Briar Patch Veterinary Hospital

Izzie Song

2024-04

Our Bunny needed end of life care and they were so kind and provided the best care we could have had. She lost movement in her back legs and Dr Vissio was realistic, kind, and eased her pain in her last month we got to say goodbye. The staff is responsive, easy to fill medications, and great all around. I had tried a couple other places that wouldn’t take her on or only offered to put her down. We could not have found a better spot for her. They stayed with us step by step after her visits with clear instructions, follow ups, and eventually her passing. They go above and beyond and her sympathy card and was appreciated. There is nowhere we would rather have taken her. Briarpatch cares deeply about their patients/clients and it shows. Thank you.

Julia Russell

2024-02

Briar Patch is worth every mile driven from Syracuse to have my beloved pets receive the utmost care and love from each individual who works there. The quality of medicine is TOP NOTCH. The staff listens to every concern, question, and story you have about your pets and they strive to deliver the best care possible whether it is your puppy's first vaccines to your pet feeling ill. I've never once had an experience at Briar Patch where I wasn't excited to come back. The doctors are incredibly thorough when it comes to investigating illnesses and annual wellness care is held to the highest standards. Prices are incredibly fair for the quality you receive at Briar Patch and the team is worth every single penny spent. These are some of the most compassionate and highly skilled veterinary professionals you will meet and you can feel complete confidence that when your pet is being seen at Briar Patch that they are treated like family. I cannot say it enough how much I love bringing my pets to "The Patch."

Bekki Bearheart

2023-11

I started bringing my cat Turtle here some years back (2017-2018?) when he began having weakness and pain in her hindquarters, a result of broken bones when she was 4 months old, and aging (she was probably 13 or so at the time). Colonial wanted to do a very expensive surgery and a lot of PT, whch I couldn't afford. I was familiar with acupuncture and found Dr. Rhineheart on line, and was able to have a conversation with her on the phone before making an appointment. Turtle tolerated the treatment- a combination of gabapentin to take the edge off the pain, and acupuncture- and she rallied amazingly, and I have taken her in for additional treatments as needed- usually not more than one a year. She is really good about the treatments and they help her keep functioning. (I also give her bed buddy "treatments" each night before bed and she cuddles with me for extra warmth!). Several years ago during the pandemic my cat Nefret developed kidney failure and she was kept alive and in good spirits for a year with their care and hydration. When it was time for her to pass, Dr. Rhinehart took time to help me through letting her go, which was painful but necessary. Just this month (OCT 2023) my beloved 18 year old King Charles spaniel (yes she was registered but I think she was a puppymill dog, she was given me when she was 7 or 8) who has been under their excellent care for heart and eye issues was discovered to have liver cancer. Once again they did all in their power to make her comfortable and when it was clearly time to release her from a body that was giving up they helped again, with compassion, care, and love. These folks are one in a million- they somehow know how to persevere in the face of all the vicissitudes of doing this kind of work, which all too often can be hard and sometimes thankless. I am more than grateful to be able to take my beloved 4 leggeds there.

Cate T.

2020-05

I have been very happy thus far. I am a new client and my little dog, Keely, is a new patient. She may be nearing the end of her life, as she will be 14 and she has Canine Cognitive Disorder or Canine Dementia. Briar Patch will be the vet clinic that will euthanize Keely if need be. They were very helpful and informative even before I officially became a client. I took Keely in recently to meet one of the technicians and Dr. V.. They both spent a considerable amount of time with us, talking to me and getting to know us. Dr. V. told me not to hesitate to contact the office if I have additional questions or concerns. I highly recommend this practice and I am happy that I found them.Update: I continue to be extremely happy with the caring attitude of the entire staff. They have been very supportive and helpful during some difficult times for me and my little Keely. They are very easy to contact via phone, text or e-mail.To get follow-up phonecalls or texts is something I greatly appreciate and was not used to with my previous vet. practice.Last Update: Unfortunately, we had to euthanize our little Keely. Briar Patch and Dr. Visio were so wonderful throughout everything. They gave me many choices on a very sad afternoon. I would not hesitate to recommend them.

Judi Gibbs

2023-07

We have been taking our dog to Briar Patch Veterinary in Ithaca for 6 1/2 years. We have been impressed with the quality of care the Veterinarians and Staff have provided to our dog and us. They are knowledgeable, thoughtful, efficient, caring, kind, gentle, helpful and communicate well. Our dog is 13 1/2 years old and has many health issues. We are quite sure that he would not have been with us the last 5 years if it hadn't been for the knowledge and care that has been provided to him. We highly recommend Briar Patch for your pet/s.

Kathleen McQuillen

2022-05

I had called 5 vets before finding them to take care of my daughter's guinea pig who we were certain had an ear infection. They had me an appointment in 24 hours . All of the staff were extremely courteous and really compassionate- they knew we were very worried about our baby. We were worried because we couldn't go in with him about how he would be, but he did fine and was not upset at all when they brought him back out. I would highly recommend them to anyone!!

Virginia Marques

2023-09

I'm not a client of BPVH however I was in a hard situation a month ago with my cat Henry who was in distress. My regular vet had covid and it was a Friday afternoon. So we had to take him from the house, which terrified him. I called everywhere, but Briar Patch made room for us and my Henry. Knowing we were there to euthanize him they made such a sweet room, a cozy fleece pink blanket, shades drawn, as close to our living room as can be. They were all so so sweet and kind. Left us to say our goodbyes, hugs, in private. It's really a lovely caring practice. My next cat will be a client for sure. Thank you so much!

Shawna Westervelt

2023-05

Briar Patch is the best at taking care of our dogs and their needs. They’re quick to call back and are great at handling any emergency that may arise. Our Dogs love all the staff! The doctors, techs and office staff are wonderful.

Jeff Truelsen

2018-05

I bring my senior greyhound to Dr. Rheinhart for acupuncture treatment for neck and back pain. The results have been amazing and I couldn't be happier. Brady is always happy to see Dr. Rheinhart, Tammie, Carissa, and Jon. As am I. I have nothing but nice things to say about Briar Patch.

EMA

2023-05

I have been bringing my rescue pup here regularly (in sickness and in health) since adopting him in 2020. I love this practice; everyone is very professional, kind, attentive and thorough. I highly recommend Briar Patch!

Nicole Sorce

2023-05

I’ve been coming here for years - first with my cat and now with two cats and a puppy! Everyone is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I’ve gone through several surgical procedures and your pets will definitely be in good hands. Thank you Briar Patch for everything!

Shaun Hogan

2021-05

My wife and I started bringing our new puppy to Briar Patch around late July/early August to receive his vaccines and get a wellness check, and have since visited ~4 times. Everyone from the vet, to the vet techs, to the receptionists have been extremely friendly. They genuinely seem excited to take care of our puppy, and we feel like he is in good hands. The staff at Briar Patch demonstrate great professionalism, and have welcomed all of our questions and concerns. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we've never actually been inside the offices, so I can't comment on the facilities, but the appointments have gone smoothly and we've never had to wait around for long before the vet techs come to get our pup. Most importantly, our puppy leaves the visits happy and upbeat, and has shown no signs of stress from the appointments, even though we can't go in with him. We've been very happy with our experience, and would highly recommend Briar Patch to other pet owners in the area.

K

2023-07

Amazing vet. Came here for a second opinion after my last vet had no solutions. They were so kind and laid out prices and options before they did anything. Definitely coming back. Thank you!

Cindy Kim

2020-05

Came to Ithaca for a wedding from out of state and our dog tweeked his back and was in a lot of pain. Was able to schedule an apt on a Saturday morning and was seen right away. The whole process from speaking on the phone to schedule the apt, the vet tech and the vet herself was flawless. The entire office staff was professional, super kind and efficient. One of the best vet experiences I’ve had in the past 12 years of being a dog owner. I wish we lived in Ithaca and Briar Patch was our vet office!

Amanda Munson

2020-05

The vets and vet techs here have been great with all of my pets (2 cats and a husky), 2 of whom are very anxious travelers and anxious about the vets office. They're gentle and well informed, and have been ready to listen and help when we've needed help finding answers for our dog's allergies, which has taken the better part of a year to solve. I highly recommend them!

Sarah Osley

2023-05

Wonderful veterinary team,. My cat received excellent, compassionate care here. The treatments were very well explained, and he is doing so much better. Thank you to all at Briar Patch!

Anton

2018-05

I first learned of this office from a close friend who takes her own pets here. I was hesitant to make this my vet since it is on the outskirts of town. Having been here more than once now, I’m sold and recommend this office. It’s worth the trip. WA small, friendly yet very full-featured vet office capable of anything you might throw their way. Appointments are easily available and they have late hours a few days and are also open Saturdays. They are also tech savvy and work with an online vet portal to allow easy access to your pets’ records. This is very useful and serves as peace of mind should you need them immediately.Only criticism is they are rather expensive. Their chosen pharmacist is usually 20-30% more expensive than you can find in others. And, they do not work with outside pharmacies at all, which means if you choose to fulfill your prescriptions with an online pharmacist, for example, they won’t fax or mail the prescription for you — you must come down and pick up a printed copy yourself. Not a huge issue if you plan ahead, but an inconvenience nonetheless.Overall would give 4.5 stars.

Drea

2018-05

I ended up at the Briar patch because of an emergency with our Great Dane while our local vet was out of town. I cannot say enough about how helpful the staff here was. They got me right in. Diagnosed and treated him ( parasite ((to a layman like myself it resembles certain death for my pup but I guess it wasn’t THAT bad)). They did not try to talk me into or sell me hundreds of dollars worth of extra nonsense which is a tactic I’m unfamiliar with vets I’ve previously used. I hope you have room for us Briar Patch because I have a lot of pets and I plan to start using you in the spring! :)

Sarah LaCount

2019-05

I took my dog Matilda to Briar Patch for the 4 years that I lived in Ithaca and I absolutely loved it, I wish I still lived close enough to take her there! The Vets, techs, and office staff are all incredibly nice and very professional, they were always able to answer my questions and get me an appointment anytime I needed one, especially for emergencies. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, I already miss taking my pup there!

J H

2020-05

They are great, and very friendly. They were very caring when I brought my animals in. They also were wonderful when one of my dogs passed. They also know how to handle on of my other dogs as he gets protective of me, and they do his care and stuff when I'm out of the room. I'm very happy I have them caring for my animals.

Jeanie Aird

2023-05

Really kind - they got my dog in quickly when she had an infected wound on her foot and they were amazing, thorough, and very professional. Very grateful for them! My dog healed up great.

Krisalyn Shatinsky

2022-05

We recently rescued 3 Budgies who had suffered from neglect and abuse to the point they needed emergency Vet attention. After speaking with the staff at Briar Patch I was happy to make the nearly 2 hour drive for Belle Fille to see Dr. Vissio who has the compassion every Vet should have for animals and the patience to answer the questions of a frightened Bird Mom. Given the distance she was able to tell me how to care for Jedi's (Belle Fille's cage mate) Bumble Foot through photos until I can bring him in with Belle Fille for her follow up appointment. The care your pet recieves from the whole staff at Briar Patch is well worth the drive and if your lucky enough to live close I would recommend them to any pet owner. 💜🐦

Amanda Mondt

2018-05

I called Briar Patch Monday morning because my guinea pig had a cut across the top of one of his toes. They were able to get me in Tuesday afternoon with Dr. Rhinehart. I was beyond impressed with all the staff, especially Dr. Rhinehart's knowledge and attention to detail regarding my little guy. She treated him with the utmost care and compassion. I will not hesitate to bring my animals back to Briar Patch! Highly recommend for exotic pets!

Elizabeth Rosa

2019-05

I cannot give enough praise for Briar Patch Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Vissio was absolutely wonderful. The first time she met my old lady cat (20 years old) was unfortunately the last week of her life. The compassion and support she gave to my partner and I was remarkable. She did everything she could to make my cat more comfortable and to see if she could get better. After more of a decline, we had to make the impossibly difficult decision to put her down a day later. The process was so emotional and difficult but Dr. Vissio and the staff were incredible. As sad as we were to said goodbye to our sweet girl, I feel so lucky to have had Dr. Vissio and the Briar Patch Staff help us through that difficult time. They only knew our cat a couple days but it felt like they knew her and us for years. I also received a heartfelt handwritten card giving us condolences. I wouldn't recommend anywhere else.

Milagros Cartagena

2020-05

Briar Patch Veterinary Hospital did something special. When My husband went to pick up Echo’s (my 3 year old cat) remains (we had him cremated), they gave us a paw print of my little baby’s paw. OMG! We were not expecting it. I can’t say enough nice things about this place! The staff was exceptional! Thumbs up to the vets -Dr Vissio and Dr Rhinehart; they were kind, understanding and compassionate. Everyone should give them a try, if you have a pet of course :)

Richard Glick

2021-05

Have used Briar Patch since 1996 and have liked the team. But my cat had a sudden health crisis and they referred me to Cornell overnight. My cat deteriorated and no Briar Patch doc would come to the phone to discuss possible cause. I was told they were "too busy with other pets." When I really needed them, they couldn't be bothered. I won't be going to Briar Patch with my next pet. Would give no star if I could.

Molly B

2021-05

They are knowledgeable and thorough and really take their time during appointments. They answer all my questions. I have never felt rushed. I've been going for several years. All staff is great to deal with. Extremely compassionate.

linnell randall

2018-05

Dr. Rhinehart and the rest of the staff have been amazingly patient and flexible with my large, reactive dog. Making vet visits a positive experience has been a priority, rather than rushing through procedures by force. Highly recommend for fearful/reactive pets!

Kathy Hildreth

2014-05

I've taken my dogs here for years. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Waiting room is small, but never have encountered any off leash pets. Cats are best brought in, inside a carrier and not in anyone's arms. Even on leash dogs can suddenly lunge and attack. They do have a really nice walking path in the back of the facility. I don't find their prices any cheaper than other vets in the Ithaca area. Ask for Dr. Kaplan, she's my fave.

Peter Pavlovic

2022-05

They were able to see to see my dog Lucy at a moments notice. Kind staff, knowledgeable vet and a quick script full and we were on our way. Lucy loves that place and wants to go back!