Because of poor communication, we as the customer had to pay the high end quote of a procedure. Every Veterinarian preaches spay or neuter your pets then charge an outrageous amount. Simone Yen and this office will never receive a recommendation or a request for service again. $300 for a blood work up and then another $883 for the procedure.This office took no responsibility and made us feel as if this was a lack of communication on our part. This office was notified that our dog was most probably pregnant and they waited a month to conduct the surgery so we could be charged more money. We were put on a wait list for the procedure and they never could fit us in. Knowing very well we were concerned she was already pregnant . I certainly hope this is not the case with everyone, but from my conversation with Simone she didn't care. If we could give them 0 stars we would!!! read more

A very bad business. They cancelled an appointment I had made months ahead, less than an hour before the scheduled time. No notice, no nothing. My appointment was only for two shots, where's the money in that? This place is a bourgeois rip-off joint catering to the rich. Unless you just have money to burn, stay away. They care nothing about people and even less about dogs. The vet business is corrupt and rotten to the core.. read more

Horrible, no caring at all for the life of dogs. I brought in my boy in an EMERGENCY. He was having seizures i didn't know what was happening almost panicking feeling his pain. The nurse asked a guy at the reception to get my information he ignored it. Then she comes back after talking to the doctor the only way to admit him I have to pay first. Can you imagine that scenario?! Unbelievable I don't mind expending millions for my boy., come on get him we can deal with the payment. I got out of there and went to Cornell veterinarian emergency they took him in not question asked right away. My baby is good they took care of him with genuinely care. Do not go to this clinic they care about the money no the life of your son or daughter. read more

Veterinary Care of Ithaca - At Cornell vet emergency not this place. - Veterinarians Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

We've been a patient for almost 2 years now and I now have 2 dogs who are seen at Veterinary Care of Ithaca and I highly recommend them. They are so friendly, helpful, and accommodating. There seems to always be something going on with one of our dogs and no matter whether it is behavior concerns, illness, bug bites, injuries.. they always take the time to review thoroughly and explain all options for treatment to us clearly. We are moving out of the area soon and I will be so so sad to leave the practice. read more

Awesome care for my 2 Havenese...very caring and compassionate. We moved up from Florida where we had spent lots of money trying to figure out why our dog continued to suffer from a severe skin condition. The vet at Vet Care of Ithaca figured it out immediately and my dog is happy and healthy again! read more

We're new to town and I was dreading finding a new vet. Luckily, I got it right on the first try with Veterinary Care of Ithaca. We've since brought all 3 of our pets here and they are always gentle and respectful with our pets. They are very knowledgeable and don't push unnecessary procedures on you. All of the staff are really saavy with shy are fearful pets and gave my dog copious amounts of spray cheese (she LOVES going to the vet now). They squeezed us in when my dog had a vaccine reaction and generally have good availability. I also really appreciate the gate in lobby so my reactive dog doesn't see other dogs down the hallway. Highly recommend! read more

This is by far the best veterinary experience I have ever had. I've had my dogs at numerous vets in Los Angeles, and not once have I experienced the level of care, kindness, attentiveness, and expertise as I experienced at Veterinary Care of Ithaca. Even in Covid times, over phone, the vets here (and front desk staff along with technicians) never rush you off the phone, really take the time to get to know your pet, and maybe one of the most important things - they prioritize CARE. Meaning, they don't try to sell you procedures and labs etc that aren't really necessary. If you ask for advice, they give it. This seems like an obvious thing for a doctor, but most vets that I've dealt with elsewhere just give you the breakdown of cost, recommend the most extensive amount of testing and medication and procedure, and tell you it's up to you which choice you want to make for your pet. Considering I'm not a vet, I find this approach really frustrating and not helpful, and I frequently leave the experience spending an exorbitant amount of money and receiving the answer that time will heal whatever issue they couldn't solve via all the testing. Ithaca Vet is the opposite. They use common sense, paired with a genuine love for animals, and a respect for their customer. I am so sad that I have moved away and my dog can't be seen here anymore! read more

My 11-year-old cat has had nothing but great experiences here. There's a lot of vet talent in the area, but so many clinics overcharge and overbook. We've had our cat treated for allergies, failure to eat, she's had dental extractions. I would not take her anywhere else. And the prices are VERY reasonable. We've gotten plenty of advice over the phone, without having to bring her in for another appointment or fee. Our cat is a charmer, so of course they love her. But she loves them too. read more

DO NOT GO HERE! INCONSISTENT is the main word I'd use to describe this place. They screwed up my dogs vaccinations and gave her the same one twice, making her sick the day before we were flying with her. They also told me I could get a health certificate without seeing the vet, and I have done so before... then LATER I called within 10 days of a flight to ask for another one, and this time they said I had to bring my dog in, which I couldn't do since she was in California... They've really put me in a bind to find a new vet and have lost me as a customer for sure. And that's not to mention they were INCREDIBLY RUDE on the phone and the manager there hung up on me as she deemed my problem not important enough for her time read more

In from out of town, made an appointment to have our puppy checked out before traveling home. Turned away at the door for being 8 minutes late. Since we are from out of town and don't know the area you would think they would make an exception. Save your money they obviously don't need the business. read more

Very dissatisfied. Highly priced. Unpleasant costumer service. When talking to the manager we were rudely offered SPCA care and it was implied that we could not afford our pet. Prices are outrageous and I wouldn't take my animals there, I will not be returning nor recommending to anyone. read more

We're currently suing them for malpractice, as their incompetence and negligence directly lead to the terminal condition of my dog. The vet was not qualified to prescribe chemo and did not inform us of this until 8 months after she had assured us that she was, after the drugs had already destroyed my dog's liver. While we might have saved him with simple supplementation before it had progressed to end stage liver disease, she never suggested this and in fact ignored me several times when i asked for prescriptions for Denamarin, which his previous vet had issued. Instead they watched his bad liver enzymes climb and climb for months, and again waited for US to suggest that perhaps we should take him off chemo. The second opinion we sought from an internal medicine specialist concluded that he should have never been on chemo in the first place, or at the very least should have been taken off it months ago, but that it is too late to do anything about it now. If you care AT ALL about your pets, don't take them here. They also failed to forward his medical history EVERY time we took him to specialists or the emergency hospital, twice when they had several weeks notice and I called to remind them more than once. The receptionist is also extremely rude, and made fun of my dog's appearance right in front of me on more than one occasion (he has masticatory muscle myositis, so his head has lost all muscling - it doesn't look funny or cute, it looks tragic). When I called to tell them we were finding another vet because they had again failed to forward his medical history with 2 weeks notice, they told me I was being rude (I wasn't, see below), hung up on me, then sent me a letter saying they were dropping me as a client. Can you believe that? They killed my best friend and then told me to get lost. They obviously care nothing about the quality of the care they're providing or they might have bothered to ask the long time client why they were leaving, rather than send a nastily worded letter in the mail. I can send letters to, and I'm addressing one to the state licensing board, one the the Tompkins county veterinary medical association, and one to the BBB. *I was a receptionist for 11 years and am NEVER rude over the phone or otherwise - my voice was shaking because I had been crying, and I prefaced the statement with "please don't take this personally,but the level of care I have received at this establishment...etc." read more

Veterinary Care of Ithaca took amazing care of both my elderly dogs during my time in Ithaca. I always found it easy to get in for urgent appointments and felt like the doctors spent more time with my dogs than other vets have done in the past. The offices are clean and bright and the staff is incredibly friendly - my dogs were always happy to be there and enjoyed being showered with attention. I felt like the practice really cared about my dogs and always appreciated the follow-up phone calls. read more

I have always had a great experience here. My cat has been a patient of theirs for over two years. They are always proactive for preventative care and they give discounts for referrals. They have contests such as a halloween costume contest that my cat actually won, and we got a free teeth cleaning and a bunch of goodies. This is my first pet, but I think that their prices are reasonable, it is a doctors office after all! The patient rooms are clean and the doctor is always fantastic. I highly recommend this place if you are trying to figure out where to take your animal friend in the Ithaca area! read more

I've been totally satisfied with VCI since long before it changed its name to VCI. All the staff at all levels* have been outstanding to work with, e.g., helpful, caring, knowledgable, kind, patient, etc., and willing to spend enough time to thoroughly understand what's going on with my dog, and to make sure I understand the options and costs. Perspective: VCI has taken care of four dogs for me, two I got relatively young and who lived very long and healthy lives, and two I adopted as seniors, one of whom is still in their care. Summary: This is the best place to go if you want the very best care for your companions. *Actually, a long time ago there was one vet who wasn't nice to my dog, but she's now at another practice in town. read more

I've taken my cat here twice. Reservations are easily made online. There's no wait when you get there. The vets and assistants are nice. I will go back. read more

We have had a great experience at vet care of Ithaca! I've been taking my 2 dogs there for about 2 years now. Dr. Barnes is the best! They listen to your needs and will go above and beyond to help. Only downfall is the price- but for me, my dogs are like family and they are worth the price of someone being there whenever I need them. I would definitely recommend them read more

My dog has senior ailments and issues and I have really come to value the vets and staff at Veterinary Care of Ithaca. The service is always on-point and the vets have really gone the extra mile to ensure that my dog is well. I just wish that they would see exotic animals! read more

They have been wonderful to me and my pets over the years. they know each of my animals and have been compassionate with both of us. I had a sick elderly dog they helped me keep a good quality of life. This week I lost my dog to an accident and the were very kind and supportive, and took her gently and respectfully from me to be cremated. I wish they had after hours emergency services because Colonial and Cornell are factories. read more

I've been bringing my cats here for the last 8 years. Once in a while there will be a new vet who is not so good, or even rude. That would explain the low ratings here. I've had it happen only twice in eight years. But other than that I love them. They have been so caring towards my cats and answered all my questions and concerns. Dr. Biasillo and Dr. Barnes are my favorites. read more

We have had nothing but good experiences in bringing our small dog to Dr. Lawlis and her team. They are happy to answer questions, I haven't ever had to wait past my appointment time to be seen, and my dog likes them too! Moreover, the prices are very reasonable and they never do something without showing you what it will cost before doing anything. Our doctor and all of the vet techs have been wonderful with our dog and we are happy to have found such a good vet in the area! read more

Having recently moved to Ithaca I needed to find a vet for my corgi. Because she's a rescue, she has some special needs. For example, she's frightened of men, timid, jumpy and developmentally behind. Understanding this, the receptionist steered me to Dr. Lawlis (sp.?) and it turned out to be a great match. Dr. L. had a thorough albeit careful and kind approach. She gave constructive suggestions and answered my questions. To top it off, I thought the charges were very reasonable. What a relief for me to find the right place for my beloved pet. read more

I've been bringing my pets here for the better part of 20 years. Dr. Meixell and her staff have taken care of them all so well. You can really tell how much they care about animals; it shows in everything they do. I always trust them to help me make the right decisions when it comes to their care. They gave my 19-year-old cat another 2 years after she was diagnosed with cancer, helping me to make the decisions on her treatment that would make her the happiest and give her the best life. They took care of her with so much love that I'm convinced that's what tipped the scales in her favor. Another cat, with special needs, they helped give a normal, wonderful life when others said the cat wouldn't survive past kittenhood. I'm not saying they can produce miracles, but I am saying that they care about every pet that walks through the door, and that I believe that compassion makes the difference. read more

Wow, I have a completely different experience than Daniel S. They're great to me AND my dog and cat. They explain what they're doing, their bills. I've never seen anyone not be good with animals and they are always polite. The online appointment system seems to have some kinks but I always call anyway. read more

I had a great experience here. I just moved to the area and was able to get an appointment just a few days after I called. Everyone from the receptionist to the vet tech and vet were very friendly and genuinely excited to meet my kittie-you can tell they are all natural animal lovers. They took their time meeting and petting the girls before it was time to give them shots and really wanted to make sure I had the opportunity to ask any questions I had about taking care of growing kittens. I will definitely go back read more

I take my cat and dog to VCI and have always been very pleased. Never had to wait for my appointments, prices are reasonable. They always say my boys are sooooo handsome and well behaved (I am sure they say that to many of the clients :) ), it makes me feel so good. I would recommend them highly. read more

Imagine.....your sweet, high energy, extremely playful mixed breed dog becomes a zombie overnight. Funds are short, time is of the essence and you are completely panicked that you are going to have to make the hardest, most horrible choice....two days before the Christmas holiday. Enter Dr. Lawlis and the amazing support staff at Vet Care of Ithaca. They were truly angels sent to calm our fears and save our beloved pup. Dr. Lawlis heard our financial concerns, figured out the best way to maximize our resources, and successfully brought our sweet dog back from the brink. We are so grateful to Dr. Lawlis and the staff for being so kind, understanding and compassionate during a horribly stressful and scary time. read more

Hi - I have taken my dogs to Veterinary Care of Ithaca for years. They are great. And when there is something urgent, they fit me and my dog in to their line-up. Bebe, my border terrier, recommends these folks! - Genie H. read more

I am giving this review on behalf of my mom. She made an appt to have her dog, Zuzu, seen because she was barely eating and lethargic and wanted bloodwork done to see if there was an underlying problem. The vet she saw, Dr. Pate, was extremely rude, barely examined Zu, and acted as if her time was being wasted. She told my mom that no bloodwork needed to be done, that Zu was fine. $70 charged for the "exam" and for a fecal exam (which my mom insisted be done at least). The next day's afternoon Zu did not get any better. She puked up foam and blood suddenly and was rushed to Cornell Animal Hospital, where the friendly and thorough staff told my mom that Zuzu was extremely dehydrated and sick. Zu is now being held overnight for bloodwork -we are afraid to say. Avoid a situation like we were put through- avoid this vet AT ALL COSTS! It may cost your pet's life. We pray Zuzu will make it through. read more

I have never had such unprofessional, inconsiderate darn right rude response from this uncaring office. Calling them on a tues morning asking 4 one of the vets to call me with some questions and concerns I have on my dog. I was hoping to get some guidance from them , but I got a call back from receptionist saying we need to bring her in 4 a recheck. I said no not at this time I just want to talk to a vet, ok I will give them the message. This was wed the day after my call. Wed afternoon a recept. called again and said we have consulted with other vets here and u need to bring ur dog in and again I said I just want a vet to call me. Thurs am I called again and they still refused to let me talk to a vet and at this time I'm really pissed. If u look on there website it even says in the last sentence to call anytime we will be glad to answer and help u with any questions. Here it is fri am and I still haven't received a call, so I then called and asked 4 my animals records and even 2 other families are also leaving that office. U also need to watch them in prescribing meds and doing procedures without ur concent and charging u to the hilt. A simple seresto collar in 75 bucks, but at Foster's and Smith's it 45. We have been at this office 4 many years and why such disrespect I don't know. Rating one star is to much. read more

We just moved to the area for a temporary sabbatical and noticed a large lump in my 6 yo Bassett hound's neck. I called the office and got a same day appt as a new client. My Daisy is extremely anxious so I am always nervous about vet visits. However, when we first arrived, I left Daisy in the truck, and was pleasantly surprised with the warm greetings at the front desk, and the offer to "clear the path" to the exam room to avoid encounters with other animals. We were brought right in, D was offered water and treats, and we waited no more than 5 minutes for the doctor. Dr Barnes was knowledgeable, reassuring, and relaxed Daisy with her easy demeanor and cheese whiz!! It was the most positive experience for me and my puppy, and I've never seen Daisy so quickly relax at a vet office visit, and she's 6 years old! I would recommend this place to anyone who asks and wish we lived here permanently if only for these vet visits alone! read more