Google reviewers rate DownDog Veterinary Clinic 4.9 out of 5 based on 143 reviews, with the owner responding to 46 percent of them. Clients frequently cite the staff’s friendliness, thorough communication, and ability to keep anxious pets calm during visits for vaccines, allergies, and emergencies. Pricing is often noted as lower than competitors. However, a few low-star reviews criticize specific medical decisions, such as early neutering and medication side effects, alongside complaints about perceived rudeness at the front desk during urgent situations.
Data from Google, last updated October 25, 2026.
Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).
I can’t say enough about the wonderful, caring staff who took care of my sweet girl! Following an unexpected injury, they squeezed me in—same day. Immediately, my dog felt at ease. Thank you so much to Dr. Jennifer Kimmel and her staff for the expert care for my pet.
Finding a great vet after moving across three states is difficult, especially with two dachshunds and very different needs. Dr. Kimmel has been an absolute pleasure to work with. My dachshund Oakley has severe allergies that became significantly worse after moving to the Texas now North Carolina. We moved from Oregon. Dr. Kimmel took the time to thoroughly review his medical history, understand what we had already tried, and walked me through our options. Rather than immediately turning to steroids, we developed a plan with his Heska allergy treatment, Apoquel, and medicated shampoo for his yeast-infected toe beans. He is noticeably happier and doing much better. Oakley is going on 5 years this December. Then there’s Bourbon, our dachshund puppy, who comes in every 4 weeks for puppy preventative care. Dr. Kimmel has been incredibly thorough with her vaccines, preventative care, and spay. She kept me updated throughout her procedure and even took the time to discuss what to watch for as Bourbon’s adult teeth come in. What I appreciate most is that Dr. Kimmel genuinely listens. I am not afraid to speak up when I have doubts or concerns with a topic. She is patient with my endless questions, explains everything clearly, and gives me honest, thorough information without making me feel pressured. Her team also follows up after appointments, which says a lot about how much they care. Both of my dogs leave happy and comfortable, and Oakley’s allergies are much more manageable now. I’m incredibly grateful to have found a vet who treats my dogs with the same level of care and attention I would want for them myself. Dr. Kimmel and her entire team are wonderful. Bourbon, Oakley, and I are so grateful to have Dr. Kimmel and her team.
We took our baby, Lola, here for her itching which we thought was due to allergies. That is likely the case since Charlotte is a very allergic city. The doctor pre3scibed Apoquel pills and Cytopoint shots to help control the itching. Within a very short time (a couple days) she developed severe diarrhea and lost her appetite for the most part. My wife did a lot of research and discovered that these are very real side effects of these drugs. We believe that any vet worth being called one should have known this and never prescribed these drugs to any dog. Outrageously bad practice!!! I took her to an emergency vet who did a very thorough workup and agreed completely. Never should have been prescribed!!! AVOID THIS VET AT ALL COSTS!!! And DO NOT believe any of the 5-star reviews. She probably had family or friends write them! She could kill your beloved baby.
Dr. Kimmel and her team exemplify all the traits of what a good veterinarian practice should be. For the big and small stuff, she keeps us updated through every step of the way, talks to us about all treatment options and always chooses the options that the most cost effective and pertinent for the given situation. I have NEVER felt this level of trust and care with any other vet in Charlotte, and while she specializes in sight hounds, I would trust her with any pet, regardless of breed. Thanks to Dr. Kimmel and the team for taking such good care of our babies!
Great place to bring your pet; super friendly and professional. Will definitely keep as my pet's primary care vet.
Dr. Kimmel and her staff were wonderful with my recently adopted dog. It seems like he had been abused before the adoption and I wanted to make sure that he was at peas during the vet visit. He was really peaceful and didn’t seem frazzled at all.
We brought our dog Coco for his first consultation, and we were very impressed. The staff was friendly, caring, and professional. The veterinarian was thorough, patient, and answered all of our questions. We felt very comfortable and confident in the care Coco received. Highly recommend this clinic! 🐾
I came here recently for my cat, and they did a great job with him. The staff and Dr. Kimmel are helpful, professional, and knowledge. They also charged me just over half of what my old vet would've. They're going to be my regular vet from now on.
My cat, Barbara, and I had the best experience at DownDog! Everyone who B interacted with was so nice and gentle. They a stressful situation so much easier. Could not recommend this place enough!
I forgot to post a review but felt I needed to. Dr.Kimmel and staff are so wonderful! My pup is absolutely terrified at the vet and has to be sedated etc & it’s always a semi traumatic experience. I switched from another vet in Ballantyne due to them not really trying with scared dogs. At DownDog they sat down with my pup, used very low voices and went above and beyond to make it a much better experience. Also the inside is not like being at the vet, its very comfy and cozy which I love!!!