Sand Creek Animal Hospital

I have been a client of Sand Creek Animal Hospital for close to 20 years. I absolutely love every doctor and staff member at this practice. I would trust no other Vet with my precious dogs nor would I ever go to any other facility. The doctors and staff are always courteous, knowledgeable, trust worthy and I refer them to everyone I know who has animals. By far the best Vet practice I have ever encountered. They are always there to answer any questions and are always extremely helpful. I can always rely on them. Again, I would never go to any other Vet. They are simply the best. Everything about this practice is 5 star. :)Sincerely,Debbie Kenneally Read Less

We moved to Colonie almost a year ago and were looking for a new vet, I loved our old one but the drive was now too far. We've been bringing our dog  here since July when he was a few months old as well as our cats and I can't say enough good things about Sand Creek. Everything here is perfectly executed - their waiting room has separate areas for cats and dogs, we pay right in the room after seeing the vet, and can leave out the side doors inside of going through the waiting room. I've never had to wait to see the doctors. We usually see Dr McDaniel, he is excellent, but we've also seen a few other doctors that are always very helpful and good with our pets. The receptionists are nice and the vet techs are very personable. On our first visit Dr McDaniel went through all of our questions, offered advice, and gave his sincere input on our puppy's demeanor - he spent about an hour with us at our first visit and was very thorough. Puppies are overwhelming so it was greatly appreciated that he encouraged us to ask any questions and provide detailed suggestions, advice, and resources. They're also great at following up whenever we have issues. I think the prices are more than fair for the quality of care we get, and Sand Creek is actually cheaper than the other vets we've been to in the capital region. I would recommend Sand Creek to anyone looking for a place that will treat you and your pet with care and compassion instead of just a patient on their list. Read Less

This has been my dogs veterinarian since she was a puppy. Everyone that works there is so friendly and so accommodating. They go above and beyond to help their pet patients and their pet patients parents. They have their pets best interest at heart without charging and arm and a leg. I highly recommend this office. Read Less

Recently, our cat Scout ran off. When recovered months later, he was a sad, flea and tick infested bag of bones. We did not expect him to survive. We took him in, expecting him to be put down. Dr. Waska gave us hope, despite our cat's liver problems and refusal to eat. The doctor was very patient and continued to treat symptoms until our cat was finally healed! We had given up hope but now are enjoying a healthy cat!We have used Drs. McDaniel and Carmichael over the years with our dogs (and cat as well) and they also have always shown extra effort and interest and compassion.Highly recommended!!! Read Less

My husband and I have lived in the Albany area for over 20 years. We went to the Animal Protective Foundation shelter and one of the cats picked out my husband indicating he wanted us to take him home. We did! Six months later we went back for another cat to keep him company. The boys grew up doing everything together. Six years later we took in a female barn cat. We had difficulty finding a veterinarian group that would meet the needs of us and our cats. Friends recommended we try Sand Creek Animal Hospital. After our first pet visit, we knew this was the BEST place and established a long relationship with the practice. Dr. Matthew McDaniel, Dr. Anne Marie Carmichael, and Dr. David Sonnekalb took care of our pets for over 10 years. They along with their office staff were caring and wonderful. Always available to answer our questions and help us as the cats aged. Dr. Sonnekalb was with all of them when we had to make the decision to put them down. It was very difficult but he and the staff helped us immensely deal with the pain and sorrow of saying goodbye to our pets. Our cats lived long lives 9 years for the barn cat, 15 and 18 years for the other two shelter cats. After each death, we received a special sympathy card signed by all the staff and at the last death a "paw print" with our cats name, date of birth and death framed with hearts. This was so special that we framed it with his picture. The entire team is very knowledgeable and caring. Starting from the greeting on the telephone, to the office visit staff, and veterinarians. They know their animals and their interactions with the "pet parents" is top notch. They offer advice as to best care, without pressure allowing you to make decisions. My husband and I recommend this veterinarian practice and will use them again in the future when we decide to bring home new cats. Thank you staff at Sand Creek Animal Hospital for taking such good care of our cats. Read Less

The best way for me to describe the level of care Sand Creek Animal Hospital provides is by illustrating for you my first encounter with them. My fiance and I walked in basically as the doors to the hospital were opening with a very ill and tiny puppy wrapped in my arms. Unannounced, unscheduled and no record of us or our dog on file, the front desk team took notice of the situation and got a vet right away. Dr Carmichael swooped in and began her magic, soon followed by Dr. McDaniel.Without much non-sobbing verbal exchange that Im sure made any sense, we left our beloved bulldog and his novice life in the hands of the most trusted strangers you could ever imagine... and never looked back. From the moment we arrived the front desk team, the techs and the vets made us feel comforted and safe. Almost 4 years later they continue to provide the most genuine and sophisticated care to our very needy bulldog who we would not have in our lives today if it were not for the indescribable level of care and compassion provided by Sand Creek Animal Hospital. My fiance and I take every and all opportunities to spread the word about Sand Creek Animals Hospital, they are the best and we animal lovers know that that is what our pet deserves! Read Less

The entire staff at Sand Creek Animal Hospital makes you feel like your pet is the only patient there. They call to check on them after procedures or visits, they even call to tell you there is a special going on for dental treats they know your dog uses. There web site where you can check your pet's schedule for shots is perfect. I no longer have to dig through my files to find what shots they need and when. They are all very compassionate and barring health insurance for dogs - you get what you pay for. They are worth every penny!!! Read Less

The Staff at Sand Creek Animal Hospital are dedicated animal lovers. They treat our pets (our entire family bring their pets here=11) as each are the only patient. Some reviews have mentioned costs, I see nothing out of the ordinary. They have given us quotes for procedures our pets need, each time quite a bit lower then the original estimate and our furry family member is no longer in dire straits. Honestly, we would never think of changing from the wonderful staff of brilliant, caring, friendly Doc's and their staff at the cleanest animal care facility, actually the cleanest health care facility 2 or 4 legged. Nothing but praise for Sand Creek Animal Hospital Owners of 4 furry pets Read Less

I have been a client with Sand Creek Animal Hospital for sometime now ( 5 dogs) and they are the most wonderful caring staff. You walk in the door to be greeted by the most caring friendly outgoing stafs. They make you feel comfortable. Dr. Carmichael and Dr. McDaniel are the most compassionate loving people. They take the time to listen and answer all questions at any time of the day . I would not take my animals any other place. I have recommened them to my friends and family , and will continue to do so. Read Less

This place has very friendly staff and extremely clean quarters. They also seem to have all of the latest equipment on premise, and can get you lab results while you are still in your appointment. However, I think there are a few things new customers should be aware of. First, they will give you a hard sell on everything: food, supplements, procedures, prescriptions, and tests. They charge top dollar for all of these things, and will tell you at your appointment that it is really the only right choice for your pets health. If you find yourself in this position, make sure you do your research before dropping $200 to $400 dollars an appointment. This won't be easy to do, since you will find yourself facing an argument if you want to get out of there without buying first. Watch out for the guilt trip - ""dont you love your pet?"" type arguments. They also do a lot of practices common in human medicine, such as always scheduling you for the most expensive appointment (45 min vet appt rather than a 10 min tech appt for shots). Unlike human medicine though, you will be paying for this out of pocket. Third, they will schedule you for unnecessary follow-up appointments to double and triple check your pets condition. On one hand this could be seen as a necessary precaution, on the other it seems like a great revenue builder for the clinic. After talking to my fellow dog lovers in the Albany community, I realized that there are a lot of vet's out there who will be far more straightforward about what the reasonable courses of treatment for your pet, and will keep your wallet in mind. Read Less

Albany Phil's comment is correct & not unfair. I have also gone to Sand Creek Veterinarian & while they are good & have a very nice staff, the costs are ridiculous. I was given a joint supplement for one of my dogs that costs over $80. & found out later that it was basically Glucosamine & Chondroitin & that you can give dogs the same supplement people take (which you can buy for about $15.) I was also once given a 2-ounce bottle of a food supplement for my dog's coat that cost nearly $30., which was Omega 3 that I bought later at a pet store for $18. for 16 oz. They consistently suggest very expensive tests. They ARE knowledgeable & competent, but I could not afford to spend literally hundreds of dollars for each visit. I was forced to find another vet when, after my last visit cost $300., I had to delay bill pymts. I realize they have to make money, but I found I often had to put off taking my dogs to the vet because I did not have the money & that should not happen. Read Less

My family has come to this hospital with our four animals since they opened in 2002. They treat my pets as though they were their own. The staff is very warm and friendly and the doctors are always available to answer any of our questions. The facility is spotless and very modern. We would recommend this hospital to anyone and everyone! Read Less

This place is around the corner. I called to make a ""well puppy appointment."" At the end of the call, I asked ""how much"" and the total came to over $200. $51 for the exam, $51 for a heartworm test, $35 for a stool sample, $46 for the flea treatment, $34 for the heartworm prevention and a few extras. I felt overwhelmed, so I took online advice and called one other vet that was 6 miles away. The same exact exams and visit was half the price. I saved $100 just by making a phone call. I feel bad giving a low rating because they didn't do a bad job. I am giving it because I would encourage you to make a few calls if you are reluctant to part with $200 for a well puppy visit. Read Less

We took our dog to Sand Creek after a series of unfortunate experiences at our regular vet. Drs. McDaniel and Carmichael and their staff were immediately invested in our dog's case (he had been unable to keep his food down for a month, and no diagnoses had been made up until that point). We appreciated their approach, and the friendliness of both the doctors and the staff made our dog, and us, very comfortable. Within three days they figured out that our dog had a foreign body in his stomach, and Dr. McDaniel came to the office from home to operate on my dog and remove the foreign body (a corn cob, be sure never to let your dog eat one of these). They were right there with him throughout his recovery, and even brought him him home with them on the first night to ensure he was doing well. We plan on taking our pets to Sand Creek for all of their care from now on, and recommend them heartily. Read Less

I have been a happy client of the husband-wife team of Drs. McDaniel and Carmichael since they opened their state-of-the-art facility on Sand Creek Road in 2002. I have a diabetic cat (Circe) whom Dr. McDaniel diagnosed in 2001 while at his previous hospital. She has been expertly cared for since then and remains a happy, healthy cat even as she turns 14 this year. They also provided excellent care for my older cat, Leela. When it turned out she had developed a malignant, aggressive form of cancer in 2005, their humane care and concern was of great comfort as I said goodbye to my feline friend. Read Less