Dr. Heike Stengel

Excellent veterinarian/surgeon. We have been taking our dog and cat to this practice for years and have always felt very well cared for. The very empathetic assistant is a great addition to the team.

I took my almost 10-year-old cat to the vet for a general health check-up, as I hadn't had him examined in a long time and wanted to discuss several issues. On the positive side, I was asked to note down the amount and type of food he eats over the phone, which initially seemed very organized. However, the appointment itself was disappointing. During the consultation, I barely had a chance to describe my prepared observations, as I was interrupted several times and the focus quickly shifted to my cat's weight. As a result, I couldn't even address several important points (e.g., behavioral problems and physical changes) that I had specifically noted. I didn't feel taken seriously. The way my cat was handled also seemed unnecessarily rough and insensitive. My cat was shaken out of his carrier instead of being gently taken out. When tartar was found, it was removed directly with a fingernail, which caused bleeding and understandably stressed my cat. He was then labeled "aggressive," and the treatment was stopped. He was supposed to be sedated before the next appointment, even though the original reason for my visit—the blood test—was supposed to take place on that date. The only positive aspects were the moderate cost and a sample of food that my cat tolerated well. Since calm, respectful, and humane treatment is very important to me, I subsequently chose a different practice. There, the examination was calm, friendly, and went smoothly, and the blood draw was possible without sedation. Unfortunately, my overall experience at this practice was not satisfactory.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this service at all regarding small pets, in my case, guinea pigs. She deemed my neutered male "too fat" and said he needed to lose weight. He's a perfectly healthy, 6-year-old, rather large California rosette male weighing 1.3 kg. He gets plenty of exercise and is fed exclusively fresh, leafy greens; a fat guinea pig definitely looks different. She suggested he should eat less vegetables. I explained that vegetables are certainly not part of a guinea pig's diet, except perhaps as an occasional treat. Then she told me that they do need them, due to their vitamin C requirements. I feed them a balanced diet and, in winter, kitchen herbs. She claimed that these weren't suitable because of their calcium content. This led to a brief discussion, which I found completely inappropriate and unnecessary given my visit. The primary concern was the quick euthanasia of the other animal due to a jaw abscess. I highly recommend the webinars/veterinary continuing education courses offered by Dr. Diana Ruf. Ms. Stengel is certainly competent with dogs and cats, but not with rodents and similar animals. A real shame.

A fantastic vet who truly puts the animal first – not the money! She's incredibly helpful and even offered to lend me her own carrier to transport my second cat. She's also completely honest and straightforward – I love that! 🫶🏼 You don't feel ripped off afterward because Dr. Stengel's prices are fair, and she doesn't charge an extra €50 for every little thing. My cats received excellent care and are now perfectly healthy. 😊 The best vet I've ever had – highly recommended! 🙏