Bay Ridge Animal Hospital

Unfortunately the care at this Vet Hospital has deteriorated and prices have increased exponentially. Dr. Hollander has retired and his big shoes have not been filled. It’s a shame because reviews for nearby Vet Offices are not much better. We love our pets don’t we? Unfortunately it’s harder and harder to find quality Vet Care. Caroline and Marilyn are still there at reception, still great but there’s only so much they can do. My issues are with the Doctors and Techs. I went recently for a follow-​up for my cat and never saw the Doctor. The Tech handled the entire visit but said that if I had any questions, she could go get the Doctor. In other words if your visit is not that important, the Doctor has better things to do then spend a couple of minutes with you and your pet. Nice huh? This is becoming more common. Also need to point out that they’ve dropped the ball on a few occasions and call backs seem to be a struggle for the Doctors and/​or Techs. Unless you have an outstanding balance on your account, don’t expect a call-​back on test results, progress on your pet if it’s been admitted, etc. Grab the phone and call them back. For example, after dropping off a fecal sample, they failed to inform me that my cat had Giardia. And that was after having to call myself for results and being told tests came back negative for parasites. Only reason I knew about it was through a follow up visit weeks later. How did they screw up on something like that? My advice is to educate yourself as much as possible on proper care for your pet. Feed them good food (for cats wet food more than dry is preferred), plenty of fresh water, vitamins and do everything possible to avoid getting into an emergency situation because it’s getting more and more difficult to find good Vet care. An emergency is an emergency but try your best to not get to that point. It’s a real shame but very true. Take care and good luck.

I will say this, they are kind and helpful over the phone and during visits. However, when my cat had a very serious health issue that required surgery asap, they set the date and then continued to call me to push her surgery to a further date. My cat was barely eating and I was worried she would begin showing signs of other health issues and worsen before the week and a half they pushed her surgery until. Their prices are also extremely high, which I did not realize until I did some research. Got her taken care of quickly and at a lower cost with someone just as kind and professional. I want the best for my fur babies, and I wasn’t able to find that at this clinic.

I brought my cat in for treatment of a fungal infection, and the tech that was preparing him for the vet seemed afraid to handle him. She wouldn’t touch him and kept trying to keep him from jumping up on the counters by holding a sterile, packaged surgical scissor out as protection…
I had to hold my cat still on the table as he squirmed around, tried to jump, and refused to be weighed. I have a disability and walk with a cane, by the way, so trying to keep my cat calm was a challenge. There should have been more personnel available if she was afraid to handle him (he was afraid and hissed once). She didn’t attempt to take his temperature because he was «fidgety». The vet determined that the infection was fungal and sent me home with cleansing wipes, an antibiotic injection and a few months of petcare anti-​mite/​anti-​flea medication. He was NOT fully vetted and I had to twice remind them to clip his nails. I walked out of the vet covered in cat hair and $ 350 poorer. Never again. I’m going to Alison Animal Hospital. You can have 2 animals fully vetted for under $ 200 because they give you what you need to keep your indoor animals safe and don’t bankrupt you in the process.

I was devastated after my experience with this business. I brought my sick kitten here and he was diagnosed with FIP. This is a fatal condition. The vet told me he was unlikely to survive and recommended I put him down on the spot. I hadn’t been expecting this so I decided to take him home, because this news was a shock to me. As I watched the kitten’s health deteriorate, I determined it was humane to end his suffering. So less than 24 hours after visiting the vet, I called back and made an appointment to euthanize him. They accepted this appointment.
About 2 hours later, as I was ready to go, I got a call from the animal hospital saying that «under no circumstances would they euthanize a 7-​month old animal». I told them I had been there yesterday and this course of action was recommended by the vet, who had judged the kitten to be beyond saving. They insisted I take the dying kitten back for another exam, and then send him to 24-​hour emergency medical care in yet another facility. They told me it was vital to subject him to diagnostic laboratory tests, and that in the 2 week time it takes to receive results, he would need to be kept under constant medical observation in a fully equipped animal hospital. I could tell the kitten was near death and that this was as cruel as it was unnecessary. I explained my situation but they were completely unsympathetic. I was judged harshly for wanting to put down my kitten instead of go bankrupt paying for medical services that would not have saved him anyway. This truly proves the profit-​driven vet stereotype. It was heartbreaking. I would absolutely never go back there. The reception and administration staff show no delicacy, continuity, record-​keeping or courtesy.
(I called one love animal hospital and 2 hours later a very kind and considerate vet was able to confirm the diagnosis end the suffering of my kitten with great compassion. I was so grateful and now they are my permanent vet)

Front office– terrible experience. Vet seemed nice but gave us wrong diagnose for our beagle and they didn’t even apologize. Definitely won’t be back

I decided to take my cat here rather than my regular vet in Park Slope because money’s tight, and they offered a free visit. Hey, free visit, good deal, right? If it looks too good to be true, it is. My cat has been constipated for the past few days, so I wanted to make sure she wasn’t obstructed or dehydrated. The visit was normal, and everyone was fine until I was presented with the treatment plan, which came out to more than $ 500. For feline constipation lasting 3 days! I told them I was broke and couldn’t afford more than about $ 150, so the tech came back and let me know that the vet is really worried that it’s something else and that each item is for a reason and said they could refer me to the Humane Society, which is cheaper. I understand x-​rays and sub-​q fluids, but why does she need an appetite stimulant for $ 190 or basically pepcid for $ 30? I told them I would consult another vet (my mom who lives upstate) about it tomorrow when I saw her, and the tech actually asked, «you think she can make it that long?» My cat can’t poop! She’s not freaking dying!
I later learned that VCA vets work on comission and heard a horror story from a friend whose dog got thousands of dollars in genetic testing for no reason. Guess that shows me for trying to save a buck. Good news is they didn’t charge me for anything since I had the coupon, and as soon as I got home, the constipation situation, ah, resolved itself. Thanks, Laxatone!

So they may not hurt or kill your animal (MAYBE?), in fact the Vets seem to be competent, but the front office is really a joke and if you’re having an issue beyond routine, they will not help at all-​and will probably be rude about it. They are truly disorganized on a cosmic level. I went for a FIRST visit and they promptly lost my file-​entirely, did not lok for it, told me I had to wait two days to recover it, and they could not help me further. Then someone contacted me and found my file in a matter of seconds. Problem solved, until the next day i needed to reach a vet. I left numerous messages with the front desk, and was ASSURED I would be called back before the end of the day. They lied about some nonsense about many emergencies, but basically ignored me and my very sick dog until it closed and nothing could be done. No call-​nothing. Now I must go to the ER perhaps unwarranted with a very sick dog bc I couldnt get one human to call me over the course of 24 hours after they had promised me. BEWARE if you need anything but routine-​they simply couldnt not care less about you or your loved one (or treat you that way). ALSO there hours are suggested at best-​I called at 9AM on Saturday (you know when they told me they opened then and the website lists it at 8 AM). THeir automated phone system was not shut off until approx 9:45, and no one contacted me long after that. They simply do NOT CARE.

I hate this place! This was my go to place but after my last couple of visit I have been unhappy & they can careless. I got to read some of the review and I must say I agree to most of all the negative comments. They definitely make sure that your bill will hit $ 200+ and some of the doctors are inexperienced. See I don’t mind paying if I know that that I’m getting the right care, I like to ask question because I like to be involved with what goes on with my baby especially when I’m giving away money and I don’t see progress. These people literly got frustrated with me and got so rude I couldn’t even believe it. Im sorry but when you’ve been to a place many many times and spend thousands of dollors you should never fill the way I felt. Horrible! Definitely will not go there again nor will i recommend this place.

Worst Vet in Brooklyn. All they want to do is suck money from you. I am a college student and cannot really afford to be paying $ 500 because of what they «suggest.» To walk in it is $ 67, they try to throw things down your throat so they can make money. For some reason the Vets are always on the phone, take about 30 minutes for them to see you for two minutes. Don’t even properly examine correctly. Don’t even want to answer any questions. Very expensive for no reason. If you want to waste money this is where you should go. The ladies that work there are rude and lazy. The woman that was setting up the paperwork for my dog told me that I should give my dog away since I can’t afford to take care of him. I don’t have a problem paying for anything but at least show some enthusiasm about taking care of an animal. One word for these people. Thieves. I can go on and on about how much I dislike this place. Not even funny. Too bad you cannot give 0 stars. Disgusted.

I have been going to Bay Ridge Animal Hospital for years and have always found the treatment to be excellent. In particular, I think Drs. Hollander and Oden are wonderful – thorough and good at explaining things. They always call with information and to check on my cat and dog. I recommend them highly.

I don’t even know where to begin… My first and only visit to this place was on 5÷1÷2014 and the only reason I went was because the free exam and it is in Brooklyn compare to the one I used to go to in queens. I was thinking if this place is good then I’ll go here from now on instead of traveling all the way to Brooklyn.
All I remember now was that they kept trying to suck money outta me, saying I need this and that for my dog and I had them print me bills after bills cuz I felt most of the stuff I didn’t need, especially the overpriced supplements that they kept pushing. So finally I settled on the microchip and shots which you’ll see from the bill. After that I get the hell out of this place and never went back even after they called me telling me I need this med for my dog. (I went back to my own vet in queens shortly just to make sure I didn’t need all that crap)
And then last month I got a bill from them telling me that I owe them $ 107, so I call and girl in the phone was like oh is for the prescription… So I told her I didn’t even pick it up! So she said okay and will let get manager know. Guess what… A month later another bill sent to me with a late fee on it. So I call again questioning if I did get a service or meds from them how would they let me leave without even paying? So the receptionist suggested that I bring the bills over to get this resolve… The most ridiculous thing to ask for since NY had a blizzard yesterday and this is not even my problem.
Stay away from this place. They just want your money not the well being of your pet.

My cat isn’t done with his treatment, but this review is for my first visit. I booked an appointment online. Caroline called me and had me in the next day.
Because of the time crunch, they let me e-​mail my records, which is an exception here, but standard other places. However, the tech didn’t look at it, so asked me the same questions. She explained that she had just received it, which made me feel better. She was very friendly and gentle with my cat.
Dr. Morrison was very thorough in explaining what was going on and checking each out my cat. She prescribed a course of treatment.
They honored the first appointment coupon with no problem and only charged for any on site injections he received.

Ever since new management took over this hospital things have changed dramatically for the worse. The new doctor is not very kind. She seems cold. The place has changed. If you do go here, I’d only recommend Dr. Loretta and Dr. Wilson. Unless you see those two vets, I do not recommend this hospital!

Don’t go to this place, they will ripped you off!!! Overcharged you for unnecessary tests and labs! I received a bill of $ 478 just for my dog’s ear infection!

I go here because it is close to where I live. The quality of the veterinarians is not all that. If you have to pick one, I suggest Dr. Mercedes Wilson. The main reason I do not recommend this place is because they are VERY money hungry. They OVERCHARGE and will do unnecessary work to suck your funds dry. I make sure I ask what they plan on doing BEFORE it’s done. A lot of times it turns out some of what they planned to do is unnecessary. I let them know right off the bat that I’m no sucker. Then it is amazing how the bill begins to shrink yet the job gets done. If you choose to use this place, research the issues your animal has FIRST.

This vet is a joke! My cat had been missing for 4 days I found him I rush him there, he can’t walk he’s urinating all over him self in pain, they tell me I have to wait because I’m a «walk in»?! I think this would be a an emergency! Not to mention there was 1 person in the waiting room and 4 doctors doing nothing. I will never bring my cat here again. I also advise anyone else to not bring their pets here either.

If I could give zero stars I would.
I have been bringing my dog Daisy here since she was 9 months old. She is going on 12 this year, so imagine my frustration having to switch at her age.
The doctors/​vets change so often and they all contradict eachother. I am someone who likes to be consistent and see one vet, not a different one eachtime! And if I do, the answers and prognosis shouldn’t change 5 times. its just ridiculous and it seems to me they are just out there to take your money, instead of doing what they should be doing, which is being honest and taking care of your family.
My friend also switched vets after going there for over 10 years for the same reason. She went to a new vet, and guess what… all the meds she was on was a bunch of bs. My friends dog is doing so much better. And, one of the best parts, shes not spending over $ 200 on unnecessary meds.

I have 2 cats that both have been patients of Dr Pesteanu. We have been going here for about 6 years, and after the experience of the past week I am done. Not only is BRAH extremely expensive, but the quality of their drs are pretty poor. This past week I had to bring in my cat for issues with his breathing. She did a few things on him then referred him to an emergency clinic. In the past week, she has not contacted me once to see how he is, or to call with condolence after he passed away on Thursday. I even called once to get results and to ask a few questions, and she told me to call VERG for any needs. He was HER patient and she just gave us both the brush off. Extremely rude and unprofessional
Additionally a while back I had to have him tested for diabetes. He was borderline and she suggested he come back in 6 months to be retested. I made that second appt, and she rescheduled it as a 6 month healthy check up (money making scheme???). After speaking with her about why she had the appt changed from bloodwork to a check up, she told me that she NEVER told me that henry needed retested for diabetes and was not borderline. Im sorry, but she either doesn’t keep great records on her patients, or just doesn’t care.
be careful if you decide to take your beloved animals here…

I don’t like anyone picking up my cat by the scruff of her neck, I’m sorry.
Cats automatically kind of freeze when picked up by their scruff — their mothers pick them up that way with their mouths as kittens and its just instinct — but a fully grown cat — even a small female at no more than 6lbs now, no more than 10 when she first started coming here before she dropped half her weight due to the same stomach issues only explained elsewhere — weighs a lot more than a kitten, you can just see in her eyes that it hurts…
And my first cats not wild or mean, she’s very laid back and affectionate and she’ll stay in place if you hold her even for shots. She’s just a ‘one person cat’ and since I was the one who raised her from a kitten, fed her, played with her, let her out to poop & back in, came out with a stick to save her from being pounced on by bigger cats & let her curl up and sleep in the back of my knee or armpit etc she just always cooperates with me and doesn’t freak when I hold her or pick her up. But I pick her up like an infant, not by the scruff of her neck.
So my cat has this association with going into her carrier — that it’ll be followed by being grabbed, held down & poked. So nobody else can get her into that carrier but me. And when I carry her I literally have to cradle it and sooth her cause left alone in that cage she’ll shift around and cry.
So I have to kind get down on her level and ask her to walk in… she’ll do it… I have to hold her and let her know Im there… she won’t freak out…
And then the vet wants to take her out of her carrier instead of letting me do it… and she will freak out. She’ll hide down in the back/​bottom, then get FREAKED OUT getting picked up by her neck and held there in mid air as some dude looks at her from head to toe…
I’ve taken here here because she was vomiting on 3 different occasions. The vet saw hairballs & told us to brush her better. No tests, nothing.
–UPDATE–
Turns out my poor baby, my first cat whom I raised from a kitten & who curls up to cuddle with me every night, has a the same damn cancer as my mother. Baby’s lymphoma spread to her gut, causing pain & nausea –just like with my mom, albeit not at quite such a severe degree as my poor mum’s stage IV. made worse by a totally preventable liver disease due to a bad blood transfusion after she nearly died in a personal disaster I won’t elaborate on out of respect.
Not too long ago, I came across a dirty, visibly distressed Snowshoe Siamese kitten going through the garbage bags outside my house. So I gave her real cat food & water. Cause I’m a softy, but also cause knew she wasn’t ferral, she was a housecat, but with neither the housecat’s house & humans, nor the skills to survive without them that a ferral would have. A ferral would’ve been cleaner. For that poor starving little orphan, named Orphan Annie by my sister, the stress of just surviving as a homeless, motherless kitten was too much, she didnt have leisure time to groom herself.
She got smart & started coming whenever she was hungry, a few times a week at first during the winter. Even if it was raining I’d put food in a sheltered cove in a window. I built her a little shelter — a box lined by a thick wool blanket using a garbage bag as a windbreaker — but she didn’t always use it. She still went somewhere else sometimes, especially when it snowed a lot. Who knows.
By some miracle, she survived the winter. But all of a sudden come early spring, when it was still cold but without the arctic snowfall, she started literally living on my stoop all of a sudden. I don’t know what happened, but I’m assuming she had possibly been in a neglectful and/​or abusive home, but realistically there are a ton of house cats simply discarded by heartless humans — every day & everywhere — so where she came from doesn’t matter, all that matters is that she seemed to adopt me as her #1 human after I started feeding her daily and now she was living outside my door all the time.
I already had one alleycat rescue — Baby– who I took in when I was a teenager after my sisters’ friends from Purchase dropped her off with false promises to come back & after 10+ years alone she was quite territorial, practically pouncing on Annie at first if she came too close.
Eventually, as Baby began to ‘tolerate’ little Orphan Annie, out of shear blind luck one of my moms’ old friends worked with a rescue, but BRAH refused to work with it, demanding cash instead of the non-​profit voucher. So instead Anniewent to Narrows, a slightly grimier place with a spottier surgical & cleanliness record. She was in there for 7 days & nights and came out terrified, but alive & healthy. I got her shots & neutering totally for free, allowing me to take care of Baby too after Bay Ridge’s amazing incompetence totally missed a growing cancer.
Now Annie lives with us. Baby&Annie split cuddle time. I fall asleep with Baby in my arms & wake up with Annie spooning me.

Finding a new vet always sucks, especially if you previously had an amazing vet. We just moved from out of state and discovered our kitten had worms. There were mixed reviews for this place but it was the closest one and also had the best available appointment.
I’m really glad I came here because it was such a pleasant experience. Lisa, the technician/​assistant was wonderful. She handled my kitten well and was very personable and knowledgable. My vet, Dr Ruggiero was just as great! She fawned over the kitten for a while but quickly got down to business. She answered my questions patiently and explained her treatment plan. I didn’t feel rushed or pushed to pay for treatments my kitten didn’t need (as some reviewers had experienced). In fact, this vet rivals my vet from FL that I adored. I witnessed her interaction with other pet owners in the lobby and found that it was consistent with mine. Additionally, the handlers and techs were all friendly, knowledgable and patient.
The only complaint I have, and the reason this hospital only receives 4 stars, is the surly, rude receptionists/​cashiers. They were not very helpful or pleasant and I witnessed them talking about a pet owner after she left. That’s just bad manners! Talk crap if you are that petty but don’t do it in front of other clients!
Other than that, my experience was great! Obviously I hope not to have to return here often with a sick pet, but if I did, I’m happy to know there is a wonderful team nearby!