Good Hope Animal Hospital: Berlin Katie DVM

May 2024

If I could have given a negative 10 I would have. They have been my vet since 2010. They sold to a corporation & doubled rates. My dog has been treated there many times for stomach problems that take meds, shots & special diet to get well. Sunday she got sick & spit up Monday. I called at 9am when they opened & was told they couldn't see her until Tues & I made appointment. They told be to cancel if she doesn't throw up any more, so I did. They have treated her for over 6 years with this stomach problem. They NEVER TOLD ME TO CANCEL KNOWING HER HISTORY!! Today Thursday she threw up all kibble she had ate & was lethargic, I called and was told they couldn't see her until Tuesday 5 days later!!! I explained how they had me cancel earlier appointment & they know how sick she gets & shes 13 years old. Then she said I can talk to the vets & see if as an emergency they can fit her in today but the office call will be $122 instead of $65. I said ok, after about 20 minutes she came back on & said they can't see her & suggest you go to an emergency animal clinic. I did and it cost a lot, but they gave her iv under skin nausea shot with pills for her. They were great & caring UNLIKE THE GOOD HOPE ANimal HOSPITAL I HAD BEEN GOING TO FOR OVER 15 years!!! Do NOT GO to this VET B/C when your dog needs them most they will treat you like you are not a loyal customer & treat your dog like a dog they don't care if they die because they are too busy to treat them!!

Mar 2023

Our cat was misdiagnosed by a former veterinarian at Good Hope and the specialist that he sent us to see. The cat had a diagnosis of Gastric lymphoma and everyone was very empathetic and kind but suggested Palliative care with prednisone and an appetite stimulant. My sister who is very disabled and has not been in the office, was devastated. I had gifted her the cat to help her with depression and for companionship. I felt terrible because the cat was only 4 yrs old. Anyway after paying over a thousand dollars for the testing and being faced with the possibility of two major surgeries followed by chemotherapy, my sister called Good Hope for an opinion. Her veterinarian told her that he didn't think the cat was well enough to undergo the treatment and it would only prolong his life for possibly a year or two. He suggested that we just treat the symptoms and give him the best life possible. This occurred in May and by November, it seemed like he was continuing to lose weight and we were surprised that he had survived this long but he was content. I then rescued a kitten for my sister hoping to bring up her spirits and ordered a pet memorial stone and necklace. Now the kitten has FIP and I am paying thousands for a treatment that is time consuming and difficult for my sister to administer daily. But, when I brought the kitten in to be seen,I asked Dr. Konetski why it had been almost 10 months and Scamp was still alive. We were told he would only live about 3 months. She looked into it and called later to give us the good news that he was probably misdiagnosed and could be treated for this. Dr Konetski is a wonderful and astute doctor. We were so happy but upset that my sister and the poor cat suffered this long. When I brought the cat in for his annual checkup the next day, he saw a different doctor who made us feel guilty about not bringing him sooner for more blood work. It was a very unhappy experience. We needed to bring him back again because his labs were very bad. I know the doctor talked to my sister on the phone about treatment but it was a bit confusing for her and I looked forward to talking to the doctor to clear up a few things. I found out that we were only scheduled with a vet tech and she couldn't answer my questions. The doc did come in but appeared annoyed. We were just confused as to why his kidney levels were so bad when he drank a lot of water and appeared to be urinating a normal amount. My sister already was having trouble finding volunteers to help her administer an injectable med in the kitten but now she would have to have someone come to help with the cat's shot and IV fluids. It was just so overwhelming. No responsibility for the misdiagnosis was talked about. We were just told that that doctor wasn't there anymore. No apology or discount on the cat' s treatment that is long overdue. I take my dog to another vet and never pay what you have to pay at this office, nor am I ever made to feel badly. My sister's cats have a warm and loving home and she should never be made to feel guilty for doing what she was told.

Jan 2023

I love the people there and have no complaint about the treatment me or my pet received. Everyone was kind and professional. If based on that alone, this review would be 5 stars. My problem is that it cost nearly $800 for bloodwork, a couple of x-rays, the exam and antibiotics. That's nearly a month of living expenses for me, including pet food. I'm on a fixed income. My pet is a great source of comfort to me. But I can't afford to take care of her and that's sad. When did owning a pet become a luxury?