It is with a heavy heart that I write about Dr. Douglass Hambright's retirement at the end of this month. Over the course of my lifetime, spanning seven beloved dogs over the past 30 years, I struggled to find the perfect veterinarian--moving from practice to practice until, over 20 years ago, I was lucky that I found Dr. Hambright and his practice. Dr. Hambright has far exceeded every expectation I ever had for "the perfect veterinarian." His unparalleled knowledge and compassionate bedside manner have been a source of comfort and trust for both me and my pets. It is difficult to imagine finding another veterinarian who matches his expertise, earns my trust so completely, and whose practice embodies such excellence. While I wish Dr. Hambright a well-deserved and joyful retirement, his absence will be deeply felt by all who have had the privilege of knowing and relying on him. He is truly a gem in his field, and his friendly demeanor and exceptional care will be sorely missed. Thank you, Dr. Hambright, for over two decades of outstanding service and dedication. Your impact on the lives of so many--both human and canine--has been immeasurable. I am forever grateful. Enjoy your retirement with good fortune, happiness, and good health. read more

Very busy, difficult to get a timely appointment. While I have appreciated the veterinary service they provide, the wait time for an appointment is way too long. read more

Very kind and caring person. Great with my dog who can be picky with people. Dr Hambright has taken time to explain procedures, diagnosis and answers all of my questions and I have never once felt judged or rushed. He's truly a gem of vet. read more

It's been a while since my two elder cats were put down. But I still remember with gratitude how skilled and gentle Dr. Hambright and his staff were. The doctor always addressed my concerns and offered good advice. My cats had good long lives and were treated with kindness and respect throughout. read more

Absolutely the best! My buddy has been going here since I adopted him in 2001. Dr. Hambright is very caring and never rushes you through an appointment. He is gentle with the animals even though my guy cowers in the corner and can't wait to leave, but can you blame him? Nobody likes shots! The prices for services are reasonable, and I believe slightly cheaper than most vets. Prices have gone up a few dollars each year, but they are still a lot less than Friendship Animal Hospital. The only thing is, I would recommend buying your pet's meds online as office prices are very high. Dr. Hambright has no problem faxing RXs to an online site for you. Dr. Hambright's office is called Nebel Street Animal Hospital, but it is not affiliated with the24 hour emergency animal clinic (Metropolitan) next door. However, Dr. Hambright has various hours to accommodate us working folks. read more

I moved to DC and did the usual--Friendship Hospital for Animals. While they were fine (and verrrrrrrrrrrry expensive) I moved out of the city recently. I wanted a vet that was more affordable, closer to my new house, and most importantly, supportive of my cat's raw food diet. While Dr. Fromberg isn't a raw food specialist, she also didn't give me the stink eye and simply ensured that the food I am giving my cat is nutritionally balanced and healthy for her. That I appreciated enormously. The diet FHA put my cat on started an allergic reaction that has been spiraling out of control in recent months. After two visits to FHA and a round of oral steroids, she was still tearing her fur out in swaths; almost a quarter of her back was bald from it. She gave herself hot spots and we couldn't touch anything past her shoulders without her skin flinching. I simply couldn't afford to bring her back to FHA and wanted to go to someone who would be more understanding of my position. Yelp told me to try here, so I did. Dr. Fromberg came directly out to get me. Not a vet tech, I didn't have to explain myself or the problem to three different people, she was the only person I interacted with in this regard. It was really great. She was patient with my cat's terror, kind and understanding to me, and was able to determine by *feel* that Kitty had developed an infection under her skin. She tested it and it came back right away with the result. She warned that her treatment would take care of the infection but probably not the allergic reaction and advised I consider seeking a feline dermatologist. She was helpful, kind, and understanding of everything I was coming from. And that's just a people side! She was very gentle with Kitty and that is always greatly appreciated. She also let me know when it was OK to let her hide, as is Kitty's nature. When I went to pay, I was expecting FHA prices...y'know, $180 just for walking in the door? Nope. Three medications, the testing, and the consultation for *less than that.* read more

We have been using Dr. Hambright and Nebel Street Animal Hospital since we got our dog Riley 8 years ago. I give them the highest recommendation. They know their stuff, they take good care of our dog. The service is excellent, the receptionists/assistants are knowledgeable and caring and friendly. The pricing is reasonable. We not only have had no problems, we also are confident in the care and veterinary skill of the doctors and staff. read more

I had to take my darling Ginger here at 3 am. Unfortunately, I was taking her in to be euthanized. This place was wonderful. They were gentle and understanding and let me and my daughter and her friend sit with our pet and have all the time we needed. We ordered the private cremation and got a lovely box with Gingers name and we had a good as experience as I guess we could. They were kind and nice and that's ultimately what we needed. read more

Douglas Hambright, VMD - Gingers private cremation box. God bless my sweety. - Veterinarians Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

I've had dogs my entire life and I've had lots of different vets. Dr. Hambright and the staff of Nebel Street Animal Hospital are simply the best! Dr Hambright is very thorough in his examinations and genuinely cares about his patients. Kelly, at the front desk, has a professional, yet warm demeanor and greets everyone with smile. Daniel is one of the techs. He is incredibly skillful and so gentle with the dogs that all three of my dogs love to come see him. Others have complained about the smallish parking lot. It is true, the lot is small, but there is plenty of on street parking available too (an extra 15-20 feet away). It's hard to find a veterinarian that has not only excellent clinical skills but also genuinely cares about all the animals he treats. If this is what you're looking for in a vet, look no further; go to Nebel Street Animal Hospital. read more

My 2 year old pup has received the best care with Dr. Fromberg and all of the vet techs. We adopted him about a year ago and he's incredibly uncomfortable with shots or "inspecting" of any kind. They put him at ease and always do what's in his best interest. I trust their recommendations and know that he's in good hands. Top reasons I'd recommend them: 1. Friendly, attentive, trustworthy. You know your pet will be well taken of. 2. Flexible hours and ease of getting an appt. 3. Nebel St. Animal Hospital is attached and open 24 hours. 4. If you need to, they have early drop off hours, which is perfect for busy parents. 5. Dr. Fromberg thoroughly explains how your pet is doing, next steps, etc. 6. Wait time is usually prompt, and if not, reasonable. Nothing like the doctor or dentist for us humans. P.S. I was reading other reviews and didn't experience any problems with check out. My service has always been prompt and the front desk is really friendly. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this stays true! read more

Although we dont see Dr. Hambright anymore, our mom know he is still the gentlest, most compassionate and one of the greatest vets in the U.S.A. We hope while we are well to see him one day! Hes purrfect! He cared for my moms furbabies for life for 11 years and he helped me stick around while saving my brothers life as a rescue. Thanks Dr. Hambright, there will never be another you. read more

Douglas Hambright, VMD - Veterinarians Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

When I moved to the Washington DC area, I had a difficult time trying to find a good vet for my cats. A few years ago, I discovered Dr. Hambright by accident. On a Saturday afternoon, it was apparent my cat was very sick and possibly dying but not a single vet wanted to see her because we didn't have an appointment. I finally yelled at one of them and said what am I supposed to do with my sick cat and I was told to go to the Emergency Pet Clinic. While this is not a review of the Emergency Pet Clinic, my cat was quite sick and would probably have died that weekend. The Emergency Clinic is only open when other vets are closed so I was told that I would need to take my cat to a regular vet. Dr. Hambright's office is right next door so out of convenience and desperation I tried him. I am glad I did. He was patient and caring, to both my cat and myself. Over a 2 month period, I had to use both Dr. Hambright and the Emergency Clinic to treat my cat. On one instance, after work I noticed my cat was very nauseous and tried to bring her in to see Dr. Hambright but I was told that the office was already closed. However, Dr. Hambright was still around going through various lab results and when he heard that I took my cat next door, he came over and treated her. Neither the clinic or he charged me for that treatment. My cat is still with me and now all my cats go to see him read more

Overall experience was fine. The walls were a little thin in the exam rooms and they were shaking and you could hear through them - this scared my pet quite a bit! Dr. Framburg did an excellent job with my pet and she was very nice and easy to talk to. Front office staff was slow and didn't do a great job with greeting or acknowledging people who were waiting for service. At one point there were four or five people standing out front that worked there and not one acknowledged a customer. The longest part of our appointment was waiting for the staff to acknowledge us and give us our bill, when it really should have been the service for my pet. Definitely an area for improvement. There also isn't a lot of parking and the small lot was crowded. read more

We've been taking our dog and two cats there for a couple years now. We're very happy w/the whole office and staff. A few years ago, Dr. H diagnosed our very old dog with cancer and gave her only a couple days to live. He was there when we put our her to sleep and was so kind and empathetic. He said and did all the right things to make a horrible moment less painful. I will never forget his kindness. In addition, to the important things, their prices seem competitive, and they seem to schedule well so you aren't waiting long. The vets and techs are very nice and really go above and beyond. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Hambright and his staff at Nebel Street Animal Hospital in Rockville. My dog has been his patient since 2004 and he has given her annuals, tooth cleanings and extractions and most recently a splenectomy to remove a cancerous tumor. He has been absolutely wonderful in helping us to deal with this situation and has provided excellent counsel. He has been super patient with us and always takes the time to talk us through every single question. We also board our pup here when we go out of town. Have always been pleased with every aspect of the service we've recieved. 100% recommend! read more

Since moving to the Mo Co area, my mother searched for a vet for what she called "our zoo." At one point, we had five dogs and two cats living in my parents house. One dog had epilepsy, another had hip problems, another had gland problems and two of the 5 were geriatric dogs. Pure chaos... nonetheless, Dr. Hambright & his staff kept them all alive and well.One thing I really respect about him is that he was honest, caring and patient with each of our pets and us. His team's care, concern, sense of urgency and skills in vet medicine as a vet are evident in our families history and nursing my Doghead back to health to life after getting into a fight with another dog. Just ask him about our 20 year dog, Nana Liu... one of his oldest living patient. Because of our history with him, despite the fact that we live in Clarksburg, I will never take another pet to any other vet but him. read more

My cat thinks he is a were-wolf at the vet, but Dr. Hambright and his assistant were able to clip his toenails quite effectively, gave me useful advice, and were very pleasant. Great place, very friendly, top quality, inexpensive. read more

Dr Hambright is the best veterinary. He's extremely experienced and patient. He explained in detailed regarding vaccinations. We definitely recommend him. I wish I could rate 10stars! read more

Dr. Hambright and his colleagues are so professional and caring. We had to euthanize our beloved dog, Cofi, and everyone was so compassionate, patient and understanding. I called several times prior to making the appointment with so many questions and each time I was handled with so much care. Finally, just yesterday I received a card from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine indicating that Dr. Hambright's office made a donation in our dog's name. What a wonderful gesture; thank you so much! read more

Kind, compasionate, LISTENS!, I was a breeder so needed his assistance many times over many years and CAN NOT say enough good things about his vet skill and his people skills and skill with animals. While he may be running late in meeting appointment times, you can be sure it is because he has taken extra time to help someone else or "fit in" an emergency patient....and you can know that he will do the same for you if necessary. His kindness and compassion, as well as his thorough vet knowledge, make him a wonderful choice if you need a vet read more

Absolutely the best! We followed Dr. Hambright when he left Kenhaven to set up his own practice. He was wonderful with our first dog, Ashley, as we dealt with the ordeal of bladder cancer and considered treatment options. She lived 2 years longer than the 6 month projection of the specialist largely due to his advice and care. Our current two dogs, both rescues, have also had their share of health problems. However due to Dr. Hambright's excellent diagnostic skills and care they have been living long and high quality lives. Nobody can believe how old they really are, and that they have such serious health issues. Dr. Hambright is warm, concerned and thorough. The office is clean, friendly and very caring. Expect a followup call the next day to ask how your pet is doing. My regular physician doesn't do that! read more

I've had my share of pets, mostly dogs, all of whom have lived to be very senior fellas. Gotta say, Dr. Hambright is far and away the best, kindest, most compassionate vet I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Not long after Dr, Hambright opened his practice, my beloved 17 year old mutt was suddenly failing, right before my eyes. I had no time to call to find an appointment with a vet, but just loaded him into the car and dashed to Nebel Street. Although I arrived unannounced, my dog's distress was clear, and staff called Dr. Hambright, who came in to work to help, which meant the whole world to me. He was with me as my dog died, and he was absolutely wonderful. In the years since, I've had to go to other practices due to various complicating factors, but have never found one that compares. Dr. Hambright is just supreme, in my experience. You really can't ask for a better vet. read more

We (and our dog) love Dr. Hambright! We've been taking the pooch here since he was a puppy. Dr. Hambright has wonderful bedside manners with our dog and always takes the time to examine him thoroughly, discuss any concerns we might have, and educate us on any preventative measures we should be taking. Our dog never seems to mind getting shots because Dr. Hambright does such a great job of putting him at ease. read more

Though I don't doubt that the care they've given our pets has been good, they are very expensive. Even though they are very conveniently located for us, I feel like I should look elsewhere for more affordable service. read more

Lost our beloved dog because of failure to diagnose obvious condition. I took my dog in for the first time for an annual checkup but more because of increasingly severe symptoms that previous vet did not take seriously either. Told Dr Hambright about worsening symptoms, including abdominal tenderness, loss of appetite, extreme shedding, lethargy, and stiff and weak rear legs. He did not do blood labs or ask for stool sample. He concluded that my dog probably had a degenerative spine causing problems with legs and offered no reason for the excessive shedding, which he admitted was unusual. Did not address the loss of appetite or abdominal pain issue either. One month later, our dog had what is called an Addisonian Crisis because he had undiagnosed Addison's Disease, despite a combination of textbook symptoms that were missed by Dr Hambright. He died 32 hours (and $5,000 of emergency hospital costs) after the crisis and exactly one month after I had taken him to Nebel Street for his wellness check, which he had passed. read more

We were looking for a new vet after moving from DC to the suburbs, and tried Dr. Hambright based on the reviews posted here. I wholeheartedly agree with everyone else, he is absolutely WONDERFUL! I have a 3 year old fear aggressive dog who does not make vet visits easy (to say the least). Dr. Hambright was so patient, gentle, and willing to take things slowly that we made it through the entire physical exam un-muzzled and without a single problem. AMAZING!!! When it came time to draw some blood we did muzzle my pup for safety's sake since being restrained is a big trigger of his aggression - usually this ends with him trying to squirm, snarl, and muzzle-punch his way out of the situation - but Dr. Hambright was again so gentle and efficient that I was able to keep my dog totally focused on treats while he did everything he needed to do. I cannot even begin to describe how monumental it is to make it through an entire vet appointment without my dog having a single outburst! I am quite simply amazed and would highly (HIGHLY) recommend Dr. Hambright to anybody. I just wish I could give him more than 5 stars! Sidenote: Another plus for us was that Dr. Hambright's waiting area is designed in such a way that it's pretty easy to keep your dog from seeing/interacting with other dogs while waiting to check in or check out (the mix of anxiety about being in a new place/the vet + excitement about other dogs can make my dog's aggression issues come out more easily, so for us it's important to limit waiting room dog-dog interactions as much as possible). read more

I have been going to Dr. Hambright for a few years. I can't say enough about the exceptional care he and his excellent staff have given our two toy Poms. Everyone in his office goes above and beyond to give their pet patients and their families the attention, consideration, and kindness that truly sets this practice above all others I've ever experienced. Thank you for all you do for our loved ones! read more

I have lost count of the number of animals we have taken to Dr. Hambright. So compassionate at the end of life. His fees are fair and we have never felt that we were encouraged to buy extras or do extra test that were not needed. read more

**This review has also been posted to Nebel Street Animal Hospital on yelp.** I'm so disappointed that at a time when I needed a professional to utilize their knowledge and years of training beyond the routine vaccinations and wellness exam, I was severely failed. Thankfully, no further damage has occurred as a result, but I will not be returning to the Nebel Street Animal Hospital or Dr. Hambright. I feel that this would have been a very obvious diagnosis to a semi-conscious veterinarian. I can't afford to leave my animals in the care of one so complacent. Sept 1st 2015, I took my 10 year old Mini Dachshund in for vaccinations and to address the strange behavior of random yelping and guarding as if he had an injury by being very cautious about movement near him. I also explained that I noticed the dog had a lameness in his right hind leg (I thought it was a possible symptom of Lyme's from a tick bite. Snap test was negative.) and seemed to be socially withdrawn. Dr. Hambright performed the most basic assessment of flexing the dogs neck from side to side and up (up only), but noted no reaction or pain from these manipulations, and said his yelping must be a behavioral issue. Noticing no changes or improvements in his strange behavior, attempting to entrust Dr. Hambright's assessment, I allowed another month to go on until I decided to take my dog to a cardiologist for a persistent cough (possibly associated with a newly diagnosed murmur). Perhaps this may explain his other strange behaviors as well. The cardiologist did a standard (yet more indepth than Dr. Hambright's) neurological test, putting the dogs snout down instead of up (dog immediately yelped) and turning the feet over to show signs of "knuckling" (something I had noticed twice the month before, but didn't know it was a sign of neuro-deficit. I'm not a veterinarian!). The dog had no reaction and did not try to correct the placement of his paws. That same day, I took him to a neurologist who had concluded (without even needing XRays or MRIs) that my dog has a painful cervical disc rupture. Treatment options being strict cage restriction for 6-8 weeks with medications or MRI & surgery. I feel that being presented with a TEN year old mini DACHSHUND (the poster dog for spinal issues) who is said to be YELPING and behaving as if he is GUARDING AN INJURY, should have been enough for Dr. Hambright to pay more attention than to sum it up as a "behavioral issue". I have seen 5 other veterinarians (cardiologist, neurologist, 2 generals and an internist/acupuncturist) who have all done these basic standard assessments and have found it obvious that the dog had a spinal injury & is in pain. I see the look on their faces followed by the shaking of their heads in disapproval when I say "My dog has been behaving this way since late August, was seen by his regular vet in September and I was told nothing was wrong with him." I feel that, because the dog wasn't in excruciating pain presenting with blatant paralysis, Dr. Hambright did the minimal observation. I am a nurse, I am trained to observe, and understand medical lingo. My education in humans does not translate well to veterinary observations, but I am well informed and detailed. I have been to Dr. Hambright 3 times and 2 of those 3 visits I have felt that he was not truly interested in my concerns and was merely brushing off as a neurotic pet mom. Dr. Hambright may not have been able to do much more than refer me to the neurologist, but that could have saved my pet another month of pain and could have decreased a now prolonged recovery time. As an owner, we are our dog's advocate. We know their tendencies and behaviors. It is crucial that a veterinarian use your words as puzzle pieces to make a proper diagnosis. I need a veterinarian with a willingness to listen and the motivation to investigate the problems the owners are vocalizing. read more

Dr. Hambright and the Nebel Street Animal Hospital is a model of compassionate care for pets and their owners in good times and bad. I've taken my young cats there for cheery and thorough checkups, and recently I've had to take an older cat there and say goodbye. I didn't expect the dire diagnosis, so it was a very long and difficult day of phone calls and explaining and agonizing. Dr Hambright and his staff were absolutely wonderful -- calm and patient and supportive and empathetic. And a few days after I had left in tears with my empty cat carrier, I got a lovely card in the mail telling me that Dr. Hambright had made a contribution to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in memory of my sweet Sara kitty. It doesn't get any better than that. read more

We used Dr. Hambright and Nebel Street Hospital for our dog and cats for a couple of years. At first, we were pleased, but over time, we found the quality of care mixed and became increasingly disappointed. While the facility is nice and clean, the medical care varies dramatically depending on the expertise of the professional. When they made a major mistake with one of our pets, they tried to cover it up instead of admitting it. I would not recommend this practice unless you are looking for more than the veneer of a good vet. There are much better practices available in the area for the same or lower prices. My sense is that the practice has declined in quality over time, which is unfortunate. read more

My dog would NOT get up, she was so sick. In a panic, I picked all 70lbs of her fluffy butt up, and brought her to Dr. Hambright. He is a great doctor and stopped what he was doing to meet me in the lobby, and take my precious pound mutt into his care to evaluate. What a relief! He has a nice staff, wonderful hours and is a great vet. Great practice and thank god for them! read more

This review gives two thumbs up for Frank Kavanaugh, the veteran veterinary technician who has worked with Dr. Hambright since this practice opened. Frank took care of our first cat at his prior post at Friendship Animal Hospital, and we have been in touch with him ever since. Frank-- whom we've known for at least 20 years-- is kind, capable, patient, observant and great with animals. We trust him absolutely and his presence at Dr. Hambright's practice says a great deal. You can be assured that Dr. Hambright has top-notch support in caring for the animals here. Dr. Hambright's practice also goes above and beyond by helping to stabilize and find homes for feral cats. read more

Dr. Hambright is simply the most thorough and gentle vet I've ever met. He is very generous with his time both in person and on the phone. He always explains things in laymans terms and answers all of my questions without making me feel he is rushing. I've been a pet owner for 30+ years and I've never had a vet spend so much time assessing a pet and speaking with me. I love that he presents the pros and cons of tests and treatments. I just wish I had found him years ago. I will never trust my pets care to another vet. read more

I was nervous to find a new vet upon moving to the area, but the staff here has made me feel very welcome. They are kind, caring and knowledgeable, and immediately put my mind at ease when I saw them interacting with my fur babies. Their prices are fair and don't prescribe anything you don't need. Have been Recommending them to anyone in search of a new vet. read more

I took my two boxers to Dr. Hambright this week--a 7 year old and a young puppy. After being less than pleased with our previous vet, I'm very pleased with the level of care and service provided to our dogs. Dr. Hambright is knowledgable and compassionate. The vet techs and receptionists are attentive and professional. The charges were no more than what was reasonably needed, very reasonable prices, unlike our last vet that seemed to find every way possible to pad the bill. I suspect we'll be taking our dogs to Nebel Street Animal Hospital for years to come. read more

Dr. Hambright is hands down the best vet that I've ever worked with. I've taken my cat Caesar to many different vets over the years and Dr. Hambright is definitely the best. First of all, I always get an appointment very easily and in the past (when there has been an emergency), I've gotten one right away. But the real reason that I work with Dr. Hambright is because of his common sense approach to veterinary care. He always take the most natural approach and doesn't push medicine or unnecessary procedures. In addition to this, he listens and provides excellent advice about the healthcare of my pet. I often times have a million questions and Dr. Hambright always takes the time to answer them and have an honest discussion. I know that he is super busy but he never makes me feel like I've got to rush through an appointment. Today, I dropped of my pet and it was very hard to get ahold of me. Dr. Hambright tried until he did. This shows me that not only is Dr. Hambright highly professional, but he honestly cares. I would HIGHLY recommend Dr. Hambright. He is absolutely wonderful. I wish that he was a people doctor too because I'd see him for my medical needs as well. :) Additionally, the front office staff and technicians are very friendly and quite knowledgeable. Everyone seems to be on the same page and very organized. They are also quite pleasant and professional as well. I enjoy seeing them when I come in and they take really good care of my baby. read more

Since rescuing my "special needs" Foxhound mix almost six years ago, I continue taking Troy to Dr. Hambright and am completely satisfied. Troy is a challenge. He was a cruelty rescue and was literally half-dead with pneumonia and a homemade cast on his leg when we got him. Today, he's a robust, healthy, VERY LOUD AND DEMANDING 57 pound lap dog. His anxiety issues have dissipated. Troy also has a girlfriend now, which is probably the key to his adjusted temperment!!! I am very thankful for Dr. Hambright and his staff. They were patient with Troy when others were not. read more

The front desk people are notoriously rude. This place is also known to way over book, and will force people to leave their pets there all day long just for a short appointment. I have many experiences with various local vets, these people are out for $$$$ and will get it out of people by any means possible. I have never seen a vet over book and squeeze in as many appts that are way beyond what they are able to actually do. Because they are a convenient location, they have a huge clientele, and that is why they can treat people so badly. read more

I could not possibly get any better treatment than I did at Dr. Hambright's clinic. Dr. Hambright is the most experienced, knowledgeable but at the same time caring and compassionate vet there is. He not only treated our dog and then took care of putting our dog down when it was time, but he also understood our grief, and in a sense took care of us too. I will certainly take my next dog, when I am ready for it, to Dr. Hambright for his care. I highly recommend him. read more