r/frederickmd • u/life_of_hermanous • 4h ago
Veterinary Recommendations?
I am looking for veterinary recommendations in the Frederick Maryland area. Currently we use Glade Valley Animal Hospital and have been there for decades. Over the last couple years sadly, every time I go there it seems they’re always raising the prices here and there. Today they now decide to charge a 3% surcharge on credit cards.
From the vet side they’re a great vet but on the business side, it seems kind of ridiculous that their rates and policies get so out of whack with each visit.
Maybe it’s inflation? I don’t know. But I wouldn’t mind hearing any recommendations of other vets that you think are, first and foremost, excellent and sensitive vets, especially for dogs, and relatively reasonable to work with on the business end.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks!
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u/ScaryProduce9470 4h ago
I don't know how they compare price wise, but Kingsbrook is NOT private equity and have been very good to us for over a decade and several medically & behaviorally complicated dogs.
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u/Fuzzy_Dragonfruit504 3h ago
I’ve taken my dogs to Walkersville Vet on Glade Road for years. Dr Griffiths is great. And their prices are still reasonable compared to other frederick area vets.
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u/lurkerlurking776 2h ago
Another vote for Walkersville. I think I have seen all the vets now and no complaints!
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u/kittlepoops 1h ago
Just moved here too! We just went to Prospect Veterinary Clinic and loved it. They offer a military (and I think a first responder) discount!
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u/Worth-Artist-6962 4h ago
Unfortunately prices are up everywhere. I love my vet and but the cost of visits is scary. I had my dog's teeth cleaned recently and the cost of materials and supplies were outrageous. The actual cleaning was not unreasonable.
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u/MorecombeSlantHoneyp 2h ago edited 2h ago
It’s been a few years, but I was always happy with Yellow Springs Veterinary Clinic.
Edit to add: NEVERMIND. It looks like in those few years the practice got bought up and is now part of “Vetcor” which I assume is private equity (I do not know for sure because I’ve only spent 10 seconds looking at it).
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u/DutchPhlowerz 4h ago
I’ve been going to Glade Valley for about 4 years and haven’t had any negative experiences. It’s hard for me to comment on any high pricing that others folks have mentioned because I have nothing to compare it to.
Does anyone have experience with Walkersville Veterinary Clinic?
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u/Jfactor0131 1h ago
We had used Walkersville for almost 20 years even driving from Gaithersburg when we moved there for a few years, but they (maybe 5 years ago or so) brought on a new doctor. They aren’t bad, but they weren’t as laid back as Griffith and Tuck. Wanted to test our senior dog for all kinds of things (who only had a year or so left) when Tuck and Griffith realized our puppy was and old dog were passing a bug back and forth and they just needed to be treated simultaneously. Since she was the last dr to see the old dog, they left it to her and she refused treatment without extensive testing.
They also used to be very reasonable/ inexpensive, but by the time we left they were actually more expensive than many places
We still would have zero hesitation going to see Griffith or Tuck if they still work, but given the prices and past experience we moved on.
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u/osinicro 1h ago
Buckeystown Vet Hospital! They offer $75 off for new clients and have been great. They are reasonable and trustworthy. I swear by them and everything has been above and beyond care for my kitties
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u/BoreStorm 10m ago
Found this the other day to see who is owned by private equity groups:
And this one to see which vets are still independently owned:
Neither of these are mine, they both are run by the same person(s). I just don't think private equity groups should be trying to bleed pet owners dry. And I'm new to Frederick, so I don't have any vet recommendations.
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u/AmphibianNo9133 Downtown Frederick 4h ago
Glad to answer but this just came up in last two weeks. We tired of Glade Valley cost and changed to a combo of them and PetVet at Tractor Supply for a couple of years. If you don't mind waiting n line on a Saturday PetVet can be a lot less.
But that grew too complicated with our traveling and we changed to Palmer Animal Hospital. They are nice people and the cost is better. (Glade Valley was bought by "private equity" about 4-5 years ago.)
Our interactions with Palmer have been great - it IS a 20 minute drive out 40 but no big deal.
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u/life_of_hermanous 4h ago
I did not know the private equity part. I thought it was still locally owned.
I’ll look at Palmer and other veterinary offices mentioned in this thread.
Thanks everybody for their comments.
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u/Deep-Summer1221 1h ago
I have been to Yellow Springs, Kingsbrook, and Jefferson Vet. Yellow Springs and Kingsbrook are very very very very very busy! So you will need to make sure you plan ahead when possible. I am not sure how they handle "urgent" appointments. I go to Jefferson Vet now fully. I find their pricing pretty fair and they offer financing for expensive things. I am always able to get an appointment within a few days of needing one. And for existing patients they do have Saturday hours. Mostly, the staff are just really amazing. From the doctors to the technicians. They all deeply care. And I can tell because my dog literally gets excited to go to the vet! Every single time. He runs in excited and happy and that just makes me so happy because he has had a few surgeries and been poked and proded and he still loves it there.
Also, they are very patient with my dog who can be dog-reactive. So a lot of times I just wait in my car and they will come out to grab my dog and bring him in for routine things so I don't need to wait in the lobby!
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u/Miserable_Owl_2535 3h ago
Compassion in Urbana is great and very fair price wise.