from your bill. Why should you pay for a fecal test you never received? This is unethical IMO. From what I've read here, it also sounds as though they charge you in advance for a second round of vaccines. They should charge you when you get the product or service. I'm not sure whose bright idea this advance charging for everything was, but it's ridiculous. TIP 3: If you board your pet with them & your pet ends up hospitalized for some reason, look very carefully at your bill to make sure they don't charge you for both board AND overnight hospitalization at the same time... yet another unethical little tactic I've not enjoyed.TIP 4: If you don't have to, don't go on a weekend. Staff (front office and techs) on the weekend is definitely the B-Team.TIP 5: Know that if you go here, you will be ripped-off in any number of ways. Also know that the price of things seems to be negotiable if you ask. And shop around. Call other vets about the price of their procedures (like surgeries, etc). They'll be cheaper, I guarantee it. Then, you can make the decision either to go to the cheaper vet, or negotiate with Countryside for a more reasonable, rational and fair fee. I wish you luck.TIP 6: I used to think pet health insurance was a ridiculous concept. Now I have it. If I didn't, I'd either change veterinary practices, or have to take out a second mortgage on my home. If you're going to use Countryside, I strongly suggest that you purchase pet health insurance and I am not joking.TIP 7: Read all of the reviews here and don't stop with the first few. Also read the filtered reviews. There's a button you have to click underneath the last review posted here in order to do so. It says "Filtered" and it's grayed-out so that it's not very obvious.My vet left her former practice and went to Countryside. She's the only vet I trust and we are devoted to her, so we followed her there with our dog. But... because Countryside is so BREATHTAKINGLY EXPENSIVE, we take our cats to a different vet clinic. They're healthy and just need annual check-ups and vaccines, but our dog needed somebody who knew what they were doing. I have to say that the minute our vet leaves that place for another clinic, we're out of there. The owner has built a palace of a clinic and your bill is paying for it. My eyes about pop out of my head every time I have to pay for something there. They price their services as though they were the Mass. General of the veterinary world. I could do without the giant bronze dog statue (which probably cost them $20,000, LITERALLY), granite countertops and palatial surroundings - I'm quite certain they only add 30+% to my bill every time I step through the door. This is supposed to be a veterinary clinic, not the Four Seasons. Price examples:Vet TECH time to express anal sacs $50! Almost as much as they charge for an office visit with an actual vet with an actual degree and many years of schooling.Metronidazole 500 mg (generic Flagyl - 14 pills) $22Vet TECH time just to draw blood! $22.50 (not including cost of blood test)Like I said, I'm devoted to my vet. If I were only rating my actual veterinarian, I would give this place five stars, but it loses stars for being outrageously expensive, over-the-top and sometimes unethical. I'm right on the edge with this place; it won't take much to make me leave them and never return. The rape & pillage has become blatant & I'm not a sucker.I recently saw a flier on the wall promoting some pet weight loss counselor. Are you KIDDING me? What other ways will they find to squeeze pet owners for every last penny? In the good ol' days (like, a YEAR ago), your VET would counsel you on pet weight loss. This place just gets more & more ridiculous each time I have to go there.Postscript: I just read that the veterinary medicine professional organizations are pushing for a widespread increase in veterinary prices. One of the tips offered at a seminar during a vet med conference was to offer snacks and coffee in the waiting area to prime clients to spend more money - the comment was something like 'make their kids happy and you make them happy which means they'll spend more money.' Countryside offers snacks & coffee in the waiting area. If it means lower bills, I'm happy to bring my own snacks and beverages if I needed Read Less

I have read the reviews and my experience is in line with the rest.  My dog was brought in with an obvious injury.  They charged me $850 to run extensive bloodwork tests, though there was a gaping hole in my dog's side that I discovered when we returned home which they had failed to notice.  It took 3 return visits for them to figure out the extent of the problem and to competently resolve my dog's injury.  The excuses they gave for the incompetent treatment were total nonsense and insulting to anyone's intelligence.  I know people say they get cadillac treatment for routine visits, but how would you know?  Your pet arrives well and leaves well.  Who's to say the visit accomplished anything?   Pay particular attention to what happens when your pet is sick or has had an accident. Read Less

We had been going to Countryside for years, purchasing prescription food, paying more for our regular visits and much more for sick visits than other local vets.  Last fall, our 14 year old cat became suddenly ill and rapidly lost a lot of weight, becoming secluded and very lethrgic.  As Countryside was our regular vet, we brought him in to be checked out.  It was pretty obvious to us that our cat was very sick- in kidney failure, we were told.  Countryside had us sign off on an amount and asked us to leave our cat overnight.  Dusty was our first adult pet and it was very painful to see him so sick, so we did what the doctors and technicians asked.     Wihtout any news for about a day, I called for an update.  Our cat, in kidney failure and refusing to eat, wasn't doing much better, however, the doctors were suggesting about $2500 worth of tests, transfusions and various treatments.  I had been researching outcomes and had observed our cat go from a happy pet to a very sick cat- urinating in the house and lying down on top of heating ducts with his head on the floor.  I had been carrying him to the litter box at some moments.  When we refused to continue tests,  we were told that there was some chance to prolong Dusty's life by choosing these tests and treatment.  I really don't believe that would have been the case.  We picked him up to a $1900 bill after 3 days at Countryside- we had signed off on $500.  A week later, with the assistance of a home visit vet, Dusty passed.  She told us upon examining him that yes, he was in kidney failure, yet there was an underlying cancer that had caused the serious decline and that there really was not anything that could be done to further a happy life for Dusty.  She came to our house and charged $250 for the examination, the recommendation, sedation and the assistance in putting Dusty to sleep and then sat with me while I sobbed and held Dusty until his heart stopped.  She was honest, where Countryside was suggesting very expensive treatments for a very sick cat.     We were devestated by his passing, but even more upset with the superfluous measures being recommended by Countryside.  I would have given them one star, but I do believe that the vets are very good and care for the animals that they treat. Read Less

I had been going to Countryside for at least 18 years.  It had always been pricier than others and very quick to do extra tests without discussing possible alternatives.   They seemed competent and thorough, so I put up with it.In recent years it has gone from bad to worse.  It seems like this place is all about the glitz and money these days.  Most important, I don't think they are offering the best care anymore, despite all the costly tests. I had a horrible experience with a pet here. I feel so guilty because I think I really failed him by taking him here. I wish I had followed my instincts and brought him to someplace else for a second opinion.My pet sitter recommends Nashoba Valley Vet in Westford.  I'm going to give them a shot for my dog's next appointment. Read Less

I've been taking my pets to Countryside for some time, and it is a reliably excellent animal hospital.  You will always get superior service and kind, knowledgeable vets that are willing to go the extra mile for you.  By that I mean: these folks will bend over backwards to make sure that your dog or cat is healthy as can be. There is never any doubt when you are at Countryside, you are at the Ritz-Carlton of animal clinics.  You are greeted by a huge bronze dog statue as you walk in the door, tiptoe across the Italian tile floors, and take a seat on their nice modern couches.  They have a feed store attached so you can buy all your pets' specialty / prescribed food items there.  The facility is spacious, with soaring rafters, a TV tuned to animal planet, and a wonderful receptionist and vet assistants who will give your pup a cookie.  Being hit with the bill at Countryside is the only unpleasant experience they offer, since it is always at least double or triple what you would expect to pay at any other vet.  On top of that, it's very hard to walk away from a standard office visit without having agreed to multiple "extras" for your pet.  After all, you want the best for them, don't you?  There are *always* recommended tests that need to be run, until your $200 visit easily becomes $500 or $600.  Typically, a trip to Countryside will mean a big chunk out of your savings, but comes with the peace of mind that your pet is in the best possible hands, and is in fact as healthy as he or she seems. Read Less