Care First Animal Hospital at Glenwood at a glance
Google reviewers rate Care First Animal Hospital at Glenwood 4.7 out of 5 based on 647 reviews, noting that the owner replied to 86% of them. Customers frequently praise the staff for clear communication, transparent pricing, and compassionate care during services like spays, boarding, and emergency visits. However, lower-rated reviews describe instances of double-booking appointments, perceived lack of urgency during critical situations, and dissatisfaction with billing practices after unexpected diagnoses.
Google rating: 4.7 out of 5 from 647 reviews (87% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 647 Google reviews (412 with written comments, 38 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 86% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 16, 2026.
Service: Veterinary Emergency Service serving Raleigh, North Carolina.
Data from Google, last updated October 25, 2026.
Photos
Customer reviews
4.7
★★★★★
647 reviews on Google
5★560
4★43
3★10
2★14
1★20
Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).
SB
Samantha Benson2 reviews
★★★★★
I cannot recommend Care First highly enough! I naturally tend to overthink things when it comes to my kitties, but their approach instantly puts me at ease. Everything they state is rooted in deep expertise, clear logic, and solid evidence. They take the time to evaluate every moving part of a situation to make sure my pets are as comfortable and supported as possible. Their hard work, dedication, and clinical thoroughness are exceptional!!
My experience was amazing! The staff and veterinarians were so kind to my mini goldendoodle who went in for her spay with the SPCA voucher! They were able to do the procedure laparoscopically, kept in touch with me along the way, and included the cone and pain meds with my voucher. It has been over a week and she is healing up beautifully!
Do not trust this clinic with your pets. Recent management changes have left the staff completely overwhelmed, resulting in dangerous incompetence, zero internal communication, and a hostile environment for clients.
Despite explicit instructions left with the receptionists, they double-booked my two slightly reactive dogs for the exact same time slot. They repeatedly rotated random technicians for our follow-up appointments with zero coordination. To top off their internal chaos, after I spent 20 minutes calmly speaking with a tech, Dr. Mendise burst into the room aggressively demanding that I not bring my dogs together.
The medical care is just as abysmal. Dr. Olsen cost me over $500 in misdiagnoses simply because she refused to listen to my input.
The damage from this clinic didn't stop when we walked out the door. I own Pit Bull mixes, and this staff weaponized their biases by writing completely false, defamatory notes in our medical records. This actively poisoned our reputation at our new clinic, forcing us to face immediate discrimination from the moment we arrived. While "Care First" ultimately issued a refund to cover up their discriminatory behavior, the unprofessional position they put us in is unforgivable. They are reckless, vindictive, and entirely unfit to handle reactive breeds. Take your animals elsewhere.
Response from the owner · a week ago
We genuinely appreciate the trust you placed in Care First Animal Hospital for eight years, and we wish you and your dogs the very best in their future care.
After caring for your pets for eight years, we were disappointed to see in your initial posting, Care First Animal Hospital characterized as “Cash First,” particularly because cost was not the issue that led to the conclusion of this visit.
Special arrangements had been made in advance because these two dogs cannot safely be together. You were asked to bring them into the hospital one at a time and to call us from the parking lot upon arrival so our team could provide assistance. Instead, both dogs were brought into the hospital together, one wearing a muzzle.
Despite the change in plan, our team worked to accommodate the situation. One of our most experienced technicians was intentionally assigned to assist you. When he attempted to separate the dogs so they could be handled more safely, you objected, questioned his competence, and stated that you would only work with the veterinarian.
Our veterinarian then spoke with you directly, at which time you stated that you would need to take your dogs elsewhere, and we respected your decision.
We will always do our best to accommodate patients with behavioral challenges. We also expect our team members, including our technicians and support staff to be treated with the same basic courtesy and respect that we expect them to extend to our clients.
We are grateful for the trust you placed in Care First Animal Hospital over the past eight years and sincerely wish you and your dogs well. We stand behind our team’s handling of this situation and their commitment to keeping everyone involved safe.
We boarded our cat here from Saturday the 10th around 1 PM until Monday around 2 PM. This isn’t our first time boarding him here, and we’ve been bringing him to this location for over a year.
He’s a long-haired tuxedo cat with some health issues and takes two medications twice a day, including anxiety medication. Both are pills that we administer at home without an issue.
When we picked him up, he was screaming, smelled strongly of urine, and ended up peeing in his carrier on the way home. Around 2:30 PM, I received a voicemail saying they had decided not to bathe him because he was too stressed and they didn’t want to add to that stress.
However, when we checked his medications, we realized he hadn’t been given his anxiety medication all weekend. When I called, I was told they had tried giving it to him in a treat, but he wouldn’t take it. Yet the pills were still in the bottle when we picked him up.
My biggest issue is that nobody contacted us once to let us know they were having trouble administering his medication. When I called to ask what happened, nobody seemed to have a clear answer. I got a lot of excuses, although everyone was nice and apologetic.
They did refund us and said someone would be reaching out, which I appreciate, but that’s not the point.
This is also not the first time our cat has come home smelling like urine after being boarded here. The first time, I chalked it up to him being in an unfamiliar environment for five days. I understand cats can be difficult when their environment changes, especially one with anxiety and existing health issues.
But this time, knowing he wasn’t receiving his medication makes the situation even more upsetting. I specifically asked whether it was normal practice not to contact an owner when medication couldn’t be administered. I would’ve gladly paid more or worked with them to figure out another option if it meant my cat was properly medicated and cared for.
Instead, he spent the weekend extremely stressed, without his prescribed anxiety medication, and we weren’t informed until after picking him up and discovering it ourselves.
I don’t have a dog, so I can’t speak for how they handle boarding dogs. This might be a great place for them. But if you have a cat, especially one with medical needs, I would strongly reconsider boarding them here.
After trusting this location with our cat for over a year, I’m genuinely disappointed in how he was treated. We will not be returning and that's not a threat, it's a fact.
I have so enjoyed taking my dogs to CareFirst.
I enjoy Dr Moats and her staff as they have helped me with taking care of my jumping Jax!
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Service not listed
Response from the owner · a week ago
Dear Lisa, It has been a pleasure to serve Jumping Jax. Thank you so very much for the kind shout out to Dr. Moats and team. Sincerely, Care First Glenwood Family
We love the staff at Carefirst . They care deeply for both the furry and human clients alike. I have been using this vet for many years and trust them to give my fur babies the best care possible.
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Response from the owner · a year ago
Dear Sharyn, Thank you so very much for your kind compliment. It is much appreciated. Sincerely, Care First Glenwood Family
Great staff. My beagle got into chocolate and they got me in very quickly even though I was not an established client. The staff has excellent communication skills and they are all very knowledgeable. Thank you for your help today!
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Service not listed
Response from the owner · 3 weeks ago
Dear Madi, Thank you for the opportunity to care for you and yours. Please let us know if we may be of service to you in the future. Sincerely, Care First Glenwood Family
They got me in for a last minute appointment for first thing the next morning to check out my pup Iceberg. I didn’t see they had drawn an Iceberg on my togo medicine bag until we got home it was so cute! Love these vets and techs
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Service not listed
Response from the owner · 3 weeks ago
Dear Eva, We leave every fourth appointment for each doctor open until that day so we are here when you need us most. We appreciate the confidence you placed in us by allowing us to care for Iceberg. Glad you noticed our little art work! Sincerely, Care First Glenwood Family
