Columbia Pike Animal Hospital And Emergency Center

Deplorable would be putting it nicely. My fiancé and I use their sister site, Town and Country Animal Hospital, in Fairfax. We have NEVER had a problem with that location. So, when the situation came about for emergency care for one of our pups... we didn't think twice.We should've thought twice.Our GSD puppy somehow got bit by a spider. He had very severe swelling on his face, lethargy, and bowel issues. We immediately called over there, they said bring him in and we will see him right away. We waited for over THREE HOURS to have our dog examined. And, we were never present during the examination. They kept shuttling him to and from the back, but we never saw him interact with the actual vet who saw him. Red flag #1. While waiting in the waiting room, it was brought to our attention that they had an ENTIRE LITTER OF PUPPIES with parvo in the office at the same time. They did absolutely nothing to keep them contained to a separate part of the facility. They let the owners come and go as they pleased, and interact with other dogs! They didn't even wash their hands!!!!!!!! Red flag #2. Red flag #3 would be when we called yesterday to inform them our dog was doing much, much worse after their course of "care". I asked if I could speak with a vet, and was flat out refused. The girl I spoke with (either Kelsey or Chelsea) was extremely rude and had zero sympathy towards the situation. The only solution she offered was to bring him back, or go to another emergency vet that was closer. And this is after I explained we had already spent almost $400 and he had zero improvement. She continued to refuse to let me speak with a vet, and honestly seemed irritated to even be speaking with me.If I didn't love the vet we see at the Fairfax location so much, we would be taking our business elsewhere. This establishment needs serious training for their staff on customer service, and a better system in place for their ER visits. Please research before taking your pet to this location for any type of care. Read Less

Terrible terrible pet care. Please consider reading other reviews and if you do decide to bring your pet on a visit, pay attention to some of the grievances posted. 1) clinic is set up like a retail store with young front desk staff who simply do their best to speed up the process administratively without paying attention to your comfort or whether or not you have questions about future appointments,etc. 2) the vet tech staff seems fairly incompetent. I needed to check my invoice and remind them to give me all of my medications because they had forgotten to package all 3 bottles. 3) Dr. Waite saw my dog and though she seemed knowledgable, my dog had never had a worse experience and after a physical and dental cleaning, I had to find him alternative veterinarian care so he could recover from the pain and post surgical trauma. During his physical, the vaccinations he received must have been administered in a harsh manner because he came home with spasms (at the site of the injections) needing a day and a half to become his usual chipper self. He is 12 years old but has never had a negative experience with any previous vets. Against my better judgment, we took him back for dental cleaning which was intended as routine. Dropped him off at 7:40 and received a call from the Dr around 2-3 pm that she had just started the cleaning process and was going to have to perform extensive dental procedures. A couple of hours later I received a call that my dog almost died under anesthesia and when I picked him up he was bleeding from his nose and in terrible condition. A couple of weeks later and he is still not himself. $1100 later I cannot continue to take him to their clinic even if they never charged me a penny again. Please read other patients' reviews on dental cleaning and be cautious if you do go. Read Less

I came in with a relatively simple matter -- a cat with a bleeding paw. First I had to remind them about triage. Then I had to complain an hour after they had taken my cat that no one had come out to talk to me, which was outrageous in itself. Then they told me that I had to wait till Animal Control showed up because my cat bit a vet tech, which is what I warmed them about in advance, yet they apparently took no precautions (gloves, anyone? mask, anyone? 2 techs, anyone?).My relatively simple matter are up the bulk of an afternoon. I will NEVER return to this place or recommend it to anyone. Bad, bad, service. Read Less

Bottom linee up front: Columbia Pike rushed us out the door without doing what I paid for.Took our ailing cat in. Our normal vet here was not available, so we went to emergency care. Doc spoke at length with me (the only reason this is not a 1 star review) and the way forward initially was a urine test. They forgot to collect the urine, as our cat urinated as soon as he got home. They neglected to tell me the primary diagnostic test was not done until I was already home across town. For an incredibly expensive visit ($486.45 after discount...granted, I did get a bottle of insulin), nothing was really done and I'm expected to make 2 more trips to them now to get them the urine sample. Thus, hours spent, dollars spent, and Columbia Pike left me at square one. Very unhappy. Read Less

I have been bringing my pup, who has numerous health concerns, to CPAH for a few years now and I have been so happy with them! You can get an appointment on the same or next day pretty much all the time. Plus the 24/7 service with no emergency fee is a game changer among vets who nickel and dime you for every little thing.I see concerns below around the front desk/clerical staff. The front desk staff and organization has greatly improved over the last couple of years and they seem to be holding on to staff longer, which is helpful! There can still be a little bit of confusion at the front desk and a wait to pay your bill, but there are also a lot of vets working at once, so I think people are being impatient. I always judge a veterinary clinic on how the support staff treats the animals. One day while I was outside, I could hear one of the techs in the fenced area taking a dog to the bathroom. He was being so kind and patient to the dog in a nervous situation. Exactly what I want for my pup when I can't be there to watch him every minute. Highly recommend Drs. Barnett, Novarr, and Jones. They have all given amazing, loving care to my dog. Dr. Jones even remembered him in the waiting room one day and came over to check on him and say hi. I feel like I always get an honest assessment of his health, not one that is driven by making money. You can tell the staff and vets here love animals. Read Less

I am not a patient but I had a terrifying experience tonight with my cat who I recently adopted 2 weeks ago. Not to mention she is a very scared cat still in hiding. Tonight, she was playing with the strings from the blinds and had her leg stuck and tangled and she woke me up by her hissing and meowing. I tried my best to get her leg untangled but with no luck she would hiss at me when I tried to reach my hands out. Of course I am panicking I grabbed my scissors and cut the strings, however, there were part that was still wrapped around her leg and cutting circulation. I didn't know what to do and I searched for an 24 vet clinic/hospital that could assist me. I'm so glad I called this place!! The front desk (sorry I forgot her name) helped me through this terrifying process and guide me the steps I needed to take while dealing with this accident. Good news, the strings is out and her leg is fine. Tonight, I am certainly convinced to become a patient here. Again, many thanks!! Read Less

I'm honestly so disappointed I brought my dog here for surgery paid this office over $3000 in fees was told that all post-op care would be covered by the surgeon vet who operated on my dog when my mother along with her friend brought him in for his post op care it was decided he may need an IV for dehydration however my mother was not told there would be any additional charge otherwise she would have called me and would have gotten a verbal okay from me saying that was fine however she was not told there would be any other fees associated with what was suppose to be a post op appointment. I received a bill from them I called their office explained I was not made aware of any charges and I did not agree to any of it therefore these charges were invalid I waited on the phone for about 10 min when finally someone answered they didn't help me she was extremely rude ended up just transferring me to physicians voicemail. I left her a message and guess what crickets I never heard back assumed it was fine since clearly my message didn't warrant a call back! Now I'm getting letters from them asking that I call to pay I'm not going to pay for extra service I did not authorize that's on them on their negligent staff who didn't do their due diligence and for the physician lying to me telling me post up care would be covered. All I have to say is their staff was less than helpful, they were rude lacked any customer service and there was absolutely no follow up or follow through with any of my billing questions on how exactly you can bill someone for services they didn't agree to or sign for?? I will be reporting them to the better business bureau for charging me for services I was told would be free and again I  reiterate was never made aware of in the first place!!!! If you do go here just make sure you read everything so that you don't end up with charges you did not agree to and have them hounding at you for more money cause it seems like that's more important then patient care after they've already emptied your pockets. Read Less

This place over prescribes and over charges. Do not come here. Sunshine animal hospital is 2 min away from this place and much cheaper. Are pet was in perfect health according to the vet and yet we walked out with 3 unnecessary preventive medications we did not ask for with a hefty bill. Read Less

I'm honestly so disappointed I brought my dog here for surgery paid this office over $3000 in fees was told that all post-op care would be covered by the surgeon vet who operated on my dog when my mother along with her friend brought him in for his post op care it was decided he may need an IV for dehydration however my mother was not told there would be any additional charge otherwise she would have called me and would have gotten a verbal okay from me saying that was fine however she was not told there would be any other fees associated with what was suppose to be a post op appointment. I received a bill from them I called their office explained I was not made aware of any charges and I did not agree to any of it therefore these charges were invalid I waited on the phone for about 10 min when finally someone answered they didn't help me she was extremely rude ended up just transferring me to physicians voicemail. I left her a message and guess what crickets I never heard back assumed it was fine since clearly my message didn't warrant a call back! Now I'm getting letters from them asking that I call to pay I'm not going to pay for extra service I did not authorize that's on them on their negligent staff who didn't do their due diligence and for the physician lying to me telling me post up care would be covered. All I have to say is their staff was less than helpful, they were rude lacked any customer service and there was absolutely no follow up or follow through with any of my billing questions on how exactly you can bill someone for services they didn't agree to or sign for?? I will be reporting them to the better business bureau for charging me for services I was told would be free and again I  reiterate was never made aware of in the first place!!!! If you do go here just make sure you read everything so that you don't end up with charges you did not agree to and have them hounding at you for more money cause it seems like that's more important then patient care after they've already emptied your pockets. Read Less

I have visited this clinic many times over the past few years with my dog. I appreciate their 24 hour opening and that they don't charge for emergency visits. Last night I had to take my dog in after she was attacked by another dog. It was late, but the clinic was very responsive. There were other emergencies that came in while I was there, and they informed me that my dog would be seen after the more immediate life-threatening issues. The tech and the vet both came out at different times to inform what was being done and kept me up to date. I normally see Dr. Nishi when I take my dog in and he has been a marvelous veterinary for my dog. He wasn't working last night, but I was equally impressed with the vet who ended up doing her work last night. One would be hard pressed to find another veterinary clinic that doesn't charge someone for a walk-in emergency, not to mention that they are open 24/7. The facilities are clean and it's obvious that everyone there enjoys working with pets. Additionally, they seem to be up to date on the latest veterinary practices and technologies. I highly recommend this clinic. Read Less

This place seems to be good but they need some major communication training for the front desk. There should be one person that is only doing emergencies so that you know that when you walk in the door you will be checked in immediately by that person.  Everything seems like a fire drill around there.  My dog was getting an ultrasound and they made me bring her in at 8AM. The tech did not get there until around 1PM. I don't know why I could not have kept her at home until they were ready. It's stressful for her to spend 6 hours in a cage just waiting when I could have had a scheduled apt. In retrospect, I should have made an apt. at an imaging place. Then one time I called in and told them the story and the person went to go ask a doctor and then when he came back, he got my story completely wrong. I had to go through it all over again. He was chewing on something and it was really unprofessional. This place could be really good, but they need to get their act together better. I do think that they truly care about the animals that they are caring for. There are some great doctors there. Read Less

Excellent doctors, but that's where it stops. It seems that management cares very little about long-term patient relationships and seems to be entirely focused on revenue generation. Be careful with disproportionately large charges that aren't disclosed nor posted anywhere before they're applied . We've taken our dog to this facility for 3 years and decided to finally move to another practice because it became painfully clear to us that we were placing far more value on the relationship than they were.In short, we loved our doctor but have become completely disappointed with the increasingly apparent lack of ethics with which the business is run. Read Less

I have been taking my pets there for over 4 years.  I have 2 dogs now, but I used to have 3.  Between Annual Visits, Dental Visits, Emergencies, Vaccinations and Medication/flea/wormer, I spend about $4,000/year at Columbia Pike Animal hospital and I have to say, things have gone way down hill over the years.This was my "last straw".  Yesterday, one of my dogs started acting as if he was in pain.  He yelped when I picked him up and he refused to jump up on the bed or go up/down the stairs.  He's 11 years old and has been in pretty good health, but this was definitely something new.Yesterday (Sunday afternoon) I called at 4:30 to make an appointment and as I was making an appointment for Monday (after work 7:20) the receptionist said "There is no additional charge for coming in as an Emergency, but it's best if you let us know when you're coming in", to which I replied "I'm on my way now".Coming from Alexandria, I got there at 5:00 and was told by the receptionist who spoke to me on the phone, that they have had an emergency come in, so there would be a 20 - 30 minute wait.After about 25 minutes, a technician came out and asked about my dog, and informed me that I could be waiting for hours because they have had a few emergencies come in.  I asked her if they could prescribe 1 dose of pain killer to hold him overnight and I would come back on Monday.  She said she would talk to the doctor, and they might need a weight.  I informed her that he was just there 2 weeks ago for his annual physical and probably still weighed 11 lbs.  She went back to the doctor and didn't come right out.I made an appointment for Monday at 7:20 and sat with my pet to wait for the tech (Vicky) to come out with a pill (or not).I waited more than an hour and she never came back out.  All the emergencies had been taking back, including some that weren't very serious and weren't regular customers.  I know because they triage all the emergencies in the waiting room.  No HIPAA for dogs.After 90 minutes, I went up to the receptionist who had made my appointment for the next day, and had stared at me sitting alone in the waiting room for almost 2 hours alone.  I asked her when the tech would come out with the pill.  She rang back for the tech, who came out and said "Nobody came out to tell you?? Sorry, we can't do that".  I showed up at 5:00 and left at 7:00.  With driving, that was a waste of 3 hours.1) The ER was notified of our arrival at 5:00, but kept putting us to the back of the line.2) The technician forgot to come out and tell me that there was no use in waiting, she could't give my pet a pill.3) The receptionist knew I had made another appointment and was waiting for the Tech, but did nothing but stare at me for 2 hours.  She cold have said "you are free to go" or "can I help you, who are you waiting for".  4) When I complained, I was promised that their manager, Kelly, would give me a call on Monday.  I have not received a call.  The Vet Tech, Receptionist and the Manager have all dropped the ball on a very good customer.I really have no reason to continue with Columbia Pike Animal Hospital. Read Less

I used this clinic a couple of times for minor issues and I was satisfied with those visits.   But absolutely nothing has gone well since then.  While the docs and techs seem to be caring and helpful, dealing with the front desk, scheduling and billing has been quite a nightmare.My dog tore her CCL back in May and the doctor ordered some imaging which had to be sent out to be read.  I was told it would take 2-3 days to get the results, but it took several phone calls and almost a week for me to hear anything.  Based on the results, I was told that the best course of action was probably going to be orthopedic surgery and I set up a consultation with their visiting surgeon.  When we finally had the consultation, the imaging we had paid for was not "showing up on the computer", and the surgeon only talked to me about what was going on.  He never examined her - we honestly could have had the appointment without her.  We were in and out of the exam room in under 10 minutes.We went to the front desk to check out (we have ALWAYS paid our bill in full immediately following our appointments) and we were told there was no charge on our account.  The person at the desk got up and walked to the exam rooms behind the desk, then came back out and told us there was no charge for the appointment.  We discussed the date for her surgery and they told me they would call the surgeon the next day and get her on the calendar.We scheduled the surgery for the next available Monday and rearranged family vacation plans so we could have her there.  I called the clinic the Friday before the surgery to confirm the appointment and find out what we needed to do to prep her.  I was told there was a question about the schedule and someone would call me back later that day.  No one called back that day.  When I called again the next day, I was told that there had been a "clerical error", her surgery had never been scheduled, and there were no more openings on the doctors schedule.We rescheduled for a later date, but had several more instances of "clerical errors" and phone calls never being returned and I started to feel uncomfortable about having such a big surgery at this clinic.  So, I called and cancelled the procedure.  The woman I spoke to when I called was very irate - she said "okay" and hung up on me.  I was not at all surprised when they called the morning she was supposed to have come in and asked if we were on our way because we were late and the surgeon was almost there.  They had never cancelled the surgery and it was still on his schedule.This all happened more than four months ago and I thought I was done dealing with this clinic.  But, late last week, I opened my mailbox and I had a bill for $200 for the consultation, plus a finance charge, plus a threat to send my account to collections if I did not pay within 7 days.  This was the first time I had heard anything from this clinic since the cancelled surgery.  I called the clinic and I was told no one could help me but the billing manager, NIcole, and she was not there.  They told me she would call me when she came in the next day, but she did not.  I called a few days later, was put on hold for more than 15 minutes, then the phone started ringing again but no one answered it. I called again today and I was told that there must have been another "clerical error" when I checked out after the consultation and that I owe the money and there is nothing they can do about it.  I asked again to talk to the billing manager, they took my contact information again, and told me again that she will call me tomorrow.We'll see.Update: No one called. Read Less

We have been bringing our, now, 7 month old Vizsla to CPAH since 2 months old.  We have had very good communication and service thus far.  The front staff seems a bit flustered at times, but very attentive to you and your furry friend when it is your turn.Only issue I have is with the APP and the website request for appointment or service.  It just doesn't seem to work at all.  I have made several requests through the APP and the site and neither seem to go through.  I LOVE the idea of the APP, however, work needs to really be done to improve it. Read Less

Our family had been taking all of our dogs to Columbia Pike for the last 15 years but that stopped this year. We mainly continued going here because it's near by and while there are some employees who are genuinely caring and put your/your pet's interest first, there's are a lot of rude employees, especially at the front desk who always have an attitude. On top of that, there's always employees outside smoking which is definitely not a good look for a vet. The last straw for us was earlier this year when our 7 year old dog who was always healthy unexpectedly had a seizure and we rushed him to the CPAH. After having several more seizures at his visit, the doctor asked to keep him for two nights so they could keep a close eye on him. We we're able to visit him a couple of times during his stay which was nice and were able to take him home two days later with seizures medications and just told that he most likely had a brain tumor. The only way we would know for sure is by getting a $3000 MRI. We said we'd wait a couple of weeks and get another opinion before shelling out that much money. Fast forward three weeks later, I come home and find my dog unconscious and a massive pile of throw up under him. I race to the hospital and call my sister who lives even closer to the vet so she could meet me there and explain to the vet what's going on. She told them that our dog is dying and gave him our information so that they could pull up his records and be ready for him when we arrive. Once I arrived, the vets rush him back and as we're waiting outside (crying hysterically), a vet tech rushes out and begins asking us about his history. Although I appreciate this tech's genuine concern, the whole point of my sister getting there before me and the dog was for them to pull up his records and have this information already! The front desk never thought once to share his information with the techs?? We were so frustrated and couldn't believe that no one had prepped the techs with his records to possibly save them time. After explaining to the tech everything that had happened prior with his seizures, he explains that our dog currently has no heart beat and that they will continue trying to get his heart going again. After several minutes, the tech comes back and tells us that they couldn't get his heart beat back and that he was dead. They allowed us to sit with his body for awhile and say our final goodbyes. They said not to worry about payment that night and to just go home and rest. We got information about cremation and filled out a form since we knew we'd want to keep his remains. We were thankful for the tech and how sincere and thoughtful he was despite the miscommunication. We arranged to have an autopsy done through an outside technician before being cremated (which we found out he did not have a tumor at all, but in fact a heart disease). I had called the company who did the cremation to check on the status since he would be returned to CPAH to be picked up. They said he had been finished earlier than anticipated and was already at the vet ready to be picked up. I called CPAH and the receptionist is arguing he's not there and there's no way he could have because it didn't line up with when they receive cremation drop offs. I explained that his was done early and that I got confirmation his body was dropped off already. They finally go check and say they do have him. I go to pick his remains and they can't find them. I'm on the verge of losing it at this point because again they don't know what they've done with my dogs remains. After 15 minutes they finally find them and realized they have left them elsewhere which is so completely unorganized and unacceptable (They had also lost the original form I filled out for his cremation). They also hand me the bill from the day he passed which I was expecting to pay that day. I look at the bill and there were several charges from that night that were not supposed to be there. There were several for "examinations" when my dog was never examined. The doctors worked to get his heartbeat back but there was no tests done nor any explanations as so what happened other than he was dead. Thankfully those charges were removed but I just couldn't believe they thought to even put them there first. I had also asked several times between when he passed to when we collected his remains for the blanket we had brought his body in and every time they said they would look but never got a response back and it was just lost. This entire experience left a horrible taste in our mouths and can't imagine having to go through another experience like this again. What is already a traumatizing experience of losing a pet  shouldn't have to be made even more stressful. We haven't returned since with our other dogs. Read Less

We've been using Columbia Pike for just over two years. We've used them for boarding, grooming and veterinary care and have never had a problems with the services we've received. Prices are in line with the area (boarding is actually quite a bit less than some places, actually) and the care our dogs have received has been good.Only negatives really are the weird parking arrangement across 3 awkward lots and the occasionally hectic front desk staff arrangement. The front desk doesn't have an obvious intake spot or checkout spot - everyone seems to be doing everything, which can cause confusion if it is really busy. Read Less

My pup was quivering intermittently for the 2 day after we brought her home from getting spayed and I was getting concerned.  A tech from Town & Country Animal Hospital, their sister hospital, had followed up on the third day and said she'd consult the vet about my concern. After getting no response throughout the day, I called back and was referred to Columbia Pike.CPAH's exterior is kinda dark and hard to determine on your first visit which building is the hospital and which is for grooming & boarding. Thankfully, that's not the case once inside where it's brightly lit and appears very clean. I sneezed my head off while waiting for the vet to examine my pup but I survived!The tech I had spoken to on the phone was friendly and helped to get an answer quickly from the vets before confirming that I should drive 30 minutes each way to bring my pup in. I was promptly helped upon arrival and met another friendly tech. Dr. Nishi was very professional and upbeat in ensuring that the examination was unremarkable and sent us on our merry way. Since my pup had gotten her spay at T&C, they were able to examine her free of charge and provide peace of mind.Who knew spays were so terrifying for a first time dog mom, but it's good to know CPAH is a great partner for T&C in case of complications. Thanks, CPAH! Read Less

Was hosting party when my uncle's dog began to seize for the third time. Drove here straight away, as I have passed it many times. I tried to call ahead, but was out on hold for 10 minutes even after pressing 1 for emergencies. The dog was under treatment within two minutes of entering, as the receptionists were able to recognize the severity of the problem. Answered doctors questions and filled out a form. Overall very satisfied with the professional manner and urgency, but somewhat dismayed by the call service. Read Less

The last couple of times I had been to CPAH, I was not impressed by the desk help.  A lot of very young and immature teenagers, whom are not helpful at all.  They need to hire much older staff. Non smokers would be better too.  Maybe they won't always be hanging outside smoking but working instead.  Where to begin on today's visit.  I had my 3 dogs kenneled at CPAH for 12 days.  I never got a call which I found really odd as they used to call me in the past to let me know that the dogs were ready for pick up after their bath.  I didn't get the call because they never got the spa special bath.  Good thing I wasn't charged for it.  I was paying the bill when the stoned out techs were getting the dogs ready for the car.  My daughter was with them and they were going to take the dogs out to the car.  I said, " Wait, I can help out.  Just wait."   I guess no one heard me.  The techs were eager to get me out.  Maybe they needed a cigarette break? My daughter was with one of the huskies, when his collars was loose and he broke out and ran out on a very busy street.  I could hear this commotion outside as I was hoping the lethargic front desk guy would hurry up.  The stoned out tech that was with the other husky dropped the lead on the dog and went chasing for the other husky.  Yeah, he dropped the lead!  Way to go.  I ran outside and knew it was impossible to get the dogs.  I ran back and yelled at the office group  where a few dumbfound techs were inside watching it all.  I broke out in a Tourette Syndrome scream that would make Donald Trump blush.  I never used the F word as many times as I did that evening.  "I told them to get their damn techs the F out there and get the dogs.  You better hope my dog doesn't die or you can forget about getting a  payment."  About 3 techs went out to help out, but if one of the dogs didn't have to poop, he would never have been caught. The hospital is on a busy street and I was almost certain I was going to lose a dog or two.  I was so upset.  Even the other customers offered to help out.  The stoned techs needed some prodding.  I like a couple of doctors at this clinic, but I will no longer be taking the dogs at CPAH.  It's not worth it.I want to update and tell you all that not only were my dogs in danger but so was my daughter and myself.  We avoided getting hit by cars but they were honking at us and the dogs.  I am really upset about what happened. Read Less

We rescued a Blue Tick Hound who has severe ear infections. I knew if I took him to Dr. Hall, all would be well. Due to Todd's conditions, Dr. Hall gave me an appointment immediately. I feel confident that our Todd will be fine soon. Both Fairfax and Colombia Pike are filled with caring staff who are willing and able to go above and beyond to help your pet. Read Less

I was told about this place through a neighbor and a friend. It's usually a good sign when a place is recommended by word of mouth. Unfortunately, my experience was the latter. I came to this place for a second opinion for my dog (she's an old lady pug who I love to death) Explained my situation over the phone, and booked an appt. I was told my first appt. would be free since it was my first time going there. IT WAS NOT FREE. I called to re-schedule due to an emergency, and they didn't have ANY of my information. Mind you, I told the guy over the phone everything that my dog was going through. I even faxed over her records! So of course, this isn't a great start! They finally found my records and information, and re-booked my appt. I take my dog in and it doesn't seem that busy. However, there were 4 receptionist and none of them acknowledged me. I had to ask what I needed to do for my dog to be seen.Afterwards, we see a doctor who tells me that surgery may be the answer to my dog's anal gland issues. He also said they could do a culture test. Which is simply sticking a q-tip up my dog's ass and seeing what bacteria grows. He quoted this procedure at $180. Came back and told me it was $220. That's a bit of a difference, but I want my dog to get better so I said "ok"Fast forward to a few days later, they found bacteria and prescribed her medicine. The doctor told me to call back a few days before her medicine was gone and give him an update on her progress. She had 5 days worth of medication left and I called. Well this doctor was on vacation apparently. So now what am I suppose to do? So I took her in to see another doctor. This time, I'm told that she's gotten a little better but not much and that we should try another 2 weeks of medication or another culture! So spend another $220!!!! I said "no" to another culture and opted for another round of medication.Two weeks later (this evening) I took my dog back for an anal gland expression to see how everything was going. I was told that it wasn't much better. I was told we could try more medication or do another culture. At this point, I express to the doctor that I can't afford to spend another $220 on a culture on top of all the other money I've spent within the last 2 months. Especially since my dog just had one done about 3 weeks ago! This doctor knew nothing about the first culture! How am I, as the paying customer telling you what took place in your place of business?! I ask what was the point of having the first culture done if they didn't find everything. She tells me "you're doing everything right, it's just bad luck" Thank You so much for that great piece of advice!!!! Then she says "I'm only charging you for the anal gland expression and medicine today" Um......you didn't do anything else so why would I be charged for more things. But this place charges you $53 for a "medical progression exam" REALLY?! So I'm being charged just to bring her in? So I go to the front desk to pay and get ready to leave. I even ask the front desk clerk what I was being charged for and she told me. Yet when I looked at my receipt (after my credit card was swiped) I was charged TWICE for the anal gland expression.So I try to let one of the 4 front desk people know so they can fix the problem. Only thing is, they're all busy and/or no longer at the desk!!!! I took an Uber to this place and had to leave. So I called to let them know that they overcharged me. A guy tells me "you'll have to come back so we can refund your card since it has a chip in it" I said "that's not an option. You guys can manually do it" (I know this because a large part of the work that I do is dealing with credit card refunds)I was then hung up on!!!!! I called back, explained everything again, was put on hold, and then sent to voicemail. This is now my 3rd time calling back. Finally a lady said she could refund my card. I'm currently waiting to see if the money will be returned to me. This incident just took place tonight. I say all of this to say, trust your instinct and gut. I should have NEVER gone to this place. All of this headache, frustration, and overcharges just for a second opinion. And my dog still isn't better. It definitely was not worth it. Read Less

Here's the deal with this place; the veterinary care is...fine. Nothing exceptional, but fine. It's a convenient practice because it's open 24 hours and you can usually have your pet seen when needed. HOWEVER, we have been taking our pets here since we moved to Annandale 5 years ago and it's been a consistent and frustrating experience to get any information out of this office over the phone. Currently, we have a puppy who is hospitalized at this practice. In the last 48 hours, and after 6-7 calls and being put on hold for a minimum of 20 mins each time, we have yet to speak with a vet or anyone who can give us specific information about our dogs care status or discharge plan. This happens every single time we have a pet who needs lab work (it takes DAYS after the results are ready to get anyone on the phone to relay results), follow up information from a vet, and apparently even when one requires hospitalization. Frankly, the DMV is less frustrating to get straight answers from or to get someone on the line who can answer a question. No idea why this place can't get its act together but it makes you seriously question the quality and accuracy of medical care your pet is getting there when they can't even work out a system to update owners on their pets. Yikes. Read Less

This was our first visit to Columbia Pike Animal Hospital. We were very observant of the pets and owners coming inn and the treatment they received and the service of the staff.. The service and treatment was 5 star to us. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly and the pets including ours were treated with care and concern . We met our vet who was so knowledgeable and gave us great comfort to put our babies in his care. Read Less

Very spacious, clean, no Huge emergency fee, 24/7,  and reasonable pricing.Big shout out to Dr. Shauna Waite, she's been in constant contact with me throughout the last 2 months after my initial visit with my cat. She has  gone out of her way to help me manage all my cats health issues with constant contact which no other vet has done. During my initial emergency visit she was very calm, patient and informative. Shes by far the best vet i've seen. Read Less

This was our first visit to Columbia Pike Animal Hospital. We found it to be very clean and all of the staff was so friendly to us and our boy Duck. The Vet was awesome and so friendly and informative. We love where they are located, and the APP that we can use to keep track of all of Ducks info. Read Less

I heard so many good things about this animal hospital. The animal hospital Dante and Princess go to is Fairfax Animal Hospital, but they were very busy and couldn't take Dante in for an appointment at the time I was available so I called Columbia Pike. They were able to take him in that day at 7:30 PM and I was so happy! The place is clean and very big! Some of the staff were nice and some were... I just assumed that some were just stressed. There was a nice gentleman that loved Dante and helped me out to sign-in. I came 10 minutes early, and they took Dante in exactly at his appointment time which was great! The vet came in 7:40 PM and made her diagnosis for Dante. She was going to give him medication. I waited for my medication in the diagnosis room for exactly 1 hour and 5 minutes. I wasn't sure if the vet was going to come in and explain the dose and time to give Dante his medication like they do at Fairfax... but I finally stopped someone and asked if I wait in the room or outside. She said, "Ohhh I was going to come in and check on you," and then she asked, "if the vet finished with me?" Clearly there is poor communication going on, or they forgot about me. The vet technician told me I can wait up front and someone will sign me out. I was supposed to get a new patient from before my appointment, but they forgot to give it to me, and this added more time. I would have given this place 2 stars, but because Dante is a new patient they gave me a free doggy bag poop holder with a lot of bags which made me happy, as well as a Columbia Pike Animal Hospital bag with a folder with information and coupons! Read Less

I have been going to Columbia Pike Animal Hospital for at least 30 years with my dogs and cats. I am very satisfied with the care they have given my animals. Dr. Davis Hall is very knowledgeable and gives very helpful advise when one is uncertain about what to do. Dr. Flynn and Dr. Kirchard are very good also. I give 5 stars Read Less

I've been holding off on writing this review for a long time but if this could save someone else the lost of a pet and financial burden, then I hope this helps. On November 11 around 11 pm I had called this hospital because my dog was giving birth and it was taking a bit long and some things were concerning me but I wasn't sure and needed medial advice before bringing my dog in because truth is I didn't have the extra funds to spend if it wasn't anything to worry about. I was told that dogs, by nature knows how to do this themselves and it's best to leave them alone and let them do it, but I needed to be sure since this is my first time seeing this. I explained the situation and what was concerning me, (she has 2 placenta sacks out for a concerning amount of time and then she broke one with still no pup), the gentlemen on the other line told me that, that's normal and that I should just wait it out and if it's still an issue in the morning then I should come in. So I did. She gave birth to 2 pups by 6 am that morning and everything was fine. 2 days later I had to rush her to the hospital, this hospital because she was bleeding from her birthing area. The doctor then tells me she's going into shock and has to be rushed into surgery right away or she will die. I told her I can't afford it, she said it is around 3500$ but she will work with us. She went into surgery, everything was fine, she had another pup inside her that had to be removed and the surgery went great but she needed to stay to be observed for an extra day. I was supposed to pick her up at noon the next day, she died at midnight that night. After everything that's happened the doctor asked me exactly what happened and I told her. Her exact words were "that WAS concerning, and they shouldn't have told you to wait. You should have bought her in right away. And she apologized on behalf of whoever said that" ???? Seriously?! When the placenta was broken the pup inside started to die without oxygen. And on top on it the bill was 4500$$????? Which I never agreed to, she told me around 3500$ and that she'd work with us. And if that wasn't enough, because I didn't pay the extra money they charged my card on file anyways without my permission and somehow found another card I had through care credit and charged 500 to that too. I filed fraud on that one and won. I know this won't bring her back but I need people to beware, this hospital is unbelievable and doesn't care. they killed my dog and fraud me. They still got their 4000$ when they made the mistake that cost me my dog. Read Less

5am emergency visit——- Took my dog in because he was restless and itching. Vet said it was thunder storm related?? More like quick fix to get me out the door. Didn’t seem like she cared about my pup. Until I asked her about a million questions she would tell me more info/ other options. I said it was grooming related and that my dog wouldn’t stop itching.. and she gave me a ear cream and shampoo. Dog is still scratching day later. And I have read online through my own research that I can buy him hotspot treatment/ cream to help stop itching right away, instead of making my dog suffer more! Instead of trying to sell you extra stuff they should focus on the well being of your pet and explore all options and not just say it’s weather related. I walked out the door with nearly $200 spent and my puppy is still in pain. Bunch of useless products that are not giving my dog any relief. Not returning to this place, waste of money! Banfield cares more about my dog. Do they take returns? Dr was lifeless and could care less about my dog. And reception had 2 people in the front and neither one of them communicated having me wait for no reason. With our any other patients in there! While they just walked around. Useless place and useless people. It was raining outside when I took my dog into the vet he was walking to the car and she said “looks like he has wet paws from licking” OH REALLY???? Did you forget it’s raining outside??? And dogs walk on the ground??? Maybe that’s why his paws are wet not from licking. Why would she even bring that up when I said dogs symptoms were itching and restlessness...I don’t believe the doctor knew what she was talking about. Maybe she shouldn’t work night shift! And get more polite reception people. Read Less

Can’t give zero stars. Arrived for my appointment 15 minutes early. 10 Min later I was informed the dr is running 40-45 minutes behind. I think they should have notified me earlier and not waste my time. I left to meet other appointments. Will find a new vet.i understand emergencies but no reason not to call me. They have an ER urgent care doc on duty Read Less

I never write negative reviews but this one involves my fur baby. My Yorkie Apollo dislocated his leg a couple of months back, ok no big deal it happens, I took him here and paid a hefty amount to get it fixed. I come pick him up and the bandage on his NEWLY fixed leg looks like something my 5 year old niece did. I don't complain at the time I take him home. Within two days the bandage just about comes off completely. I go back to the hospital and simply ask for the bandage to be redone as in one day it shouldn't be sliding off. They take Apollo to the back and fix it and present me with a 200 DOLLAR BILL. For what??? I'm extremely upset at this point, why would you take someone's animal to the back under one pretense and once there check his "vitals" so you they charge me for an UNNECESSARY visit unrelated to what my issue is. McDonald's doesn't charge you twice when they get your order wrong.....Fast forward, a couple of months go by Apollo's leg does NOT heal. He's a perfectly healthy 3 yr old Yorkie who I was promised would make a full recovery in just weeks....Someone obviously dropped the ball. I call and express this and I'm told to come in for a reexamination....here's where it gets good.Instead of talking about the possibility of the leg not being fixed AND even bandaged properly the doctor blames ME and says it's arthritis. My Yorkie has three other legs with NO issues. NONE. How convenient that all of a sudden the leg YOU fixed isn't healing because of "arthritis". Overall I know his leg wasn't properly fixed and I'm not even a vet....so I paid almost 1000 for my dog to get "arthritis" and never walk the same again when I'm positive another hospital would've yielded different results. Thanks a lot. Read Less

We were unhappy with our dog’s veterinarian, and our neighbor suggested we try Columbia Pike Animal Hospital. He’s a native of the area, so we took his recommendation and it was the best decision we could have made. The past year has been difficult for our dog: she was diagnosed with Cushing’s last year and frequently suffers from the effects of the disease. We visit the vet fairly often and are so impressed by how caring and compassionate the doctors, techs, and receptionists are. Everyone truly wants to do as much as they can to help the furry friends that come in the door. We’re so lucky to have found them! Read Less

Have taken my pups there for emergency services as well as dental care multiple times. The staff is amazing, professional. Wouldn't choose any other vet for the care of my K9 babies. Thank you for everything you have done for our doggies. I recommend without reservations. Read Less

I went here when I couldn't get into my regular vet for what I thought was an emergency. When we arrived, they promptly took my dog into the back and examined him. They couldn't have been any better. I am seriously considering making this the full-time vet that I bring my dog to. Was very pleased with the service. Read Less

My injured cat received very good care, and the staff were capable and efficient. They were particularly good at scheduling appointments that met the need of the customer. They were friendly, and the prices were competitive. All in all, an excellent experience. Read Less

I was kinda happy to take my cat here and felt confident after reading the reviews but we didn't have a very good experience here. I wanna start by saying that we had to rush our cat over here at 3 am in the morning because he was having respiratory distress so the regular doctor was not around. The doctor who treated our cat just seemed like she was trying to make money off this horrible experience. She ended up charging us a lot and we didn't want our cat to stay the night because he was already in a lot of distress. She kept saying she suggests he stay the night and handed us a quote for almost $2500 and acted like it was no big deal. The front desk staff was really nice they were polite and friendly and were also feeling bad for how our cat was feeling. I would suggest maybe going here during the day? Read Less

Dr. Kirchart is the best! I have nothing but praise and respect for her. She takes awesome care of my furr babies and has also gotten me through a couple of really bad times when one of my adorable kitties has left this world. She is thoroughly knowledgeable, professional, and has such a gentle touch towards her clients. I know my kitties are in the best hands through her care. I have been taking my kitties to Columbia Pike Animal Hospital since 2001. All of the veterinarians I have come in contact with are wonderful doctors as well as people. The tech staff is also fantastic. Read Less

I went to Columbia Pike Animal hospital for a second opinion. I was so surprised by the price. It was great. They seen me on a Sunday at 5 pm. On my schedule. Dr Murphy was so compassionate with my cr Fathead. My whole experience with the hospital was excellent. I will definitely recommend them and take my other cat there for check ups. Thanks for a great experience Read Less

I called to book a nail trim, a flu shot, and gland extraction for a small, shorthaired dog. This was all confirmed on the phone.  When I arrived, the person at the desk asked if I was there for "basic grooming."  I said no, and explained (again) that I was there for a nail trim, a flu shot, and gland extraction.I was then given two separate forms to fill out specifying that I wanted a nail trim, a flu shut, and gland extraction.  If this review sounds redundant, that's because it is, and so was the number of times and different ways I had to explain what services I needed.When it was time to pick up my pet, I was presented with an invoice for "basic grooming," which I was told included a bath and other services I did not want and did not ask for.  Noticing that the invoice did not include a flu shot, I inquired.  Of course, they FORGOT THE FLU SHOT, although it was apparently included in the amount due on the invoice.  A few minutes later I heard my dog yelp loudly.  An associate came out of the vet area and said, "we just gave a flu shot!"  Well, it's a good thing I scrutinized the invoice and asked, since the phone call, the first discussion at the front desk, and the two separate forms were not enough!A week later I received an invoice in the mail for the flu shot.  Sure enough, they had charged me for a bunch of grooming services I did not ask for.  This leaves a bad taste in my mouth given that I have used them for a lot of vet appointments as well as boarding.  I feel that I was "ripped off," although it was due to incompetence rather than malice.Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL dealing with them, scrutinize everything, and make sure to stay on top of them. Read Less

They're convenient. Open 24/7, and you can call same day and usually be seen, even if it's not an emergency. And they don't charge an emergency fee. My complaints here are that they've lost a test sample I dropped off once. They've charged me for things I didn't receive, mixed up and put my new cat's visit on my other cat's existing file. Basically, I just think they must be really unorganized behind the scenes.  I paid a bill on the 20th by phone and then when I went in the next day to drop off a sample, I magically had a balance. They wouldn't remove the charge and I refused to pay it because it was for flea preventive I didn't get. They tried to tell me they probably put it on the cat while it was in the back. I said actually they did the blood draw in the room, the cat was never out of my sight and they didn't put any flea preventive on the cat. They also didn't give me any dewormer though we talked about it. (I wasn't charged for it, at least.)I dropped off a sample on Thursday morning and called today(Sunday) to see if results are back. They are but a doctor isn't available to talk to me so they told me someone would call me back. No other vet I've been to doesn't call with results. This place doesn't. You have to call them and ask almost every time! Meanwhile, I'm "space-switching" these two cats, trying to introduce them and I don't even know a week later if it's really safe for me to do so. I had them do an FIV/FLV test in house so I could get quicker results (and paid more for it) and even then, they didn't let me know same day - which is why I paid more for the in-house test. Also, with such a sizable waiting room, I wish they would designate separate spaces for dogs/cats to reduce stress. I also have an asthma attack every time I'm in an exam room here. This doesn't happen at other vets I've visited. Once it happened last year and I didn't have my inhaler. They were understanding and let me go home (10 min away) to get it while they did the blood work and held her in the back until I returned. Read Less

The veterinary business is a complicated one - lots of variables to consider - and this practice does a very good job.  My dogs have seen at least five of the doctors here and they are all excellent.  Out of a dozen or more visits, I only walked out once with the feeling that my wallet was hit hard.  They are seriously the most economically priced vet I've ever been - they have always price matched PetMeds.  What more can you ask?  The abundance of the reception and care staff are friendly and competent. There are only two areas that could use improvement:1) Improve checkout times when a client is sent home with meds.   This process is quite slow.  2) Not everyone is suited for client-facing work.  For the one that isn't,  place them in a role they are better suited for -  it is not at the front desk or answering phones.  I have enough sense to avoid,  even hanging up when he answers the phone, but a new client won't. Read Less

My dog is a bit sketched out by new experiences, men she's never met before and sometimes other dogs. So taking her to the vet is an adventure for the both of us. I asked the staff for a female doctor (just to be safe) and we got an appointment with Dr. Flynn (for some shots and an annual checkup). She will be Selena's go to vet from now on! Dr. Flynn was gentle, informative and very welcoming (I didn't feel like I was being rushed) You can tell she truly loves what she does. She even informed me that they price match meds which really helped out. The rest of the staff was also friendly and efficient. Read Less

I have been here twice with two dogs for two separate reasons and each time I've been thoroughly disappointed. I was in last winter after learning about grooming day that's done a couple times a week by appointment. I called, asked if they would be able to accommodate my 120lb dog and they said, "yes". Told me I didn't need to schedule and that we needed to be there during a certain window. I thought, great this will be easy. We get there  (noted we live around the corner) and waited to be taken back. A couple minutes later, around the corner turns a vet tech probably in her late teens  and weighing less then the weight of my own dog, and she was going to take my dog. We made it very clear that he's very tense with vet offices and this is who was taking him to get groomed. She comes up to us very nervous and says, "everyone's left would you want me to still take him?" ....Needless to say, it didn't workout. Fast forward to this evening when we took our sweet 30lb pup to get his anal glands popped. We walked in on a whim and the front desk was very accommodating and said they would have a tech come out and it wouldn't be an issue. Let me go as far to say that this pup is the sweetest loves everyone and any previous vet visit prior he's been a star patient. The tech comes out greets us and seems very sweet and we ask if we can come to learn or maybe even be of help. She says it's not necessary and it should be quick and they go off with not even an after thought on my pups mind. After a while I hear from the waiting room my pups whimpers and cries and then minutes later out comes my pup with with a different vet tech from the one he originally entered in with. We assume everything's fine but this tech has this nasty energy to her and tell us to come in to a clinical room and begins to tell us our dog needs to be sedated in order to do the procedure. We didn't understand what she was talking about and that there had to have been a mistake. We asked if we could hold/calm the pup while they did the procedure and she was very curt and rude to say "that's against policy that the owner help." To be honest there are people that maybe have bad days while on the job but that tech had probably had too many in a row and had not one ounce of patience left for my dog. We had tried previously to do it ourselves but thought that we needed to have I better job done. He was compliant earlier and even after we left the clinic. In my opinion, that tech just didn't want to try and most likely got very roughy with my pup. Very disappointed that this has not only happed twice but that it's happened to both my dogs separately. And I hope that rude tech was having a bad day and that's not her everyday attitude. Read Less

I have been going to Columbia Pike Animal Hospital for over 20 years, and three dogs, two cats. I have always been very satisfied with the care I have gotten from the vets - Dr. Davis Hall, Dr. Reid Hall and Dr. Candace Flynn. I go to Dr. Flynn now. Dr. Flynn does run late sometimes , but that is because she is spends the time needed with you and your pet...so I know to call in first to see how far behind she is. She is a fabulous vet. I have also used their emergency vets and have been pleased with them as well. My biggest complaint about Columbia Pike is trying to call in and speak to someone at the desk in a timely manner. The reception desk staff does their best but with so many docs and patients, I am sure that it is challenging to sometimes also deal with the incoming calls. Perhaps, they need to hire a flex staff that they can use when it gets busy - someone who just handles making appointments over the phone and other issues that come in over the phone. Read Less

I can only say good things about this hospital. Caring vet techs and caring doctors. They have a new patient special and the doctor explained what was going on with my dog and gave me honest recommendations as well as guided me to the best option for my pet. We decided against any X-rays and went forward with blood work. Came back with what to do next and how much my options would cost.  We left with a fluid release patch and I was able to take my pet home. The next day he was perfectly fine like nothing happened!Thank you for taking care of my pet and making sure he was okay. Unlike other places such a Hope animal hospital who come back with a crazy $1800, I left with paying about $200 for the same fluids. It's insane what hospitals would charge when they know you are vulnerable and upset seeing your pet sick. I did not feel this when I was at Columbia Pike Animal Hospital. You are in good hands so is your pet! I have recommended my friend to take her pet here as well and she loved them. Read Less

Dr Flynn has been my go-to vet for both of my 7 year old dogs but CPAH has been my families vet since I was a little girl. The front desk can be...difficult....or amazing. It's just hit or miss with whoever happens to be there. I implicitly trust DR Flynn with my girls healthcare - she is great at listening to your concerns and laying out the options. She is cognizant of cost constraints and will take your concerns in to mind when making recommendations. The price can be steep - and I'm not sure that it is the best deal in town but there is a peace of mind that comes with coming here  Little known fact: they will price match meds. If you pull up a cheaper price online they will discount immediately (I got close to $15 off one of my medications tonight that was on sale for cyber Monday). Read Less

My family and I have been going to CPAH for years and have always had excellent service. Two of the reasons we chose this place originally was because of the location and because Dr. Tango had volunteered her services at the animal shelter I use to work at and was working here. I recently moved but still haven't found an animal hospital that is as caring and compassionate as the staff is at CPAH. I love that they are also an emergency vet hospital with no emergency fees and are available 24/7. That really helps with our peace of mind. On that note, a very special shout out to Dr. Amy Taylor. She prescribed my kitten some eye drops and I ended up having a few questions and called very early Saturday morning. I believe it was within the hour that Dr. Taylor was able to contact me back and answer all my questions. She was also able to e-mail me very helpful documents on dealing with some bad kitten behavior. Overall an excellent doctor. My most recent visit wasn't able to be booked with Dr. Taylor (I believe she no longer works here) but was with Dr. Nguyen and he is by far my favorite vet hands down. He answered every single one of my questions very thoroughly (I had quite a few since I recently adopted my first set of kittens) and was extremely patient with me and my kitten. I did not feel rushed nor did he try to push anything unnecessary.  He was very caring and seemed extremely knowledgeable. I will definitely try to schedule future appointments with him. My only wish is this place was closer to where I live now. Despite the long drive, we will continue going here for routine checkups. Read Less

We've brought our senior puggle into Columbia Pike Animal Hospital a few times now for various things, such as vaccinations, boarding and exams. They have always treated our dog (who is very avoidant with strangers) with patience and care. The staff is friendly, attentive and efficient. Two visits that really stood out to us were when we brought our dog in for what we thought were allergies, according to other previous vets we've visited and with the first look, Dr. Waite immediately guessed Hepatocutaneous Syndrome which we had never even heard of before. She proceeded to show us pictures that looked exactly like what our dog was going through. I had been googling for months to no avail and was so relieved to see that it wasn't just our dog suffering this mysterious condition alone. The second time was the follow up medical progress exam with Dr. Novarr. Because of the black crusting and lesions on our dogs paw pads, none of the groomers we went to were comfortable with trimming his nails down short or cutting them at all (neither were we). They were getting very long and the doctor took him to the back and did it for us for no extra charge. It was the shortest that they've ever been. Nothing that a groomer could accomplish. This place is now our go to because service and care have been so consistent. We've also boarded our dog here for one night that we went out of town last minute and although he did not like it, I felt they did their job by feeding him per my instructions and taking him for walks. Read Less

By a far the best veterinarian hospital/office I have ever been too. Extremely professional and caring staff that goes above and beyond to care for your pets and you! Smiles from every single person. You can tell they love their job. And that's so great to see. A special shout out to Dr. Amy Taylor she's the most  compassionate veterinarian I've ever come across. I would highly roccomennd this place to everyone! Read Less

I was seriously considering bringing my cat to see the supposedly kindest and caring vet, Dr. Davis Hall but I found out this hospital actually still practices the heinous act of animal cruelty of declawing cats for profit. How utterly disappointing! What kind of animal loving and caring doctor would condone let alone perform such a cruel act? Would you trust your pet's life with such a hospital? I cannot. This is a plea to Dr. Hall: I beg you to please stop declawing cats. You can make enough money saving lives. You don't need to tarnish your legacy by causing pain rather than relieving pain. Read Less

If I could give it 0 stars, I would. Every time I call this vet, I get transferred multiple times and have to explain who I am/what the issue is to each person. Or they'll put you on hold for what seems like forever, even if you are caller 1. If you are a student or not in the best financial place, honestly even if money is fine, don't go here. They overcharge, overprescribe, and give you absolutely no warnings or options. Like they do not really consult with you well. They also continuously call my dog by the wrong name and they made fun of her eyes when I brought her in for an eye infection she had due to allergies. Lastly, I had been trying to get in touch with a woman named Sean, who I later learned was a manager there, for weeks. She said she'd email me back about my inquiry, but never did. When I called a few weeks later she wasn't available. Asked them to have her get back to me (never did). Then finally I get a message from her saying she'd find out the information for me and get back to me. Still hadn't heard in a few days, so I called and again she was unavailable and while I asked them AGAIN to have her call me back, I have yet to hear. Really professional. Read Less

Columbia Pike has been my dog Lily's vet since January. They've been amazing with her and she's a frequent flyer (as are my fiancé and I) due to her chronic pancreatitis. We've seen several doctors, but they all seem to know lily and her issues due to the communication between the doctors. They communicate more than enough with owners and always make it a point to make sure the owner understands everything that's happening and all questions have been answered. While Dr Kirchart is our main vet, we've seen plenty other wonderful doctors at CPAH. We're so thankful for everything they've done for our dog! Read Less

Let me first start by saying, as a nurse I usually am not impressed with doctors of any kind. I however, was very impressed by Dr. Hall. He is phenomenal. I was referred to CPAH by NOVA Cat Clinic to have my cat declawed because not many places do it anymore. I did not want to get my cat declawed in the first place, but unfortunately it was a last resort option. During the pre-op appointment with my kitty Dr. Hall was extremely thorough and kind and definitely put me (and my cat) at ease. He is a very experienced doctor and CPAH has been in practice for over 40 years. The procedure was fairly smooth and reasonably priced. I dropped her off early in the morning on Friday and they kept her until Sunday morning. On Saturday Dr. Hall called me personally with an update. If I could just review Dr. Hall I would give him 5 stars. However; the office itself has some issues. They reception staff are incompetent at best. They are not qualified to give any information and must call back from their desk to the techs in the back which is time consuming and redundant, I waited on hold for about 10-15 minutes every time I called. Dr. Hall told me the staff would call me back on Saturday and let me know if she was good to come home on Saturday or if we needed to wait until Sunday. Nobody called. So I called back on Sunday morning and it was as if our file was deleted, they didn't have my number in the system and couldn't give me info. Finally they said that a different doctor would be removing the bandages Sunday morning and they'd call back and let me know if I could pick her up on Sunday. At this point I was done waiting and worrying and I had to work at 3pm on Sunday. So I waited about an hour and then called back and they finally said we could come pick her up. Pros: -Very good doctors -No complications thus far with surgery -Keep pets long enough to remove bandages before discharge -Reasonably priced -Open 24 hours Cons: -Poor reception service -Disorganized -Confusing phone system Read Less

Last week was my first visit to this hospitall. My vet recommended this facility for after hours care and weekend care. I called at 6 pm and they were able to fit me into their schedule at 8:30 that evening. The staff was excellent and very caring. The vet that took care of my cat was knowledgeable and gave my cat just the right treatment for his injury. My cat was seen in less than 15 minutes and we were taken care of within the hour including cleaning his paw injury and administering antibiotics and pain meds. My cat is back to himself and no longer limping after his paw was injured. Their flexible hours and reasonable prices will also keep me coming back the next time my cat needs care. The other animal hospital I called was an automatic 275 dollar walk in fee. Columbia Pike has much better prices and a ton of great staff. Thank you for your excellent service. I will definitely be recommending your hospital to any of my friends with animals. Read Less

The Doctor's are good but the staff is so incompetent it makes it not worth it. They routinely get invoices incorrect, lie, and contradict each other on their own policies! You have to check your invoice because it is always wrong. The straw that broke the camels back was one day I dropped my dog off in the morning for a bath and they called me around 10 and said he needed a bordatella shot to continue. I gave them authorization and continued with my day. They called me back at 2, saying he was ready. When I went to pick him up they said he was not ready because they didn't hear back about the shot?!? I told them I had already given the ok at 10. Did they give the shot to another dog?!? Then they said he would be right out. He came out totally wet and not groomed. It was ridiculous. I spoke to the manager who was equally incompetent and that was it for me. The incompetence of the staff does not make up for the good Doctor's who you only see for 10 mins. It is such a large place that sees so many animals it is just shuffling animals through with no personalized care. I am going back to Caring Hands who are farther and are more expensive but I can be assured I get competent service with the Doctors and staff. Read Less

Initially very nice and understanding when my cat died. They allowed me to bring her in to be cremated when I asked about my options and price I was given the wrong price. When I arrived the actual cost for cremation was over $300. The receptionist acted like she didn't believe me when I told her the price quoted. I was already very sad my cat died now I feel ripped off and violated. Shame on you all for doing that to someone, shame Read Less

I have used this vet for over thirty years. They helped us with our first cat and many cats after too. They have done an amazing job of taking care of our dog- rooming him when we needed to go on a trip. Thirty years . Multiple cats and dogs, lizard and guinea  pigs  too. Can not recommend them high enough. Read Less

After having to make the decision to put my 16+ year old cat down, the staff and vetenarian were extremely sympathetic to my visit. The vetenarian walked me through the whole process and tenderly accommodated me and my friend until his last breath. She allowed me as much time as I needed to say goodbye. While I still grieve for my friend, I was very grateful for the staff and vet that helped me through this difficult visit.Read Less

I really appreciate Dr. Novarrs availability. My dogs condition worsened overnight after he looked at her and he saw me right away the next morning to reassess. He didn't even charge me for the extra visit, just for materials and labor, which was extremely considerate. I feel much better about the situation knowing there's always someone there to help since they're open 24/7. It's great that you can get actual doctors on the phone to ask questions at any time. I've been here for chocolate poisoning and an infected anal gland now and both times I was treated very well as were my dogs. Read Less

We think the Columbia Pike location is better run on the management side. All the techs have been wonderful and take care of you right away. Dr. Heather Kirchart is so amazing, kind and friendly and always gives us reasonable advice and care. She has a very positive and happy personality. We hate to have to bring our pets to the Vet, but love the fact that we can see Dr. Kirchart. She is very good about calling and checking on our pets after we have been to the office. We are extremely happy with the Columbia Pike location! Read Less

So caring and kind. My Boston hurt her leg on Christmas Eve and I called them and was told to come on in. I was in and out in under an hour and they were beyond cost efficient. I'm going to use them as my primary vet moving forward! Read Less

Columbia Pike Animal Hospital took great care of our cat when we had to bring her in for urgent care. The staff was friendly and professional and cared for our cat despite her diva tendencies. Surgery was well done and we were given frequent, helpful updates via phone calls. The doctors, surgeon, and technicians all answered our questions thoroughly and kept our nerves calm. Our cat is recovering well and we will be coming back for a follow up appointment in a week or so! Read Less

Great professional staff. The confirmed an HGE diagnosis, gave my 12 year old Rottie a liter of saline via IV and got us on our way. This is an effective facility that doesn't charge an arm and a leg or push unnecessary overnight observations which at other facilities can cost as much as a night in a human hospital in a semi private room. Read Less

Lizzie, my 3 1/2 year old Belgian Malinois, was a little antsy in the exam room and a muzzle was requested. But in the reception area she was a charm. Gave Dr. Matt a nice touch and all was good. Thanks guys! Read Less

My little Yorkie had a complicated delivery on Sunday. She was taken care of as soon as we arrived and ended up having an emergency C-section artfully performed by Dr. Shauna Waite. We were impressed by professional and friendly staff and the cost was much more reasonable than other clinics we've heard of. Read Less

Dr. David Hall is truly amazing. Nothing compares to the years or knowledge and expertise he has. He loves his job and loves what he does. I recommend him to all my friends because he is the best at what he does. he does not overcharge, and doesn't perform unnecessary test if he deems them unnecessary. He is an honest vet and a very nice person. He has a very special place in our hearts. Read Less

I adore the veterinarians in this small hospital with a large receptionist staff of teenagers for the past six years who never get anything correct. I get calls for medication that I  had just purchased, I get letters and voicemails from employees at their desk informing me that my dog is due for this or that when he was just there for those things. It's well worth paying an experienced receptionist then lose a lot of clients in the interim for a careless staff.And on yelp it's stating they are closed at the moment. I just spoke to them. They are open. Read Less

I was able to get my sick kitty in right away. They did appropriate testing and Dr Flynn brought out print outs of tests results and explained all to me. Very helpful. My kitty is much better today. Great service, attention and care at CPAH. Read Less

My cocker spaniel was bit by a snake. I thought she wouldn't make it. Everyone at the hospital was fantastic. The doctors, the front desk, Jose and Danilo the technicians who were so supportive. There is definitely a human factor there. They care. Thanks everyone for all you did for Mia.Read Less

I met Dr. Hall in 1980 (that's 36 years ago!) and have NEVER had a bad experience with him or his staff. Dr. Hall is tireless, honest and above all, caring. When our Great Dane Mickey was dying he took dozens of calls from me, always accepting them patiently and sympathetically. When it was time to put him to sleep the staff came to our home and treated the entire occasion with gentleness and respect for his life. I can't begin to express my gratitude. Read Less

Our Rat Terrier Dobbie was hit by a car two weeks ago while my wife and I were two hours away out of town( unfortunately he got out of our gated back yard and away from the person watching him). It was fate that my son happened to be coming home from work about 11:30 pm when he saw cars parked in front of our driveway his heart sank he just knew something was bad wrong, it was Dobbie he had been hit bad by a car and the person who hit him put him off the road thinking he was dead. My son lightly touched him and started talking to him he raised his head so slightly, badly hurt and torn up Matthew grabbed him and called us two hours away and said he was flying up the road to the Annandale animal hospital where Dobbie had his shots done at before, He pulled into the parking lot and flew in the door with Dobbie in hand barely breathing, limp and badly injured. As soon as he walked in the people at Annandale animal hospital rushed into action, in command was Dr Amy Taylor she immediately went to work with her wonderful staff trying to save dobbies life (I will forever be grateful). They did a miraculous job! My wife and I were already on the way at that point and Dr Taylor got on the phone with my son and us and gave us a rundown on dobbies current condition she asked me in the nicest, kindest voice how I wanted her to proceed? We treat our animals like our family and to me dobbies just like a son and I know my Wife feels the same way. We told Dr Taylor that it doesn't matter what we have to do go for it and do whatever was needed to save dobbies life, so she did and they worked hard and gave my Son regular updates to inform us on the way. About an hour and a half later we arrived we were distraught to say the least and immediately Dr Taylor came out to give us a detailed patient report! "Collapsing lungs and a broken hip in three places and possibly internal bleeding near his bladder" Dr Taylor immediately took us back and showed us the films and went over her course of treatment for dobbie, she was extremely professional and kind to say the very least so we went with it, We put our full faith and trust in Dr Taylor and by no means ever let us or Dobbie down! My Son and Dr Taylor and staff undoubtedly saved his life! Dr Taylor is without a doubt a wonderful and caring Vet and the staff at Annandale Animal hospital is without a doubt awesome! It's been two weeks now and the dobster is on the road to recovery which has not been easy, but Dr Taylor emailed and kept in close contact with with us and has continued to be active in his treatment even when at home! I would and will trust the life of my dog to Dr Taylor and the staff at Annandale Animal Hospital. they are wonderful and courteous and professional! I would highly recommend this facility and the staff that works there to anyone! Forever Greatfull Matt McQuownRead Less

I think the biggest disappointment here was the lack of integrity.Brought a senior, diabetic cat in for a dental because the price was half of what a vet charges in Silver Spring (I mean, they still charged me $600 for a cleaning and one tooth pull, but it was better than the alternatives!). Cat seemed fine when he came out of surgery, but almost a week later and he wasn't eating. For this guy (he's a Garfield look-a-like), food was his life, so the lack of eating was a serious problem. I brought him back to Columbia Pike to see a newer vet I won't name, but we had the worst experience. She told me it could be anything from pneumonia to an infection to constipation. I mean, she really wasn't narrowing it down. So I left with an antibiotic and little hope. I brought him back the next day to see Dr. Flynn. She is incredible. Her knowledge is expansive and her bedside manner is terrific. Immediately upon examining my cat, she recognized jaundice and arthritis. I'm talking a 60-second evaluation. This was less than 24 hours after seeing the previous vet; I was appalled at all that she had missed. Dr. Flynn laid out several options of care for me, and was up front about the price of all of them, as well as the potential outcomes. It was refreshing. I opted for brief hospital treatment, and a couple of days later my poor little cat was released with a feeding tube.It's been a couple of months since then, and my cat is healthy as ever, no tube, doing just fine. I sent a letter to Columbia Pike Animal Hospital detailing my experience and received a very nice note back from Davis Hall, the owner. He offered to refund me for the office visit after the dental - where the vet couldn't diagnose my cat's sickness from a hole in the wall. It was a nice gesture, but when I attempted to seek the refund, the hospital said they wouldn't reimburse me. Pretty shady. Read Less

I have taken my West Highland Terrier to Columbia Pike Animal Hospital for over 16 years. Last week I had to say goodbye to Missy, one of the most difficult decisions in my life. I only made it through the experience due to the kindness and professionalism of Dr. Heather Kirchart. Over the years several veterinarians there have seen Missy, and every one was very professional and caring. As my puppy aged, I began to request Dr. Kirchart as the primary doctor. She always followed up to see how different medications were working, which I greatly appreciated. I trusted her professional judgment implicitly. She came to my house when it was time, and my friends who were with me both commented on how wonderful she was, making the experience very peaceful and serene. I will miss seeing her and the staff at the front desk. Thank you for making my pet ownership a pleasant, rewarding experience!Read Less

I would not recommend anyone to come to this place. EXTREMELY DISORGANIZED, DON'T RETURN PHONE CALLS, RUDE! One of the doctors told us to put our animal to sleep just because she had early signs of Glaucoma! Managers never respond to notes, doctors don't call back. Our animal has been in pain for week and nothing has been done to help us assist in getting proper medication. IN ADDITION; "Dr" has requested to stop seeing our animal... I can not believe we stuck out our time with them. Read Less

My cat was having breathing issues late at night. She was seen very promptly, and the vet was very thorough in getting information from me, and in letting me know what he recommended after examining her. Kitty is doing better (yay) and the fee for the exam, x-rays and medication was very reasonable; I was not charged an outrageous fee as I would have been at the other emergency veterinary clinics I've gone to in the past in No. Virginia. I felt the care my animal received was comparable and would highly recommend this practice for urgent and emergency care. Read Less

This place is great. They are inexpensive and open 24 hours with no emergency fee! While I like all the doctors...they're all wonderful...I would recommend Dr. Novarr and Dr. Tango. If I have a quick question about my pets, I can email Dr. Novarr and he is quick to respond. I like that option so I don't have to pay an exam fee for every little thing. I drive half an hour just to use this place for my pets. Well worth it. I just wish they would separate the waiting room for cats and dogs since many dog owners don't control their animals very well. Read Less

I was ok with them until this happen, i took my 2 dogs to an annual check last week and they did a blood test , (Doctor was very friendly) but my dog came up with something in his blood and he (the doctor) left me a message, ( I didn't understand the message he left me, so I called the clinic to speak directly with the doctor) The receptionist put me on hold for like 20 min, all the wait for telling me that the doctor was not available that they will have another doctor calling me back. (NO ONE CALLED ME BACK). Have in mind this was a call on Sunday night were the doctors shouldn't be that busy. Then I call the next day meaning today, one more time they put me on hold for like 20 mins, again the doctor that took care of my dog was not in the clinic so they decided to have another doctor call me back (which I'm hopeless) because yesterday they weren't that busy but today they are so I'm writing this review to let people know that these people only care about your $$$$ they don't care about your pets. It is expensive and with a terrible receptionist service. I'm still waiting on the doctor to reach me back, I feel like they don't feel the pain/concern that the people have when their pets have something wrong with their health.. Stay away from here WORST RECEPTIONIST STAFF EVER! they need to work on thatRead Less

We want to thank The Columbia Pike Animal Hospital from the bottom of our hearts for the care and kindness given to our beloved dog "Chutney". His Vet, Dr. Shauna Waite, with great skill and dedication, went to heroic lengths to save him from a number of devastating maladies. We anguished about putting Chutney down but he was visibly suffering, --and we had to contend with a dire prognosis for his recovery. On Sep 16, 2015, with great trepidation, we decided to bring Chutney to the CPAH for the last time. We have always had a dog and Chutney was the very best ever. He was the most loving and loveable creature anyone could hope for. He was friendly to all, had no bad habits, was playful and happy. He always wanted to please. We loved him so very much. We were so pleased at the way the entire matter was handled by the staff at the Columbia Pike Animal Hospital. There was great empathy and realization that a family member was being put down. The experience was so much in keeping with our needs, and desires. It uplifted us from the depths of our despair and let us feel we were not alone. And this was all highlighted by Dr. Waite's heartfelt prayer -- both touching and apropos. Nothing has impressed us more than the professional skills and unfiltered empathy shown by Dr. Waite. We have been with the Columbia Pike Animal Hospital for many years and have seen many changes in its approach and operation. The leadership, management and staff have done wonders. All these changes have brought this facility to a top notch pet care center. It is a model of excellence and we would recommend it to all pet owners in the area and beyond. Best Regards, and many thanks to all CPAH personnel who helped us through this ordeal. Dick & Ilse SmithRead Less