-
Kirkland, WA
I wish I could give At Home Vet more than 5 stars. I first met Hanna Ekstom about a year ago when I thought it was time to put down my 17 yo Jack Russell. She came to the house, met him and made it clear he was not ready. My regular vet and others said there was nothing more they could do. She prescribed adequin injections for his severe arthritic pain which not only significantly improved his quality of life but also gave me almost another year with him. I had to put him down last month and unfortunately it happened on the weekend and I couldn't reach her. I took him to my regular vet and the process did not go well at all!
Since then, my second senior dog has become very ill. She's been seen by two doctors at my regular vet, a third at another clinic and finally, after spending over a thousand dollars, not getting a diagnosis, and being given nothing but pharmaceuticals that made her much sicker, I called Dr. Eckstom. I'm so sorry I didn't call her from the start!
Not only does her knowledge and skill far surpass the others, but her bedside manner and compassion is extraordinary. Her assistant Stephanie has also been extremely kind, compassionate and professional as well.
My little Savannah doesn't have much time left but Dr. Ekstom's care and treatment is finally providing relief and comfort in her final days. There is no one else I trust to help us at the end.
-
Redmond, WA
I've known Dr. Ekstrom professionally since approx. 1997 when I became a professional dog trainer. I adopted my first foster, a 12 year old Doberman, knowing I'd give her the best life possible, but that she wouldn't be with me for very long. When the time came, Dr. EkstRom's staff listened to my dog's story, and asked for Vet Reference to verify my dog was at the end of her life while booking my appointment. The staff member explained everything that would happen, all prices, and gave me lots of options. When AHV came to my home, Dr. Hanna explained everything that would happen (the first shot, the final shot, how she structures the meds for peace and painlessness), and then she moved us through the process with kindness and respect. I actually switched to At Home Vet for routine care for my other three dogs and have been treated with personalized yet professional service for everything: from meds refills to a tumor removal which was quite extensive. Every visit, they are upfront with costs, treatment options, give context to make decisions and help me manage my dogs' health needs, especially on my allergy special-needs dog. They've gone above and beyond: when my next senior was helped by AHV to cross the bridge, I was so heartbroken and distraught that it took me almost 2 years to come pick up his ashes - TWO FULL YEARS. When I arrived out of the blue, I told the vet tech at the front desk that it had been a really long time since I'd let Dash go and that perhaps his remains were no longer there. She said, with incredible kindness and recognition in her eyes, "oh, his remains are here: I"ll be right back." She came back with a bag that also included the blanket I'd sent him on, laundered and folded neatly in the bag along with his remains box. It was just an old, but in good shape, cotton blanket that I told her she could donate at the time. Yet Hannah laundered it and made sure to get it back to me. Further, they kept his things without a word from me for so long. I literally cried all the way home at the incredible kindness of the entire staff. I've been to many vets n the 20 years I've been showing, rescuing, and loving my dogs: Dr. Ekstrom and her staff are simply good people, treating their clients with 2 and 4 feet and everything in between, with unimaginable kindness while often doing the most difficult work a veterinarian team faces. They do it with such composure, day in and day out. And while they are human and likely are not perfect every day, I think they are.
-
Redmond, WA
Our American Eskimo family pet of almost 15 years was dying of liver failure. She had huge issues with having her front paws touched (she always had that issue). I was wanting to avoid a struggle when it was finally time to let her go. My regular vet was not scheduled on the day that we really needed to have this done. The associate vet at our clinic wanted to use a catheter in the front leg (before being anesthetized). I couldn't do that to my dog as it would have been a traumatizing struggle. My vet clinic was nice enough to refer me to Dr. Hanna at At Home Vet. Her staff explained to me that there would be no catheter in the front leg (only injections) and that the sedation injection was not going to be in the leg at all (she did it in the scruff of the neck). It turned out to be a blessing in disguise that my vet was not in that day since we were able to have the procedure done in the comfort of our home and our dog was not going to be traumatized with a catheter in her leg while not being sedated. The procedure went as perfectly as it could have gone. Our dog was able to remain on her favorite rug out on our deck (her favorite place). Dr. Hanna was excellent at explaining to our gradeschool aged children what was about to happen. She had my kids work on softening a piece of clay while she was administering the injections. She had the kids roll out the clay onto a dinner plate and after our doggie was gone, Dr. Hanna gently pressed her paw into the clay that the kids had worked with and let them choose a heart shaped charm to place into the plaque. We baked the plaque and will cherish it always. Dr. Hanna wasn't actually scheduled to be at work that day as she had injured her back. My husband helped carry our dog to her vehicle. I was grateful that Dr. Hanna decided to fit us in on her day off. I would highly recommend her services as she is a compassionate and caring vet.
-
Kenmore, WA
Hanna Ekstrom is a caring & compassionate vet who made the last day of our precious beagle's life pain free & peaceful. She came to our home & treated Lady with dignity & respect so that her death was tranquil. She comforted us in a quiet & subtle way that didn't trespass on our grief. Her kindness, reverence & compassion on the day of Lady's death gave us a measure of peace in the midst of our sadness. It is obvious that she is that rare doctor who loves her patients & allows herself to identify with the sadness & enormity of the loss when a beloved pet dies. We wish we would have found her long before Lady's last day so that she could have been her vet for her entire life. We highly recommend her & will forever be grateful that we found her.
-
Portland, ME
In January Dr. Hanna came to my house to help my dog with her end of life care. I could not have asked for a better experience to the most difficult experience in my entire life. Her kindness to me and especially my dog was incredible. She clearly explained what was going to happen to everyone there and listened to stories and looked at pictures of my dog before we all said good-bye. I would recommend her without any reservation for at home end of life care.
-
Bothell, Wa
Dr. Hanna and her staff are kind, compassionate, and caring and we love them. I have been taking my two cats and two dogs to her practice for the past five years and I am extremely happy with them and all my experiences have been great.
Recently, we had to make the difficult decision to euthanize one of our cats and Dr. Hanna offered to come out to our house that evening so he would not be in pain and we could say our last goodbyes in our own home. I know she cares about her patients and their families deeply and it was reaffirmed when Hanna cried with us over the loss of our sweet boy.
-
Bothell, WA
Dr. Ekstrom was there to help save the life of our little dog when we got her. She did not hesitate for a moment to drop everything and tend to" Annie" when we called her for help. Annie was a rescue dog we found in our neighborhood dehydrated and full of maggots. If it wasn't for Dr. Ekstrom's quick response we would not have our little Annie today. Dr. Ekstrom also is able to come to our home and give the care needed to one of our cats that we are unable bring out of our home. Our other two pets have also benefitted from Dr. Ekstrom's compassionate care.
-
Seattle, WA
When our beloved, 9 year old dog Eddie was having stomach issues and acting really lethargic, we worked with At Home Vet to try and figure out what was going on. Hanna Ekstrom was so good with Eddie, making him feel comfortable and checking out all the possibilities. She suggested we get x-rays, suspecting there could be a growth/tumor. She was right as there were multiple tumors in his stomach and on his liver. This brought us to have to make a gut wrenching decision on what to do next for Eddie and his quality of life. She was so caring, as if Eddie was her own dog in the advice she gave, but never pushy in one particular direction. Both my wife and I felt that she gave us all of the options, without influencing us one way or another. When we decided to put Eddie to sleep, she made it as good experience as it could have been. We appreciated all of her work in a very traumatic time for us.
-
Bothell, WA
Our two elderly cats needed to be checked out so I called At Home Vet. Both visits have been so wonderful and made it so much easier for our kitties. They are 18 years, 11 months so we know or time with them is limited. We are so thankful for At Home Vet and feel that the extra fee is a small price to pay for the service. Love them!
-
Seattle, WA
A close friend of mine recently had to put down her doggie. i suggested she look into a vet that makes house calls as the doggie never liked going to the vet and we wouldn't want his last moments in a place he was scared to be at. after some searching, At Home Vet was chosen (based on their website). Dr Hanna was absolutely fantastic - super compassionate, explained everything, and set proper expectations for such a traumatic event for a pet owner. though she was a little late (blame GPS), she never rushed anything but made sure we proceeded accordingly (poor doggie was in great pain but was a super trooper!!!) so as not to prolong it. she's clearly been doing this for a long time, but not so long she's become a heartless robot, because the process was fluid and handled proffessionally. she had nice little touches: bringing flowers for the doggie, wrapping him up in a blanket to be transported, etc...it was sad but i'm glad she was the vet to help out that day.
Teresa K..
-
Bothell, WA
Just came back from a trip to the Vet. We've been using At Home Vet for the last 5 years now and although our dog is usually very healthy, he took a tumble down the stairs recently and being 11 years old, is recovering rather slowly. Dr Ekstrom and her staff has always put me and my family at ease and my little Stuart has never had any issues visiting her office even with all the shots, poking and prodding over the years. He always leaves in much better spirits. So thankful to have someone so capable and thorough looking after our dog.
-
Woodinville, WA
We just used the at home service. In all my years of having dogs in my life, I have never been treated with such kindness and compassion. I wish I could have said these words when they were here, but I was too emotional. This was the most amazing end of life I've ever experienced.
-
Washington, DC
I first tried to put my parent's "tempermental Tortie" Billie, tomcat in a carrier several years ago, and after three tries, got him in. He fights like a wildcat because he is sure he is being betrayed and sent back to the shelter. He cries all the way to the vet. and all the way back.
Thanks to At Home Vet, he doesn't have to hate me and suffer. These people are expert at all they do. If you have a cat or more, give them as many bits of info as possible- any changes in the cat(s) behavior. They will do all the rest.
-
Kirkland, WA
I can't say enough great things about this business. I have an elderly cat who is not exactly a 'people' pet. Having them come to my home is a blessing. The doctors and techs treat my cat with kindness, grace, and professionalism that puts my mind at ease. They recognize her as member of our family, and treat her as such. Even while she is growling and hissing at them. :)
They are quick to respond to concerns either by email or phone, and they truly make you feel like no question/concern is small or insignificant.
I'm glad to have found them, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for compassionate pet care.
-
Edmonds, WA
The doctors (Dr. King and Dr. Ekstrom) and techs (Jaime and Rachel) who came to my home when my senior cat needed at-home care every few months, were very compassionate and gentle with her. If your pet has issues going to the vet, I recommend this vet as it can be a lot less stressful for them.
-
Kirkland, WA
I cannot say enough good things about this compassionate group. Dr. Ekstrom and her associate had been treating my cat for years. They would travel to my house to treat my cat as my cat had never left my house since I adopted her ( since she was mistreated before I had her, she was afraid to leave the house) this doctor and her wonderful staff saw my precious Abby for many years before the end of her life and were there for me at the end of her life when it was so painful. They were so wonderful with helping me with arrangement with cremation and anyone who has a pet will love this group of people.
-
Anderson, CA
The staff and veterinarians at At Home Vet were of immeasurable help during a very stressful and emotional time. Our daughter's 15 year old dog who had cancer and other health issues needed to be put to sleep forever. Nisha, a beautiful Samoyed/Shepherd cross was in pain and very confused because of dementia. We decided to have her put to sleep at home where she would be comfortable and with her family nearby. We called our daughter's regular vet and was told she would not be able to do a house call. We had already made arrangements at a private pet crematorium and so were in dire need of a veterinarian to be able to come to our home the next day. When I called the At Home Vet office, I was listened to with compassion and patience. Dr. Allisa Littau came to our home at the arranged time and calmly and quietly explained the procedure to our daughter. Nisha was surrounded by her friends and family and was completely relaxed while we told her what an incredible dog she was and then she went to sleep forever. Though the experience was emotional and draining, it was done with compassion and respect. I cannot imagine having this done any other way. Thank you so much Dr. Littau and At Home Vet.
-
Seattle, WA
I LOVE Dr Hanna :) She absolutely loves her job and it shows in how kind and thoughtful she is. I have two cats that are my "kids" and one of them needed some teeth pulled and she just happened to have an opening on the day that I came in and was absolutely willing to help me out. I was very nervous about having my Roscoe put under medication but she was very re-assuring and kind and even called me when she was done with the surgery. I'm very thankful for people like her and her staff that love what they do and are willing to help :)
-
Bothell, WA
Dr. Hanna and her staff are kind, compassionate, and caring and we love them. I have been taking my two cats and two dogs to her practice for the past five years and I am extremely happy with them and all my experiences have been great.
Recently, we had to make the difficult decision to euthanize one of our cats and Dr. Hanna offered to come out to our house that evening so he would not be in pain and we could say our last goodbyes in our own home. I know she cares about her patients and their families deeply and it was reaffirmed when Hanna cried with us over the loss of our sweet boy.
-
Redmond, WA
Just had my first visit from the At Home Vet. I have two cats that needed regular check ups, neither were ill. I was very happy with how the cats were handled, gently but firm. My younger cat has a lot of energy and put up a valiant fight, luckily the vet won, and she very kind to the kitty throughout the entire battle. I would absolutely recommend At Home Vet, their expertise and gentleness is so important for animals.
-
Bothell, WA
I couldn't be more impressed and thankful for the compassionate and professional services of At Home Vet. They were quick to respond, very easy to communicate with and their follow though was fantastic.
My husband bought me a pink collar for my very first mother's day (I was just pregnant)in 1997! That puppy was a new beginning for us and was by my son's side the moment he came home from the hospital. So, when my 15 year son and I sat with Cedar on this very sad and difficult day, the vet and her assistant were kind, patient and took the time to explain everything. They were in touch with our feelings and also in taking care the best care of our sweet 16 year black lab.
Thank you At Home Vet! ANY pet would be lucky to be treated, cared for by these fantastic service professionals.
-
Woodinville, WA
I took my daughter's pet rat, who had an injury created from his housemate, to this clinic based on location, reviews, and the philosophy they practice. I found the place to be quite homelike with a friendly atmosphere. Dr. Hanna Ekstrom was in attendance, and was able to have a look at him without the long wait that usually goes with a larger facility. She assessed him quickly but thoroughly. She was able to explain in detail (which included a little drawing) what the issue was, and gave several options for how to proceed. She was on the phone immediately to speak with someone with expertise in the type of treatment that may be required for our furry friend, and referred me to that facility as an option. Even just seeing our little beastie for a short time, she showed compassionate care that one doesn't always find at a traditional vet clinic. She was also kind enough to waive the visit fee for the short visit, which astounded me. I have never had a fee waived- in fact, I've been in places where they have charged $75 for a 5-minute visit. I only encountered Dr. Ekstrom briefly, but it was enough to know that I would go back to her facility in a heartbeat.
-
Bothell, Wa
We had to put our loving little 17 yr old (terminally ill) cat down yesterday. We used At Home Vet services to let her go in peace; voiding Gensing the stress and anxiety of going to a Veterinary clinic and allowing her to be comfortable in her own bed.
This service was not only very compassionate and kind to Gensing, but to us as well. They gave us as much time as we needed.
Losing our cat was devastating. However, we have peace of mind knowing that she went to sleep gently and peacefully in my husband's arms. The entire process was serene that was beneficial for the three of us.
We highly recommend At Home Vet Services. They are not only very professional, they are very kind, thoughtful, and accommodating.
-
Woodinville, WA
Dr Hanna Ekstrom is one of the most compassionate people I have ever met. She has helped me with my dog Captain Kirk ever since he was born, and I could not be more pleased. She vaccinated him, took care of him, was always there to give advice, and genuinely cared about him. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this practice.
-
Edmonds, WA
The staff at At Home Vet has given us professional and compassionate care with three of our beloved pets. We contacted them originally when our vet of over 13 years could not make time for us when we needed to put our elderly dog to sleep after a long illness. I am a hospice nurse, and the vet and tech who came to our home treated our dog and our family with compassion and respect. They helped and supported us during a very difficult choice. Because of the good care we received, we brought them our rescue cat and also our 17 year old Burmese. Our pets were seen in the office without long waits. We were called with lab work and follow up calls to see our cat was improving. I highly recommend Dr. Hanna and her staff vets and techs.
-
Kirkland, WA
Dr. Hannah is one of the most compassionate and competent vets I have ever seen at work. She has gently and skillfully helped several of my friends through the end of life transition of their animal companions. I am quick to share her name and services with anyone who has an elderly pet or one who is very stressed by the vet office experience. Her practice is a godsend to housebound folks who need vet care for their animals.
It is very comforting at such a painful time to be able to give your animal friend a peaceful transition at home in a cozy place or outdoors under a favorite tree...and to be able to grieve privately outside of the clinical setting.
-
Kirkland, WA
Normally I wouldn't write a review about something as personal as this, but I feel a need to counteract the one star review below. We just had our dog of 16 1/2 years put to sleep in our home by Dr. Ekstrom and her assistant Sarah. This was an incredibly painful ordeal for us but Dr. Ekstrom and Sarah did everything they could do to make the experience as bearable as it could possibly be. I can't imagine doing it any other way. Thank you Dr. Ekstrom.
-
Seattle, WA
It has been nearly a month since my family put down our beloved 15-year old mutt with the care of Dr. Hanna. I went to visit my family home this afternoon and saw that Dr. Hanna had sent us a beautiful, hand-written card offering condolences. Not just signed by her, but actually full sentences filling up one side of the card! This level of care is just so unheard of these days. I really can't say enough good things about our experience. We have a beautiful urn with our dog's ashes, an ornament of her paw print that we wouldn't have otherwise, and precious memories of gentleness and beauty on a day that was very sad. My husband and I live in Seattle, but we've talked about how we're likely to be willing to spend the extra money to have Dr. Hanna come out and make a house call when our cats get to a point of needing more care than their vaccine boosters that we can get done at Petco.
-
Snohomish, W
This is more a thank you than a review for Dr. Hanna Ekström . From scheduling our appt, to saying goodbye to Harley, the staff at At Home Vet were respectful, tactful, compassionate, helpful, tender and provided the guidance so desperately needed for the decision we had to face. The idea of having to transport our dearest 14 year old pup to the vet and grieve there was awful- she deserved to go at home, on her bed, in a favorite calm spot, with her family around her. Dr. Hanna made that all possible, and she did something we weren't able to do for a long time no matter how hard we tried...she made Harley comfortable (and us too), and our dog left this world gracefully, peacefully. She also provided resources for helping our daughter understand this life changing event. My sincerest wish for every pet lover is that the final earthly moments with their animal go just as our experience went. So, thank you , Dr. Ekström for your kindness. Your service is a gift.
-
Kirkland, WA
Dr. Ekstrom and her assistants are just wonderful. They have helped me over the years with an aging cat, and are now taking care of my new kitten. I've always found them to be very professional, caring, and thorough.
-
Portland, ME
In January Dr. Hanna came to my house to help my dog with her end of life care. I could not have asked for a better experience to the most difficult experience in my entire life. Her kindness to me and especially my dog was incredible. She clearly explained what was going to happen to everyone there and listened to stories and looked at pictures of my dog before we all said good-bye. I would recommend her without any reservation for at home end of life care.
-
Edmonds, WA
As I struggled to make end-of-life decisions for my elderly and terminally ill dog, I was fortunate in finding the website for the At Home Vet. With her labored breathing and worsening all-around condition, Mindy wasn't long for this world, I knew, yet her true beagle stubbornness wouldn't let her rest. After taking her to her usual vet earlier in the week, I couldn't bear to take her back for the final appointment as the clinic always stressed her, and I knew she wouldn't lie still on the table there. I was grateful to have the option of letting her pass away peacefully in her own bed.
Dr. Hanna Ekstrom and Christina, a veterinary assistant, came to my house the same day I called the At Home Vet and simply couldn't have been kinder or more compassionate. They gently and quickly assessed Mindy's condition and gave her a sedative right away to give her some comfort. The euthanasia procedure itself was fast and gentle. Both Hanna and Christina were comforting toward Mindy and toward me, and I knew I had made the right decision for my dear animal friend.
I was able to make credit card payment in advance over the phone, so I only had to sign a release form in person. I could focus on being gently and fully present with my dog in her last moments, which were much more peaceful than I expected.
My heartfelt thanks to Hanna and Christina for their help in a very difficult time indeed. I signed up for Yelp just to post this review in hopes of helping other people facing heart-wrenching situations with their pets.
-
Redmond, WA
Our American Eskimo family pet of almost 15 years was dying of liver failure. She had huge issues with having her front paws touched (she always had that issue). I was wanting to avoid a struggle when it was finally time to let her go. My regular vet was not scheduled on the day that we really needed to have this done. The associate vet at our clinic wanted to use a catheter in the front leg (before being anesthetized). I couldn't do that to my dog as it would have been a traumatizing struggle. My vet clinic was nice enough to refer me to Dr. Hanna at At Home Vet. Her staff explained to me that there would be no catheter in the front leg (only injections) and that the sedation injection was not going to be in the leg at all (she did it in the scruff of the neck). It turned out to be a blessing in disguise that my vet was not in that day since we were able to have the procedure done in the comfort of our home and our dog was not going to be traumatized with a catheter in her leg while not being sedated. The procedure went as perfectly as it could have gone. Our dog was able to remain on her favorite rug out on our deck (her favorite place). Dr. Hanna was excellent at explaining to our gradeschool aged children what was about to happen. She had my kids work on softening a piece of clay while she was administering the injections. She had the kids roll out the clay onto a dinner plate and after our doggie was gone, Dr. Hanna gently pressed her paw into the clay that the kids had worked with and let them choose a heart shaped charm to place into the plaque. We baked the plaque and will cherish it always. Dr. Hanna wasn't actually scheduled to be at work that day as she had injured her back. My husband helped carry our dog to her vehicle. I was grateful that Dr. Hanna decided to fit us in on her day off. I would highly recommend her services as she is a compassionate and caring vet.
-
Sammamish, WA
So impressed! I would highly recommend this vet service to anyone. After taking our dog to her regular vet for nearly 15 years, when it was time to say goodbye our vet refused to come to our house to perform the procedure. I had contacted another at home vet service only to be fee and service charged to the extreme, I'm surprised I didn't get charged for them answering my e-mails. When I contacted At Home Vet, what a relief. From the first e-mail I could tell I was dealing with professional, caring, and sympathetic staff. From the time they arrived at our house, through the procedure, to the minute they left, they were supportive, caring, understanding, sympathetic, etc. Simply wonderful people, they helped our family as much as they helped our beloved pet. If we ever have another pet, Your At Home Vet will who we will use for all veterinary needs. There are not enough words to express our thanks.