Google reviewers rate Countryside Veterinary Hospital 4.6 out of 5 based on 264 reviews. Positive feedback highlights compassionate care, thorough explanations, and professional staff who treat pets like family. However, recurring criticisms involve unfriendly receptionists, unexpected upcharges, and billing disputes, including issues with membership fees and unexplained medical costs.
Google rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 264 reviews (84% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 264 Google reviews (187 with written comments, 9 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 9% of reviews.
Most recent review: November 5, 2026.
Service: Pet Hospice serving El Cajon, California.
Data from Google, last updated November 11, 2026.
Star ratings
264 Google reviews we collected
4.6of 5
5 stars22184%
4 stars218%
3 stars73%
2 stars21%
1 star135%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 187 written reviews
92%praise
Praise17792%
Complaints168%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude8544%
Price & value2613%
Would recommend2312%
Quality & results2211%
Honesty & trust137%
Speed & response126%
Communication126%
What customers talk about
We read 187 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“who loved her, gave us the kindness and support we all needed to keep her happy and the ones who were there when she left this world to be with her br…”
“First, the front staff one particular person was very aggressive and rude and we were afraid to even ask questions or go up to the counter.”
“The staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable and they have made reasonable accommodations to get us in when care is needed urgently.”
“Rip off”
“…they're taking care of my big girl Freya she is an amazing dog and I absolutely recommend countryside vet to everybody we drive from the Coachella Va…”
“Initially loved their customer service and gave 5 stars, but.”
“Thank you for your great service and demeanor while caring for our Bella and the two Tobys before.”
“My cat was going to be pulled easily as it is a docile pet instead they chose this awful shot.”
“…great at the hospital and also wellness center and muddy spas always trust my pets care to them and highly recommend countryside…”
“I’m reporting them to BBB and report their fraudulent practices to my bank.”
“Brought our girl for surgery and the same day a new rescue male without appointment.”
“She always takes time to explain issues and answer questions.”
People customers mention
Hofler22 reviews
Center11 reviews
Hoffler9 reviews
Sherman9 reviews
Stephens3 reviews
Doctors3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Today I received one of Countryside's Pet Health Guide emails. In this edition, it talked about pet diabetes and how the right care can give your pet great quality of life. It made me smile, because our beloved dog, Mocha, had gotten this wonderful care from the staff at Countryside for the past 7 years. Mocha passed this year, and our hearts are broken, but she would not have lived as long as she did without Dr. Hofler and her incredible team. Their direction on how to care for her, both physically and medically each day helped her strive, be happy, be full of life and act younger then she actually was. We were blessed to have this amazing team and Dr. who loved her, gave us the kindness and support we all needed to keep her happy and the ones who were there when she left this world to be with her brother and sister. If you are already a patient of this wonderful place, then you know. If you're just considering if this place would be best, then let me assure you, this place can be a 2nd home at times for our little ones who need that extra help in this world. This place is filled with faith, hope and love to ensure we get to keep our little loves home just a while longer. Thank you Countryside for all you do for our family.
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Service not listed
Response from the owner · 5 days ago
Thank you so much for sharing Mocha’s story with us. We are so sorry for your loss. Seven years is a long time to walk alongside a family, and Mocha truly became part of ours. Reading your words brought tears to our eyes and smiles to our faces all at once.
Caring for a diabetic pet takes daily dedication, and you gave Mocha that every single day. Her long, happy, full-of-life years were as much a reflection of your love and commitment as anything we did. It was a partnership, and we were honored to be on her team.
Please know that Mocha holds a special place in our hearts, and we’re comforted to think of her reunited with her brother and sister. Thank you for trusting us with her care, and for taking the time to share such kind words with others who may be searching for a place to care for their own little loves.
With love and gratitude,
Dr. Hofler and the entire Countryside family
Perry BLocal Guide · 79 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Perry has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
The staff at countryside vet is so kind and conpassionate, you can tell this team really loves what they do. Shout out to ANGELA - she’s funny AND always remembers my dog’s name 🙂❤️
Price assessment: Great price
Response from the owner · a month ago
Hi Kelly,
Thank you so much for the kind words! It means the world to our team to know our compassion shines through. Caring for pets and their people is what we love most.
We'll be sure to pass your shout-out along to Angela. She'll be thrilled! We can't wait to see you and Frankie again soon.
Warmly,
The Countryside Veterinary Hospital Team
Donna TLocal Guide · 25 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Donna has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Not happy with the receptionists at the hospital. Not friendly at all.
The girls at the wellness center are wonderful.
Been with Dr Hofler for about 28 years and now am considering new options for sure.
I was sold next guard for $171.00 and didn’t need it and tried to return it and they refused give us a refund.
We won’t be back 🙁
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you for sharing this, and for almost 28 years with us! That means so much to Dr. Hofler and our whole team, and I'm really sorry your last visit didn't feel good.
So glad the Wellness Center girls took great care of you. I hate hearing the hospital front desk didn't feel as friendly. You should feel welcome every time you walk in, and I'll be talking with our team about it.
On the NexGard, I completely get the frustration. Unfortunately, California doesn't let us take back medications once they've left the building. It's a safety rule for everyone's pets, but I'm sorry it wasn't explained better.
Your feedback matters to us, and we're grateful for the many years you've been part of the Countryside family.
Warmly, Marlene at Countryside Veterinary Hospital
jane phelpsLocal Guide · 172 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews jane has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Beware that this vet and others unfortunately are prescribing Convenia antibiotic shots to your pets without explaining the pros and cons and l without giving you a choice between pills and shot.
My cat had an adverse reaction and he is not doing well . Saw 3 different vets at their office in a week span.
I went back with concerned about this shot and they completely denied that the shot caused my cat digestive issues and nausea.
Then he developed candida overgrowth in his mouth , another side effect of the shot
This shot is a one time shot that is active in the animal system for about 14 weeks and you can imagine the devastating effects on the animal.
All these for a minor skin infection that was cause from ringworm that the cat was fight.ing and healing with topical medication.
The vet was eager to treated him and I was not in the right state of mind to stop to dent the shot.
You trust the vet will
Make the right Dec for your pet but ultimately the owner needs to be vigilant and protect our pets from unnecessary treatments.
They argued that because the antibiotics are administered intravenously it doesn’t effect the pets digestive system the way a would.
Respectfully they are absolutely wrong.
Antibiotics are notoriously causing harmful bacteria overgrowth not matter how they get in the pets body.
The pet went in for stomach issues due to licking mousse to treat ringworm and instead of giving him the support he needed they doubled down with this shot for unrelated skin issue, completely compromising its gut flora and now it’s mouth.
Don’t blindly trust any vet especially with this shot no matter how much they push it.
My cat was going to be pulled easily as it is a docile pet instead they chose this awful shot.
Convenia stands for convenient, but rest assure it is not convenient for your pet and has short and long term consequences.
There is plenty of literature online about this shot please read it and make an informed decision.
Of doused the PR team for this office will jump on this review to discredit what I said but just do your research and You will see what I mean.
Vets are too busy with the onslaught of sick animals that they see every day and it seems like they don’t have time to do the research on “innovative pharmaceuticals “ and just give it to your pets.
Also the shot is more expensive and then pulls which it makes me wonder if that’s another reason why they chose that instead.
Jasmine “CandyO” FerrariLocal Guide · 12 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Jasmine has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Seriously the best veterinarian clinic they absolutely saved my friend's dog 13,000 to save the dog in the Coachella Valley and for under five grand the surgery was done and the craziest thing is is the dog is absolutely turbocharged he's like a bionic dog now and his entire leg was put back together pins and plates and this is and that's oh my gosh but you would never know now they're taking care of my big girl Freya she is an amazing dog and I absolutely recommend countryside vet to everybody we drive from the Coachella Valley to there so it's a couple of hours but it is well worth the ride the services spectacular..
Response from the owner · 4 months ago
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for this incredible review and for making that drive from the Coachella Valley to be with us! We are absolutely over the moon hearing how well Freya's friend is doing. Pins, plates, and now a "bionic dog"! That honestly made our whole team smile from ear to ear. There is nothing better than seeing a pup come out the other side of a big surgery not just recovered, but thriving!
We are so glad you found your way to us, and we are honored to now be caring for your beautiful Freya too. She is in wonderful hands here, and we look forward to every visit with her. Thank you for trusting us with the dogs you love.
The team at Countryside
Esmeralda AnguloLocal Guide · 220 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Esmeralda has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Thank you for the feedback! We will be the first to admit we are a veterinary hospital, and our patients come in all shapes, sizes, and yes, occasionally scents. From ear infections to skin conditions to the occasional "I rolled in something" emergency, we see it all. We do our absolute best to keep things clean and fresh, but at the end of the day, our number one priority will always be the health and comfort of our patients, not the ambiance.
If you ever have a concern during your visit, please don't hesitate to let us know. We appreciate you coming in and hope to impress you a little more next time!
The Countryside Veterinary Hospital & Wellness Center Team
Teresa BlackwoodLocal Guide · 18 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Teresa has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I would give this place a -10 if I could. We took our 3 dogs here for vet care. First, the front staff one particular person was very aggressive and rude and we were afraid to even ask questions or go up to the counter. But thats not the worst part. We needed a good vet to give care to our fur babys. We didn't get that. We got huge bills and zero care of follow up because we spent over 2000$ dollars for blood tests, biopsies, meds, yet got zero follow up on blood tests that turned out to be quite crucial for one of our dogs. The extremely high ALP liver test, was 2000, and normal is less then 200. We were there 2 more times after blood was taken and his severe, highly abnormal liver tests were not mentioned, EVER!! not once. Even though we were back twice because he was sick. How does the vet never mention he has a severe, alp liver test of 2000. Long story short, they didn't mention it, he got sicker, finally found a new vet, turns out he had Cushing's disease, could have been treatable at that time if this vet had caught it, especially for the amount of money we spent, but they didn't, and his health declined rapidly, we watched him deteriorating and we didn't know why, it was absolutely horrible to spend all this money at countryside for nothing, yet finding out they had an important lab result that WOULD absolutely have mattered if they had mentioned it even once to us. Well they didn't, his health declined, we finally found a new vet, it was too late to treat his cushings and he suffered terribly those last months, and we had too euthanize him. I don't know why this place, this vet, took blood, to then not even bring up the absolutely dangerous results to us not once. Our dog is dead now. Those labs mattered. I knew something was wrong but all the labs, biopsies, antibiotics and 100s to 1000s dollars for frigging NOTHING! And HES DEAD NOW!! And he suffered for a year. And we suffered, and me and my kids are traumatized. And we will never get over what we went thru. I didn't google this vet before coming, it was recommended, but I wish I had, because it cost my dog suffering and his life!
Im not surprised with the chaos of your front office you cant even find records for my boys blood, biopsies etc. And the anxiety I feel to even interact with your front office makes me feel like puking!!
However, I wasn't even going to address my other dog, but since you brought it up, that she needed dental care, and she absolutely did, our homeless rescue from the streets, the estimate was a minimum of 800$ up to 2000$ depending on once she went into surgery, so we DID NOT decline treatment, in fact we started a crowd funding because we had just spent roughly 1000$ on our first visit, & I am on SSDI, so we tried to raise funds, and that funding resource sent an email to you, our Vet, to confirm the needs and link for information and payment, & i reached out to your front office as they told me to do, for u to accept the link, so our funding resource could be verified for need and payment. I was told a different department manager handled that. Well it wasn't handled, and nothing was done on the side of countryside vet. And we couldn't afford the 800 to possibly 2000$ and it was absolutely horrible. And your business doesn't offer any type of assistance or payment plans. So we were just stuck. But let's be clear, we did NOT decline any treatment!! And I requested to speak to the actual Vet, or at the very least a call back from, who we met on the first and 3rd visit, to have an actual conversation with the Vet, and not the aggressive front office staff. But the vet, regarding tests, needs, care, treatment. And I got zero response via phonecall or I could have even communicated thru email. Anything!! With the vet who was supposed to be providing care. Maybe one conversation with the vet could have made all the difference in the outcome of my boy!! And just to clarify your records, all 3 dogs came in November 2024. To the same appointment. I don't know whats up with your records, but all 3 were at same first visit together.
Response from the owner · Edited 8 months ago
Thank you for sharing your experience, and we are deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved dog. We understand how painful it is to lose a pet, and we take your concerns seriously.
We have thoroughly reviewed our records to better understand your visits with us. Our documentation shows visits in April 2024 for two dogs who received exams and antibiotics, with additional diagnostic testing recommended but declined.
We also have records from November 2024 for another dog who received an exam and vaccinations, with a dental estimate that was declined.
We have been unable to locate records matching the bloodwork, biopsies, and test results you've described. We want to ensure we're looking at the correct information and address your concerns appropriately.
We would genuinely appreciate the opportunity to speak with you directly.
Please contact our office so we can review your records together and better understand what occurred. If there are records we're missing or if there's been any confusion about which patient or visits are in question, we want to resolve that.
Again, we are truly sorry for your loss and the pain your family has experienced.
Countryside Team
Maria NapierskieLocal Guide · 10 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Maria has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
