Leesburg Veterinary Hospital, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner

Right when I was giving up on the ability to trust any vet and in general have a helpful and informative vet visit (see my earlier review below), I came with my dog for an annual vet visit with Dr. Strickland. The visit was amazing. Both Dr. Strickland and his assistant acted in a way that I initially expected from a vet visit, but started to think that I would never experience. The Dr. was familiar with my dog’s medical record. He explained what is needed to be done. He listened to all my doubts and shared his professional opinion. They approached my dog kindly, respectfully, and thoughtfully. I immediately felt like he was in good hands. I was also treated kindly and respectfully. Dr. Strickland is a knowledgeable and good-hearted vet, who is considerate and professional, and who I feel like I can trust. Thank you so much! I truly appreciate everything that the team did today, including making sure my dog has a good experience. My review earlier review: I absolutely hate writing negative reviews, but I see it as the only way to hope for some change. I have found the staff at the front desk (everyone I’ve interacted with which is 4-5 people, besides one kind receptionist) to be incredibly rude and dismissive. I’m a new dog owner and I’m new to living in this part of the US. While exchanging tick prevention tablets (they gave 6 pills for a wrong dog weight to my dog), I asked about good owner practices for when I find ticks on my dog. The lady seemed outraged that I think I can bother her with that question. Then I told her that they gave pills for the wrong weight and in the past week I found five ticks on my dog, I’ve tested them myself and they didn’t carry Lyme disease. To which the lady dismissively told me that if I find I tick I have to do blood work in six months, and she said they don’t test ticks (she seemed to not even listen to me saying that I’ve been finding ticks and testing them myself). I left the vet feeling awful, like I was stupid to think I can ask such questions at the vet. My problem is, if I don’t ask them at the vet then when should I? I’m tired of googling things and going on Reddit to rely on answers from non-specialists. Luckily I have a few good friends who I plan to talk to about good habits for prevention of tick-borne diseases. I find it worrisome that people who work at a veterinary hospital don’t assume the responsibility for interacting and communicating with us. At the same time, I do understand that they may be busy and may have to deal with more serious issues, or maybe themselves have problems with anxiety or depression. Still, it would be good to have a source of information about how to take good care of your dog. I wish it were at the vet, but at this point it’s clear to me that I cannot rely on vets for health information for my dog. In addition to repetitive rudeness, they gave my dog a refill for 6 months of pills for the wrong weight, and on a separate occasion they failed to draw blood I was told by the nurse ‘a bunch of people walked in randomly form the back and made a lot of noise’, which apparently scared my dog. I have had some good experiences, mainly scheduling and picking up prescriptions has been fast and smooth. The one receptionist is very kind. There is one vet who was knowledgeable, approachable, and considerate. And, I was told there is at least one vet who is a good surgeon, so I’m hoping to have a good experience with him, but that’s just based on a referral from friends.

posted: 08/18/2023

If you're watching this, please do not go to this vet. The nurses are kind, but the doctors will continue to try to sell you: A) Medication you don't need B) Dog food that they get a kick out of every sale My pets doctor shamed me for 10 minutes about getting some unrelated medication to my dog's condition, said that I was being negligent for not getting it and then when I got my $500 bill. I was given instructions that I can't mix the medicines that they had suggested, because they cancel each other out, and that I was only to give it to them once the illness had subsided. Thus they sold me a medication for something else entirely. I will never return here again and I encourage that you don't either.

posted: 07/06/2023

Dr Strickland and his team were amazing. I'm glad to have found a great vet for my fur baby

posted: 08/18/2023

I was not a fan of this veterinary hospital for my dog. Being new to the area, I made a yearly check up and shots appointment for my dog in December 2021. Coming from a vet practice that was really pleasant with my shy dog, the vet here didn't even seem to like dogs. It was peak Covid and she came in the tiny exam room not wearing a mask. She claimed my dog bit her while she was trying to examine her teeth when she's never bitten anyone. She said my dog was overweight but gave no suggestions for lower calorie foods or how much I should be feeding her. They gave her a bunch of shots and didn't tell me where they were placed so I could avoid touching the sore areas so I had to ask. I brought her back 6 months later for a Bordatella and the vet tech put her harness back on all wrong where she could have escaped -- you can ask the owner to come back in the room to do it for you properly. The nail trims were expensive at around $28. I made a 2022 checkup and shots appointment for my dog at a different vet and they called me and said Leesburg Veterinary Hospital never bothered to get my dogs records from her original vet, which this new vet did and I think should be done for all pets. The new vet was so much better in comparison and was gentle with my scared dog, which inspired me to write this review.

posted: 01/10/2023

Nice big lobby which is important for people bringing in pets. The staff were wonderful. Appointment was on-time (actually a little ahead of schedule). Finished up quickly and was given appropriate information for my pet's well being.

posted: 06/14/2017