They’re your best friends, your lifetime companions, your social facilitators. That’s why its important to get them the best preventative, dental and emergency care possible when they need it. Luckily, Northern Virginia has no shortage of fantastic vets. The list below includes the winning veterinary clinic from our Best of Arlington 2026 awards, along with the category’s other top vote-getters.
Cherrydale Veterinary Clinic
In a field known for high turnover, this Best of Arlington 2026 winner is an anomaly. Each of the practice’s current doctors started out there after vet school and never left. The clinic’s certified acupuncturist, in-house ultrasonographer and exotics doctor lend further exceptional status (yup, you can bring in your hedgehog or boa constrictor alongside your cat or dog). Something else to wag about: The office that opened in 1972 now operates 12 hours a day, seven days a week, helping clients and their furry family members avoid emergency vet fees when the inevitable crisis occurs after 5 p.m. on a Friday. 4038 Cherry Hill Road, Arlington, VA –Susan Anspach
Arlington Animal Hospital
This Columbia Pike clinic has provided comprehensive care to Arlington pets since 1938. A full-service veterinary office, they offer state-of-the-art testing and diagnostics, an array of advanced care and routine and advanced surgical procedures. 2301 Columbia Pike, Arlington
Ballston Animal Hospital
Focused on delivering personalized, compassionate care over the lifetime of your pet, Ballston Animal Hospital offers medical, surgical, dental and wellness care. It’s a one-stop-shop including an online pharmacy, radiology, microchipping and even acupuncture. 5232 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Caring Hands Animal Hospital
Trust and compassion drive the care here, where vets say they’re dedicated to meeting the needs of each patient. They offer customized senior care for older dogs and cats that may develop health conditions due to age, along with a range of surgical procedures, from standard to critical, and intensive care such as intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy and isolation for pets with infections or compromised immune systems. 2955 S. Glebe Road, Arlington (Long Branch Creek) and 2601 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Clarendon Animal Care
Keep your pets happy at this practice focusing on the human-animal bond, with an emphasizes on both the mental and physical well-being of their pet patients. Can’t get to the clinic for an appointment? They offer telemedicine. For pets who are injured, sick or ate the wrong thing, emergency care includes rapid results with in-house laboratory diagnostics, digital general radiology, digital dental radiology and ultrasound. 3000 N. 10th St., Arlington (Clarendon) and 948 S. George Mason Drive, Arlington (Columbia Pike)
McLean Animal Hospital
Now offering newSaturday hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., this McLean vet has been operating in the same neighborhood spot for 50 years. In addition to all the usual services, they offer full-service pet grooming and boarding. On Sundays they have emergency-only hours from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1330 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean
Northside Veterinary Clinic
Caring for Arlington pets since 1949, Northside emphasizes client communication and a personal touch. Their website offers a plethora of pet care information, from insights about unusual diseases and holiday and seasonal safety tips to recreational topics like swimming with dogs. 4003 Langston Blvd., Arlington (Cherrydale)
Suburban Animal Hospital
With wellness protocols for every stage of the life of your pet, Suburban offers expert guidance and care from preventative care for younger fur babies, to regular wellness checks as they age. Dental services include full mouth x-rays, tooth extractions and minor oral surgery. They also offer grooming services. 6879 Langston Blvd., Arlington (East Falls Church)