North Shore Animal Hospital

Last night, I had an appointment for our cat just for regular check up, shots, front line application etc. My appt was for 6:20pm. The traffic was awful, I called to let them know I was going to be about 15 minutes late. She said that it wasn’t a problem. They close at 7pm. Well the traffic from Peabody to Lynn at that time was worse than ever and I hit every light. We didnt get there until 6:45pm. I honestly would have understood if they couldn’t see us. But nope, they were so friendly and did not give one bit of attitude due to the fact that we were late. I received the same excellent service we always receive. The vet didn’t rush our appointment and even chatted with my 7 year old who had never accompanied me to the vet before. At check out, the woman was also super friendly. I knew they were trying to close up and go home, it was now after 7pm, but not once did they make us feel that way. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an amazing vet. You receive not only great loving care for your pets, but also amazing customer service. I can’t say enough great things!

No Shore Animal Hosp is the most professional and caring animal hosp I have had the pleasure of taking my pet-​family to. I’m so glad I found them. Their staff and physicians are knowledgeable and kind, they never ‘rush’ and will continue to find the reason for your loved pets’ illness until it is resolved! I have never waited to be seen longer than 7 minutes! Less stress for my pet! I will never go anywhere else! I strongly recommend them to all my family & friends. Their hours are perfect, their facility is large, exam rooms are clean and never smells.

I’ve been taking my girls here for about 10 years now & I’ve got nothing but great things to say about the doctors and the staff. They are always very professional, courteous and kind. They always go the extra mile for me and my girls. The doctors there have call me on weekends on their time off to follow up, the will squeeze me in if my girls need to be seen at the last minute or when they’re not really quite open. They have always been helpful & flexible when it comes to paying my bills. A special shout out to Dr. Lisa but all the doctors there are fantastic.

I have taken my dog to several animal hospitals in the area. My dog was not treated very well and they were so expensive. Everyone here is super nice. They make my very anxious dog at ease, as well as her very anxious mom. For those who have pit bulls, they are very pit bull friendly. When I compare my dog’s annual vet bills with others, mine are always lower and they do not push you into buying more things.
When Sadie was fixed, she had an issue (she was 5 years old) and was bleeding a little. Dr. Dunn called me and gave me his home phone number on a weekend. I felt so much better knowing I could call him at anytime (even though the dog was fine). Sadie is also a little fearful of men but loves Dr. Dunn. I try to see him as much as possible. I really love them and recommend them to everyone.

My review is mainly on customer service. Recently I took my dog to this place for the first time. There were 3 female staffers behind the check-​in desk– a brunette with glasses, an Asian and a blonde. They were casually chatting among themselves while watching me and my dog entered the hospital. They were clearly not busy at the time, just chatting. There was only one other person in the waiting area. I stood in front of them like an idiot for at least a minute or two before the lady with long blond hair acknowledged my existence and asked with annoyance in her voice «can I HELP you?». Wow, really? Is this how you greet customers? I’m giving this place 3 stars because after we were checked in, the service was fast and friendly. The check out girl was very nice and helpful. Please put some friendly people at the front!

I took my dog for a check up, having been new to the area and hearing wonderful things about this place. They are very professional and very busy. Big, bright & clean waiting area. However, when we were taken into the exam room it smelled SO much like animal urine! To the point that I was so afraid my dog would think she was at the dog park and it would be «ok» to pee in the room! (she didn’t — whew!) The vet was very nice and the whole experience was very efficient and quick, from the time we arrived until the time we checked out and paid. Prices seem comparable to other vets that I have been to and it was pretty easy to find in Lynn. I would recommend you check them out, just be prepared if you get a very smelly room. Maybe it was just a fluke with the room we were in.

I brought my English Bulldog here for a physical exam when he was just a puppy and the service was prompt and the vets were very friendly and knowledgable.
However last week my bulldog managed to invert his nail and was bleeding moderately. Considering North Shore Animal Hospital was in close proximity I decided to bring my dog in as an emergency walk in. I was flabbergasted to learn that all of the vets were on lunch until 2pm, it was 10am!!! It strikes me as severely insufficient that all of the vets would be absent for such a long period of time, any fluid business would at least space out break times in order in ensure that emergency patients are seen.
Because the bleeding subsided I decided to wait until the vets returned. Once we were finally seen it turned out that my bully had to have his nail trimmed very close to the paw, and would only require antibiotics to ensure that an infection would not take place.
The most trying part of the visit was waiting to be charged and dismissed. The woman at the discharge area had me wait 30 minutes to print out a summary of the visit.
Overall the vet staff know what they’re doing, the nurses at the front desk and discharge desk can stand to be more courteous and sufficient. Price was also very reasonable the initial exam was $ 62 and the antibiotics were $ 14, whereas Angel Memorial Clinic in Boston charges $ 125 just for an exam.
Long story short, if you can wait you won’t be overly disappointed,

Our chubby Boston had some sort of skin condition combined with the sniffles, and I held back going to the vet for a few days to see if it wouldn’t clear up because I knew I would be scolded about his weight (dog loves to eat, and is really persistent!). I finally called, got a same-​day appointment. Dr. Colgan was kind, thorough, prescribed just what he needed, and *didn’t* go on about my bad parenting. Because Astro will snarf down anything, dispensing meds was a snap, so he was A-​OK in a few days.
About the place: easy parking in the lot; clean and doesn’t smell like anything at all; and every single one of the 5 dogs waiting was happy and calm, not stressed or freaking out at all — the best recommendation I can think of for a vet’s office.
So: great doctor, great care, great facility, reasonable rates, and wagging tails all around.

If I could give North Shore Animal Hospital 10 stars I would! Unfortunately, 5 is the max so 5 it is. Let me begin by saying I guess I am just an anxious pet owner? My pets are my world and I adore them with all my heart. I initially started going to VCA in Wakefield where I felt like I was charged an arm and a leg for not so quality service. So I started exploring other options when I got my dog.
From the first time I spoke with someone on the phone I felt confident they cared about my animals. I adopted a pomchiweenie about a year ago and I brought her in to North Shore Animal Hospital to get fixed. I was so impressed with the quality of service and how informative the staff was. During the initial check up the vet tech and vet asked me if I wanted certain services (shots, tests, etc) and outlined the pro’s/con’s as well as pricing. As much as I do love my animals I can still provide a good home without spending an outrageous amount of money and I can tell that North Shore Animal Hospital respects that. After my pup was fixed and I was picking her up I heard a squeal behind doors. Obviously I was worried my dog was hurt and the person at the desk went back to check and was honest and told me it was my dog who barked but only because they were putting a cone around her neck (don’t blame the dog for fussing!) and she was absolutely okay. I really appreciated her telling me the truth because she had every opportunity to be dishonest so I wouldn’t be concerned but chose to be honest despite that!
This past weekend I also gave them a call because my sweet dog got bit by a tick! My first experience of a tick as a dog owner and the vet tech was beyond patient listening to my panicked story of the tick and gave me lots of advice and next steps to take care of my dog.
I absolutely love this animal hospital!

I’ve been going to NSVH for a while now. I think they’re doctors and vet techs are really good! The facility is clean and most of the staff is completely awesome! However, with that said, there is a certain receptionist that I believe really should not be dealing with customers! I find myself having anxiety just thinking about making a phone call. Not sure of her name. She’s a younger gal that makes you feel like your putting her out. I’ve experienced rude, condescending and stand offish behavior from this person over time. To hear that she has many calls to make a day and she will try to remember to call me, just doesn’t set well with me! We are all busy. Set yourself a reminder and follow through with the customer. Customers don’t want to hear excuses on how busy you are, nor do they want to feel angry nearly everytime they call because a receptionist was rude.

I’ve been to 3 animal hospitals on the North Shore in the past two years, and North Shore Animal Hospital is hands down the best of the three. We took our 7-​month old lab to get spayed, and used a $ 90 certificate from the Friends of Animals group. The only additional cost was about $ 65 for the Elizabethan collar and her larger size. Had we not waited til she was over 50 pounds to have the spay done, it would’ve been cheaper. The staff here was pleasant to work with, and upon checkout, we were thoroughly explained how to care for her over the next week. The other two animal clinics I inquired told me their services would cost somewhere between $ 450 and $ 600, and would require full check-​up with blood-​work prior to the surgery (despite the fact that our dog already had a check-​up with blood-​work completed within the previous 2 months). Given the reasonable costs and great attention of North Shore, I’d recommend them to anyone with a pet.

Like others I have been coming here for years. My pet has been seen for multiple issues and has received excellent care. The price are about average. neither too high nor too low.
The staff has been very professional and courteous. I have seen more than one vet over the years. They have all given detailed explanations of the problem my pet was having at the time.
The facilities are first rate and relatively new looking. The have about 3 – 4 rooms that the receptionist will put you in when they are ready for the vet to see you. Medications are about average priced when you purchase them.
All in all a great place to take your pet if they need medical attention. Highly recommended.

I’ve been going to NSAH for several years. It is on the cheaper end for vet offices, and I have great respect for all of the techs there, as well as most of the doctors. Just avoid Dr. Tom Szczasinski; the rest of the doctors are great. Vanessa at the front desk is always cheerful and sweet. Overall, the best vet experience I’ve had.

I have been taking my dog here since her was 8 weeks old. We now take both our puggles. The service is great, professional and efficient. The prices are reasonable — I mean, having pets can be expensive, so it’s nice when you don’t have to break the bank to take care of them. Both the dogs love coming back — they don’t seem to know it’s a ‘scary’ hospital, so we consider ourselves lucky in that regard. Margarite is wonderful — we can 6 mths w/​o going in and as soon as she sees our name on the patient roster, she’s there waiting for us a big smile and a biscuit.

This is the best animal hospital in the Boston area for people of modest means. I have been bringing my cat to them for 10 years.
Dr. Lisa Colgan helped me learn how to administer subcutaneous fluids at home after my cat suffered kidney damage from the big pet food scandal of 2006-​07 and my little monster survived. My kitty is almost 20 now and is still enjoying life.
I have used vets in the Newton area but the costs are much higher in comparison for X-​rays, etc. Don’t get me started about the cost of care at Angell, where people donate millions to their charity but the vets still charge some of the highest prices in the world for their Cadillac services.

The staff shows, love, care and professionalism. I’m happy with that!

Dear Doctor Dunn,
You are listed below as the owner of the North Shore Animal Hospital. I have never met you but I will share with you and the other readers of Unilocal what transpired with our cat of ten years .
I took him in to the NSAH after noticing he was drinking alot of water. He saw Dr. Carrie Agusti. After a couple hundred dollars was spent for blood work, it was confirmed he had diabetes. I was taught how to give insulin lessons to my precious boy.
Keep in mind, the only thing wrong when I brought him in, was frequent urination. I started the insulin shots twice a day after meals, as instructed, 12 hrs apart. Within days, I noticed a change in his personality,…no energy, lack of appetite, unresponsive, trouble walking. We had to go back after the first 7 days for a glucose test so I was anxious to get there to have him looked at. Dr. Augusti did another blood test and decided his insulin should be INCREASED.
…his condition is getting worse, not eating, not moving much, trouble walking. We bring him into NSAH 3 days after the last appointment. Dr. says just skip one shot. This is not the pet I knew a week and a half ago. He barely recognizes me. He is dazed. He is barely eating, walking funny, Not talking like he usually does.(he used to answer back when I talked to him), no interaction, staring into space as if he doesn’t know where he is. This is bad.
Day 12, I call to speak to Dr. Augusti… my call is not returned until the next day. I am not happy. Day 14, 6a. m…we have the 2 week appt. today, phew… I can’t wait to get there this afternoon. I feed him breakfast and give him the insulin shot. TEN MINUTES AFTER THE SHOT, he drops to the ground and has a SEIZURE in front of me. I panic, I scream, I call for the kids to help. It seems like an hour but it may have only lasted a minute. He seems to be in shock, I can’t even do anything more because the hospital isn’t open yet. I try to comfort what is surely my dying furry friend. The kids (adult children) say their good byes, sobbing as they leave the house for work. I take the day off from work for what I think is the I put my little guy to sleep. He is listliss in the carrier… a place he was very vocal about telling me how much he hated two weeks ago. Dr. Augusti is not in the office. Another vet informs me after doing blood work, that his glucose was DANGEROUSLY LOW. When I gave him that shot, his glucose levels were fine, so the insulin shot made him bottom out and that is why he had the seizure. He didn’t need that insulin and I gave it to him, the advanced dose, remember what Dr. told me???
I decide to stop the shots completely. They seemed to have made him worse. I keep him as happy and comfortable as possible for the next few months. The final weekend he was alive, he didn’t move at all but lied next to his bowl. He couldn’t even drink water but he tried. I put him to sleep a few days later.
I have to wonder if he would have lived longer had I not given him the shots. He had a loving home for ten years and we loved him. I am not happy with the decisions of Dr. A. IF and when I get another pet, I wont’ be chosing her as the vet.

I have been bringing my family’s dogs here for years. In 2006 we had to put our Rottweiler «Buddy» down. It’s hard to put down your dog, even as an adult. It’s a member of the family.
Less than a day I got a call from the Hospital from one of the employees who knows us and how well we treat our dogs. Some douchebag decided to throw a puppy out of a moving vehicle (30 MPH) instead of dropping it off at a rescue league. (I hope the driver crashed into a tree or somehow karma caught up with him/​her).
Luckily someone saw it and brought it here in case the puppy was injured. (I guess there are some decent people still left in Lynn.)
Long story short, I come down to the vet to see the puppy. The puppy proceeds to urinate on my shoes. How can I not take it now?!
Over three years later, we still have that little puppy. Chelsea, a nice Shepard-​mix.
Thanks NSAH. This is definitely one of the best places you can bring your pets.

I can remeber bringing our cats here when I was really young, like four years old. Dr. Dunn was just starting out and he was great. All our animals went to him. When I got my own cat, there was no question that I would take him here. Their prices are decent, the staff is super friendly and helpful.

I’ve been taking my cat to North Shore for over a year now, ever since we had a less-​than-​stellar experience at Pine Banks in Malden. They accept the Friends of Animals spay/​neuter certificate, which was the main reason we went there in the first place.
The facilities are clean, although in a strange area off of Route 1. The vets and vet techs have always been outstanding – attentive, helpful, accepting, and they listen well and treat us with care and respect. I’ve never had trouble getting an appointment when I need it, and the wait has never been long – we’ve always been seen within 10 minutes of our appointment time. Visits are quick but efficient. I waited a bit today for my cat’s chart to be delivered to the payments/​discharge area after her biopsy and test, but it wasn’t a big deal.
The minus one is for the prices. Most vets are expensive, and NSAH is no exception. They’re definitely on the higher end of the price range compared to other offices I’ve been to. Good news: the follow-​up visit is covered if you use a FoA spay/​neuter certificate.
All in all, I’ve enjoyed my experiences thus far with NSAH.