Called Friday to take Nikki in to see Margie on Saturday for a broken nail. Of course they were pretty busy but if we didn't mind waiting they could see us near closing. We didn't mind because Nikki was really bothered by the nail, (when she isn't distracted by anything else!) She was due for a checkup and shots anyway so we took care of that and picked up meds for all the other critters! Read Less

We just moved away from Durham and this is unquestionably the place we miss the most. Top-notch care and great crate-side manner!Make sure you meet Heather--she is the sweetest person ever and was our dog's best friend. Read Less

I cannot say enough about the high quality of care my dogs have received at St. Francis Animal Hospital. The veterinary assistants are always friendly and competent. Dr. Lindeke is knowledgeable and friendly. When my dog Kacey reached the end of her life, I was deeply moved by Dr. Lindeke's compassion and her commitment to making Kacey's passing "a good death." I'm very grateful. Read Less

We have been taking our 3 dogs to St. Francis for years on the recommendation of my parents who have been taking their pets for at least 20 years. The entire staff is kind, courteous, and compassionate. Everyone here seems genuinely concerned with the well being of the animals and takes the time to make sure we're educated on any issues or concerns. They even understand we live a bit of a distance from them (we pass 5 other Vet offices on our way to St. Francis) and attempt to meet all of our needs in one visit for our convenience. Best service ever!Read Less

I have to give this office 1 star because they did successfully diagnose my partners 13 year old dog with cancer. My partner's dog has countless large, open, weeping tumors with new ones emerging daily. After making the heart wrenching decision that it was time to talk about putting his dog down, my partner called the clinic and was told by the veterinarian that she refused to carry it out until he scheduled an appointment and consultation with her "buddy" the oncologist. She informed my partner that this visit would cost between $200-$300 and that the oncologist's referral would be necessary. When my partner pleaded that he did not want to put his 13 year old dog through painstaking treatment the vet made the analogy of "not wanting to put a new transmission into an old car". This vet's insensitivity has made this experience even more difficult. I am extremely dissapointed with the way the veterinarian has treated my partner and his dog and will certainly not be bringing my dog back into this office. Read Less

I have been coming to St. Francis since we adopted the first of our two cats in 1996. The receptionist, technicians, and vet are invariably warm, knowledgeable, and informative. Our older cat is nearly 19 and seems to have cancer. After ruling out conditions that could be treated easily, we declined to have an ultrasound, surgery, and chemotherapy--painful, and confusing for our kitty and expensive for us. Dr. Lindeke has been fantastic through it all. No one could be kinder to both the animals she treats and their families. She is an amazing diagnostician and keeps up with her field by reading, taking courses, and keeping in close touch with her colleagues at the NCSU Vet School. The old house is a bit shabby, but that's because Dr. Lindeke prioritizes health care and keeping her prices low over decor. Read Less

I just moved to Durham from Atlanta and decided to go to this place based on the positive yelp reviews and short distance from my house (aka this would be the place I'd take my dog even in an emergency).  The receptionist, vet tech and vet were all wonderful with my dog who was really nervous this morning.  They all took their time to make sure her and I both felt comfortable and to answer all my questions.  The prices were more than reasonable in my opinion, and I didn't feel at all pushed to get services I didn't want or need.  For example, they suggested a heartworm test, but when I told them that I didn't need it, they didn't push the issue one bit.  I got 6-months of Trifexis, a bordatella vaccine and a vet exam for right around $200 to give you an ballpark idea.I feel lucky that I found this place so quickly after moving.  I'll definitely continue to take my dog here. Read Less

I felt like they sold way too hard. I tried to tell them all I wanted was a rabies shot. But, they pushed me to get a few different vaccinations and forced me to get a heart worm test even though I insisted that he had been on heart worm meds since he was a puppy. This cost me about $50 and of course the test came back negative. Also wouldn't stop trying to sell me their heart worm meds even though I told them that I get them online already. My dog has some skin issues going on and after finding no fleas he told me we should start with flea treatment so I bought a $20 flea pill from him. I'm sure they'll have me back next time to do some skin tests on my dog since it surely isn't fleas. Walked out of there feeling like I had been taken advantage of. Are theyanimal health care professionals or salesmen? Read Less

St. Francis is in a small, old house on Hillsborough Rd about a half a mile from Ninth Street. Inside, it's not fancy, but it's quite charming as the house has retained much of its original features. It fits in with the older parts of Durham quite nicely - unique, yet familiar and comfortable.I agree with the other reviews from the past several years - Dr Lindecke is a very thoughtful and caring vet who listens closely, shows compassion and doesn't rush you through a visit. Her attitude is echoed by the rest of the staff who share the same traits in their interactions with you and your pets. We had to put one of our cats down, and they bawled like little children along with my wife and I as we said our goodbyes. My only complaint is that I feel they are understaffed for the amount of patients they have. Calls are placed on hold, messages are returned later than I'd like, and checking out can be painfully slow. They've added a computer in the past six months, and it's definitely slowing things down right now as the staff learns the new system. I hope that in six months the next time I find myself waiting longer than I'd like, it'll be due to them taking extra time with the customers rather than fighting their software in addition to taking extra time with the customers. If you appreciate an atmosphere that reminds you of Small Town, USA with friendly and caring staff, this is the vet for you. If you are someone who likes to rush and is on a tight schedule, look elsewhere. You won't appreciate St. Francis, and the staff and customers probably won't appreciate you, either. Read Less

So it's time to put kitty down and I called St. Francis because past experience was good. But after speaking with the phone-answerer for a while, I never got to the point. I think it's hard enough to put an animal down and so I didn't appreciate being asked to invoke services to prolong kitty's life - like heroic effort is assumed... and it got worse being told how ""Many families"" would choose to have kitty's ashes placed on a farm by a brook (and how that's just one ""Option"", it went on until I got told what this person does with their personal animals, even though I didn't want to know.) For kitty's sake, lose the rightgeous indignation - like the next vet called, who said what and how much without being insensative and setup kitty's appointment without misdirecting side-trips up and down guilt-lane. Note: I had top notch respect for St. Francis from past experinence, so it was a total surprise calling in and learning why I should feel like the worst person on earth. Read Less

St. Francis Animal Hospital in Durham, NC, Gentle Readers, is one of the very best places to receive veterinary care. Period. For many, many pet-owners the care their animals receive at the loving hands of Dr. Lindeke and her team is THE GOLD STANDARD. Despite what some unpleasant, serial-vet-review posters (such as the reviewer whose screen name rhymes with the Spanish word ""golpes"") would have you believe, there are few more intuitive or better healers than Dr. Lindeke and her team. The practice is in a charming historic mill house with real wood floors which immediately helps to make the animals and their caretakers feel at home. I've taken my cats there for 17+ years and thanks to the excellent care of Dr. Lindeke, I have one cat who is 17 and another who is 12. Dr. Lindeke approaches animals with preternatural skill and understanding. She finds a way to calm, soothe and reassure even the most nervous animal AND caretaker! Both of my cats love her and feel safe with her. I feel safe with her! Just because the floors are wood, the curtains are lace, and the art on the wall is hand painted by local artists, doesn't mean that the medical facilities are not top notch. In fact, the practice is so busy that sometimes people have to wait for the receptionist to get to them. Imagine that! I think that anyone reading the Vulpes review should be suspect of it. To trash a well established and beloved veterinary practice by stating that the there is ""wood everywhere, which harbors micro-organisms...etc."" is ridiculus and mean-spirited. St. Francis certainly exceeds NC State standards and Dr, Lindeke is a prominent vet in the area. I invite you to give St. Francis Animal Hospital a try and make your own mind up. I also encourage you to read over the plethora of reviews that Vulpes has posted for a mystifying number of animal hospitals in the area. I hope that as you read them over, like me, you will begin to wonder how and why this person has come to use so many vets? It is simply abnormal. Most people stick to one vet for a very long time. That is exactly the kind of vet Dr. Lindeke is. One you will want to stick with. The phone number for SFAH is 919.286.2727. Read Less

Dr. Lindeke is working by herself right now--Dr. Broussard moved to Westside more than a year ago. The techs are turning over too, although Dr. Lindeke assured me that at least one has been there ten years. My last visit there was uncomfortable, although my senior cat appears to be in the peak of health, which is the important thing. I think I will try Westside next year. Read Less

I had good enough luck with other area vets, until one of them failed to find the FIV in a beautiful kitty, which got sicker and sicker. At a friend's suggestion I took him to St. Francis, where Dr. Lendeke diagnosed him with FIV. Quite angry, I went to my old vet with the FIV diagnosis, and was told that was too bad, as it was a horrible, wasting disease (I had figured that out by now), and offered to euthanize my cat at no charge. Dr. Lendeke offered treatment, first ensuring we understood that the FIV was not going away, but we might be able to restore his health in spite of it. A year later Ambush was the biggest, healthiest, happiest cat in the neighborhood. Of course, he still had FIV, and it did take him in the end, but by the time he made his final trip to St. Francis more than a year and a half had passed. I will always be grateful to her. Ambush had a good life thanks to her skill. I currently have two dogs, three cats. If I moved a half a days drive away and one of my friends became ill, we would have a road trip to St. Francis. The animals that live with me deserve the very best health care, and it is right here in Durham. St. Francis is also the most comfortable veterinary facility I have ever entered. This is a gracious old home that would have made a fine B & B. My animals certainly prefer being able to walk on hardwood rather than scramble helplessly around on tile. Every once in a rare while I will rate an establishment and wish I could give them another star. St. Francis is one of those truly exceptional places where five is just not enough. Read Less

NOTE, my visits were in 2007, and last year was when I decided to take Salty to another vet. I only used St. Francis b/c recommended by the previous owner and they had her records. Skin ""wounds/bald spots"" diagnosed and treated by Dr. Lindke with 2 rounds antibiotics, antifungals, and topical sprays and shampoos and powders galore, with no effect. After 3 visits in 1 mo., with no improvement, and $400 later, I explored my options. I was unimpressed with the employees and doctor, was not shown good service, the ladies up front were not outgoing and not welcoming via phone or in office unlike other reception at clinics I've patroned, and Lindke, for all her credentials on the walls, didn't listen to my account of Salty's problems, didn't pay attention, didn't use the information in Salty's best interest, wasn't ""pet-centered"" and friendly, and over-prescribed Rx's, including steroids, all of which had no effect. Actually, Salty had some vomit'g and CRAZY incontinence on all the meds, and wearing a ""diaper"" in the house didn't help her skin one bit! Used a vet closer to my home in North Raleigh. They ensured negative for ringworm, demodecs sp? (just to be sure, even though she's an adult), fleas, and then ran a culture and sensitivity, none of which St. Francis ever did. Ultimately, Salty had a few bacteria species?, which were secondary to a hormone ""toxicity"", as her adrenal glands are compromised! With bloodwork and the skin cultures, Salty was diagnosed with Cushing's disease accurately for $200! Lindke had seen this dog for a year while w/ the previous owner/rescuer, and had 3 more chances to put together the lethargy, inexplicable constant wt gain, poor skin, and other symptoms, all indicators of a hormonal imbalance. 1 hour in the room, drop off for 2 bloodraws with many hours between, and the new Raleigh hospital had the answer with results the next day! Salty gets a SINGLE effective med 2x/wk now, improved vastly, no thanks to St. Francis! Read Less

I don't understand the negative review at all. The two vets at St. Francis are absolutely wonderful -- knowledgeable, skilled, hard working, communicative, and obviously full of love and compassion for animals. The house/office is a plus, not a negative. The rooms are large, have a warm atmosphere, and are definitely extremely clean and well-maintained. Several cats are happy to call this clinic home. Our dog and cat have received superior care at St. Francis. The animal technicians and office staff have all been very helpful and polite. I would recommend St. Francis to anyone who was looking for a wonderful vet. Read Less

Reception: inattentive, rude, and just not ""there."" Obviously not passionate about their job. Doctor: no surprise her staff was rude, b/c she was rude, pompous, and all around disturbing. Poor medical recommendations, and poor knowledge of behavior, nutrition, ortho recovery, allergies and endocrine (hormone) dysfunction/disease. Horrid service (none to speak of) and the facility was an old house, wood everywhere, which harbors microorganisms...no way they're keeping that place clean enough to limit disease spread, mildew, and bacteria. I've used a plethora of vets in the Triangle for my own pets and rescues in the last 10 years. St. Francis just doesn't live up to their saint namesake at all; local folks can pay other vets and should. No compassion, no intelligence, and no return from me. Please go to Colony Park AH, or a variety of others that surpass this vet. You aren't doing your pet justice taking it here. They deserve better. Read Less