We just moved to Albany and were in search of a good vet. I had been taking my dog to Banfield in Petsmart for a while in WA and not super happy, so I decided to hunt for a locally based operation. ... Read More
We just moved to Albany and were in search of a good vet. I had been taking my dog to Banfield in Petsmart for a while in WA and not super happy, so I decided to hunt for a locally based operation. My mother-in-law just got a puppy and brings him here so I decided to give them a try.Making an appointment was quite easy and they had appointments available within about a week. I wasn't in any rush so I went with whatever was convenient for them. Finding the place may be a bit tricky at first since it's tucked away in what feels like a residential area, but it's quite easy if you the follow the signs. I used the GPS on my phone and had no problems finding it, especially since the street signs around have "Animal Hospital" on top of them. When we drove into the parking lot it was almost something out of a movie. There were 2 deer in the grass eating breakfast, geese in the grass, and turkeys sitting on fence posts. The grounds were extremely well kept and the building for the hospital is a brown building sitting back a way.Upon arrival, we found an extremely friendly staff. They chatted with us for a while and took a picture of my dog (which I later saw on her computer file). They were knowledgeable about what was going on and helpful. Then we met with our vet, Melinda. She was running about 5 minutes behind and was extremely apologetic about it and explained it was due to a surgery. Really though, I've waited much longer at other vets with no apology. Once we were called back to a room she was in there within a few minutes - none of that long wait in a room wondering if they forgot about you.The exam was thorough and up front. My dog has a very slight heart murmur that most vets don't even pick up, but she was able to and explained fully all the things that could happen, but was assuring it was minor. She was upfront about what vaccinations were important in this are and which ones were not. She asked lots of questions and it really felt like she was trying to get to know both me and my dog. Toward the end of the appointment, since it was my first time here, we discussed what time of year was best for different shots and how to get them synced up since my dogs vaccinations always end up coming due months apart, ending up with us going to the vet 2-4 times a year just for shots. Oh and they gave her a nail trim for free, which they told me they do pretty much anytime the dog comes in for something.Upon checkout, their prices were extremely fair. The staff was once again friendly and made sure I made my follow-up appointment in a few weeks. They informed me, just in case, that they associate with a 24-hour vet clinic in Latham and gave me all their information for after hours or weekend emergency needs.Overall, I was extremely pleased with this vet and will probably continue going to them as long as I live within a reasonable driving distance. Heck, I will probably continue using them even if I live a bit further than what is reasonable. If you're in the Albany area, I highly suggest you check this vet out. Read Less