VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital

Claim
marker

2660 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

marker
(571) 385-0257
Incorrect info? Correct your listing
Photos
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital - Alexandria, VA
Reviews
( 15 )
( 4 )
( 6 )
( 6 )
( 12 )

Best

I live on Capitol Hill and switched my first dog, a Samoyed then 10 years old, to AAH in 1998 -- after a friend's dog collapsed in the middle of the night, was taken to Friendship...

Worst

AAH provides a valuable service and for the most part, I've been relatively satisfied with the care we've received over the last 8 or so years. \r \r The problem, as has been ci...

Best in the area 4/9/2009

Do not let the poor reviews discourage you from going to Alexandria. It is unfortunate that some of these people do not realize the responsibilities that come with being a pet owner. Medicine is not cheap. I have gone to other hospitals in the area and even in Maryland and the prices are the same, but the quality of medical care is not like Alexandria. Emergencies are a bit more expensive, but isn't it like that in human medicine too? Besides we should all be glad that if your pet gets sick in the middle of the night you have a place that you can go to. I have had to visit the ER service a few times and always had a good experience. The staff was great in working with me as I was an emotional wreck and was willing to also keep in mind my financial concerns, and in the end everything worked out and my puppy was saved. Alexandria Animal Hospital is the best I am sure glad that they are here for the community more
Reply | Report abuse |

All They Want is Your Money and Your Time 4/9/2009

I took my dog here one night when she was vomiting over and over again for almost 24 hours. I am from out of town and this was the closest vet that was open all night. I wanted simple blood work, maybe an x ray to make sure she didn't swallow anything crazy, and some medicine to help ease her suffering. The original estimate was 1800$. I told them I could not do that so they said they could just do some blood work and starred the items they would charge me for. Long story short- they did a bunch of other unnecessary things and charged me over 700$ in the end. They continually told me it would be 15-20 minutes longer and I ended up there almost the entire night. If I had just known that it would take this long I could have prepared but I kept thinking we were almost done which was frustrating.\r \r The staff was not very professional and in the end was rude about the bill- stating this was less than the original estimate of 1800$ so I should be happy. I find it hard to trust a place tha more
Reply | Report abuse |

No Thanks 4/8/2009

I brought my dog here twice, hoping the service would be better. No such luck. Horrible wait, even with an appt. and super expensive. I'm going elsewhere. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Absolutely Fabulous 3/28/2009

I have been a client of the Alexandria Animal Hospital for years. I completely disagree with several of the reviews posted here. They are a top notch facility with pleasant friendly and extremely competent staff. They have cared for my three cats who are all in the senior years of their life now, and I could not have asked for better care. I have had to go through serious illnesses with two of my cats. On both occasions the doctors diagnosed the problem quickly and have provided excellent care. They have both been hospitalized - one had a diabetic crisis and needed intesive and complicated nursing care which they provided with expertise. The cost of good medicine can be high, but I believe you get what you pay for with this hospital. They are there twenty four hours a day and have excellent doctors and highly skilled technicians on their staff. Other hospitals in the area are comparable in regards to prices and the care at this hospital exceeds any other that I have had experience with more
Reply | Report abuse |

vet tech 3/26/2009

Having been a vet tech for over 8 yrs I must say this hospital's prices are way over the top. For a vomiting cat they wanted $2000 deposit for fluids, anti nausea medicine's, and 2 x-rays. Upfront!I experienced one mistake after another here. I was told the liver and kidney functions were normal, the x-rays were normal,and they wanted to do exploratory surgery to the tune of another $3,000 without even doing an ultrasound, only to find out three days later with the cat still vomiting the blood work was never even done, the x-rays were not normal. WE saw three different vets and each one told us a different story except the the estimates kept going up. I was told the ct would be discharged with medicines but wasn't given any and was told there weren't any ordered. I had to go back and was told oh yes here they are. Called about the cat vomiting fore days later and was told to go ahead and give the medicines. But having experience with this medication I questioned giving t as the cat was more
Reply | Report abuse |

Dr. Kathy Gies excellent, prices drive you away from seeking help for pet 11/13/2008

I had to euthanize my cat of five and a half years, Chloe. Dr. Gies explained that Chloe was possibly as old as 13 years old (Chloe was a Trapped/Spayed/Adopted stray and her age was unknown), that a feeding tube would cruelly extend her life when her body systems were shutting down from old age, and personally was there to administer the humane euthanasia. She followed up with a card, and mailed Chloe's free clay paw print when I forgot to take it. WAY TO GO KATHY. I couldn't keep fighting to keep Chloe alive, it was cruel to her to keep her alive just for my need for her, and it is was expensive....\r \r The fight to keep Chloe alive was $2,350 (that included medicines, but mostly tests to know what the heck was wrong, plus treatment to stabliize her). The instructions were not written clearly enough that I understand a. to refrigerate one medicine and b. to give her Pepcid AC, not on the prescription list because it is an over the counter drug (for humans). Chloe showed mild int more
Reply | Report abuse |

HORRIBLE!! 9/30/2008

I will never, EVER go to this place again. Not only was the vet rude and had a major attitude, the prices were insane! I was literally charged 75.00$ for a phone call they made to Poisen Control! I asked if I could make the call myself and the Vet told me that they would charge me anyway, so she would just do it. She FAILED to tell me SHE would charge 75.00 for that call. The staff was obnoxious and the care for my dog was not even minimally up to par. The Vet acted like she could care less about my dog. Please, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME or MONEY at this place. They have zero respect for you as a customer and (At least the vet I had) did not even seem to care about animals at all...just money. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Good emergency care for ferrets 7/18/2008

I have brought two ferrets to Alexandria Animal Hospital for emergency visits and was very pleased with their care. My vet, who specializes in ferret care, also recommends this hospital for after-hour emergencies. The staff were very kind and the technicians appeared to be knowledgeable about handling ferrets. One ferret was very ill from a delayed vaccine reaction (administered by a vet that was not knowledgeable about ferrets) and he rapidly and fully recovered after they treated him. Their prices are similar to another emergency vet I have used in Rockville, MD (that does not treat exotics) and they were happy to complete my VPI insurance forms so that I could get reimbursed for the cost of care. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Compassionate Emergency Experience 5/16/2008

My old Greyhound needed to be put down. I had no history with Alexandria Hospital, but it was closest to where I live. I made an appointment for the next evening.\r \r The techs who helped my old guy onto a stretcher were beautiful. They went through the prep procedure with professional manner and ability, kindly. I felt that, considering they didn't know this dog, they were wonderfully sympathetic to the old guy's plight. \r \r The Doctor Chang who administered the dose was compassionate and gentle. The woman in charge of finance was not unnecessarily intrusive, given her difficult job at this time. Since I was blubbering the whole time, I think she was very patient about explaining certain facts of cremation and charges since I really couldn't comprehend what she was saying, no fault of hers.\r \r The staff in this difficult time accomplished what needed to be done in a gentle manner, and I have no regrets for going there. My old dog was treated gently. I did not feel rushed. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Yes, some problems, but compared to competition... 8/23/2007

I have to concur with the people who comment that AAHA is too busy and feels like a "mill." I've considered several times telling them that I would change hospitals if I called one more time and found myself on hold without being able to utter a word. And at busy times, having my cats' carrier a few feet away from HUGE dogs is very nerve-racking for both of us -- I wish they would think through a way to keep some space between the two species.\r \r However, the question is, compared to what? I have taken three cats to several other area clinics and every one has eventually confronted me with a deal-breaker -- obvious shakedowns for unnecessary lab work, outright rudeness from the vets themselves, simple incompetence. I've found AAHA vets very reasonable about not promoting unnecessary treatments, and though I've had long waits the time with the vet was unrushed, which makes up for it. I have only had to euthanize one animal since I started going there, and the vet stayed after hours to m more
Reply | Report abuse |

Different experience 6/11/2007

I have had a completely different experience than some of the other reviewers. I find that the vets here strive to be as thorough and complete as possible, because they truly care about the pets. I came to Alexandria Animal Hospital for a second opinion after I could not get the answers elsewhere. Other places weren't willing to spend the time and energy to come to a diagnosis. I think the vets are incredibly compassionate and will do what they can to improve the quality of life of the animals in their care. I actually think it speaks volumes that they would try to make sure they were not putting down an animal without making sure they had made every attempt to provide it with a decent life first - especially if this wasn't a pet they see on a regular basis.\r I agree that it has become more difficult to get an appointment, but I think that also reflects the demand for their services. And I know if I really have an issue that can't wait, I can call my vet or be seen by the emerg more
Reply | Report abuse |

Euthanizing my kitty kitty 5/12/2007

I called ahead of time when my 16+ year old cat needed to be put to sleep because he could no longer control his kidneys. I adopted him when he was 12 and used special food the shelter gave me for this. It worked until now and he couldn't make it to the box For two days during the week earlier I went to grief therapy and was as ready as I could be. When I got there they could see\r I was crying and took me to another room. They couldn't find any record of my being there before and that took up some time but when they brought in a vet and an assistant to talk to me I felt pressured by the vet to run more tests and I knew I could not afford this but didn't want to say it. They then gave up with that after leaving me alone with my kitty. My poor cat endured way too much time there. He became frightened as I was crying so hard. I thought I couldn't take anymore. I was then seen by an assistant who wanted to talk about what to do with the remains. I had choices. Cemetary plots at 2 more
Reply | Report abuse |

Geared toward maximizing the bill 5/2/2007

I have to concur with the last post re Alexandria Animal Hospital. The vet I've used, Dr. Terrio, is terrific. But, the support staff are either undertrained, inattentive, or overworked. I've had blood samples for two dogs confused, the wrong medications dispensed, and incorrect information from a Vet Tech re the purpose of a prescribed medication. Try calling at any time during normal business hours and I bet you're asked by staff to hold - for at least five minutes, and possibly more. This happens 90% of the time when I call. Checking out is equally as laborious and time-intensive.\r \r Also, the standard "treatment plans" for most illnesses seem to be pre-set, designed to maximize the bill. For example - and this is just one -- my cat had a urinary tract blockage with a proposed course of treatment estimated at $3000 (non-emergency rates), which I managed to negotiate down to $1500 after questioning the medical necessity of some of the items. The vets are honest and will discu more
Reply | Report abuse |

Not impressed 3/21/2007

About 3 years ago Alexandria Animal Hospital was my first cat's regular vet. After relocating, then coming back to the area, I brought my other cat into the emergency clinic for a problem he has had intermittitently over the years. Sadly, I have been very disappointed with the results. One $700+ bill later (the original estimate was $1600+), my cat came home with a diagnosis and treatment that does not seem in line (at all!) with either the problem as I described it or my cat's symptoms. When I called with some follow-up questions/concerns, the vet tech who took my call was unfamiliar with my cat's symptoms (even though she had the chart in front of her) and, again, gave advice that seemed incongruous with my cat's symptoms. (The advice also seemed to lean heavily in the direction of "Bring him back in"- presumably for another VERY expensive "diagnosis".) This is not the first time I've been to the vet emergency room (why do these problems only happen after 5 and before 9?) so I more
Reply | Report abuse |

Except for Emergencies 3/5/2007

After nearly 40 years of taking our family pets to Alexandria Animal Hospital, I've had it. It used to be a wonderful place, where you knew the staff and they knew you, and if you needed an appointment quickly, they'd fit you in. But it's become a typical HMO--you can get an appointment if you don't care whom you see, but it now takes a solid week to get an appointment with "our" doctor. And if your pet needs to be seen quickly, be prepared to pay a higher fee because they're overbooked and the only appointments available are usually emergency. \r \r Sorry, but that's not okay with me--and it's bad business. When a particular doctor is so backed up that getting an appointment takes a week, the schedulers should stop booking new patients for that vet. I want continuity, especially as several of my pets are older, but Alexandria has made that too difficult. And since they computerized everything, checking out takes forever. \r \r Yes, the care is good and the emergency facilities are more
Reply | Report abuse |

24/7 Vet 11/30/2005

The bright-eyed veterinarians stay at Alexandria 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, knowing your pet could become suddenly ill at any time. They take instant care as soon as you bring your pet in and have all the equipment, medications, and shots on hand to make a diagnosis and take action quickly to save your pet. They're quick, yet very precise and skilled, to help your pets. They took such good care of my dog when she needed emergency service. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Great but pricey 10/30/2005

Alexandria Animal Hospital on Duke street has always been wonderful when I was there for emergencies. The regular clinic have lower rates and if your puppies need emergency care, they already have their records. If it's convenient for you and you are in Alexandria I would highly recommend them. Their prices are expensive but their location and services are excellent. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Good Service..knowledgable staff 8/29/2005

After some problems with our old vet, we decided to give Alexandria Animal Hospital a try. The staff is knowledgable and friendly and you usually don't have to wait long. People say that it is expensive, but we didn't find it any more expensive than other vets in the area. PROS: Staff CONS: Difficult to access more
Reply | Report abuse |

Great for emergencies! 5/31/2005

We took our dog Flea to Alexandria Animal Hospital last fall when he started throwing up blood in the middle of the night. Alexandria Animal Hospital is open 24 hours a day and handles emergencies. My husband was very impressed with the staff and the very pleasant environment at Alexandria Animal Hospital. We did find the services to be expensive, but again, we saw these vets on an emergency basis. The only drawback I can think of is that the hospital is located on a service road, which makes it a little hard to get to. PROS: Emergency hospital, great staff and pleasant environment. CONS: Hospital is hard to access from main road. more
Reply | Report abuse |

High prices 5/27/2005

We have been very happy with the care provided by Alexandria Animal Hospital until lately. Our bills have been high and each vet seems to have a different view from the other, which can cause a problem when you're trying to diagnose a dog's illness. They recommend lots of tests, but don't always give you conclusive results. However, the staff is friendly and they love animals here. If you don't mind the $200 vet bills each visit, I would recommend this vet. PROS: CONS: Prices more
Reply | Report abuse |
< Previous 1 2 3 Next >
Summer SALE!!!:
15% OFF all yearly plans
Use year15 at checkout. Expires 1/1/2021

At VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital, your Pet's Health is Top Priority. Click for a First Free Exam Coupon!

Owner Message

  • VCA Animal Hospitals provide a full range of general medical and surgical services as well as specialized treatments. Our veterinary hospitals have created a network of highly qualified veterinarians and greatest resources to provide the highest quality care available for your pets. VCA maintains the highest standards of pet health care available in the United States. Here at VCA, we emphasize prevention as well as healing. Our veterinary hospitals provide continuing education programs to our vets and. VCA has also established a consistent program of procedures and techniques that are proven to be the most effective in keeping pets healthy. Visit the VCA Animal Hospitals website or call to find out more about the services offered in your area. VCA Animal Hospitals, where your pet's health is our veterinary hospital’s top priority and excellent service is our goal.

Additional information
  • Hours: Sun 10:00AM - 12:00PM, Mon 08:00AM - 08:00PM, Tue 08:00AM - 08:00PM, Wed 08:00AM - 08:00PM, Thu 08:00AM - 08:00PM, Fri 08:00AM - 08:00PM, Sat 08:00AM - 03:00PM
  • Payments: Master Card, Discover, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Taylor Run
badge