This is the only Veterinary Clinic I will take my dog Simba too. Dr. Bowles is absolutely amazing at what she does and takes great care of my dog when we take him in for procedures, yearly wellness checks/vaccines & his occasional ear infections. Dr Bowles and her team are amazing and can't rave enough on the care her team gives! read more

Burke Forest Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

Our first visit here was for a wellness check and vaccines. My dog has had some very concerning symptoms for about a year, and every vet we've run into has taken this as an opportunity to recommend various expensive tests. They never give any inclination of what they think her diagnosis might be, leaving me to consult doctor Google. I am old enough to remember when a veterinarian demonstrated care for animals **first and foremost.** This being a non-corporate owned veterinarian. I expected we would have a little bit of that experience. That was not to be the case. Long story short, our first visit amounted to approximately $1000 and that was without getting a diagnosis or the vaccines we had initially requested. We were informed that our next step would be to get a cardiology work up for $1500. And because I was not in a position to throw that money out immediately, with no idea where this might go (I mean, tell me what *could be the problem, what the treatment options would be for each, so I can make a decision on whether to pursue or not. I think that's reasonable) but in this case, the conversation ended. Fortunately, the following month, I found a vet who was willing to provide options. Unlike some, this new vet clearly doesn't think my dog deserves to die because her mom won't spend thousands at the drop of a hat with no idea where the bottom is. For 20% of the price, my dog has a treatment plan, and a doctor who actually cares. Pretty office, though. Nice staff, as well. read more

The entire staff was so welcoming and caring when we brought our 12 year old Golden Retriever in for evaluation of her rapidly deteriorating ability to use her hind legs. Their holistic approach to veterinary health was a breath of fresh air. They clearly care for their patients and families. Highly recommend them! read more

I brought my cat Oliver in to be seen because he has been wheezing and dry heaving and I suspected he may have had asthma. Dr. Hart addressed all my concerns and answered all my questions thoroughly. Oliver is overweight and as he is a senior cat I'm very concerned. She reviewed the diet plan I created for him to ensure that he was getting the nutrition he needed and was still losing weight. Turns out the internet recommendations were off! She wants to monitor his weightloss journey, so I will be bringing him in monthly for weigh-ins. Its extremely comforting knowing I am going through this process under vet supervision. I am very thankful for Dr. Hart and all the caring staff at Burke Forest! read more

In the end, a reputation is built not on the actions during the calm, but in an emergency! Burke Forest Vet clinic failed. My daughter has had her cat since she was little, it is her best friend! Yesterday we had an emergency with the cat, to be honest, we thought the cat might die. We call Burke Forest because A. It's close, right up the street. And B. She tries to support small businesses. We were not looking for a simple "shots and physical ". For us this was an emergency,! AND BURKE FOREST KICKED US TO THE CURB! "We aren't taking new patients "! We weren't looking for long term, we had an emergency! Oh, they offered us a list of vets, most were either out of our area or had major wait times of hours. See it's easy to do the mundane and rack up the positive comments from those easy tasks, but cream rises to the top under pressure, it is the things you do extra, that you did not have to do the show actual care and concern. Trust me, I will let everyone I meet know of the true lack of care from these people, the unwillingness to go that extra inch. Shame on you Burke Forest clinic. Loyalty and respect is earned. Maybe your team should rethink your career choices. Service to community is not your strong suit. read more

The doctors at Burke Forest vet are very caring. They take time to answer all my questions. They are good at fitting me in if I have an urgent need. Great vet techs as well and friendly front desk staff. Highly recommend and have taken 4 dogs there. read more

We had to make the very difficult decision so put our sweet angel Chance down last week. Dr. Bowles and the entire staff were so caring and compassionate...I felt loved and cared for and I know my sweet boy did as well. There are no words to express how grateful I am. When our hearts are open enough to welcome a new rescue into our life we will only trust Burke Forest to care for our new baby. read more

Very nice staff. My dog was at ease with everyone from the front desk to the vet. Facility was clean and they explained all charges.

I really appreciate this practice. I won't sugar coat my demands - I bought a blue point Balinese traditional style (Not wedge head) cat from a breeder rather than rescuing because I have several people in my family with cat allergies and so I needed to know we were getting a hypoallergenic cat. I do have some guilt with that but these allergies are severe and by the way no one has reacted to our Balinese. The reason I bring this up is that the breeder is very specific on which vaccines she wants "her" (my) cat to have. I had to be very specific when giving the list of more expensive vaccines my cat could have and vaccines she could not have. I'm sure I came across as very demanding with Burke Forest and they totally took it in stride. I will continue to use them in the future. They are small, very easy to schedule with and seem to be very caring. read more

See all

We have been brining our boys here since we arrived in NOVA when it was still owned by Dr Olstein for shots and medical check ups. We finally had an opportunity to get both of them groomed at Burke Forest and wish we had been using the service longer. They came home looking great! The prices for grooming were just slightly higher than what we had been paying elsewhere, but probably one of the best grooms they have had in several years. read more

See all

I love Dr. Osten & his staff!! The pets and I have been seeing Dr. Osten for nearly a decade, at the recommendation of a neighbor who had been seeing him even longer. He is fantastic--a country vet with city sensibilities who is not out to make a buck off of you (not to say he doesn't cost money, but he is considerably less pricey as well--my mom comes down from Arlington, and several friends I've referred now drive in from Herndon/Loudon and other parts of Fairfax because they love him, and other vets were treating them like ATMs!) My first amazing moment with Dr. Osten was the day the puppy at the bottle of Allegra on a Sunday. I called the emergency vet who told me i was going to have to come down for thousands of dollars of dialysis etc and that i should come asap, as she was going to die any second. I called Dr Osten's office, called his home number on the machine, got connected to his wife, who got him connected to me, who looked up the toxicity of Allegra (not Allegra-D) and recommended I walk her A LOT the rest of the day because she'd be hyper but fine. He's come in late for dog nose troubles (we have allergies it seems) done surgery on one of the cats for possible tumors. His staff knew us before the animals got old and has always been terrific. I can get shots at odd hours. There's no place else I would want to take our dog or our cats. read more

I have moved alot of have been to many vets and this is by far the best experience and office I have ever been to. The entire staff is compassionate and kind and they go above and beyond to make my pets feel comfortable and safe. Dr.Bowles is amazing and has done great dental work on both of my dogs one which is 17 years old. I cannot say enough how great my experience is everytime I come and how grateful I am to have found this vet. Their prices are extremely reasonable and upfront. It is a rare find !!! I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great vet. read more

Im so glad I came here for a second opinion! They took good care of my dog and he is much better! I was so worried all my money was going to be spent on tests and specialists trying to figure out what was wrong with him. However, I got an answer, a medication that is working and my happy dog back read more

Really awesome place... caring and reasonable... I wish my personal doctor was this good..

I brought in my 2mo old puppy along with his previous shot records that were updated 2wks prior. I was very unimpressed as I walked in for my first appointment on time. There was a man being helped at the front desk so I stood in line waiting to check in. Neither of the two ladies sitting at the front desk ever greeted me or even acknowledged that I was waiting, eventually it took so long I reluctantly sat at the edge of the least dirtiest chair I could find. When the man left, I walked up to check in and stood there for some time again until I was acknowledged. My first impression of this place was a filthy, unfriendly business that had to be spilling over with clientele since they could give two sh*ts about a new patient walking in through their doors. I gave them 2 more chances after that first impression to change my mind.... they overlooked a fecal test that had already been done on his records which I called to cancel. The front desk girl said that she would most likley credit my account but that she'd have the vet call me. I'm still waiting on that call (it's been over a month). On my next visit I asked about it again and was given an excuse that the head vet was not in so it still couldn't get addressed. That was $50 that thay beat me out of. There were hairballs the size of tumbleweeds just sitting around all over the office, in part probably due to the cats that freely roamed around. One of them wasn't even friendly; seemed ready to be agressive and it would just perch itself on the front desk - talk about a huge turn off! The front desk girl lacked proper social skills and the final straw for me was the up charge in services that there was no notice about. I had 3 office visits with them within 1mo and on the final one the visit price had gone up by $20. I asked about it and the front desk girl sputtered out that yes there was an increase in office visit prices but that immunization prices were lowered, "sorry about that". I had all my receipts with me and compared the new prices. This information she'd given me was erroneous, my immunizations cost the same and my office visit increased. There were no signs posted, no notice given in any formate despite their updated communication methods. I receive emails and postcards about services needed but nothing about any policy changes. They also tried "selling" me on an immunization that really didn't fit my dogs life style and other products they carry. Over all, what I gathered was that the ideals of this office must be profit driven. They beat me out of $70 in the end, but they lost me as a client. This place truly was awful and I didn't fully realize it until I went to a different vet and saw the differences. My new office is clean, receptionist is super friendly and helpful, techs are friendly and new vet was very knowledgeable. NIGHT AND DAY! read more

I have an XL spoiled heavy 8yr old dog who is terrified of going to the vet and is male anxious, new people weary. Word's can't express the gratitude I feel with the entire staff here. They are incredibly accommodating, patient, and welcoming. It's taken away a lot of the stress and anxiety I have encountered myself in the past when scheduling my big boy for appointments. I feel confident he will have the care he needs and in the friendliest enviornment possible. I would highly recommend them to anyone. read more

I can't rave about Burke forest Vet Clinic enough! Dr. Bowles is kind, genuine, professional and explained everything! After calling to make an appointment for a wellness exam they took us back to check her general health out and found she had been bitten. They took her and kept her on the spot, told me what would have to happen, gave me an estimate and came in much lower. The staff is as nice and helpful as the doctors! They were truly kind and pleasant to be around! I found my permanent veterinarian clinic!! Excellent place. Don't chance going anywhere else! read more

When I made an appt for my dog to be vaccinated, I specifically told them I want him to get rabies, bordetella, and distemper ONLY. Then when I dropped him off in the morning for grooming and vaccines I repeated and confirmed the vaccinations again. However when I picked him up at the end of the day they had given him an extra vaccine that I did NOT want- Lyme. And all they could say was the shots were already given, too late and oops. Ridiculous! I think they're pricey too. I'm switching vets asap. read more

I appreciate them seeing my dog on a Saturday morning without an appointment. My dog had kennel cough that started at 2:30 AM and all the vets were booked up. It was a first time visit as well. Thank you for being available!! read more

My husband and I have taken all of our dogs here over the years and are completely satisfied. Dr. Osten and his staff are caring and truly love animals. He will call you after hours to give you test results and if you leave a message. Our current dog had seperation anxiety issues when we first adopted her. He spent 15 minutes on the phone (during office hours) with me discussing various remedies. When you have your appointment, you are given his full time and attention and are never rushed. The staff is mostly younger adults and they are always helpful and professional. Our dog is our child and we have every confidence in entrusting her care to Dr. Osten and his staff. Sometimes if you are lucky, and your timing is good, two completely adorable French Bulldogs, Barney and Bagel (who belong to one of the staff) will be there to greet you. read more

If you love your pet don't take them to this place. All they care about is your money once they got it there is no follow up. I had to call twice to get my pets test results and when I did talk to the doctor she gave me no instructions on how to deal with my pet's health issue. And what to keep an eye for now my pet has infection and this un necessary pain and suffering is caused by the no care attitude from the doctor. This is just business no passion whatsoever. read more

We had our dog Lilly into see Dr Osten and Liz today to do dental work. They were passionate, they were considerate, they cared about the pain that Lilly might experience and they made us feel comfortable. Dental work for dogs is not easy as they must be sedated. The work was done well, and it was reasonably priced. You cannot go wrong with Dr Osten and this animal clinic. All I can say to them is thank you! read more

Dr. Osten took care of my dog ever since I came to Springfield and I'm glad that he was my dog's vet for over eight years. Vaccinations, yearly checkups, grooming and even surgery were all things my dog came here for. The staff has always been friendly and helpful for whatever my dog needed. Recently, my little buddy passed on and Dr. Osten and his staff were exemplary during this difficult experience. I really appreciate that Dr. Osten was honest and told me that there wasn't anything we could do, but end his suffering. I know there are many vets that try to maximize profits and recommend pointless procedures these days, but Dr. Osten is not one of them. I have not once questioned his judgment and have always believed that he made every decision with my dog's best interest in mind. If I do get another dog, I wouldn't hesitate to come back here as long as Dr. Osten is practicing and would gladly recommend him to my acquaintances. read more

Dr. Osten and staff are very helpful and just wonderful to deal with. I brought our large orange dog in with a bunch of our children. Eventhough we filled the waiting room ourselves, the staff were friendly and Dr. Osten is very easy to talk to. Our family makes places noisy and lively, Dr. Osten is patient and kind. I recommend him to others all of the time. Because of our busy family and having moved a few times to other states, I can easily say, Dr. Osten is one of the better vets out there. read more

An excellent vet, highly recommended! Skilled, professional, & gentle, Dr Osten has been my vet for 14+ years. When my geriatric collie reached the end, Dr Osten came to my home, so my dog's last moments were stress-free and peaceful. I cannot thank him enough. Dr Osten diagnosed & treated Lyme disease in a friend's Dalmatian - other vets were stumped - and her dog resumed an active, happy life. Dr Osten treated several illnesses in my dogs, and referred me to a specialist when needed, e.g. for a severe gastrointestinal malady. He answers my questions thoroughly, is easy to talk to, and gives me his full attention. The premises are extremely clean, the staff professional & friendly. They greet human and non-human patients by name with a smile. My dogs especially enjoy being petted by the staff, and seeing several cats that Dr Osten has rescued, which apparently live on the premises & benignly watch everyone. Bottom Line: Excellent care, fair prices, and clean. Dr Osten is A+++. read more

Quick and friendly service for my dog!

Recently switched my 20 year old boxer to Burke Vet clinic. The staff made the switch seamless. The vet staff answered all my concerns in care for my senior dog and fully on the same page in my desire to focus on quality of life for him. Looking forward with this new "partnership". read more

I definitely would not recommend this vet. I called with my cat a patient of 16 years in great distress and they told me they were too busy to see me. I was actually crying and said "please Petal is your patient and I believe she is dying." They put me on hold a second time and came back and said the doctor would see me and charge me $100 emergency fee. Later that afternoon Petal was put to rest by a compassionate clinic who had never treated her. read more

Mine and my cats visit here was pleasant to an extent. I came on for update on shots, we only go to the vet every few years because we don't go outside and have never had any serious medical issues. (Going for myself and said cat.) so we go in pretty normally for a check up and she's very grumpy and acting very sassy. The what I assumed to be the vet tech asked my a series of questions that I had already filled out in their paperwork and as we're reviewing my cats medical history I felt very judged by a few events in her life and sharing those with this person. The vet came in and pretty much review everything again and gave me the same judgmental attitude about not "regular" vet visits and some past very visits my cats had... then inspected my unhappy cat. When we found out what was wrong with my cat I became pretty emotional bc she's the only thing I've kept alive and hearing your living thing is sick tears you up. The vet and her assistant then asked me if my reaction is normal for things that happen to my cat..... didn't seem very appropriate to me. After that the vet pretty much said that's it and just left me standing in the room. My return appt for her treatment was ok... dropped her off and the lady was kinda short with me but it's 8:00 in the morning who's happy. Picking her up was awesome the new tech was so cool and answered my crazy cat lady questions without judgment. Told me how my cat was during her appt and calmed my nerves from her being at the doc all day. Overall not satisfying appt and probably will be moving vets yet again. read more

Dr. Osten is great. He spends time with the owners and explains medical issues in plain English. He is also a very caring person who understands how much your pets mean to you. We went to other vets in the area when we moved here from New York, but were very displeased. He did surgery on our cat, and was very concerned about her. We highly recommend Dr. Osten for all your pets. read more

I had a last minute emergency with my cat Harley and they were able to fit him in the same day. I have gone to this vet for several years now and never had any problems with them. I would reccomend this vet to anyone. read more

Love this vet clinic! Dr. Bowles is wonderful with our pets and so patient and sweet. She does not push expensive tests/treatments like I have dealt with so many times at other clinics. This clinic may not be the "state of the art" but the staff and doctors are the best! Give them a try, you won't be sorry. read more

Veterinarian and staff are thorough and gentle with both the pet and the owner. A lot of education is given. I have never known a Vetrinary clinic to hit all five stars when it comes to cleanliness, communication, pet care education, and a balanced and honest approach to pet care. A mutually sought pet care plan is a must and this place is a great fit. read more

The pharmacy situation was resolved. We are now able to order medications from anywhere.

I have been bringing my pets to Burke Forest since 1992. Through the years, the doctors and staff have taken care of a variety of issues, ranging from routine care to end-of-life care. Each time, everyone showed such warmth and compassion, as well great medical care. I can't thank them enough! read more

Fantastic vet clinic - they are very considerate, flexible and are wonderful with my cat. She's very shy, but lets Dr. Osten handle her as if she's known him all her life. They don't let money get in the way - they'll let you delay payment, if necessary, so that your pet may be seen as soon as possible, and they never press unnecessary tests or medications on you. The staff is kind, courteous, and Dr. Osten is very knowledgeable. I moved almost an hour away and I still bring my cat there for checkups. Highly recommended! read more

The BEST. Love the Docs and staff at Burke Forest! They are not only knowledgeable and thorough, they really CARE about our 'fur babies' and us. Have been going to Burke Forest for years and have no intention of changing .... even thru the transition of "Doc" Osten retiring, and Dr. Bowles taking over the practice, we've had nothing but great service and true care for our pets. DO NOT understand the negative comments on this page about "rude" staff, etc. ?!?!? Couldn't be more untrue! read more

I have been going to Burke Veterinary Clinic for a number of years now. The practice was sold, and I desired to stay with the new practice since all my dog's records were there. My first visit was not a good one. On my second visit I met Dr. Vanderson. She is wonderful! My dog had the most thorough annual check ever. She has treated my dog through a health crisis with warmth and care. She explained everything, the costs as well as alternative treatments. Dr. vanderson is the best! read more

After a traumatic visit to the emergency vet, we went for a second opinion at Burke Forest. Dr. Vanderson calmed us down and spent an hour and a half explaining everything we needed to do to heal our beloved Shih Tzu in a clear, calm and simple way. Dr. Vanderson and Dr. Bowles are sharp and professional in every way and inspire the highest confidence in their veterinary expertise. Dr. Bowles has been updating the clinic and it sparkles. We highly recommend them. read more

I have been taking my dogs to Dr. Osten since 1981. He has always taken the best possible care of my pets. What makes him a great doctor in my eyes is that he is willing to acknowledge that on rare occasions a case is beyond his ability to treat. A year ago my golden retriever developed a severe limp. After looking at the dog, manipulating the joints and doing x-rays, Dr. Osten told me he felt it was a ruptured ligament. He did not hesitate to refer me to a canine orthopedist. In the end Dr. Osten's diagnosis was correct and complicated surgery was necessary. The staff at Burke Forest Vet. Clinic may appear to be young but they are the dedicated students of Dr. Osten. As a teacher, I have continually been impressed with how Dr. Osten takes on interns from the local high school, trains them and they continue to come back and work for him while they are in college. Many of them go on into a medical field. All the staff in the office are compassionate and caring. When I finally had to have my first dog put down, Dr. Osten and his assistant had tears in their eyes. Later I received a lovely condolence card from the staff. The fact that I have been Dr. Osten's client for almost 30 years should be recommendation enough. read more