My dog recently injured himself playing in the yard and began limping- we drove right to Bulger where they fit me into urgent care to check him out. Dr. Demers, who is not my dog's regular doctor, took great care of us and did a full exam and sent us home with an anti inflammatory and an order for rest. We had a follow up appointment booked at this time to see his regular doctor, Dr. Bennett, in a few days in case his leg wasn't getting better. Since it hadn't, we kept that appointment and Dr. Bennett consulted with the surgeon, Dr. Blaeser, who took xrays and confirmed my dog had an ACL tear. That was my worst worry confirmed. My dog was scheduled for surgery and Dr. Blaeser performed a lateral suture. I tell the whole series of events to now say I am so thankful for Bulger. I don't know how far along I would be in the process of diagnosis and surgery if I wasn't a client at bulger where specialists and general practice doctors and an ER is all under one roof. They really worked well together and for me to help my dog. I wouldn't want anyone other than a board certified surgeon doing this work on my dog and Dr. Blaeser and her team were outstanding! They understood how stressed and upset I was and how difficult it was for me to see him in pain. After surgery, Dr. Blaeser even encouraged me to text her with any concerns. Communication between all the doctors to me has been amazing. They check in with me and helped me with a routine and schedule for post op care, including referring me to Mass Vet, a hospital in their network, for PT and underwater treadmill therapy to help him build his muscle back up. We start that next week! Luckily I have pet insurance so thankfully I did not need to make decisions based on treatment costs. Veterinary health care is expensive, but so is human health care- and my dog received high level care from doctors and staff using the same equipment human hospitals do- and honestly, with better attention and patient care than I have ever received in human health care. His X-ray was cheaper than I could get one for myself, and I had a similar knee surgery when I was younger and I'm pretty sure that cost my parents 10k (of course we don't think about that because most of us have insurance). So thank god for pet insurance! Totally think about getting insurance for your pet! There is no reason not to. Hospitals need to be paid and so do the doctors. That's life. I chose to get a dog and it's my responsibility to care for him including paying for his healthcare. You don't go into target and negotiate the price of a lamp because you need it. Insurance was a Life saver! (For reference I pay $35 a month and this year alone I got back 80% of what I spent on all of his visits and treatments- about 3x what I pay out in a year to insurance company- and we are only in April!)But I digress- back to the bulger team! Thanks bulger and staff for always being there and giving my dog better care than I ever get at my hospital. Unfortunately we will be seeing more of you this year (not that we don't like you- but you know..) Read Less

They addressed the issue the next day.I brought my dog here for the first time on Monday, March 18th. We discovered that she has a heart murmur. We were told to come back as soon as possible to see a cardiologist. 2 days later, that Wednesday, we were back... Heart disease was confirmed and medication twice daily is going to be her life going forward. We are grateful for being able to give our baby girl more time with us. We didn't hesitate to pay the 700$ on that day for the cardiologist appointment and ultra sound for her heart because it's obviously worth it to us. However, we were told to come back in a week for blood work to make sure the medicine agrees with her. We were also told we would pay the price of a regular office visit of 65 since it is technically part of her cardiologist appointment. I called yesterday just to confirm that was true and I was told it was.. So I went back today and was charged a lot more. The young woman at the front desk went back to try and find out why I was being charged more than promised. I waited a very long time for her to return and couldn't wait any longer because my dog was already trembling. When she came back with no information, I just paid, asked her the woman's name who said she has never heard of this (Dawn) and left. After our first visit, I emailed the office with a few concerns. No response. We were told email was the best way to communicate with them... I had to call a few times before even getting a response to our questions. Now with this, I can see they have a major issue with communication and it lead to me feeling taken advantage of financially because my dog is sick... It's a shame because I really appreciate what has been done for my dog and would love to not feel like just another fee or number for the hospital. Read Less

I had a tiny hole on my sock and I took out my needle and string to mend my sock. I sat on my chair, reached over for my glasses and in a blink of an eye the needle along with the string attached was gone. I looked in the cushion, on the ground with no luck. One of my kittens was close by me, I looked in her mouth, nothing! I thought how could such a tiny mouth swallow a needle so long? I called this ER, and as I'm getting ready to rush to them their veterinarian spoke to me to reassured that's best idea. Long story short my kitten had swallowed the needle. They showed it to me on the ex rays. Had I not been advised to have her checked, and not been seen by such a knowledgeable doctor I don't think my kitten would have been alive. I'm grateful from the bottom of my heart for the service which was provided to me. Read Less

We had a great experience here, we brought our 5 month old puppy Mookie for an emergency exam on a Sunday evening because he was experiencing labored breathing that was concerning us. Although, by the time we arrived he was fine and we felt a little silly even bringing him in at that point the staff was still extremely friendly and made us feel  comfortable and reassured us that we did the right thing by bringing him in, because better safe then sorry with a pup. They gave Mookie a thorough exam even though he was no longer showing symptoms and explained in detail all of the possibilities that could have caused what he was previously  experiencing with his breathing . Dr. Melissa Henrikson was the doctor we saw and she was very caring, spent a lot of time with us and even answered some questions I had that were unrelated to his breathing episode. We were also given options to have further testing done blood work, X-rays etc.. if we were really worried about him but we're also told it was probably unnecessary since his physical exam was 100% normal, it was nice to have been given the option to investigate further but we never felt pressured and ultimately opted out of X-rays since he was no longer symptomatic.We were not there very long either, we were probably also lucky because it didn't seem like there were any other patients.Are the emergency exams expensive? Yes, but so aren't ER visits for a human so I wouldn't really expect anything else. We also have pet insurance so we will get reimbursed for his exam, so if cost is an issue pet insurance might be right for you :)It's also extremely convenient to have a 24/7 animal hospital close to us, although this is not our normal vet as we don't live in the direct area. Everyone's experience may be different but we had a great experience and would definitely take Mookie again if it was needed. Read Less

If you love your pet, don't take them here. A few examples why based on my experiences over the course of four months: 1) The most expensive vet around. Seems like they hike up prices on everything. Line item charges galore. 2) Despite having an appointment, you will always wait at least 20 minutes in the waiting room and another 15 in your exam room. Don't get me started about check out. Takes 15 minutes or so for the front desk to gather your bill, medications, etc. Not sure why they are so slow. 3) The vets here are not efficient and some have a bizarre bedside manner. They would rather you come back several times to work through issues vs. solve problems in one visit. After asking my vet if my pet needed medication (because the side effects concerned me) she looked at me and said "Do you want your dog to die? Because that's what's going to happen if he doesn't get this medication." Combination of price, horrible office experience and too much tough love...don't go here.Side bar: Although Bulger's 24 hour emergency staff are very nice I waited almost two hours for my dog to be seen on a Saturday morning. Thank god it was just a stomach virus. Read Less

Care is ok, but it is very obvious that they are all about billing. Every little thing is an item to bill. I think every time they walked by my cat and pet him they added a line item to the bill.I am completely disgusted with them and will never go there again, grossly overcharged everything and not even close to accurate. My cat was there ~44 hours and we were billed for 54 hours of nursing care, yea that's close (and just 1 example). Only go if you have no choice, other places are not nearly as expensive or nit-picky when it comes to pet care. Any time you call to check on your little buddy be prepared for waiting 20-40 minutes before you actually get to talk to someone other than the person that put you on hold. I honestly wish I had not gone there, complete waste of time and especially money. Read Less

I live in Middleton and drive out of my way to bring my dogs here because it's such a great animal hospital. All of the staff are so caring and compassionate and they do a great job taking care of my pups Read Less

Hi everybody my name is Paula and I have been going to the Bulger animal hospital for the past I'd say seven or eight years and I am delighted with the service over there my last pet that I had was a 14-year-old beagle that I had to put down the doctor that I see on a regular basis as Lindsey Ryan Zillow and she is just marvelous very sympathetic stayed with me while we put the dog down and actually held me while I was crying this doctor is remarkable I live in Haverhill so Andover is out of my way but it's worth it for the compassion that this doctor shows me and the service is always remarkable if you have a pet that needs help please consider going to Bulger dear less thank you for getting back to me it was very unexpected I have to apologize for spelling Lindsey Renzullo a name wrong Read Less

If I could have left zero stars I would have. If you are looking for a kind compassionate caring vet and love your animal do not take your animal here. They will be kind to your pet in front of you, but when they take your animal out back it is quite a different story. I took my dog Zoey in 3 times to the er in a week she has chronic ear infections they were going to do a ear flush out back. She has been there many times but this particular time they decided to muzzle her which kept her mouth shut. When my dog came out from out back she looked like she was going to drop dead of a heart attack, her eyes looked weird , ears down she was in big time distress, She drank three bowls of water immedietely and I had my friend take her right out to the car to get her the hell out of that office. Zoey was released from her muzzle and chains from out back she was chained to a wall still muzzled after her treatment was all done. Id ask out front what was going on and the receptionist went out back and she said she was all done so i brought her to you. Again i grabbed my dog water as fast as i could. She was panting very heavy for over 30 minutes in the car. If you google soft muzzles it tells you they are dangerous it disturbs the dogs ability to breathe and they cant pant which helps them cool down. They almost killed my dog. The hospital manager Catherine didnt care at all she just went on her speech about how she has long standing employees blah blah. Well i dont want any of those monster long standing employees killing my dog. I did file a report with the north andover police department for cruel and abusive treatment. I did also post a review on there facebook but that was hidden by them. My name is Melissa Duggan my dogs name is Zoey I love her very much. I will no longer go to this practice, but i want people to be very very aware you do not want your dog out of your sight if you go to this vet. Your dog is better off going to another 24 hour vet facility or waiting for their normal vet office to open. I wish all your animals the best and this is why I wrote this review. Read Less

this is not a nice place there are a couple good vets  however  what this place does is put money over the value of your pet they are greedy and rude and condescending doctor MARY L IS THE WORST, I  WOULD NOT SUGGEST USING THEM UNLESS YOU ARE RICH THEY WILL BLEED YOU DRY AND HANG U OUT TO DRY Read Less

Despite the fact that on the day I went it was a long wait .. I give them a four because they truly did take their time with my puppy. They were helpful and my puppy feels so much better. They explained what every medication was for and made sure I understood why I needed to give my puppy it as well as the dosage. I've been to other places & this place is by far the best. I called ahead of time and they were already expecting me. They were super helpful. I would recommend especially if it's an emergency Read Less

I love Bulger! Their vets have taken awesome care of the dogs I have had over the years. Their surgeon, Dr Blaeser, saved one of their lives, & repaired torn ACLs in at least one other. Bulger Veterinary Hospital has also given expert care for my son's dogs. It means a lot to me to know that if my vet is not available if an urgent issue comes up that the other vets there are equally as caring &qualified to step in. I have used Bulger for many years & highly recommend them! Read Less

Based on a guess, nothing more, a vet here recommended that my cat be put to sleep. I got a second opinion. They actually cared at the 2nd vet, and performed a thorough evaluation. My cat was supposed to be put to sleep today according to the Bulger vet… But the second vet that I went to see was much better. They gave us painkillers, they gave my cat an anti-nausea shot, and they gave my cat more time to live a happy life… Avoid Bulger at all costs…They will rush your animal out and recommend euthanasia before exploring other options. Read Less

Awful place. Awful staff. Get charged for services you don't ask for. They perform stuff and then give you the bill. I was charged for a distemper vaccine that my cat didn't need and I didnt ask for. Bill was over $200 upon checkout. Handed the lady back the Advantage and told her I would just purchase it on amazon for cheaper, same product. She didn't like that. I waited for them to adjust the bill, lady was supposed to get someone to talk to me and instead of doing that she continued to argue with me. She didn't want to get anyone so i left without paying. Called after i left to try and resolve it and the office manager hung up on me, but not before she told me that she is putting me and my cat on a list that now she can't get seen at any IVG pet hospital because of this. Back in February I called to get her teeth cleaned and they had no appts for a teeth cleaning and i'd have to bring her in during March and they wouldn't honor the February rate. They were booked during february, not my problem, and it was going to be almost $500 to get her teeth cleaned. These people are scam artists. They will insist your pet needs it and you have no choice but to pay or be put on a list. I will be taking my concerns about the way my pet was treated to a higher authority (the courts). They want to put me on a list after they treated me un fairly, I will tell everyone about my less than stellar time there. Awful place. avoid it. Read Less

Had several Meh expirences over the years 2 dogs had entropion surgeries $2,000 each, one that had to be corrected. 1 Mis diagnosed glaucoma in 1.5 year old dog. Dr. for all was Marion. She was blunt arrogant and un friendly. Visit in August was told they would be doing upper and lower entropion in October , so never checked the forms the day of surgery. I assumed that his eyes hadn't changed in 1.5 months and wasn’t told verbally anything different. Requested no ketamine for brachycephalic breed dog. Brach Bremen’s dont do well with and I’ve had several friends who’s dogs had died from it. FYI (Tufts doesn’t even use it) Was told after surgery my dog woke up Thrashing in the middle of surgery and they blamed me for requesting to not use ketamine! ( apparently Vet and staff weren’t knowledgeable about any other type of sedatives) ? I was so upset! My dog must have been so scared and could have died! She only did upper lids not upper and lower as I had expected, and they were glaringly un even. I pointed out rightafter surgery and was told “not everything has to be perfectly semetrical”. They were still uneven months after healing. I was so distraught with the thought of my dog waking up thrashing I didn’t Pursue it.. I tried to inquire as to what happend with the anesthesia and Was yelled at by Marion that they “bent over backwards for me!” My dog has blood work drawn the week before in the back room at my primary vets and got so scared he threw up, so I asked if he could be one of the first ones they did so he wouldn’t be sitting in a cage getting worked up and throw-up. (I was worried about asphyxiation) So I guess that’s what she meant by bending over backwards. “ She also said “unless you had x amount of years for Vet School and anesthesiology she couldn’t explain it to me” like I was an idiot. “We had to rearrange are whole schedule just for you she boomed” I have no family and a very bad home situation, living with someone who has Aspergers is very difficult I have severe PTSD as a result. My dog is literally ALL I have! I made that very clear before and after surgery and she still treated the whole incident as if it was my fault. I was so unhappy with the uneven eyes for $2,500 but wasn’t willing to risk bringing my dog back and she never offered to fix them. I was told My 1.5 year old dog had glaucoma, this is rare but possible. The tech had my dog in such a choke hold I was sure it raised his pressure. When I asked they got irritated and assured me it didn’t. I felt uneasy & took him to my vet who said no Glaucoma, but to be sure I took him to Tufts more $$ and not only did the Students say no glaucoma the head of opthamology there put in writing no glaucoma! So my dog would have gotten very strong expensive unnecessary drops for the rest of his life that could have damaged his eyes! It would have assured lots of expensive check ups with Bulgar & Marion though... I was even more upset. Marion was unable to take any kind of criticism and she was wrong. Her arrogance is off the charts. Living with someone who has asperbergers for 20 years and knowing it is often hereditary, then hearing she’s had first hand expirence with it from the staff there, explains a lot. The blaming, complete unreasonableness, the quick temper and arrogance & complete lack of compassion. The experience with her was horribly familiar...I still feel sick to my stomach thinking about it and sad that my dogs were put through that. Read Less

We initially had a great experience, however our last set of visits made us not want to return. Our dog was misdiagnosed with a potentially cancerous tumor. He had a mass that would not go away after more than a month of antibiotics. We were then told after the Vet tested some fluid from the site that mast cells were present and that he needed to have surgery to remove the mass and complete a biopsy. A couple thousand dollars later we were informed by the surgeon that they removed a foreign body, likely a splinter, and that it likely would have resolved on its own. We were thankful that he didn't have cancer but upset that we had to go through the ordeal and put our dog through that unnecessary experience. We went back to have the sutures removed and have no plans of returning. This past week, over 3 months after the surgery, I noticed that additional sutures were surfacing in our dog's skin- some of those had been missed in the removal. We initially enjoyed working with and trusted the staff at Bulger but this experience has left us unable to return. I have learned to get multiple opinions in these situations and am sharing my experience to help others do the same. Read Less

I've taken my guinea pigs here twice and am beyond impressed with how friendly and knowledgeable the staff here are. It's a little expensive, but they're accommodating and I understand that, as a hospital that offers emergency services, they need the extra money. Additionally, every one of the doctors is well versed in small animal care, with the exception of one doctor who is allergic. My pigs are happy and healthy thanks to you! Read Less

In a word: Exceptional! We moved to this area 1.5 yrs ago, when my 2 cats from the same litter were already 18 yrs old. Over the years, my cars received care at a few different vet offices, and all of those veterinarians were great but sometimes the other staff or the customer service was good, but not great. Bulger is in a league of its own--excellent veterinarians, compassionate staff, and better customer service than any veterinary or human medical clinic I've ever used! We had some routine office visits at Bulger, and Jessie Fix, our veterinarian, always took the time to personally call us and give a very thoughtful & informative review of my cats' lab results and recommended treatment. Sadly, both of my cats ended up dying of old-age related conditions, about 9 mts apart. I'd always dreaded ever having to lose my cats: I'd had them for 18 years, they were like family. I was in the hospital myself, when my first cat (Chili) died. My wife had brought Chili to Bulger's 24 hr emergency room. Dr. Fix took the time to speak to me on the phone and explain everything. 9 mts later, my other cat (Jackie) became acutely ill, and had to be euthanized in Bulger's ER. I still think that I only got through that experience because the vet was so kind. Bulger's staff gave both of my cats the best end of life care that we could've hoped for, with comfortable & compassionate deaths. I'm forever grateful to Bulger for this. Read Less

So I’ve had several great experiences with Bulger. However my lastest experience was just awful. The vet was fine but the rest of the staff was rude. There was issues right off the bat when I called to schedule an appointment. My wife called to ask a follow up question about my pets medication... they never returned her call. I then called and someone did call me back and was condescending and dismissive. She took no time to understand the issue I’m having with my pet’s medication. There was also more attitude from the reception staff when I drove there to pick up a refill. I’m not sure what has happened with Bulger but I don’t think it’s heading in the right direction. I live 45 minuets away and had no issues making the trip. I definitely won’t bother going back with any of my pets. Read Less

Last June our beloved dachshund had a cardiac attack that caused her to collapse and become lifeless. We were able to revive her though CPR and rush her to the nearest 24 hour Veterinary Hospital. Because the attack happened on a Saturday evening we were shocked to find our go to vet office for the past fifteen years was unavailable and non responsive. A quick search of the internet guided us to Bulger Animal Hospital in Andover Ma. We called ahead and when arrived Leyna was quickly brought in for examination. Dr Demers was the vet on call that evening and she was spectacular. Within 30 minutes she found our that Leyna had an enlarged heart and a suspected mass on her spleen. Sadly for fifteen year our other vet office DAH failed to find these issues. Our dog is well now, the spleen and mass gone and her heart issue being treated thanks  to Dr Demers and her staff. Dr Demers is a very special vet and we are forever grateful... Read Less

Buyer beware...I'll start by saying we are not inexperienced animal people, nor are we stupid.  I've worked with many large and small animal vets over the course of a lifetime, including working at one of the best veterinary teaching hospitals in the northeastern states, and have never had myself or one of my animals treated so poorly.   They did tell me how much they loved him and how sweet he was, which he is, but I'd rather a doctor with a poor bed side manner who actually THINKS about what they're doing to the poor animal before they just slap it back together haphazardly.  My dog went in with an ear laceration on New Years eve.  We were unfortunately in Florida.  The dog sitters (one a trained vet tech and the other a professional in animal care) brought him in.  The first thing I found odd was that TWO different people on the phone confirming that they would be charging our card ahead of time.  The vet spoke to my husband before the surgery and all she said was it needed to be stitched up, and gave him an estimate.  We weren't there.  We trusted her judgement. Unbeknownst to us, she also said to the dog sitters "We're not performing any heroics here".  Well, ok...whatever THAT means, but no options, heroic or otherwise were offered to us.  We were simply under the impression that the ear just needed stitches.  In trying to do the best we could for the future health and well being of our dog, we agreed to the $1016 estimate, which was charged BEFORE the surgery.  Now we know why....I do want to say if they did their job correctly I wouldn't begrudge them a penny.  The red flags started when despite the fact that my husband REPEATEDLY asked the vet to call him for an update after the surgery, we were informed she already left.   We did get to talk to a tech the next day.  We NEVER heard from the vet.  The girls got their instructions, took the dog home, and followed them diligently. When we took our pup for his check up for our vet, we were informed that the ear was simply stitched up, and not with the appropriate type of stitch for that type of wound, and that there was now dead tissue, from a place where the blood supply was cut off that should have been trimmed during the surgery, and more tissue would continue to die until such a time that he had a SECOND surgery.   There was no way that flap would ever heal the way it had been left.  In a conversation with my vet, he explained his disgust at the amateurish job that was done.  After this conversation it made both my husband and myself wonder who actually stitched the ear?  And now the poor pup would experience more pain.  More time in the cone.  More time in isolation from the world.  How do you explain this to a dog that it's for his own good?  What sort of person does this to a dog? Not to mention another 600 dollars out of our pocket for a second surgery.We called Bulger and explained to them our vets findings hoping for some help or explanation.  They informed us that they would need to reexamine the dog and THAT would cost us another office fee of $145 to start.  Really?  How bout just take a look at the mess you all created as a courtesy before deciding to milk us for more money?  What exactly does it cost you to look???As we were trying to decide what to do while waiting for the pups second surgery date, my husband called up and requested to speak to the office manager.  We were told this wasn't an office manager issue we need to speak to the head vet.  When we didn't hear back we heard that both the vets involved had family emergencies, and it took a couple of days.  We were patient and finally one called back.   Again she used the term "heroic measures".   My husband retorted that she offered us NO OPTIONS heroic or otherwise.  All we wanted was for someone to properly trim the torn tissue of the ear so that after two weeks it would heal properly and healthily.  That is not what I consider heroic.  Then the little guy could go back to wreaking havoc on the world instead of being sad that he's cooped up for his own good.  She offered my husband a whopping 150 back.  We couldn't have been more insulted....While any animal person knows, animals are good at hurting themselves, and vets sometimes make mistakes, but something went very wrong with this one, and what went wrong SHOULDN'T have gone wrong if our dog had received the proper veterinary attention that we paid for up front.  All he required was someone with a clue at the helm, that actually cared about the future welfare of the animal.  Yeah it was New Years eve, so we can only speculate that someone had plans.  But honestly, when you give your life to animals, you should be there for them, regardless of what holiday it is.... Read Less

We had to take my cat to the emergency services last night at midnight because we noticed blood in her litter box. Luckily, it's a kitty UTI, she's on antibiotics and should be fine in a few days. The whole team we dealt with was incredibly kind, compassionate and knowledgeable. The Vet clearly explained all our options and was thorough to explore all the possibilities of her symptoms. Christina at the front desk was so sweet! My kitty is my baby, so I was an emotional hot mess the whole time we were there. She was so empathetic and really put me at ease. The service was fast (especially for midnight on a Sunday). The facility was very clean. Most importantly, the staff clearly loves what they do and it shows! So thankful they were able to help Lila and we have this great place for pet services so close to home. Read Less

The staff at the 24-Hour ER are amazing!! I called and the woman I talked to was so nice and understanding. When we got there they were so good to my dog. She never likes the vet but she was sniffing them and doing so well. They offered us coffee and water and made us feel comfortable, even though it was a crappy situation bringing the dog to the vet.Pricing is what it is, but I didn't feel pushed into doing the more expensive procedures. They gave me all of the options and made me feel like I made the right choices for my dog. If only they could move closer to me!!! Read Less

Okay, Ive only used them for Emergency Service. 1st off vets were great service outstanding. 2nd the Price was hideous. Now if all of you raving about this place think these guys are all-stars, then you'll love Rockingham Emergency Vet in Windham. Only ER service available 365 days. 1st. Staff is top notch. 2nd. Price is incredibly reasonable. 3rd. the building is state of art. Read Less

Awful people, awful business.Again I showed up for my scheduled appointment and was told Vet was behind schedule, as has happened Everytime here. They change a lot of money, more than other local ves, and I pay a d expect to be seen as SCHEDULED. BUT NEVER THE CASE.Today again the same happened and hey tried to lie and tell me it's never happened, hello I was wondering there. Furthermore the insist they give my dog more time and don't charge me for it. Comn!!! Really!!?And today I had it and clearly explained to then my dissatisfaction and was meet with nothing but "Im sorry". Broken record.Very disappointed would how then and how they handled my extreme dissatisfaction, instead.Terrible terrible , I love my dog and will no longer subject him to this business who's time is more important than my own and Lincoln's.Truly disgusted with Bulger. You are OFFICIALLY DROPPED as Lincoln's doctor, We will find someone that truly cares and honors schedule, as well as respects clients and their time. Will 99.9% get a better price also. I was warned by many to not go here, should have taken their advice.Bye Bulger, you are not good or organized enough to provide for my wife, Lincoln and my self. I wish you well, but you lost a client for life. Read Less

Awful people, awful business.Again I showed up for my scheduled appointment and was told Vet was behind schedule, as has happened Everytime here. They change a lot of money, more than other local ves, and I pay a d expect to be seen as SCHEDULED. BUT NEVER THE CASE.Today again the same happened and hey tried to lie and tell me it's never happened, hello I was wondering there. Furthermore the insist they give my dog more time and don't charge me for it. Comn!!! Really!!?And today I had it and clearly explained to then my dissatisfaction and was meet with nothing but "Im sorry". Broken record.Very disappointed would how then and how they handled my extreme dissatisfaction, instead.Terrible terrible , I love my dog and will no longer subject him to this business who's time is more important than my own and Lincoln's.Truly disgusted with Bulger. You are OFFICIALLY DROPPED as Lincoln's doctor, We will find someone that truly cares and honors schedule, as well as respects clients and their time. Will 99.9% get a better price also. I was warned by many to not go here, should have taken their advice.Bye Bulger, you are not good or organized enough to provide for my wife, Lincoln and my self. I wish you well, but you lost a client for life. Read Less

A little over a week ago I came in with my mother and grandfather because his dog Eddie took a turn for the worse that morning. We knew that he had been sick and my mother flew out from Colorado to help my grandfather deal with the situation. When we arrived at Bulger we were greeted by kind staff who immediately took the dog to be checked out. After a brief wait, Dr. Henrickson came in the room. It was immediately apparent that she had no bedside manner. She barraged my 91 year old grandfather with questions and quickly lost patience when he was slow to respond or struggled to remember things. We ultimately asked her to do some more blood work to see what could be done for Eddie.When she came back in, we got the bad news that treatment likely would not do anything and that he wouldn't be getting better. My grandfather understood that nothing could be done for Eddie, but was hoping to take him home so that he could die in the comfort of his own home. I don't think that Dr. Henrickson was listening, as she proceeded to inform him that she would call the MSPCA on him if he took the dog home. It was very threatening, and if she had taken the time to listen to him and understand what he really wanted, she would know that he would never make a dog suffer; he wanted what was best for the dog but did not want to jump to euthanasia without exploring all the options. She had no patience to discuss this with my grandfather and only got angrier as he asked questions. She also continuously said that the dog was "suffering," which led my mom and grandfather to ask about pain meds for him before she finally expanded on what she meant and that pain meds would not do anything. Seeing my grandfather in such pain was heartbreaking; but the fact that she was making no effort to reach out and show compassion was infuriating.. She even acknowledged that she was being rude (although that is an understatement). To treat him this way, to act like he didn't want what was best for this dog without knowing anything about him, was so insulting and abhorrent. My grandfather built a wheelchair for his dog in the 70's when she had hip dysplasia, and has always taken the best care of his other dogs throughout their lives. He is an incredible dog owner and did not deserve this disrespect.I understand that as an emergency vet, she may not have a lot time to spend with every family that comes in, but there is a difference between being succinct and being a complete jerk. My mother has also asked me to write out her feelings on the experience, which I'll share below:"Dr. Henrickson's horrendous treatment of my father was inexcusable and made a very difficult situation much worse than it had to be. Her confrontational manner towards my 91 year old father was reprehensible, especially after I asked her to slow down because he was under a tremendous amount of stress, not just with Eddie, but my brother had brain surgery just days before.She continued to raise her voice at my father, red in the face. She showed no compassion, and did not ask what my father's expectations were for Eddie, she just threatened to call the MSPCA. If she took a few minutes to listen, my father knew this was probably his last weekend with Eddie, and he felt Eddie would be more comfortable at home. Many people that know they're dying ask to go home to familiar surroundings. Who's to know dogs wouldn't feel this way as well.She could have explained earlier on that Eddie's suffering was not pain, but a struggle to breathe. I am a very even tempered person, but twice had to hold myself back. Until she undergoes intensive training in compassion and interpersonal skills she should not speak with pet owners."My poor grandfather already had enough to deal with, and now he is going through it without his best friend, who he lost in the worst way. Not to mention the fact that he also had to pay a lot of money to go through all of it (at the very least he should not have been charged for the euthanasia). I know that my mother spoke Dr. Henrickson immediately afterwards, and I only wish I had spoken my mind at the time too. I do not want to discount the wonderful experiences that others have had with this hospital, but Bulger should be ashamed of how Dr. Henrickson handled this situation. Read Less

Dr. Ruth Marion and Tracy provided exemplary treatment, attention to detail, time, and understanding of Harley my 8 1/2 year-old Harlequin great Dane. I have raised great Danes for many years and have experienced Angel Memorial Hospital in Boston, Woburn hospitals, , A couple hospitals on the North Shore, however the care and understanding by Dr. Marion and Tracy could not be matched . Notably Dr. Marion did not order unnecessary diagnostics or lab work, which I find to be routine practice at all the other animals facilities. Read Less

My cat was not a regular patient at Bulger, but I live close by and have had to bring her to the ER a couple times. Each visit to the ER went so smoothly, and I was so grateful of how kind, attentive and thorough the vets were despite how busy the ER was. Because of that, I just recently switched vets and will now be taking my cat regularly to Bulger! Read Less

After recently moving to the North Andover area, I had a pet emergency and wasn't sure which vet to choose. Bulger has amazing hours and the receptionists are so accommodating to your needs. A vet was able to see me same day at 7pm! Since then, I have ben seeing Dr. Libby Holman regularly to treat the minor medical issues I have with my 17 year old cats. She is AMAZING! She listens to my concerns and always provides me with multiple options to treat, including costs associated with each. In 17 years with these animals, I have seen numerous veterinarians. I can say confidently that Dr. Holman has provided me with the best service and treatment for my animals and I am so lucky to have found this center. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! - Ashley, Pansy & Petunia Read Less

I have gone to Bulgers a few times for extreme emergencies in my pets, it's usually when their own vet isn't equipped to take care of them in those situations or or vet is closed. I went in this past weekend with my best friend Joey, a big hound looking dog. He didn't make it because he had a massive internal bleed but the care and compassion he and I got from them was outstanding. Thank you so much for all you do Read Less

I had an emergency on Christmas day 6 years ago and we ended up at Bulger. After that experience I immediately switched to Bulger. The staff is friendly and super helpful. I love how they let me handle my dog. My dog is shy and it is often mistaken for timid or aggressive and she dislikes the vet. Especially when they are scared of her because she is a Pit Bull. I have had a dog that was aggressive towards the vet she is not that at all. Tonight yet again Bulger saved the day. I was even nervous with my dog because of how she was acting. From caring her from the car to putting the muzzle on they let me do it all. Everything went very well and when they brought her back to me she had no muzzle and was walking!!!! Your staff is amazing, a special thank you to Dr Kate Sawyer and to the first women who opened the door I hope I didn't freak you out to much seeings I was panicked hold a baby at a vet hospital. Thank you everyone who helped with Hazel. She is as comfortable as she can be all wrapped up in a fleece blanket and snoring loud!!! Thank you!!!Read Less

This week my 8 month old puppy had to be taken to the hospital due to crazy diarrhea that also caused an infection in her skin. Without testing her stool or running ANY tests, they prescribed her two different antibiotics, a broad spectrum de-wormer, and a spray for her skin infection. I made sure to follow any and all instructions and here we are just about 4.5 days later and my puppy has to be rushed to the vet due to serious lethargy and dehydration and still, bad diahrea.. My normal veterinarian told me to stop the medications immediately as what they prescribed was causing her to become worse instead of better. My vet immediately sent a stool sample as the MAIN concern IS what is causing the diarrhea. I'm still waiting one week in to find out what my poor baby is sick from. If it comes back as something severely dangerous this hospital will have a lawsuit on their hands!! DO NOT GO HERE! Read Less

We brought in our pet guinea pig (Brownie) to this hospital when she was sick. They told us that she either had UTI or a tumor. Without much information, they gave her an antibiotic injection. After that, our guinea pig never acted the same. She had a lack of energy, and was completely different. Later, we brought her to the Angell Animal Hospital. They put her in the ICU and realized she had a specific UTI, and that the antibiotics that the Bulger's Vet Hospital wasn't helping at all, so they gave her a new and more effective one. But still, she didn't survive. If anybody has a sick or injured pet, I would recommend the Angell Animal Hospital because they know much more on how to treat and take care of an animal. Read Less

Similar to a few other reviews, my visit to Bulger wasn't over the best circumstances - my dwarf rabbit had been lethargic throughout the day, not moving too much and not eating/drinking. He then started having trouble breathing, so I spoke with my vet who urged me to get him into an urgent care facility ASAP - I googled 24-hour facilities near me and found Bulger, and I am so glad that is where the situation led me. The staff at Bulger was so wonderful to work with - they were kind and welcoming, offering me coffee or water, inviting me to a private room where the vet could speak to me. We drafted a 24-hour treatment plan to care for Gilbert - costly, but nothing unexpected and very fair for what we needed to do. What changed my world was that they offered to let me see Gilbert before I went home for the evening. I was able to go out back and talk to my little guy for a few minutes, tell him good night and that I loved him. Unfortunately, not even two minutes after I had left the building, he passed on his own - it was heartbreaking, but they called me immediately to inform me. They were so genuine, and invited me inside to spend more time with him before I had to let go. They were incredibly kind and helpful, so absolutely sorry for me but it never felt fake or like they'd already said the same things a million times. That comfort, in a time of great need for my pet and great sorrow for myself, changed everything. I would highly recommend Bulger to any and every pet owner, emergency or no, based on both pet care and staff. Thank you again!Read Less

Unfortunately our cat had a blood clot and we had to rush him to the hospital on Christmas Day. The staff explained everything to us in such a thorough and caring way. There was nothing we could do to save him. Everyone was so understanding. They let us take our time saying goodbye to our sweet boy. Today, we received a handwritten note from the veterinarian expressing his condolences once again. The card had our cats paw print the cover. Thank you so much for your care and concern for our family. It means so much of this very hard time. Read Less

We had to take Cloud, our sick kitty to Bulger on Christmas Day. We saw Dr. Jessica Maynard, and she was so kind and caring with him. The technicians who came in and looked at him were wonderful too. I'm sorry I didn't catch their names as well. We have already had a follow up call this AM. I spoke to my regular vet, and she's up to date with their treatment of him. I am hoping now for a good outcome. WRT costs... Yes, costs are high, but all are. Their prices are not out of line with other veterinary hospitals in the area. I will gladly give them 5 stars. Read Less

Wonderful place, wonderful caring loving people. First time experience. We had to make the hard decision to put our beloved Sphynx to sleep. From every staff member we came in contact with, they comforted us and supported us through this extremely hard decision. We will miss our Sphynx, thank you so much Bulger for being so kind, and caring during such a difficult time. Read Less

I had to bring mwh0q. (lionhead) in a few timesnun middle ofnthe night BC she wasn't eating or drinking which is a red flag when it comes to rabbits. They were very attentagive hands on and did great job Read Less

Just hours after adopting our new kitten, she became very sick with a fever, lethargy and limping. We didn't even have a vet established yet, but the kind folks at Butler took us in anyway. They quickly assessed and treated our sick kitten and most definitely saved her life. We are forever in debt and wouldn't dream of going anywhere else in the future. I took my cats to Butler when I was a child, too. They were amazing then and still are today. Glad to see some things never change. Thank you Butler Read Less

These guys are amazing I want to send a huge thanks to everybody who work today on Thanksgiving Day Dr Jesse fix the staff Jolene, Kathy ,and Dianne among other stuff members thank you guys from the bottom of my heart god bless you guys I will recommend anybody and everybody to you guys you guys are angels you took great care of Tysen and you guys were amazing to console me I can never think you guys enough happy Thanksgiving from from Jennifer Shambaugh and Tysen b Shambaugh Read Less

Last night we had an emergency visit there, 30 minutes from our home and they took us immediately. Sadly we had to let Biggie cross the rainbow bridge. The kindness shown to us will never be forgotten. I can't say enough good things about the entire staff we interacted with. We thank you for making one of the worst times for us a little more bearable. Read Less

Today, Thanksgiving day I called because my dog needs subq fluids daily and my vet is closed. After spending over 10,000 dollars between bulger, port city and in town vet over the years ,most recently in July, they told me I would have to go through emergency. The fee of 136.00. I have the fluids  and it takes about 5 minutes with a technician. This is the care and concern shown for my pet that has been in your care many times. Way to go,great customer service. I can see where your priorities  lie. Read Less

These people are all-stars! Last night, I was walking to my car in Somerville and I found two guinea pigs abandoned in a carrier on the side of the road. They were shivering and very scared, but they were still alive! What kind of loser locks up two guinea pigs in a cage and leaves them outside on a chilly night? Halloween is when the real monsters come out, I guess.I called Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn because they are open 24/7 and their secretary was great! He told me to keep doing what I was doing (keep them in the car with the heat on) and he called Bulger Veterinary Hospital (also open 24/7) to see if they could take the guinea pigs as they have experience with exotic pets. In under a minute, he gave me the OK and said they would be expecting me. Thirty minutes later I arrived and everyone was so accommodating. They were all exclaiming, "The guinea pigs are here!" and we were being treated like celebrities. I provided my information in case they would need to get in touch with me again and I asked if the critters would be euthanized. I was unwilling to leave them if that was the case. My mind was put at ease when one of the intake employees, Carol, reassured me everything would be fine. She said she wanted to adopt them because they were so cute! What a great team! I walked in at 11PM and didn't feel as though I was bothering anyone. All of the employees were on their feet catering to pets and genuinely happy to be doing so. If my building would have allowed me to keep them, I would have done so in a heartbeat! However, this was the next best thing and I feel good knowing that I left the little cuties in good hands. Read Less

Unfortunately my meeting with Bulgers wasnt on the most of ideal terms. Our baby beagle Maci was severely sick, at just under 2years old. And severe symptoms came on extremely quickly. (She went blind right infront of us, she wouldnt eat, she just lost her whole personality). Come to find out she was far more sick, with a very serious illness, and in far worse pain than her regular vet told us. We had to make that dreaded decision, whether to keep her alive and in pain, with no guarentee to get better, or let her go and be pain free. So we chose to let her be pain free. She was my daughters best friend. I could tell you so many hilarious stories about the 2 of them, but as most dog owners with children know, they become quite a pair together. Bulgers was more than amazing. When we spent our last few moments with her at Bulgers, it was hard. Maci tried to wag her tail, and gave us each [myself, my daughter and my father] each a billion kisses, almost as if to say thank you for the fun we had, and probably to lick the salty tears as well, (because she would lick anything with a taste, lol).. Its coming up on almost a week without her, i wont lie and say its been easy, because its been furthest from it. But the other day we recieved a card, well 2 cards, each with a paw print and 2 hand written notes from the staff. When the time comes to get another furry baby, we know who their "primary vet" will be. My family cant thank your caring staff enough, -The MegriansRead Less

We have used the ER with our pets multiple times. They are excellent for emergencies.The care has been top notch and I've never regretted taking our pets there. The health of the pet always comes first. To date we've used them for a porcupine encounter, a severed paw from a plate glass window, a dog with uncontrolled epilepsy, a dog bite, and a splenectomy and biopsy. Each time it has been 100% about the pet and the pets prognosis. Very thankful they are nearby. If I was to give a con... I REALLY wish they were cheaper...that is probably partly because tweedledee and tweedledum here can't seem to stay out of trouble :-) Read Less

Waste of time and money on my poor Neko. $400+ wasted on useless tests. I know the issue is mouth related and yet they convinced my boyfriend to have Neko checked for diabetes and liver failure. (which has nothing to do with Neko's problems) Big waste of our money as we already live in poverty. And what's worse is the release papers say they talked about a sedated dental exam, WHICH THEY NEVER DID. Now our funds are too drained to find/fix the real problem. (his mouth) Read Less

Love this place! My poor girl Flora went blind virtually overnight so I took her to my regular vet. They recommended we go to Bulger to see Dr Marion. Of course she was booked up well into July but Frank, the guy we spoke to on the phone spoke to Dr Marion, explained our situation and she squeezed us in two days later. Frank said we would love her and he was so right. She was able to tell us exactly what was going on with Flora and prescribed a new medication for her, reassuring us that she will be OK. So relieved and happy right now! Thank you for everything!!! Read Less

I have been bringing my Siberian Huskies, brother and sister, here since I first got them at 7 weeks of age 2 years ago. The doctor we have been seeing, Dr. Michael Hornberger, is phenomenal. He is very knowledgeable about dogs and is thorough with his follow ups and patient and informative when explaining medical procedures to me. The facility is clean, the staff very helpful, and if you belong to the clinic, you don't get charged crazy amount of money for the ER visit care. I absolutely love this hospital and despite moving away from the area and now being a NH seacoast resident, I continue to bring my pups back to this hospital out of loyalty to their phenomenal services. I highly recommend it! Read Less

You killed my dog. Brought my dog in with blood in his stool and constant scratching in August . He was diagnosed with a yeast infection in his skin after a blood test that came back "clean"and subcutaneous fluids for dehydration. Got an oral antibiotic and an antifungal shampoo.  His condition continued to deteriorate, Unfortunately he actually had prostate cancer and was in the early stages of renal failure. 5 months later he died a painful death . Read Less

When a house fire destroyed my mother's house, I was shocked to find that her two cats, Marley & Ollie, had survived. I immediately rushed them to the Emergency Hospital at Bulger, on a Sunday at 2 pm. The staff there was incredibly warm, friendly, caring, nurturing, empathetic, I cannot say enough about them. In a time of vulnerability and need, the Bulger family welcomed me with open arms, greatly surpassing any veterinary staff I had encountered in the past. Adhering to their policy regarding pets and house fires, they did not charge me for the treatment my mother's cats received. They even neutered Ollie, free of charge. If I lived in the area, I would bring my pets here in a heartbeat. It is a rarity to encounter people who care as much as the Bulger staff does, and I encourage anyone in the area to treat themselves to the same level of care as I received. Read Less

Awesomeness. The best care for your pets. We have had no doubt with the service Bulger provides for our pets, whether it be for a regular day appointment or evening/weekend emergency visit. We have experienced all aspects of the business, emergency services are bar none. The staff are very friendly and attentive to us and our pets. Plenty of doctors to choose from or not and just appear. You won't be disappointed. Read Less

I take both my rescue dogs to Bulger and wouldn't have it any other way - I truly trust the entire staff and have the greatest confidence in our vet, Dr. Burns. My pups were both diagnosed with heartworm disease after adoption (it didn't show up on their pre-adoption tests because HW has an incubation period of up to 6 months!) and everyone at Bulger was beyond accommodating and kind to me and my pets before, during and after the two treatment periods.I am now at the point where I look forward to seeing Dr. Burns for routine visits because what could have  been a really traumatic experience with HW, became a positive one. I may have adopted my dogs, but she saved both their lives!Thanks to everyone at Bulger for all you do! Read Less

We have 3 dogs and I have to say the care they receive here is second to none.Our primary veterinarian is Dr. Vanderlaken and she is wonderful, very caring and knowledgable but when she is not at work and we need to see someone immediately we have seen several other doctors who are excellent as well.I love that they can take care of everything we may need for our pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.It really can't get any better than this. Read Less

Wait time is annoying---even for an appointment made ahead of time. VERY expensive. Positive side--the doctor was very nice, personable and made follow up call to us. Most of the rest of the experience was really negative down to the two (employees I believe) smoking right by the doorway. Unfortunately, they are one of the few emergency/24 hour hospitals in our area. Read Less

When my little guy got sick and needed emergency care, I was directed here.  They were fantastic in taking care of my pup in his time of need.  They explained everything to us, gave us options for diagnosis and dealt with my puppy's frantic overexcited owners.  Thankfully, they did not find anything wrong except for pup being under the weather. They immediately contacted my regular vet who followed up the next morning.   I felt good about the service we received here. Read Less

I recently had to put a pet down, and this is never easy in any way. The level of compassion I was shown made this task much healthier to deal with. I appreciate all that was given to me, and by complete strangers no less. The people here truly love the creatures that they care for, and this is clear through their actions. Read Less

I was terrified after my Maltese had a choking spell that lasted over 5 minutes. He eventually calmed down and apparently a collapsing trachea will resolve itself if the animal can remain calm. Preston was doing well but because I was so scared of it happening again I went in for an emergency visit. Dr Lang was amazing and understanding and gave us some tips if it happens again. I can't tell you how relieved I was. The vet tech Jose and the front desk staff were wonderful and I can tell you for a fact these people are not in it for the money. If they made a quote on a surgery that was high, it may be that the surgery was more complicated than just 'a broken leg'. Personally I would go back in a heartbeat and highly recommend the emergency services. Read Less

we had a older terrier mix who we ended up taking to them after he had a serious seizure episode in May. It was on a weekday night when all the other places vets were closed. We had to drive a distance to get there but it was well worth. As an animal hospital they are one of the few Vet 24 Hour ERs in the area. The ER is not large and since it is the only ER in the immediate area so it was busy. Even so they treated us like we were the only ones there. They quickly  took him to the back to diagnose the cause of the seizures. Unfortunately it was a painful diagnose that our little guy had a brain tumor. We did not have the money at the time to do a MRI but the doctor was fairly certain that was the issue. He was but on meds to control the seizures.About two weeks ago are little guy's condition took a turn to the worse to the point that he was in severe pain. It was the second time we had been there in two days in the early morning hours, and the medication they had given him the day before was not helping. They were realistic in what they could do for him considering his age. In the end we had to make a very difficult decision, but it was the only choice that was fair to him. The whole staff at Bulger are so professional and caring that even allowed a special request to have him euthanize outside in the grass where he found it more comforting. The doctor was very understanding of the situation even though she probably has gone through it many time in the past. Read Less

A big thank you to Bulger and especially to Dr. Marion who took exceptional care of our dog Roscoe when he needed immediate emergency surgery on his eye. Two weeks later, he is doing great! His vision is returning and is getting better day by day.We decided to bring him here for his visit since we had been previously referred to Mass Vet Referral, which is in the same veterinarian group, for another issue (life with dogs... it's never boring!), and saw how well they genuinely cared for our dog.Even though we came into Bulger for an emergency visit, we will be bringing my two dogs here from now on. They are wonderfully caring and compassionate, and don't mind if you have a million questions - they are more than happy to give you answers and top notch care around the clock. Read Less

Bulger Veterinary Hospital is by far one of the greatest Vet's. I have been to two other ones in the Boston area and it took a further drive to find one that worked for us. No matter what time of day, early morning, afternoon or in the middle of the night, there's someone on staff that you can call to get quick answers. Our pup was recently neutered at Bulger's by his lovely Dr. Burns. She is AMAZING with him and us. Sweet, intelligent and caring. Our pup had some complications after the surgery with a reaction to the medication he was on. They have been more than helpful with trying to get him healthy again.I will never go any where else. They are just too great with our dog!! Read Less

Of my many pets, my cat Blackie is my obsession.  She's 14 years old and we've had her since she was a kitten.  She came to us with a bad paw that was turned in and upside down (hard to picture, I know) but for many years she lead a normal life until a year ago something happened and the paw became infected.  Our regular vet recommended we take her to Angell where she got surgery that removed a lot of excess skin she had developed over the years.  In my opinion *too much* skin because the paw NEVER healed.  For the last year I had to constantly keep her paw with dressing and it would sometimes get better and then bad again.  More recently, it would ooze a lot and it looked worse than usual.  My regular vet was at a loss.  Then she stopped eating and was just not being herself.On a friend's recommendation I took her to see Dr Lauren Blaeser at Bulger.  Turns out Blackie had a broken bone and it was infected.  She recommended the paw be amputated.  Both her and all the staff were very understanding, put up with my insanity, answered my questions, etc.  Dr. Blaeser even gave me her cell phone number and sent me pictures of Blackie who stayed there several days as she needed to be hydrated prior to surgery and since I live one and a half hours away it made no sense for me to keep coming and going.Blackie, now our three-legged cat, came back home and immediately started to act better than her old self.  She has energy, purrs constantly, runs around, jumps everywhere.  It's like getting her back as a kitten.Thank you Dr Blaeser, all the techs (particularly Lauren P. Thanks for putting up with constant, hysterical texts) and Bulger Vet Hospital.  Wish I had taken Blackie there a year ago. Read Less