Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Review

My sweet little parakeet Kiwi wasn't feeling so hot so I made an appointment and they did SUCH a great job!!! Turns out he was OK but the stress of a schedule change and molting made him a little tired. Just to be sure they did a slide of his droppings and what really stands out is they could have said something like "Oh he needs bloodwork etc." but this is NOT that kind of vet. They do NOT recommend all kinds of tests to get your money. They tell you what they think and see and only offer to perform a test that is actually needed. (In my case it was to make sure he wasn't getting an infection or missing some nutrition) They gave us some handouts and information and really spent the time to make sure ALL our questions were answered. I think we were in there for 40 minutes just peppering Dr. Nielson with a million questions. She is wonderful and I think our tech's name was Bridget? Gosh I forget but she was also wonderful at catching Kiwi without him hurting himself flapping around the cage. I really can't say enough about this place. We live in Northeast D.C. and still travel all the way there because nobody else is qualified enough for our little angel Kiwi!!!

We brought our year and a half old panther chameleon to SEAVS after a week of treatment from another exotic vet where he was not responding. The minute we walked into SEAVS, they took control of the situation. I truly believe if we had not brought him to this vet, we would have lost our chameleon. Our pet spent 5 nights in the hospital here and every doctor and tech that took care of him was very competent and professional. We dropped him off anorexic, lethargic, and dehydrated and received him back feisty and on the mend. Thank you! We will not go anywhere else when we need help.

A wonderful staff with always great customer service and happy genuine smiles.

Love this place! I have been going here since I moved from MD over 5 years ago. Dr Stahl studied with my prior vet in MD and was highly recommended by Dr. Ho. All doctors and technicians that have tended to my birds at Stahl Exotics are top notch. Their bed side manner is unlike most. They do care and it shows.

First Class! We trust Stahl with our parrots, they are always caring! Our flick is always happy their

I can't say enough good things about Drs Costanza and Stahl along with the techs and front staff. Great bunch of folks. Worth the drive from Harpers Ferry for my birds' care every time.

We have been here several times with my pre-teen daughter's rabbits. They are wonderful to work with, and excellent with young pet owners. The staff spent lots of time with us, answered all questions and we never felt rushed. On our first visit, they were patient in educating my daughter, as she had questions on her new pet. We have had to go twice on an emergency basis and they quickly arranged it and got us in. The staff was supportive and gave us many options for treatment.

I have brought my bearded dragon to SEAVS regularly for all 3 years of his life, ever since he had an upper respiratory infection when he was only a few months old. I'm very happy with how he has been treated by Dr. Somer(who has left the practice) Dr. Nielsen, and the rest of the staff, they are all very thorough and clearly caring.
We also board our little guy with SEAVS while on vacations, and when we pick him up he's always a very happy bright color! I loved the cute report card he got once on his behavior while staying there.

Great avian and exotic vets. Friendly knowledgeable staff.

I lost a piece of my heart when my Hammy passed. The people there are genuine, they somehow made a very sad day bearable. Thank you to all of them.

Best vet I've ever been to. We moved away and still drive two hours each way to bring our snakes here for checkups.

Phenomenal and friendly service. Clean and well maintained office. Reasonably priced services.

They are extremely knowledgeable about snakes and I feel I can trust them with any of my snakes in the future. No one was freaked out by my having an exotic pet, which is something I have experienced in the past at other vets offices that don't deal with reptiles regularly

Friendly knowledgeable staff. Work with a wide range of exotic animas.

I always know my pets will get the best care possible here. My rabbit had chronic respiratory problems and they did their best to keep it under control for as long as possible. Then, when I picked up a young rabbit in rather sorry shape from a shelter they took great care of him and got him all healthy & happy for me. I was super stressed about him and I'm very happy to see him strong and healthy now! They also help us a lot with our guinea pigs. I always appreciate how gentle the staff is with them to keep stress minimal. We are very happy with the quality care for exotics here!

extremely courteous professional staff. very clean and comforting lobby complete with directv and good selection of magazines. went right into an examination room when i got there, doctor and assistant came in five minutes later .. now for the important stuff- took my ill 7 yr 11mo old ferret in for what turned out to be adrenal disease and insulinoma. they took her for tests, gave her an implant to treat adrenal disease, took care of her ears and nails as well. gave me some medicine and instructions. its been one week and Cassie is doing terrific. walking/running, climbing stairs, back to behaving like a typical healthy ferret... a bit on the pricey side but if you love your pet, well worth it.

Love SEAVS. I've got 5 birds and they get the best care and attention at SEAVS. The doctors and techs are some of the best in the business and they have the latest equipment and up-to-date training. Reasonably priced for the exotic trade and tons of services available. I've been going there for over ten years and can't recommend them highly enough. If you love your exotic pet (bird, rabbit, reptile, etc.) the best thing you can do for them is take them to SEAVS. They've extended their hours and are open on Saturday too. A firm 5 star rating for the staff and service. BTW: A special kudo/call-out to Dr. Greg Costanzo - he's the very best and goes above and beyond every time. My personal favorite.

Excellent vet. Not just good bedside manor but also legitimate doctors that can diagnose and treat disease in animals. Vets of this quality are hard to come by. It's a 2hr drive for us, a full day round trip and a little more expensive then regular vet but if you have a sick animal that needs actual care there is no better place in the tri-state area. Real vet, real diagnosis, real answers, real medicine, real results.

I can't say enough good things about his staff. They're extremely knowledgeable, professional and really make you feel like your pet is in good hands. I had my bird there for several days and not only they spoiled her but they also kept me updated the whole time!

Took my daughter's new Cockatiel for its first vet appointment. They were great.

They saw my sick hedgie and humanely put him to sleep on short notice. They sent me his paw prints to remember him by.

We took our bunny to Dr. Stahl about a year ago, when he had an eye infection. He was very kind and obviously cared about our bunny, even though we weren't regular patients. Our bunny passed about a month ago, but we will definitely bring our next bunny to him!

We met with Dr. Hammer as first time bird owners. He was very professional, kind, and the prices offered are fair. Would highly recommend Stahl's to anyone looking for an outstanding exotic animal vet.

My hamsters and I love Dr. Baley! She is so knowledgeable and doesn't try to make you pay anymore than you need.

Very happy and impressed with the level of customer service that we experienced when we brought our beardie in for his first wellness check up! Fantastic practice!

My 10 year old has 3 birds. They needed some love and Stahl provided fast service and took great care of the birds!

I was happy with the level of care and attention provided to both my pets and myself (they had coffee!). They didn t try to upsell and they were happy to work with my situation to do what was best for the birds. The techs were as useful as the doctors and both provided good advice. My only regret is that they are so far away from me.

Been here many times. Great customer service. I drive from Charles County and I have driven from Baltimore County to give my rabbits great care.

Rather than a simple prescription of revolution to treat two rats with lice (like any other vet) Stahl put two rats through Incredibly unnecessary sedation to have those two rats shaved all the way down to the skin, and gave them ivermec injections for $236.
Sedation on its own is more risky for rats, and this was all just Incredibly unnecessary. These poor rats have a rough couple weeks ahead of them. I truly hope this process is changed.

I would highly recommend going here. The staff is wonderful and caring especially Dr. Costanzo. He goes above and beyond your expectations. We had the best customer service and help at Stahl Veterinary service. It is a comfort to know your pet is in goods hands. I appreciate all the time and help with our pet rabbit when he was sick.

Dr. Carothers has always taken such good care of my ferrets and has helped us through a bad case of ECE, adrenal disease, and insulinoma. She clearly cares about her patients (and their non-furred/feathered/scaled parents) and takes her time answering any of my questions as well as going through various treatment plans. I trust her and the SEAVS team completely and am beyond grateful to have access to such a knowledgeable team of caregivers!

My bird loves this place and flirts with all the staff. He has been coming here for 14 years and the service is still top notch.

A professional and very compassionate facility. Everything is explained. They take all the time necessary.

My exotic pets behave and are less stressed here because the staff is experienced and that makes the pets comfortable.

We had a severe emergency and with little notice Stahl Exotic handled our bunny's case perfectly. Dr. M was compassionate and communicative. Best of all our little man responded immediately to his treatment - good as new! Thank you for the special care you provide. We will not hesitate to return.

Dr Sommers is one of the best vets in the area with a great bedside manner. Knowledgeable techs and very friendly staff. Cannot recommend highly enough. She treated my pet ferret as well as I could have expected and helped him live comfortably for over a year post an insulinoma diagnosis. We took him to Dr Sommers for his final day on Earth and she was absolutely incredible. We gave him a fantastic farewell and he passed peacefully with his hand in mine surrounded by loved ones.

Good place for exotic pets. We brought our bunny here when he had a reapiratory infection and later to get him neutered (overnight stay for observation was included in price for neuter), they called right before and right after the procedure to let us know how our bunny was doing. Our bunny is happy and healthy! Prices are fair and comparable to other vets in the area, and its easy to make an appointment.

Always great care of our 14 year old bearded dragon. Dr. Nielson always gives her the time and attention she needs.

They know what they are doing. They always gave me all my options. Explained things in a way I could understand them (when you are overwhelmed and stressed, you don't understand simple things sometimes). Dr. Rodriguez was very compassionate and empathic. I picked up my parrot's ashes recently and the box was beautiful. They were very patient during the "letting go" process. I would recommend this place for anyone who has a parrot.

Staff have always been super friendly and take very good care of my sun conure we have been going to them since I got my bird 4 years ago. The facility have always been clean. They treat your pets as if they were their own!

Brought in my tortoise because it wasn't eating and left it under the care of Dr. Krum for a week. A week later of having picked up my tortoise, it is not only eating normally, but more active than he's been in years. Exceptional service and care by SEAVS. The pricing is great too! I ended up paying less than what was on the estimated price! Would bring my pet again (but hoping I won't need to)!

Dr. Stahl and his associates have provided care to animals I have owned and ones I have worked with for 15 years now. I have never had a bad experience with this team and know my little sun conure, Weeble, was always loved and cared for during her vet visits and boarding stays. Even in losing her, they showed nothing but the highest level of compassion, empathy, and professionalism. I expect nothing less from my fellow veterinary professionals, and have never been disappointed.

I prefer to drive almost two hours each way from my home to go here because I know my rabbits will get the best care. They are so knowledgeable and caring. No barking dogs in the lobby, all is calm. I was very late once due to a traffic accident on the road and they switched things around and did everything in their power to make sure my bunnies were still seen. Amazing place. We will continue to go here.

Have been going here for about 5 years. Always had great service. Dr Nielsen recently helped us with the difficult task of helping our rabbit pass due to old age and inability to move or eat. She was so compassionate and explained everything. Her bedside manner was off the chart excellent. She made a horrible task more bearable. She is really amazing. This place is just great.

I'm so lucky to have SEAVs in the Fairfax, VA area. I brought all my birds and I have nothing to say but that they are fantastic. I highly recommend them if you have birds or an exotic pet.

We love Stahl's! Even something as minor as a tech appointment for a nail clipping is a joy. They are so friendly and speedy and deeply caring.

Great caring vets who look to educate people and be as inintimidating as possible

Dr. Costanzo and Oscar are amazing - very knowledgeable and patient. They took time to explain every detail and answered all my questions thoughtfully. So grateful to know my bunnies are in good hands there.

Took my rat to get nurtured here. Very professional Dr. Bailey was amazing! Got updates every day to let me know how he was doing, as well as meds to take home with instructions on how to give him the meds. The receptionist was very helpful! Will be definitely taking my animals here from now on.

Dr. Stahl is the best and the only doctor for our 7 year old (03/27/12) rabbit. He was recommended to us by other exotic vets in the area and thats why our dwarf lion head is enjoying life as we speak. I would not waste my time anywhere else.

The best exotic veterinary clinic you'll ever find.

Great place if you have exotic pets. Dr Stahl is very approachable and clearly loves and understands animals.

I wouldn't trust any other vets with the care of my bird. I've been going to SEAVS for about 10 years and have always been happy with the level of care and service and the costs seem reasonable to me for their knowledge and expertise.

Best vet!!! They are always friendly and answer our questions thoroughly, and they take great care of our bunny!! And while vets are always expensive, their prices are reasonable and they also accept Care Credit which makes the cost much more manageable. I highly recommend them if you have a bunny or other exotic pet.

I will never forget the love, care and support the staff and Dr. Stahl have shown me and my companion iguana, Lady. I brought her in for issues with her tail and they immediately worked to put together a plan of care to tackle it. Dr. Stahl made sure to explain every part of the procedure and care process with me in simple terms and made sure I was on board with moving forward with treatment. He defintiely knows his stuff. I think this is the first time I've ever been to a vet where I was 100% confident in their knowledge and abilities. No doubt, if you bring your scaly family members here, the staff and doctors will take the best care of them.

They truly went above and beyond to make sure I was at ease and that Lady was happy and safe. They kept me up to date and didn't hesitate to answer my many questions conerning Lady's care.

I live in Maryland, and this place is an hour away, but I'd even drive 6 hours just to work with them. Thank you Dr. Stahl and all the staff at SEAVS!

I have been coming to SEAVS for several years with my rabbits, amazon and my hamsters. We have always been super happy with the care that they have received. the doctor always works with us to come up with the best and most affordable plan to care for our pet family. We have always felt that they listen to our concerns and are honest with us about the best route to take. Thank you SEAVS!

The techs and doctor are very nice!!raiden is my first bearded dragon..and the vet doctor explained to me how to take care of him during brumation months!!!im very satisfied about their service!!

They truly care about your pets. I had 3 rats that now past. But we got a card and paw print plaque for each one. I think thats really sweet and I have kept them ever since.

After hearing all the good reviews, I felt more than comfortable bring our dwarf rabbit in for a spaying procedure. We were updated all throughout her pre and post-surgery stay, and we brought home a healthy, happy bunny. All of the staff I have talked to (both over the phone and in person) were informative and kind. I feel very lucky to have an exceptional exotic animal vet so close to home.

Caring, knowledgeable veterinarians. The have taken good care of my beloved rabbit girl, Serenity.

I loved the Vet that I spoke to, a cheerful, friendly, energetic man (whose name I can't remember) and they helped me determine the best course of treatment and were very helpful with recommendations every time I called.

Vet prices in this area still cost a friggin arm and leg, BUT this place has my vote for best place to bring your exotics!!!!

We love the people and service provided to our ferrets and us at SEAVS. Exemplary and lots of knowledge and TLC makes it our home for our exotics!

My African Grey had a leg injury. We drove 2 hours from Richmond and Dr. Stahl diagnosed her in minutes without x-ray or blood work like our local vets did. Sadly, her leg had to be amputated. They cared for her and kept watch on her for nearly 2 weeks as she began recovery. They sent us pictures and videos and emails and texts with updates. It was a massive comfort for my wife and I since we couldn't just pop in and out to check up. Every one was awesome. Awesome.

I want to thank Dr. Costanzo and all the staff from Stahls exotics ( from the techs to the receptionist) for the wonderful, caring and professional way in which they handle my bird Yuke's emergency involving an eye injury. I highly recommend Stahls Veterinary and Dr. Costanzo for any avian emergency you may have. Thanks!

My Indian Ringneck Parrot had a life threatening problem with egg binding in 2010 and my local avian vet Dr. Kitterman referred me to SEAVS. The brilliant doctors here operated on her and cured her. I will never forget them for saving her.

Friendly, professional and good vets for exotics......I trusted them with my last two ferrets!

The vet and techs were very helpful and knowledgeable. They spent a lot of time answering my many questions. Both the vet and techs checked to be sure my reptile and amphibians had the proper setup and care. The vet seemed to genuinely care about my pets and share my concerns. She even caught me before I left when she remembered a question she had forgotten to ask, just to make sure my amphibians had the proper substrate. I would highly recommend this vet for exotic pets, especially frogs or toads.

Knowledgeable staff. The doctors are very nice and explain everything so you understand everything properly.
They take very good care of my ferrets every time

Everyone is so friendly and open. They make me feel very welcome. The Vet was very knowledgeable and she gave me the all the necessary information without talking down to me.

She clearly knows what she s talking about.

Austin was in for a check up to be introduced for the first time to Dr. Costanzo, my regular and favorite vet! Dr. C was professional, thorough, and wonderful with my darling as usual.

Today was our first time visiting Stahl Exotic Animal Hospital and we couldn't be happier with the customer service we received. Dr. Traina had lots of good advice and recommendations to keep our girl Jelly Bean healthy. We will definitely be back.

Just made a call to ask about a cut on my birds eye lid. We will be going tomorrow if he looks uncomfortable in the morning. They were so very kind to speak with, I was afraid they would be rude. And the price to be seen is less expensive than my dog vet in Front Royal. Thank you for being kind, I was dreading the phone call.

We arrived at SEAVS under dire circumstances, and will return in the future because of the truly expert and compassionate care we received.
The facility itself is spectacular - very clean, nicely decorated, and modern. During our visit we were given a tour of the clinical side of the facility - and were extremely impressed.
The staff is warm and engaging - true professionals, every single one of them. From the over-the-phone advice we received, to the ease of making a first-time appointment, and the warm greeting as we walked through the front door, our whole family felt cared for.
We brought our daughter's beloved Jackson Chameleon in to see Dr Greg Costanzo. Dr Costanzo spoke directly to our 8-year-old, and treated her with respect and tremendous compassion. He boosted her confidence, offered reassurance, and still managed to explain what happens when - despite our best efforts - our animal friends have to leave us. We ended up losing "Henry" that day - but our care from SEAVS did not end there. Dr Costanzo truly went above and beyond, even sending our daughter a sympathy card that very eloquently helped her move through her grief.
We received a quality of service that we never imagined possible, at a facility staffed by professionals who truly care about their patients/patients human families. We highly recommend SEAVS!

I can't say enough good things about Stahls. I have a little rabbit with sort of special needs and I'd never bring her anywhere else. The care they provide is second to none and the staff is always incredibly friendly and it's very apparent how much they truly care about each animal they see. I've even utilized their observation service during trips away and each time I've returned to a very happy and healthy bunny who doesn't seem to want to leave her friends at Stahls!

For all things dealing with exotics this place is the gold standard in the DMV. That is all that is needed in this review. I only wish they run 24/7 but I understand the weight that puts on their employees and I respect that. But this place is the gold standard.

Before I found an honest and professional exotic hospital, I thought stahl was the one good. I had been stahl for over a year. The cost of trimming front teeth for a rabbit was $145-235, and molar trim was around $265-335. The technician (a white cubby girl) always tried to sell many medicines to the lil rabbit. I used to visit this place once a month. And technician (a Latin male technician usually in green uniform) told that the vet said that my rabbit needed a molar trim every two month. Now, I found that stahl was over-priced, over-sell for medicines, not honest business.

Our pig got a sis on her neck and we brought to Stahl immediately. We had to wait a bit but the waiting area is really comfortable and spacious. The staff was nice, help and informative. Got a diagnosis as infection and need to take antibiotics for a month or so.
It s a bit pricy: 250 bucks for the visit (visit itself cost 80 bucks) plus the medication.
Will see how it goes in a month.

If it were not for Dr. Costanzo I would have lost my chinchilla to a tooth problem. The staff here are all so sweet and nice. Everyone works at the pace of your fur baby and talks you through everything. I will not take my chinchillas any where else.

Tried to call for an appointment for new animal. Put on hold by two different people, no one came back the second time and was disconnected. They seemed worthless. Shouldn't do that to people especially if you don't want bad reviews because it is a sign of poor customer service. Two stars.

Incredibly friendly staff. I had my rabbit neutered here since I have a male and female, and the whole process easier than expected. I dropped off my rabbit morning of the procedure, and the vet called me before the operation to discuss risks, and immediately after to let me know my rabbit was okay. She was attentive to all my questions and the follow up instructions were easy to follow. Glad I chose this office.

Great service. Had a very pleasant experience when the doctor treated my daughter's sick hamster.

We've been bringing our pet bearded dragon to Dr. Costanzo and Dr. Crum for a couple of years now and we wouldn't bring her anywhere else. Very knowledgeable staff and fully equipped to provide complete care for pet reptiles!

This afternoon, we got a phone call from a vet on duty the day an incident occurred and were told why we were charged a late fee, but never told about it prior to it being charged. We were very late, but I asked if we would be seen or maybe had to wait or thought we might need to reschedule, but were taken in less than 10 minutes.

The vet apologized and I felt better about the situation. I was also told that there is a notice regarding late fees placed at the front desk, which I totally missed. I will never forget that late fees are charged if you are more than 10 minutes late.

The incident was our fault, but I still think we should've been told about the fee prior to having it tacked on to our bill; the vet agreed. We never meant to inconvenience anyone and we have not allowed the matter to sour our opinion of this fine establishment. We appreciate this service and everything they have done to help us and our bird, who is so happy once she returns from her bi-weekly appointments!

Great exotic vet that I've gone to for 7 years. Staff is always kind and understanding. Doctors have always been the most positive and helpful, with never a wrong diagnosis. Their only downside is they arent open 24/7, but I'll take the quality vet care over quantity any day.

They took such great care of my piggie after being fixed... so much so that he was able to come home a day early and has been in good spirits. Thank you for the professionalism and taking care of my little guy! Highly recommend!

We really appreciate all the backing and efforts put forth by everyone at Stahl especially Dr. Stahl. Unfortunately our Quaker Winnie need to have surgery amputated her leg after a fracture. We where constantly updated before and after procedure. We are very fortunate to have such a great exotic animal veterinarian staff and hospital in the area. Where thankful to have her back. She is very young and should adapt quite well with a little help from all of us.

We have a lot of lizards that we bring to Dr. Nielson at Stahl. She does a fantastic job caring for our critters and answering our questions. Highly recommended.

If I could give them negative stars, I would. I have NEVER been treated so poorly. I actually cried after being yelled at by Stahl for 20 minutes at the beginning of my first appointment there.
When I made the appointment, I had asked the receptionist about the experience the doctor had with my specific exotic. I had been to other clinics in the past that claimed they had experience and pretended to know what they were doing, only to charge me a lot of money and not resolve the medical issue. The receptionist did not know the answer and transferred me to a technician who told me they didn't see my animal's species very often but had seen them, occasionally, for years.
At my first appointment, Stahl walked into the room and started immediately lecturing me about not wanting to take on a challenging client and not wanting to compete with Dr. Google. He also said he did not have very much experience with my pet's species and that he may not know all of the answers. At first, I thought this was his standard new client lecture and I stood there with a polite smile on my face, but when he started to repeat himself I realized he was attacking me.
After being yelled at for 20 minutes, I started to cry. I had just moved to the area three days before and was exhausted from moving and unpacking. I asked him if he wanted me to leave. He said no and told me the receptionist made a note in my chart that I was a difficult and challenging client. I told him that I had simply asked about his experience with my pet's species because of my previous experiences trying to get qualified medical care. I also said that I wanted to understand about my pet's medical care, expected to be involved in the decisions, and had a species expert on-call for any questions that might come up.
In the end, I went through with the appointment because I didn't know who else to go to and my animal needed treatment. I really shouldn't have. He did not provide proper medical care to my pet and I am now forced to go to another new vet.
Take aways:
-Who walks into a meeting with a stranger, let alone a prospective client, and yells at them for 20 minutes?
-Even though Stahl admitted to not having much experience with my pet's species, he still thought it necessary to yell at me for 20 minutes about how he would NOT be challenged.

(This review is written under a pseudonym.)

We have used Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services for the past seven years and have always found them to be a caring, professional, and highly knowledgeable group. We wouldn't willingly take our companion parrots anywhere else.