Today was a Saturday visit and dang, Saturdays sure can be a bad day due to wait time if you don't arrive right after they open at 8AM. And we did not do that on this particular day. Our total time at the vet was 2.5hrs for 10min of time with the vet for a booster shot, and to get some general vet advice about my dog's ear hair and joint health. They don't provide an option to call from home or check in online, so clients are forced to spend 2 hours in a crowded waiting room with other sick/anxious animals which sucks. You can wait outside or in your car and they'll call you once they're ready, but they don't have a real outdoor waiting area and their parking lot is small. I do appreciate not needing to make an appointment to come to Countryside, but as I noted above, there are downsides. And the clinic was even more crowded when we walked out of the exam room. Honestly, I feel bad for the staff for having to always come to work know knowing what kind of day it'll be. With all that being said, I find the staff here friendly and knowledgeable. They have always given me the estimated cost for any surgeries, lab work, or additional testing that has been needed/recommended for my animals. I still recommend this place but avoid going in on Saturday, if you can. read more

See all

In January 2023, I brought my cat to these people because I thought she was acting as if something was stuck in her throat and she was not eating. They charged me, at least, $450 for what included an exam ($95 for him to draw back the corners of her mouth and look at her teeth and then comb fingers through her fur), a shot of antibiotic, and a shot of cortisone, which they assured me would fix her up for a couple of weeks. (It didn't.) Their professional, medical diagnosis was, "She's got a bad mouth." I asked for clarification, and I got robotic responses, such a, "I already explained that to you." They didn't. Then they wanted me to sign a paper saying that they could pull some or all of her teeth, as they saw fit, and charge me accordingly to the tune of $1,000. They said this would fix the problem. I did not believe them. As it turns out, the cat has a dislocated jaw (something like TMJ) and we are now treating her with chiropractic adjustments. She is slowly improving, but this, "misdiagnosis" cost us precious time and a lot of unnecessary pain and lost sleep. If you really want help for your best friend and family member, you will probably have to search outside the ruthless, lawless city of St. Joseph and go to the nicer parts of Kansas City. read more

My dog took in from out of state has had cancer before and wanted lump removed. My mom's boyfriend died so am her a couple of months to help her. Sent my paperwork from my vet in Dallas Tx including procedures and vaccines. They had me sign forms morning of procedure. Gave me no paper estimate ever! When I got there to pick her up they gave her a rabies vaccine! A dog that might have cancer they gave a vaccine. I said no one told me-I said I sent vaccine records and they told me up front they received! I blew up-to say the least. Office poorly run, asked 3 times can I get an estimate. Even day of procedure at 3 pm can I get estimate-we r still working on! What? Then I found they slipped vaccinations in that she had and r good till Nov 2023! My poor sick girl. If only I had that estimate in hand would of seen and made sure they understood don't give. read more

We love the compassion and care given to our dogs. We have always had fabulous treatment every time we have take our dogs in. Sadly we loss our male Dachshund due to old age and heart failure . Dr hacker was there for him and us, came in after hours to give medical care. The staff is very friendly and compassionate . We even board our dogs there and they have be taken care of . We will always take our pets there because they understand our pets are not just pets they are apart of our family and our babies. read more

I would not take an earthworm here. Dr. Kyle is the only vet there that is emphasizing with you and your concerns. Took my 3yr dog there that was having intestinal issues. She was turning yellow and they did a blood test that they said came back with high liver enzymes and called it acute hepatitis so started treating for leptospirosis. 2 days later she looked worse and her belly was bloated and twice the size it should have been. When asked the technician why her belly was like that their response was her liver wasn't processing the fluids they were giving her. After the same tech just said she pulled her iv out the night before. They never put a cone on her and they also charged me 20$ to replace the iv catheter. Ended up going to Overland Park mission vet emergency where a CT scan showed she was full of cancer. We lost our 3yr dog and was very painful. I know it's not countryside's fault but she would've died there without knowing the truth unless we hadn't demanded to go to a emergency vet. They don't want to refer any other place because they want your money. If an animals well-being is beyond your knowledge or equipment then be honest about it and send them to a place that can help or get answers. We will not be using countryside ever again. ( note same vet owns east hills veterinary) read more

This place is a complete circus. Terrible pass thru kennels. They charge massive for large dogs but don't provide off concrete orthopedic sling beds Clinic is not clean. Staff is irritable. Takes forever to check out. My two dogs went in freshly bathed and came out with flea infestation; my cats went in healthy and came out with conjunctivitis and upper respiratory colds. I asked for discounted meds to treat my cats since they became sick while there - they wanted office visits, dx, full on prescriptions totaling 300.00 I think if your pet is flea free and on treatment going in it should come out without fleas; and if your two cats get infected from other sick cats while there? It should be med only charges or on the house. Terrible clinic. read more

My vet was out of town so his office suggested I bring my dog here for end of life because they take walk ins. While euthanizing a beloved pet is difficult they were EXTREMELY sensitive. They allowed me to wait with my dog in the car, called me when ready and told me what room. They explained everything very kindly, even had a receptionist come in to take my payment and after a very peaceful death, gave me as much time as I needed and led me out the back so I didn't have to walk through the crowded waiting room. They made a difficult time easier by their kindness and caring. read more

We were traveling south on 1-29 on a trip to Kansas City when our dog got into our trip snack stash of raisins. We needed to get her immediate attention. We were close to St. Joseph so I googled vet clinics in the area. Countryside was the only one open late (it was about 730pm). We called and they got her in right away and took care of furry baby. Everyone at the clinic was so helpful, kind and reassuring. While we were waiting for our pup to heal, several other pet owners came in with their fur babies (one pup had even been hit by a car!) and the whole staff was the same to each owner: loving, thoughtful and caring. If I lived in St. Joseph, MO, Countryside Veterinary Clinic would be the only place I would take my pets for their care. read more

After being a client for over 20 years the staff and the Dr. treated me and the love of my life, a 12yr old Boston terrier, so shockingly horrible during his illness and eventual euthanization that I wouldn't recommend them to care for anything with a heart beat. I would share the story but its so upsetting to me. I trusted them. HUGE MISTAKE! read more

Emergency after hours refused to see my dog because she wasn't a current client and whomever I talked to in the phone didn't even seemed concern with my emergency and wasn't very friendly. Only got a star because i had to give one to post review read more

I always take my animals to Dr Kyle Rippeger and he is wonderful ! I had a Doberman with several health issues that other vets couldn't detect. When I had an emergency and had to put down my dog they were soo caring and compassionate. I even got a paw print stamp of my dog for a keepsake. It's little things such as this instance that will always keep me coming back. I know my animals are always in good hands and they're always excited to come to the vet. read more

I called Countryside Veterinary Clinic for emergency care for my cat close to midnight. Their answering service told me that they would contact a vet and the vet would call me back. I waited and waited for that call. I called their emergency number again, and still no call back. I decided to go elsewhere. If this is their idea of "emergency" service, I seriously doubt their quality of care. By the way, the vet NEVER DID CALL ME BACK! read more

Extremely rude customer service. I had the audacity to ask a simple question on a weekend. Their hours weren't posted with their number, so I didn't realize I was calling during emergency hours. The girl who answered the phone had NO knowledge of vet medicine, and I'm sure even if she did she wouldn't have helped me anyway. She basically told me that no one would answer my question because it wasn't an emergency. I think they just didn't want to help me because they couldn't charge me $500 for a question about flea medication. (And yeah, it might have been an emergency, since pets can get tapeworm from having fleas in the first place.) Don't bother with this place, they're greedy and don't care about your pets. read more

Had to put our old dog down. She'd been our baby, our first child, and her health had declined to make this necessary. First there they made us wait in the exam room for 20 minutes with a cat loudly howling in the next room. Male vet was very unsympathetic, and cold, and did not explain the procedure to me at all. My baby was gone before I expected it. I thought the drug would slow her down then she would go, but she was gone before the drug was even done being administered. The vet ran out of the room as soon as it was done without reassuring me at all that we'd done the right thing. Just another day at the office for him. They wouldn't even let me say goodbye to her alone in the room when it was over. My friends had had to put their sweet girl down here in the past, and a paw print was sent to them later. What a sweet gesture. I got a lousy sympathy card. Talk about pouring salt in the wound! read more

If I could give these Scammers a zero I would. I wonder if they are there to help the animals or scam people out of money. I paid over 901. for bringing my dog in Monday am and picking her up on Wednesday afternoon. My 13 year old dog had collapsed and could not walk or hold up her head. The on call vet with Country side. They said, after numerous tests and x-rays the only thing they could treat her for was ulcer. All the tests were normal. I was thankful to pick her up even though we paid over 900.00. I noticed, when we got her home s,he was confused, wobbly and could not walk correctly. I called the clinic and was told she was probably weak. I took her to my Vet who was out of office the week this happened. My dog had a stroke or some neurological episode. My vet can only refer us to a specialist. I am so upset with Country Side who continued to treat my dog for an ulcer. No other vet I have talked with has said they ever heard of a dog collapsing due to an ulcer. Country side pretended to assume the worst so they can charge you outrageous prices for x-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds. Do not go to Country Side for emergency care. Countryside Veterinary Clinic prey on people who love their pets and will do what they need to for the animal. read more