Kernick Animal Hospital

Reviews

The GOOD Now

I just moved to Pittsburgh and I was looking for a new vet for my babies. Kernick came highly recommended by my neighbors. I took in Freya for her first checkup since getting her out of the shelter. Kernick Animal Hospital was so good with her! Some of the medical staff at the shelter didn’t want to work with Freya because they were afraid of her. But the staff at Kernick was all so gentle and sweet to her and Freya was so well behaved thanks to that. I’ve also taken 2 of my cats in for checkups and annual vaccinations and the staff was amazing with them as well. They were able to get us in fast. Such a cozy environment and the staff has always been kind and educational. I ask a lot of questions and they’ve always been so generous with their knowledge. They’re straight shooters and I really appreciate that. Fair prices as well! This is where I’ll be taking all my fur babies from now on.

James Porter

I love supporting small businesses with great service. Great pet care place.

Kimberley Parfitt

We have been taking our pets to Dr. Messenger for over 10 years now. He is very thoughtful, intuitive, matter of fact, and has a very high level of regard and caring for every animal. Some of our pets have issues and he addresses each and every one thoroughly and even provides a timeline for any actions that need to be taken so that you can be better prepared. When the time came that we had to put our beloved Golden Retriever down, the entire staff was very supportive and empathic throughout the entire process. We have complete confidence that our pets are in the best care available with Dr. Messenger. Great doctor and assistants!

Ray Sylvester

Top notch Vet! Very thorough and knowledgeable. Also very friendly and caring tech and staff.

Sarah Klos

Dr. Messenger and staff have always taken great care of our 14 year old pup.

Hybrid Miranda

This place was recommended to me by my coworker. It is small from the outside, easy to miss, but the price, honesty, and professionalism are extremely good. Absolutely a case of 'don't judge a book by its cover.' Pros: -Prices are very affordable; compared to my previous vet, Kernick's are 20-40% lower (and you aren't charged for stupid stuff, it's very fair). -While blunt from the outside, the main vet (I don't remember his name, but he looks pretty cool; silver hair and three thin gold rings in his right ear) was very honest, straightforward, and professional. Very much a 'short and sweet' communication style, but I found that refreshing. -The other vet was extremely warm and sweet, and remembered previous clients when mentioned to her. I had a mild delay in schedule, and she was very accommodating. She was also very gentle and sweet with my cat, a very empathetic person who obviously cares deeply for animals. -They showed me important things about my cat explained what they were looking for and what I should look for when I got home- open communication and explaining things to the owner. -Both vets handled my cat very well, I could tell there was a lot of confidence and experience. Cons (these weren't cons for me, but some people may find them to be): -If you're used to large, well-decorated, squeaky-clean animal care centers, this place is small, warm, and homey in comparison. There is a small waiting room with a wooden bench, then the main checkup room is right next to it. I personally don't see this as a negative, but some people are accustomed to a more 'aesthetic', modernized look. -If you get easily offended, come in with a deep breath and be more mature. The main vet's communication style is blunt and information-based, he knows what he's doing and doesn't dilly-dally. If you speak over him (like I accidentally did), he'll flatly give you the correct information. Just be patient, listen, and ask your questions after your pet's condition is explained. It felt a lot more like a professor-student interaction, but I really don't see that as a bad thing. It was humbling, in a good way (but again, some people can't deal with that communication style, which is why it's in the 'con' area). Overall impression: This place feels like a small book with a worn leather binder and gold print hidden on the edge of the shelf behind larger, fancier, newer books. But once you open the book, there's intense personality in the small, plain print, and you get a great deal more than you thought. The main characters have just that- character- but they do a great job. This place feels like an overlooked underdog, there aren't even that many Google Reviews. The reviews seem to be split between people who absolutely adore it, then soft people who got offended that they weren't treated with bedside manner. I'd say, for the price and old-fashioned professionalism, it's definitely worth it.

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Business Hours
Monday:09:00AM - 16:30PMTuesday:09:00AM - 18:30PMWednesday:09:00AM - 12:00PMThursday:09:00AM - 18:30PMFriday:09:00AM - 16:30PMSaturday:09:00AM - 12:00PMSunday:Closed

Popular Times

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Amenities

• No restroom

Planning

• Appointments recommended

Categories

Services