Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

We love Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital. My 7 year old beagle is usually is very fearful of vets and groomers (doesn’t even want to go in the door!) but she runs right in and is super happy to see her vet Dr. Seltzer, tail wagging! Dr. Seltzer is patient and knowledgeable and just provides the best care and advice. The entire staff is so friendly! We won’t go anywhere else! Thank you BHAH!

I just brought our 8 year old Golden Retriever, Kilala, for her yearly exam yesterday to see Dr Seltzer. Kilala actually likes going there. The staff and vet techs are so polite, kind, and love their patients. Dr Seltzer is terrific and listens to you and doesn’t rush your dog’s exam and answers all of your questions. She also was kind to perform minor surgery while we were there rather than us having to schedule another appointment. All of the vets in this practice have been very good in the 8 yrs we have been going there. I miss the original office staff that knew us, but we will surely be happy with the new staff.

When Dr. Marmur sold and the new guy took over the prices went up and it became more “corporate” and “business is business”. Then a few years back my parents’ cat needed a procedure involving anesthesia. They gave her extra anesthesia, enough for a small dog, and almost killed her. We thought she had brain damage. It was horrifying and so sad and traumatizing. She was simply dangerously over sedated. It was extremely irresponsible and unsafe. I since started using another vet for my cat, have moved and found yet another, and isn’t it interesting that in over 5 years the fecal sample I always had to pay for and provide every single appointment in Berkeley Heights has never been mandatory, let alone requested? It’s not necessary. I never knew that. Veterinary pricing is already extremely predatory. How sad that they have to take it this far, misleading people into paying for unnecessary tests at every yearly check up? None of the poops (cats are indoor fyi) we gave them at yearly wellness exams ever resulted in anything relevant. Imagine all the money they’ve made? I also was finally able to get my cat diagnosed with Feline Asthma at City By The Sea vet in Asbury Park. I brought him to Berkeley heights for this, and showed videos over years, and asked questions about “stuck hairballs”. Two separate doctors there told me he was fine. The moment I brought this up at City By The Sea, the mere description let them know it was asthma. A simple Xray confirmed. For years my cat has been having untreated asthma attacks because this office is too inexperienced to diagnose and recognize it. The doctor who diagnosed him graduated within the last 5 years. My cat also had chronic stool issues and it turns out there is an OTC probiotic that helps. Why didn’t anyone tell me? I am very unimpressed and had a very poor experience with this vet. Both pets have had their lives jeopardized by simply poor medical care. I suggest going elsewhere. I used them for years before any of this came to fruition and only stopped when their negligence almost killed our pet. I’m glad I’ve been other places to learn better.

After stewing on my feelings for quite a while I feel compelled to let others know of the worst experience I have ever had at a vet. We had used this vet for many years but never for an end of life euthanasia. Our cat was diagnosed, by Dr. Marmur, with end stage kidney failure even though his last physical blood work from 5 months ago had been supposedly okay. Was something missed or not correctly diagnosed? Dr Marmur could not believe the cat was still living with the levels he showed and we were told to be prepared to tell the kids regarding a life ending decision. We tried our best to keep the cat comfortable with IV's (we had to poke into his neck with a needle) at home as this was all the medication that was suggested along with a pain med. After a couple weeks we felt the cat was truly suffering and decided it was time to peacefully and humanely end his life. We brought him to the office and our cat was put on the table. No sedative was given and Dr. Marmur, after shaving the cat, began poking our poor cat with a needle looking for a vein for the life ending fluid. Unfortunately, the last time the cat was at the vet they had bungled the bloodwork (more tests) and did not take enough blood so our cat had to return for another poke for blood a few days later. Dr Marmur, said he could not go back to the same vein but both paws were already used for blood and the options were tougher. He attempted the paws anyhow to no avail. Meanwhile, the cat, who was always so mellow, was yelping and meowing in pain. It became so inhumane that I stepped out while he was poking away and I asked to be be brought back when he was set and I could spend my last minutes with our cat before he passed. Outside the door I heard violent meows and even the receptionist cringed. I assumed it was incredibly painful for our poor non sedated cat. What we had wished to be a peaceful, humane ending for a very sick cat became a very painful, inhumane experience. I trusted the doctor knew what he was doing but I was dead wrong and have regretted my decision to this day. I was brought back into the room and our cat was very still, as the fluid flushed into his vein. I did not even know if he had already passed. I should have pulled the cat from the procedure but my options were limited in an emotional situation. I had put faith in the doctor, a massive error. After our cat passed Dr. Marmur left the room after shutting the cat's eyes and said, "sorry". Needless to say we have found a new vet for our other animals.

I’ve been using Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital for our beagles for almost 20 years. They provide first rate medical care, are excellent in every respect, caring, compassionate and friendly.