Common Companion Vet Co.

I’ve visited both the Inman Park and Reynoldstown locations and the staff is absolutely wonderful! They always take great care of my senior cat. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for compassionate and thoughtful vet care!

Dr. G (Gelernter) is AMAZING! Her patience with my feisty cat is life changing for us. I don’t stress about vet appts with her. I HIGHLY recommend having her as your regular vet. Common Companion is the best vet care in metro Atl. Both of their offices are clean and updated. The staff is super friendly and always helpful. They have also squeezed us in for urgent care and gotten us in with other vets if needed. Wouldn’t take a babies anywhere else for regular vet care. Thanks for taking care of Waverly, Salem, and Wren!

I have been bringing my American Staffordshire Terrier, Luna, to Common Companion in Inman Park since Oct 2019. We have seen multiple doctors there, some were great, some could improve, but I have always trusted them with my fur-baby. Our most recent visit was emotional and tense, as Luna's behavior has changed and she is now fearful of new experiences. Thankfully, Celeste (the dog whisperer), Jonee (the parent whisperer) and Angela (the angel), took care of both Luna's and my BIG feelings during this appointment. I am forever grateful for the kindness and generosity of time and spirit these fine professionals shared with me and my precious Luna. We have moved away, but we will keep coming back to this office because they truly care and understand that to care for the pet, you must also care for the (anxious) parent. You never know what somebody is going through; be kind, always.

This place is friendly enough and usually fairly convenient but it is very expensive. Im frustrated that they denied a request for a 3 month supply of my dog's flea & tick prescription because they wanted me to bring him in to be seen to approve the refill. We've been in in the past year and he is current on all his shots. Forcing him in for the sole purpose of approving a prescription refill request when he's recently been seen and is in perfect health is just ridiculous. Ill be taking him elsewhere going forward.

While I always found them to be VERY expensive, I was definitely a fan the first couple years, but in the past year or so, I've noticed much longer wait times and a steep decline in service/care quality and can no longer justify the exhorbitant prices. During our last visit for our shih tzu's excessive itching/scooting (even after gland expressions), the vet (Asian woman who I'd never seen there prior - not sure of her name) insisted that I should be washing her TWICE PER WEEK! She suggested that part of the reason her allergies weren't being appropriately managed (even though she's on Apoquel and Cytopoint) is that we weren't bathing her at least twice a week. As this advice contradicted what I'd always been told, I decided to take her to Chewy Vet care in Midtown (which I loved and will likely use going forward) for a second opinion. I'm not sure if there's been a change in ownership/management, but it seems like turnover may be an issue. Last November, they sent an email saying that Dr. Martindale and Dr. Halleran were leaving, then abruptly sent another email saying they weren't leaving). I only mention this as it seems to be emblematic of broader management issues. In the past I was really impressed with the support staff in particular - they seemed like super dedicated, attentive animal lovers - but during more recent visits I've noticed many new faces offering pretty robotic, uninspired service. It's unfortunate to see the decline; hopefully, they'll get it together and restore the previous level of care.

I’ve been going to Common Companion for around 5.5 years or so at this point. They’ve been with me since my very first cat, who I brought in for the first time right after the practice opened. Since then, I’ve had them caring for my now three cats and two large dogs. I’ve always liked going and I’ve always felt that their care was very good. I’ve seen several of the doctors. Dr. Dunbar is my favorite and was so instrumental in helping me feel more comfortable in the beginning stages of owning my first dog. I now have two pitbulls, and as us pitbull owners know well, there is a lot of misinformation and stigma surrounding our dogs that can make it more difficult to find good and understanding care. Almost every single vet I’ve seen there has been amazing with my dogs, even my older one who is difficult and has separation anxiety. I think I’ve seen almost every doctor, and there’s really only one who I wouldn’t go back to. There’s so many options at the practice that you will absolutely be able to find the right fit for your babies. The real reason CCVC is such a one-of-a-kind practice is the vet techs and reception staff. Every single tech I’ve ever had has gone above and beyond to make my babies feel comfy and loved. They are all so patient and kind. Many of them have shared with me lovely stories about their own pets. You can tell that they are all animal lovers, first and foremost. The absolute pest person there, and maybe the best person in the whole world, is Joneé. She answers the phone most of the time when I call and is always there at the front desk to greet me and my babies. She has such a wonderful personality and exudes warmth and understanding. She has helped me so much in ways that go far beyond her job description. She helped me track down the owners of a stray cat and guided me through the process of figuring out the care needed for my newly adopted dog. I’m convinced there’s nothing she can’t do (she does amazing pet photography as well- Blair Pet Photography). The animals all love her and my boyfriend and I do too. I’m attaching a beautiful photo she took of my dog during her check-up! I’m grateful I have a place where I feel comfortable taking my beloved babies. I look forward to the years to come.

Our dog was left as a quadriplegic after receiving sedated x-rays from Dr. Mackenzie Gelernter at Common Companion (CCVC). This tragic outcome raises serious concerns about the care provided and highlights the need for greater accountability in veterinary practices. Silvio was experiencing intermittent back pain, which was managed with physical therapy. To explore further imaging options (X-rays/MRI) and to fully understand Silvio's condition, I scheduled a consultation with Dr. Gelernter at CCVC to discuss the risks of imaging with sedation explicitly. During this consultation, Dr. Gelernter assured me: Sedation was a routine, safe procedure with minimal risks, providing peace of mind. Appropriate sedatives would be carefully selected specifically for a large-breed dog. Pre-sedation bloodwork would be performed to reduce risks further. Despite explicitly asking multiple times, she never disclosed that sedation could trigger acute neurological events, such as paralysis, particularly in a dog with known spinal issues. On the procedure day (February 10), no informed consent documents outlining these risks were presented. My husband, who dropped Silvio off, was neither given verbal warnings nor was the promised bloodwork performed. Immediately following sedation reversal, Silvio was utterly paralyzed in all four limbs. When my husband arrived to transfer Silvio to Blue Pearl for emergency care, he witnessed clinic staff dragging Silvio on a stretcher across the lobby floor. This directly contradicts later claims by Dr. Gelernter that multiple technicians carefully lifted Silvio due to his size. Dr. Gelernter told me her immediate reaction upon seeing Silvio unable to move was, "Oh my God, did you slip a disc?" Later, she asserted that other veterinarians confirmed paralysis CAN occur under sedation with IVDD, attempting to deflect responsibility despite having previously assured safety and never disclosing this risk. Alarmingly, she later expressed uncertainty about sedating dogs in the future if paralysis was a known risk. This inconsistency raises serious concerns about her competence and accountability. This error by CCVC devastated our lives. Adding insult to injury, CCVC billed us for the procedure causing Silvio's paralysis. When I shared our experience on Google, the clinic publicly responded with misleading statements claiming compassion. Privately, however, they abruptly cut off communication. My original review has been removed, forcing me to submit a new one. Our family’s lives and mental health have been profoundly impacted. Caring for a quadriplegic large-breed dog is emotionally, physically, and financially exhausting. We rearranged our home, acquired specialized equipment, and incurred substantial medical expenses—all stemming from an entirely preventable situation. Had the risks been adequately disclosed, we would NEVER have proceeded with the X-rays. This is not merely an unfortunate outcome (which is exactly what Dr. Gelernter said to me); it represents negligence, incompetence, & a total lack of accountability. Three weeks ago, I formally requested that Common Companion: Acknowledge failures in informed consent and risk disclosure. Provide transparency regarding external specialist consultations. Immediately review and revise sedation and consent protocols. Fully reimburse incurred medical and rehabilitation expenses due to their negligence. They have not responded, yet quickly responded publicly to my Google review. My emotional reaction might influence my perspective, but my concerns are valid and rooted in genuine care for Silvio. Dismissing or minimizing this is insensitive and ignores their negligence's profound and lasting impact. Pet owners deserve transparency, accountability, and fully informed consent from those entrusted with our companions' lives. Our pets deserve better! No family should endure this preventable heartbreak. Included are images of Silvio on the way to the vet and, heartbreakingly, of him the next day, unable to move.