The Regional Veterinary Referral Center

Reviews

• RN

  Renee Nagle

  4 days ago
  5.0
  Caring and professional staff. Definitely my go-to in an emergency.
• SS

  Sameer Saxena

  Oct 16, 2026
  1.0
  I am a practicing orthopedic surgeon, and I can say without hesitation that this was one of the most concerning experiences I have encountered involving medical decision-making. Our 11-year-old dog presented with acute abdominal pain, lethargy, and anorexia. Following an abdominal ultrasound, we were informed that he had a suspected gastric foreign body and were advised to proceed with an exploratory laparotomy. What I found particularly troubling was the apparent willingness to recommend major abdominal surgery without adequately establishing or communicating the underlying surgical indication. No additional imaging, including CT, was offered or discussed. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a potentially diagnostic and therapeutic alternative in selected cases of suspected intragastric foreign material, was likewise never offered or discussed. As a surgeon, I understand that exploratory laparotomy is sometimes entirely appropriate, including when diagnostic uncertainty persists and the clinical circumstances demand intervention. However, the identification of a suspected intragastric abnormality is not, by itself, equivalent to demonstrating a clinically significant mechanical obstruction requiring operative exploration. The distinction is fundamental to appropriate surgical decision-making. Fortunately, we declined to proceed without an independent evaluation and sought a second opinion at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC. The difference was remarkable. The veterinarians at Friendship found no evidence of a gastric foreign body or persistent gastrointestinal obstruction. Their assessment was that our dog had experienced gastric dilatation without volvulus, which had spontaneously resolved. He was clinically well and required no surgical intervention whatsoever. One hospital recommended opening our dog’s abdomen. The other determined that he did not need an operation at all. As a physician who routinely evaluates surgical indications and performs major operations, I find this discrepancy deeply concerning. While diagnostic errors and differing clinical interpretations are inevitable in medicine, the decision to recommend invasive surgery demands an appropriately rigorous evaluation of the available evidence, the differential diagnosis, the patient’s clinical stability, and the risks and benefits of alternative management strategies. In our experience, the rationale for proceeding to exploratory laparotomy without further diagnostic clarification was never adequately explained. Had we accepted the initial recommendation, our dog could have undergone general anesthesia, abdominal exploration, and postoperative recovery, with all their attendant risks and complications, for a condition that ultimately resolved without surgery. I cannot determine whether the initial ultrasound was misinterpreted or whether the clinical findings changed between evaluations. However, the subsequent assessment raises serious questions about the strength of the original surgical indication. My criticism is not that the veterinarian failed to arrive at the correct diagnosis immediately. It is that a major invasive operation was recommended without what I considered a sufficiently transparent and convincing explanation of its necessity. I would strongly encourage anyone considering major surgery for their pet at this facility to seek an independent second opinion when medically feasible. Conversely, I wholeheartedly recommend Friendship Hospital for Animals. Their veterinarians demonstrated thoughtful clinical judgment, professionalism, and an appropriately measured approach to surgical decision-making. Most importantly, they helped us avoid an operation that ultimately proved unnecessary. Surgical capability and sound surgical judgment are not synonymous. Knowing when not to operate is every bit as important as knowing how to operate. Unfortunately, based on our experience, I cannot recommend this facility.
• KH

  Kenneth Ha

  Sep 26, 2026
  3.0
  Emergency Room Services Review: My dog received good medical care, and Dr. Kitchens was excellent. She was clear about possible causes, treatment options, expected outcomes, and budget estimates. I felt confident in her care. Costs - you need to know this going in: Emergency veterinary care here is expensive, and payment is required at discharge. I will say, I wish this had been communicated more clearly throughout my four‑day experience. For transparency, my total cost was about $5,000-$5500 for treatment of pancreatitis, hospitalization, medications, and follow‑up care. Just know it is going to be more expansive than you think going in. Also, and I'm guilty of this too, avoid taking frustrations out on staff during emotional moments. It's tough, they are trying their best. Areas for Improvement: Communication with support staff was inconsistent. At one point I told I was given a medication, and when I asked where it was. I was told "it's there, you're just stressed and overwhelmed" which would of been the right to say, if in fact the medication was there. Turned out the medication was locked away in the vet’s safe. There was also confusion about CareCredit options, and I’ve been told will be addressed with staff retraining. Billing processes were not clearly explained until the fourth day. Due to miscommunications and an earlier billing error, tensions rose when I was told treatment would paused until that day's charges were paid. While the situation was quickly deescalated, the lack of clarity and communication on the staff's part caused unnecessary stress on-top of an extremely stressful ordeal. This whole situation really took me back. Unacceptable Moment: During my second night, I waited for hours in a hot, cramped exam room while my dog kept getting pushed back, so triaged/care could be focused on more urgent cases. I fully understood this. However, hearing loud joking and laughter from the staff in the back during a stressful emergency visit simply felt unprofessional and insensitive. This is especially so considering what pet owners are experiencing and may be going through. Final Thoughts: Medically, I trust the veterinary team especially Dr. Kitchens. But due to repeated communication issues and the behavior of some support staff, I may consider other options in future emergencies. I also want to thank the GM, Lucas, for taking the time to speak in person and address several of the issues I experienced. And I want to acknowledge the front desk assistant (no name needed) who I saw working solo for three evenings straight. Her job shifted from long stretches of quiet to sudden chaos, and she handled some extremely challenging moments—including calming down an upset customer claiming discrimination—while simultaneously checking in my dog and managing a rapidly growing line of patients. On one of those nights, the hospital even had to turn away animals due to bed and staffing limits. It was clear the staff found it difficult to say no, and they always tried to help owners find another facility when possible. I appreciated her professionalism under pressure.
• SE

  Sarah Eckley

  Sep 11, 2026
  1.0
  If you love your pet, I strongly recommend thinking twice before bringing them here. This was one of the most frustrating and upsetting veterinary experiences I have ever had. I brought my dog here because I believed he needed emergency medical care. We waited over six hours, paid a very expensive bill, and walked away with a misdiagnosis. Ultimately, the time and money spent here did not get my dog the care he actually needed. And to be clear, the price is NOT what I’m angry about. Emergency veterinary care is expensive. I understand that. I would gladly pay a large bill if it meant my dog was properly evaluated, diagnosed, and treated. What I cannot accept is paying thousands of dollars, waiting more than six hours, and then finding out that my dog was diagnosed incorrectly. When we questioned how this could have happened, the explanation we were given was essentially: “Our system was messed up.” Seriously? The worst part is that we trusted this facility because it is an emergency vet. You go to an emergency hospital expecting that your pet will be taken seriously and that the information being used to make medical decisions will be accurate. Instead, we spent hours there, spent a significant amount of money, endured an enormous amount of stress, and still had to seek appropriate care elsewhere. Do not assume that because a facility calls itself an emergency vet, your pet is automatically going to receive the level of care you expect. Do your research. Ask questions. And seriously consider other options before spending your time, money, and emotional energy here. One star because zero isn’t an option.
• SD

  Samantha Duncan

  Aug 30, 2026
  5.0
  We came here at around 2:30 in the morning because our dog had a terrible cough, so bad we were scared she was unable to breathe well. They were able to see her very quickly and successfully take X-rays without sedating her (something other ER vets have told us we would need). Dr. Nelson was very kind and informative, explaining all of her thoughts and what she read on the X ray. She answered all of our many questions, and genuinely cared both about our dog feeling better but also about us (we were sleep deprived and very anxious). We never felt like this place was upselling or trying to do unnecessary tests just to charge us (again, something we have experienced at other ER vets). To the contrary, while the vet said we could send her xray to a radiologist to review it to be sure, she explained why she didn't think that was necessary and, in any event, we could call back later to send it out then if things did not improve. The vet staff also was sure to keep our dog away from common areas in case she was infectious, and quickly cleaned the areas she was in which I think is a good sign of a well run vet. My only complaint was that they did not have one of the medicines in stock that they prescribed but several other pharmacies were also out (shout out to Wegmans for having it). Dr. Nelson's treatment plan is working out well and our dog quickly turned a corner, we are very thankful we came here and got out in a reasonable time with a plan.

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