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Kipling Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Center

Updated 2026-07-10 · 1,287 reviewed · 184 listed · Scored from 134 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.4(134) 74 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
Low-Cost & Vaccine ClinicsGeneral Veterinary CareVeterinary PharmacyEmergency & Urgent CareSurgery & Specialty CareVeterinary Dental CareExotic & Avian CareLarge Animal & Equine
Kipling Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Center
Services
Low-Cost & Vaccine Clinics, General Veterinary Care, Veterinary Pharmacy
Reviews
134

What recent reviews say

Reviewers consistently praise the veterinarians, especially Dr. MacKenzie, Dr. O'Connell, and Dr. Jill, for patience and compassionate care. Staff calm nervous pets and explain options thoroughly. However, complaints center on front desk rudeness, surprise billing at checkout, and uncalibrated scales. Some flagged treatment delays for clear infections. Location near Lakewood offers easy parking and walking access.

Recent shift: Mixed trend: some longtime clients (20-year, long-term) remain loyal; recent reviews (past 2 months) are split between praise for vets and sharp criticism of office operations, billing surprise, and scale errors. No clear upward or downward shift, but service inconsistency emerging.

Praised for
  • skilled vets (Dr. MacKenzie, Dr. O'Connell, Dr. Jill)
  • compassionate staff with anxious pets
  • clear communication and patience
  • convenient location and parking
Watch-outs
  • front desk rudeness and poor phone manners
  • pricing surprises and lack of transparency
  • scale calibration issues
  • delayed treatment decisions on infections
skilled-vetscompassionate-staffgentle-with-animalsclear-communicationhelpful-front-deskoverpricedpushy-upsellingcaring-bedside-manner
Best for: Pet owners seeking experienced vets and willing to confirm prices upfront before services.
Think twice if: Ask for itemized estimates in writing before procedures; clarify euthanasia pricing beforehand. Front desk staff can be dismissive when asked to resend documents.

Strengths

  • Experienced vets known for patience and thoroughness
  • Skilled at handling anxious pets
  • Convenient Lakewood location with parking and nearby walking trail

Worth knowing

  • Dr. MacKenzie, Dr. O'Connell, Dr. Jill named as compassionate and thorough
  • Receptionist Karol Ann challenged customer requesting resent estimate
  • Front-desk scale wildly inaccurate across multiple visits
  • Euthanasia cost unclear: quoted $150, charged $335 after procedural items added
  • Long-term client (20 years) calls Dr. O'Connell and Dr. MacKenzie thorough and caring
  • UTI case flagged: urine sample showed infection but antibiotic not prescribed; customer directed to week-long lab test instead

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care
Wellness exams praised for calm approach; scale calibration errors undermine weight-tracking trust.
Veterinary Dental Care
Dental cleaning and extractions done with care; kitten with four teeth removed received excellent post-op attention.
Emergency & Urgent Care
Cat lost 10 days got same-day fluids and warm care. UTI case delayed antibiotics despite clear microscope findings.
Surgery & Specialty Care
Surgical services mentioned positively in passing; no detailed complaint.
Low-Cost & Vaccine Clinics
Vaccination offered but not singled out in reviews; pricing generally seen as high.
Veterinary Pharmacy
Prescription medications and diets offered; no specific feedback.

How it compares

  • Rated 4.4 against a 4.58 average across the 170 general veterinary care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 38% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method
Star rating 62
Review volume 92
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 48
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
102
4
12
3
4
2
3
1
13

Common questions

Do they have parking?
Yes. One reviewer noted 'never a line and always parking' plus access to a nearby 1-mile walking trail across the street.
Should I ask for a price estimate before my dog's procedure?
Yes. A customer was quoted $150 for euthanasia without ashes but charged $335 at checkout after procedural items were added. Getting an itemized estimate in writing avoids surprise bills.
Are the veterinarians experienced?
Three vets are named in reviews: Dr. MacKenzie, Dr. O'Connell, and Dr. Jill. One client has used them for 20 years and calls them 'amazingly thorough and caring.' Another praised their patience explaining kidney disease options for a cat.

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Last updated 2026-07-10