Capuchino Veterinary Clinic

«Doc» and staff are the best! The «boys» have been with him since they were 8 weeks old. We love him and Karen to the moon and back. The care they have shown our «boys» can not be compared.
Thank you Howard and Karen for all you have done and all you continue to do.

I’ll start off by saying Dr. Korn does have a true love for pets. It’s obvious by how he interacts with the pets. But after bringing my dog to SF SPCA, and then coming here after moving down, I cannot recommend this place AT ALL. My dog gets recurring ear infections due to allergies, and at the SPCA, he used to get a simple ear wash and treatment and he was fine. At Capuchino, they washed his ears, plucked his ear hairs (this is a no-​no!!), gave him steroid shots, put him on 4 different anti-​biotics as well as an oral steroid, then called us to tell us they gave him the wrong anti-​biotic and we needed to bring back the unused medication and swap for the right one. Which btw, made him vomit violently for 3 days. My poor dog was physically and mentally exhausted after the 3 hour vet visit and all the crazy meds he was on. All this for an over $ 800 bill!!! At the SPCA, this type of treatment would cost less than $ 200. I ended up taking him back to SPCA, and they also found one of his ears had a ruptured ear drum (maybe from all the trauma induced at Capuchino?) that was never identified by Dr. Korn. As far as appointments, expect a 30min-​1hr wait every time. He schedules his appointments every 15min, but he spends at least 30min-​45min on each appointment and just makes the next appointment wait and wait and wait… Overall, Capuchino is an overpriced vet that pushes all kinds of meds and treatments to your pet that is unnecessary.

Dr. Brooks-​Korn LOVES animals, there’s no doubt about that. That said, I don’t think I’ll be continuing to bring my dog there. I got suckered into bringing my dog in after calling them when I was concerned about my dog’s black fly induced panic attacks (yeah, that’s a thing…). I was told he could go into tachycardia and that I should bring him in immediately. I freaked out, brought him in, and they proceeded to poke him with needles trying to get a blood draw and urine sample (with a huge syringe)… for a panic attack! May I just say what that did to my already panicky dog? It certainly didn’t calm him down… and then I was hit w/​a $ 350 bill and they couldn’t even give me the doggie xanax. After missing several hours of work just to bring him into the office (because the appt wasn’t efficient, it took an hour), I had to go wait at the pharmacy after that. This is following several visits where the office was running behind by at least 30 minutes. The staff is extremely friendly, as is the vet, but it’s just not a very well run practice and I really didn’t appreciate being take for a ride like I was at my last visit (that could have been avoided all together). If you’re not working and have the time to spend, it’s not a bad place for your pet, but if you’re trying to miss work to get your pet in when you can fit it in, know they’ll be running behind and that the appointment is going to take far longer than anywhere else.

I took my cat in for a wellness check and had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Brooks-​Korn. He’s spunky & loves animals. He gave me tips on moving & transitioning my cat into her new home which was exactly what I needed. The clinic is a bit pricey but I’ve yet to find a vet that isn’t– it kind of goes hand in hand with getting a Doctor’s opinion.

The vet is extremely friendly, and caring to your pet… But everyone was right. It is way too expensive. My friend who is a vet (on another state) looked over the bill and said there were exams given that was totally not necessary to know the sickness of the animal. I walked away with a $ 400 bill that day. :/

Love Dr. Howard and his staff. Always honest and upfront about services for our animals. Always calls back with test results or if you just have a general question. We have been coming here for years and enjoy our visits. Very compassionate and really love what they do. Helped us through surgeries and putting our beloved dog to sleep. We don’t go anywhere else.

Love, love, love this place!
I have been bringing my cats here for years. Dr Korn and his staff are wonderful! Karen is very helpful and has been the Doctors assistant for over 30 years. The office staff is great and very helpful for advice and helping me get a quick appointment.
I have an Fiv+ cat and they are so good with her, dealing with some health problems she has had. Last year when I had to put one of my cats down they all made me feel comfortable and even cried with me.
In a couple weeks I am moving out of state and I wish I could move the office with me. I hope I find a place as great as here.

We love bringing our dog Hazel here! We have been going here for a little over a year. When we rescued Hazel last year, we asked our friends and coworkers about vets. This was one that kept coming up.
Howard is wonderful! Upon first meeting Hazel, he promptly sat on the floor to greet her. This made Hazel feel very comfortable.
When we first met Howard, he told us things to look out for to keep Hazel happy and safe. We have incorporated everything he taught us. Hazel had her yearly check up just a couple of weeks ago. She is in perfect health and very happy!
She was very happy to see Howard!

The service is beyond what you would expect from a vets office, the doc clearly goes out of his way for your animals. However, even though they provide exceptional care, the prices are outrageous! Be forewarned that you will pay heavily for regular services.

Dr. Brooks-​Korn and his staff are wonderful. They really care abut the animals and their humans.
We’ve been clients of Capuchino Vet for over 10 years now and recommend them to anyone in the area.

Dr. Howard Brooks-​Korn and the Capuchino Veterinary Clinic were recommended to us by our neighbors. We haven’t had a puppy for at least 25 years and got our first puppy last year in June. We took our pup to see Dr. Brooks for the first time and we were greeted by a wonderful and friendly staff. Then we met Dr. Brooks. What a terrific man. He is so down to earth and so loving and caring with the animals. He is soft and as gentle as he can be whenever he is doing something with your pet.
We added a new member to our family with an adorable puppy in March of this year and couldn’t wait to for Dr. Brooks and the staff to meet her.
The other thing I like about Dr. Brooks and the entire staff (Karen, Carol and Michael), the also care about all us Moms and Dads (pet owners). They know that these are our family members and they cater to our concerns when needed.
We recently had to have our older pup spayed and they all knew I was nervous and they were all so understanding and calmed my fears. This is the place for our 2 pups!

1) The service gets 5 stars!
2) The Vet gets 5 stars!
3) However, the price gets 0 stars!
I love the Vet and staff here. The Vet is very passionate for animals and truly loves them. He literally got down on the floor, so he could be eye to eye with my dog to make her feel comfortable. He has no problem spending all the time in the world answering your questions. There is absolutely no feeling of being rushed here, which I love.
Sadly, I can’t get myself to come back for a 3^rd visit because this is the most expensive clinic I’ve ever been too and I’ve had dogs my entire life, moved 10 times, so I’ve had my fair share of clinics. The office visit is in the $ 60’s, but I was okay with that, even though that is definitely on the higher side. I found out just how expensive their prices were after my second visit. I went to get my dog’s stool tested for parasites, which I’ve done before many times throughout my life. When I went to checkout, my bill was around $ 320-​$ 350!
I wasn’t sure if my dog was sick or not, so I waited to get her vaccinations until I knew she was healthy. I got the test results that she is fine, but I’m afraid to make another appointment for her vaccinations because the price is so ridiculously inflated! I’ve never in my entire life, ever paid that much to run a few stool tests for parasites, not even close to that amount! Most clinics from my experience charge around $ 20-​$ 40 per test, but here it worked out to be $ 85-​$ 95 PER TEST!
I love the Vet and staff here, but these prices are way out of control. I think business might be struggling and the Vet here might not be the best businessman. He is an amazing Vet, but if he does the pricing, he really needs to re-​evaluate business 101.
If your business is struggling, don’t make your prices the most expensive to offset slow business because that will just push away your current clients (like in my case). You are one of the friendliest Vet’s I’ve ever met, so business will come to you if your pricing is fair. It just takes times.
Maybe try using Groupon for first-​time customers, just to get them in the door. I know people will love you because it’s obvious you care about your animals. However, only millionaires can afford your current prices. I also felt a bit «cheated» when I saw my bill because this wasn’t my first walk in the park.
$ 320-​$ 350 to run some typical stool tests is really outrageous.
I’m writing this review, so hopefully changes will be made. The Vet here deserves to be successful, but it’s not going to happen when you charge Ritz Carlton prices, unless you serve your human clients with wine and cheese while you inspect their hairy friends.

We just adopted an adult male dog, Chipper, and we chose to bring him here based on the positive reviews. Doctor Howard Brooks-​Korn was really amazing during our first in-​take appointment. He was patient with all our questions, and he was kind and caring with our dog. The entire staff (Carol, Karen, and Michael) at the clinic are so friendly and caring. They all seem to truly love their job and every animal that comes into the clinic.
During our first visit, we learned that our dog, almost 4 years old, was never neutered because his testicles did not descend. When it came time for the neutering appointment, Howard called us with all the details prior to the actual day, and then they took great care of him during the operation. They sent him home with detailed instructions and were genuinely glad to hear from us the next day with an update on his progress.
We highly recommend this place and are lucky to have given them a try.

Howard IS (like one person said), a Dr. Doolittle. I am so lucky to have found him. Thank goodness a couple of other places were not accepting new patients and I had to drive a little further. He is SO worth it. He «gets» it. He loves animals as much as anyone I have ever met and I would/​do trust my companion’s life in his hands. Carol and Michael are great too!

Overall: 2 – 3 stars
Just had a first time appt with my pet. Needed a dental. Have been to many others trying to find Mr./Mrs. Right all over the peninsula. Hopefully this review gets published and stays here as the negative ones disappear???
Pros:
–Your $ 65 office visit is something to be desired
No rushing even though he was running late. But of course he was running late because he kept stepping out of the appointment…
–Very thorough, as if he just got out of Vet School:
This is important and he asks many questions to help guide him. His inital physical exam is good. But he remarked that my pet’s hind leg was strained and pulled my pet’s leg out two times to show me. In turn my pet almost bit him the second time. My dog isn’t aggressive in nature.
VERY INTERESTING. Because my pet had not limped, shown any favor to that particular leg, AND I actually did the same stretch on both legs after the appointment, and didn’t see any pain/aggression…Did you just hurt my animal so that I feel like I could trust you as a veterinarian? I think you just did.
–Not pushy on products, but explains how it helps
–Very hands in the appt; wants you to be included and has you on the ground too checking up on your pet too (good he teaches you skills to care for your pet). Asked for me to get onto the floor. I’ve worked at a pet hospital as a tech — I KNOW what accidentally happens on these floors, and the vet just lays on the ground very much in love with job, to get onto the same level as your pet to make him/​her comfortable. Good move. But I won’t sit on the floor in my work clothes, thanks.
–Very animated, sings. I felt like I was in kindergarten again. It’s amusing. I’m amused.
–He can loose you with his veterinarian jargon (a technique some vets do to make you feel like you should trust him/​her). But since I’ve been on the other side of the counter it was not overwhelming, but I could see how people with less experience would be impressed. I hope he breaks down his jargon down to those who go in.
CONS
–He kept walking out of MY appointment to deal with other pets, which is OKAY if it is urgent. At one point one of his nurses asked him to look at a pet’s BW (assuming bowel movement), and another 7minutes passed. Before that he walked out after a nurse asked him to interpret X-RAYS…RIGHT NOW??? That took another 10mins, for that he apologized. For looking at some poop, there were no apologies. Who knows if it were a busy day or if this normally occurs. But usually vets will be respectful of their clients’ time especially if they made an appointment.
–He interpreted my dog’s hair loss as a possible Thyroid issue. Though my dog doesn’t have the other symptoms of it and we’ve just discussed how acute my pet’s allergies are…
…A dental cannot occur if an animal has Thyroid problems, you need a blood test. Makes sense. Most vets will make you get a blood test to make sure your pet is healthy anyway. BUT he added a Urinalysis (UA). A UA will show if your pet has a urinary tract infection and does not directly tell you anything diagnostically about your pet having Thyroid.
Judging the fact my pet has no urinary tract symptoms, is healthy besides of the fact his allergies are affecting his skin condition, there are no other symptoms.
SO here’s the problem I have:
Technically, it would be «good» to have your pet tested for health issues. In the vet world, this is where vets’ practice shows honesty. There’s a lot of tests and medication that could be «good» but are not needed necessarily according to age/​breed of Pet. I would lump this Vet Clinic with Dr. Elaine Salinger’s White Ivy Pet Hospital that takes advantage of assays/​medications that could be «good» but are not necessarily needed (which BTW if you do go to White Ivy Pet Hospital, be aware that if they are still charging for 2 fecal tests that are both «good», one tests for all the parasites that the second test covers for, so they are ripping you off, sorry.)
Anyway, if I did not have experience I would have been taken advantage of and I don’t care how amusing and wonderful your other staff are. I could see how good of a vet he was, he definitely knows his stuff, but I could see him adding «good» procedures/​medications on.
Moving on. Though, I would probably go here instead of White Ivie Pet Hospital (the owner there is supporting two kids in college and you know how expensive that gets if you know what I mean)

Amazing.
We were referred here by the emergency clinic after our cat became very ill over July 4^th and went there for the night. We had to find a vet the next morning and having just moved here, had nobody lined up.
Dr Howard was great. Karen too.
Won’t bore you with all the medical details but the care was thorough and diligent. Dr Howard followed up with calls to us over the weekend to check on kitty and was so thorough he made me take pictures of how to administer the pills, how to test for urine samples etc. he could have sent the cat back to the emergency /​weekend clinic but instead he showed us to how to care for him over the weekend and kept calling to check in.
The staff there are great and while I was waiting in reception, someone called to say they were stuck in traffic and would miss their appointment. As it was the last of the day (nearly 6 by then) they asked to reschedule. Dr Howard said no — he would wait for them and he did. He truly loves the animals that come in and we’ll not be going anywhere else for kitty care now we have found this clinic. There is an extra step they all seem to take for their furry clients which makes you know your pets are in the best hands
Also, I have had cats for many years and giving them pills is almost impossible unless you can grind them up and hide them in tuna or something.
Dr Howard showed us a magic trick. And we have been giving our cat pills twice a day with no fuss since. It’s mind blowing and it works. I am still a bit stunned at how effective the technique is and how my husband and I can both not have known this after so many years of growing up with and owning cats!
Definitely a place to take your furry kids too and they will get the best care.

I’ve been taking my dogs to Howard (Brooks-​Korn) and Karen for over 20 years. I’ll never forget the first time Howard examined my dog. He actually smelled her rear end! I was shocked and asked him why he did it and he said that it was one of the ways he used to evaluate a dog’s general health; an «off» smell could be a sign of illness.
I figured that any vet who would be willing to smell my dog’s behind is absolutely crazy about dogs. He’s proven that over and over again with each new dog I’ve brought into my life. Howard is very thorough and a great diagnostician. The staff, particularly Karen, are kind, knowledgeable and supportive.
They also offer laser therapy, which has measurably improved my 14-​year old dog’s arthritic condition. At one point, she was in so much pain I thought she had to be put down; but after 3 treatments, she was running down the block. Karen has performed hundreds of laser treatments and it shows: my dog is so relaxed she practically falls asleep during a session.
Highly recommended!

There is so much I could say about Dr. Brooks-​Korn and his staff.
I have let’s just say a few animals.
My 3 dogs now all have one problem or another.
They are all very caring and they don’t just care about the animal they care about you.
Karen is the best vet tech ever
The front staff are amazing I love Carol.
Dr. BK if he can’t figure out what is going on with your animal he will find someone who can.
The whole staff goes above and beyond!
Love them!!!
Thanks for all the help
Tank, Layla, Bosco.

Fantastic!
My 2 year old chihuahua was referred here by a friend and I am so glad we went! My doggie hadn’t been eating for a few days and I was very worried about her. After 2 visits to the e-​clinic, she was just not feeling better.
So we came here. The doctor and nurse (Karen) spent a good 4 hours determining the cause of my doggie’s digestive issues. Dr. Brooks-​Korn did a full background on her, examined her thouroughly and ran a series of barium x-​rays. He had a great bed side manner with the pup and did not man-​handle her like some vets do. My pup (who is very feisty for a 5 pound dog) was a great patient and I believe this was due to his ability as a vet.
After reviewing the x-​rays he came to the conclusion my doggie has esophagitis (GERD for dogs). Dr. Brooks-​Korn came me the full rundown, talked about the meds and sent me on my way.
And sure enough that night… my pup started eating again!
Thank you to the staff at Capuchino Veterinary Clinic. You really all did a fantastic job!
Maizy says thank you as well!

Howard and his staff at Capuchino Veterinary Clinic are absolutely wonderful! After a horrible, HORRIBLE experience at our last long-​term vet, we felt as if Howard really came to the rescue. My pet was having a lot of issues we were trying to sort through and Howard really listened to us and took everything that was going on into consideration. He didn’t just throw meds at our pet or put time limits on our visits (although because of this he can run a little late but definitely worth it). He’s quirky and blunt but very, very smart and caring. I appreciate him sooooooo much and am very grateful that we found him!
I wanted to comment on someone’s past review about him being money-​hungry — I can’t disagree with this more. After several visits now I feel that Howard is very generous with his time, he doesn’t want you to waste your money, and his prices are fair.