Google reviewers rate Sondel Family Veterinary Clinic 4.8 out of 5 based on 261 reviews, with the owner responding to only 8% of them. Clients frequently praise the clinic for thorough communication, compassionate care for reactive or senior pets, and specialized reproductive services like breeding and delivery. However, several low-star reviews criticize rushed appointments, perceived high pricing for basic services, and a lack of engagement or attention to detail during procedures.
Google rating: 4.8 out of 5 from 261 reviews (92% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 261 Google reviews (164 with written comments, 12 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 8% of reviews.
Most recent review: August 4, 2026.
Service: Veterinarian serving Madison, Wisconsin.
Data from Google, last updated November 10, 2026.
Star ratings
261 Google reviews we collected
4.8of 5
5 stars24192%
4 stars73%
3 stars10%
2 stars42%
1 star83%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 164 written reviews
95%praise
Praise16695%
Complaints85%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude7543%
Quality & results2414%
Would recommend2112%
Speed & response2011%
Communication148%
Honesty & trust148%
Price & value63%
What customers talk about
We read 164 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“Everybody at Sondel was so kind, knowledgeable, and patient with all my questions.”
“I used Sondel (both clinics) to perform a TCI breeding with my Swedish vallhund, and had a great experience!”
“We have been coming here for 3 years, this last experience was horrible.”
“Sondel and his beautiful team six years ago when our breeder highly recommended him because he understands the breed we purchased!”
“The veterinarians and techs here are very knowledgable and knew exactly what to do right away.”
“She took her time to explain everything in great detail and helped to get Ringo back on the mend!”
“Doctor was pushy, no communication about procedure, and the procedure he was performing was the wrong one but we had no time to stop him.”
“Their prices are very reasonable, I'd honestly pay more for what they provide.”
“Friendly, caring, and reasonably priced.”
“Not overpriced and always handled professionally.”
People customers mention
Frankenthal7 reviews
Mohney5 reviews
Jesse4 reviews
Wallisch3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Thank you, Susan, for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you found our place clean and our staff welcoming. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we look forward to serving you again soon!
RitaLocal Guide · 38 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Rita has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Really great team! They took really good care of my dog and went above and beyond for her. They were super understanding about my dog being reactive to other dogs and worked with us to make it as stress free as possible for the both of us. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner · 3 months ago
Thank you so much, Rita! We're thrilled to hear that our team was able to provide such a positive experience for you and your furry loved one. It's wonderful to know that our efforts to accommodate her needs made a difference. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to seeing you both again.
Cheyenne Johnson2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Cheyenne has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Dr. Frankenthal was fantastic with my dog Ringo when he was feeling very under the weather. She took her time to explain everything in great detail and helped to get Ringo back on the mend!
Response from the owner · 4 months ago
Thank you, Cheyenne, for sharing your wonderful experience with Dr. Frankenthal. We're thrilled to hear that Ringo received such attentive and thorough care. It's great to know that our team could help him feel better. We appreciate your trust in us!
Holly WebbLocal Guide · 46 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Holly has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
This vet is very wonderful for dog care. From puppy care to end of life care. They treated my family with respect and dignity.
Response from the owner · 4 months ago
Hi Holly, thank you for the kind words! We love hearing feedback like this. Providing compassionate care through every stage of a pet's life is incredibly important to us, and we're honored to be a part of Merry and Pippin's journey.
We'll be sure to share your comments with the team. Thank you for trusting us with their care!
Austin MostellerLocal Guide · 12 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Austin has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
My experience with Sondel has been just ok overall, but I left extremely disappointed after my recent experience. Everything has always felt very rushed, and communication never felt as thorough or compassionate as it should have been. What really upset me was during my dog’s labor and delivery situation. For a facility that claims to specialize in reproductive work, allowing my dog to continue suffering during normal business hours instead of stepping in sooner felt incredibly concerning and honestly unethical to me. I trusted this clinic throughout her pregnancy and paid a significant amount for prenatal care expecting experienced support when it mattered most. Unfortunately, when we truly needed help, I did not feel supported or prioritized. It’s a real shame because I had high expectations for a veterinary facility advertising reproductive expertise. Very disappointed with how everything was handled.
Katy TillerLocal Guide · 9 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Katy has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I used Sondel (both clinics) to perform a TCI breeding with my Swedish vallhund, and had a great experience! We are expecting our first litter now in about 17 days. Everybody at Sondel was so kind, knowledgeable, and patient with all my questions. ☺️
Response from the owner · 6 months ago
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that our team at both clinics could assist you with the TCI breeding for your Swedish vallhund. It's fantastic to know that you felt supported and informed throughout the process. Best wishes for the litter! 😊
Bridget Engebretson2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Bridget has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We have been coming here for 3 years, this last experience was horrible. Doctor was pushy, no communication about procedure, and the procedure he was performing was the wrong one but we had no time to stop him. His goal was how fast he could get us out the door. We are even unsure if he performed the analysis correctly. This experience was awful and I wouldn’t recommend this vet to anyone anymore. Bad day or not that vet did not put his patient or customer 1st.
Price assessment: Not sure
Services: Large animals
Response from the owner · 11 months ago
Bridget, Thank you for your review. I am saddened to hear that we've failed to deliver the experience you expect. I appreciate you reaching out directly via email and will follow-up as I continue to look into this. Respectfully, Sara
Cira BurkeLocal Guide · 71 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Cira has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
They are the most helpful and very good with my cat who is 17 years old and in perfect health i am glad they are the ones I chose for the care of both my cats
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Response from the owner · 10 months ago
Hi Cira! Thank you for your feedback, we are happy to help care for Callie and Zoey :)
Kersten BarteltLocal Guide · 86 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Kersten has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
UPDATED REVIEW 6/9/25: I am very sad and frustrated to be writing this update given how much I have gushed about this clinic in the past. It's been a few years, and Sondel opened another location on the east side. We've been seeing him less and less over time. This the current staff, we are seeing a lot less patience and compassion. We have a pup that went through a week long hospitalization and now needs medication management and lab work regularly. We have struggled to get lab results, communication between them and the vet hospital, and getting prescriptions sent to our pharmacy. Additionally, our dog has major vet anxiety. The emergency vet we took her to as well as the vet hospital both worked with her to build a relationship/trust and make us as the owners feel better, while Sondel clinic staff have often made us feel guilty and like bad dog parents. I'm truly curious if others have seen the care go down hill like we have experienced.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I cannot give high enough praise to Dr Sondel. He was there for us a lot as we were figuring out a diagnosis for our lab, helping us with blood sugar issues, bladder infections and more. We always felt supported. When it came to our family making the hard decision of putting her down, he showed the greatest empathy. He was right there with us and by her side making it as comfortable as he possibly could.
Fast forward a short 2 months when another dog got very very sick and had to be seen at emergency vet services. Again we were faced with the hard decision to put her down. I wanted so badly to bring her to Sondel's clinic but they were full. A few days later I receivedived the sweetest condolence card.
I cannot emphasize enough how caring and comforting the staff are.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Hello Kersten, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We truly appreciate your feedback and are saddened to hear about your recent experiences. If it's convenient, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Hospital Administrator, Sara, at [email protected] to discuss further.
