Can't say enough great things about Howard County Animal Hospital and Dr Parker. My dog Percy had a Perineal Hernia that was causing him extreme discomfort. The first emergency hospital I took Percy to said that he would need surgery costing $8000-$10,000 and they cautioned me that the outcome was very uncertain. I couId not afford this price yet I did not want to lose my dog. Searching around on the internet I found Howard County Animal Hospital. What a blessing. The cost was significantly more reasonable, and the surgery was a complete success. Percy was back to being his old self in no time, no complications at all. Dr. Parker and all the staff at Howard County Animal Hospital were both caring and friendly and at the same time very professional. I highly recommend them.
We have been clients of Howard County Animal Hospital for a couple of years. Recently, our rottie Harley Quinn spent a lot of time at the vet. Dr. Lance saw Harley first to address a mass on her side. He was thorough and kind throughout the entire visit; he laid out all of the steps we could take to figure out what was going on with our girl. Two weeks later, Harley took a turn and started declining very fast. She stopped eating and her face began drooping. We called the office and given a slot right away. Dr. Parker was amazing. He showed his concern and validated my own. He wanted to keep Harley to run some extra tests… what they found wasn’t good news. Dr. Parker gave me the space to ask a bunch of questions and even say a few curse words. In that short time, we learned our best girl wasn’t going to be with us much longer… The next day we saw a very significant change and knew we couldn’t let her spend another day hurting and suffering. I called the vet and again, we were given space that same day.
Dr. Parker made it a point to visit us in the exam room and assured us we were making the right choice for Harley. His approach was gentle and caring. Dr. Lance walked us through all of the steps and showed us grace in a time that we never imagined would happen to us. Harley crossed the rainbow bridge on August 11th.
Dr. Parker and Dr. Lance, along with their vet techs are incredible. It is obvious they truly care about the animals they serve (and their owners too). Their kindness, gentleness and grace allowed for just a small glimmer of light in such a dark moment for us. Dr. Lance mentioned “passing with dignity.” I take comfort in knowing that our girl is no longer suffering; I don’t think there is anything that could fill the void that Harley left behind. I am so grateful to the team at Howard County Animal hospital for their gentle and honest approach; I am also grateful for their time and grace during one of the hardest moments we face as pet owners.
I rarely leave reviews, but my experience with Dr. Keil Parker and the team at Howard County Animal Hospital deserves one.
I live in Philadelphia, and my cat urgently needed FHO surgery after breaking his leg. I called 35+ veterinary clinics trying to find someone who could help quickly. Most couldn't see him anytime soon, and the few that could quoted extremely high prices.
Howard County initially had no availability until the following week. But about 30 minutes after my call, they called me back to say that Dr. Parker had rearranged his schedule to fit my cat in the very next morning. What impressed me even more was that Dr. Parker personally called me that evening, after work hours, to explain the procedure and answer all my questions.
I drove nearly two hours to Ellicott City the next morning, and Dr. Parker and his team were absolutely amazing. The surgery went beautifully, my kitty came home with me that same day, and he is recovering incredibly well.
Their pricing was also a fraction of what I had been quoted elsewhere, while the level of care, compassion, and professionalism could not have been better.
When someone goes out of their way to help you during a stressful situation, you don't forget it. Despite living almost two hours away, I plan to continue bringing my cat to Dr. Parker for his veterinary care.
I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Parker and his entire team. I cannot recommend Howard County Animal Hospital highly enough.
Answer to your reply:
Your response contains multiple statements that are false and do not reflect what actually happened.
First, there was never a teleconsultation with the surgeon. The doctor never spoke to us before the day of surgery, nor did he have any consultation with us. We were specifically told that Rosie would be examined by the doctor when we arrived that morning before surgery, which is exactly why an examination fee was included on the estimate.
However, when we arrived, the doctor never came to speak with us, never introduced himself, never examined Rosie in front of us, and never gave us the opportunity to ask questions before making a decision. Instead, while we were waiting, we could hear him outside the room, behind the door, talking and laughing with other staff members. We were told he was too busy to come speak with us.
Your response also misrepresents the pricing. We have the original written estimate that was provided before we drove more than four hours for Rosie’s surgery. When we arrived, we were presented with a significantly higher bill. Claiming the increase was “less than $30” is simply not true. Anyone comparing the written estimates can see the difference.
Even more concerning, when we questioned the increase, your staff told us your prices had gone up that very morning by only 2.5%. A 2.5% increase does not account for the large difference between the estimates. When we asked for an explanation, no one could provide one.
The issue was never just the money. We rearranged our schedules and drove over four hours because we trusted the written estimate and expected honest, transparent communication. Instead, we arrived to unexpected pricing, were unable to speak with the surgeon before making our decision, and left feeling that our time, travel, and concerns were not respected.
We stand by our review because it accurately reflects our experience. We have the written estimates, and they speak for themselves.
Review*
Absolutely the worst veterinary experience we’ve ever had.
We drove 4 hours each way after scheduling surgery for our husky. We received a written quote for $1,100, paid the required deposit, and scheduled the surgery based on that price.
When we arrived, we were shocked to be told the cost had suddenly increased by about $700. When we asked why, the explanation was that their prices had gone up that same morning. We then asked what percentage the increase was, and we were told 2.5%. That explanation simply didn’t make sense, as a 2.5% increase does not justify adding roughly $700 to a quoted $1,100 procedure.
What upset us even more was the lack of communication. We repeatedly asked to speak with Dr. Parker before leaving our husky for surgery. We could hear him outside the room, yet we were told he was too busy and would see our dog later and speak with us at the end of the day.
At that point, he had never examined our husky, never introduced himself, and had not spoken to us at all. We simply wanted our dog to meet the veterinarian who was about to perform surgery and to have a few minutes to ask questions before entrusting him with our family member.
When Dr. Parker finally walked into the room, he told us he was very busy, didn’t have time to talk, and needed to leave. The interaction lasted only moments, and we were left feeling completely dismissed.
After driving 8 hours round trip, all we wanted was five minutes of the doctor’s time before handing over our beloved husky for surgery. Instead, we were met with an unexpected price increase and an attitude that made us feel like an inconvenience.
We chose to take our dog and leave because we no longer felt comfortable proceeding.
Based on our experience, I would encourage anyone considering this hospital to confirm every detail in writing, ask how pricing changes are handled, and make sure you’re comfortable with the level of communication before trusting them with your pet. We left feeling disappointed, frustrated, and that our concerns were not taken seriously.
