Why We Started Small Door

Finding great veterinary care today is really difficult. I learned this the hard way five years ago when my boxer, Morris, got sick. We saw our local vet, but she couldn’t find anything wrong. Over the next year, we visited eight veterinary clinics, racking up thousands of dollars in bills as Morris withstood one test — and cheerless waiting room — after another. Same-day appointments were rarely available and medical records were closely guarded.

Thankfully, Morris’ story had a happy ending. He was eventually diagnosed with a condition common to his breed, and with treatment, returned to his happy life playing tug-of-war and bodysurfing ocean waves.

Small Door was born out of the hope that Morris’ experience could become the exception and no longer the norm. I teamed up with my friend Florent and our Head of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jamie Richardson, and we created Small Door with a simple goal: to provide a better veterinary experience for both pets and pet parents. We started with one practice in the West Village and perfected our reimagined veterinary experience for over a year before we felt ready to bring it to the world.

We created Small Door to be membership-based because we knew this would let us create the very best experience. Here’s how it works:

Annual exam included

Your membership includes one annual exam to keep your pet healthy, and provide personalized recommendations for their wellbeing. We will let you know the costs of additional services such as vaccines, lab tests, surgeries, and medication before treatment.

More time with exceptional doctors

Our doctors provide best-in-class care and we’re among just 15% of veterinary hospitals in the USA to be recognized by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). By being members-only, we ensure you get more time with your doctor. Our longer appointment times means you never feel rushed. Our doctors have the time to explain all treatment options and help you decide the best course of action.

Convenient, priority appointments

We cap our member numbers to ensure you can always get care when you need it at any of our five NYC locations (West Village, Upper East Side, Gramercy, Williamsburg, and the Upper West Side). You can also book and manage your appointments, prescription requests, and vaccine certificates online or in our app – no waiting on hold.

Unlimited 24/7 telemedicine

Pet parenthood isn’t a 9-5 gig. With our 24/7 telemedicine, you can chat with us any time to get advice and peace of mind in just a few minutes from a dedicated medical team who has all of your pet’s history.

Full-service in one place

Our onsite lab, radiology, dental, and surgical suites ensure you get full-service care in one place. Our modern, state-of-the-art veterinary practices feature private spaces, easy-grip surfaces, soft furnishings, natural lighting, and anxiety reducing scents so your pet looks forward to their visits.

We are proud to be one of the highest rated veterinary practices on Google and Yelp, with hundreds of five-star reviews.

I absolutely love Small Door! I have messaged with vets several times now about things I thought were a big deal, like Frankie having a cough or experiencing mild stomach issues, that ended up having easy at-home treatment and saved me a vet visit.

Nikki B.

Small Door is an amazing service! The doctors are caring and take their time to assess all issues with your pet. I left my first appointment with them more educated on my dog’s issues than any other vet apt!

Faith L.

Being a first time dog mom, I’m extremely nervous when it comes to health concerns about my pup. Their 24/7 chat eases my anxiety 101%! Even if I send a message over at 4AM someone is always available to help out.

Johnelle P.