Brookfield Veterinary Hospital

Since my initial review of Brookfield (after an emergency visit with my German Shepherd) I have used Brookfield as the «regular» vet for my two dogs for the past 2+ years. It is blocks from my office so it is very convenient. As time has passed, I am starting to feel that is it’s only real plus.
OK to be fair, other pros:
* Friendly receptionists
* Easy to schedule appointments
* Knowledgeable vets & vet techs
My biggest gripe is that I feel they nickel and dime you for everything. For example, yesterday I brought my two dogs in to get a Bordatella booster because my husband and I are now fostering dogs. Even though our German Shepherd is a bimonthly blood donor at ACCES in Seattle and has physicals every 2 months (and was treated for ear issues within the last year at Brookfield) they required a «physical» with the vet to get a Bordatella update. This is a $ 60 charge in addition to the booster. So, for LESS THAN 5 minutes, the vet (Dr. Sue) looked in his ears, listened to his heart and took his temperature. That cost $ 60 (or $ 720/​hour if we’re looking at hourly rate). Between the 2 dogs it was over $ 130 to get bordatella boosters, and our actual time in the vets office was 10 minutes. A google for «how much should bordatella cost» shows $ 10-​$ 15:
Another example, late last year my other dog had a tumor removed from his eyeball there. No complaints on the procedure — they did a great job and made me feel at ease with the whole procedure. And while this was expensive, I think it’s to be expected with more complicated procedures. My complaint is over the exorbitant expenses with everyday issues. So, the surgery was in the midst of an ear infection which we were unsuccessfully treating. Of course he had many visits during this time, and none of the medications (we tried 3) were working in his ear. At one point they did a culture in house (look under a microscope) and reported «Both Bacteria and Yeast» — not very instructive. At that point it should have been sent out because the meds weren’t working but instead they packed his ear during surgery — more charges trying to treat a problem that hadn’t been really identified. So when it still didn’t get better we came back in to have his ear cultured and sent out, I had to have another «exam» even though we were there for the same ongoing issue. I believe I did get a small discount, but we’re treating the same issue… just take the sample and send it out like we should have in the first place! Don’t charge me to look in his ear and see the same gunk that’s been there for the last 4 weeks, or that you just saw under anesthesia?
When it finally came back it was a very nasty Pseudonomas which is not responsive to most broad-​spectrum antibiotics (go figure) and a Staph — they needed different antibiotics. Of course I’m desperate to get the issue resolved and so I accept the medication (BACTRIM). Well the total just for the Antibiotics came to $ 160 (ish — don’t have the receipt in front of me). That is crazy! You can get the same on PetMeds with an RX for $.47/​tablet –
. But of course here I am checking out, not exactly in a position to question what my dog urgently needs for his ongoing ear infection. Why not offer to write a prescription to save your client well over $ 100?
These kind of issues are not exclusive to Brookfield — most vets I’ve been to I feel are a racket, preying on the notion that you don’t know anything and are just going to blindly hand over your credit card. I would be happy to take any recommendations for vets that are reasonably priced and still can give basic care when necessary.

As a house call veterinarian, I cannot perform dental cleaning and treatment which requires anesthesia. We were past due on having my little Pixie dog’s teeth cleaned, and I knew they were bad! She also has a mild collapsing trachea, which makes her a higher risk anesthesia patient. I have complete faith in the doctors and staff at Brookfield to take excellent care of my pets when they require hospital procedures. Pixie needed some extractions and work on her gums, so it was a more complicated dental. They did a fabulous job with her anesthetic and dental work, she’s feeling great and her mouth looks terrific! I never hesitate to refer my clients to Brookfield when they need in-​hospital diagnostics or treatment, they are top notch!

I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my pup! All the doctors at Brookfield are so helpful and knowledgeable about small breed dogs. I live in Seattle and make the trip! Thanks so much for taking care of my best friend!
Highly recommend!

I’ve been going to Brookfield for the last 7 years. They are absolutely fantastic with my two dogs. They treat my dogs as if they were their own, have great follow-​up to make sure my pet is doing well after being seen, and are always helpful in diagnosing my dogs issue. We have kenneled our dogs here once and I was terrified of leaving them. The girls who run the kennel took pictures and sent them to me and communicated with me every time I called. Just an overall great experience at Brookfield.

I have decided to upgrade my review based on messages I received from Dr. Robinson. Although my original story is still true and valid, I truly appreciate that their office has taken my concerns seriously and even had an in-​house meeting to discuss their communications with their patients’ families. It also sounds like one of the doctors that I saw is no longer with their office. I appreciate Dr. Robinson’s ability to put aside his defensiveness and take responsibility for my experience and use that to make improvements in their process. I think that ability and willingness to improve can be the difference between a poor business and a very good business and I think it is worth a couple more stars.

This is our new vet. So nice, patient and have a new location over by Whole Foods. Wish their prices were a bit more reasonable but they don’t push services like some vets do. Awesome Vets! Highly recommend.

I’ve seen Dr. Sue, Dr. Marie, and Dr. Erin. They are all extremely nice, and I love that they explain why they recommend certain vaccines, foods, brands etc. The nurses and front office staff are all very friendly, and my puppy loves them.
Scheduling appointments, or ordering things I need are made very easy via email. I like that they also send me results or any paper work I’ve requested.
I’m comfortable seeing any of the vets there :)
Pricey, yes, but in my experience with animals you do get what you pay for.

I really like this practice, but it is pricey. The staff is friendly, and the building is just lovely: new and modern looking. I think the prices are most likely higher here to accommodate all of these «extras»”. I went in recently to update bordatella shots for my 2 dogs. When I made the appointment, they had asked if my dogs needed to be seen for any medical issues, and I said, «No», because they just needed shots.
However, when we arrived we were seen by a doctor, and charged for a minor check up as well as the shots. Well, the doctor was really good, and thorough, but sometimes you just need basic shots, especially if they had been checked out within the last 6 months. So I don’t know if being charged for just the shots is an option, as it is in some practices. I will have to check this out more thoroughly in the future.
I like Dr. Erin very much, and will schedule our next appointment with her.

Absolutely recommend this place! From the front office staff to the back of the house… Super nice! The facility is very inviting and they have created a homey atmosphere. Dr Marie Robinson is my Vet and she had done an awesome job as well as Serena! Dr Robinson had turned me on to acupuncture for my 14yr old beagle, Oscar. He has more pep in his step and seems to be happier. I’m very pleased to have Brookfield as our new Vet to go to! … And Oscar loves ice cream time with acupuncture… I’m pretty sure he gives this place 2 paws up!

My Fiancée and I feel like we have tried countless Vets in the Puget Sound and East Side Area. Our 15 yr old chubby, gassy, expensive Beagle has been a true lover of frequenting different vets and confusing them with his symptoms. Dr. Howard and his wife Dr. Howard offered their assistance recently and we both were literally blown away with the his results.
I was open to what they had to say regarding what he needed and was also open to acupuncture (with ice cream). The results with him were immediate and lasting, he isn’t perfect but what animals in that age range are, he is getting older. We were impressed with the amenities, customer service and actual caring from the staff. We will continue getting acupuncture for Oscar and will also start taking our German Shepherd Django there for now on. They also accept Care Credit which is very nice if you have a pricey pooch with health problems!

Brookfield Hospital’s veterinarians are all very extremely good at diagnosing problems with our dogs and cat, and they are also more than 5 star in caring for the animals. But on top of this, they care about the owners. They went out of their way for me with our dog Holly, when she pulled a muscle. I happened to have pneumonia at the time, and they took care of Holly for me when most dogs would have been sent home and put on bed rest. They have special orthopedic beds, they have the latest technology, and they are the best in caring for the human owners as well. They have a busy practice, but they know you as well as your family of pets.

Overall a good place. I went there because of the reviews and it was the closest location to our home. Captain Helo does not like to go to any vet because he knows they are going to stick something in him. Poor guy. But they treat him well. I like that they email the results of the tests .They kept recommending a lot of tests based on the previous test findings but as a dog owner you have to make the appropriate decisions that is best and necessary for your dog.

I’ve really been impressed with this this clinic. I’ve been taking my dog there for about a year– as he is older, he has had various complaints, some minor, some serious, but I’ve always felt like they were attentive, caring, and thorough. Very up front about prices which don’t seem at all out of line with what I expected. Dr. Moriyasu, in particular, has really been kind and taken the time to explain things. The front desk has also been nice, and wisely recognized my dog as the coolest dog ever. Strongly recommended.

Went once, will never return. We took our puppy there for his first checkup. The vet was very distant, and barely talked to us or our dog. She acted as though she didn’t like animals at all, and was more annoyed with our puppy licking her than anything else that was going on. She didn’t pay attention to us and barely answered the questions we asked. The front desk people were nice, but entered our information incorrectly.. .
They also forgot to take out one of the stitches in our puppy’s tail (which was docked before we got him), which proceeded to get infected. when we called to get an emergency appointment, they said they couldn’t fit us in and we would have to wait 3 days. Even though he was in pain due to their mistake.. .
Overall, Brookfield’s customer service was just extremely poor compared to what we were expecting and what we have received elsewhere.
No thanks. Went to VCA Redmond just around the corner on Union Hill — what an awesome experience. They are wonderful, caring and both vets we have seen there have been extremely attentive and great with our puppy. No Brookfield for us ever again.

I was very pleased with Dr. Rachel at Brookfield. I took my dog in with some general concerns and she was so thorough, helpful, and caring. She spent time explaining everything to me and answered all of my questions. I feel like she genuinely cared about my concerns and talked through different options with me.
Payment — I really loved and appreciated the fact that prior to moving forward with additional testing or services the Vet provided me with a high and low estimate for the cost of care so that I left with an expectation of what I may owe.
I will continue to visit Brookfield and would be happy to recommend them!

I adopted a puppy about 4 months ago and have been bringing him to Brookfield from the start. The staff is amazing, super wonderful and caring. The best part is the puppy play group on Thursdays! They really understand the importance of socializing dogs at a young age, and in this area it can be hard to find a safe (and free) area to bring your puppies to play.
The vet I see is Dr. Russell and she is fantastic! Incredibly helpful and really seems to love her job. The front desk staff are great as well and they always remember us when we call or come in. And did I mention the building is fantastic? Super spacious and incredibly clean without that awful depressing sterile feeling. And tons of parking in front and back!

I’ve been taking my dog to Brookfield for a year, since I moved to Redmond. I chose them originally because I lived nearby, and I’ve been happy with them.
My dog is pretty healthy, so the things I want most out of a vet are sincere love of animals, helping provide context for the information they are giving me, and transparency. Brookfield does well on all counts.
I’ve been to the vet three times, 2 for well visits, and once because my dog was sick. I felt they did a good job each time. Since I am myself a physician, they are paritcularly helpful when I’ve asked questions along the lines of «I understand what happens in a human, but how does this compare to what would happen in a dog» or «is this treatment in the category of something that is absolutely necessary, something that is not necessary but recommended, or something that is elective.» I appreciate that they provide context for the information they are giving me, which helps me make a decision.
I’ve also asked for advice for a boarding house and for an overnight hospital, and both times I felt they gave me appropriate recommendations.
I’ve also needed some prescriptions for pick up, and they made that process easy.
Overall, I am happy they are my dog’s vet. They are kind, make things easy, provide context, show wisdom and good judgment, and are transparent in their costs.
Thanks Brookfield for doing a great job.

Fantastic vets that take the time to get to know your pets. One of the great parts about this vet is a few times we had to bring our pups in when our regular vet wasn’t around and the other vets knew what was up and where things stood. Yes that’s reading a chart but just nice.
The two years we went to them the dogs were in good care and fixed some issues that had come up in a timely manner.
We recently moved away and it’s always telling how someone treats you knowing they won’t have your business anymore. Again top notch service on our very last visit and a lot of good lucks and we’ll miss the pups.

**Update 9/​23/​13**
I thought it time to write an update about this vet. I’m still a HUGE fan, and I still think this is the best vet around, bar none. But there HAVE been some big changes in this practice since I wrote my last review…
This practice has moved to a new location, on E. Lake Samm, right behind Les Schwab Tires (in fact, they share the same parking lot on the north side). The new building is gorgeous and quite «luxe», with a lodge-​y, wood-​panelling sort of way. There are high ceilings, a spacious waiting room, coffee and water machines (complimentary), flat-​screen wall-​mounted tv, two separate seating areas… It’s quite lovely. (I just wish they had installed under-​the-​counter hooks at the front counter/​desk, so as to hook one’s pet leash while scheduling appointments or paying one’s bill. Little detail, I know. But still!!!).
This building is enormous compared to the last site. There is an outdoor patio area, a small private seating room for private consults and the like, a roomy boarding area (I saw the facilities at my last visit, when I was given a tour by Dr. Rachel Robinson. Boy, was I impressed!). Some of the vets bring their own dogs here during the workday to have them nearby; this is how nice the facilities are. I saw the operating rooms, the dental care rooms, the post-​surgical «recovery» area (where my dog was), the separate cat areas, the pharmaceutical and storage areas… What an amazing facility. Sooooo clean and well-​laid out. I really liked how the vet offered to show me the place. It speaks volumes that they are so open about showing their customers the «back offices» and «doctor’s» spaces.
The practice itself has expanded. Along with a larger edifice, there are now more vets and assistants.
Recently, my dog was suddenly listless and lethargic one day and I brought her here. Dr. Rachel diagnosed her right away with a condition that is often called, in the vet journals, «The Great Pretender» because its signs and symptoms are shared by so many conditions and diseases. This particular condition usually isn’t diagnosed for months or even years, and usually after a gazillion different diseases are ruled out. Dr. Rachel diagnosed her that first day. For that, I’m eternally grateful. And now, about a week later, my dog is back to her eccentric self.
I am also grateful that, knowing how my family is on such a tight budget, Dr. Rachel provided me with info how to save money on meds (even referred me to an online pet med company which offered meds at a discount — less than the vet here sells them for), and offered to teach us how to give our dog injections (which she will need for life), thereby saving us more money. How many vets would do that?
I can’t say enough good things about this place. They’re top-​notch and they care.

Well, oneyear later and here we are for our yearly check-​up. First time to the new clinic… ABSOLUTELY AWSOME. Beautiful clinic. Immaculate and still the same warm friendly people, with the exception of the great lady, Lindsey, who is new. She was so good with Grace, our very shy, rescue kitty. Grace feels safe at this clinic, but she has trouble with new people. It took about five seconds with Lindsey. Of course, the wonderful Krista (whom Grace adores) came out to see Grace and spend some time with me. Dr. Rachael was our vet and did a great job of diagnosing an allergy and an ear issue. We are going back next Monday for Grace’s yearly dentistry (SO important for animals to have healthy teeth) and I cannot wait to see Lindsey again.
FYI: We live in Bellingham now and travel to get to this clinic. We fell in love with them after taking her there, upon rescuing her from MEOW. We will NOT take her anywhere else! Nine year very happy clients — including and most importantly, GRACE