Hagenbeck Dorothea Dr.med.vet. Kleintierpraxis - Hamburg

Never again! After my cat staggered badly one evening and seemed to be in a lot of pain, I was just glad to have found a vet who had time. The cat was examined, and I was asked if she was vomiting, drinking a lot, etc. A blood test was then recommended. I agreed. (There's not much to say about the vet bills; everything has its price, and I felt my cat was in good hands.) I was told to give her pain medication and received a call the next day informing me that her thyroid was overactive. I was instructed to get a tablet as soon as possible and administer it twice a day. I was told to come back in three weeks for another blood test. The cat's condition deteriorated further. She increasingly refused food, seemed lethargic, and became thinner and thinner. Even after three weeks, when I brought this up, the only response was to continue giving her the tablets; perhaps they were a bit too strong, but her thyroid levels were excellent. I was also told to continue giving her the pain medication. I had a bad feeling and asked my usual vet for an appointment. Unfortunately, my cat's intestines had already become so severely inflamed that she probably wouldn't have survived surgery. Dr. Hagenbeck made a completely wrong diagnosis! If I ever get another pet, I'll steer clear of this practice.

This practice is a real insider tip for animal lovers. A wonderfully quiet practice with retro charm and two amazing veterinarians, both professionally and personally. They have a wonderful way with animals. Competent and calm. No shrill baby talk from poorly qualified veterinary assistants, just the essence of decades of experience, love for animals, and genuine compassion. This kind of service doesn't come for free, and parking can sometimes be difficult, but my animals are worth it! If you love free Wi-Fi and fancy reception areas where the animal is just an afterthought... move along...

ACTUALLY 0 STARS! Unfortunately, a very disappointing and sobering experience. As a pet owner, you don't feel taken seriously here, but rather treated like an idiot. With a very old animal suffering from severe limitations – from chronic pain to significant mobility restrictions – the question of dignity and quality of life inevitably arises. This question, however, seems to play hardly any role here. Instead, new tests are constantly being scheduled: repeated blood tests, ultrasounds, further diagnostic procedures, and constantly new medications – without the animal's condition improving in the slightest. The benefit to the animal is indistinguishable. The only discernible effect seems to be financial, as this quickly results in a bill of €300-400. The approach of the consulted cardiologist was particularly irritating: At the first appointment, she diagnosed severe, age-related heart problems. At the follow-up appointment, she suddenly couldn't remember this, and the animal supposedly no longer had any heart problems whatsoever. Only after we explicitly pointed it out was the ear briefly listened to again, and then a "slight noise" was half-heartedly acknowledged. This contradictory approach appears unprofessional and untrustworthy. Overall, the impression is given of a practice where economic interests are prioritized over the animal's well-being and dignity. For us, this was neither humane, empathetic, nor responsible care. We would not recommend this practice.

My cat and I had to go to the emergency vet on a Saturday. The veterinary assistant was so friendly on the phone that it immediately put me at ease. The vet took plenty of time with my cat, and thanks to her treatment, he's back to his old self (and without surgery, which I was very happy about because my cat has had several operations in the past). A big thank you to the assistant and the vet!