VCA Animal Hospitals
reviews and complaints

I had gone to this vet in Utah for years with all of my dogs. I had a dog who had to be put down at 9 years old because of a sudden diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. It was not until my friend, who had also gone to this vet, told me about her own story of malpractice that I realized that my dog could have been treated much sooner than she was. She died only months after she was diagnosed, and all they did to treat her was give her blood thinners. My friend told me that her dog has gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea, constant flatulence) and that they thought it might be a pancreas issue, so she took the dog to the vet and asked for them to run tests on his pancreas. They refused to conduct the tests and said that there was nothing they could do to help the dog. Later, the dog died, and it was determined that he died from a pancreas issue. Had the vet run the pancreas tests, they may have been able to save his life, but they refused this care and said that it was unnecessary. I realize that cardiomyopathy has very low survival rates, but this is not the only instance of suspected malpractice. I own a very large dog, a mastiff, and they neutered him when he was 6 months old. They never informed us that large breeds should not be neutered before 2 years of age because they need the testosterone to build healthy bones and joints. Because of this, my dog has had severe arthritis since he was 4 years old and also has torn ligaments in both knees. The surgery for this is $10,000 or more here, whereas another clinic offered to do it for $3,000. If they had told us that large breeds have a waiting period before it is safe to neuter them, my dog would be healthier rather than living through every day with chronic pain.

My pet was seen at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center on April 11. He got many diagnostic testing blood work done and then the doctor decided he needed to be transferred to UC Davis veterinary hospital because he needed a platelet transfusion and possibly a blood transfusion. They were the only ones that had that available to do for him. Upon transferring him I told UC Davis hospital that he had lots of diagnostic testing and bloodwork done that they could get from the hospital. They tried two times and were only sent his x-rays. So they thought that that’s all he had done besides bloodwork so they went ahead and did an ultrasound and some other test he already had done. I called Sacramento veterinary referral center and asked to speak to the supervisor as to why his diagnostic testing was not transferred to them .I paid thousands of dollars to them and then he had to get test re-done hours later, because the new vet didn’t know he had that already done. The front staff was so rude talked over me The entire time told me they did it but wouldn’t send me proof that they did it so that I could see it. They said they wouldn’t let me speak to anyone and the girl would not stop talking over me and yelling at me trying to get me more angry. Which she did! My dogs illness is costing thousands of dollars and this hospital didn’t transfer Test that were necessary to treat him and no one is helping me. It’s like the front desk employees think this is funny. I am a palled by this. I am a palled that they want to make me angry because they think there’s nothing I can do about it. She hung up the phone on me, twice! I have a very sick dog and all I want is help in getting his records and I can’t believe they would treat clients like this. They won’t let me talk to a doctor or the hospital manager and I am so angry about this. I want someone to call me. I want something done about this !

The dog has been in emergency care at VCA animal hospital since 3/27. First, they would not keep him in the hospital until we paid $8000. So we paid $8000. They said the dog would be discharged in two days. They said the dog was stable. Then, they said they needed to keep the dog in the hospital for a couple more days, even though the dog was stable. After that, they said that each day the dog was kept there would incur $15,000 cost. $15,000 per day, even though no surgery would be done, and they said the dog was stable. After that, they said they didn't know when they could discharge the dog to us. The main issue was a fractured vertebrae, which they should have found and addressed within the first hour, because the dog was given Xrays and a full battery of tests.

They told us no payment plan was available. We had to pay the full balance upon discharge. This one emergency vet stay could have paid my college tuition.

Why did they keep the dog in the hospital for so long, when they should have found and addressed the problem day one, then keep the dog for recovery for a couple days instead of indefinitely? Why keep pushing us to keep the dog for longer and incurring astronomical fees?

VCA Valley Vets, Falcon Rd, Lower Burrell, PA. The management of this business is pathetic. Had an emergency, called explained the situation, I was asked do you think your dog is ready to be put down! What? I am not the vet, why you think i'm calling. Of course, they tried to send me to a-vets (not a good place either) I told them I cannot drive that far right now. Well, they told me it will be an emergency visit, $90. Fine, I need him looked at. I was told to bring him right down. I got there, had to announce who I was, the two inept people at the reception area did not bother to ask who I was! After waiting 25 minutes, there was no one in that office. I asked when my dog will be seen, I was informed that I was a fill in! I went ape [censored], here I am waiting and waiting and they are calling me a fill in but charging me $90! I was so upset. I have been a customer for 40 years and never once had an issue. My dog had cancer, he was dying, they could care less. One vet was going to call the cops on me! Ha! People this place is now a corporation. Corporation worry about profit, small business vet worry about animals. Do yourself and your pet a favor, do not take your precious animals here. They are nasty people.

My dog was presenting with deficits, 8 hr wait during which he was presenting inconsistently the entire time. Could intermittently walk, not walk, stumble, drag leg need support during the 8 hour wait. VCA Attending Vet. and Neuro. Vet. could not figure it out. Morphine was administered but no fluids and no broad spectrum antibiotics. Vet pushed me to only do a tick panel. I said he has never had a tick on him. He insisted my dog has long hair so how would I know. I said I know. He said this would be the cheapest way to go. I said he is insured so we are not looking for a cheap and I don't think it is a tick-borne disease and how long would that take? He said about a week. I said he doesn't seem like he can wait. I asked what the high reading was on the unialysis and if it were significant. He said it was nothing. I asked if he were on fluids or antibiotics and he said no. I asked why not. He said if we needed to do a spinal tap it would affect the results. He then said for me to make an appointment with neuro center. Neuro center said must be doctor referral or 3 month wait. Office said they would. They tried but didn't do it with the doctor is what the neuro center told me. They released him because they said temp was normal next night. It was taken immediately upon returning home and was almost 104. Was told I was supposed to make neuro appt. Called neuro center next morning and they said VCA staff had called and told them the doctor needed to make referral and they did not follow up. I asked if broad spectrum antibiotics would have interferred with a spinal tap and was told they absolutely make allowances for that. The neuro center told me to go to Access Vet Hosp. in Torrance immediately. I forwared all his recoreds and printed them. Handed them as I carried him in to the hospital and they took him from my arms and started treatment immediately. The streptococcus that showed up on his uninalysis that the vet said was NOTHING, was KILLING HIM. He had a systemic infection of streptococcus and a patch of the bacteria has settled on his mitral valve. That caused endocarditis. Endocarditis then allows bad blood back into the bloodstream and causes strokes. He threw a clot to his right rear. He was in the hospital for a long time and he finally was realeased with a guarded prognosis. The leg became necrotic but against all odds he beat the systemic infection and he beat the endocarditis. His cardiologist said she has only ever seen 3 dogs beat it. This allowed him to come off of the medications he was on and allow him to have surgery to remove his leg. He is still on the lifetime top 20 list of lure coursers in our breed but he can never do it again. He is alive. He is a joy. But VCA did not even return my email because I wanted the attending vet to understand what he did by being so arrogant as to not listen and he might not make the mistake again if it presents. I would think they would want to hear what I have to say. They did not even send me the results of the tick panel. I called a month later and of course it was negative. Access had a team working on him every day and they called me every day and every night. We went there twice a day to feed him. The difference in care was extreme. I will never set foot in another VCA hospital. My dog would have died a horrible death if I had not taken him to Access immediately. He almost died anyway. The only thing VCA did right was the uninalysis so that Access knew what bacteria it was they were dealing with. The same bacteria that the VCA veterinarian said was nothing. Now I actually think our other dog that we took there may have lived if we had taken her elsewhere. Another dog they said had a brain tumor and he only had a neck spasm.

I brought my 16-year-old cat into our VCA animal Hospital because he was in excruciating pain and unable to walk on his left hind leg for two days. The veterinarian charged me for an examination a basic examination of the ears nose throat teeth glands kidneys etc. Why on earth would a veterinarian proceed with a basic examination when I brought my cat in with excruciating pain and a leg problem that turned out to be a shattered hip?! The veterinarian should’ve just did the x-rays immediately instead of putting my cat through more excruciating pain than he was already in by doing an unnecessary basic examination.

It is with deep and sincere regret that my cat had to be put to rest that very same day.

I brought my 11 year old dog to Vca worth animal hospital for the first time last week. (6 days ago) My dog has been very healthy all her life with lots of energy and always happy. I noticed a ball in her neck and wanted it to be checked out. The vet took bloodwork and examined. He (doctor Loxtercamp) said they were tumors but not sure if malignant unless i get a test done. He asked if my dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and I said he was on a wellness program at bansfield (petsmart) but didn’t get shots this year. The reason i took my dog to another place is because she’s getting older and I wanted a animal hospital to diagnose anything that may come her way. Anyway, the vet said he would give her a rabies shot, which he did, I told him she may have gotten the 3 year shot but vet said it wouldn’t effect her. Immediately after the shot I noticed something was wrong, she was very slow and not excited as she usually is, she didn’t even want a walk that night. Called vet next day they said to bring dog for them to examine. Basically they did nothing. I spoke to the vet the day after that and he told me what was wrong with her didn’t have anything to do with vaccine but more likely due to her lymph nodes issue. The day after that I called vet again and they had me come in again. This time vet said she believes my dog has lymphoma- cancer of lymph nodes. My poor dog has been extremely sick since that shot. I started to investigate it and found in big letters on pretty much all websites that sick dogs should NEVER be vaccinated with the rabies vaccination because it could cause many problems and even death. Unfortunately my poor dog has all of those symptoms. Today is day 6 and she refuses to eat and drinks a lot of water just so she can throw up. I’m so upset that this vet didn’t know something like this. I went there because she was sick! I went there because it’s a pet hospital! Vet put her on steroids hoping it will make her eat but it’s not. Vet advised me my dog will die soon. Maybe 2 to 3 weeks but since I can’t get her to eat I’m guessing today she will pass. I only saw doctor Loxtercamp day one. I brought her back 2 more days but saw Julie Lihosit. The bottom line is that doctor Loxtercamp gave a sick dog the rabies vaccine when it should never have been done.

VAC Animal Specialty Group - San Diego, CA 92111

Client #72160 patient: 92204

No food after 48 hours, overuse of dangerous drugs fentanyl, the list goes on. So many other meds no food, no glucose in iv.

Due to an error by the surgeon and surgical team, did not check blood sugar or give glucose Tuesdays night. I actually had them keep her an extra night so Zoey could get what she needed in iv.

12,000 plus dollars later, they weren't monitoring her heart rate or supplying the simplest thing to maintain life after any surgery for any animal or human being.

I went there in person on Tuesdays and brought her food. She did not want it at all. But drank the water I gave her.

She was doing good, alert, in pain, and had nausea. She was thirsty, but had not eaten for 48 hours. I was too concerned to take her off the iv. To make sure she was getting needed meds and iv fluids. Including sugar drip. Standard operating procedure for any hospital.

I called the hospital staff to monitor her. What were they monitoring? No blood pressure or low and severely low blood sugar to the point of seizure. If that's true, then you're understaffed.

They never gave her glucose in her iv. Even after I inquired several times. Only after a blood sugar test on rounds the next morning, Wednesdays morning. After the seizure, it was too late. Totally sicken by the entire event. Where devastated!

The surgeon finally agreed that's why she had a seizure and died. They were having a hard time getting her blood pressure from her back legs.

I still haven't seen the biopsy results. Late now should have waited. We did we need 2 different biopsies, one from my vet vca on Broadway, El Cajon, ca 9202.

Stacy wright

I came to your hospital because I thought my dog had GDV which was a life threatening event that could have killed my animal. I trusted that a surgeon was on site by 8:30 AM because I was told this by your office staff. The surgeon arrived at 9:45 AM. I arrived at 8:50 AM and I didn’t receive a diagnosis until close to 11:00 AM. By this time my dog could have died of GDV.

The $1,5000.00 charge on my credit card prior to any treatment plan was a shock to me. I have never gone into a clinic of any kind and had my credit card charged prior to any therapy. The treatment consent I signed is misleading and I suggest that you reword and draft a new one stating the "minimum charge" to be $1,500.00. I am very familiar with contracts and the "deposit of $500.00-$1,000.00" is inaccurate and misleading. A “deposit"is defined as something that is refundable. Clearly you did not have legal counsel draft this paperwork. Please inform your patients of the actual procedures that the animal will be receiving and have them sign an"informed consent"to proceed. I feel this is a reasonable and a customary practice at most Vet and emergency Vet Clinics.

I was not informed of any treatments that my dog was receiving. I can now see that a X-ray was completed at 9:06 AM, at that time you could"clearly see"that the dog had ingested too much food and this"was not GDV."I however was not informed of my pets condition even after asking your staff"several times to have the Vet call me."At one point the staff I asked rolled her eyes at me! It wasn’t until my vet called did you actually reach out to me. Then I was told my dog “raided the pantry” and needed a $15,000.00 treatment. I find this to be an astronomical amount of money for this procedure. Im also am 100% sure this would have killed her. She would not have come out of the anesthesia due to prior experience when having her spade as a young dog. I was not given any other options or at home treatment advice as well.

I took her home called another emergency clinic who were open until midnight and had them on standby if she developed worsening symptoms. I walked her every 2 hours until midnight to stimulate blood flow and digestion, I withheld food for 24 hours and I gave her only boiled chicken with rice the following day along with Gas - X 125 mg, she received this twice 6 hours apart. This AM I reintroduced a 1/2 portion of her normal kibble and have removed the food container which she raided to the garage where she cannot get access. She is back to her old self today thanks to my own research.

If you are “only in this for the money" and have "no compassion for human beings or their beloved pets" I suggest that you and your staff find a different line of work.

Brought my dog in for surgery, "surgery went well", said all tests for cancer came back negative and is happy and healthy. fast forward 3 months later my dog is now dead, tried to schedule an appointment after surgery because he wasn't eating, vca Weymouth refused to even see him. eventually got an appointment a month later then to be told he has lime disease, and his kidneys have failed and have holes in them leaking out protein. they told us to leave him at the hospital for a few days to flush with IV fluids, picked him up 2 days later, to find two giant orange ticks on him, one on his neck and one on his chest.

when talking about options the vet was very rude, bothered to be working on animals, told us we could euthanize him right now.

Never will I ever bring another pet to Vca Weymouth an absolute disgrace.

hope you sleep well at night.

I have been going to New Prospect animal hospital, Jackson, NJ since they opened. Before that I went to Ocean County animal Hospital for over 15 years.

I took one of my dogs to see Dr Mitchell in May 2022. The fee for the office visit was $66. Tuesday 6/22/22 I took another of my 3 dogs in for her year check up. ONE MONTH LATER I GET CHARGED $92 FOR THE OFFICE VISIT. At least you could notify people you are going to charge $26 more for an office visit. I really like Dr Mitchell but I am so mad that you would do that I am going to have to move my animals to the Vet 1/2 mile down the road who charges $68 for the office visit. I'm going to have to tell all the my friends who I have told to go to New Prospect animal hospital what you did. I'm sure more will have to leave. Shame on you. Jacqueline Stark, [protected].

On march 10th my wife and myself took our very sick cat Koji to the VCA in fountain valley, Orange County. Before they would do anything to assess his situation I was told I would need to pay a $1000 dollar deposit. A short while after this a doctor spoke to US with a laundry list of procedures they may or not be able to do and my cost to cover anything needed including surgery would be another deposit of $4487.90.

They kept him for two nights and after a conversation with one of the vets looking after him we decided to let him go on the second day he was with them. I was expecting to receive some communication with a breakdown of the cost of services’s he received but the never sent anything. It’s pretty simple really, I was charged a total of $5487.90 and I wanted to know what I’d been charged for because I know for a fact that he was just being monitored for the two days.

The thing is no one wants to tell me and it’s pretty clear that they don’t want to tell me. During the consultation they worked me by scaring and then giving false hope knowing full well they couldn’t save him. It breaks my heart to think they were just prolonging his suffering to get money from me! I shared my

Experience on Yelp and VCA asked me to contact them which I did and they never replied. I shared my experience on the BBB website and was ignored there.

This is NOT how a transparent company operates, they give nothing in writing, no treatment breakdowns, ignored my requests and have misrepresented their intentions online. Its upsetting that they’d lied to me even after telling them I was unemployed and was paying with my savings. AND this is the bombshell; The Vets all receive commission on top of their earnings, how’s that for motivation

My dog received blood work on the weekend- Saturday and I received a call on Monday that my dogs blood accidentally mixed with another clients blood and was told another sample was needed. Initially the staff wanted me to come in that day of, however I explain that my dog has already eaten and the blood work wouldn’t be accurate as I was previously told that he needed to fast. The staff then was rude and was like okay then come in at 8am tomorrow. I attend the appointment at 8am and had to wait 45 minutes for my dog to be seen. This is extremely unacceptable as my work is not impacted by an error VCA staff made.

I took my doggie to the Tacoma Washington VCA on June 6, 2022 for an urgent care visit due to severe itching and discomfort. His regular Spanaway Washington clinic is closed for some reason. Anyhow, we checked in and they had me pay for the exam up front. While waiting I seen 3 dogs leave the exam rooms and only one re-enter in an hour and a half time frame. Finally another dog was brought in, and my dog is still waiting and suffering! I had enough of this, and told the staff to refund my money and we left to find a Veternarian who would provide service and not just take money and tell you to wait! I hadn’t a doubt a doctor was available to exam my doggie, but didn’t, because he didn’t have an appointment! Ridiculous! VCA is terrible at really caring!

VCA- Veterinarians Care (NOT for) Animals

Jan. 12th @ 12:36 pm I called VCA Advanced, Hannibal, MO to request some additional anti-nausea meds. for a ferret (Alice) who had been nauseous for

weeks & Cerenia (injectible) was my last hope & worked. My exotic vet. Sue sent some home as I rescue ferrets...have for 15+ years.. I also requested a referral to an animal chiropractor as Alice seemed to injure her back/hind legs.

In Dec. Dr. Sue said she would be taking a promotion with VCA & leaving the clinic but would be available for emergencies when she was home.

I did NOT realize that Sue was now gone & nobody at the clinic said she was gone...they knew she was my vet.

The 1 year graduate from vet school could not handle these 2 requests & I was asking too much! When I got to the clinic the ferret has now developed SQUIRTING diarrhea. I asked If Sue coulds see Alice. Both issues can be fatal for an already emaciated ferret. I was told NO the (inexperienced) vet would NOT see her & I was only given 3- 24hr. injections of Cerenia since Megan had (would) not see Alice to give more meds.

Next week I received ALL my animal records & told I'm NO LONGER a client!

A CLIENT for 20+ years! PAUL & Hannah SHAME on you!

These Vets NO longer care about animals!

GO TO SOME OTHER VET CLINIC! VCA could CARELESS!

WHAT about the 5 ferrets, 5 cats & senior dog who has always been a client here? NO ferret vet within HOURS!

NO Exotics vet in HANNIBAL, MO anymore!

The manager at burgess animal hospital, Cambridge ontario, Canada is unprofessional and lacks the insight to effectively direct the staff as they are often absent. The manager did not inform me (client) that I would be seeing a different/unfamiliar vet.

When I change over to Vetsource per VCA suggestion. I have one problem after another. Somehow the initial order wasn't filed incorrectly. I have two Newfoundland; both need a 100lbs heartworm and one need 8-25lbs and one 25-50lbs. And there lays the problem. Today I was informed the VCA Tucson Vet cancel Janet and Jane prescription for the 8-25lbs and 25-50lbs for being the wrong size.

Vetsource email me the 8-25lbs and 25-50lbs submitted to VCA 5/6/22 for refill.

Today I was informed the order was cancelled.

Wetsource email me also the two 100lbs was submitted to VCA 5/9/22 for refill status unknown.

Is what is going on revenge for bad review, of them at 22nd St, Tucson VCA wants me to move on to another Vet?

I brought my cat in from an urgent care clinic, at their insistence, as he had a potential blocked bladder. The estimate was 6-8000.

I couldn’t afford it. They flushed his bladder and sent him home with antibiotics.

He didn’t get better.

I took him to Tufts animal hospital in Walpole, who agreed with the treatment plan that VCA proposed- but their estimate for the exact same service was 1700.

That difference I’m price could have cost my cat his life.

This is not the first experience like this I’ve had there.

They managed to rack up 12,000 treating two of my animals charging my care credit. I had to refinance my house to pay it off, as care credit charges 29.999 % interest .

To out absolute greed over an animals life is despicable.