If you have lived in New York more than a millisecond, you know that when you find a quality doctor/dentist/therapist/shaman who accepts your insurance and/or doesn't try to rob you blind, it's a major accomplishment. And if said provider has a friendly, helpful front desk staff, well that is a rarity indeed... a gem, a pearl of great price! Such has been my experience with Astoria Veterinary Group. They aren't the most convenient to get to for us, but they tick all the above boxes. The docs have been awesome and communicative, and clearly love our dog. I cannot begin to understand why the negative reviews single out the front desk, from my experience they far exceed most in this city, and while that may sound like damning with faint praise, it isn't meant that way. Perhaps they've made some changes in recent months? In any case our recent experience has been solid. They are human but mostly terrific, and we won't go anywhere else. Read Less

Dr. Smith was AMAZING with my dog teddy. He was visiting me in Astoria and had been acting very strange. He is very scared of the doctor and is extremely anxious. Dr. Smith was extremely sweet toward my dog and had a very calming presence. They even squeezed us in last minute. Highly recommend! Read Less

DO NOT BRING YOUR PET TO THIS VETERINARIAN!In March of 2017, I brought my cat here because of two bumps on his skin. I thought they were from fleas or either pimples. The vet told me he may have just had a bad reaction to his recent grooming visit, and she prescribed me a shampoo to help soothe the bumps. Fast forward to September of 2018, I now live in New Orleans, and the bumps on my cat's skin reappeared as well as a new bump (three all together). I didn't think much of them at first, but my cat was itching them so much that they started to bleed. I was concerned so I took my cat to the Cat Hospital of Metairie. The vet there told me they looked like masses, took a sample, and they turned out to be mast cell tumors! Not only were they tumors, but after the tumors were removed and sent to a lab, they came back as CANCEROUS. Luckily, the cancer didn't spread to his internal organs and he is cancer-free now.With that said, the fact that I took my cat to Astoria Veterinary Group over a year ago with the same symptoms and they didn't bother to test them is extremely concerning to me as we could've caught my cat's cancer early or even avoided it all together. I'm honestly appalled and extremely upset and wish I would've brought my cat to a different doctor when I lived in Astoria. Please, if you're reading this and care about your pet half as much as I do, AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS Read Less

Same as others expressed. The front desk is a mess and a poorly run operation. Put on hold 10Minutes until they were prompt to pick up.Owner/Management need to have a hard look at the staff here. On the decline, stay away. Read Less

Have been bringing my Husky to Astoria Veterinary Group for 5 years.  These guys are the best.  They are reasonably priced and don't overcharge for medications.  DRs Kamer & Smith are just the nicest people as well as kind, experienced Vets.  Both take the time to educate & comfort stressed out pet owners.  Veronica Read Less

I don't understand all the bad reviews/nasty commentary. Maybe you get back what you give in this world. We've had nothing but great experiences with the entire staff. Everyone has been helpful, friendly, complimentary (hey, our pets are cute, what can I say?).  The prices have gone up, but I don't mind paying for great service in my neighborhood. The place is always busy, but we've never had to wait long. But they're busy for a reason--people trust them with their pets. Read Less

Was a customer for 5 years - doctor staff was greatI switched VETS just because of the front office staff - they are absolutely HORRIBLE - 15 minutes on hold every time I call, never can find my pet in the system, never have Saturday appointments - totally incompetent - oh well, doctors were nice and always helped my pet... Read Less

I've been going to Astoria VetGroup for 7 years, but not super happy with them. While 2 doctors I saw previously were ok, but after my last visit I doubt I will return. While the doctor we saw was nice, and handled my dog gently, she prescribed a wrong dose of antibiotics. And instead of helping my dog - he got terrible worse and suffered unnecessarily for 2 weeks. :(2 vets (at different vet clinics) I saw after confirmed the dose was supposed to be twice more and be taken only 5 days instead of 14 that she prescribed. It makes me think that she is very inexperienced. But on top of that, their office manager was extremely rude to me and tried scolding me like a kid who did something terrible. The issue was - I called and booked an in-house ultrasound (they do advertise it on their website that they have an ultrasound machine and do the in-house ultrasound - the girl on the phone told me it cost $200). When we came in for that it cause a big commotion in the office as it appeared that the doctor who they booked my appointment with (btw, it was clearly written on the appointment notes: in-house ultrasound) doesn't do ultrasounds. And there was no vet that day who does ultrasounds (apparently they have like 1 vet only who does it). The whole visit took me almost 2 hours, cause they couldn't sort their stuff out and kept making me wait until finally the manager called me in. So after all the waiting and all the commotion, I didn't get no apology, but instead he cornered me in a room and interrogation started: "how did I found about the cheap ultrasound? who told you about it? which girl at the reception desk did you speak on the phone to?"... I was totally confused of what exactly his issue was, but also didn't want to get anybody in trouble, so I said I don't remember which girl booked my appointment. After the tirade he demanded I book the ultrasound with "their guy" (a specialist) who brings his own ultrasound (which is $420 - very expensive, as I found some other vet offices book the same guy for only $300). It  also requires leaving the dog with them for  half a day or more, which I was not gonna do. Since I refused to be bullied into paying for their up-charged ultrasound, the manager was almost screaming in my face and pretty much ordered me out of the office. Honestly, I was totally horrified by this experience. I came in for a scheduled appointment, I was polite with everybody, I didn't even raised my voice when the manager blew his lid over the "cheap" ultrasound. I just wanted be done, pay and get out - my poor dog was sick and had to wait for all this time . I'm not sure if the owner knows how his manager talks to people. Or maybe he is the owner and feels like he can intimidate people and bully them to pay for more expensive services when they are very vulnarable? I don't care to find out - I'm looking for a new vet and probably gonna try dr. pet daddy. Though, I am really hoping to find a good holistic vet, as I'm really sick of regular vets just pushing antibiotics over and over to my dog and I see the same issue just pops back after a while.P.S. Apologies for this long story, normally I don't write bad reviews, but just thought it might help some people if I shared this. So this is just my experience, but my other friend has been very happy with Dr. Smith and used her for years. Read Less

Honestly impressed. I brought my cat in through emergency because my usual vet was full. My vet actually recommended me to a different ER in Manhattan. Upon checking reviews I was not impressed and looked elsewhere. I'm so glad I took him here. They were very nice. Got him in right away and I did not feel like i was being over sold on medications or procedures. ( A big reason I didn't go to the recommended ER) even when I was rambling about my over protective concerns the doctor was very nice and explained everything to me in detail. my cat is feeling and looking better and they have set my mind at ease. Great experience overall Read Less

I came to this place recommended by a former customer. told me great reviews about the place so i came to try it. These people charge services off the back and then give you a bill at the end of the visit with charged fees that you were never consulted for, I went for a regular check up which cost about $80 and resulted paying $320. as I was leaving they told me they were scheduling me for a dental cleaning visit that cost $1200 without me agreeing to it. They don't care about your pet, the care about this $$$ Read Less

Brought my dog here with a medical emergency on an early Sunday morning when my regular vet was closed. Received amazing care from dr weltz,Vet tech and support staff.  Best part was transparently priced options so no sticker shock at end of visit.  Would highly recommend and might even switch vets! Read Less

Reception staff are SO helpful. I did a walk in ($85) with my sick kitty and the vet was very thorough, explained everything to me, and everyone who handled my cat was very kind and careful with her. Would 100% recommend. Great vet. Read Less

This review is a long time coming. I will never, ever go to another vet after coming to AVG! I've had a history of cats with medical issues, and I've seen the inside of a lot of veterinary offices. Not only does AVG blow them out of the water, they do it affordably. I recently adopted a cat (2 years ago), and brought him here for his first checkup. Booking the appointment was easy, they respond to e-mails (a miracle!), and all the receptionists were SO friendly. Dr. Jeena Song had amazing bedside, and helped the poor nervous dude feel comfortable. We were in and out, not too long after our scheduled appointment, only $60 poorer, and so happy. Fast forward a few years and my little guy had a minor emergency with FLUTD. I brought him in in the morning on a Sunday, got walked right in to see Dr. Michael Weltz. He was completely transparent, checked him out thoroughly, explained every step and action to me, and even came out after to let me know that one of the medications was controversial. I appreciate his transparency and kindness-- it's not every day you find a vet willing to explain everything to you! The vet assistant even gave us 7 cans of (free!) prescription wet food to try on him to help his medical issue. I only paid $84 for a same day walk in, ultrasound, pain medication, and subcutaneous fluid shot. My jaw hit the floor. So unbelievably affordable compared to all the terrible veterinarians who will charge you an arm and a leg just for glancing in the general direction of your cat.My roommate had brought their cat to another local Astoria vet and not only was the vet's bedside awful, but their front desk folks were awful, and let me pick up their cat while thinking I was my roommate-- they didn't once check I was the right person before they discharged her! Needless to say, they switched to AVG immediately. The vet diagnosed the cat quickly, gave her the proper medication, and landed another client.As an aside, AVG also works with local TNR and rescues in Astoria by treating sick feral cats, and helps wayward Queens wildlife! A local vet that's on time, responsive, transparent, friendly, cheap, AND altruistic? Trust me when I say this place is a goldmine. I will never go to another Vet! Read Less

Doctors are fine. However they do a terrible job answering phones. If you all expect to be put on hold by Ashley for over 10 minutes. If you complain about she'll simply not answer your call. Find another vet. Read Less

Dr. Song and Dr. Fitzgerald are both amazing doctors that work with you. I highly recommend you making an appointment with one of them should your pet be in need. When our dog got sick, I called the office and was helped right away by the friendly receptionist. Unfortunately, Dr. Song, the doctor we are familiar with was not available. So we saw Dr. Fitzgerald instead,whom diagnosed our dog with aspiration pneumonia. Dr. Fitzgerald was able to work out a plan of treatment that best suited us. This office was always accommodating whenever I called to address any of my concerns. We saw Dr. Song last week and I simply cannot say enough good things about her. She is the best, she answers all your questions and explains everything to you. Our dog is recovering very well now and we can only thank Astoria Veterinary Group for this! Read Less

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. Let me explain why.After an unfortunate and annoying scheduling mixup (I accidentally booked an appointment at a different vet a few blocks away), I rescheduled, in person, a new appointment at 8pm on a Tuesday. A young receptionist between 18 and 22 years old with rubber band braces made the appointment. She had me fill out some paperwork and then she confirmed my time. I returned on the day of the appointment and Young Rubber Band Braces Girl was there, in the same seat. She asks me if I have an appointment and I say "Yes, remember me? I'm the one who accidentally made the appointment at the wrong vet and you rescheduled me." She then gets all sassy and says "You didn't make the appointment with me." I assured her that she did.It's important to note that Young Rubber Band Braces Girl barely made eye contact with me the entire time (a dead giveaway that someone is being untruthful).Here's the thing: YRBBG knew she made the appointment. She either forgot to record it or she deliberately didn't record it. She then told me that I would have to pay a $20 "rush fee" because I didn't have an appointment. I refused and asked to talk to the doctor. The doctor came out, accidentally stepped on my dog's foot, and told me that they have no choice, they are fully booked and closing soon and I have to pay the fee.To sum up this entire experience: 1. customer makes an appointment2. young receptionist fails to put the appointment in the calendar3. customer is forced to pay a feeNeedless to say, I left and I'll never return. If you think I was upset, imagine what my dog was thinking. Read Less

My dog’s DEAD 1 day after this vet’s physical exam. He was a healthy 12 year old papillion who was a happy go lucky guy. I took him to the vet for a physical examination. All Dr. Bruck said was how he seems healthy and they were going to take him for blood exam to see how his health is doing. He started bleeding from his genital and we took him the next morning and ANOTHER doctor examined him when Dr. Bruck was present at the office. This doc mentioned that he also had catheter urine exam that was never mentioned to us that it may have obstructed his urethra. They prescribed some pills and that it was normal for dogs and it would take 2-3 days for him to pee normally. They told us to wait for 24 hours and come back if he doesn’t pee. He suffered so much not able to eat or drink. When we fed him med, he’d throw up. He was trying so hard to pee but wasn’t able to. Less than 24 hours later, my dog DIED in my arms on the way to an emergency room. Read Less

I have been a customer for over 29 years. I remember when the practice was smaller and now it has vastly expanded. They needed to expand this is a place that you go and the vets and technicians greatly care about you. They care about your pet. They are not too expensive, if you go to other vets you will be ripped off for things you don't need. They don't try to push procedures on you to make money which is really important as things can add up quickly.  The staff that has been there a very long time and knows you and your pet are the friendliest people. If you have any questions they will answer them no problem.  I will always go here as long as I have any pets. They truly are wonderful. I have recommended them to friends and even when my friend had to put her baby down we came there. The staff stayed late so she could have extra time with her baby and they were so gentle and caring allowing you to know what was happening along the way. As traumatic an experience this can be they were there for her.  That means a lot when you are saying goodbye. Try this Astoria Veterinary Group they are busy but there is a reason why they are busy because they are so great and wonderful. Read Less

PHONES NOT WORKING. (5/16 and then again today.) Whenever I call the main line, it rings and then says the "Voicemail has not been set up." Difficult to have a vet that cannot be reached to make an appointment, refill a prescription, etc. The last time I ended up walking to their office. Today that is not a possibility so I will be looking for another vet going forward. Read Less

PHONES NOT WORKING. (5/16 and then again today.) Whenever I call the main line, it rings and then says the "Voicemail has not been set up." Difficult to have a vet that cannot be reached to make an appointment, refill a prescription, etc. The last time I ended up walking to their office. Today that is not a possibility so I will be looking for another vet going forward. Read Less

When we're actually able to interact with the vets, usually we have a descent experience, but it is a constant struggle to even get them to pick up the phones. When you do speak with someone at the front desk, it becomes incredibly difficult to actually talk to someone who knows what they're talking about. Even as a follow up from a visit when you have already seen the vet, you are told to call the next day to get lab results. 3 times now, when I call, it takes multiple calls and at least a week to actually speak to a vet to get any real recommendations. On one occasion the front desk person gave me results over the phone that were clinically inaccurate. Overall, the experience has been entirely disorganized, poorly managed, and just not worth it. Take your fur babies elsewhere, where you can trust the care that you're getting. Read Less

Walked in as an emergency for my one old kitten. I barely had the time to sit down untill they started taking care of her. They all work as a team and it was such an breeze to get a consultation. The room was spotless and immediatly cleaned after the Vet walked out. I have also been given free special food and a blanket for my kitten. Read Less

My cat hasn't been here yet, but I'm already impressed. This past Saturday morning, I made a snafu that sent me into a paranoid-cat-mom spiral (you know how that goes). I live in the neighborhood and ran over to Astoria Vet Group in frantic search of an answer and something to help my cat. Even though I had never been there and didn't even have my cat with me, Dr. Smith herself came out and talked with me. I hadn't even asked to see a doctor, and to me, this spoke volumes. I've worked in medical and veterinary offices for years, and the majority of doctors I've worked with won't advise people who aren't clients.  While I certainly don't recommend taking advantage of this (make an appointment!), it's clear that this office has the pets' best interests at heart. Many thanks to Dr. Smith for her kindness - I'll be back. Some more pluses: they have late weekday hours, they're open Sundays, and exam fees are more affordable than most places. Read Less

I love Dr Smith and Dr Kilkelly - who is no longer there - was awesome. I don't mind the waiting area, they did add another bench and moved the desk. I think the costs are very reasonable. However. Yesterday we were in with our cat for his checkup. While I was in the reception area waiting for a prescription, one of the male vets (not Dr Weltz or Dr Kamer)was screaming at the top of his lungs at one of the receptionists about - of all things - how unfairly the FBI has treated Donald Trump. And he wouldn't let it go. He went in the back, took a phone call, came back out and started up again. He was cursing and ranting about politics. It was unbearable. The other people waiting were horrified too. I don't care much about the guy's politics but for the love of god KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. Read Less

I brought in a sick cat which I found in the street. Cat was obviously sick with cat HIV doctors should of saw it and warned me before I gave hope to my little girl that it might live. I paid over $200 to put someone else's cat to sleep. Staff was extremely friendly will use again. Read Less

This past month has been incredibly difficult for me and my family. We lost a valuable member of our family- our five year old dog Cocoa. Due to mistreatment , Dr. Bruck basically killed my 5 year old dog. My dog was the happiest and most playful dog one could find, we never had any health issues. Two days prior to me bringing her to Dr. Bruck, she began to act lethargic and her urine was orange/red colored. After rushing her to Astoria Veterinary Group, Dr. Bruck did an examination and blood work. She came back and diagnosed my dog with Canine Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (ITP). Canine immune mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), is an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system is designed to fight foreign substances in the body, like germs and viruses. ... In case of ITP, the immune system attacks platelets - the cells responsible for clotting the blood. Dr. Bruck placed my dog on steroids and stated there was no cure for the disease. Basically, the dogs own body is attacking is platelets and putting the dog at risk of bleeding internally. Dr. Bruck explained how there was no cure for the disease but with Prednisone (steroids), we would be able build her immune system back up in order to increase the platelets count. She stated the dog would most likely be fine and to ONLY BRING HER TO A HOSPITAL IF SHE DOES NOT IMPROVE WITHIN 24-48 hours. Within twelve hours of sending me and my dog home, I woke up to my dog covered and lying in a pool of blood. She bled internally and died on my bedroom floor. I'm still suffering from PTSD til this day. My fiance and I rushed her to an animal hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. I brought the blood work results to the hospital and the emergency doctor was incomplete disbelief after seeing how low my dogs platelet blood count was. She asked me why I didn't bring the dog to the hospital upon receiving the blood results. My answer was "The doctor told me she should be fine and to only bring her if she doesn't seem to get better within 24-48 hours." The emergency doctor explained that some dogs may get better while on steroids but not if they are already internally bleeding and at risk of death. Considering how low my dogs blood count was along with the orange/red urine (which I showed Dr. Bruck in photos), the emergency doctor stated that any competent Vet would have realized that this dog was bleeding internally. After hearing this, I went to another vet and just explained the situation. The 3rd vet stated the same thing- that Dr. Bruck should have recommended and highly encouraged my dog be admitted right into an emergency hospital, not be sent home and monitored on steroids. A month has gone by and the pain is still severe. We not only lost our dog, we lost our baby. She was five years old! I wouldn't recommend Dr. Bruck or this place if they were the last Veterinary Group on this planet. I have photos, documents, receipts, etc. to back up my review so please try and take it down and lets see what happens. Read Less

The front desk clerks are not properly trained to communicate with clients and yet if you ask to speak to a trained doctor or tech, they refuse to allow it. My cat went into her first heat and need to be spayed within a 1-2 week period. When I called to make an appointment, I was denied and the front desk clerk told me I had to wait over a month. When I obliged, I asked if I could schedule the appointment. She told me that a month was too far out and she didn't have a calendar so I would have to call back in 2-3 weeks. First off, that information is incorrect. Without mating, my cat would have almost immediately entered into a second heat. I'm glad I did not heed this advice and decided to contact another vet for a second opinion. Secondly, who refuses to schedule an appointment within a month's time? My business was lost right then.  Additionally, I needed an itemized invoice for insurance purposes from them for when I initially brought my pets in for a check up before the above occurred. I asked for it multiple times since my appointment in OCTOBER and just got it TODAY, 4/24. Lastly, they allow cats and dogs to roam freely around the waiting room unleashed. News flash, sometimes animals don't get along. Read Less

As long as you AVOID Dr Fitzgerald this is not a bad place. Twice I've been unfortunate enough to find out Dr Fitzgerald attended my dogs. She's traumatized my animals, and if I could prove she damaged my dogs eye I would pursue having her license tossed. When she speaks, she says the most absurd things to try and get owners to give consent for her to do random tests. Each time she has attended my animals, I literally only needed her to give me a remedy or prescribe an antibiotic, but instead I get a list of tests that have nothing to do with the symptoms the dogs had. Read Less

Every vet I’ve gone to here has been good, Dr. Fitzgerald has been great! My cat is currently dealing with a food allergy (we think) and she’s been so patient, helpful, and attentive. The wait times could be improved, (I waited for over 20 minutes on my last appointment) but I will continue to come back because I do think they do their best to find a solution. Read Less

Great place. Excellent Vets....:) My baby Hashtag likes the Vets there. He has done the "dirty deed" on the examination table wayyyy too much but the Vets have always been super cool about it. They also trim his super sharp nails. Very gentle with their shots too.. I have seen multiple Vets, but Dr. K. is our favourite. She is Hashtag approved Read Less

I feel very sorry for anyone who thinks this place gives good veterinary service. Front desk help is abysmal and rude, always on hold when calling, found vets very uncaring, and they are priced higher. Unfortunately had to come here because my regular vet was closed over the holiday, but NEVER AGAIN. Even follow up service was terrible because there was none !! Apparently they can't even enter contact information into their records correctly, so I didn't get a call back to pick up my dogs asked even though they had then for OVER A WEEK, even though they had an email address as well add a phone number for me. Go to Heights Veterinary in Jackson Heights instead.. Caring vets/reception, fairly priced, and at the very least, they don't make you leave your pet in the MIDDLE of the appointment for euthanizing them, to have you go to the front desk and pay your bill before they'll finish ! Especially considering i was in the waiting area for 40 minutes before ever being seen and could've paid then ! Absolutely disgusting. Read Less

I took my cat here for a basic check-up this year and the doctor was amazing. She was very sweet, friendly, and knowledgeable. The doctor was extremely gentle with my cat and I'm so grateful. I had a similar experience with a different doctor here when I came last year for a check-up. The only difference between this year's experience vs. last year's experience were the receptionists. They were extremely nasty and made me feel unwelcome. I called to give them a heads up that I would be late due to Uber issues that were out of my control. The girl who answered told me (VERY rudely) that since I was late I would need to wait a long time. I was 15 minutes late. When I arrived the girl continued to be rude while the other girls gave me dirty looks. The best part of it all is that I was in & out of the vet in 30-45 minutes. So it ended up not being a long wait at all, this girl just felt like being nasty for no reason. Client services are important to me in a business so I unfortunately feel I may need to consider another vet for next time. This is such a shame since I really like the doctors here. Read Less

We started taking our dog here about 8 months ago based on all of the good reviews. I cannot understand why there are so many good reviews. The place looks pretty filthy every time we have been. We have seen a different vet each time we went there and each one tried to sell me something additional each time. All different things: additional tests after they said everything was ok, vitamins, $1,000 teeth cleaning, etc... A few weeks ago they said I needed to get my dog a heart worm test because they didn't bother to read that my dog had one only a few months ago. I feel like every time we go there we get ripped off. They are already more expensive for services and medicine than any vet I've ever been to. Just to get our dog yearly shots we had to pay $65 vet visit. Just to make sure that our dog was "healthy enough" to get his shots. I am not sure how 5 seconds of feeling on our dog's body they can say he's healthy enough for shots. We have never been there and actually got to be seen any time around our appointment time. Every single time we have to wait at least 40 plus minutes to be seen.The front desk people are horrendous. They are absolutely rude and not helpful at all. The last time we were there one of the girls was telling a customer who had just bought medicine for their dog the reason she doesn't have a pet is because she sees how much all of the customers pay in vet bills. Then she proceeded to name off every thing she can buy and every place she can travel to by not having to pay vet bills. Considering the place is full of people waiting to be seen and pay vet bills this is a pretty disgusting conversation to have. We decided a few weeks ago would be the very last time we come here. I would encourage other people to also consider looking around at vet offices before coming here. Read Less

Honest, fair, good quality trustworthy careWanted to wait for a few months of care before I wrote a review. We adopted a 3-year-old English Bulldog four months ago and Dr. Kilkelly and the team here has given her great care. Every single time my appointment has been right on time. Care has been thorough and the prices have been fair. Follow up calls have also been very good, thorough and never rushed. Obviously seeing a vet is never cheap, but what they charge is on par with other vets I've been to. They've accommodated me very last minute and have very flexible hours/days so it's easy to get your pet in. Obviously like with any vet buying prescription medicine on site is very expensive and they're honest about it--just order it online (Allivet has been the cheapest we've found). Yes the waiting room is small, exam rooms are small and we even had to have an appointment in the back room surgical area once, but being they run a tight ship, you're not waiting long. As long as my dog is getting good care I don't care how small the rooms are. ALSO our dog needs a specialized plastic surgery unfortunately and our vet was surprisingly honest that we need to see a board certified surgeon to do it which was greatly appreciated. Read Less

Biggest scam artist in NYC. Organized crime has a new face and fake 5 Star Reviews. Evidently, the owners and staff (i.e. incompetent henchmen) obviously write their own fake 5 Star reviews. As professional compulsive: liars/Rectum Storytelling Scam Artists, they can't even write any that are somewhat believable. They are so stupid, they think people will believe their retarded AstroTurfing. #StupidIsStupidDoes Excuse the words required to describe them as there're no other words to accurately and thoroughly describe them in this brief review. The dialogue I overheard at this place confirms that my horrific experience wasn't the only one. The owner, manager and some of the staff here are the epitome of delusional self-righteous psychopath criminals who compulsively lie about and try to excuse everything. A complete disregard for the victims they exploit and their gross negligence / incompetence. Completely disconnected from reality and humanity. Narcissism on a whole new level. They and most of their staff have absolutely no clue, nor care about what they're doing. No actual ethics or empathy; just manipulative psychopath meatheads exploiting their virtually blind/oblivious customers. Shocking that their bad reviews don't even scratch the surface. If you've been victimized by them, report them to the Police, District Attorney's Office, BBB, ASPCA, everywhere online, and the NYSED Professional Misconduct Enforcement to pull their license, shut them down and throw them in jail amongst their kind. Run like hell! Read Less

From saving my dog's life as puppy, to having to put our family dog down, Astoria Vet Group is the absolute best. The vets are all very knowledgeable and the reception staff is amazing. Dr Smith is our absolute favorite. She really cares about her patients. I wouldn't take my three dogs anywhere else. Read Less

No doubt the best veterinary place in queens. My favorite dr Jodi Smith. But the entire staff is great. Front desk friendly and easy to deal with. I have tried several other veterinarians in Queens over the years and four different dogs. Nothing comes close to this place. Read Less

I started bringing my dog to this practice after being dissatisfied with the care she was receiving at the more convenient vet practice down the street from me. Parking is tough to find in the area, and the waiting area is a bit small, which causes some anxiety for us because our dog is a bit difficult when forced to be in close proximity to other dogs. However, we absolutely will NOT bring her anywhere else. She has a recurring issue with mast cell tumors and been seen by several of the vets at this practice over the past three years, and every one of them has been fantastic. Aside from their clinical prowess, they truly love their work, and are kind and patient, not only with the animals, but with their people as well. My only "complaint" (well not really a complaint) is that Dr. Bruck has moved on from the practice. She was especially wonderful, and I wish her the best, wherever she is. In response to the folks who are complaining about tests, bills, etc: These docs are very thorough, and they know what they need from the get-go to make an accurate diagnosis. Contrast this to our prior veterinarian, who would order a test, see nothing, then (grasping at straws) would make us come back (charging us for another visit) for more tests, with still no definitive diagnosis, etc. AVG doesn't do this. They order the correct tests and therapies that are needed to diagnose/treat your pet the FIRST time, so you don't have to keep coming back. On our most recent visit, we weren't even charged for the exam, just the cytology. They have been more than fair with us. Bottom line: Highly recommended! Read Less

I am really torn on this place. We had been taking our dog Jessie there for 8 1/2 years since we got her. The doctors and assistants have always been great. I can't really say the same about the front staff. My dog was diagnosed with hypothyroid last year and we had to come back a few times for tests to monitor it. One time when we came in for a test, they took the test and then we had waited two hours in the front. Finally, the front desk asked us what we were waiting for and we said the test (they hadn't called us up for payment yet). They said that we didn't have to wait for that and that the results wouldn't be in until tomorrow. Seriously?? We wasted two hours for nothing?? All they said was a half-hearted sorry. Cut to almost two months ago. Our dog was not feeling well and we started doing tests. She had high levels of calcium in her blood and no one could figure out what was going on. Sometime over a week ago she started getting really bad and we had come in for about the fourth or fifth time. They tested her for addisons disease and she tested positive, we were so relieved that they finally found something and we could manage it. In three days, she was unresponsive to the medicine and got so weak that she could barely stand. On Monday, I made an appointment earlier in the day. When I got home from work, she was barely moving and I called them to get in earlier. I carried her inside and we saw dr. Smith. She thoroughly examined her and said that she believes there is a bigger problem her. We were recommended to go to the animal hospital. We carried her into the waiting room. She was so incredibly weak that she collapsed right on the floor near the door to the back. Other doctors and assistants just stepped over her seemingly unconcerned. It was heartbreaking and upsetting. The story ends with our dog being put down last night at the animal hospital with an aggressive brain tumor. Obviously, I am heartbroken and devastated. We mostly dealt with dr. Hirsch and dr. Smith, who always seemed to be caring and kind. My only feeling with this place is that once you are out the door, especially with a deathly sick dog, no one really gives a crap. After all of the times we had been in this past month and the ordeal on Monday, no one even bothered to call to see how a pretty long-time patient is doing. Obviously, now you know that she did not survive. If we decide to get a new dog, I am not really confident that I will come back here for pet care...just being honest.Read Less

The best Vet office I've been to. They're willing to open early and stay late to accommodate. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable regarding anything you may need for your pet as well. I highly recommend Astoria Vet Group. 5/5! Read Less

I take both of my cats and my dog here. It has always been an excellent experience. They give very honest advice about my options and help me choose what is best for my pet to ensure their optimal health and wellness. Read Less

I am going though a very painful time with my 2 year old BOSTON , DEXTER - since AVG was closed and it was an emergency we admitted him to animal specialty hospital in YONKERS where we live after being there for 3 days , and the staff is wonderful I found I needed the best Vet I know and that's DR SAKAL from AVG . I trust him more then anyone to handel the most important things in my life -he is straight to the point , kind and compassionate , and at a heartbreaking time with another pet SAM supported me through a very emotional time - we would go to the ends of the earth to go to him -he is one in a million Thank you DR SAKAL Read Less

We have been bringing our cat to this clinic for a few years. Dr. Smith is the greatest! She is extremely conscientious, highly knowledgeable, caring and attentive. The vet techs are always on point as well. Astoria Veterinary Group is the absolute best. Read Less

Excellent staff - compassionate and attentive There are 5 vets on staff and each are highly qualified and responsive to pet parent questions and concerns. Late hours make scheduling convenient especially on weekends Parking is the only drawback I live on Long Island and drive to Astoria because of this quality of care for my dog and catsRead Less

I have been coming to Astoria Veterinary Group for the last few months and I have to say that I am very impressed! The staff is very kind and knowledgable and I always feel respected when I'm over there. I have a 5 month old kitten and every time I bring her there I know she will get an honest evaluation and get treated well. I love both Dr. Kamer and Dr. Smith and I highly recommend them both. I am a bit of a neurotic pet parent and the Astoria Veterinary Group always has a way of making me feel comfortable. When I had to spay my kitten and I was a nervous wreck, Dr. Kamer calmed me down and everything went exactly as well as he said it would, he even called me to let me know she was doing well. 48 hours later, my kitten is bouncing around and back to her normal self, also, the surgical site looks great. I don't agree with some of the other reviews about the price discrepancy, I have always found that whatever price I am quoted is the same price they charge everyone, and they are always reasonable. Neither Dr. Kamer nor Dr. Smith have ever tried to "up sell" me or try to convince me to get something done that was unnecessary. Overall, my experience there has been great and I will be returning for my kitten's next check up!Read Less

I strongly agree with most recent reviews here. Do NOT take your beloved pets to Astoria Veterinary Group. They will not cure your pets. All they care about is making money! They take advantage of you when yiu are at our weakest and worried about your pet and can't think clearly about finances. My husband took our sweet cat Fuzzball to them on Friday evening on November 27, 2015. They made him wait for over an hour and then rushed him in, confused him, scared him, took the cat away from him into another room and sent him back to the waiting room where the support staff proceeded to pressure him to take a credit card out with a huge APR to pay for procedures for the cat. They did this even before they did any blood work to find out if the cat had anything truly wrong with him. They started procedures on our cat in another room without our consent, without explaining anything. They took our cat in the back room and butchered him. Next thing, our cat was given medicine, again without telling us for what purpose, the cat had a terrible reaction and they put him on oxygen. Meanwhile my husband was in the waiting room being asked: "How much money can you spend? $5,000?" When my husband said he would gladly pay but needs to know what he is paying for they kept talking about the credit card and then said: "The procedure will cost the amount of money you get approved for by the credit card company" WHO SAYS THIS? We were worried about our cat and instead of giving Fuzzball good care and appropriate treatment they kept talking about money. That's when I picked up the phone and called them out on trying to forcibly extort money from my husband . I said we were not paying anything until we know what is going on with Fuzzball. Then the vet nervously got on the phone with me. Dr. Hirsch then admitted there was really no emergency with Fuzzball, everything was looking good and said the blood work came back fine. Fuzzball was ok when he came in there. But before they did any blood work, they misdiagnosed him, gave him medicine and did multiple procedures without our consent. Then the vet proceed to say he wanted to do "exploritary surgery." WHY? If the cat was ok, why not let my husband in to see him and take him home? The vet brought up this bogus surgery in order to COVER UP that they already hurt Fuzzball. Our beautiful cat went into shock from the anesthesia they gave him without our concent. Instead of trying to save his life, they took him off oxygen, quickly stuffed Fuzzball back into the cat bag and charged my husband $60 and rushed him out of the office, without any information about what drugs they gave to the cat, what was wrong with the cat, or how to nurse the cat back to health once he was back home. What happened next will haunt me for the rest of my life. Fuzzball came home paralyzed with bulging eyes, gasping for air and cry meowing in excruciating pain. He suffered greatly during his last hours in this world. Who releases a cat in this condition? Why not admit to my husband they made a mistake and they needed to keep the cat and try to save him? They killed our cat. They killed Fuzzball by torturing him first. It was intentional and malicious. Their staff was negligent. The vet misdiagnosed and didn't follow proper protocol. They don't have any compassion. The doctor didn't follow ethical behavior and shouldn't be allowed to treat any animals ever again. Astoria Veterinary Group needs to be investigated immediately and shut down for trying to scam people while their animals are being treated. Or in most cases, mistreated and abused. Please do not take your dog or a cat or any pet there.Read Less

The staff are rude and very judgmental not professional at all, took my dog here to get her checked out because she's been feeling sad and very depressed looking. They did two blood work and an a ultra sound only to say that her thyroid was low. The doctor gave me her medicine and I gave it to her twice a day with her food. Not 5 minutes has passed after her eating when she vomits her food and water. Since then she's been losing weight non stop and has no appetite. All they want is your money, I explain to them I will not come to them anymore and that's when they started to care. PLEASE PLEASE!!! If you love your animal as much as I love my baby don't bring them here. Don't pay mind this all these other comments. All they want is your money and they don't care of your animal and they'll only be giving you meds upon meds upon more meds and just keep charging you!Read Less

We have been bringing our cat to this clinic for a few years. Dr. Smith is the great! She is extremely conscientious, highly knowledgeable, caring and attentive. The vet techs are always on point as well. Astoria Veterinary Group is the absolute best. Read Less

I have taken my dogs here since I got them and while the waiting room and examination rooms are small, the vets are competent and caring. The staff has expanded quite a bit and every new addition has been welcome. We obviously have favorites, but having met all of the vets at one time or another, they are all professional and kind. The only drawback is that they don't have specialists. When my dog was stricken with cancer, they referred us to an excellent oncologist though. But for standard healthcare, I highly recommend them. Read Less

I recently switched to this Vet after several situations led me to believe the standards at my last vet were more about the bill than my pet's welfare. I am VERY happy with Astoria Vet for several reasons. Dr. Smith is very caring and thorough. She also discouraged me from overvaccinating my dog, suggesting less intrusive alternatives to get him safely through tick and flea season. (when was the last time a vet DOWNsold you?) The hours are excellent (they are open on Sundays!), there is a lab on premise, and the cost is less than those of my previous vet. The medications are also less expensive here than at websites offering the same product (K9 Advantix was 10% lower than the web best price). I highly recommend them. Read Less

I went for a visit because my cat was losing weight and never saw so much equipment and doctors get involved. Within 45 minutes Lucy had a though exam, x-rays, an ultrasound and some of the blood values related to Lucy's health available. Everything was well explained by several doctors. What's more they didn't charge me for the ultrasound and I watched while they did it. Very pleased and would recommend to anyone. They also recommend other vet hospitals if you want or need different care. Am now in Florida and all records were given to me for the vets I chose. Read Less

I've been taking my dog to them for 5 years because they are the highest rated in the area and because it is convenient. Doctors are for the most part very good. The weekend receptionists are so sweet especially the Asian girl that works there on the weekend. THE WEEKDAYS ARE A DISASTER! the receptionist at the front desk is the rudest person of all time. She will put you on hold for 30 minutes then come back to the phone and forget who you are. When you go there she will keep you waiting for hours and completely forget you are there then be completely nasty to you when you call her out on it and still won't help you. She will go about her business on the computer/taking personal calls/eating/ordering food etc..the pricing for this place is ridiculous and their quotes are lies! we always have issues and have to argue the prices with them. They will charge for every little thing, and if you are not careful they will get away with it and you won't realize it til you get home and look over your invoice. DO NOT PAY THEM TIL YOU ASK WHAT EVERYTHING IS. I got charged for things that my dog didn't even go there for. If you try to ask the receptionist a question she will say "it is what it is and we will not release your dog until the bill is paid."My dog had surgery earlier this week. We were quoted for between 1500 and 2000 for everything (especially cuz I was there 2 times within 2 weeks for the same issue and they charged me in total $800 JUST DAYS! prior to the surgery for medications and treatments my dog didnt need so he suffered unnecessarily for weeks while all they needed to do was give him an Xray like i had suggested they do but they were adamant he didn't need it and they would do it next time. SO i go to get my dog. I wait an hour before anyone even helps me. The receptionist tells me my bill is $700 more than we were quoted for!!! I called daily and there were no complications and we were told that the $1800 i had to put up front for the surgery would be more like $1500 and they should be giving me money back unless complications arose. I had to fight with them for over an hour. This receptionist would not get off her you know what and go get anyone to help me so I had family members barrage the office with phone calls. WE HAD A SIGNED DOCUMENT with the quote she wouldnt even look at it. finally one of the vets came out and took $200 off so I still had to give them more money but at the point i just wanted to leave! on the invoice were things my dog wasnt even there for and didnt need! NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY I SPENT DAYS PRIOR FOR THE SAME ISSUE THAT THEY DIDNT TREAT!My brother had the same issue. Their puppy had parvo and was there for days. They tried to overcharge them when they went to pick her up and wouldn't let her come out until the bill was paid for. I had also paid for 2 of the days she was in the hospital as a gift to my brother because he was a student at the time and couldnt afford the treatments. SURPRISE! when he got there they charged him the full amount. I had to fight with them for almost 2 hours by phone and had to leave work early to go there and bring my bank statements to prove that i had paid for it and the receptionist still tried to fight me.like i said before, the vets themselves are great and really know what they are doing. the place itself is so poorly run and they hired that (cant use the word i'm looking for on YP) at the front desk! NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE YOU WILL BE AGGRAVATED AND WANT TO FIGHT SOMEONE I PROMISE YOU. if you are ignorant to the charges you will pay and not think of it. RIDICULOUSI WILL NEVER BRING HIM THERE AGAIN! Read Less

I followed Dr. Weltz to this faciliy from the Humane Soceity because in my 57 years i have never met such a caring doctor who really cares for the pets and their health and will also suggest some holistic advice if your pet is terminal. His bedside manner is quite professional!!! The reason I am never going back because the front desk staff are rude and unprofessional to say the least. The owner of this vetinarian establishment should realize that your front desk can make or break your business. If Dr. Weltz or Dr. Smith ever leave this establishment I will definitely follow them because today you cannot find a caring yet good veternarin. Read Less

I have been going to AVG for 6 years now and am very happy with their services. I never ask for a specific vet every time I go, so I see whomever's appointment they are able to fit me into. I have no complaints against any of the vets. The vets have always been fairly conservative with treatments and never trying to do super expensive treatments righ off the bat. They have all been very caring with my animals and really took the time to explain to me what is going on with my pet. I started their with my cat 6 years ago and in the last year have been bringing my new puppy. Dogs definitely seem to go to the vet more so I did get pet insurance. However, I neglected to mention I had it and bring in the forms so then months later I called in to tell them and they were SUPER accomodating getting all the paperwork filled out. They had already been paid in full so it wasn't like they were so accomodating because they were going to get something out of it. Also, I had a few claims rejected and the vets were great about calling the insurance company. In fact, for one of the claims the insurance company told vets that I had to call and give them permission to speak. AVG left me two messages asking me to do this and then they'd follow up. I just got so busy at work that I forgot to do it and one day they called again and I apologized for not doing it yet. They actually were calling to say they had tried again and got the insurance to process the claim. I was really impressed with this persistance. I wish I remembered that specific vets name. I think it was an Irish name. I was pretty impressed with their persistance. They also have great hours: past 5pm and weekends. Which is super helpful for my working hours. All around fantastic vets. Before going to them I read all the reviews of vets closer to me and they were really concerning. I read AVG's reviews and gave them a try and I have never been dissapointed with the services they have rendered or felt that they were price gouging me. Read Less

I've been to a few vets here (Sakal, Smith, and my favorite--Dr. Jay). Everyone thinks of the pet first and how to minimize pain and stress. For example, Dr. Jay traveled to my house to put my elderly dog with bone cancer to sleep, so I didn't have to put him through the stress of a vet visit. Dr. Jay doesn't make big dogs sit on the table, bc it's slippery and makes them uncomfortable. She feeds nervous dogs healthy treats while she examines them. The best part is, everyone at this office understands when you're on a budget and cam help you come up with a plan that best fits your budget and you're pets needs (e.g. cheaper painkillers if needed, free medication samples when they can, etc). They dont encourage unnecessary tests and dont judge you if you don't wanna go for all the extras, and help you figure out how you can do what is needed. Front desk staff is friendly and great. The hours are great. If you need to come in for an emergency, you always can. If you need to call the vet with a question instead of paying for an office visit, you can. If you want to order your meds from somewhere online for cheap, you can! This place is great is all ways, especially Dr. Jay. I don't understand the negative reviews, maybe it was with a specific vet I havent been to--because even my neurotic dog friends, and entire 'dog societies' (e.g. sunnyside) recommend them! Read Less

Appointment Tuesday September 15, 2009. 8:30 AM for my dog for removal of a fatty tumor on his leg. Mr. Sorrel vet technician, manager and groomer wanted to take my dog and put a catheter and do hemoglobin test . I asked if Doctor Sakel was there? ""He said no"" And I asked him what happens if Dr. Sakel doesn't show up? Mr. Sorrel said that he'll pull out the catheter. I told him he's not to do anything until Dr. Sakel arrives there. I planned weeks in advance that my friend could be present until my dog was sedated and it was agreed upon with Dr. Sakel. Dr. Sakel was about 25 minutes late for the appointment, I talked to Dr. Sakel and he said ""that this was his day off and that he wasn't getting paid. I told him he's getting 500.00 dollars out of 1600.00 that I paid by credit card as soon as my friend arrived there. Dr. Sakel passed my dog and didn't even acknowledge him. We waited one hour in the waiting room until 9:35 AM. Mr. Sorrel vet technician, manager and groomer, again wanted to escort my dog inside, without my friend being present as planned ahead of time when the appointment was made. It was agreed upon that my friend could be present until sedation when I talked it over with Dr. Sakel. My first quote was 600.00 to 750.00. The day before the appointment I was told by manager vet technician and groomer Mr. Sorrel that the actual cost could be between 2000.00 2500.00 for the operation of a fatty tumor on my dog's back leg. Mr, Sorrel said ""If I don't have the money don't bring the dog, that they will not operate. A couple of hours later Dr. Sakel, Dr. Kammer and Mr. Sorrel came up with the amount of 1600.00 I agreed to this amount to be paid in full on my credit card and they agreed also.My friend took two days of work to help me with my dog. I have two pets for many years that I've been taken to Astoria Veterinary group for many years, and have recommended many friends there. I can't believe the way I was treated. I would never recommend anyone there again. You don't mistreat my dog ever! Read Less

My first visit to Astoria Veterinary Group was this past Sunday, 31st May 2009. I made the difficult decision to change vets; I'd been going to Park East in Manhattan for around 15 years, but since I moved to Astoria, trips to the city with my cat became problematic. I saw some of the negative ratings for AVG, but since most of the reviews on this site and all of the reviews on another site were very positive, I decided to take a chance. I couldn't be happier. My cat was examined by Dr Kilkelly, and I had a good feeling from the start. The office was modern and clean, the staff was polite and I didn't spend an inordinate amount of time in the waiting room. I have a 10-year-old cat who's recently had some serious health problems. She seems to have recovered now, and is in need of a dental cleaning and probably an extraction, but after checking the cat's records and blo0d count, Dr Kilkelly actually suggested that we postpone the dental work just to make sure that the cat's health is stable enough for the procedure. A veterinarian's office is a business like any other, and if they don't make money they won't stay open. A certain amount of upselling seems to be unpleasantly inevitable these days, and I certainly experienced that at Park East on occasion, but I felt none of that at AVG. I was the perfect candidate to be talked into more tests as well as the dental work, but I felt no pressure at all. I was also very pleased that Dr Kilkelly returned my call almost immediately when I called in for results. And I almost forgot: my bill was around 30% less than what I was used to paying. I am definitely going back. PS I had to write blo0d because the word was ""inappropriate."" Isn't that funny? Read Less

Dr. Kamer and Dr. Smith are the worst vets I have ever encountered in my entire life. They take advantage of sick pets and in my experience even give shots and pills that are not needed. They love to ADD to the bill big time! After my cat, that is now passed away, was given a shot unnecessarily by Dr. Kamer, he got extremely sick because of it. When I took my cat to another vet, this vet believed wholeheartedly that it was because of this shot that my cat got sick and a few months later died. After loosing my beloved pet and tons of money on vet bills, there is noting that I can legally do. However, all of you should know and think twice about who you have treat your pet. Dr. Kamer and Dr. Smith are not to be trusted. All they care about is adding to the bill even if that means your pet will get sick and can die from it! Read Less