Modern Animal

Abhi Bhat

We have been taking our dog to Modern Animal since he was 3 months old, across multiple locations, and it has been sad to watch the quality of care decline to the point where we are now completely done with this chain. Our most recent experience at Modern Animal Russian Hill was the breaking point. We drove in from Berkeley for a follow up after an emergency hospital visit. The clinic’s initial plan was to have us drop him off, put him in a kennel for three hours, and give him strong sedatives before we even had a proper, transparent conversation about whether that level of sedation was necessary or safe for him. Baloo has active medical issues, so this plan felt risky and careless. No one clearly explained why heavy sedation was needed, what drug they would use, or what alternatives existed, such as lighter sedation, a shorter stay, or us being present with him. What made it even worse is that we never even met the vet, Dr Chiara Tice. After driving all the way from Berkeley, every part of this plan was communicated indirectly through staff. There was no direct conversation with the doctor to walk us through the reasoning, answer questions, or tailor the plan based on what we already knew from the emergency visit. That lack of access and transparency was a huge red flag. The estimate we were given was another major concern. The cost for this follow up at Russian Hill was higher than what we paid at the emergency hospital, because they tried to bundle in more than six hundred dollars of “highly recommended” tests. The ER discharge notes were very clear that Baloo mainly needed a follow up X ray to track improvement, not a full panel of extra diagnostics. As long time clients who were already stressed about our dog, it felt less like medical guidance and more like being upsold. Based on this experience, I did not feel confident in Dr Chiara Tice’s judgment or approach to managing a more complex case like Baloo’s, especially given that we were not even given the chance to speak with her directly. If she is going to handle cases like this, I strongly feel she should be shadowing a more experienced veterinarian and spending more time in direct consultation with pet owners. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. At Modern Animal Berkeley, we also had a poor experience with Dr Kristi Dunckel, which again felt like a situation where the vet was out of her depth and unsure how to manage Baloo’s condition. These back to back encounters with what felt like inexperienced vets have completely eroded our trust in this chain. To be fair, it has not all been negative. About two weeks before the Russian Hill visit, Baloo saw Dr Sindell at Modern Animal Berkeley, and that appointment was much better. It was more thoughtful, more confident, and clearly explained. That contrast is part of the problem. The quality in this chain is very inconsistent. You might get a competent vet like Dr Sindell, or you might end up with someone who feels inexperienced, inaccessible, and quick to default to sedation and expensive testing. If you are considering Modern Animal, my honest advice as a long time client is to be very cautious, especially with newer vets. Ask detailed questions about any proposed sedation, including why it is needed, what will be used, the dose, risks, and alternatives. Compare their recommendations with your emergency or specialist notes, and do not be afraid to push back if they start stacking “highly recommended” tests that were not indicated. Do not hesitate to walk away if the plan does not feel safe or transparent. When your pet is sick, you are already stressed and scared. In our recent experiences, especially at Russian Hill and with some visits in Berkeley, Modern Animal did not make things easier, clearer, or calmer. It added confusion, pressure, and worry. After years of loyalty, we no longer trust this chain with Baloo’s care. We are done with Modern Animal.

Nov 22, 2025

Thomas Krawczyk

Modern Animal is good, but avoid this location. We used this vet from the start when they opened. At first it was terrific but the last few times we’ve been it’s clear that they are under staffed, lacking in senior nurses and do not take care with specifics. My dog is 25 pounds and does not love getting a shot. The vet knows this and knows her yet has left his with junior nurses who looked terrified and unsure how to administer any basic procedure. We talked to the vet about this and the reason given was just that they do not have the staff or resources. This was at 8am, the first appointment of the day. Because of this, my dog was unable to be given her regular medication and will now be at risk due to their incompetence. Barely got an apology or any kind of remorse over it from the staff and they then walked off before we’d even left without saying goodbye. Seemed like they are used to hearing this and resigned to it.

Dec 5, 2025

Colton Helms

Pros: Same day appts, friendly staff and doctors, price transparency, convenience of viewing info/messaging in app Cons: Sterile/corporate vibe, expensive, canned advice/lack of personalization, try to upsell you on everything, trigger happy on the meds, doctors seem to have less experience Doesn’t seem like a bad place but might not be for you if you’re looking for a more personal touch. For example, instantly scolded us (in a friendly way) for feeding raw diet without asking any more nuanced questions about our dogs, and started pushing Royal Canin instead which is one of the worst brands and clearly pays vets to sell it. Overall has a very PE-owned vibe to it.

Nov 3, 2025

Deanne Gaglio

I love that they're always so familiar with Elvis. And whatever my concerns are we go over it together. They keep me extremely involved. And they never make me feel like I'm exaggerating or just over the top with my worries. They are patient and they give me coffee. Thank you to the Nob Hill Clinic.

Apr 17, 2025

Bridget Botelho

We love Modern Animal! We love the SF clinics and their vets. Dr. Popp in the Russian Hill location is AMAZING. Her care for our dog is thorough and thoughtful. She helped us figure out our dog’s knee issues and gave us an excellent plan for next steps.

Sep 6, 2025