Haverford Animal Hospital

I saw Dr. Royster only once after switching from another vet in the area… My poor review has less to do with him than with his office manager, Kimberly.
I called Haverford and explained my dog was in bad shape and wasn’t getting better but I didn’t really want to go back to the vet I had initially seen. Kimberly was extremely understanding, kind etc. I set up an appt and came in the next day to see Dr. Royster. I have to say, I had a hard time understanding him and I left a bit confused so if I have anything negative to say about him as a vet, I don’t believe he explained things very well. He did thoroughly examine my dog and prescribed new antibiotics etc. And he very specifically told me to call him the next day to tell him how Nellie was doing…
So I called the next day. Kimberly picked up the phone and basically interrogated me for five minutes as to why I was calling, even after I told her several times that Dr. Royster had asked me to call him and that my dog in fact was really sick from the new antibiotic. Finally she said hold on, and then got back on the phone to tell me he would call me back. Whoa thanks so much.
Four days later, Nellie still hadn’t improved much so I called for some advice and again had to deal with Kimberly. This time she was really aggressive with me, again interrogating me as to why I was calling, did the doctor ask me to call him, overtalking me, cutting me off, giving me lectures, etc. It actually felt really hostile. Finally she put me on hold and grudgingly told me Dr. Royster would call me back later as he was very «busy» that day.
I have a 15 year old dog who is probably going to need a lot of care right now, and if I can’t call my vet if she’s not doing well without going thru a combative phone call where I have to plead my case to a self important office manager (btw, I don’t think she should be dispensing veterinary advice without a degree) then it’s not the right place for me. Not to mention they charge $ 47 for anal glands to be expressed which really is a «shame on you» amount of money. Anyways, happily I found an amazing vet to take care of my dog but thought Dr. Royster might appreciate knowing why I never came back to see him.

Beware! Way overcharged for misdiagnosis, followup for misdiagnosis, and associated medications. Then referral to a specialist who found nothing wrong! I will look for another vet. Or is this par for the course for animals they know we care about and would do anything for them? I hope not.

Been here twice. First time was an emergency request on my part as my dog had a gash on her face. They took me in less than 24 hrs for extra fee, still below many on main line and all was great.
Second was annual check up. Love staff, love dr, but never got a call or email back and ordered flea med had to wait. Small nit…

Thanks to Dr. Royster for always helping my «B» he and his staff are always responsible and professional. Great care for seven years! Highly recommended!

I can’t even express into words how wonderful Dr. Royster and his staff have been in the six years I have been taking my dog to Haverford Animal Hospital! The receptionists are always pleasant, and the nurses do a great job in handling my dog before Dr. Royster comes in to see him. Not to mention, the office is always clean! As for Dr. Royster, I truly do not think his care could get any better! While we only come to see him every six months, he always remembers us and makes our visit go as easy as possible.
As many of the reviews have also stated, he does not do unnecessary tests. On one specific occasion, my dog was having an issue with his leg/​back, and after a physical examination he felt that x-​rays (which would not have been cheap!) were not needed.
As for prices, I would say they are reasonable compared to many other vets in and around Philadelphia. I live in the city and have been driving him 40 minutes to the Main Line because I know the care is exceptional.
If you are a new pet owner or looking to change vets, I highly recommend you pick Dr. Royster and Haverford Animal Hospital!

Dr. Royster is very kind and professional. He genuinely cares about the pet and its owner. He is extremely patient and my dog senses this. He seems to have a magic touch. We have been very happy with the care and advice that he has given us with our dog. He is very responsive to our calls and doesn’t perform unnecessary procedures. We have called the office to ask about a problem and he has often been able to give me advice to resolve the problem over the phone. His prices are very fair and reasonable. The staff is very friendly and courteous and they know my dog by name when we walk in, and we only go in twice a year or as needed. I can’t say enough about Dr. Royster and Haverford Animal Hospital. He has been a MainLine Magazine pick for a number of years for a reason. Trustworthy, kind, professional and knowledgeable. A winning combination. You won’t be disappointed.

Haverford Animal Hospital is wonderful. My husband and I absolutely have nothing negative to say about Dr. Royster. He is so patient, nice, and responsive. For example, my puppy has had many issues come up and I call the office a lot. Dr Royster always calls back himself, and I think that’s wonderful. He is always thorough and always makes us laugh! I am so glad we found such an amazing veterinarian. He is wonderful and his staff is awesome! If you go there, you will not be disappointed with the quality of care in every area.

Dr. Royster is a cool and collected vet. I can tell he enjoys his job and loves animals. He’s gentle, knowledgeable, honest, never rushed, doesn’t pressure and he’s very helpful and he laughs a lot.
I like this place because there is always a secretary at the front desk to answer phone calls, do check out and greeting. The hours are reasonable and the office has a warm and friendly atmosphere. My main complaint is that getting into the driveway is tricky and the parking is tight. It’s not a hospital so they can’t be open ²⁴⁄₇ but they are there for the busiest hours…
I would also say though, if your dog needs a dental cleaning, do your research, this isn’t the best place to get it done. Not because the technicians aren’t qualified but because if your dog needs something more specialized (ie/​a tooth pulled), he would have to go to two separate appointments, both with anesthesia… Not good… Better to go to a specialist the first time. Otherwise, this vets office is pretty good.
Lastly, a word to the wise, get pet insurance. You’ll be glad you did! Consider petplan (most coverage) or the ASPCA pet insurance (best value).

Way overpriced. Can get some of the same procedures done for a third of the price, went to them for a grooming and it cost $ 295, my vet charges $ 110. Seems like they are more about $ than the welfare of your animals. They also quote wrong prices over the phone. Disappointed especially for the price.

Dr. Royster and his staff at HAH are really top-​notch. The place is small, so they get to know all of their clients on a personal level. Every staff member I’ve encountered has always been extremely friendly. You can tell that they all are true animal lovers that enjoy the work that they do. Dr. Royster and his vet techs always take their time with our dog and are thorough with following up and answering questions. Never once have I felt rushed or belittled.
The prices are a little high, (such as $ 12 for a dog nail trim), but I think it is worth it for the personal attention and quality of care that you receive here.

I am new to the area and needed to find a vet for my new kitten. I chose Haverford Animal Hospital based on the reviews and was not disappointed. Dr. Royerster will stay with you as long as you like and answer all your questions. The staff are just as friendly. I love that they take pics of your pet at each visit. The prices are fair and the care is excellent. He really wants to do what is in the best interest of your animal. Couldn’t ask for more!

My first impression of this place was how small yet clean and tiny it is! The staff are very friendly! While I was in the waiting room, they frequently complimented my kitty on how great she looked and how brave she was behaving. I do believe that they genuinely cared about the animals.
Dr Royster was also super nice. He was very thorough while examining my cat. But he was also gentle with her. My cat tends to get very scared and upset around men. But she was totally fine during and after her shots and the physical exam.
Overall it was a very pleasant experience for me and my cat! I have seen videos of cats going berserk during vet visits but it didn’t happen to my cat at all.

If you’re looking for an experienced, honest, compassionate Veterinarian who will not put your animal through unnecessary testing, then Dr. Royster’s your Vet. He and his staff were wonderful with our ‘elderly’ cat, treating her with love and care right up until her crossing the rainbow bridge. Best of all, her excellent care did not cost me a king’s fortune.
In the end, Dr. Royster said to me «We can run a bunch of tests, I can send you to a specialist if you like, however I believe the outcome will be the same here. I have seen cats with similar problems before and, while I hate to say it, what I will say is that she’s had a good life.» (me: commence tears, nodding, grateful for his honesty).
The practice building itself is older and not ‘tastefully’ decorated. It has the look and feel of a practical veterinary office. The staff is super friendly and kind, really, they held my hand all the way to my car the day we had to euthanize our old gal.
Dr. Royster now sees our dog and our other cat, healthy middle-​aged critters, and we are delighted to have found him.

Dr. Royster and his staff are simply THE BEST! The first time I brought my cat Sunshine in, she hadn’t seen a vet in many years. She needed surgery. Dr. Royster called me several times during the 24 hours she was there to tell me how she was doing, then how she slept through the night. WOW! Understand, we were complete strangers to him.
Last year she was 17 and I was sure she was at the end. Dr. Royster diagnosed her with hyperthyroidism. Medicine given. Again: WOW! My now 18 year old cat, though very skinny, acts like a kid again. Every day that I have with her now is a gift that I honestly didn’t think I’d be still having. Thank you to this amazing team!

I used to take my bulldog Kahlua here many times. Dr Royster is a very caring gentle and helpful doctor. Not once did I ever feel pressured, rushed or have any issues with him. He only did services that the dog needed and never tried to push unneeded items on me. I have used their boarding services over the years and my dog was happy and i felt that she was cared for well. My dog ended up passing away while actually at the hospital and dr royster called me to let me know and was very upset himself. He’s a genuine doctor and a great man. I am happy with my time here and his services. I would recommend this vet for any animal.

A few years ago my cat became ill and after seeing several vets, all of them basically said nothing could be done and recommended that she be put to sleep. Enter Dr Reggie. I brought my cat to him and instead giving up on her or ordering expensive and unnecessary tests, he administered liquids and prescribed some medication for her. She did end up passing away a few weeks later, but I was so grateful he at least tried to save her. The office staff was incredibly sensitive and sent a sympathy card within a few days. Dr Reggie also called to follow up on how I was doing about a week later. When the time came to adopt a new kitten, he was happy to provide a recommendation to the rescue group and he’s been caring for her ever since. The office is clean and the staff takes such good care of my girl. I have also used their boarding services. It’s a relief to know that my baby is in good hands when she stays at the Haverford Animal Hospital.

We have had several of our dear pets taken care of by Dr. Royster over the years. He is gentle and has a good sense of humor. He has a great staff who understand when it comes to «the end of the line» for an animal. Dr. Royster took as much care of us as he did the ailing cat. When the ‘pink stuff’ was administered he let me hold the cat and understood my uncontrollable grief. He did not rush us out of the treatment room until I could recompose myself.
He has NEVER asked us to do anything unreasonable for our cats. He even understood when I brought in a dog I saw hit by a car on Montgomery Road and gave me sage advice as to what steps to take with the pooch.