Arlington Animal Clinic Review

Louie tore a nail out while we were walking. He needed to have it cut out I was able to bring him right in and Dr Schickler took great care of him. I really appreciated their willingness to see him right away

Love Dr. Cole for our exotic (guinea pig) pet needs. She is also great with our senior diabetic cat.

I have been taking my ferrets to Arlington Animal Clinic for 18+ years. They are excellent, excellent, excellent! The staff, nurses and vets truly care for my kids; they are gentle and loving to them. They know ferrets--their ins and outs, health and problems ferrets have. The vets know what makes a ferret tick and what to look for when there were problems. They have supported my kids with love and excellence. And me, too!

Dr. Cole and staff have been wonderful in caring for my 10 year old boxer and all her health problems. If it wasn't for them and the excellent care they provide I would be lost. You can count on them for your fur babies care as they provide outstanding one on one care, they treat your babies as individuals and will go the extra mile to ensure proper care.

This is a wonderful Vet. I just started going here with my dog, but everyone working there was excellent, and the care I got for my dog was great.

I've been to too many vets/specialists/ERs with my dog...this place has the best bedside manners, hands down. I often feel alone and anxious dealing with all of my dog's issues, but these guys and gals were amazing. They were calm, understanding, and thoroughly explained the situation and reasoning behind each possibility. Would highly recommend to anyone. Thank you @Alex for the initial invitation

I have taken two cats here for dental surgery and they were both well taken care of. Not only do they treat their patients well, but they always follow up a visit with a phone call. They are also much less expensive than other vets in the area.

Love Dr Cole and the rest of the staff. Have been a client for 13 years and trust them completely.

My wife and I have taken our dog here for the better part of 4 years now. Over the past two, they have become much more money focused.

During a visit this year, we brought our dog in because she had symptoms of giardia. They ended up talking us into getting her an xray (which came back negative for anything) and upon testing, told us that she had giardia - something that they had treated her for about a year prior as well. Finally, in that same visit, as my wife and I are worried about what is wrong with our dog, they start telling us about how they will now be charging people in the actual room while the dog is getting examined. It was the absolute worst time for us to be told about financial things and billing, especially with no clear prognosis yet.

More recently, we found a small growth on our dog's paw. We called the next morning and asked to bring her in when there was availability that day. We got an appointment for mid-morning, and received some solutions to help clear it. That said, more than half of the bill was a 'same day urgent care visit' as opposed to a 'regular office visit' - all because we called that morning and brought her in same day.

We will be going someplace else moving forward. It is unfortunate because some of the people who work here are very nice. But pushing certain medication brands that they have partnerships with or the way they have gone about billing is very shady and has produced negative experiences for us.

We have been using A.A.C. for many years.They are very professional and treat our dog Jayla with excellent care. The whole staff is very friendly and the doctors are extremely knowledgeable. Their medicine,foods,and treats are good quality as well as a good value price. We highly recommend A.A.C. for all your pets needs.

Our cat has been going to Arlington Animal Clinic for the past four years. Every visit, the vet (we have seen three of them) has been consistently attentive and caring, answering all of our questions and sparing time to do a thorough examination of our cat. The front desk staff are also efficient and capable.

I absolutely would not bring my pets anywhere else! I trust my care in their hands. From the receptionist staff to the vet techs, nurses and doctors ,the care is par to none.

Love Dr Cole and the staff. All my dogs have been well taken care of over the years

I've been taking my pets to AAC for almost 20 years. Each of my pets has received superb vet care at this veterinarian practice, living longer than expected with excellent quality of life. I've had 4 dogs and 2 cats that have received care at this clinic and I have never been disappointed. One of my dogs had cancer and had to obtain special treatment elsewhere but I still came top AAC for the acupuncture treatments that relieved her of stress and pain. The doctors and animal technicians, as well as the front desk staff, really truly care about your pet and give them the best care available. On-street parking generally available; a block or two at the most. Will take all of my pets there.

I brought my guinea pig and got adequate advice for a first time pet owner :) all of my questions were kindly and knowledgeably answered!

Wonderful vet! The whole team takes great care of my dog and she loves going, makes keeping her healthy easy.

Great vet. Very caring about their patients. I never feel rushed here and they are always willing to sit down and explain to me every part of what needs to be done, which goes a long way to earn my trust.

These guys are the best with our little puppy!! The listen and let you ask questions. They did charge me for clipping nails and a sani trim that I didn't get, but I know we will work it out. The front girls are nice and speak to you as soon as you walk in!!! And that is so welcoming

Cherish, a little frenchie, has been going to Arlington Animal Clinic since she was 6 months old, when I adopted her from Tennassee. She is now ten and a half, thanks to Dr. Cole and the wonderful, helpful and caring staff. She has had all kinds of health problems, and for a while, Jean and the girls on Monday morning would see my number pop up and say, "What's up with Cherish now"- we were considered frequent fliers-hahaha-but thankfully, she has been well now. Thank you all!

The Vets at Arlington Animal Clinic have been taking care of my dogs for over 25 years now. As the doctors have changed over that time, we have never had a bad experience with any of them. Dr. Schickler has been our most recent vet, and she is so good with our Portuguese Water Dog who, like most animals, would prefer not to have to go to the Vet's office. Dr. S. is always thorough in her exams and never rushes us, and always takes time to answer our questions. The Office staff and vet techs are super also--always friendly and efficient. And the waiting area and exam rooms are always clean, no matter how busy they are. A very well run business.

I wont be taking my pet anywhere else but here. The vet that worked with my cat and the staff that accompanied him all demonstrated love for animals, gentle care for them, knowledge and professionalism. They were comforting and put me at ease. They call to follow up and check on your pets and honestly just had a great experience here with them

Communication is terrible. Had to cancel the appointment.
For the people who like to overcome difficulties: make sure you communicate every bit of information N times (N>=3) and make them repeat it to you.

Pup just had her first annual check up. Covid precautions practiced so I was unable to be with her. Communication about dog Status, recommendations, etc. were not hindered. Several sidewalk visits from tech and vet. Employees are getting their steps in - for sure!
I am a long time pet owner who has used this clinic for over 25 years. Always Good quality and professional care for our many different pets.

We have been going to Arlington Animal Clinic since 1977 and have always been thrilled with the service! The doctors and staff are caring, knowledgeable and patient with our questions. We wouldn't consider taking our cats anywhere else!

They're great. Our dog is not easy to handle, but we love her, so they make sure there is a place who will see her. They work extremely well with other providers and follow up very well with you. I highly recommend.

Been taking our dog here for a couple years for annual shots. They're professional, fairly quick, and seem to do a fine job. Never been for anything serious though.

We love bringing our guinea pig here. They are knowledgeable and kind with her. Typically, our guinea pig has hated going to the vet, but AAC do an incredible job of making her feel comfortable.

I will be forthright and state that I found the treatment and care of my animal, overall, to be exemplary. Not only did they meet my pet's needs, but the vet was both courteous and forthright with me. Finally, I found them to be financially reasonable. That said, if you are someone looking for luxury, which seems the need for some pet owners via other posts, this place isn't shiny, new and perfect. If your top concern is your pet's well-being, however, this is the place.

I brought my Yorkie there after he developed difficulty walking - this was my third vet visit re: this issue! I first had a very unpleasant experience at Angell-West wherein it was implied that I should euthanize my pet, or waive my rights over to them. If I did the latter, they would perform the procedure and adopt him out...ok? The diagnosis there was nebulous at best and the advised treatment plan was a whopping $10,000.

My second stop was my regular clinic - I wondered if they would also advise putting him down. There, the vet focused on what I thought was a more acute symptom (i.e., vomiting) in comparison to the semiparalysis. That vet told me Angell might be right and advised me that a medication "might" work. There, I was told I needed an MRI, but had been quoted approximately $3000 and that was beyond my means if I needed to pay for surgery too.

Thus, when I walked into my 3rd stop in Arlington, it felt like I was having a urgent care visit with my own doctor.

First, the tech was very professional; she sounded like a nurse briefing a doctor as she shared my tale of woe. Next, The vet patiently explained the information I'd received at both other places. Additionally, I was offered reasonably priced testing that would at least rule out other conditions. After that, meds were adjusted, explicit discharge instructions issued and I was given my bill. Although it was hardly free, I felt the costs were reasonable.

It's about two weeks later now and my dog is ambulating again. His appetite has improved and he is barking at everyone again - that's how I know he's better. I will certainly go back & advise others to go there.

They have such reasonable prices, and the techs and doctors all have an amazing bedside manner. I really feel that they care and want the best for your pet.

Brought my tiny mice here for treatment after they mysteriously got mites. I now have two super healthy mice again. It is hard to find small animal vets. Everyone seems to focus on dogs and cats these days. I was really happy with the level of knowledge and compassion for my tiny little family members. I am super excited about the new small and exotic animal vet they have joining.

I have been bringing my dog to Arlington Animal Clinic for 12 years. First to Dr. Springer and now to Dr. Cole. I can't say enough good things about them. Dr. Cole is wonderful and responsive and I would never go anywhere else.

500 dollars later and I left with the same helpless feeling i had going in. Just a referral for more waste of time and money. I won't be going back. Too expensive for NO ANSWERS.

We have been taking our pets here for years. They are very respectful for the owners and pets needs. The have an in house pharmacy and are affiliated with at least two pharmacies that will deliver to your door. And they care. They feel it when your pet passes and you never feel rushed. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

I've been a client for decades. They are extremely knowledgeable and compassionate. They listen to me and any concerns or questions I might have and they are loving and caring with each pet. You will not be disappointed!

The Arlington Animal Clinic is great at working with my pets, but needs major work in dealing with pet owners. Multiple times I've been told over the phone that they would be able to assist with some treatment or other service with my pets, only to find that when I'm there in person, they can't help for a reason that I already explained over the phone. We've also had problems with their communication with veterinarians we used in the past, and they won't work with outside pharmacies.

They're great when they're working with our animals, everything outside of that has been nothing short of frustrating.

They have taken wonderful care of our three pets. Staff is friendly, kind, and compassionate.

I take my dog here and he seems to be enjoying it LOLLL. :P

The people there are very friendly, polite and patient. The pets are in good hands there. They know how to handle them and they do a great job both with the animals and their owners! I would highly recommend this clinic!

Horrible. The vets there are a bunch of bullies and the admin staff are just as bad. Buyer beware. They will tell you that you need to buy a whole lot of expensive stuff that your dog doesn't need. And they are incredibly rude to top it off.

After trying several vets with my previous dog, I knew I wanted a caring and professional vet that didn't break the bank. I had heard great things about Arlington Animal Clinic and decided to give them a try with our puppy. That was 8 years ago, and I've been thrilled with them ever since. They are very professional, compassionate and take great care of my dog without overcharging me. I'm so glad I made the switch.

Great care and attention to taking care of my dog who had heart worms.

Excellent vets, techs, front desk. I have been going for years. Street parking can be scarce. Best early AM.

I ve been coming here for nearly a decade with both a cat and a dog. The Doctors and Techs are ways kind, knowledgeable and patient. They are also up front about pricing and care options - super helpful!

Exceptional service. Brought all my pets there for 50 years!

Always very reliable and professional your love for my big boy Thunder is very much appreciated

Very unprofessional experience. Was 30 minutes late taking my dog in after making sure to check in early and receptionists have no idea what to do.

I agree with the person who wrote about astronomical markups on medications and lab tests albeit the care and knowledgeable staff. I would suggest using your judgement with how much to spend.

I have always had a good experience at the clinic. Smart vets and very knowledgeable and personable vet techs. Knowledgeable and courteous receptionist.

Dr Shickler has been wonderful with our cat. He had diabetes for a while, but got better. He ended up being euthanized, regrettably, at age 20. She was wonderful and sensitive and caring for him in his later years. She was very concerned with over treating him and causing issues through any kind of treatment. We will not consider any other vets with new cats.

Second update: Dr. Cole gave me a call to discuss my concerns, which I really appreciated. She explained that they use the EKG as a baseline to be able to tell if an arrhythmia during surgery is preexistent or caused by the procedure. That made sense to me. She also told me that the EKG cost is $20, so I felt better that it wasn't added as a way to increase bills. I did not know that because the estimate and final receipt did not have costs broken down. It meant a lot to have this explained to me and brought back trust with the clinic.

I look forward to changing this to 5 stars once the communication is improved at the Clinic. I am not sure why I wasn't offered the chance to talk to vet when I had asked twice before about the EKG. I also ran into frustrations with communication (waiting outside in the sun for pickup only to just have a 10 minute phone call, being told one thing by the reception and another by a tech, etc.) around the socially distanced appointments, which I'd expect would be a little bit smoother this far into the pandemic restrictions.

I do really appreciate the new option for online vet visits for certain issues, like when my dog had an eye issue where photos were sufficient to diagnose.

Update from what would have previously been a 5 star review: I have concerns that Arlington Animal Clinic may be pushing unnecessary procedures. Within the last 6-10 months they instituted a new requirement of an EKG before all surgeries, no matter what. There was no option to decline this even for my one year old dog getting neutered. This is his second surgery here; his surgery in the fall went smooth and was before this requirement.

I asked about this new policy, and was told that they have found heart issues in 10 dogs under 2 which then required additional testing. I did not hear evidence that this actually prevented any adverse anesthesia outcomes though. Just like with people, the more you test, the more "problems" you find, problems that otherwise might not have been an issue for the animal. This is one reason why most cancer screenings don't start until a certain age, and why tests like full body MRIs are not recommended.

I want my dog to stay healthy and I do not want to subject him to more procedures and tests than are needed.

Routine EKGs are far beyond standard of care. Talking with friends, I have not heard of another local vet that does this. It isn't even a standard before all surgeries for people. If I had been presented with something about this being a new recommendation from a respected, major national vet society, I'd reconsider.

The main concern I have is that this overly cautious approach, with apparently no concerns about over testing, will spill over to all animal care here. This is a procedure I was easily able to research. What will happen if I need to take my dog in for an emergency? What kinds of way above and beyond, not really useful tests will be ordered?

I feel that I can't trust the judgement of this clinic anymore, and that makes me sad given the great care we have had here in the past. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to switch vets. In the end I paid for the EKG for the surgery, because it didn't seem like the right time to switch suddenly. I am still hopeful that this requirement will change or there will be some other indication that there is not a pattern of over testing here.

Very kind and helpful. Practicing strict social distancing.

Truly one of the best vets I've ever had. We've only been taking our dog there for about a year and haven't been for anything more serious than vaccines or a sore paw, but it's been an easy appointment each time.

The waiting area is fairly big, so the animals have enough space to not feel crowded or anxious. I've generally been in the morning, but they've always managed to get us back into the examination room within about 10 minutes of our scheduled appointment.

The techs and assistants are very sweet and have always given my slightly nervous/shy dog as much space or time he's needed to get comfortable (treats help). They also seem well trained with drawing blood or other routine procedures be they're tasked with.

The few different vets we've seen have all been competent and kind throughout the exam. They don't rush or treat the animals roughly in order to get through an exam quickly. I've always been impressed by their 'bed side manner" with the "patients." It goes without saying we've also never had an issue with any treatment they've recommended or medication prescribed. They've never forced anything on us we didn't feel comfortable with.

I don't know how the prices compare with other vets in the area, but I've never been shocked at the cost of a visit. Honestly, I'd pay a little more for the level of service we receive. It's nice knowing we can go there without it being an ordeal that will freak my dog out for any reason.

Highly recommended.

We raise assistance dogs and have taken all 6 of them to Arlington Animal Clinic. The vets are all highly skilled & have a great way both with the animals they treat and the humans who love them. The vets are thorough but don't over-treat or overreact. From the front desk staff to the techs to the docs, you get the best care every visit! I trust this practice without reservation.

Very nice vets, wonderful handling of animals, and very upfront about what your pet needs to be healthy.

friendly, helpful staff. very caring doctors. the couple times i've been there, they've been very busy, which speaks to how much they are trusted by their customers. and they called the next day to see how everything was going.

Dr. Schickler and the staff at Arlington animal clinic are the most competent, caring and compassionate group of professionals we ve ever dealt with.
Highly recommend facility