Northside Veterinary Clinic

They really care about your pet and are super nice. I was called last night and this morning (Christmas eve and Christmas day) by one of the doctors following up on the welfare of my cat. Wish my own doctor did something like that. Read Less

I took my dog year over 2 weeks ago to get her teeth checked out for a cleaning after I was seen by one of the doctors he thought it was important to run some expensive tests prior to having my dog go under anesthesia which I completely understand. Then the second doctor came in and was quite pensive about doing the teeth cleaning and was basically passing it off to another place on the Upper East Side which is double the cost, he seemed not very confident in his ability to do this teeth cleaning of my elderly Chihuahua but none the less said he could do it. So the first doctor told me I had to run some expensive tests to make sure she would be okay with going under and I did it, they said they would get back to me with the results in 2-3 days. I haven't heard back from them it's been over 2 weeks I've called repeatedly and was told the doctor would get back to me and still yet no one has gotten back to me?! Terrible customer service and I'm not pleased at all with this type of service and makes me wonder if I could trust these people to do any further care for my pet. Consider this a $400 lesson of where not to go for professional veterinary care or customer service. Read Less

I'm a longtime customer of this practice and our dog has always received first rate care here. Our dog has seen all of the vets there at different times and they have all been excellent. They always lay out the different treatment options for you very clearly, so you understand what's being done, and why. I always feel like we have a choice. Recommend Strongly. Read Less

I stumbled through the door with a terrified feral kitten I rescued out of a car engine and the entire staff was incredibly kind and helpful. Everyone, from the front desk staff to the vet to the other patients, was so sweet to us. Dr. Raud examined her and let me know how I can best help her find a good home. I can't thank them enough for helping me take care of little Cheddar. Will definitely be back if I ever have another animal that needs care. Read Less

I am very disappointed to see the bad reviews. Dr. Lehman was very kind to me 11 years  years ago when my beloved cat died. They cremated him with no cost to me because I was short of money at the time. It's a running joke in the Williamsburg pet community that Dr. Eisner will lecture everyone about diet and insist that we cook for our animals. But I hear she advocates raw food now.  I was last in with my kitten Bodhi in 2014 when the neighbor's dog gave her fleas. They were awesome and she received her check-up, shots and heartworm treatment w/out incident or upselling. The waiting area is waayyyy too small, so be careful if you have a cat in a carrier as the dogs are right on top of them. Read Less

They can never accommodate your animal. They see animals in the waiting room and not even in an exam room. Their problem is that they have way to many clients. Glad two new Vets are coming to Williamsburg. You will NEVER get a smile from ANYONE who works here. Read Less

The vets at this veterinary clinic are wonderful. They take their time and are incredibly thoughtful about their recommendations. You can tell they are doing this work as a labor of love; they do a lot of charitable work and don't seem to need the money. Seriously, can't recommend them enough. Read Less

I would not recommend this veterinary clinic because I had a negative experience which has prompted me not to return. I had gone in for a simple eye pressure test which Dr. Raud performed, and as a result, it caused an eye ulcer in one of my dogs eyes. My dog has had this type of test performed on him many times, but this Dr. managed to cause injury. I had to go back to see my specialist and it was time consuming for it to heal. Additionally, I find their prices to be on the more expensive side. I was quoted $700-1000 dollars for a dental procedure for my dog that I went elsewhere to perform and it cost $350. They had also sold my husband a very expensive and new to market drug for killing fleas that has a lot of controversy around it as to its side effects. Read Less

I never write reviews but I HAVE to share my experience from today. I took my very healthy, happy dog in for an urgent visit because he was mysteriously bleeding from his neck. He has thick fur so I couldn't really see what was going on under there, so I brought him in to be safe. His usual vet is on the UWS, but I figured I'd give a neighborhood vet a shot for a change. What a mistake.The vet immediately made me feel attacked. She told me the food I was feeding him is bad, and that I should start bringing him in for acupuncture in addition to recommending a handful of other medications she's apparently peddling. I am a very experienced dog owner, so I was skeptical (and offended) but I humored her with a smile. After she was done pushing pamphlets, she shaved and "washed" the area and determined it was a scab from a wound. I told her maybe I had nicked a little bump he had there when I was brushing him, but other than that there was no way he got "injured." She shrugged, told me all there was to do was to wait for the "scab" to fall off.  I was instructed to bring him back in a week and we'd take it from there.So I left without answers and a dog with the same bloody patch on his neck. When I got home I looked at the area more closely and was horrified to find a GIGANTIC, ENGORGED tick just HANGING OUT in the middle of the "scab," It was no scab, it was just bloody fur! So i pulled off the tumescent tick, washed the area, removed the bloody fur with a little elbow grease and popped open my laptop to review this sham of a vet.How dare you try and lecture me about taking better care of my dog when you can't even identify a gigantic tick right under your nose. I will be disputing the charges and advising all pet owners in the area to avoid your practice. Read Less

Great vet great peoples they take really good care of my dog for 1 year now.  nothing to complain about. it's a really hard job they doing a really hard one ! But they doing it right ! 4 stars cuz I wait 20 to 40 min most of the time but again they do a really hard job ... love Read Less

Be careful, SCAMMER VETS. These guys unnessicarly UPSELL to you like crazy. I hate to say it, they're pretty nice, but after 1.5 years of taking my dog there it just becomes apparent this is constantly happening. Google it. There are expose articles showing how the entire Vet industry is apparently corrupting, even reputable clinics with 'nice' vets. For ex, they up-sell expensive omega oils when you can get just as high quality online for far less $$. I'm into natural remedies but a vet in a lab coat hands you these things like they were medicine, not pointing out sometimes that it isn't, it's just a luxury supplement but with a high price tag. I knew something was definitively awry when my favorite vet there, Lieberman, insisted on a certain blood test on my elderly pooch in order to prep for tooth extraction surgery.."just to be sure that one of the lab results was normal vs a potential virus or something. It was over $200, and when getting the result, he said "It's good to know it's nothing...but we see that virus a handful of times in a year." Um, what? This guy sees thousands of dogs a year. Many each day. My dog is old and that result was common for old dogs. Why would he do this test (stressing and hurting my dog w/a needle unnecessarily) if the likelihood for it being a virus was minuscule? I smelled a rat. And was shocked. And sure enough, when Lieberman had checked my dog's teeth, he concluded with total certainty that he needed some rotting teeth in the back extracted via surgery. Said there was pus (sorry) in the gums. I got the estimate: $1,300 or more. My dog's Michigan vet charges $200 for the SAME procedure! WTF? I know NY is pricy, but this was ridiculous. I also doubted it was necessary. At 16, she's only around a few more years, is that $ worth it? She and shows NO problems like soreness nor eating issues. I got a second opinion and that Dr. said - don't do it. It's totally unnecessary. The gums were fine, teeth are old but if she's eating fine and showing no pain, why on earth would you put the dog through the stress of a big surgery unnecessarily?! So, BE WARNED. This lovely neighborhood vet is part good, part crooked..I hate to even say it. But now you know. Read Less

Be careful, SCAMMER VETS. These guys unnecessarily UPSELL  to you like crazy. I hate to say it, they're pretty nice, but after 1.5 years of taking my dog there, it just becomes apparent this is constantly happening, and they do it with a friendly smile. Google it. There are expose articles showing how the entire Vet industry is apparently corrupting, even reputable clinics with 'nice' vets. For ex, they up-sell expensive omega oils when you can get just as high quality online for far less $$. I'm into natural remedies but a vet in a lab coat hands you these things like they were medicine, not pointing out sometimes that it isn't, it's just a luxury supplement but with a high price tag. I knew something was definitively awry when my favorite vet there, Lieberman, insisted on a certain blood test on my elderly pooch in order to prep for tooth extraction surgery.."just to be sure that one of the lab results was normal vs a potential virus or something. It was over $200, and when getting the result, he said "It's good to know it's nothing...we see that virus a handful of times in a year." Um, what? This guy sees thousands of dogs a year. Many each day. My dog is old and that result was common for old dogs. Why on earth would he do this test (stressing and hurting my dog w/a needle unnecessarily) if the likelihood for it being a virus was -- minuscule? I smelled a rat. And was shocked and disappointed.And sure enough, when Lieberman had checked my dog's teeth, he concluded with total certainty that he needed some rotting teeth in the back extracted via surgery. Said there was pus (sorry) in the gums. I got the estimate: $1,300 or more. My dog's Michigan vet charges $200 for the SAME procedure! WTF? I know NY is pricey, but this was ridiculous. I also doubted it was necessary. At 16, she's only around a few more years, is that $ worth it? She shows NO problems like soreness nor eating issues.  I got a second opinion and that Dr. said - don't do it. It's totally unnecessary. The gums were fine, teeth are old but if she's eating fine and showing no pain, why on earth would you put the dog through the stress of a big surgery unnecessarily?! So, BE WARNED. This lovely neighborhood vet is part good, part crooked..I hate to even say it. But now you know. Read Less

I'm surprised at all the negative reviews.  Maybe they have changed office staff since then, since a lot of the reviews here are pretty outdated.  I recently moved back here from California and my dog developed some strange lesions on his back, ears and head.  Dr. Eisner was very knowledgeable, believes in many holistic approaches and taught me something new about pet food.  She even recommended some pet foods that are better quality than the high priced kibble I've been feeding my baby.  Who knew that all these supposedly super premium, grain-free foods are filled with peas, potatoes, pea fiber and garbanzo beans.  No it doesn't sound bad until she also told me that peas and garbanzo beans cause inflammation in the dog's body and many of us know now that cellular inflammation usually leads to cancer (hence all the talk about antioxidants).  Dr. Eisner believed Comet's lesions might have been an allergic reaction to the ingredients since we had just changed foods before we moved.  Yes, she did a few tests to try to figure out what they were, yes, she prescribed some medications but nothing she suggested or recommended were forced on me or out of the norm.  I've had several dogs and have gone to many vets over the years, from NYC to Boston to California.  In my opinion, Dr. Eisner knows her stuff and is a fair and honest practitioner.  The office staff was very nice and very pleasant.  Yes, they ask for a credit card in case you decide to cancel on them.  That's just smart business since there are so many rude, inconsiderate people who just don't show up for appointments or cancel at the last minute.  As any business, they rely on "sales".  When someone cancels at the last minute, that is lost revenue for the business AND takes away an appointment that someone else may have needed or wanted.  Human doctors also charge a fee if you cancel less than 24 hours in advance.  Very high end restaurants also do this.  In today's world of selfish, entitled and disrespectful people, businesses have to protect their income and this is a fair way to do so.My only reason for one less star is that they need a better waiting area.  The one they have is way too small and if you have a dog that can get aggressive with other dogs when he or she is on leash (especially when the animals are already stressed out from being sick, hurt or nervous), like my guy can, the small space becomes very problematic.No, I do not work for this clinic and am happy to confirm this if anyone messages me.  My dog and I moved back to NY in December after living in California for 4 years.  I liked Dr. Eisner and her practice and have referred her to other people I have met. Read Less

I have never felt compelled to write a review like this in my YEARS, like 10 years or so, of using Yelp.  I am completely and utterly outraged by the treatment that myself and my beloved pet (Chuggy, a 2.5 year old dog) received here.  I moved to Williamsburg a little over a year ago and had been using Northside because of the proximity to my home.  I always had a decent experience at Northside, but nothing to write home about either.  Cutting to the chase, Chuggy presented with lameness about 2.5 weeks ago and I noticed a rather large lump on his leg where the lameness was evident.  He was not eating and very lethargic as well and he shrieked at even the slightest touch.  I was absolutely terrified and my mind was racing...the lump was especially concerning because I thought it may have been a tumor.  Immediately, I brought him into the clinic and we saw Dr. Eisner.  She said she thought it might be Lyme disease, which didn't make any sense to me and I'm not trained in animal medicine, not even in the slightest.  I let him have several blood tests and waited while they also did X-RAY.  She let me look at the X-RAY with her and said it "looked like an injury" but said that she wasn't qualified to give anymore information.....I'm thinking "aren't you a vet, lady?"  I asked if it was cancer or a tumor...she said "it doesn't look like it", but provided me with no other information.  I asked her if she could biopsy it or do something else to give me more answers and she said it was "out of her scope" and referred us to see a specialist.......while smiling at me and calling Chuggy "kiddo".  None of this made me feel at all at ease.  I proceeded to make an appointment for Chuggy to see the specialist ... who in fact ended up being a surgeon (who wanted to cut my dog open and told me it would be like "removing a mole".....  This surgeon (Dr. Khan at VERVE Brooklyn also refused to take a phone call from my father who is more or less the joint owner of my dog and had been listed on the form as such).   I was deeply troubled by all of this.  I knew I didn't like the sound of this "procedure" of cutting open my Chuggy and I called and asked again if she, Dr. Eisner, could do anything else.  They said again, "no".  Something just felt so uneasy about the entire process and I was distraught over it.  I love this pup like a child and I was having trouble sleeping.  Fast-fwd to a week later, I decide to take my little guy an hour away to a vet that I used in the past...Sleepy Hollow Animal Hospital (Dr. Brian Green).  I literally took my day off and went all the way up there because I didn't trust any of these quacks. I asked for Chuggy's medical records to be faxed over two days in advance of the appointment I had at Sleepy Hollow.  I arrive to my appointment and nothing had been sent over.  The receptionist calls and asks.  Again, nothing is sent.  Finally, my vet himself calls, and records are sent.  This was one of the most frustrating and upsetting experiences of my life.  As for Northside Clinic and Dr. Eisner, they are completely incompetent.........and my vet was able to do a needle aspiration of my dog's leg/lump within an hour of seeing me.  There is a buildup of fluid and he also did new X-RAYS, which he explained to me in DETAIL unlike Dr. Eisner at Northside....who I am pretty sure didn't know how to read the X-RAY.  Chuggy will be OK and I will NEVER go back to Northside again! AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both Northside and VERVE.  Vague answers, completely incompetent, money hungry awful people! Read Less

This is tough. I've been taking my two cats to this practice for years and on the whole, they've been friendly, professional and kind to our cats and to us. However, this last experience has made me question whether the overriding priority of this clinic is necessary care for the animal patients or their bottom line. After taking my two completely indoor cats in for a recent check up, we were told that both of the cats would require tooth extractions based off of diagnosed redness, inflammation and swelling in several of their canines and molars. Our oldest cat is only eight years old and already has had all of his teeth removed (sans canines) by this practice several years earlier when he was diagnosed with advanced stomatitis. He was visibly in pain, his breath smelled like carrion and it was obvious something was very wrong with him. We felt like the extractions of those teeth at that time were necessary and proper and they did the procedure well. Within two weeks he was back to normal. This was different. Neither of our cats had exhibited any signs that would indicate advanced dental disease to the point that extractions were necessary- no change in eating behavior, no bad breathe, nothing. We were surprised. When we asked the vet if there were any other options she just kind of shrugged and said that ultimately it was our decision but that in her opinion, several of their teeth needed to come out. Fair enough. Here's where things get shady. After printing out the estimates for their potential procedures, we specifically asked them NOT to send this estimate to our pet insurance carrier, Trupanion, and only send the estimate to us, personally. We've been around the block a few times at this point and wanted to get a second opinion- especially considering the estimate for both cats came out to well over $2000 and we weren't even sure if our insurance would cover the procedure. At the very least, we didn't want to flag the insurance company to a condition that may or may not require surgery. So, I'm sure you can guess what happened by now. They ONLY sent the estimate to Trupanion, while not sending the estimate to us at all. The way we found out is that Trupanion emailed us saying that they'd be happy to cover the claim. Great. Except we specifically asked for a claim not to be put in before we had a second opinion. Which we got. A second vet looked at our oldest cat's remaining four teeth and said that there was absolutely no redness or inflammation enough to cause concern and at the very worst, he would put in an estimate for a proper cleaning but that in reality, all we really needed to do was be more diligent about cleaning them ourselves. Our younger cat he diagnosed as having redness and minor swelling and recommended a professional cleaning- but that, again, the diagnosis of extraction was wildly premature. Unfortunately, the damage was done as far as our insurance was concerned. If at any time in his life those teeth would need to go, Trupanion would be able to look at the estimate for the extractions sent by Northside and point to that as proof of a pre-condition. The $1000+ surgery at that time wouldn't be covered because of Northside's bad diagnosis and even worse administrative blunder. At the end of the day, Trupanion required a signed letter by the second vet stating that he saw no cause for extraction to occur for us to effectively close the claim. Again. I can't say that this clinic is all bad. I think there's a population of people in the neighborhood who's pets are effectively their children and who can afford unnecessary (although not necessarily superfluous) procedures and who logistically aren't able to garner a second opinion and haven't had to deal with the intricacies of insurance companies that much. For those people, this place is probably great. But if you are reasonable adult that just needs necessary and affordable care for their pets, my latest experiences here have cast doubt on whether this is the place for you. It won't be for us moving forward. Read Less

The clinic was fine. Apart from the fact that they try to make you buy every single thing they have to offer, every single vaccinations...etcetc If you are in a hurry to get some last second blood results, I advice you go somewhere else. I was supposed to receive the results before flying out. That did not happen. The secretaries are amazing fast at grabbing your bill and making you pay, although when you call them asking for results, all of the sudden they are not sure about anything anymore, and kind of arrogant too. The Vet assistants also do not require gloves when collecting blood samples(?????). Their hygiene with super long sparkly painted fingernails are probably clean enough for an animal. And let s not forget something : anything they do, they will charge you. Like using rubbing alcohol inside of your pet s cage where there was feces, they will kindly charge you a $5 fee for cleaning it. It is probably the plastic blue surgical gloves they are stingily using that cost a fortune, who knows. The assistant was also very brutal. Grabbing my cat by the neck and pulling so hard you can see half of the eyes coming out of their sockets... I strongly recommend going somewhere else, especially for the price they charge ($300 for blood sample with no results because they can't be bothered, stool sample and consultation). Read Less

We're traveling domestically with our dog and the airline needs the health certificate. We just brought our puppy in for a full check-up 2 weeks ago but because they require the health certificate to be issued within 1 week of traveling so Dr Leiman told us bring him back so they can print out the certificate for us but we don't have to pay for the checkup again. Today we brought him in, they didn't even do a full checkup because he just had one 2 weeks ago, but still charged us like he had a full checkup. I called to ask if it's right because I believed it's the front desk fault but they said it's correct that they charged us the full amount. Very unprofessional Read Less

When I moved to the neighborhood I first set up appointments for my dogs at Williamsburg Animal Clinic on Grand St, because it is slightly closer to where I live. The place was dirty, small and poorly laid out, and it took forever to check out because the staff was so swamped. Then I found Northside, which is much better. I've been using them for two years for routine checkups and vaccinations for my dogs. Admin staff in my experience has been efficient but very nice. I can get my dogs' records sent anywhere I need, and can get an appointment at a good time very easily. I've seen multiple vets during our visits to Northside, and they've all been just fine. Nicest office in the neighborhood, staff and vets meet expectations for routine vet exams and vaccinations. Read Less

Would give these guys 0 stars if I could, I've honestly never been to a vet this bad.The short of it:* They are straight up careless with your pets health, they don't do the proper tests for your pets ailment, but will find other unrelated, random things they "need" during your visit to run up a bill.* They won't return your calls. Specifically if your dog is suffering and sick, and you're contacting them for the test results they owe you, or to pick up medicine that you've already paid for.* Their front desk girl is beyond rude.* 1 month later, 2 visits, countless phone calls, and $1000 later my dog is still sick with the same routine ear infection he originally came in with--he gets them 1-2 a year, and I can tell you this is NOT normal. The long of it:I first brought my dog in to see Dr. Eisner when he came down with an ear infection. My dog is prone to them, so I'm familiar with the routine. Dr. Eisner prescribed a medication without doing a swab (which I've never seen a vet do before). I specifically asked about the swab and she said she didn't think it was necessary. I decided to get to get his annual checkup out of the way during the same visit, and even though Dr. Eisner declared my dog "a really healthy pug" I somehow walked out of there with a $600 bill. They never called back with the test results from the other, unrelated "routine" tests they ran.Unsurprisingly, the ear infection didn't go away completely, and I was back at their office just over 2 weeks later, at which point she finally did a swab (like I had asked for the first time). We were charged another $300 and told they would call us with the test results in 2-3 days.Fast forward 7 days: no call from the vet with the results. We call and get their cranky front desk girl, who tells us that test results take not 2-3 days, but 7 so she didn't have them. When we told her it had actually been 7 days, she told us the Dr. was busy and would call us back. No call. Ever.4 days later, I get a call from a pet medicine company, asking me to pay for a custom medicine cocktail that the vet had requested based on the swab results (another $70 bucks). Finally we're getting somewhere. The girl on the phone informed me that the vet had requested they be sent directly to the office, where the vet would administer them over 2 or more visits (charging a fee per visit). This seemed really over the top, and just one more way to bleed me for more cash, considering the medicine was just ear drops. The medicine company confirmed that people routinely administer this medicine to their dogs at home, and let me know that they would need to call the vet first to get it released to my apartment, instead of sent to the office. When the drops didn't arrive, I called the medical company back. They told me they had called to get permission from the vet, and that their attitude soured when they told them I'd prefer to do the medicine myself. It seemed that the vet no longer intended on being cooperative once they realized I wasn't going to be putting anymore money in their pocket. They refused to return the medical company's calls, and it took me getting on the phone to get the damn medicine released.My poor dog has been suffering with a painful ear infection the entire time this is going on. Over 1 month and $1,000 later. At best Northside Vet Clinic is completely useless, at worst they're dangerous and completely negligent with your pets health. Read Less

I really wanted to love it here. I started taking my puppy to this vet as soon as I got him. All our vaccines appointments went well vet techs were nice, front desk loved saying hi to my dog and were friendly. I believe I've seen all the vets and honestly I only liked Dr. Raud! All was going well until one of the vets (blonde lady she's not even on their website) pressured me to give my dog the lepto vaccine ($72 and she didn't tell me the cost) I agreed cause she made it seem like it was best for him since we were going Upstate for the weekend (he wasn't off leash at all and just in the house) but he got sick and was throwing up all weekend. I also didn't like the fact she mentioned that I should get him a flea collar (clearly that's not fashionable and I think she just wanted to sell it to me cause no one else buys it). Definitely didn't fall for that! She kept trying to sell me these unnecessary things and I did not appreciate it! When we got back immediately made an appointment to see the vet. I left home early from work and the dog walker told me he had diarrhea and it was all over the crate and my apartment! He's been house trained a week since I got him and never had any accidents in there! I seriously just broke down crying cause I was so upset! When I got to the vet it was raining, we stinked up the whole place. I was so stressed and had it all over me from holding him. The front desk brought out a warm wet towel and helped me clean him which was really nice. We saw Dr. Raud who's an excellent vet! He checked him and gave him antibiotics, special wet food, some injections for dehydration and asked me to come back (hundreds of dollars later). He even called mid week to see how he was doing. No judgement or assumptions from him. He heard me out and treated my puppy and after he was much better. But I was still upset I paid to get him sick and to make him better For our follow up appointment Dr.Raud was busy so we saw Dr.Lehman. I really felt more comfortable with Dr.Raud but figured a quick follow up is easy. I explained to Dr. Lehman that the vaccine made him sick and he said "we don't have to give it to him" but then made all the assumptions on how his food (that's in an air sealed container in a dark cabinet) could've made him sick or "he's a puppy they get into things". I didn't like the fact he said that cause I'm a good dog owner, I've done a lot of research before getting him and as a Professional Nanny I'm built to always have an eye out for him. If my dog isn't crated I know where he is and what he's getting into at ALL times! Yes maybe he got into something but it's never made him sick like that and he hasn't gotten sick ever since! (Avoiding that vaccine and we have the same routine). He also asked if he's had accidents in the house and I said "no but he's marked my ottoman and table once" and he told me that my 6 month old puppy couldn't be marking yet and that it was probably bad training! What?!?!  My dog definitely has his balls! And he goes out every 4-6 hours, 3 times a day! I read somewhere that they'll only be able to hold it their age plus an hour (he was 6 months old so 7 hours) and that always worked for us! I worked hard to train him and every month I will push that extra hour on the weekend just to see. I know I'm young but I know how to care/train a dog! I raise children for a living!! Oh and when I asked how much it'll be to get him neutered (I wanted to get it done early cause he was humping and getting into trouble with other dogs who I guess had a problem with him still being intact) they told me they'll email me, but of course AFTER they did all the blood work and made me pay for it! Neutering will cost you about 700 FYI. Call any other vet and they'll give you an estimate automatically! My boss told me my vet was terrible (she owns a Great Dane) and so did my sister (who goes to Felton with her Schnauzer) but I don't know why I wanted to give them a chance! I found another vet a little further away and I'm more than happy with them! Money isn't an issue for me I'll pay anything for my dog and I knew what I was getting into before becoming his owner! But unless you see Dr.Reud every time this place isn't worth it! My new clinic genuinely cares and they tell you all the costs up front! Read Less

I brought my cat here once before and everything was fine- the vet was nice, it was affordable. It was fine. So when my cat started having this awful skin reaction and ripping out all of her fur I decided to go here again due to the convenience of the location mostly. It's very difficult to get her anywhere and she cries very loudly. So I make the appointment and I will say that the girls who work the desk were so helpful and kind. However, when I got there I had to wait an hour while my cat cried. When the vet (different one from our previous visit) finally saw us, she barely introduced herself, looked at my cat and immediately began telling me how the food I give her is horrible, the litter she uses is terrible, basically I felt like I was a bad pet owner- and I don't give my pets cheap products. She didn't check for ringworms, she didn't take any blood, she wouldn't give her a shot to ease her itching- instead she gave me 3 weeks worth of pills and a spray. Neither of which has done any good. She did however tell me I needed to come back for a parasite exam and pre pay for it. Which I would have prepared for and brought a sample in beforehand had I been told to. But after $150 and no reassurance I wasn't planning on prepaying for anything or returning. The vets demeanor was nasty to her receptionists and techs, and flippant and uncaring to the clientele. I now get to drag my cat to the vet again to get her the proper exams and pay for what should have been done the first time. Suffice to say I will not return. Read Less

Of the few veterinarians I've been too in Brooklyn this one is the best. A family practice where the doctors and techs clearly care about the patients and parents (owners). I've given only four stars because the appointment times are pretty loose. Usually wait for a minimum of 20-30 minutes. It's a small waiting room so it can get crowded pretty quick. I would be a lot more worried if I was at a vets office in the city that wasn't crowded.Read Less

The vets and technicians are great, but the front desk staff is just rude and very very unhelpful. I've been taking my dog there for 3 years because it was conveniently close to my house, but after getting frustrated every single time I needed to make an appointment or get an answer or medicine or literally anything, I've decided it's time to move on.I wish they could hire people that care about the animals like the vets do. Read Less

They were great. Very caring, and patient with my cat. It's usually very busy here and the space is small, but I never feel rushed or cramped. They care care about every animal that comes in, and are very personable. Read Less

We've been taking our two dogs to this practice for years and have always had good experiences. While it is a small office with a cramped waiting room during busy times, the staff is kind and I've never felt that they don't care, in fact I think they care very much.Re: upselling, I can understand that impression from other reviewers because vet visits can require tough decision making and be emotional. However, I think the staff is trying to provide the clearest picture of your animal's health and trajectory as a city pet, and provide you with the information for best treatment, which also can cost $$$. We're big fans of Dr. Lehman for our regular visits. Also, while we did have some uncomfortable discussions with Dr. Eisner about our decision to not proceed with a likely $10K surgery for our doxie's injured back, she still worked patiently with him on electro-acupuncture treatments which were affordable and brought him back from catastrophe (back leg paralysis!) within a few months. No surgery! It saved us thousands of dollars, saved his quality of life, and I think of it as a miracle, if there is such a thing. We've also had great experiences with all of the vet techs! I recommend this practice. Read Less

The staff here is so accommodating and wonderful. Have been bringing my cat, Elliot, here for regular checkups since we moved to NYC and everyone is so helpful and friendly. Dr. Leiman explains everything in thorough (yet understandable) terms and really wants what's best for your pet. I even dropped by unannounced once to ask the vet about meds I could give Elliot while we were traveling and he recommended some great herbal remedies. Dr. Daniel Leiman is the best! Read Less

They do not care about your pet. My previous cat had a seizure (or that's what I think she had) I freaked out I took her in her carrier and ran over so they could take a look at her, just for one second to see if she was OK. One of the staff alerted the vet who was in an appointment that I was there. Long story short... the vet did not see my cat, I waited 20 minutes for her and she never came out from her appointment. I went home and never came back. Read Less

The technicians and the doctors have been incredibly kind, patient, and wonderful to our dog, Maggie. Whenever there is any kind of issue, they are completely thorough. We adopted Maggie when she was 7.5 weeks old, and have been going to Northside for all shots and check up visits (we've been there 5-6 times now). Our pup has no fear of the vet, and we owe a lot of that to the great service we've gotten at Northside. Read Less

My wife and I have been with Northside over 12 years with two Sr. Canines an Akita, and a lab mix and also a third Pomeranian pup. The took wonderful care until their lives endded. We currently have two twelve year old Akita seniors and a Boxer/Mastiff mix as well as a pomeranian pup long term visitor. We wouldn'the take our dogs anywhere else period. Their staff are efficient and skilled and don't do unnecessary test. Love Them! Read Less

This place is terrible unless you enjoy watching your pet endure unnecessary trauma. From the moment I had to open the two front doors with one hand while carrying my cat carrier with the other I wanted back out the doors (possibly more than my cat). The intense candle smell trying to cover a dirty waiting room made me sick. I waited at least 45 minutes (after my appointment time )in an area too small to sit/stand/bark/hiss or whatever. Every creature in the place looked exhausted and uncomfortable. I never want to go back to that terrible place ever again. I can't even remember the service. I just noticed the table was never sanitized between pets. I guess that's job security, not like they need it. The place was packed! Read Less

I would give zero stars if I could. These people are dishonest. I made an appointment for my dog, they took my credit card number which I never have had to give by phone for a vet before. I called to cancel and then the problem started. So apparently they will charge me a deposit because I didn't cancel with 24hours in advance. Funny because I made the appointment the day before so I was already late within the hour. Of course they didn't mention this when they took my info. I asked to talk to someone in charge and of course they said I will get a call back.... Still waitingDon't trust them! Read Less

The TECHS are literally practicing on your animal. My sick cat was mortified with the lack of experience these techs had. It was painful to see my cat so stressed out over simple blood test that should have taken seconds toke minutes.. I regret not interfering sooner. UP-SELLING thats all they do.ITS HUGE FOR THEM.. With test and med...Its so cramped in there at times. All they pretty much care about is the money and if you noticed just slightly you will get what i mean...Go somewhere else, too many vets around. Always people beware of these things and most importantly DO NOT BE AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR YOUR PET IF YYOU DONT FEEL RIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING.. Chances are your gut felling is 100%....... Peace. I am happy with my home vet... Read Less

The worst vet I have ever been to. She put my dog through an emergency operation to remove a lump on his leg that she was Positive was cancer. She didn't even do a biopsy on it first. In my frightened state I agreed to this operation that was 6 hundred dollars. I pick my dog up and got blood all over me from the horrible job. Which ended up just being scar tissue from probably playing with a dog. My dog has permanent stiffness in that leg for no reason. I don't even understand how that woman is even licensed. Worst vet ever! Read Less

The veterinarians at this hospital really want to do the right thing by your pet. Not only do they seem experienced and competent, but they take the time to really explain things to you in the exam room. Afterwards, if you have any questions, they answer by e mail every evening. It doesn't feel like this is a business; it seems like they just want to help your pet.Can't give them enough stars. Read Less

I recently moved to NY from Seattle, and the Northside Veterinary Clinic was referred to me by nearly everyone in my building. When my beautiful, previously healthy, 6 year old dog became sick and wouldn't eat, I decided to go there for help. When you go to a new place, you know how you can always be a little suspicious that you might be getting ripped off and taken advantage of? Well, this place seemed like the total opposite of that. The waiting area is small, but it is clean and friendly. The doctor was really nice. He took his time, explained everything to me, and gave me options. When he saw me hesitate, he told me what everything would cost so there would be no surprises, and then went on to tell me that if I couldn't afford everything, which tests and procedures were most important to make my dog better. I am still looking for a job, so I need to be careful with what I spend, so I opted to go with just treating without doing any tests. This was no problem. ""I will go with my clinical judgment"" were the words used. ""He doesn't seem that sick"". Wow, right? After getting water under the skin and a couple of shots, I was told to get him off his dogfood and cook for him. Well, no other vet ever told me that, and in fact I always thought table food was bad for dogs. The Dr told me that sometimes dogfoods are old or spoiled and maybe that's why he didn't want to eat it and felt sick! Needless to say I went home and that night my boy loved his boiled chicken! Thank you to my neighbors for telling me about this place! Read Less

I have been to this office on 2 other occassions, this being my 3rd. I have always requested the man Dr because I have heard stories in the local parks about the older short woman Dr and her not so nice bedside manner. The man Dr (Dr Lieman) always seemed to be caring and concerned with my baby and that was what mattered most to me. Today was awful!! I came in to ask a question and possibly bring my pet in but the place was chaotic? The receptionist's are always friendly when I call or come in but are always very busy. Today was no different. I patiently took a seat to wait my turn and was totally turned off by the way they treat the staff members. The owner/manager was yelling at the receptionist right in front of us? really nasty like? We thought she was going to cry. Last time I was there it seemed chaotic and busy but always warm and friendly. The lady sitting next to me was appalled as well and told me its been like this for a few months. PLACES CHANGE AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES. If your so understaffed why would you treat the really sweet employees like that? Well I overlooked the high prices the know it all rude female technician and the overcrowding but I will not be back to this facilty after today and I will certainly let all our friends at the doggie parks know they were right. The place is all about getting everything and everyone in the door and NOT about care and compassion. If you want info on dog/cat food the info is free on line you do not have to be schooled by an unlicensed animal technician and witness verbal employee abuse. Imagine having to pay for that! Needless to say, I went elsewhere for help. The 1 star is for that poor receptionist. Do not be fooled by reading the reviews on this place, it's clear they write their own . Read Less

Dr. Leiman is just an amazing vet. He has a wealth of information at his fingertips and always delivers professional friendly care. His support staff are very friendly and compassionate. Dr Eisner is also an incredible vet, but Dr. Leiman saved my cat's life via surgery and post-care and so I have a bias. It's almost like going over to a friends house and having your animal checked up while you are there. I have known Dr Leiman since he was only making housecalls and thought the service was terrific. I can honestly say the care has gotten even better at the clinic. I can't say enough positive statements about this place. Read Less

I have been going to Northside for a number of years, I chose them since they have been around for many, many years. I started going there with my cat and an older dog. Dr. Eisner has been amazing with my old dog keeping him comfortable with holistic medications, he went from shaking and barely being able to walk to dancing around like a puppy. Now I bring in my new puppy also who had an umbilical hernia and they took care of him as well. The staff at Northside cares! They cover all the needs of my 3 pets. It doesn't get any better. Read Less

I will not get into the specifics of what another veterinarian did to correct the neglect and oversight of what Dr. Eisner provided...but I will review my experience. The girl at the front desk was a gem. She seemed to delegate the rants of 'manager', the doctor, and two of the assistants while juggling welcomes and check outs of the patients. (She gets the one star from the review) The 'manager' (who seemed more a glorified receptionist with inventory responsibilities) was infuriating. She was rather rude on the phone, (sounded impatient). At the office she verbally stepped into conversations she was not a part of, and usually spoke over staff who was beginning to explain the information I and others asked. Dr. Eisner seemed to let frustrations from past patients carry over into my appointment. I did not bring my cat in to also offer talk therapy to this woman. I do not care to hear of personal conflict with other patients. Additionally, she seemed to give less care and hesitate to interact with lower income patients/owners. I was open minded to holistic medicine, as I seek it for myself and I use to see a holistic veterinarian for my dog while living in Delaware, but she seemed to treat to mask the symptoms rather than actually address the problem. No blood work suggested...which was alarming to me to put an animal on meds without a baseline to judge from. The assistants were kind, but impersonal. I think it's understandable, considering their superiors seem rather taxing. With this being said, staff who can keep up a positive and welcoming energy throughout the day despite the affects of working along side those who are there. The one knew a ton about parasites and nutrition...I appreciated the information. This place is a circus...and not the fun kind where you are entertained... Read Less

I read the reviews here and saw how mixed they were, but still decided to take my dog here because I noticed that most of the complaints were that it is a holistic practice and that people didn't like that. I believe that what you eat is the most important thing you can do for your health and when people complain about the doctor telling them to change the food- well that strikes me as a positive. I mean, wouldn't you rather feed your dog the right thing instead of giving him pills to correct the problem that the diet created? Anyway, this practice totally blew me away. I took my dog in because he wasn't eating well and trembling for 3 days. After the absolutely most thorough physical exam I have ever seen (I mean Dr Lehman even looked at his pads on his feet) he called his wife in to get her opinion. After a brief discussion in front of me, they both agreed that the problem was in his neck- my Jack Russell had a pain in his neck! I never would have guessed that was the problem, I mean how can you know if a dog has a neck problem if you can't ask them? Anyway, taking blood tests and xrays were discussed but by no means forced on me, and when I decided to not run any expensive tests there was no problem with the doctor- he seemed pretty confident in his analysis of my guy's problem without the tests. Anyway, I was given some treatment options including pain meds (easiest, but since he wasn't eating well there was a little concern they might upset his stomach) warm compresses and massage at home (that might help, but I might not know exactly how to do it right), or acupuncture. I figured since I wasn't spending any money on testing I might as well try the acupuncture for $60. If nothing else, it might be interesting, right? Well Dr Eisner put in the needles al over, not just his neck, and in 5 minutes he was sound asleep on the floor ( keep in mind this is a Jack Russell!). After the needles were out 30 minutes later he still seemed tired, and sure enough he went home, stopped trembling, and slept for 3 hours. I fed him that night and he ate like a champ for the first time in days. He trembled a bit that night, but in the morning he was back to absolutely normal. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. As far as the clinic itself, it is a bit small, but it didn't feel cramped and seemed very clean and new. The staff was polite and made me as comfortable as possible while the acupuncture was being done. All in all this was a great experience I wanted to share. Read Less

I've never actually written a review for anything or anyone before, but I feel pretty strongly about Northside Animal Hospital. I have an older, blind cat and a new puppy. Both animals have very different needs, but both animals are extremely comfortable at Northside. The entire staff is very knowledgeable and accommodating. They always remember me and always remember my pets. I feel like I'm visiting a pediatrician when we go in; not a vet. The absolutely precious front desk staff refers to our pets as our ""kids"" and the techs come out and play with the animals during the few minutes we wait to be seen. Their facilities are clean, and although the waiting area is small, it feels comfortable. Dr. Leiman is wonderful about breaking everything into terms I can understand so I never have any question about what I should be doing to keep my animals in great health. There is always a staff member with their hands loving on my dog and cat when we visit, ensuring their comfort. I simply will not entrust my pets' health to anyone else as long as distance permits. Read Less

I read the reviews here and saw how mixed they were, but still decided to take my dog here because I noticed that most of the complaints were that it is a holistic practice and that people didn't like that. I believe that what you eat is the most important thing you can do for your health and when people complain about the doctor telling them to change the food- well that strikes me as a positive. I mean, wouldn't you rather feed your dog the right thing instead of giving him pills to correct the problem that the diet created? Anyway, this practice totally blew me away. I took my dog in because he wasn't eating well and trembling for 3 days. After the absolutely most thorough physical exam I have ever seen (I mean Dr Lehman even looked at his pads on his feet) he called his wife in to get her opinion. After a brief discussion in front of me, they both agreed that the problem was in his neck- my Jack Russell had a pain in his neck! I never would have guessed that was the problem, I mean how can you know if a dog has a neck problem if you can't ask them? Anyway, taking blood tests and xrays were discussed but by no means forced on me, and when I decided to not run any expensive tests there was no problem with the doctor- he seemed pretty confident in his analysis of my guy's problem without the tests. Anyway, I was given some treatment options including pain meds (easiest, but since he wasn't eating well there was a little concern they might upset his stomach) warm compresses and massage at home (that might help, but I might not know exactly how to do it right), or acupuncture. I figured since I wasn't spending any money on testing I might as well try the acupuncture for $60. If nothing else, it might be interesting, right? Well Dr Eisner put in the needles al over, not just his neck, and in 5 minutes he was sound asleep on the floor ( keep in mind this is a Jack Russell!). After the needles were out 30 minutes later he still seemed tired, and sure enough he went home, stopped trembling, and slept for 3 hours. I fed him that night and he ate like a champ for the first time in days. He trembled a bit that night, but in the morning he was back to absolutely normal. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. As far as the clinic itself, it is a bit small, but it didn't feel cramped and seemed very clean and new. The staff was polite and made me as comfortable as possible while the acupuncture was being done.All in all this was a great experience I wanted to share. Read Less

It was late in the evening and I'm sure a long day for everyone.  Not to mention, I brought in two cats for vaccinations at the same time, and they were jumping around the examining room itching to explore after being stuck in a cage in a waiting room for two hours.  But when the licensed practitioner looks at you and asks, "Did I give the gray cat two shots or three just now?" you know good and well that you're never ever going back to that vet again.that was four years ago and now i see that the clinic she works at boasts that it might be the only veterinary clinic that has three certified animal acupuncturists working in the country.  irony walks on water. Read Less

Sorry to be contrary - but Dr. Leiman and Dr. Eisner do not keep their promises.  Dr. Leiman promised to discount an immunization on a feral cat I was considering adopting. As soon as Dr. Eisner got wind of it, she denied her husband ever made that promise. After gently explaining that I would like to speak with him and hear him tell me he never made that promise - she changed her tune and said that her practice just can't go around giving discounts to everyone.  The sad thing is that would have made that back 10 fold as I am as loyal as they come and have 2 animals. I just can't help but give them both a poor rating. If they can lie straight to your face - what else can they dupe you into buying? Read Less

Both Dr. Eisner and her husband Dr. Leiman (they have a joint practice) are really great, trustworthy, caring vets. While both are really good vets, Dr. Eisner also has special training in holistic pet care, so if that is something that is important to you, then make your appt. with Dr. Eisner. Though, I also highly recommend Dr. Leiman, who has been very patient in answering all my questions, taking phone calls when there are emergencies etc. Read Less

A friendly, caring vet, Dr. Eisner helps take great care of my kitten, along with the cats and dogs of many of my friends.  She takes the time to actually talk with you and answer your questions intelligently, an apparent rarity in the NYC medical industry. Read Less