East Side Animal Hospital, New York NY

I was using this practice due to a recommendation from a friend when I got my rescue pup. I left a year ago and what a difference that has made. I found the front desk staff friendly but the practice is not where I would want to care for my loved one. Though Dr. Freda was knowledgable I didn't feel like she likes animals or her job. My dog had a lot of stomach needs and was diagnosed with IBD by another vet at the same practice who retired. Dr. Freda seemed cold when I would go in for visits. In further research putting a dog on chicken script food is the opposite of what the research tells you since so many dogs have chicken allergies. I was never told to try anything else but this script food and I didn't know better. My encounters with
Dr. Manning were not much better after picking my dog up for a heart exam and he seemed to be too busy to care about anyone or any animal as well. I would not recommend this practice and wish my experience was different.

Eastside has been here for many years. In 1990 they treated my kitty (BC) for cancer

The staff couldn't have been more generous with their affections.

My little one couldn't have been more lucky than to be in their care!

*sigh*
I have been looking for a GREAT vet for years now.
The best one IMO is Greenwich Village Animal Hospital. The doctors and staff were the same so they knew us. Always greeting us with kindness, knowing our history. They even remember our friend's pet and asked how he was. However I have since moved from downtown.

This is the kind of relationship I have been searching for. Unfortunately the vets I've encountered have had a quick turnaround so we have never seen the same staff twice (both doctors and assistants, for the last 5 years).

I found East Side Animal Hospital and thought, oh, this is a neighborhood vet, not corporate, so maybe it'll be neighborhoody. I had high, high hopes.

Well if you could judge a book by it's cover.
Not very attractive on the outside but I thought, well NY rents are high.
It wasn't any better inside. Very cramped. Full garbage bags in the hallway, giving little room to walk by. The rooms are small and the bathroom is tiny and not very pleasant. I've been with Bond Vet which is beautiful and clean but like I said, I was looking for a place where we would know the same doctors and staff.

The vet at ESAH was just that. A vet. Not much personality and didn't seem to love my dog. I guess I have been spoiled w GVAH and their excitement whenever they see us, ask how we're doing, give my dog lots of pets and hugs etc.

With the atmosphere and personalities aside, this is my issue.

I was told that I would be given prices PREVIOUS to treatment to see if I would want it our not. We all know this drill, the one where vets say all the things that are needed. And yes, with unlimited funds, I would want all the wellness exams but sadly, I live in Manhattan and my funds aren't so. I said, I only want the exam and the medication (for what I came in for). For whatever reason, the proceeded to do more than needed (IMO) and charged me more than double. AGAIN, I was NEVER informed of these prices before they did it. I only knew when I got the bill. Which they proceeded to tell me, they needed to do these tests to give out the medication. But isn't that indicated on the history I gave them from my other vet? Didn't I JUST get bloodwork that I showed them? !

My point is, I was told I would be informed BEFORE treatment of costs and then I could decide. This didn't happen. I was stuck with a bill more than double what I was expecting. And maybe if I was happy with the service and/or location, I would give them another chance. But sadly, this is not the case.

Still on my search for a neighborhood vet.

Wish I could give them zero stars. The staff are extremely rude. They don't care for the animals they only care for pre-payments. I never had an issue with not paying. Every NYC vet I go to, you always pay after the visit, period. They now changed their policy and are requesting for something as simple as a technician visit (for bloodwork or giving vaccine) now they want the pet to be seen by a Provider so they can charge more. The person I spoke to lied to me. I called less than a month ago requesting for blood work to see if my cat has Toxoplasmosis since I am currently expecting. However, I ended up with COVID-19 and couldn't take the cat. The front desk person argued with me and told me my cat had Toxoplasmosis because all cats have it which my OBGYN said that not all cats have it. I asked her if he was tested and she said no. Then she asked the vet and the vet said they can do blood work on him. Well today, I called to schedule an appointment for my dog (has an abscess on his paw) and the person I spoke to only cared about my credit card information (this was a first). Then she told me it's going to be $250 and if you don't cancel today, we are keeping the $250. What a scam? I had already explained the issue I had previously. Told her that the cats doesn't need to be seen by a vet for a vaccine or bloodwork. At that point, I had enough and told her to cancel the appointment and that I will look for another vet. With no hesitation, she deactivated my account and sent me my pets medical record. This place is a joke. They need to hire people with at least a High School education if they want to live up to the standards of their location with the price they are charging. Completely ratchet and ghetto. For that, I rather go to the Bronx and save money. Only went there because I live 8 blocks away.

Dr. Freda is literally a lifesaver - about 8 months ago my dog got diagnosed with heartworm, which is something you never want to hear. Dr. Freda was, hands down, the most involved, thorough, and caring vet I've ever come across - she ran me through the procedure, gave me many updates, and even emailed me updated plans about how to continue on with treating our little guy at home frequently. I just felt like she really cared about Alfie and comforted my boyfriend and me through this bizarre disease. She is the best:)