Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Veterinarians in Seattle, WA
Ballard Animal Hospital has dedicated itself to providing comprehensive veterinary care since 1953. Our practice emphasizes client education, preventative health care, and compassionate treatment for companion animals. With over six decades of service, we maintain strong ties to the Seattle community while offering advanced diagnostics, surgical procedures, and geriatric medicine. Our team prioritizes personalized care through annual exams, puppy/kitten wellness programs, and dental services. We utilize modern diagnostic tools including digital radiology and pre-anesthetic blood testing to ensure patient safety.Our commitment extends beyond medical treatment to include behavioral guidance and nutritional counseling for pet owners. The hospital maintains 24-hour emergency referral partnerships while operating regular business hours Monday through Friday. Our current leadership continues the legacy of excellence established by previous generations of veterinarians. We specialize in managing complex internal medicine cases and provide end-of-life care with dignity and compassion. Every service we offer reflects our foundational philosophy of combining medical expertise with empathetic client communication.
Services
Annual Exams
Puppy & Kitten Wellness
Dentistry
Internal Medicine
Surgical Services
Geriatric Medicine
Pet Euthanasia
Cremation Services
Emergency Referrals
Prescription Refills
Details
- Year established: 1953
Highlights and features
- We offer over 60 years of continuous veterinary expertise in Seattle
- Our team maintains 24-hour emergency referral partnerships
- We provide personalized care through annual exams and wellness programs
- Our hospital utilizes modern diagnostic tools including digital radiology
- We specialize in geriatric medicine and end-of-life care with compassion
Services
Annual Exams
Regular physical examinations help detect health issues early while building a comprehensive medical history for each pet. Our exams include developmental assessments for young animals and chronic condition monitoring for seniors. Early detection through annual exams enables timely treatment interventions that improve long-term outcomes.
Dentistry
We provide complete dental services including cleaning, polishing, and digital radiology to maintain oral health. Proper dental care prevents systemic infections that can affect vital organs. Our treatments address both cosmetic concerns and serious periodontal disease in pets.
Internal Medicine
Our internal medicine specialists handle complex cases involving multiple body systems. We utilize advanced diagnostics like blood work and histology to identify underlying conditions. This service addresses symptoms such as vomiting, difficulty urinating, and unexplained lethargy in animals.
Surgical Services
We perform routine and emergency surgical procedures with comprehensive pre-anesthetic testing. Our protocols include tailored anesthetic regimes and aggressive pain management strategies. Surgical capabilities range from spays/neuters to complex soft tissue operations while prioritizing patient safety.
Geriatric Medicine
Specialized care for aging pets addresses multiple concurrent health issues common in senior animals. Our approach focuses on maintaining quality of life through pain management and chronic condition treatment. We provide compassionate support for both pets and owners during end-of-life stages.
People
Dr. William Brennan
Founder
Established Ballard Animal Hospital in 1953 and practiced until retirement in 1986. Designed the original clinic structure and lived on-site with his family during early years of operation.
Dr. Emily Howe
Current Owner
Purchased Ballard Animal Hospital in 2007 and continues practicing as lead veterinarian. Maintains the hospital's tradition of excellence while overseeing modernization of medical equipment and procedures.
Dr. R. Brian Rowse
Former Owner
Joined practice in 1977 and became sole proprietor in 2002. Practiced until retirement in 2019, ensuring continuity of care during ownership transition to Dr. Howe.
Questions
What emergency services do you provide after hours?
We maintain partnerships with three 24-hour emergency hospitals in the Seattle area for urgent care referrals.
How often should my pet receive wellness exams?
We recommend annual exams for adult pets and twice-yearly visits for senior animals to monitor age-related changes.
What dental care options are available?
Our dental services include cleaning, polishing, digital radiology, extractions, and periodontal disease treatment.
Do you offer geriatric pet care?
Yes, we specialize in managing multiple health conditions in senior pets with customized treatment plans.
How can I request prescription refills?
Refill requests can be submitted through our online portal or by contacting the hospital during business hours.
Reviews (7)
Everett Lawson
May 12, 2022
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Ballard Animal Hospital took care of our two retired greyhounds for two years and the staff are amazing. The team here is thoughtful, proactive, and easy to work with. They always went the extra mile to research specific breed needs if they didn't know.
Brandon Ferguson
May 11, 2022
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Awful place. Do not park anywhere near the building or your towed. Working right next door and they couldn't take a couple seconds out of their day to ask us to move which we would have done without hesitation. Awful place
Rachel O'Connor
May 10, 2022
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doesn't recommend Ballard Animal Hospital. I recently came home with a new puppy on May 30th. I had an appointment at Ballard Animal Hospital on June 1st. A fecal sample was collected for testing during this appointment. The next morning (June 2nd) I had a missed call from Ballard Animal Hospital. I called them back about 2 hours later, and asked them what it was for, and they didn't mention any results of the fecal sample.
Today is June 15th, and I just received a phone call from Ballard Animal Hospital informing me that my puppy has Giardia in his fecal sample. I asked why they are telling me this now. They said that they called me on June 2nd to let me know and they are following up on it now. Excuse me???? This was never discussed or mentioned to me. How did it take 2 weeks for them to follow up on test results? Extreme negligence. I am so disappointed and will be taking my business elsewhere. DO NOT TRUST THIS VET WITH YOUR PET
Today is June 15th, and I just received a phone call from Ballard Animal Hospital informing me that my puppy has Giardia in his fecal sample. I asked why they are telling me this now. They said that they called me on June 2nd to let me know and they are following up on it now. Excuse me???? This was never discussed or mentioned to me. How did it take 2 weeks for them to follow up on test results? Extreme negligence. I am so disappointed and will be taking my business elsewhere. DO NOT TRUST THIS VET WITH YOUR PET
Soylent Blue-Ish
Feb 28, 2022
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Great staff, very compassionate. Mom took her cats there for decades and I've been taking my furbaby there for 13 years now. Full endorsement!
Melanie
Feb 18, 2022
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We love Ballard Animal Hospital! They take amazing care of our two doggos. They're responsive, kind, and we always know our gals are in good hands.
Jc Chupack
Jul 23, 2021
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They have always taken great care of my cats. From helping me say goodbye to one a few years back to helping me care for my current middle aged cat, they are kind, friendly, and reasonable.
Martin Butler
May 29, 2021
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This is a really great local vet. They take such good care of all the animals and give great advice on how we can look after our dog. Really appreciate their great service and follow ups. Never any problems finding parking in the lot at the front. Next door are some good cafe and food options if you have a bit of a wait.
