We brought our 15-week-old puppy, Winnie, in on Sunday after she started experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. I had called beforehand to ask if we should bring her in, and they recommended that we do. When we arrived, we were taken back pretty quickly to have her vitals checked, but were then told the wait to actually be seen could be anywhere from 6-8 hours, which definitely caught us off guard! Thankfully, they provided us with a list of other emergency vets in the area to check with. Just as we were getting ready to leave for another location with a shorter wait, one of the vet techs came back and let us know Winnie would actually be seen shortly! Of course, that made me a little nervous thinking something might be seriously wrong with her, but thankfully her parvo test came back negative! They took her back for a full examination, and everything looked pretty good aside from some gastrointestinal issues. The team gave us time to review the estimate before moving forward with treatment, which we appreciated. Winnie was sent home with medication and some canned food to help her tummy over the next few days. Despite the initial shock of the wait time (and the vet bill, of course ), everyone we interacted with was incredibly kind, helpful, and compassionate. It's always stressful having to bring such a young puppy to the emergency vet, but we really appreciated the care and attention they gave Winnie. We're hoping our little girl is back to feeling like herself soon! Thank you to the entire team for taking care of her! read more

Dr. Greg Kaiman - this review is for Dr. Kaiman, who performed the spinal surgery on our dog. When our dog suddenly lost use of his back legs, we were devastated and had a very short period of time (48 hours) to decide what to do, pick a surgeon, etc. I remember consulting Yelp, and I wish a review like this had been available at the time, so I am writing this in the hope it helps someone facing the same decision in the future. Dr. Kaiman was truly wonderful. You can tell he genuinely enjoys his job, and he's great at it. He was very engaged and knowledgeable, and he patiently answered all of our questions. He is clearly highly intelligent, but he is also very personable and could explain things in a relaxed way that we actually understood. He returned some of our follow up calls himself, when he very easily could have had a vet assistant call us back. The surgery turned out excellent. Our dog has now fully recovered. Of course, that isn't always guaranteed, but I would trust Dr. Kaiman with my dog without question. read more

I have had positive experiences with Veterinary Referral Associates in the past, which makes writing this review especially disappointing. Unfortunately, our experience there when we said goodbye to our 13-year-old cat, Sparky, was very different. Sparky had been seriously ill and under the care of our regular veterinarian for months. We knew his diagnosis, had tried treatment, and watched his condition continue to worsen. Despite Cerenia, he was still having severe vomiting, and his chemotherapy medication had become extremely stressful for him. On a Sunday morning, we made the heartbreaking decision that it was time to let him go rather than make him suffer until our regular vet reopened. The receptionist was kind and compassionate. Unfortunately, what followed made an already devastating morning much harder. The veterinary technician came in twice to question us about Sparky's history, his treatment, whether we had considered hospitalization, and why we had decided on euthanasia. We explained that he had been under ongoing veterinary care for months and that this was not a sudden or casual decision. At one point we were told, "You can't change your mind. This is permanent." We knew that. We had loved Sparky for 13 years, and we were already heartbroken. The veterinarian then came in and also initially seemed judgmental about our decision. Once we were able to fully explain Sparky's history, how long we had been treating him, how poorly he was doing, and why we felt continued treatment was no longer in his best interest, the veterinarian became much more compassionate and understanding. I appreciated that shift, but by that point I already felt as though we had been repeatedly asked to defend one of the hardest decisions we had ever made. I completely understand that a hospital has a responsibility to ask appropriate questions and confirm informed consent. What I did not expect was to feel as though we had to prove we had done enough for him. I cried through most of the visit, and instead of feeling supported, I left questioning whether we had done the right thing. We waited roughly an hour and a half before the euthanasia process began, and Sparky was taken away from us for most of that time. Knowing that so much of the limited time we had left with him was spent separated from him is especially painful. Once the euthanasia process began, it was handled gently and respectfully. What stayed with me afterward was the guilt. I barely slept that night. The next day I called our regular veterinarian, who had been treating Sparky and knew his history. She reassured me that we had made the appropriate decision and explained that his continued severe vomiting despite medication was a sign that his disease was progressing and that there was very little more that could reasonably have been done. I hope VRA reviews how end-of-life cases are handled. Ask the necessary questions, but also recognize when grieving owners have already spent months trying to help the animal they love and are now making an extraordinarily painful decision. We needed compassion while saying goodbye to Sparky. For much of the visit, we felt judged instead. read more

Veterinary Referral Associates - Sparky - Veterinarians Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Ok Yelp... I'm frustrated. We rushed our 9-month-old Cavapoo into VRA Pet Hospital at 8:45 AM after waking up to him bleeding from his rectum, after already having diarrhea and vomiting the day before. As pet parents, that's terrifying. It is now 12:37 PM and we are STILL sitting here waiting for a doctor to tell us what's wrong with our baby. The only explanation we kept getting? "Other emergencies came in." I understand emergencies happen... but what exactly qualifies as urgent if a puppy is bleeding, lethargic, and clearly in pain? Our dog has been laying around miserable, not himself at all, and we've had to repeatedly get up and ask when he'll be seen. Meanwhile, hearing laughing and casual conversations at the front desk while your pet is suffering is beyond aggravating. The lack of urgency, communication, and compassion in a moment like this is unacceptable. I hate that this has been our experience because when your pet is sick, time matters. Right now, I'm just left wondering... where are the better emergency animal hospitals in the DMV?! Here's a more detailed and pointed update for Yelp that leans harder into the front-desk failure while still separating it from the doctor's care: Update: I want to be fair because the doctor deserves recognition. Once we were finally seen, she was excellent -- thorough, compassionate, and took the time to explain everything clearly. She even apologized for the lack of communication, which says a lot about her professionalism. But my issue remains with the front desk staff, and honestly, that part of this experience was unacceptable. As first-time pet owners rushing into an emergency with our 9-month-old puppy bleeding, vomiting, and clearly in pain, we walked in terrified. No one at the front explained the ER process, triage, or what to realistically expect. Instead, we were left sitting there for hours in complete uncertainty, repeatedly having to get up and ask for updates ourselves. Every time we asked, it felt brushed off with the same generic "there were other emergencies" response -- with no timeline, no compassion, no reassurance. What made it worse was the atmosphere at the front desk. While we were panicking and watching our puppy lay there weak and uncomfortable, the front desk felt more like a social gathering than an emergency hospital. There was laughing, chatting, snacking, and carrying on while families sat in distress. That lack of urgency and empathy was hard to stomach. No one expects immediate service in an ER, but basic human compassion and communication should never be optional. When people bring their pets into an emergency hospital, they are bringing family. The front desk is the first point of contact, and that first interaction sets the tone. In our case, it made an already traumatic situation feel even more isolating and frustrating. The medical team may have done their job, but the front-end experience failed us completely. read more

Veterinary Referral Associates - My 9 month old Cavapoo - Veterinarians Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

This review is on our Internist, Dr. Sindumani Manoharan. She is thorough and pleasant to interact with. Her team is all so kind and sweet and I can tell that they handle things with care. I felt like she was very knowledgeable and understanding as to each aspect of our cat. The prices at VRA are pricier than other vets closer to me (one is 4 mins away and another is 6 mins away and VRA is 22 mins away). However, I feel like I would definitely trust the health care of our precious cat to her and her team. Loved the nice touch on the board when I was waiting for the doctor. read more

Veterinary Referral Associates - Veterinarians Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Skilled, caring, medical care for dogs and cats. Specializes in complicated health issues in your pet. I have been seeing Dr. Cain for my dogs respiratory and heart issues. He is professional, caring and very competent. He has kept my dog (and me !) comfortable and very well treated for sometime. The best ! read more

My experience with VRA was overall very positive, especially because of the staff. Everyone I interacted with was kind, professional, and genuinely helpful throughout the process. One thing that really stood out was the strong communication -- they kept me informed, answered questions clearly, and made sure I understood everything along the way. The services are definitely on the pricey side, which may be difficult for some people to manage, but the quality of the staff and their professionalism helped make the experience worthwhile. It's clear that the team cares about providing good service and supporting their clients as best as possible. read more

I am late on writing this review, but in Feb 2026 I took my dog for a consult with Dr. "Ben" (Benoit) on a suspected nasal tumor. He recommended a MRI as the most conclusive, but gave all the other options as well so it wasn't just the most expensive. I opted for the MRI, and sadly, we found an advanced tumor in my dog's nasal passage that had already broken through to his brain. Dr. Ben gave me a menu of options and different outcomes we may get. He never made me feel pressured or judged, and was empathetic and compassionate. It's clear he's also incredibly knowlegable of the most recent treatments available. I understand there are always complaints about expensive care at Vet ERs/Referrals or "are they owned by PE?" questions, but an MRI and radiology expertise anywhere is expensive, so that's something to just accept. VRA was worth the expense for me because I wasn't treated like an open wallet or profit line and the quality of care/concern was outstanding; I was even given a military discount. I am very grateful for their entire staff for getting us in quickly and the humane treatment to owners and their pet family. Thank you Dr. Ben for letting me know how much time I had left to cherish my dog. I'm forever grateful for your kind and calming presence. read more

"There's nothing we can do to help Sadie until Dr. Stewart returns." Those were the words I was told after we selected chemotherapy as the treatment plan for my dog's cancer. Over the previous 10 days, Sadie underwent extensive testing, imaging, multiple examinations, and a surgical consultation through this practice. After choosing chemotherapy as Sadie's treatment plan, we were told that Dr. Stewart would contact us the following day with the next steps. She never called. After repeated emails and phone calls seeking guidance, we were finally informed that Dr. Stewart had left for a 10-day absence. At no point did anyone tell us that our veterinarian would be unavailable for 10 days or that, after we selected chemotherapy as Sadie's treatment plan, her care would effectively be put on pause until Dr. Stewart returned. Instead, we were left hanging at one of the most critical moments in her care. I am appalled that this was the response we received. Sadie deserves better. read more

Full service hospital with excellent staff. Our dog received professional and kind care. Fully equipped hospital with laboratory, xray (including MRI and CT scan) on site Highly recommend. read more

I brought my cat into VRA two weekends ago, and she was diagnosed with high-grade T-cell lymphoma. She was well cared for by the staff and the ER doctors, and I was pleased with their care. I spoke to Dr. Lechner in Internal Medicine and Dr. Fritz in Oncology the next day. Everyone seemed confident and assured me that my cat was stable and would do well with chemo, which left me feeling hopeful and happy. Unfortunately, I later reached out to Dr. Fritz about three times and never received a response. I had some general questions and also called to seek help for my cat's immune system, as it looked to me like she was starting to have a herpes flare up due to the jumpstart chemo. Still, I received no response from a doctor. I went to VRA the next day to talk to someone in person, the staff tried their best but couldn't help me directly, so they left Dr. Fritz a message. I called back the next business day, and the staff acknowledged that a message had been left for her and promised to leave another one. I still received no callback. It wasn't an emergency when the weekend started, but as she grew sicker, it became one by Monday night. It turns out that my cat did not respond to the jumpstart chemo and was declining. I needed to know how to support her immune system and keep her comfortable during this time. I thought maybe I could get some antivirals, some general support, or just get my questions answered...anything! By then, my trust in Dr. Fritz was gone, so I ended up reaching out to my personal vet for help to keep my cat comfortable. We ended up letting her go on July 1st. It was very peaceful, but very sad. One could say that I should have brought her back into VRA as an emergency, but my trust was already lost. I wasn't going to waste what was left of my dying cat's energy there, which is why I brought her to my regular vet instead. I don't blame VRA or Dr. Fritz for the decline in my cat or her death, the inpatient staff took very good care of her. I just want to bring awareness to the fact that you're not always going to get the support you need here, and it will be disappointing. In this case with Dr. Fritz, I'm not the only one who has experienced this lack of communication. Should I have another cat diagnosed with cancer in the future, I will not be bringing them back here just to be ignored and unsupported by Dr. Fritz and her team. This hurts so much on top of losing my cat. You know the saying "like icing on the cake"? In my situation, it's diarrhea on a pile of s**t. My cat didn't deserve to be ignored like this, especially by a highly reputable oncologist. You chose a profession to treat those who don't have a voice, yet you actively chose to ignore her. I have since heard that Dr. Fritz will seemingly only respond if your questions are directly chemo related. If you use her, I strongly suggest you somehow figure out how to incorporate the word "chemo" into your messages and cross your fingers. I'm only leaving two stars because the front desk, intake, and emergency staff were great. read more

Last week my cat had an emergency cardiac event, which was confirmed by my primary vet who told me to come to VRA right away. They took care of her immediately with an oxygen tent, injectable meds and a thoracentesis. Most importantly they were honest and sensitive about the prognosis. They worked with cardiology to get her stable again over 3 days so she could come home. I am so grateful that it worked out - their skill definitely made it possible. read more

We had an excellent experience with Dr. Crumley (ophthalmalogist). We brought in our pet for an eye infection that hadn't resolved with multiple rounds of antibiotic eyedrops. He quickly diagnosed her and prescribed a different course of treatment that worked. I had been worried about the potential cost of a specialist but the visit was less than the cost of our regular vet, including the eye test, and VRA was very upfront and transparent about what the cost would be. read more

I just realized I forgot to update my cat's hyper/hypo thyroid treatment at Veterinary Referral associates (VRA). So here it is. To recap, Grant is a senior, had the above disease, for which VRA recommended radiotherapy. The treatment is very expensive and post radiation protocol is complicated. Also, VRA is out in the hinterland, and i was taking Uber there. But the vet gsve very good odds for the cure rate, I was fortunate that I could afford it, and Grant was cured! With a lower cure rate. I would have been more hesitant, but it was all worth it. And Grant would agree, if he wasn"t sleeping on my leg. read more

There have been two outstanding experiences with Dr. Ganjei. Through his experienced fingers, it turned out my dog did not have anal gland cancer which was suspected by my regular vet. My dog was carefully monitored for a year which confirmed his initial impression. The second experience was surgery for a double hernia and perianal fistula this August. For a dog who had just completed chemotherapy for lymphoma, it sounded like extensive surgery, bringing worry. Dr. Ganjei said, "This is going to be okay. I'm good." Said without arroagance, rather a calm registering of his long history of competence. His special skill being able to do this through non-invasive surgery eliminating a large abdominal incision, enabled my dog to have a quick recovery. Dr. Ganjei's attentiveness to pain management enabled m dog's recovery to be so comfortable. In addition to his surgical skills, he is a warm, wonderful human being whose human presence deeply enhances the medical care he offers. I am so relieved and grateful for what my dog and I received from him. I would recommend Dr. Ganjei whole-heartedly! I'm part of the medical profession, so have high standards for health care and how it is delivered. I am also grateful to the women at the front desk who are so warmly hospitable, respectful and helpful. VRA is a well-organized, responsive organization that makes it pleasant and easier to receive needed care. read more

This is a review of Dr Ganjai NOT VRA as a whole. He is the kindest, most compassionate doctor. Our dog had cancer and he was able to remove it all. She is now living a happy, healthy life. It is because of him. If your pet need surgery, you can't get better. He is amazing!! read more

I took my dog there for surgery. When I picked him up they said if I had any concerns I should take a picture of the area and send it to them. So I did that. I got a response from the 'frontdesk' saying they would forward it to the 'surgery department'. I didn't hear anything. I sent another follow up, but now after three days, no response. I guess once they collected there more than $3K in fees they didn't seem to need to respond. Very disapointed. read more

The one star review is the lowest I could give. I suggest avoiding this establishment if possible. This animal hospital claims expertise but in my case their performance was lacking. My wife and I brought in a dog we were caring for and who had suddenly become paralyzed in his hind quarters. While waiting, he became agitated and repeatedly flailed his front legs - in evident pain -- which made him difficult to restrain. Because of this, my wife on two occasions informed the receptionist that he was in distress and required immediate attention, but with no immediate result. Eventually a tech appeared. Despite the fact that this establishment was on notice that the dog was agitated and in pain, he made no effort to assess this or relieve the dog's condition. Most significantly, the tech did not apply an anti-bite collar, take steps to transport him to an examination area in a safe manner or take any other reasonable, minimal precautions for handling an agitated dog in pain. Instead, the tech simply instructed me to carry the dog to the examination area. This resulted in what was surely predictable to them: The dog lashed out in pain and bit me in the chin, requiring stitches. Only then did the tech - evidently not wanting to be bitten himself - order up the readily available anti-bite collar and a stretcher. Given their supposed expertise, the bite on that occasion could have been avoided by them exercising a minimal standard of care, which they did not, and they have refused to own up to it. read more

Apex Vets referred us. We brought our pet at night in after she ate something she shouldn't have and it required endoscopic removal. The place is easy to find and has ample parking at light. Waiting room has ok seating, a snack machine, and free coffee. The desk staff was very friendly and got us checked in right away. It took a little bit to talk to a vet because they had some priority emergency cases but they kept us informed. I've waited much longer at other places. Saw the vet who walked us through everything. The procedure required summoning the on-call internist and it was not cheap. If I had one knock on this place it would be steep pricing, but I can't uniquely hold it against them because that's just vet care in DC. At least the final cost came in under their estimate so I did not think they were looking to gouge me or to tack on unnecessary costs, which I appreciated. The best part of the experience, unlike some other animal hospitals, was that once my dog was checked in I was free to stay or leave (some places make you stay there and wait). The vet called me a couple of times to update me on progress and on what time I could expect my dog ready to be picked up. Definitely appreciated that. Overall if you have emergency needs, especially ones requiring involved care, I would definitely recommend them. I had a very good experience (other than cost). read more

Our experience here was wonderful. Their entire staff is friendly, patient, empathetic, and generally a pleasure to interact with. They will even proactively ask if you need to use a restroom and hang out with your pet while you go. Dr. Ganjei is a world class surgeon (look up his resume) who saved our dog's life and was clearly excited about doing so. We are deeply grateful for everyone's help through a very difficult situation and would visit them again regardless of distance from our home. Thank you! read more

Dr Jessica Reese is treating my 4 yr old redbone coonhound who has epilepsy, and adjusting the medication so my dog can live the best possible quality life. She is caring, considerate, explains the medication, side effects, and prognosis. This is an education and skill which I do not have, and I appreciate her and VRA. I have a dollar limit that I am willing to spend for my pets' catastrophic illnesses, and a limit to the amount of time I am willing to spend on palliative care. read more

ACHIEVE Urgent Care sent us to VRA for emergency hospitalization on a Wednesday night. VRA staff came out to the car to help get my 60-lb dog, who was no longer walking, into the facility. They did a thorough interview with me about the troubles while other staff were immediately stabilizing her. She ended up staying in ICU for 5 days. Turns out she had apparently eaten something highly toxic, which we presume to be a deadly poisonous mushroom. Throughout her stay, the vets called or talked to me in person every day (more than once a day in the beginning), updating me on details of her status, their hypotheses about the underlying cause, her current treatment, and their plans for next steps. I visited her daily and found the techs also very caring and attentive to my dog and welcoming to me. The doctors came up with a treatment plan that Google AI told me was "brilliant," and it saved my dog's life (Google AI told me 80% of dogs die of this presumed toxin, 50% in the first 24 hours). My dog is dog reactive (although not up to it for most of the time she was there), and they were accommodating in getting her out a back door rather than going through the waiting room where other dogs were coming and going. This care was, of course, very expensive, but they gave me detailed estimates every step of the way and, combined with the detailed information I was getting from the vets, I was able to make informed decisions. VRA saved my dog's life and did it in as stress-free a way as possible. My dog was in an animal shelter for over a year before I got her 2 years ago, and she is an anxious sort, especially in veterinary situations. But I never saw any anxiety or discomfort in her when I visited. They did a great job of keeping her comfortable and stress-free while she was going through this emergency. Good clear discharge review also, allowing me to ask all the questions I needed so that I felt comfortable taking her home, as well as promises that I could bring her back or call if anything was worrying me at home. I am so glad to know they are there if I ever need them again (hopefully not!). read more

The staff, the doctors are all very helpful , compassionate and supportive and very professional!

Primary ER vet had a terrible bedside manner and didn't like if I asked questions. I spent $5,000 to have a piece of silicone removed from my cat's stomach by endoscopy, a "very quick" procedure. Would have spent another 5K if I kept him there overnight as recommended for an incidental finding on xray. Outpatient care at VRA has been good (neuro, ortho, ophthalmology). ED vet was dismissive and insensitive, which was particularly upsetting given the extremely high price. read more

Our cat was extremely sick and we thought we were going to lose him. But the staff and doctors told us that we got you and Mochi and they absolutely saved his life. We are so grateful for all the staff and doctors who went above to save our beautiful beloved cat Mochi. Thank you so much read more

After spending thousands of dollars here over the past 6 months trying to get my dog's skin condition cleared up we were making great progress. However, our doctor left the practice and now there is nobody to approve any of the 4 prescriptions he was supposed to remain on indefinitely. I never received any notice that this was happening and only found out by chance after looking on their Facebook page. Now I am struggling to find a new doctor who can fit us in and will likely lapse on several prescriptions which will no doubt end up costing me even more money. read more

My dog is being treated by two specialists at VRA. The care he has received has always been kind and compassionate. His diagnoses are thoroughly explained and made easy to understand. The techs are also highly knowledgeable and friendly. In addition, when contacted, his specialists are quick to get back to me. I highly recommend VRA. read more

We came from Charleston SC to VRA for stereotactic radiation therapy for our cat. Felix had an adenocarcinoma in his nasal cavity and there was no site within 2 hours of us that offered this therapy. We were given an appointment within days and treatment started the next week. The staff were fabulous as Chris met us each morning and evening. Dr Gordon was kind but clear regarding treatments and side effects. We also had follow up after completion of treatment. We came here based on the credentials of Dr Gordon and that was a choice we will never regret read more

In honor of Thankful Thursday, I've got to give some love to VRA and Dr. Greg Kaiman. It is every pet parent's nightmare to have to rush their pet to urgent care in the middle of the night. I was in this position earlier this summer when my dog experienced a rather spontaneous slip disc while just living his everyday life. Over a matter of 24 hours he went from a slight limp and wanting to remain fairly stationary, to dragging his hind legs when he attempted to walk. That's when I realized something very serious had taken place. I first rushed to my primary animal hospital in DC at midnight for them to assess what was taking place. After a brief time with him in the exam room, the vet came out and suggested that I try to find a 24hr hospital with a neurologist on call ASAP. He was experiencing paraparesis, which was paralysis of his lower body. He was unable to stand, walk or urinate on his own and was likely a surgery would be warranted immediately to give him the best chances of walking again. I had no idea where to begin other than calling around using their long list of places that *might* be open and *might* have an neurologist on call over the weekend. I gave VRA a call and as it turns out, they had a neurologist that they indicated *might* be coming in on Sunday to review another urgent case. So I drove to VRA from DC at 2:30am in the morning. The lobby was completely empty and there was a sign that there might be a 8 hour wait. They later clarified that the animal would be seen before then, but they may have not the staff bandwidth to communicate updates immediately. My dog was taken in immediately and everyone that we interacted with was pretty empathetic. Initially it was a bit of a hard read from the first staff member we encountered, but she continued to warm up and show us she cared in different ways. The next few days were stressful, just waiting for calls and updates. The great news is that VRA was as communicative as possible. If they said they would call by noon, I would always receive a call before noon. They were thorough and detailed in their communication (which is not always the case) and were also helpful in breaking down the significant costs, recovery odds etc that the needs of my dog would entail. Once Dr. Kaiman was able to come in and evaluate my dog, it was clear he would need surgery. Of course, going into major surgery with a vet that you've had no previous interactions with prior can be a bit unnerving. Afterall, I ended up at this hospital due purely to my level or desperation and my pet's needs. But I am so grateful I was able to stumble upon a vet as wonderful as Dr. Kaiman. Not only is Dr. Kaiman incredibly skilled and knowledgeable, but he has the best bedside manner. He is calm, empathetic and a strong communicator. It's not easy to be able to translate science and medicine to the masses, but Dr. Kaiman is fluent in a way that allows for anyone to have a clear understanding of things. He was realistic while also reassuring. He didn't overpromise, but had confidence based on all of his past cases and observations. Through the ups and downs of post-surgery updates, Dr. Kaiman was so steady and consistent. I was relieved when I was able to pick my dog up a few days later, but had no idea how challenging it would be to care for his needs after. It was a little traumatic watching my dog with his fresh staples, his cone, muzzle etc writhing on the floor yelping and crying while two vet techs tried to pin him down to show us how to express his bladder daily. It was also intimidating to see two experiences techs have so much trouble getting any urine out (because my dog was so tight and stressed) making me wonder how we would ever be able to pull this off at home. When Dr. Kaiman came in after, he had told us he had been able to express my dog's bladder on his own daily and that my dog was not terribly resistant. I think that was probably testament to Dr. Kaiman's calm and reassuring nature. My dog definitely has favorites wherever he goes, and chaotic energy does not work well with his slightly anxious and strong willed temperament. We ended up driving to NYC the next day so that my dog could rehabilitate with my sister at her veterinary hospital for the next few weeks which I was so grateful for. I'm happy to report that 6 months later, my dog is more or less back to his old self. We pick him up when he has to go up and down steps and he's no longer allowed to jump on and off furniture, but overall he is walking with a similar strength has he did before surgery. (He does have the cutest little wobble and slight self-adjustments to his running now where he bunny hops a bit, but you can't tell him any different!) So grateful for Dr. Kaiman and the team at VRA for being there for me, my dog and my family during a stressful time in our lives. We are forever grateful! read more

Dr. Lechner and Alina (his tech) are fabulous to work with for our newly diagnosed diabetic cat, Garrison. They are so warm and knowledgeable. We are also so impressed with Mij at the front desk. What a gem! She makes us feel so welcome and is very helpful. We are truly lucky to be in such great hands! read more

Veterinary Referral Associates - Garrison - Veterinarians Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

We're regulars at VRA, and we're always grateful for the exceptional care our cats and dogs receive. A special thank you to Dr. Matthew Lechner for his thoughtful guidance and expertise. He always prioritizes the right treatments and medications, keeping surgery as a last resort, which gives us great peace of mind. We're truly thankful for his compassion and care. read more

I saw a veterinary neurologist there and he was extremely helpful. He had a great bedside manner...which I definitely needed more than my dog. I came in very worried about my pup and Dr Kaiman took his time to reassure me that what I was so worried about very well may not be serious at all. I am bringing my pup back 3 months from that appointment. He is a great veterinary neurologist. So glad I took my dog to him. It was worth every penny and fortunately did not cost as much as I thought it would. read more

As I write this review, I am overwhelmed by a range of negative emotions. Bottom Line: I sought care for my cat at VRA, and within 32 hours, he was dead. My cat's condition was nowhere near grave; he was sick, but certainly not near death. I believe VRA administered an excessive amount/number of drugs in a short period, which tragically accelerated his demise. Dr Glover was the attending who seemed caring at first, but that all changed the following day. She turned out to be a nasty piece of work! Initially, I took my cat to Banfield because he wasn't eating. The veterinarian there suspected Hepatic Lipidosis (fatty liver disease) due to his mild jaundice and recommended an ultrasound at a hospital to determine the cause. On Wednesday morning, I brought my cat to VRA hospital. Dr. Glover was the assigned attending veterinarian. Upon our first meeting, Dr. Glover appeared caring, compassionate, and polite. I was given an estimate for a 2-3-day hospital stay, ranging from $5,000 on the low end to $10,000 on the high end. I authorized the $5,000 to admit him for tests, IV fluids, and feeding tube insertion. Later that evening, Dr. Glover called to inform me that the diagnosis was Lymphoma. She discussed chemotherapy and palliative care options. The following day, Dr. Glover called again with an update, mentioning an oncology consultation and suggesting my cat would likely be discharged later that day or the next day (Friday) with steroids if I chose not to pursue chemotherapy. I specifically asked her about my cat's condition, and she stated, "he was doing better." Within 30-40 minutes, I arrived at VRA for visitation. I was in complete shock when I saw my cat. He was not doing better, as Dr. Glover had claimed. I immediately started sobbing uncontrollably; my cat appeared to be in grave condition. When he saw me, he attempted to get up but collapsed three times before giving up. I told the technician that Dr. Glover had said he was improving and expressed my confusion about his current state. I reiterated that I did not want to pursue chemotherapy, as it seemed unlikely, he would survive the treatment. For a brief moment, I considered euthanasia then and there due to his appearance and overall condition, but I didn't want him to die at VRA and still held onto hope. I asked the technician when he would be discharged, referencing Dr. Glover's earlier statement about a potential discharge that night. Clearly, he was in no condition to be discharged, but I asked anyway. The technician left to speak with Dr. Glover and returned to relay that Dr. Glover stated he would need to stay another night. Throughout this, Dr. Glover never came out to speak with me directly. The technician then informed me it was time to leave, stating the vet needed to perform routine care on my cat and another patient. I reluctantly left after visitation. No less than 45 minutes after leaving VRA, Dr. Glover called to say that my cat had vomited and, simply put, wasn't going to make it. I let her know that I wanted be by his side and didn't want him to die before I get there. She replied coldly, "I think he has made that decision for you." I rushed back to VRA and found my cat on the table, actively dying. To end his suffering, I requested he be euthanized. Immediately afterward, the technician wrapped him in a blanket, handed him to me, and ushered my family and me to another room to spend time with my baby. Once we had said our goodbyes, the technician came to retrieve him, and we were directed to exit through a back door. I did not see or speak to Dr. Glover again. Upon arriving home, I had time to process my thoughts and felt immense anger about how events unfolded. I decided to return to VRA for my cat's remains and requested to speak with Dr. Glover. I was told she had left for the day and that someone would reach out to me. The next day, Dr. Glover called, stating she was calling because I had questions. Not once did she offer condolences. Her overall tone and attitude were a stark contrast to the caring person I met when I entrusted my cat to her care. I asked her why she had told me my cat was doing better when he clearly wasn't. I reminded her that when I brought him in, he was able to stand and walk and was nowhere near the critical condition he was in during my visit. She offered the excuse that he had a blood clot that went to his brain, causing a stroke. This was the first I had heard of this; she never spoke to me about it after her call saying he was doing better. I then told her that when I saw my cat at visitation, I wrestled with the thought of taking him home. Dr. Glover rudely interrupted me and said, "Well, I wish you would have taken him home." Better yet, I WISH I WOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN HIM TO VRA IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! What kind of doctor would say such an insensitive thing? This wasn't her first insensitive comment. I let her know I never wanted my cat to suffer, and under her care, he did just that. read more

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I've unfortunately had a lot of experience with VRA over the years as my cats have an expensive tendency to have emergency situations occur in the middle of the night, on weekends, or occasionally on Christmas Day. Over the past decade, I've said my final goodbyes to two of my cats at this location, and another one of my cats has been a frequent guest due to a recurring health issue. The staff has always gone above and beyond, and I'm very thankful to them. They're always very upfront about the cost of things (which, MoCo being MoCo, tend to be significantly higher than the average sometimes), and they're very willing to work with you in whatever way is needed to make sure your pets get the care they need - even if that's putting stop gap measures into place and providing contact information for somewhere that could provide treatment at a lower cost. I want to take a moment to give a special shout out to Dr. Maya Wallick. My cat, Garrus, was there recently yet again due to his aforementioned health issues, and this time he ended up needing surgery ASAP. She went above and beyond with helping me find a lower cost option and buying him some time to make it there, and it really meant a lot. read more

Veterinary Referral Associates - A large black cat wearing a blue cone around his head. He's sitting on top of a toilet that's covered with a towel. - Veterinarians Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I highly recommend Dr. Kaiman for any neurological issues. Our German Shepherd's disability is likely genetic or something that occurred when he was still a puppy. The compassion and care of Dr. Kaiman and his associates were both heartwarming and reassuring. They are among the very best professionals at VRA. read more

I had to go here under sad circumstances. They have an oncology department and are one if the only veterinary oncology departments around. So, I didn't have much choice. That being said, this place gets a lot of business because there are a lot of people who care a lot about their animals. It seems like they have a lot of experience, but I have no basis of comparison. The staff and technicians who are specific to the oncology department- I only have the highest praise and thanks to give all of them. However, I had some serious dilemmas working with the other staff. When the doctor says she'll be out of town but that I can pick up the chemotherapy medication when she's away, I expect to be able to do just that. For whatever reason, they wouldn't give me the medicine. This was not cool because well, cancer needs treatment and when it's not received, it is quite devastating. Second, when I could finally get the medication, it took 3 visits in person even after phone calls before I could get it. Again, I'm here to help my fur baby survive and y'all are not helping anything right now with failed communication between office staff and the folks getting me the chemo medication. Third, the office staff are very cold and perfunctory. They also have personal conversations among themselves while working with you, even if you're noticeably upset because well, cancer is devastating. That being said... I'm also not sure how things work with cancer and didn't get a second opinion because VRA is pretty much the oncology specialists... but when they say 8-12 months and chemo will be fine with no side effects and neither of those is remotely true... that's not ok. 6 weeks and 8-12 months are very very different. I'm sure everyone here cares about animals. I'm sure everyone here does their best. My experience was not a happy one, but I just have no basis of comparison. Because there was no other choice, I went here. I would probably go again, but, I was not the happiest with the interactions or information as stated above. Considering how many clients they have and the costs, does it cost that much to be kinder and more organized? read more

My cat's regular vet advised us that we needed to see a veterinary internist. At the time, I questioned whether a veterinary internist was the correct type of specialist. Within 5 minutes of entering the exam room, the VRA vet told us that we had been sent to the wrong place & then told us where we needed to go. We were charged the full $290.00 for a "consultation". Altho' the VRA vet was very nice & she didn't make the mistake, I think that charge could have been waived or at least reduced. read more

Service and staff were excellent! Dr. Chen was very personable and explained the treatment process thoroughly. Our pet was diagnosed and we received the test results the same day. I highly recommend this facility. read more

Excellent veterinary staff! They have many specialists in house. Seems they can address every health issue. Sometimes their emergency services aren't available lately. You might want to call ahead if you have that situation. The practice is top quality but quite expensive. Be prepared to spend more than you thought possible. Their imaging services prices are through the roof. Call around for that if you can. But your pet will always get excellent care there. read more

Wonderful place, caring and highly professional staff. It's reassuring to have them nearby and available 24/7. They saved our dog's life. Top notch care and attention to every detail. read more