Central Houston Animal Hospital

I struggle because the prices are high...REALLY high. However, we're comfortable with the fact that they know our dogs and we can always get in, just as long as we don't have a vet preference. We haven't had a bad experience with any of the vets, but, we did go in and get some stiches in for a bad leg injury our one dog got. We went to get stiches out and then we get home, come to find out they didn't take out the stiches, when that was the whole reason we went for the visit that day. I'm still a little sore about that, even though the vet tech was super apologetic. Again, can't beat scheduling and availability. I do like the reminder email system they have, I just know in the past it's gotten a little off being updated, but that maybe because we have three dogs. Read Less

We were visiting from out of state when our pup got very sick. I checked out the reviews and called. Dr. Reid and her staff were amazing. They made us feel like we had been going there all of Penny's life. They were very thorough and upfront about cost and what could be done. Within days Penny was improving and they even called in the evening to check on her. I can't thank them enough for the care and love they provided. Read Less

Been going now for at least 10 years. I am so comfortable there I feel like family. Dogs are expensive; these folks are genuine and caring in every sense of the word. I would not consider going any place else; these guys are the real deal! Read Less

The Doctors and Staff have taken great care of my Yorkshire Terrier. In January 2016, he had become seriously ill and terribly thin from chronic colitis (a condition he had suffered off and on for years). Today, he is one healthy 13 y/o with puppy-like energy. Thank you, CHAC! Read Less

Wonderful all around, from the front desk to the vets. Dr. Reid was the vet we most interacted with, and she was always very nice, seemed to care a lot about our pets, and was fantastic in helping us make decisions regarding course of treatment for our older cats. Read Less

Will never go here again. I shopped for a week for somewhere to bring my dog to be neutered. I called and obtained a quote and decided on Central Houston Animal Hospital after seeing its good reviews. The day I brought my dog in, the price raised slightly, but not significantly. I selected to not have anything added to his procedure unless I received a call to approve first. After the procedure the vet informed me she pulled more teeth than I approved (which cost about $50 more). Then when I went to pay they added a new patient fee. When I called and scheduled the appointment, along with when I dropped him off and signed the proposal, they knew he was a new patient and did not include this fee. I ended up paying close to $200 over the original quote. The staff was rude and unhelpful, not only regarding the bill but in general. Safe yourself the time and money and do not go here. Read Less

I've taken my dog here since I rescued him 9 years ago. Have always found this place to be obnoxiously expensive, but my dog is a member of the family so didn't mind paying an arm and a leg each visit (he's worth it right?). Until he developed a chronic issue with his ears. Now in a perfect world, he would visit the vet for a new ear cytology each month as well as any other procedures he was due for resulting in a consistent cost (since day one) of $250-300 monthly. Now they even present you with an estimated bill of your next visit. Handed me a paper saying the next time we were in I should expect to pay as much as $850!! (how considerate) While that did include sedated cleaning of the teeth, I would have a difficult time handing a bill like this to someone for a dog unless there was major surgery or an emergency life threatening event happening. Analyzation of my bill shows an itemized $30 charge to prepare my dog for blood pressure testing (then a separate charge for the actual test). YOU'RE GONNA CHARGE $30 TO PUT THAT BALLON AROUND MY DOGS LEG AND PUMP IT UP??? Someone there needs to be slapped! The kicker is that with every single new person I came across at this office, each one had a new service or procedure to strongly suggest. Went in for a $35 ear cytology, so why was my bill more in the $400 range? I take meticulous care of my dog for almost a decade now, so its not like he was fresh off the streets or new or anything. He's a member of the family...spare no expense! Never seeing the same doctor always someone new to stress my little guy out. The ONLY name that I remember is Dr. Faulkner who is wonderful and fabulous. Guess the word got out and it seems to be difficult to get an appointment with her nowadays...but SHE IS amazing, as well as compassionate. Don't remember my bill ever being all crazy after she saw him AND the only times I remember seeing complimentary services itemized were after seeing her (like clipping toe nails, or teeth brushing). To this establishment, I would like to offer a word of advice...Get it together and realize that if you keep gauging your customers you will QUICKLY become out of business. Find what you want to specialize in (medicine, grooming, boarding, etc) and focus on that. Are we chasing too many services to call ourselves a "Hospital?" I fired them and will not return after almost 10 years...have had it! Read Less

I received excellent care from Dr. Natalie Smith on Thursday Aug. 11 when I brought my brother's very ill dog in to be seen. Dr. Smith was so professional, caring, & knowledgeable. She was very thorough, & answered all of my many questions. I appreciated her calm demeanor, & her compassion. I was also impressed with the friendliness of the receptionists at the front desk. They were very helpful, as well. One of the gentlemen even printed out a copy of directions for me to get home since I do not drive the freeways. I really appreciated that. I felt that we were in very good hands even though we had to, unfortunately, euthanize the pup. The tech was very kind who made an imprint of her paw print, & even brought it to my car when it was done baking in the oven. We are grateful to Dr. Smith for helping us through a very difficult situation. She is an excellent veterinarian, in my honest opinion !Read Less

I just recently started taking my pug to Central Houston Animal Hospital for grooming (bathing/nails only) and I am happy to say that I am a huge fan.  They always have at least 2-4 staff members working behind the counter and I haven't ever had to wait more than a couple of minutes for service.  The groomer Kristen is so sweet - she genuinely cares about each animal that she works with, and she does a GREAT job.  My dog always comes back completely dry (unlike the majority big box groomers like petsmart and petco) and smells good for weeks.  I can't imagine going anywhere else at this point.  Grooming is $37 which may be a little on the pricier side, but this is at a Vet office and you can assure that your pet will be extremely well cared for and the job will be done right.  Also, Wendell was sent home with the cutest bandana today!  Thanks CHAH! Read Less

5 stars for the vet less 2 stars for the customer service from the people at the counter.I used to bring my foster dog to CHAH but since I just adopted her, CHAH will not be the regular vet in the future. Reason being I personally find the receptionists here pretty uppity and lacking customer service. I've been to CHAH for 4-5 times now and every single time, no one attends to me. I will have to head to the counter and almost force someone to attend to me. Next is the waiting time. I always arrive on time or earlier than my appointment time and I ALWAYS have to wait at least 30-45mins before I get to see the vet. I just find the receptionists very very very impersonal and lacking customer service so bad that it really makes the trip very unpleasant. I spoke to another customer whilst waiting who felt the same too.Having said that, I met two vets during our visits and I really like the vets. They are caring and very personable and nice. I have no doubts or unhappiness about the vets there at all. Thumbs up to them. Unfortunately, the receptionists should get more training in customer service. Read Less

The service given by every staff member and DVM is awesome. They are polite, compassionate and professional. I love the fact the vet will call the pet owner checking up on either a missed vaccine/medication, as well as progress of pet treated.Read Less

I've been taking my dog here for years. Dr. Reid is one of he veterinarians and is so great. She listens, is very straightforward, gives you options and is always upfront about costs. I always feel my dog is in really good hands! Read Less

One hot Houston morning, my dog (great dane) 'Pearly' ate raisinets and mango slices.  Panicked, I called Central Houston and asked for advisement.  Not only did they calm me down, and talk me through what I should do, they accommodated me with an appointment right away.  The doctors and staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable, and prices were reasonable considering everything she needed ( x-rays, bloodwork, few nights hospitalization).  I now have my baby back in good health and spirits.  Kudos to you Central Houston!! Read Less

I've brought both my cats there several times without complaint. When I bring one cat in, the staff all ask about the other by name. I've walked in a few times and been seen promptly. The techs are sweet and considerate, the vets take time with their thorough exam, offer their plan and plausible alternatives. I will continue to go there and recommend them without reservation.Read Less

My two boxer dogs Vanilla & Rebel have been coming here for over 4 years now and they have always been taken care of, everyone that works here cares about your pets health and wants the best for them, they are very good at fitting your pets in too whether you call a week ahead or the day of.  I really can't say anything negative about this Vet, the only thing that may turn some people off is that it's a little pricey...but luckily I have pet insurance so I don't have to pay too much out of pocket and in any case who cares how much the bill is when it comes to your pet's health? Read Less

Saved my cat with miracle surgery!I have been meaning to write this review for a long time. About 2 years ago my cat fell off the balcony of our 3 story apartment and shattered one of her hips. I took her to a different vet and they said that because the hip shattered at the joint it would not heel properly and the cat would constantly be in pain and unable to walk unless we got a $5000 hip replacement. I just didn't have that money and that vet made me feel horrible for declining the hip replacement. I then took my cat to CHAH and they said that because the cat was small they could actually remove the shattered hip bone and she could learn to walk without a hip. We did the surgery and my cat completely healed from it!!! She doesn't even have a limp and can even jump onto the kitchen counter! You seriously can't even tell she is hipless, because she is so fluffy! It was truly a miracle and I am so grateful for the care that she received at CHAH. Read Less

This is the best vet!   The vets really get to know your animals and are so supportive during difficult cases.  They call to follow up, even when you have to see a specialist.  The service from the desk and technicians is also first rate.  I've never had a bad experience with the staff. Read Less

The veterinarians and techs at this practice are so great with animals! They are knowledgeable, and kind. Of course, taking your animal to the vet is costly anywhere you go, but I always ask for a quote before anything is done, and they are happy to provide one. If it's too costly, they will work with me on what is important for now, and what I can come back for later. Highly recommend this practice, and so do my cats!!!! Read Less

My pup and I LOVE Central Houston Animal Hospital. Dr. Reid is the best! So loving and caring and really makes griffin feel comfortable. When we first moved to Houston we tried several different vets. HATED all of them. CHAH is the only place for us. Read Less

I have an older dog and had left a vet we went to for over 10 years, went to another vet for one week, and then luckily found CHAH.  She had a cough that was brutal and has existed for over 1 year.  The other vets did not give her the proper attention and the second one almost killed her with too many innoculations.  When an animal is suffering the vet should figure it out--not just blow you off.  Anyway, Dr. Baxter at the CHAH actually spent time and figured out what was wrong and her cough is better and we are on the road to recovery.  VERY IMPRESSED. Read Less

The vets around here all seemed to go to the same seminar about how to get the most money possible out of their clients, so I wasn't surprised when they tried to charge $700 for my male cat's urinary tract infection. I got them to lower the price on that one, but now my beloved dog, a Sheltie named Shelby (that has only been to this one vet in his fifteen years on this planet) had a stroke or something yesterday and desperately needs to put put down. I stopped in to tell them that I would like to bring him back, and they informed me they were full, and I would have to wait. (There was not ONE SINGLE PERSON waiting, and there were FIVE PEOPLE sitting at the front desk. WAIT, with my dog who is out of his mind, confused, and ready to cross on over. Needless to say, I am also horribly depressed. I have had a number of animals euthanized over the years, and it has never taken longer than FIVE MINUTES, most times less than a minute or two. Yet these folks couldn't make the time for my boy here at the end of his life. They SUCK!! A very unfriendly, grumpy group of worker bees who have to deal with the same veterinarians who decided to send me straight out the door with my dying dog. DON'T GO HERE IF YOU LOVE YOUR PET! They're just way too busy, and they overcharge, anyway.Read Less

I think they are the best. My dog was having signficant trouble breathing and couldn't stand. I called the vet I had been regularly taking her to and they said they simply couldn't fit her in, even though it was an emergency. I called CHAH and they immediately worked her in, showed great care and concern, went out of their way to understand what was going on, and get her back to health. As an added plus, the staff all seem to truly enjoy being around animals. The difference in attitude between them and my original vet group is remarkable. I won't name the previous group--let's just say it's another group of vets in the Montrose area. Anyway, now I board my dogs at CHAH and have them groomed there. They get my highest recommendation, and gratitude for getting my elderly dog back on her feet, literally. Read Less

Our cat swallowed a string, and was having a rough time. We took him to an emergency vet, whom we were not too impressed with. We came to CHAH, and were really happy with the service and the care they gave our Henry. The other doctor had been pushing surgery, which was a last ditch option for us. He is fine, and the doctors were very comforting for us.... Read Less

I was looking up the specific address for CHAH to give a friend a referral to this clinic and came across the reviews. After reading them, I felt I had to share my experiences. I hated to see any negative reviews that could misrepresent what I believe to be true about these wonderful people. First, I have never experienced vets as friendly, caring, thorough, professional, and compassionate as Dr. Reid and Dr. Mitchell. They are a rare find and I drive 25 miles into the city to take my pets (I currently have 2 dogs and 1 cat). Over the past year, I have had to make the incredibly difficult decision to let two aging pets go, and I couldn't have been more grateful for the caring and guidance Dr. Reid provided in coming to that decision. In particular, I had a cat diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with kidney disease. A vet near my home recommended that I go home, get my thoughts in order, and call him when I wanted to euthanize because there was nothing we could do. My daughter recommended that I see Dr. Reid for another opinion, even though I had to drive into Houston. Dr. Reid helped me manage this cat's disease and we had another 2 years to love and enjoy this animal, who had a wonderful quality of life until the end. And we mostly managed his care with careful diet and very little meds. As far as the negative reviews of front office people, I've never experienced anything but pleasant greetings for me and my pets. They have always been helpful and prompt, always apologizing if they are backed up with other clients and I have to wait. And I've been in the clinic frequently over the past two years, so if they weren't consistent, I think I would have seen it. Christine, especially, is a sweetheart! I love, love, love, this clinic and recommend it to anyone who is looking for great care for their pets! Read Less

I used to bring my dog there for a few years until last year. The front desk staff will greet you with a grimace of ""Ugh. Another whiny pet owner that's going to take up my time."" Apart from that, when you walk in, they don't even acknowledge your presence with a free ""Hello"" or ""Get the hell out of here"". Drs. Reid and Faulkner are now the owners of the clinic and are very good at what they do but it doesn't make up for the bad support staff. As a matter of fact, after I changed to another veterinarian, I received my reminder card from CHAH for my dog's vaccinations AFTER their due date!!! Talk about not being on the ball about important appointments. Read Less

A beautiful dog came into my life and I was unprepared.  After owning a cat for 17 years, you can imagine, I needed some help and education on what this Dog Ownership thing was all about.  Well, I took 'Rufus' to the Central Houston Animal Hospital and had a darn good experience.  Dr. Rhonda Mitchell took the time to educate me on how to care for a dog.....the feeding, the grooming, the exercise programs, the need to shots and other surgical specialties.I left CHAH with a bit more knowledge and a happier pet.  Will be back this Friday to get Rufus neutered....poor guy, happy me. Read Less

I moved to Houston 2 years ago and have been taking my 2 dogs and 2 cats here. I really like all the vets although I have worked with Dr. Reid the most. One of my dogs has had surgery here. All of them have had their teeth cleaned. I use the grooming services for the dogs as well. Basically I have been at this office alot! I have had such a wonderful experience with everyone from the vet techs to the vets. I would thoroughly recommend this place to both cat and dog owners. The vets REALLY care about your pets, you and your relationship. Read Less

These are the Most Compassionate & Caring People you will ever encounter. I was visiting from Oklahoma and my dog Ethel became deathly ill. They took us right in and brought my Ethel back up to speed. Dr. By and Dr. Reid were so caring& compassionate while caring for Ethel and conferring with me.They explained everything in great detail and even brought in additional Drs. to make sure Ethel was cared for in the most efficient and effective way possible. These people will handle your loved one like they were their own. Those of you who actually reside here should consider them a blessing to be a part of your pets life. If I could take them back to Oklahoma with me, I would. My recommendation to anyone in the Houston area is to check this place out for yourself and you will see exactly what I mean. Read Less

Brought my cat in for an Enema - Dr. Mitchell gave me an estimate of $275 - $500 I was o.k. with this . When I arrived to pick up my cat the bill was $644.00 Whitch I feel was unfair. I`ve had dealings with this clinic for the past 10 years & have always ben pleased with the prices & services till now . I`ll never return. Read Less

I have been to a number of vets in a number of cities with my nervous greyhound, and none of them ever put him (or me) at ease the way that Dr. Mitchell did at Central Houston Animal Hospital. She is SO kind and gentle - and so were all the vet techs. They even got down on the floor with him since he was scared of the elevator-style metal table. We also had our new weimaraner with us and Dr. Mitchell just doted all over her while providing what I deem to be excellent medical care and a thorough exam. My greyhound had injured his foot and she ordered an xray to ensure it wasn't broken. When we found out it wasn't, she said that she would call an orthopedic vet to see what they recommend. She called me back the next day with the results and the recommended course of action, along with some other recommendations to keep him healthy. She took the time both in the office and on the phone to thoroughly explain things and answer all my questions with the utmost patience. There were some complaints here that the front desk was slow, but that was not our experience at all. We went on a Saturday and didn't wait at all to either check in or out. They were also very persistent with the shelter we adopted our weim from to get her previous records. They are extremely thorough. As far as pricing, I don't think they are out of line with other vets. This is my first vet inside the loop and I imagine the pricing is competitive, as it was just slightly higher than my previous vet out on 1960. Bottom line - You can tell that everyone here truly LOVES animals. I never thought we'd find a vet that I feel cares as much about our pets and caters to their individual idiosynchrasies the way we do! Now we have and we'll never switch! Read Less

The doctors and staff are nothing short of amazing. Everybody knows me by name and there is a low turnover in staff. Dr. Bye, Dr. Faulkner, and Dr. Germann are AMAZING. Dr. Bye recently helped me with a very difficult decision of having my cat put down. She was compassionate, professional and really made this horrible situation tolerable. She is amazing, so thank you Dr. Bye. Office staff that I deal with regularly are Angie, Sarah, and Clayton...they are doing a FANTASTIC job. Never have had a problem. They are so friendly. In fact, I don't have a single complaint in 10 years. Read Less

Dr Robinson is the best vet there is! Very attentive and you can tell she really loves animals. I never worried when I had to bring my pet in. I knew she would be well taken care of! I agree that the front desk employees aren't exactly on the ball and can take a LONG time to check you out (with an impatient pet in hand). But it's worth it if you want the best vets! Read Less

I absolutely recommend the vets at Central Houston - they are awesome! When my dog was sick, I was an absolute wreck. Out vet explained everything and Abbey was totally fine in no time (and I calmed down!). Easy to find the clinic, parking is no problem and our appointment was on time! Read Less

Great vets ... attentive, detailed, thorough. But those front desk people have an attitude that is unforgiveable. They lack genuine people skills, animal sensitivity, and the empathy that I see with those who work with animals. They gossip about inappropriate topics, thinking that we cannot hear. Their follow through is snippy if at all. Keep the vets. But get rid of those front desk creeps. Read Less

The vet is great. But they made it very difficult for me to order my heart worm medication with Pet Meds. They told Pet Meds to have me call them. They tried to talk me out of it, when I told them I still wanted to order through Pet Meds they said they would fax the verification. I waited, and by the time it was time for my dogs to have their medication, I called the vet...they never faxed it. I don't mind buying from them but I have moved and it is very inconvenient and the safety of my dogs comes first. I know it is dangerous to discontinue the use of the heart worm medication and then restart it without testing them for heartworms. I ended up having to make ANOTHER phone call to Pet Meds, ANOTHER phone call to the vet's office, and then pay for overnight shipping so that my dogs would have their medication in time. I don't appreciate them wasting my time and my money. Read Less

I have been taking my dog to Central Houston for seven years and they have been nothing but kind, loving, professional, and knowledgeable. From the doctors to the groomers to the front desk staff, they have helped me through sickness and health and my dog could not have lived to 17 without their help. Read Less

They are friendly but they could not solve my pets problem correctly. Therefore, they did not advise the right treatment. A waste of time and money besides the frustration of having your pet sick and not knowing what to do. Read Less