Reviews of VCA California Veterinary Specialists-Ontario (Veterinarian)

Rasha Broussard

Took my money then my dog died. Pretty heartless when it comes to treatment. No improvement when I first took her there. Typical business they want to keep the pet there longer. I feel like I wasted my money. I had to pay an exam fee of 90 dollars even though I paid 190 with my vet and they told me "we will just take the information off here" they could have just done that without charging an "exam fee" that they didn't do. When I called to check on my dog they said "sorry doctor is in surgery right now. We only have 1 doctor over night." I asked so I am pretty much paying 11.33 an hour to abandon my dog? They responded there are some techs back there." Terrible and heartless place. They gave me a bogus estimate at 1st then I told them I don't have the money to do that much they said "hold on let me adjust that" they could have really given me the lowest estimate possible. Had they really done that maybe my dog would have been alive. Very disappointed.

Kim Tenney

Great staff, clean lobby and rooms. Dr. Marquez is fantastic and Darla is a terrific assistant. Never had any issues or problems and we have been coming for 4 years.

Rebecca Leilani Saraf

I just called to Ask a question. I needed some advice about a general cost. I'm well aware as an ICU RN Medical advice isn't given over the phone. But, the you g lady could have listened and then told me about their policy. Which is common. Lack of Compassion and poor listening skills

Jamie Snyder

I came in for an emergency and was seen quickly and my dog received great care. I actually ended up surprised at how reasonable my bill ended up, and the vet himself called the next day to follow up and see how my dog was doing. I've gone back for another follow up and have been very happy with all of my experiences at California Veterinary Specialists.

Lime Lemon

I Went in for a rabies shot came out with my dog euthanized (put down) and a bill of 3,000. I hate this place. They didn't do anything!!!

Emily Lara

I took my dog here at 1am for an emergency. They took her first thing and when the “doctor” came in he gave us the choice to either put her down or spend $5,000 on a surgery she may have not survived anyways. We took her in because she kept throwing up, we expected her to have a stomach ache or something minor. Not them telling us our dog of 9 years is basically going to die anyways. I’m no vet but I knew then something didn’t feel right. He then told us she had a “mass” and internal bleeding. He didn’t show us ANY proof of this “mass” they saw on the ultrasound. We didn’t get to see her AT ALL during this time. We decided to put her down because we had no idea what to do and we had heard of other people going through this too but now that I’m reading the reviews I’m thinking we made the wrong choice. The doctor kept saying he was being “blunt” but frankly he was just a jerk. And to go back to us not seeing her this whole time, the only time we got to see her was to say goodbye. WHY WORK WITH ANIMALS IF YOU HAVE NO COMPASSION OR DON’T REALLY CARE? I hope people read this before deciding to take their loved one here. Also they wanted an extra $200 to keep her ashes instead of a “burial at sea.” You're telling me I have to PAY to keep my own deceased dog?!

Vicky and Snickers Anderson

My Snickers was having very severe pain, really didn't find cause of pain but sent home with meds. Bittersweet I want him better, fixed but glad not obvious reason for pain.

Brigitte Rodriguez

I love this place! The staff is friendly & they treat my dogs like family. The quality & timeliness of their work is great. I also have insurance, and they go out of their way to take care of the extra paperwork, with a smile on their face. They took care of one of my dogs for total hip replacement surgery, and the entire process went better than ever. Their communication with me throughout the process was amazing...they really put me at ease. My primary vet originally recommended me to a different specialist, but I didn't feel comfortable with them. I'm SO glad I chose CA Vet Specialists instead! (Their prices were also more favorable, although I'd pay a little more to get the kind of service I received at CA-Vet.)

Cynnamon Simonson

This place is a joke. My Yorkie poodle fell down the stairs and broke both of his front legs. When taking him here for treatment, they specifically told us that due to the way the bones broke, they could not set the bones (put them back together) and that he needed surgery that would cost between $5-10K! They splinted both legs leaving them broken and without setting an appointment, said we would have to wait for the surgeon that would be in three days from then. We could not wait around without a solid appt to be seen or for the surgery date to be set, so we had the xrays looked at by another surgeon who was able to make an appointment for the surgery 5 days from then. When the puppy was brought in for the surgery, the surgeon was in DISBELIEF that the bones were not set (put back together before being splinted) at all! They left the bones broken, sitting side to side, and they had calcified and started healing broken! The new surgeon said that the break was such a clean break that he was a PERFECT candidate for the bones to be reset and was outraged that they didn't do such a simple thing before splinting them. If the bones had been set before being splinted the way they SHOULD HAVE BEEN, my puppy might not have needed the surgery that the new surgeon was able to do for $4000. CVS obviously wanted that $10K surgery so bad, they splinted my poor puppy's leg without setting it because they knew that would secure the need for surgery. When I called them to ask why they didn't set the bones, they said they "stabilized the leg" with the splint. Any common sense vet would have known to set the broken legs before splinting. Don't take your pets to this incompetent, money-hungry, lying place.

Sue DeMorris

I drove 2 hours with my kitty not feeling well with lymphoma from Rancho Mirage to Ontario for a 1:30 oncology consultation appointment ($150) to see Dr Heller. Unfortunately, there are no oncologists in Palm Springs valley. My kitty stayed in the carrier the whole time Dr Heller was in the exam room - no examination done. I asked for a repeat ultrasound to follow up on gastric bleeding noted 2 weeks prior (HCT was 21%) and repeat labs (mainly to recheck HCT) After over 1 hour, the tech brings my kitty back to me, tells me “she definitely needs to be scoped” ie: full anesthesia with gastric endoscope for gastric biopsy and we can now we can go check out with a follow up appointment for scope - apparently there was no plan for Dr Heller to come back and see me and review results or plan for care. My expectation that the consult with Dr Heller would include a review/discussion of results and treatment plan was apparently not part of Dr Hellers ‘usual practice’. After asking the tech that I would absolutely like to see Dr Heller to review the ultrasound results and images, then waiting in the exam room for another hour, he then explained to me he “doesn’t review images, does not know how to review imaging, but rely’s on the report from radiologist, who I never saw. After my request, he finally reviewed images so I could personally review and compare from 2 weeks ago, and further discussed treatment plan. We finally left at 4:00. And home at 6:00pm. Long disappointing day. The imaging from previous U/S done in Palm Springs had not been requested by VCA ahead of time by, so they had no imaging to compare to, only the written report. They didn’t seem to care. I’m a former newborn ICU nurse of 20 years and have knowledge of medical terms, procedures, etc. all in all, I was very disappointed my experience was so impersonal, and cut short. Especially given the high consultation fee.

Ken Creasman

Nice place, nice people, but CRAZY EXPENSIVE!!! Had to find a more affordable solution.

Patricia Stansfield

I have used their services a few times for my dog and each time they were very caring, attentive and honest; offering the best possible care for my dog.

maribel sanchez

my pet had been suffering from a nose discharge for a while took him to several vets and no one knew anything , i brought him here and they didn’t know anything either, they did a couple exams they didn’t find anything therefore they wanted to charge over 2k for ct scan which would have been a waste of money took him to another vet in San Bernardino and was charge 45$ For blood work and found out he had leukemia with a simple blood test . These doctors don’t seem to know anything or they just want your money !! Very disappointing

Susan H

After spending 9 hours and $1600.00 dollars...all they can tell me is your dog has a tumor.. can't see you again for 11 days...wow..terrible. any suggestions

Miriam Fenton

Unfortunately I had to part with my 19 year old kitty yesterday but I couldn’t have asked for more in terms of the way this hospital handled everything. They let us stay with her for as long as we needed, they made her comfortable to the point she was purring again, and they just were super attentive to us and very understanding. The ER doctor seemed very knowledgeable and was very thorough in explaining prognosis and the overall scope of the situation. I am grateful for this hospital.

Todd Mitchell

All I can say is their professionalism, communication and proactive approach to providing health care to a loved one is commendable....thank you!!

Nancy Morales

I called asking about whether or not I should bring in my kitten and was telling them what was wrong and the guy didn’t even allow me to finish and said to bring him in and it’s a $95 charge.. how rude to not let someone finish their question. I can only imagine how they treat you in person.

Jenn

Love you guys. Thank you all for caring so much for Coco and Suzi. You all helped save the life of our baby.

Carinda Mickelsen

I was out of town and had boarded my dog at Petsmart. I got a call Christmas morning letting me know that Trixie had a bit of an issue and protocol called for a trip to the vet. I was contacted by the vet to let me know that she was okay and they had prescribed some antibiotics. Everything was handled very efficiently and I was very satisfied with my experience. Picked up my gal today and she is just fine and happy to be home. Thank you for the peace of mind.

Shantel Clemons

I brought my dog here for a hemilaminectomy surgery for his IVDD two years ago, and he's still walking and running like he never had surgery! Dr. Osmond and the surgery team took great care of him and I am so grateful for his new lease on life!

Audrey James

The whole staff here was excellent! They all were very concerned about my baby and made me feel very confident they were going to take good care of her. Which they did!! The doctor even called the next morning after she was sent home to see how she was doing. Thankful I found this place and would absolutely recommend them!

Janice Dugle

When my dog developed cataracts I was referred to Dr. Sheahan at California Veterinary Specialist from our regular vet. My dog is a 10 year old JRT. He has a heart condition and I was very nervous to have him go under anesthesia. He was to the point of losing his vision and was running into walls. His confidence was shattered. He had lost himself in space and time. He was sad and depressed not being able to live his life. Dr. Sheahan was very direct and clear on what the surgery benefits and risks were. She was detailed in all her instructions. Dr. Sheahan and all the staff were very kind and loving to my dog. The staff was very understanding and accommodating in all our needs. There were no surprises. My dog is like a puppy again. He is happier and the quality of his life is amazing. This hospital is a 45 minute drive from my house and well worth the trip. I would recommend California Veterinary Specialist to anyone needing to see a Veterinary Ophthalmologist. Dr. Sheahan is a gift to the veterinary profession. Thank you does not seem to be strong enough words to tell you the gift of having my dog be himself again.

Adrianna Silva

This place is HORRIBLE. All they care about is money. I know this is long but please read it if you are considering going to this vet. My dog had his paw broken so i initially took him to another vet hospital in Ontario that took x rays and then recommended that i take my dog to CVS for surgery on his paw. Once i get to CVS they take my dog who is still coming off of the anesthesia but is otherwise fine. Then five minutes later a lady comes out telling me that i needed to sign a form and pay $300 dollars because my dog was suddenly in critical condition and they needed to start life saving actions. I signed the form and then i was taken into a room and about fifteen minutes later the doctor came in telling me that my dog was not doing good at all and that i needed to start making some tough decisions about whether or not to put him down. I told them how it made no sense because he was perfectly fine twenty minutes ago and the doctor wouldn't even let us see him. The doctor, Dr. Terry said that if we wanted we could keep him there overnight for treatment but that it could cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 a night. For all i know the doctor could have been lying about the seriousness of my dogs condition to get me to pay for him to stay overnight since she would not allow us to see him. The doctor goes on talking to us for about half an hour and leaves and says she'll be back and we wait a long time and then she came back and we talked some more about our options. So about an hour and a half passes since we first got there and i bring up the paper i signed about them starting life saving actions(which cost me $300) and the doctor had no idea about it. The whole time my dog was just laying in the back dying and they never started life saving measures because of miscommunication. I was pissed. He could have died! They just gave him some fluids and an hour later he was perfectly fine. I went through an hour and a half of heartbreak and crying thinking i would never see my dog again and thinking about how i was gonna tell my son because of these idiots.They also told me there was no other option for fixing his paw other than amputation or internal fixation surgery and luckily i found a way better and wayyyyy cheaper vet that is AMAZING. I highly, highly recommend Dr. Wright at Ontario Veterinary Hospital. Its not very far from this place and a thousand times better with a doctor who really cares and even works with you on prices. My dogs paw was casted and has healed fantastically. Hes doing great now and i have Dr. Wright to thank for it. The only reason why CVS only allows surgery is because they get a better profit. My dogs paw has healed after being in a cast for a month and a half and i spent a quarter of what CVS would've came out to had i carried out the process with them. CVS was the worst experience i've ever had. I am seriously soo thankful that i found Ontario Veterinary Hospital. Had i known about them in the first place it would've saved me $1,200.

Sean Harvath

We have been here a couple of times. The staff were all very caring and concerning for the well being of my dog, Jedi. I have never had any doubts about anyone's qualifications at the facility and truly believe they have our pet's best interest in mind.

Richard Geist

Outstanding!!! Clean, spacious, friendly and efficient - and I got an appointment for a new “patient” in just a couple days. Our cat’s problems had perplexed our vet who “shotgunned” the problem. The internist at VCA listened carefully to our story, then suggested the possible origins of the problem. I am a medical internist for 2 legged critters and her discussion of possible problems and the options for diagnostic tests to exclude certain unlikely causes. But in the end we all agreed very happily that a simple change in medication would almost undoubtedly treat the condition. I tremendously appreciated a transparent, clear headed presentation of the range of possibilities and options that made perfect sense to me - and without ever being pressured to spend a few thousand dollars to rule out the “zebras!” It’s the best $150 I’ve ever spent on pet care during my 70 years!

Janea Lowe

Very friendly staff and the veterinarians I have seen were very helpful, caring and knowledgeable.

Cheyenne Hicks

This Place Is Amazing. I Felt So Comforted When I Walked In The Door. The Staff There Is Amazing. They Let Me Go Back And See My Dog And Say Good Night Before I Had To Leave Her, They Call Me Anytime Something New Is Going On And To Let Me Know My Baby Girl Is Okay. I Would Definitely Recommend This Place.

william rhoades

Caring staff.

Elizabeth Eubanks

I really can't express enough gratitude for Dr. Sueda. Thank you for your ongoing care of Peach, your patience, and understanding!

Elaine Perez

My dog name is star she had IMHS Dr. Ables took verry good care of her the staff are all wonderful i had to let her go the hard thing i ever had to do thank you Dr. Ables for trying to help me save her forever greatful to you Elaine and Family

urania lopez

Staff was friendly and very supportive during our hardest time, putting our little one to sleep.

Caryn Jaramillo

Expensive and gave my cat medicine that humans do not even use and that killed him.

lildapp76 .

always great

laura kassem

We have used this ER in the past however, today we had to make the very difficult decision to "release" our 10 year old Rott/ Shepherd mix that was our baby. She has a mass on her heart and fluid was drained then built up rather quickly. All the staff were very compassionate and Dr. Skilling was amazing. She was very patient & compassionate with all of our questions and provided us ample time in a comfortable setting for our family to say goodbye and hold our baby through the whole procedure. As with any pet ER it is rather pricey but you do what you have to for your loved ones. Thank you for helping us through this difficult time and caring for our baby.

Larry Bryant

Our Golden's seem to get into things. We have taken them several times to CVS and they provide great service and follow up.

joey psocks

doctor didnt seem what he was doing when it comes to urgent care seemes like he wanted the money.. 2,500 gave him my dog alive and wanted to return it dead with no refund.. dont recommend unless its a flu shot

Michael Miller

Outstanding care and service WE LOVE CVS!!!!!

Ann Lienart

I have always considered CVS to be the best place to take my pets. When my dog had cancer I took him in once a month for four years. Now that I have new dogs I would not consider taking them anywhere else. The staff is very knowlegeable and very compassionate.

Michael DeWees

Dr. Zingale is outstanding. Professional, friendly, patient & explains things in lay terms with compassion & understanding.

Fredrick James

We took our maltipoo dog after she had been viciously mauled by a pit bull to California Veterinary Specialists. The care our dog has received has been excellent. Both the doctors and staff showed us compassion, explained and answered all our questions about the procedures and all options available. Dr. Miller, the surgeon did a remarkable job healing our beloved dog. We fully recommend California Veterinary Specialist for your pets hospitalization.

Kelli Watt

Lucy and I were referred by our vet DR. Deb. Lucy has cancer we saw DR Fitzpatrick. The young lady who checked us in was nice. The assistant who greeted us and took us to the exam room was very nice she thoroughly informed us of there angel care ask a lot of questions about Lucy and talked to her got to know her she was great. Dr. Fitzpatrick came in and had read her file He gave me so much info and options he was great so far we have had a great experience but many more visits to come hopefully all the next visits will be a great experience as well.

Victoria Scott

The staff is so kind and warm to all animals and people.They are respectful and considerate to all of their patients. Everyone was so patient with me and my cat Sammy. Any questions I had they were detailed and explained things in terms that were understandable. I'm extremely grateful for this place.

Mary Kay Will

I have appreciated their quality care for my cat, who is undergoing chemotherapy.

John C

We had such a great experience at CVS! Although our dog remains in limbo as far as her health and was transferred to a cardiologist, we don't have anything but praise for this place, especially Dr. Ables! This facility and its employees are amazing. Of course no pet owner ever wants to be in this position and spend thousands of dollars but given the love and guidance from Dr Albers, and for the love of our 11 month old dog, we can't say enough about our experience here at CVS. If our dog makes it through this hard time and gets to rejoin our family then we owe it all to Dr. Albers and CVS.

Tricia K

The amazing staff at CVS took great care of Bella when she decided to eat a couple of rocks the size of golf balls!! She needed surgery to remove them, which they did beautifully. They always kept me updated with her status. So glad that we found them and will be using them for emergency veterinary care in the future!

Kashmir Bray

18 reviews 2.0 star rating 7/28/2017 It's a nice place and the people are friendly. But be careful, those smiles don't come without a price. They will squeeze whatever they can out of you and when you opt out of the overnight stay, your pet is suddenly not as important. They did an x-ray and just said that it's unclear (how convenient) and wanted to do an ultrasound the next day but because I didn't pay the $1800 to keep her there overnight I can't her one for over a week. They do have good staff members but not all of them have integrity, I would have had all this done had I not been told I don't need an appointment then when I called to see how soon it could be done I suddenly needed an appointment. They don't care either that their misinformation is costing you and your pet emotionally, physically, and financially. For $800 we went home with pain medicine and was told to see if she improves. Improve from what? Pain medicine to cover up the problem?! The tech I spoke to this morning, could have prevented this by taking the same steps as the second person did to ensure I was given the correct information rather than just say we don't schedule and get me off the phone. I took her the next day to her primary vet, who IMMEDIATELY found an abnormality in her abdomen and got me an ultrasound the same day at Southern California Veterinary Hospital in Irvine, thank GOD for GOOD doctors who actually care and know what they are doing.

Matt Walters

The nicest animal hospital I have been to. However, their services certainly don't come cheap. Make sure you know what you're paying for, and ask for a cost breakdown. We were almost charged $800 because of a "clerical error" but we got it fixed. Very nice people, just watch your wallet.

Marina D.

Took my cat here for possible neurological issues and a cough because it was the only place within a 100 mile radius that actually has specialists. He was seen by the ER doctor as a walk-in, who consulted the neurologist, had an EKG done by the cardiologist and had the radiologist look at his older x-rays from April. Neurologist was able to pinpoint the issue being in his neck, but without an MRI it's impossible to say exactly what it is. That not being feasible due to the 3k+ cost, they did tell me what 4 things it could potentially be, and the treatments for them. It turns out 1 of those things could be a tumor which would cost even more money for a no guarantees surgery, but the other 3 things were all treatable or manageable with medications. Even so, he's 10 1/2 years old, and with myelopathic issues (which were causing his weird neurological symptoms) there are never any guarantees with any surgery or treatment. Luckily, 2 of the 3 medications that could potentially be treatments, he already received because they also diagnosed him with bronchitis (steroid & antibiotic). All in all, the whole visit including an emergency walk-in, ER doctor, and consults with 3 specialists cost me $300. They were cool about reviewing my regular vet's blood work that he had done a week prior, and older x-rays from April to see if there were any tumors, etc (instead of trying to justify having these re-done at their facility). I don't think that they are ripping anyone off, it's just that veterinary care does cost a lot, but I've found their prices for my situation pretty reasonable, especially for a large 24 hour emergency facility with specialists. Their facility is super clean, the front desk staff is extremely helpful and on top of things, as are the techs. The doctors were awesome about patiently speaking with me and answering all of my questions, and providing as much details as they possibly could. I used to work at a large corporate veterinary hospital as a vet assistant and I definitely believe CVS gives great quality care for their furry patients. Lastly, I should note that those who are complaining about cost and don't feel confident about their pet's care also need to take a little more responsibility and use their head. CVS didn't use any scare tactics with me to try to get me to spend more money; in fact, they worked with me to produce the most cost effective solution. They did and still do recommend an MRI, but I used common sense to ask about what the potential outcomes and treatments could be, and ruled that since one is a surgery I can't afford (and that he may not recover very well from), and the other 3 are medications, and he already received 2 of those 3 medications for a diagnosed condition, it didn't make sense to do an MRI because I've already weighed the options of every possible outcome. All in all, the older your pet is the more money it will cost to keep them alive, and the less of a chance of success it'll have. Use your head, ask questions until you understand exactly what is going on, discuss possible outcomes and treatments, ask about any alternative treatments and options, and use your best judgement and effort to provide the best possible care for your fur babies. That's all you can do.

Sancho Tacos

First of all customer service is great, My Dog had a broken elbow and needed attention went into office on a Friday for opinion and consultation then there was the price I was given to have surgery from $4,500-$5,500 I asked when will surgery get started person told me I hsve to come back Tuesday for another consultation with surgeon and another $55.00 I said ok and walked outside callled another specialist in Chatsworth spoke to the Doctor on the phone and told me bring dog in tonight or first thing in morning for surgery with no consultation fees or waiting which was a successful surgery all under $2,000 dollars , my opinion CVS is a ripoff and takes advantage of dog owners, will never recommend or go to these types of business I guess when your owned by Mars candy company it’s all about money not your pet

Theresa Cripe

I highly reccomend this place! Very friendly and knowledgable Staff and Doctors, clean comfortable waiting room and exam rooms, and they seem to truly care about your pet. I was extremely comfortable with them caring for my girl! They figured out the problem without a bunch of guessing and BS. I will definitely bring my dog back here if she ever needed to be seen.by a Doctor. Thank you VCA!

Briana Brown

Front desk was very rude, doctor and nurses were very helpful and kind in walking us through the euthanization of our cat. However, when we brought our cat in initially prior to the euthanization, they never returned our carrying case. Severe lack of professionalism and care for peoples belongings at this hospital. Proceed with caution.

Marcia Gorman

The service provided by this emergency veterinary hospital is top notch. This is the second time I have had to use this establishment, and both times the staff and veterinarians have been courteous and professional. The neurosurgeon was amazing! She performed surgery on my dog’s spine! This was life saying for my dog Bella, who had a ruptured disk. She also kept me well informed throughout my dog’s stay which greatly aIlieveated my anxiety and concern. I highly recommend California Veterinary Specialists in Ontario.

Machel Gilmore

KILLERS! I was there THREE TIMES in ONE WEEK and they are clueless...transport my baby to Ontario CVS..DEAD the next day due to the Dr negligence causing a pulmonary embolism sending my boy into respiratory arrest. My baby was only 4 years old!!! I should have learned my lesson on 12-12-12 when my 2 year old poodle under the same service went into cardiac arrest and died! I went to you because you are an EMERGENCY service and SPECIALTY hospital! WHY in a seven day span did I have to come back three times and have no answer? First it was a neck strain, then you said same thing two days later after I said he was in PAIN and breathing at 85/min. THEN four days later you say probably a disc issue and I needed this special MRI in Ontario. You made me wait yet another day only to tell me he can’t have an MRI. You did a procedure WITHOUT MY CONSENT and killed my sweet boy! You know what you did Yenlie Zingale..an INEXPERIENCED VET...I hope you live with this for the rest of your misersable life. No compassion...we are just $$$ to them and they don’t care. You know we love our pets and you try to capitalize on it! If I could leave a ZERO I would. You don’t even deserve a one!

Deeni Beeni

First & foremost: DON'T be fooled by the glowing testimonials on their website. Scroll down to the negative reviews & you'll find out what this place is really about. If I could give CVS negative stars, I would. 8 months after TPLO surgery on my 10-year-old girl, she's having problems & cannot put weight on the leg at all. The doc said he'd done the surgery many times. Now my dog can't walk without limping, much more than before the surgery, and literally everything else about this place is awful as well. There was only one good outcome, and that was because I said NO when he wanted to operate on her spine without any imaging or other examination other than the one they do without you being present. If I'd agreed, she'd probably be paralyzed right now. If you are used to being involved in your pet's care, forget it. They whisk the animal out of the room & perform all exams elsewhere while you wait. When I went for one post-op checkup, I SPECIFICALLY requested that I be present for her exam and was completely ignored. They performed the exam without me. After the initial exam, which I didn't get to witness, I was told she did in fact have a CCL tear, but I've wondered many times if this isn't the reason they do the exams without you there -- they can basically say anything they like. Options were explained, & TPLO surgery seemed to be the only choice. The risks of the procedure were NOT discussed -- only the "benefits" of TPLO compared to other procedures. ( CVS's definition of "informed consent" goes something like this: "You are responsible for informing yourself, then you 'certify' to us that you know enough to give consent. If you don't know enough, or don't have the background to ask the 'right' questions, that is too bad, because we have no responsibility to inform you. We are thus entirely off the hook for any bad outcomes.') Now come the problems. A vet tech then comes into the room with what amounts to a number written on a piece of paper. Nothing is broken out or itemized. Just a total, which you are told includes "everything." It's only after you've paid the bill that you find out you were charged $40 for an e-collar we never used but could get on amazon for 15 bucks, or that you were charged $150 for medication, the generic for which I got at Costco for $32, or $75 for a sling that we never used but I had no choice about, or $200 for ONE fentanyl patch, for which price you can get 10 patches at any pharmacy. At the aforementioned postop check, we got Dr. Bissonette, who I have to say is more full of himself than any physician, human or animal, I've ever met. He is the one who did the exam without me & at one point during the conversation, while he was explaining the restrictions I should put on her activity, he says "we don't want to have to reoperate," even though the surgery is so "fun" to perform & "really good for my bank account." No, I'm not kidding. He then proceeded to over-prescribe pain meds, which made her sick & dehydrated. Which brings me to my next point. The "everything" that is included in the magic number did not include even a single session of physical therapy or even instruction on how to manage postop rehab. You are given lots of restrictions, told everything possible about what *not* to do, but not told one thing about what you *should* do. So now my dog has a terribly weak leg & is limping worse than before the surgery. Deconditioning? Nerve damage? I'm working on finding out. Her limp is getting worse & worse & at this point, as I mentioned, is worse than it ever was when she had her supposed partial CCL rupture. I saw the 2-month x-rays and was told they looked fine. I was given the impression that this would all take care of itself & not even told things to watch out for and am reduced to power-surfing Youtube for instructions. I've been doing our own home exercise program & am looking for a physical therapist. Overall, I would *never* go to this place for anything, ever again. I've reported them to the BBB and Dept. of Consumer Affairs.

cathy edberg

We brought Spilkes, my 16-year old kitty, in for some tests. This place is so clean and bright and we were amazed at how members of the medical team came out to the waiting area to greet each patient and sit and talk with the owner before taking them to the exam rooms. It was the same when we came back to pick her up. It is very pet-and-owner-friendly and we could tell they really love what they do!

Dianna Hopper

So disappointed. I found a emancipated cat at my job. I went to 7-11 and got him some electrolyte and can food. He seemed glad to have something. I text my friend who does rescue and she shared on FB but no help was available. By the end of my 8 hour shift I could see he was ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge. I told him that he wasn't there alone and that my family would be waiting for him on the other side. He passed away. Having 7 cats at home I couldn't take him. The nearest 24 hr with good reviews was Ca Vet. Unbeknownst to me I would be charged $88 to take "Wall-e". That was my whole shifts pay and I let Wall-e know for a few hours that he was loved. I think Ca Vet could have helped handled the matter less greedy. Thanks a lot. On my way out of their lot was cat and a tiny kitten sitting in the middle of the road. I had to get out if my truck and shoo them away. I would have grabbed the kitten but he ran off. Besides I have 7 already I don't need anymore. Are their lots of strays running around your property?

Pamela Delgado

I gave a 4 stars because the doctor did not come out and talk to me after my pet's doctor appointment.

Cindi Hagbloom

Everyone I talked to was very informative, and treated by sweet dog very gently and with care. THANK YOU

Todd 1776

Excellent staff. You can tell they genuinely care about our pets. Our children!

Charles Vandergriff

The only ones who could figure out what was wrong with out Chihuahua and had to travel from Barstow on a recommendation from Animal Wellness Center. Our beloved pup is now breathing easier and we now have a treatment plan and a plan of action to help her live a good quality of life.

Bryan and Kelly Bonté

My husband and I brought our cat in because she was acting very weird after getting x-rays done the day before and it was a Sunday, so our normal vet's office was closed. Our cat was walking super slow, wobbly, having trouble keeping her balance, and would fall over. We were very worried, so we brought her in right away. We waited about an hour before someone came and talked to us to get more information in the waiting room. They then said they were going to take her to the back room to look at her and we didn't understand why as all they needed to do was look at her walk. I told them she is very feisty, but they reassured us they would be able to get her out of her crate and they have a special cat room that helps calm them down. We reluctantly let them take her. Then after more time went by, we went into a room and were told the doctor would be right in. The doctor didn't come in for at least another 30 minutes and we were starting to get frustrated. He told us they couldn't get her out of her crate and he couldn't look at her. Now we are even more frustrated because we told them they wouldn't be able to. We asked to go back to see her and help get her out of her crate and he said he would check and be right back. More time goes back without a word. About an hour has now passed and we are getting very angry. I go to the front desk to get some answers and they call the back for an update and say they'll let me know what they say. 5 minutes go by with no answer, so I say I need an answer now and all of a sudden the doctor comes back to our room. He says they're going to bring our cat to the door so we can get her out and he'll take a look. FINALLY, we get our cat back and she looks at us and immediately walks out of the crate and by now she is fine and walking normally. The doctor thinks it was the sedative they used when they took the x-ray and it now wore off. We were probably there for a good few hours and were so frustrated because all they needed to do was see her walk. There was no reason for them to bring her to the back for that, which scared her. As you can see, she immediately walked when we were in the room with her. That could've saved us so much time and wouldn't have scared her going back there. There was no need for that. The only reason I gave this a 2 star instead of a 1 star was because Dr. Ericson was really nice when he was actually in the room talking to us, but overall, we were very unhappy with this place and will be looking for somewhere else to go in the future.

Luna G.

I just want to share that this hospital saved my baby’s life. They were super friendly from the first encounter at the desk. Doctors and techs that I saw were so amazing and treated my dog like it was theirs. Total amount was estimated to be over $3,500, but after my dog spent two nights at the hospital we were told we could pick her up, and that they would refund us over $1,000 that had been charged to our card. What place does this? Offer a refund? They could have easily kept my dog the rest of the day and kept that money. A few days later I rushed over at 11pm bc I thought my dog was having an allergic reaction near her rectum, but after they quickly took her in and checked her, the doctor told me it was ‘nothing more than razor burn’. He was so nice and told me my dog looked perfectly healthy. I wasn’t charged for them seeing her that night. Thank you for being open 24/7

Ryan M. Mc Kenzie

My family bought our dog, lady to them and we always received compassion and quality care from the whole staff ☺

EBBy Slater

I would give Negative Stars if it were possible! My experience was Absolutely Horrible. I would NOT recommend going there for anything!! Our cat had gotten into a fight with our other cat & needed medical attention, but since it was midnight we couldn't go to our normal vet & this was our only option. When first looking at him, his ear was scraped up, half of his face swollen & bloody discharge coming out of his nose, blood all over his face & body, & just in a lot of pain. Though the most concerning was the horrible crackling sound coming from his breathing, which I couldn't tell if it was coming from his nose or his chest. When my mom & I arrived there we waited a decent amount of time in the lobby of the office before a vet tech came to make the initial exam. Now this was strange; if it had been a normal vets office, we would have been taken into an examination room where the vet tech would have had us remove our cat from his crate & done a physical exam, along with weighing him. That is what every other veterinary office I have been to has done. Now what this vet tech did was the least thorough exam through the dark crate in the middle of the lobby. Which is not accurate nor comforting for any pet owner who want their pet actually looked at. What I then expected to happen was to finally be taken to an exam room for the cat to be checked out & speak with the vet about what was wrong. But instead was our cat was taken away to be checked & have his wounds cleaned, while my mom & I were not allowed to join. We instead were taken to a waiting room. We waited for less than 10 minutes for the vet to do the exam on the cat & come in to talk with us. Which without me to take out our cat from the crate it should have taken at least 15 min to get him out & 15 min to put back. Another issue I had with the amount of time it was done in, is that it isn't enough time to get him out, weigh him, take his temperature, check his heart/breathing, examine/clean wounds, & put him back. When the vet came into the waiting room to discuss what he found, all he talked about was our cat's ear, which was not a main concern. What worried me was the blood coming out of his nose & the swelling in his face. Which he said the nose was due to a "preexisting" respiratory infection & that the cat, in his words, "has no swelling in his face at all." When my mother & I tried to explain he had no respiratory infection before the attack & that the side of his face was nearly twice the size as normal, the vet talked over us & tried to change the subject. The vet gave us very little information overall. After we left to the lobby & paid for the visit, which came to about 150$ (90$ exam, 60$ meds). Then waited to get our cat back, saying it would only be a minute. We waited over an hour to get him back. When we asked what the wait was for they refused to answer why. Now one of my biggest issues with this stupid vets office. When I got home, I immediately realized that his face & ear were still covered in blood & not cleaned in the least. I seriously think that these vets did not even take him out of the crate when doing the exam! Now because of their poor care, we had to take him to his normal vet where we found out he had several puncture/bite wounds on his head & inside his mouth, a deep gash on his back foot, a loose molar, & severe bruising on his face & the rest of his body. We also found out that he had absolutely no respiratory infection & that the nasal discharge coming from his nose was from one of the bite wounds inside his mouth becoming so swollen with fluids & starting to get infected that it was draining out his nose. The cleaning his vets did & the pain meds they'd given him brought the swelling on the side of his face down to nearly nothing, Our cat's attitude was great & already feeling much better after his normal vet's visit So essentially I paid 90$ for an exam that the vets at California Veterinary Specialist DID NOT even do! Overall they were the least helpful vet office I have ever been to. DO NOT GO THERE WHATEVER YOU DO

Al S.

The ENTIRE Staff are loving and caring. My surgeon called me several times to see how my Schnoodle "Sparky" was doing. Love this place!

Heather Grassette

My frenchie Zuzu has been treated twice by the doctors here and they have taken such good care of her. Once was for spinal surgery and the second time was for an immune disease which hospitalized her for two weeks. The staff was great about me being able to visit with Zuzu as many times as I wanted and they were very informative, answering all of my questions the best they could. They took really good care of Zuzu and while those two weeks were emotionally draining for me, they made me feel reassured that Zuzu was in the best possible care. Thank you all for your support with Zuzu <3

Tina Smith

They saved my cats life, I highly recommend for everyone to go there

Anthony Ramirez

My Long Hair Chihuahua was quickly seen and given medication to help his eye infection. He is feeling better!

Jessica Flores

Our regular vet referred us to California Veterinary Specialists because of some abnormal lab results that our small town vet wasn’t equipped to further test and treat. Because our dog is our baby, we were naturally terrified when we arrived to see Dr. Sueda. He sat right down on the floor with our boy and made us all feel so comfortable. He explained everything to us and gave us options. We ended up going the conservative route and just switching up his medication first, rather than doing a bunch of additional testing right away. This ended up correcting the issues. Thank God! Dr. Sueda has checked in with us personally at least twice over the past month. I’m sure he is very busy and it makes me feel like he really does care about our boy if he is willing to take time out of his busy schedule to call us personally. All of the other staff seem to really care about their patients as well. Even though we have a regular vet in our local area, it is reassuring to know that CVS is not far in case we end up needing them in the future (hopefully not, but just saying).

Denise Ferris

Caring medical professionals for animals.

Rita Singh

My dog got into some chocolate and ate what I thought to be a lethal amount. I rushed her to the ER and was very happy that the Vet was totally honest with me and informed me my dog did not eat enough chocolate to kill her or cause her any harm. I am writing this review to commend the vet on her honestly, they could have taken me to the cleaners. I got out of there under $300 which was amazing. I would use this place again. I am sure some people had a negative experience, but mine was excellent.

StaySea Knox

Very happy with everything about this place. My dog liked and trusted Dr. Sueda immediately. He is kind, gentle, wise, and sincere. He took the time to explain everything clearly. Everyone was very kind and accommodating. The staff saved me the hassle of handling the pet insurance paperwork process by submitting the claim FOR me - and PROMPTLY even!

Laura Kingston

Took my dog here for a dermoid removal, the second try as the first vet did not get it all at another vet facility, staff was very friendly and always responded to my concerns leading up to surgery and after as well. They were very patient with my bark happy GSD and if I ever need a specialty procedure done again I will go here and no where else! Thank you for saving my little boys vision!

Kevin Holman

Our dog went to Greg Ogilvie for Lymphoma diagnoses and treatments. I was very impressed by him and by the care our dog received. They were expensive, but no more than any other specialty veterinary facility and I do think sometimes you get what you pay for. We have Trupanion Pet Insurance which is also wonderful, so cost was not that important. I highly recommend this place and Trupanion, they allowed us to provide the best care available for our dog. Our dog would have died in a couple weeks without treatment, she was diagnosed 14 months ago and is currently still in her first remission from her cancer.

Scott Edwards

Dr. Sueda and the support staff -- exceptional patient care and follow-up. The gold standard in Veterinary excellence.

John Brand

My dog loves the way she is treated. Unlike other vet offices, she has no hesitation coming to VCA Ontario or the Carlsbad office.

Wendy Diego

These people really do take advantage people and the love for their pets. Save your money and go elsewhere for half the price.

Doc Ensbury

Awesome service

Maureen

Love Dr. Sheahan the opthalmologist. Dislike the ER! Will never go back! They.are exceptionally slow, don't listen to the owner, and actually were the cause of another ER visit (different one!!) about 4 hrs after we left CVS. Would give 5 to Dr. Sheahan, 0 to ER Dr. Stephanie. We think she should pay the almost $800 for the ER visit due to allergic reaction to administering a drug I told her not to give! We almost lost our dog because she doesn't think the pet owner knows her dog.

Brittany Arellano

My dog Poseidon(7yrs old) was diagnosed with cancer in May 2018. I am a veterinary student and I work in an animal hospital so I’m aware of veterinary terms and procedures. Also, from my own experience I have gained further knowledge being Poseidons mom and having had 5 blood transfusions for him in the past. Went to this hospital on Sat around 1130am due to Poseidon needing a blood transfusion. His pcv going in was 18. He had blood filling his abdomen. This transfusion was an attempt to give us more time to stop the micro bleed he was having. We had previously got them under control in the past. Before going to this veterinary specialist My doctors and myself had called the day before and again the following day for their doctors to be aware of poseidons case we have been actively working on and what our plan was. All we needed was a blood transfusion, we did not offer that at my current hospital. When I showed up initially they took him to the back first because he was a critical patient due to bleeding out. His temperament was Bright alert and responsive(BRA) going in I had him comfortable on medication and checked his blood regularly. Pcv and platelet counts just that morning. They took him back and I had told the Tech his meds he was on his diagnosis and what I was here for again. The doctor eventually came in the room and had said she did an ultrasound and seen he had fluid in his abdomen. Even though I had just had an ultrasound done at my hospital and came in informing them of that already. (They still charged me for that). Then they come in with the paperwork and say it’s going to be $1050-1075 for his transfusion. I sign it and ask them to please start the blood transfusion now. Typically it takes 4 hours for A blood transfusion. Give or take an additional hour or so to match him with the donor. Poseidon has had many blood transfusions in the past before so I also have first hand experience with the timing. After being there for for several hours I had ask his doctor where we were with his transfusion? She had said I didn’t start it yet? I was angering in shock. I told her why not she said you had wanted to tap the abdomen and so I didn’t do that yet so I thought you wanted to wait until then. I told her very clearly start the blood transfusion immediately after signing the paperwork. I again said please start his transfusion immediately he is loosing blood. That was around 130. I stayed there the entire time Poseidon was in the back. Asking them every couple of hours where we were at. Around 330 they said oh he’s half way done. Then at 7pm they said he won’t be done with his transfusion for a several more hours. The staff was very rude and unprofessional the entire time. I never again spoke to a doctor from earlier in the afternoon. I stayed there at the hospital waiting for Poseidon to be done with his blood transfusion. He wasn’t discharged until around 12:30am!! I will never again go to this hospital and I don’t recommend it at all. It was the worst experience with a specialty hospital I have ever came across. I have been to several with Poseidon over the past 7years. The worst thing about this situation was we went home that night. After he practically ran out of the hospital (even though he had regenerative anemia he was still himself and had a great amount of energy) he had went in initially walking, alert, bright. He was himself, you wouldn’t have known he was bleeding inside looking at him from the outside. I did his pcv regularly so I was aware of every aspect of his body. Anyways we get home go to sleep. Wake up and have one last great day together. He then passed Monday morning at 330am. The bummer was if this hospital was properly staffed, efficient, and productive I shouldn’t have had to be there for over 13 hours for ONLY a blood transfusion. On staff there was only two doctors running a specialty 24 hour hospital on a Saturday. My hospital is not as big and we have 4-5 doctors on staff daily. I was very disappointed in the service and care.

Diane Turner

I've been coming here for over 3 years on a regular basis with my dog for treatment of a chronic illness. This last visit was very disappointing. Blood work was not followed up on despite my giving approval to run a second needed test. Now will have to go though the whole appointment process again. Seems like they are just to busy to follow through lately and that's just not acceptable.

Mary Anne Giroux

We have been clients for many years and each time the service was excellent.

ALMSys, Inc.

Our cat had lost weight, was throwing up, and had an elevated white count. Our vet recommended this place so we took the cat there. $1200.00 later, they no idea of what was wrong. A few days later, the labs came back and again, they had no clue as to what was wrong. We asked if one of their internal medicine doctors would review the lab results as a second opinion. They said, "No, you would need to make an appointment with them and bring your cat back in." Ummm, what? Spend a ton more $$ for a simple 2nd opinion? They can't simply walk a piece of paper across the hall? Right then we knew that this clinic was all about the money and not about animal care. Do yourself a favor and take your beloved pet somewhere else that actually cares about your pet.

Sully Morales

This is the one place I bring my munchkin when he is beyond my help. They provide great service, the doctors are awesome, and the staff goes above and beyond! They genuinely care and are experts in their field!

Chris Wilson

Everyone at the facility cares about your pet and they make you feel like "your" pet is the most important

feliz carrillo

They are always respectful and professional. Thank you for being there 24 hours

Cindy Richardson

Very dissatisfied with the evening staff, girl behind the counter was not friendly. They charged me over 700 for X Ray's and bloodwork to say my dog has dry eye!!!!!

Audrey Molle

After learning my chihuahua CJ had glaucoma and would eventually become blind from our local vet, they recommended me to California Veteriniary Hospital for further examination and work. Though the drive was always about an hour to an hour and a half from the high desert, it was worth it!! They took care CJ SO WELL. The check in process is very easy and the waiting area is spacious for everyone and their animals, it even had a separate area for cats. Dr. Sheahan was the BEST and so gentle with handling CJ and the nurses were all so friendly. After the procedure of getting his eyes removed, he recovered very well and really fast! He looks great and couldn’t be any happier!! Thank you ophthalmology! 100% recommend to anyone for any procedure for their animal!!

Tom Deitrick

I've been unfortunate enough to have to have more than a few emergency visits with my Frenchie, BUT if you have to go to the emergency room with your dog, this is the best place. The doctors and technicians are awesome, the staff up front is awesome. Everyone is caring and nice and they treat you and your pet very well. My main complaint against the vets near me is that they tend to misdiagnose. These doctors get the diagnosis correct and know the best treatment. I am very grateful to the vets and staff at VCA Ontario, they have saved my dog a few times!

Lori Powers

I have been to CVS many times in the past several years. They are awesome.

Jamie Nass

Thank you today for being there for Toby snd for my husband and I . even with it being Labor Day today. 9/2/2019

Janet Hughes

If your dog needs help, like it's life or death, and CVS won't do anything without $2700 on top of $1174 they've already been given...what would you call that?

Nancy Gonzalez

Best ER for your pet. I have been there with several of my dogs over the past 10 years and every experience has been positive. Friendly, helpful, professional and reasonable fees for an ER vet.

Irma Garcia

My family and I unfortunately had to put our beloved boxer of 10 plus years to sleep due to being extremely sick. I had never been to this hospital before. I chose this location due to the fact that it's 3 minutes from my home. First of all this was the worst experience in our life... Very heart breaking..you are never prepared. The vet that assisted us was Dr Patrick Kirk. Dr Kirk was so compassionate, soft spoken, caring, and very patient. Of course that didn't make us cry or hurt any less but it made us feel that we had chosen the best place for our needs. His staff was very gentle with our our baby when they took him away..they treated him with the most respect. as if he was a human being..that made us cry even more. Words alone cannot express what you and your staff have done for us Dr Kirk. With all our heart....Thank you so much for your kindness. We appreciate you more than you can imagine. Words alone are not enough to express our gratitude... Once again...THANK YOU!!!! From the bottom of our hearts❤❤❤

Devinn Fisher

When I first walked in I told them I had no money if there at least able to tell me if my puppie will make it through the night they said that they couldn't do that but let us take him to the back and we will start doing his paperwork and you can fill out to do the credit with us so I said okay so me my mother in law and my husband tried to do a credit and none of us were approved so I told him that and that I don't have any money stated at least donate the medicine so my dog could have a chance to make it through the night so I can pay for him to get help in the morning..of course they said no and the medicine only $40.. they still charging me $90 for them taking my dog to the back and they got upset cuz I wasn't able to pay when I told them in the beginning I didn't have the money! So I have to sine some paperwork to state that I'll pay the 90$ tomorrow. I'm very upset and I will never go back!!!

Barbara Weber

My French Bulldog Booger recently had a cyst on his back. He became paralyzed in the rear legs. We took him to CVS in Ontario. They were super awesome. However, the specialist for this surgery was in Carlsbad. So, we took him to Carlsbad, were they did the surgery. They told us he had a 50/50 change of walking again. Well, the day after his surgery he was walking. Booger was in the hospital for 4 days. My husband and I stayed at a hotel near the CVS and went twice a day. The staff was amazing. And, the doctor called us every morning after their rounds with an update. I know Boogs had the best care there was. He is now 4 weeks post surgery and it's like nothing ever happened. Thanks so much for saving my babies legs..

christopher bullpin reyes

Excellent and very professional service!

Emily Messino

Here is the scoop on this emergency care facility. Our excited 1 year old yellow lab snagged himself on a piece of rebar in our garden. As soon as we realized how deep the abrasion was, we immediately looked for the first place we could find (as this is a holiday weekend and our primary is closed) to have him treated. Right off the bat they informed us they would have to administer anesthesia to our pup just to look at him. Well, they administered so much that he was almost incoherent that evening and pooped himself. After taking a look at him, they wanted to charge us roughly $1,200 to clean the area & stitch him up, while having him under more anesthesia and keeping him until the next day. They did acknowledge that they knew their estimate for care was expensive because they were emergency care. We opted to wait until the next day so we could see our primary vet. Our vet told us that there would be no reason for our dog to be placed under anesthesia for an abrasion his size and that he in fact did not need stitches at all. He needed the wound cleaned & stapled and were able to do so just with patience and care and without having to administer any calming aides. I would say that this place is looking for the easiest and most expensive way to treat animals, even if that means potentially causing more harm than good.

R Cook

I normally don't post reviews but the more I hear about this vet the more I feel I should speak up about my experience. I'm not going to write a 5 page review on how I feel my situation was handled unfairly. So the long and the short of it is I took my dog in because he was having seizures they charged me to run all those tests then I had to decide if I wanted to keep him alive I had to come up with $3000.00 if not then I had to put him down because he wouldn't make it through the night if I took him home. My issue is I didn't have the money so therefore I lost my dog. I was so so angry because I felt if these places cared as much about the animal as they do getting their money my dog would still be here. In the end they still charged me for the test and THEN to put him down. This happened a while ago and I'm still hurting over it. My family was devasted not to mention we didn't have the money because we were helping out my brother in law who was injured in the Navy.

Mia Luna

They DO NOT care about your pet they only want your money.

Cynn Karlow

Although this visit was a sad visit (had to put our dog to sleep) the staff at CVS were the upmost best care my Peanut has ever received. The staff were very caring and took care of us as if we were family. The room was very comfortable for us and our baby in this tough time. Peanut was at peace when the doctor came in and explained the procedure. The way they treated us will never be forgotten and we will always be grateful for their kind and loving atmosphere. Thank you CVS, for this was a terrible time for me and my family and yet it was a peaceful experience. The Karlow/Leval Family

Denise Anderson

We took our American Bulldog in due to a limp. My daughter's were rudely greeted by a receptionist who acted bothered by their presence. They waited in the reception area until they were called into another room. The doctor was pleasant and informed them they would examine our dog in the back and my oldest asked if she could accompany them and was told "no". They wait and then the doctor walks back in, says "sorry", and hands them a vial with a bloody toenail in it. When the staff took our dog into the back and attempted to weigh her they ripped out one of her back toenails. They obviously didn't take the time or effort to be more careful with her and the force in which they used and handled my dog to weigh her resulted in a ripped out toenail. So my dog who comes in for a limp on her one leg is brought into the room bandaged and limping on her good leg. My two daughters were so upset and on the verge of tears that they weren't able to fully listen to the diagnosis. They traumatized my dog and my daughter's. Then still had them pay the full bill instead of discounting it due to their actions. I have emailed them twice about this issue and have failed to receive any response at all which is why I am now doing this now. Their "auto reply" says they will respond within 48 hours and it's been over a week, so why no response? Is this standard customer service at your facility and when someone reaches out regarding concerns from visiting your business?

Sarahi Banuelos

Instead of judging the decisions I make for my pet, they should be helping her feel better through such a rough stage when I already am feeling upset.

Kari Smith

I have a dog with lymphoma who is being treated at this clinic. I couldn't be happier with the staff, doctors, and the care my dog, Kody, is receiving. Kody's doctor let's me know how his is doing personally and always has time for my concerns. California Veterinary Specialists main priority is your animals quality of life - as is mine; I feel that Kody couldn't be in a better environment for his treatment.

Richard Martinez

California veterinary specialist in Ontario, is great all of their doctors are very caring and thorough. The staff and front desk are very nice and patient with all people and pets. I am very comfortable knowing that my pet is in good hands and the best is being done.

Helen A Pietrzak

We brought our little Puff into ER with diabetic ketosis after a regular scheduled vet visit. It was very stressful since we had no idea he was so ill and he is our daughter's service dog. We were very reluctant to leave him as he has never been away from us since we adopted him at 8 weeks however we knew he was in the best of hands with your Dr's and staff. I had several questions about managing his condition and your on duty Dr's and vet techs were able to answer each one as well as telling me if I had more questions to call back anytime. Puff seems to be doing well and will follow up with his regular vet in just a few days. Thank you CVS staff for caring for our little Puffer man.

Tina Parker

If you TRULY want THE BEST for your furbaby then this is the place to get it. First; if you find yourself here, it is most likely and unforeseen set of events, but the good news is YOU ARE at the right place. The doctors don't even use animal references; they call your pet, your baby or your kid! But you also must do your part; listen very carefully to what they tell you. Am I thrilled that they are not telling me they can cure my dog? ABSOLUTELY NOT- But they are making VALIANT efforts to control the issue with the CONSTANT focus of EVERY DECISION based on what is Medically Correct at the moment with Quality of Life being the long term goal . If you still are unsure-Do your part: Google- Gregory Ogilvie, DVM and Sarit Dhupa, BVSc. That being said I am sure MY Simon has been seen by at least 15 Doctors and have had both face to face and direct phone conversations with at least 6 of them-Every single one making recommendations based on the balance of medical procedure, the risk to benefit and the long term gain. The doctors call personally with a DAILY report. Seriously what other vet is going to call you personally much less daily (and calmly discuss what is best for your baby today)? Initially I wanted a solid plan with X number of days blah blah blah but that is NOT FAIR OR WISE to ANYONE in this equation. Let them access the situation daily and plan accordingly then EVERYONE will benefit from letting them do their job without undue stress which will allow for the best quality medical treatment available. I LOVE CALIFORNIA VETERINARY SPECIALISTS!!!

heather lewis

There is no doubt of the Drs. Skills and the centers wonderful equipment and treatments. The amount of time its taking to biopsy and determine if in fact it is cancer is taking longer than we would like. The fees seem very high in comparision to other oncology vets, and I am hoping we can afford to save our pup. We however believe Dr. Heller is a good Dr.

Valentina

Our dog Biggs has passed away today. He was 14 years old. He was I believe human . Our family is having a hard time with his passing. Biggs has a hard time with doctors always. So I was afraid for this day that I would have no other choice than to take him in. I have never met such compassionate people in my life. They helped us from getting him in the car to going to hospital with all their advice and patience . I did not expect to be treated so compassionate. It was time to put Biggs to sleep. The staff gave us our individual room so we could say our good byes. And told us we could take as long as we wanted with him. When it was time the doctor came in very kindly and explained procedure . And then he began to put him down. It was all that I prayed for and more. The staff of angels . God sent Thank you so much for being so kind to my family. Biggs felt so much peace because his family was able to be there with him. God bless your staff

IlseG

We took our 3 month puppy for a check up and daignostic in the middle of the night. He came back positive with parvo, they wanted to charge us over 5k for hospitalized treatment but we option for taking him home and treat him there. After our decision the sudden change on all the ladies changed and from smile and attentive, "cute doggy and you will be okay " to "get that nasty infected dog out of here" They didn't even offer any payment plans and just wanted to get their money on the spot. They don't care for the animals... They only care for money.

Diana Ambrosio

VCA KILLED MY DOG. 0 STARS would be accurate for this ANIMAL HOSPITAL. DO NOT TRUST THIS "HOSPITAL". Money is their only concern. If you want your dog being experimented on take him here. Because these "Vets" and "Doctors" don't have what it takes to save your loving pet! They do treatment by assumption and not logic. All of you WILL BURN IN HELL!

Julieann Beaulieu

This place is awesome. Very friendly & cared about our boy.

Biby Hernandez

Horrible Place!!!! They Sent Us Home Without An E Collar For Our Cat Even Tho We Paid The 1700$ And Soon After He Got Infected For That Reason That He Needed The E Collar And He Licked Himself Due To Not Having It And Now We Took Him Back And Wanted To Charge Us 2000$ Or Suggested We Put Him Down Free Of Charge. We Came In There So They Can Help Us Instead They Killed Our Cat!!!! So We Had Paid 1700 For Nothing No Services Were Done Right!!! There Just Plain Animal Killers!!!

Clarissa Tampoya

CVS did great with my Great Dane puppy. We took him in around 11pm on a Saturday after he was attacked by a family members dog. All of the staff members were friendly and attentive to both our and our dog's needs. Every time we came in for a check up, we were greeted with the same welcoming environment. Thank you for taking care of our boy!

Mike Williams

Our little toto was brought back from death they were the best and can do everything in one facility

chris russell

Brought dog in for some lacerations on her ear due to a dogfight and was given an estimate for close to $1,200 to clean and suture up. Chose not to pay the 1,200 and just paid $163 for visit and some meds. I was fortunate enough to be able to wait till next morning to go to regular vet which only is costing $663 for same as what these guys wanted $1,200 for. Not sure on how the people are here at this place but the prices were rediculous.

Judith Gardner

The staff was great. Dr. Ogalvie was caring and thoughtful

Barbara Anderson

The staff and vets were so compassionate and competent in caring for our border collie with cancer.

Daniel Angell

Drs and staff very friendly/helpful. They are doin great caring for my dog gizmo i will defiantly recommend this vet to everyone i know!! The drs know what they are doin and I will be coming back in the future

marlene lemus

What amazed me the care for the pets, very Thankful

Jennifer Negrete-Collazo

Yesterday our 15 yr old dog had about 40 continuous seizures. We rushed him to the Ontario facility knowing that euthanasia would be the only solution. We were greeted by Jenny, who was wonderful, Amanda came out with such a caring profesional response seeing our distress. Dr. Owens was caring and kind with us and our little dog. This facility and their staff are professional, caring and competent. I recommend them highly.

Cheri Seliger

My 110 lb Akita has had the unfortunate occasion to be seen here a few times. Each visit, we were treated warmly, and in a professional and caring manner. The entire clinic is spotless including the scrubbed rock face of the reception desk. The staff and providers truly want to help you and your pet, and they take time to say hello to your four legged friend with each visit. Thank you VCA for the gentle care you have provided. Now, I just need to find an Avian vet for my feathered friends. :-)

aileen noel

Took my cat Little Linda here on Oct 10 for an ultrasound. The front desk staff, the student vet, and Dr Sueda were all wonderful and took great care of my cat and my sister and me. We did not feel rushed when talking to the Dr and he answered our questions in a way that we could make decisions about our cat. Vet costs are expensive but when it comes to necessary care, we want the very best for her so i think this is a great place for the money.

Desiree Habicht

We had a great experience and loved our vet who took his time to explain and clarify all our concerns and questions! Thank you!!

Mark Prior

Always wonderful, as usual. We were able to see the surgeon not long after we arrived, even though we didn't have an appointment. Would recommend these guys to anyone.

Debi Hull

Everyone is so professional & very obviously cares for the animals that they see! I'm so grateful to hsve the option of seeing the specialists at CVS when the need arises. Thank you for always listening to me as well!!

Gracie Ortega

We took in my dog for the same exact issue that he had back in April. The vet back in April took my dog in because he was having a hard time breathing, immediately administered an antibiotic and said that his breathing was getting better, however she wanted to do an X-ray and blood work to see what the underlying issue was. FAST FORWARD to Saturday night, we take him in for the same issue. He was immediately put on oxygen. The vet then came in and said that he was doing slightly better with oxygen but that he wanted to do an X-ray and blood work. We declined due to it being unaffordable and asked if he could administer a bronchodialator and antibiotics just to stabilize him for the time being until we could get to his regular vet. HE DECLINED!!!! HE SAID THAT HE REFUSED TO ADMINISTER ANYTHING WITHOUT BLOOD WORK AND AN X-RAY! WHO DOES THAT???? That’s patient neglect. DR OWENS IS THE WORST VET ON THIS PLANET AND DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ANIMALS! All he wanted to do was give us a sedative for our dog. A SEDATIVE FOR A DOG WITH CONSTRICTED AIRWAYS???? WHAT A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. We ended up asking to have him give back our dog so we could rush him elsewhere. We were still charged $95 basically for NOTHING! I will be looking into suing for patient neglect. Unbelievable. Out of the whole experience, the only nice person was Paul up front. The other girl Nicole was so rude and chimed in with her two cents while I was talking to Paul. I don’t know why Nicole and Dr. Owens work there. Inexperienced and RUDE.

Roland Jimenez

Cvs pet emergency! What can I say they are AWESOME , They saved my little pow pow, they act quick the whole way thru. They are very helpful and caring especially when it comes to paying. Thank you staff and DOCTOR!.

michael nola

In February of 2019 our dog began to limp periodically, so I took her to our vet and the X Ray showed a bone tumor in her left rear leg. She gave me a card for CVS and I went there, where she had both a cat scan and biopsy taken, cost was $2700. The oncology doctor was out of town, but after they received my payment, he finally called me back and said, "The cat scan seemed to indicate cancer, but the biopsy was negative, but it may have been an unrepresentative sample, but it would be too traumatic for her to have another sample taken." On August 1, I went back to my vet, because our dog is limping more and she took another X Ray, and said it was not cancer though it was still growing, but some benign bone tumor, the cause of which was uncertain. STAY AWAY FROM CVS, THEY'RE EITHER INCOMPETENT OR THIEVES, OR MOST LIKELY BOTH. They got one star, only because you're not allowed to post no stars.

Charlie Kianoa

My name is Charles and my experience at VCA California Veterinary Specialist with Dr. Seuda was amazing. He honestly was very informative regarding the test to provide me the results the same day. Overall, he provided hope that I can pursue to fight and give my Halo more life to her. I highly recommend this location to anyone if you want immediate answers.

Jean Fisher

I've had my Standard Poodle Lily admitted as an older patient. She was treated royally. Her treatment wasn't cheap but I didn't expect cheap because it isn't a free clinic! Dr Concannon was her primary vet and he kept me well informed. The staff, front and back went out of their way to be efficient and courteous. I'm a big fan!

Kristin Frith

I've had to bring my animals in for emergency and specialty care, and I've always had a very good experience. I trust California Veterinary Specialists with my animals and know they'll do the best they can.

Erika Allis

Thank you for your compassion during our difficult time of saying goodbye to our family dog. The vet was outstanding.

Dominique Bullock

Dr. Kirk is an extremely nice and caring doctor. I have two large Rottweilers. One suffers for bad ear infections. I was told that he would need to be put down with heavy anesthesia but I was totally against it. Dr. Kirk assured me he would not have to be muzzled or heavily sedated. He also took the time to ask more question and we came to the conclusion that Major (my rottie) suffers from allergies and that’s why he continues to get bad ear infections. I appreciated the extra time he took to find a solution to this problem. Before the procedures the nurse gave me a quote that seemed reasonable. Him and his team quickly got Major taken care of and back home. Also the procedured ended up being $40 less than what they quoted me. The gentleman name Gregory was very informative when I called. You don’t find many people like him and his team.

Brenda Wolfe

They have helped me successfully with two cancer dogs.

Haley Mullay

I'm a huge fan of this veterinary clinic. I have had multiple experiences here and am always feeling better when I leave with my fur baby. I'm giving it four stars because this last visit was ridiculously long and didn't need to be. The front reception desk staff is not very concerned with timeliness and will sit there and avoid your gaze if you've been waiting for a really long time. I sat for an hour waiting to get checked out. Multiple people got checked in and checked out before I was even checked out. I don't mind having to wait but I also think that they should be a bit more concerned about how and why people are waiting. I sat in the clinic room for more than an hour as well. And when I went out to see how much longer they didn't even realize that I had been back there. It was obvious that they veterinarian was busy in the back and was not being supported by her staff. Thank you for helping my baby, but maybe re-train the girls in the front.

Jacy King

My cat was recently at my vet in Riverside as he was urinating blood. By the time my vet examined my cat, the problem had subsided, but performed tests to ensure there was no underlying issue. They did not find anything as it seemed to resolve itself. Then on Saturday, 2/4/12, my cat started to urinate blood again. I called my vet in Riverside and they were about to close for the weekend and referred me to California Veterinary Specialists. I drove my cat to their office, which I will admit, is a rather nice space. The staff was friendly enough. They obtained some information about me and my cat and I sat down to wait. While it didn't appear to be many people or animals there, they took a long time to call my name. When they did call me, they said they would take my cat to another space to take his vitals. I was to wait in a separate room. Why couldn't I go with my cat as they took his vitals? This room they put me in was rather large and only had a chair and a computer. No examination table, or anything to read while I waited. I fully expected them bring my cat in the room once completed with the vitals. Finally, after sitting there after 30 minutes, the veterinarian came in to speak with me. There was never any indication that they even examined my cat. I guarantee they didn't even take him out of his cat carrier. While the vet was nice, she had suggested some methods/procedures on how to determine what is wrong with my cat. I explained that I don't have a lot of money to spend, but also wanted to help out my cat. They agreed to give him a one-time antibiotic shot for $87.50. Plus the initial $75.00 examination fee. How do I even know they examined him? I don't like their procedures on this. I want to be with my cat, that's unacceptable. There's something suspicious going on when you're not allowed to be with your own pet. I don't even know why I was in that waiting room. They clearly do not see animals in there as there is no table or medical equipment in the room. As I stated, the staff was nice, but didn't feel anyone had any compassion and felt they were outrageously priced for what little service they did. All someone did was speak to me for a few minutes after waiting for a lengthy period of time and gave my cat a shot. Even though the vet has followed up with me, I still feel like there was a lack of compassion. I told my vet in Riverside that I will not be returning there and if an emergency comes up, I will take them to the emergency vet in Colton.

Carmen R

We used to have to go to that horrible place in Grand Terrace, but then we found California Vet Specialists! I have had to take several cats to CVS and every time I've been impressed with the entire place - the waiting room, the receptionists, and of course, the veterinarians. Whether you're taking your animal in for an emergency or you're there for specialist treatment (thank you Dr. Ogilvie) you can be assured you are receiving top notch treatment and your animals are in safe hands.

Carlos Chavarin

They not help me I love my dog more then my life I told them help my dog they didn't do anything to save him cuz I didn't have money I told them I'll paid u tomorrow. My dog die 3 hrs later

John Pellizzon

Just be careful when deciding treatment for your pet, don't do it emotionally or they will have you. One of our dogs was not eating for a few days, we brought her to our regular vet, La Verne Animal Hospital, (they are great). They recommended a blood test that they could not do right away and recommended that we go to California Veterinary Specialist. La Verne Animal Hospital called ahead and told them the test that our dog needed and sent us with the blood and urine sample already drawn. When we got there the vet examined our dog, at least we think he did, he didn't in our presence. When he came to see us he asked a few questions and came up with a treatment plan. One plan was over $4,000 with a 3 day hospital stay and the other was $1200 to $1300, just to get started to try and figure out what was wrong, most likely leading to the $4,000 plan. He did not offer to do the blood test that our vet recommended first to see what that showed. He said that if we did nothing our dog would likely die in the next week. After careful consideration by my wife and myself, something didn't seem right. We decided to take our dog home. We called our vet back to let her know what happened, she was not happy that they didn't even do the blood test. She said she would order the blood test and send it out right away. She called us Saturday morning to let us know that she thinks our dog most likely ingested rat poison and started her on a treatment plan. A second test result came in Sunday and she called us Sunday to let us know the results. A week later our dog is doing great on on her way to a full recovery. We are just thankful to La Verne Animal Hospital for helping us. I've heard great thinks about California Veterinary Specialists, just be careful. Consider a second opinion before deciding on a treatment plan, don't just take their word for it. The vet we saw was very young and inexperienced.

Emma Annon

I took my 1.5 yr old pup about a month and a half ago because I am sure he had a reaction to the proheart 6 (don’t give it to your pets). So after going to my regular vet in and out for about 3 weeks they highly reccomended this place and at this point, my dog wasn’t getting better, if anything worse and i couldn’t let him just die. We couldn’t get his fever down and the day I took him, he was bleeding consistantly out of his nose. When I take him in, the front desk girl asked me what I wanted to get done to my dog today (after I had said he’s bleeding) and I told her again.. well.. since my dog is bleeding, what do you suggest? She proceeds to tell me how she isn’t a doctor. I said I understand.. so I guess I need to see a doctor right? Why are you asking me about what to do to my dog when I’m telling you that my dog is bleeding out of his nose after still having a fever for weeks. I need a doctor to help my dog to make him better. After i explain how my dog got sick after this shot, I had to call poison control and pay another pretty penny. Everyone is protecting themselves and telling me it’s not the shot. Fine. If it’s not, then what’s the issue? After all the blood work I agreed to, still everything came back clean. He then wanted to do a nasal/ brain scan for him nasal bleeding. But for that, you need sedation. Are you serious?? He got xrays and a sonogram and you still want to pull more money out me when we all know it was this proheart reaction? Took my dog home after 2 days. His fever did come down after I had to argue on how to treat my dog because they just wanted to keep him on iv and I was like... he hasn’t eaten or had water in weeks. I had forced fed him some water, he lost over 6 pounds. He was close to 20 and now was under 12. One of the doctors Tried talking to me was to tell me what was the “correct approach” when I said no it didn’t make sense and lashed out at me and they tell me... we can’t just be throwing medication at him. And I went into more detail and they go.. ohhh. I haven’t really read up into their case. And I’m like... why are you talking me?!? Don’t talk to me until you Know the hell we have been going through for about a month now. My dog is literally dying and you guys don’t take the effort to read up on him. Finally they agreed with me and my treatment plan and my dog did get better. But he still got sick a couple of more times. I’ve had to take care of him myself. The only reason for the 2 stars is because of dr smart. She actually heard me out after I had explained that I am medically trained and I have done thorough research on my dog and what was happening. The entire time, every time I went in, had a question, or called for dr smart, the front desk always had attitude and mean faces. Or they had a dull response. I would NEVER bring my dog here again. I suggest you all to not take your pets because yes, they are just there for money. They don’t care. They never even called for a follow up. I had to go myself. ANDDD when I did go for a follow up, they did the check up in front of everyone in the lobby. I didn’t even get a room. I understand this isn’t a human hospital, but i would like some privacy. Not everyone needs to know how my dog is doing.

Tami Tollefson

This place is AWESOME! Where else does your doggie or kitty for that matter get extensive high quality treatment and they LOVE going there. My Roxanne has been going thru Chemo so you know it's pretty extensive treatment but when we walk in I turn into chopped liver and she waits starring for the door to open and her nurse Gina (who by the way is AWESOME) to come and get her. They sit on the floor with the animals and treat them extremely well along with their expertise to treat any situation. Thanks California Veterinary Specialist!

Cam Gigandet

Not professional.

Michele Markham

Horrible Facility, the Staff was uncompasionate and unwilling to take the time to help my dog. We waited over an hour and a half and kept going to the front desk asking for our dog to be seen since time was crucial since he swallowed a chicken leg whole. They should have told us they were too busy to see him when we checked in. The gal at the front desk obviously didn't have a heart for Animals.

Chrystal Valentine

Great place

Blair Cochran

Only reason I give this 2 starts is because the facility is clean and the receptionist was very nice. But took my moms dog in to have a mass looked at and have some questions answered, basically a second opinion, and asked to see an internist when we made the appointment. Once we got there we were told that we will be seeing a PA because the oncologist was on vacation (so they had no intention of letting us see the internist) and they didn't answer any of my questions, we left there with more questions and they still charged us the full price for the consultation even though we saw a PA. No disrespect to the PA but we shouldn't have been charged the full price. All they kept saying was they have to do surgery and throwing different prices around. Really disappointed we wasted our time.