Reviews of VCA Veterinary Care Animal Hospital and Referral Center (Veterinarian)

Nonakay Long

Not very helpful

Alicia Arguelles

This was our first experience with VCA Pet ED. We were literally shocked and unprepared for the level of professionalism, empathy, and sincere concern that we received. We have never experienced this level of care and concern before...especially for a chicken. Thank you for being so great, Doug and Alicia Gardner

Karla Howell

Thank you to a very caring and compassionate staff, that made the loss of my cat a little easier.

Gypsy Belle

NEVER AGAIN!!! I WILL NEVER USE VCA AGAIN!!! INCOMPETENT and UNSUPERVISED INTERNS, AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND INSULTING VETS AND CLERICAL STAFF. Eight weeks ago our dog became paralyzed on a weekend and we took her in to VCA because we’d had dogs seen here before on an emergency basis with no issues. Unbeknownst to me, this time our dog was seen by an “intern” who told us we could either get her an $8000 surgery immediately or put her down. We accepted pain meds to give her while we made a decision. We went home and found out there were other ways to treat the issue before surgery or death and our regular vet began providing services to help us and guided us through the process. After 8 weeks our dog has improved and is walking again. I was extremely unhappy to find out there were other possible ways to deal with the situation and the VCA intern just gave us surgery or death options. Tonight I had to take our dog back to VCA on an emergency basis due to severe stomach/intenstine problems. I requested we not be seen by the previous doctor and was told that doctor was no longer working there because she was an intern and had completed her internship. I was told VCA is a “teaching hospital” and all interns are supervised by the head vet of emergency services. I was also told I don’t get to choose who I see and I said it was not an issue because that intern I did not want to see was no longer working there anyway. As I turned to go sit down, with my dog in my arms, I tripped over a small sign that had been erected behind me. That was very unpleasant. 40 minutes after we checked in we were brought into a room and a clerk told me that the head vet of ER services told her to tell me I don’t get to choose the doctor who sees us, that VCA is a teaching hospital, my dog would be seen by who was available and if I didn’t like it I should go to another ER hospital. I told the clerk there was not an issue because the intern who I did not want to see was not there anymore anyway. As I sat waiting to be seen after this really unnecessary and unprofessional interaction with the clerk, I looked up other places I could go and began reading reviews on VCA. The “emergency technician” finally came into the room with a really inappropriate affect towards me so I decided to leave after all. As I was walking out I told the clerks I had decided to go ahead and leave and one of them shouted out “That’s a good idea. You should just go.” I told them how unprofessional they were being and that I’d be submitting a review about it. They just laughed. No customer should ever be treated like I have been under any circumstances. Especially when in a crisis situation with a beloved pet. Shame on you VCA.

Heather Maxwell

We have four rescue Scotties and all have needed care of one sort or another over the years (some serious). We have been using this VCA clinic for 5 or 6 years now and while they are expensive (have you priced a veterinary education lately?) they are very knowledgeable and caring. Yes, VCA is a business and must be run like one, but the doctors here are great! Dr Russman lives and breathes for the animals in her care and you can't ask for more than that! We have spent a lot of money here for sure but quality care isn't cheap. I highly recommend this facility.

Jesse Pickard

Extremely unprofessional Doctors. I was told for two days straight that the doctor was too busy with surgeries to make a five minute call and give me the results from a $1,400 CT scan I ordered because my dog is in pain! If you are looking for a vet that will treat your pet like child and with the same sense of urgency, this is NOT the place.!

Susanne Rinaldi

Specialty Care NOT SO special My cat was diagnosed with cancer. We went through 5 sessions of chemotherapy NOT cheap. The "Dr." Dr. Shremp didn't bother to do a metabolic panel the entire 15 weeks of therapy. My best friend survived cancer only to die of kidney failure thanks to the NOT SO SPECIAL care provided by VCA Specialty care. Keep your friends safe. Stay AWAY FROM VCA never entrust your friend with the SPECIAL CARE THAT'S NOT SPECIAL AT VCA. They care about emptying your pockets not your best friend. Thank you Dr. Russman and the techs who cared enough to be kind to Patch while she went through hell.

krellen d20

Brought my cat in with a broken claw. They did absolutely nothing to treat the broken claw - did not clean it, did not remove dead tissue, did not even really examine the claw. Then they charged me $200 for the pleasure of doing nothing for my cat. Will not be coming back here.

David Barnhart

They could have diagnosed that he was a dying dog without the $920 of tests and useless expensive meds. I took him into another vet to be put down. She felt the dog one time and knew. A tumor. We wouldn’t have gotten to that diagnosis at VCA without another $1200 worth of testing. A money mill. They do test after test and then they can tell you nothing without more testing. I’m not sure they know anything beyond selling.

Taylor Rabe

I was referred here when my vet couldn’t properly take care of my dog Aros with an overnight stay for fluids. They let me sit with her for almost two hours late at night before I had to go home, which I deeply appreciated (I think their posted visiting time is an hour). I found out the next day that she had advanced cancer and was dying, which was a huge shock to me as she was only 7. All the staff was really lovely and kind and helped me handle all the details of her care, taking my many phone calls, making visits to discuss treatment, checking her out late at night when we were worried about some symptoms, sending her labs to a specialist in oncology out of state, helping with medicine and doing their best to help her feel better. And when it came time to end my baby’s suffering they were still wonderful. They walked me through my options for cremation, gently carried her to the back, allowed us lots of time to visit with her in a calming room (other vets don’t hold a candle to the level of care and attention to detail), gently checked on us when it was time and delicately helped her cross over. They had a system to allow us privacy and grief (a side exit, tissues, well wishes) and I can’t thank them enough for the care they showed me and her the entire time we were with them. I would recommend no other vet in Albuquerque.

Brandon Mclamb

Dr. Blair-Wells is fantastic! She really listens to your needs and helps create a plan to keep your animal in the best shape possible. Extremely attentive and intelligent! Coming from a complete freak when it comes to their dogs! She is amazing and if she was a practitioner I would take my pet to here every time amazing service thank you so much Dr. Blair-Wells! Love Maverick

Razor Archidawgie

I am very pleased with the care they provide to my "service Doggie", My, I mean Razor's Doctor (Dave) is very professional and thoroughly explains each and every procedure to my understanding. The only Negative is with the Wellness plan provider. It is most difficult to contact If your reading this Doc or the review reviewer please help!

Avery Rowlison

Wonderful hospital with caring, knowledgeable staff who practice good and responsible medicine.

Lauren Hyman

Not emergency just to see our dog for an injury to his paw, not even to do anything, just for the appointment, is $125. Ludacris. It's like they don't even care about the animals, just about the money. They don't even offer to help you set an appointment or anything else... We have been a customer for years and this is how we are treated. Very disappointing. We will be finding another vet.

Ashley Martinez

All these people care about is making money they have a horrible staff who is completely inconsiderate of their clients. Unless an emergency id never go to this location. If you can schedule your appointment I recommend TLC vet hospital they’re amazing there.

Paul Aragon

All the staff are very loving, knowledgeable, caring and extremely compassionate with the wellbeing of your loving pet. VSA is now our location for our pet needs. We love you all!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO!

Marisa Garcia-McCalmant

I have had the opportunity to work with VCA Montgomery and VCA Wyoming.Montgomery never knows what your there for even when you have an appointment between the 3 people I delt with they didn’t know what I was there for they continue to throw the extras at you making you feel bad for not doing the treatments my baby boy is healthy and spoiled so no reason to do extras now for the VCA Wyoming they are amazing they won’t charge for basic questions go out of there way to help you and your pet if it’s not serious they won’t charge and the staff if very helpful I hate Im stuck at the Montgomery location due to being on the monthly plan I can’t wait to switch over to VCA Wyoming

Rebecka Renfro McSloy

Staff are friendly, kind and knowledgeable. We have had to take our cat here twice and very pleased with how quickly they do an initial inspection to see if the animal is in an emergency condition and then make an effort to see to their condition as soon as they can given the need to see emergencies first. Great job explaining what is going on and what they found in their examination.

Jasmine Ziska

First I must say, I tend to get really snappy and defensive going to vets I don't know which, I realize, is immature. However, I love my dog so much that I get emotional. My diabetic dog had really severe stomach issues out of both ends for over 24 hours. Since it was Sunday, her usual vet is closed. Since my dog is diabetic, I thought I better not mess around. When I reluctantly called VCA, not only was the lady on the phone patient with me, but she also tolerated my demeanor. When I arrived I was extremely nervous and hesitant. Especially since there are some interesting reviews about service and costs. I can happily say that I had an absolute five star experience at VCA Emergency. The whole entire staff was excellent. I'm so beyond impressed. The vet tech was outstanding and the vet was very thorough and attentive. They walked me through pricing which much to my surprise was really reasonable for a walk-in emergency. I did not at all feel over charged or nickel and dimed whatsoever. I am a big fan now and trust me, that is saying a lot since I'm such a skeptic. Great experience and should the need come up, I would not hesitate to go back. I would highly recommend. We went in with my girl barely lifting her head and by the time we got home, she had a waggy tail again Great job VCA! Thanks for your hospitality!

Phil Adams

I believe VCA is an excellent animal clinic and I understand why they charge what they do. After all they are open 24/7. But I believe my dog and I did not get the information I needed to save her life or put her out of her suffering sooner. I brought Lexie in on a Sunday afternoon and she was examined and I was told her tongue was dying. They gave her a antibiotic, a appetite stimulant, and something to numb the tongue. This led me to believe with meds she would be better. That was all well and good, but Lexie’s future quality of life was never discussed. Lexie’s condition worsened over night, to the point where she could no longer drink water, let alone eat. Lexie was 14 1/2 and it was obvious when I brought her into VCA she was suffering. I believe it should have been pointed out at that time that her quality of life in the future looked dim. The next day I called VCA back to advise on her deterioration and could never get a answer since the vet who saw her the previous day would be off until Thursday. Long story short, I took Lexie to a different clinic, and after examining her was told she could be hospitalized but it would be very tough on her and at her age her quality of life would be diminished even if she survived the hospitalization. It was in Lexie’s best interest to euthanize her. VCA should have gone through that scenario before we put Lexie through anymore suffering. And someone could have answered my questions the next day instead of being told I had to wait until Thursday. Lexie couldn’t wait until Thursday.

Steve Aguirre

The day before Thanksgiving we came home to our dog dying, we called his regular vet and they refused to euthanize him without payment up front. We offered to give them a post dated check because we weren't getting paid until the next week. Still refused. We called a few other places and all refused. VCA were the only ones who were willing to help out the right way. I worked for a vet for years and have never seen anything like that before. Thank You to the people at VCA.

Heather Shore

If I could leave no stars I would.

E Davis

All this vet cares about is money.. they give crazy estimates with wide price ranges that are way off of what other vets are charging in the area. They have no loyalty to their customers. I’ve spend well over $3500 with them this year alone and they could care or less about working with you on price for future visits or procedures if you’re tight on money. Avoid this place unless you’re loaded and price is no option.

Monte/Michele Hadley

NEVER TAKE YOUR PETS TO THIS PLACE!!!! Less than zero review from our family!!!.....Our pup, Chewy, was seen at this facility last summer. The initial 48 hours went ok and the care was emergency in nature (fluids, initial exam). The remainder of the 7 day stay was terrible! These docs (regular and internal med) kept my Chewy on meds that were killing him. There were no tests done or results to indicate keeping him on meds. I don't really believe that the docs went to vet school....as they didn't know and couldn't find what was the matter with Chewy. The meds were the problem and they wouldn't accept the research we presented and asked about. We took him away from VCA against medical advice and that very same day he was on the mend.....WE DIDN'T GIVE HIM ANY OF THE MEDS HE WAS SENT HOME WITH! Within hours he was eating on his own and walking around. He is happy and acting puppy like (he's 10) ever since! Med Director (Dr. Padrid) had no explanation or resolve for our concerns. $7100 later......they wanted the entire amount paid within three months. Called and called, rarely got a return call. My rant is more......but it won't do anything but make me angry.....AGAIN NEVER NEVER NEVER TAKE YOUR PET TO VCA!!! I will review any and every place I can! Please spread the word!

tom goevelinger

My dog had a urinary track infection they got us in within 30 min on a Sunday. I had my 94 yr. old mother with me. They could not have been kinder or more helpful came out to the car to help me with our dog (and mother) the vet saw us within 30 min. Dr. Hopkins was very kind and through the whole staff was just great!

Caitlin Cadena

VCA has the best staff as a whole we have ever used for our dogs, which means a lot considering we are a military family that moves a lot. Every single person, from the person who called to make sure we were on our way to the facility, to the vet techs and even the internal medicine doctor, took the time to hear our concerns and questions about our dog. The vet tech even gave us up-front cost information about the procedure and treated our fur baby as if her own... thank you for that! The facility is absolutely beautiful (and clean!) as well. The only issue we had was when we called to check the status of our dog, we were put on hold for nearly 10 minutes. That is the only reason I would rate this place 4 out of 5 stars...than again they may have just been busy, or short staffed for the night....sooo they get a 5 in our book. I should also note that the internal medicine doctor, was kind enough to personally write a follow up email (the same night) containing information about our dogs procedure.

Leah Frecker

. When I realized my dog Max was getting to the point where we should consider putting him down, I came to this clinic. The staff was so helpful and kind and gave me all the time and information I needed. I could not think of a more peaceful and beautiful way for my baby to go. It’s never an easy thing to do...but they made it comfortable for both of us and I’m thankful for all they did for me and my dog.

E H

Doctor is really knowledgable, but they sure do know how to sucker you into that CareClub nonsense. I recommend this place but I do not recommend the CareClub membership.

Bryan Andrada

I want to be up front and state My rating reflects a single Emergency visit only. Our Cat Tom (3 y/o Tabby) has had issues with his breathing and slight respiratory discomfort for about 2 years now. We always just attributed it to asthma which is pretty common in felines that are indoor/outdoor. This past week, however, he has also been a little more tired than usual, so I called to make an appointment to be seen at the VCA clinic thinking that we should maybe start him on some sort of cortisol? treatment for asthma. Backstory: I have used their clinic in the past with our dog, and while the services are quite expensive they did seem to have a pretty good basic understanding for diagnosing common issues with animals. Long story short, the representative asked me a few questions about Tom's breathing and said that they could get him in as early as tomorrow, but that since breathing problems can be fatal I should bring him in to the Emergency. To me this was not really an emergency situation, but she left me with the impression that urgent care was simply a way to get him in sooner for an examination and possible treatment, failing to mention that doing so would be twice as expensive as an office visit, which I could have easily made for the next day. After taking him in, they immediately put Tom on Oxygen because he was even more stressed from the car ride and was panting. She removed Tom from my care, and left me sitting there. After a while I was escorted back to a waiting room, where the veterinarian then sat down to explain my options. What it boiled down to was them giving blood tests and x-rays to eliminate all other variables for his condition. It was explained that the entire visit would cost ~$1000 (including the consultation, which is double the normal cost of a visit), and there is no guarantee that they could diagnose the problem as asthma even then. I guess I was pretty naive to think that they would offer a treatment for something without being able to diagnose it completely, but I could not see spending $1000 if there weren't going to be guaranteed results anyway. I could have gotten all of this information with a normal visit, and I would have been happy to pay for their advice, but I feel like they were way to quick to recommend their urgent care unit without taking into account his history and whether or not they would be able to offer a treatment for asthma, which to my understanding is relatively inexpensive and basically harmless, even to an otherwise healthy cat. To top it all off, Tom was even more stressed from car ride over there, and after having paid $130 we left not having any better understanding about his condition, nor anything we could do at home to help ease his discomfort, or even what to be watching out for in the way of symptoms. They just shuffled us out the door and wished us "a better day." To sum it up, unless your animal is having a very real life threatening issue, I would not recommend the VCA Pet Emergency Clinic. It's almost a completely separate entity from the regular veterinary clinic. The very low rating is due to the additional stress of having to take Tom to the emergency, and having not left with any more information about his condition than when I arrived. I would happily have paid a premium to get the help that Tom needs, otherwise. EDIT: After following up with management I was offered a return visit at no charge. They did a professional evaluation of Tom and provided me with a prescription for an asthma inhaler. Tom had already almost fully recovered two days after the initial visit, so we really haven't had to use it yet. As a result, I thinks it's fair that I adjusted the rating.

angela chavez

The staff there took my very much loved daffy duck in their arms with gentleness and haste. They understood how much we cared for our beloved daffy they gave us plenty of options for his treatment and care although his situation was very bleak. Ultimately we made the most difficult decision to put daffy to sleep. Our family is still so heartbroken we cry all the time what we would give to have him back in our arms but we take comfort he is waiting for us at the rainbow bridge. The vet and her staff gave is so much time to say our goodbyes and for that I am very grateful. We recently received a card from VCA with daffy's little webbed footprint some flowers to plant on his grave and prayers it filled this family of 12 hearts. Thank you again VCA and all the staff. From the Chavez family.

Truely Blessed

Thank you VCA Animal Hospital for all the care you provide for Albuquerque! I've taken my dog to VCA a few times and although it's not inexpensive, the trust I have knowing I have the best care money can buy is worth every penny I have. My Senior Yorkie had Pancreatitis and should've killed him but the Drs., at VCA saved him! They provide the best place for an animal to heal with providing the best service! My Senior Yorkie sadly passed away a few days ago and it took a week or so to put my review in about this Hospital. Dr Rebecca Brahm took our baby into her care and lived out his last hour without pain. We were surrounded by not only a team of experts but a group of kind and compassionate human beings. All I wanna convey to anyone who has a sick animal and doesn't know where to go after hours and wants the best care then this place is for you.

Lori Northon

Expensive, but well worth the money.

Michelle e

My young dog is dead at their hands. I came in and said she was weak and was afraid she wouldn't make it. I said she had been sick for 3 days. The female doctor wouldn't let me in the back room with her and when she came out she said she would be okay and had approximately 10 estimates of care (so all she did was work on how much money they could make). When I said I would take the antibiotics at home she went back to give my dog yet another test and she was now in a coma!!!!! Naturally all these stupid vets say is to euthanize and then still charge me over $300.00. I am devastated as this pup was only 16 months old and her brother and mom and dad are with me. She should have lived they did not listen to me when I came in and said please help her she looked like she was dying at home. I said she had been throwing up for 3 days and when the dumb doctor in the end after it was too late, asked when the last time she ate! Her blood sugar was too low now, what did they not get when I said she had puked for 3 days? I will NEVER take any animal here they are incompetent! I will be grieving for a long time. If you love your pet stay he hell away from here!

angelika carroll

I took my doberman here when she had lung cancer and she died in front of VCA ER. Her death was very traumatic to me and my daughter and the VCA emergency staff was very kind and understanding. I was impressed with how professional they were. It would have been nice to have more cremation options offered, but overall, I was ok with the service they recommended. While this was a sad experience, I started taking my 14 year old blue heeler cross to VCA and Dr. Schoonover has provided the best care for her. He is very calm, understanding and patient with nervous canine patients. I started taking my new puppy there as well and Dr. Schoonover's calm presence helped my puppy be calm when I have seen him be wiggly and nervous at other vets. Dr. Schoonover is also very knowledgeable and recommended a test for my puppy that was spot-on. After reading some of the google reviews here, I must admit that the VCA clinic and ER are pricey, but then again, when I went to the ER for myself, I had a huge bill to pay--and I have health insurance! It's a good idea to get pet insurance for a new puppy, so if things go seriously wrong, VCA can help save your pet's life and many doctors there are specialists in different fields. I recommend PetFirst and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance to you, as it can save you money in the long run. Dr. Russman has treated one of my chickens, and she is the best avian vet you can find. About thirty years ago, she treated my beloved parakeet and she was awesome then and is is still awesome today. My chicken recovered and is doing well. I have taken chickens to other vets, and they didn't really know what was wrong with my chickens and didn't bother to investigate it either. Overall, Dr. Schoonover and Dr. Russman are awesome vets. I recommend them highly.

Tammy Walker

Last year, my dog (chihuahua) was attacked by a bigger dog (pitbull) and severely injured. Her intestines were outside of her body and she was in horrible shape. This happened on a Sunday and I knew that VCA was so expensive and I couldn't really afford them, but since I couldn't find another clinic open, I took her to VCA. I called on the way and they were waiting for us when we walked in. It was such a traumatic experience for our whole family as well as "Butters". The staff was amazing. Yes, it was VERY expensive. However, they worked with me and did EVERYTHING they could to minimize the expense while giving exceptional care to my beloved Butters. The next two weeks we were in and out almost daily trying to battle one complication after another because there was still hope. And part of that was because I couldn't let her go. I love my animals as if they were my children and would do ANYTHING to help them survive. With all that being said, the day came when we finally had to say goodbye. There were more tears shed that day for that little dog; she touched the lives of everyone there and they all loved her. I would never hesitate to take any of my babies there. While VCA Corporation may be an expensive business, (let's face it, ALL businesses need to survive financially) the VCA doctors are human and they're top notch - you get what you pay for. I guess you have to ask yourself, how much is your pet worth? Mine are priceless...and so is VCA.

Amber Romero

Horrible Place to go , DO NOT COME HERE. These people will tell you what happening is the worst to get you to pay unnecessary amounts of money. Brought my Pregnant Dog in around 1 o’clock because she was having small contractions but no puppy’s had shown up after 24 hours. She proceeded to tell me that my dog was having a false labor, or false contractions, and that she wasn’t dilated at all. she continued to say that we had to do Xrays, an ultra sounds and a C section on my female immediately. she said she thought the pups were already dead inside her, and my female dog would die next if we didn’t do so. (even though we could clearly see the pups moving inside) After that she suggested that if we didn’t have the money to do the C section we should go to animal humane and abort the already full term pups inside of her , and get her fixed for free.. I paid 120$ to hear all of this. ALL OF WHICH WAS FALSE. I denied everything she said and took my female home to give her some more time. within 20 minutes of being back home , Labor started and 5 Healthy pups were born . None died. OBVIOUSLY SHE WAS DILATED. she was not experienced AT ALL. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR BABIES TO. The pups are currently just fine and Mom is fine as-well! Lookout for the Red Headed vet. With major freckles and jacked up teeth! She will hurt your babies and rob your pockets! Overall I lost 120$ but I’m glad I gained the knowledge to know there are money hungry people , who don’t care for you or your loves at this horrible place. NEVER.GOING.BACK.

Michelle Dipour

Thank you Dr Russman and staff for taking my little Budgie Crystal the same day. Thank you for taking such good care of her and for the extra food mix you made. :) I'm sure she will be feeling better in a few days!

Carol Hodgson

They took great care of my poodle. Couldn't ask for better service!

Cheney Perry-Hill

I called with questions that have come up while I consider getting a dog. Marna was very helpful and gave me info that'll help me make informed decisions. Thanks VCA!

Adam Standiferd

On Christmas day my family and my self got home only to find our 1 year old dog very sick and unresponsive with vomit all over her so we naturally rushed her to this location on Hope's of saving her life only to be slammed with a $400+ bill and having to put our living dog to sleep on Christmas. Already a very horrible situation but they did what they could and it was just her time. But instead of letting us mourn the death of our kids beloved dog the following day we had animal protective services show up at our house not once but twice accusing us of neglect. I am both insulted and very frustrated about this as my family was not allowed to mourn the death instead we are now being harassed and having to go to court for trying to save our dogs life. I now question the morals and ethics of this clinic and would advise anyone who loves their pet and their money to take their pet somewhere else. Because they told us it would take several thousand dollars to get her stable, didnt tell us what is going on with her, didnt tell us what could be done. Just either pay up or she dies. Sadly I did not have several thousand dollars so I had to choose to let the dog die. Frankly this place treats pets as a pay check. If they cant pay up they cant help them. And to me that is pathetic. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PETS HERE!

Destiny Hobbs

I had an excellent visit to the VCA! The staff was incredibly friendly and loving towards my dog; she received wonderful care and attention, and we are so thankful! I will definitely be going back to this location. Thanks so much!

natalie_the_wanderluster Stovall

Dr. Podmayer was absolutely excellent. Our Mooki came in after hanging off a barbed wire fence. It was around three AM and this was my first time with an injured furry family member. She took the time to reassure my girlfriend and I, she gave frequent updates and did a great job with our Mooki. I am an ER nurse, so I know the other side of things, and I can say her bedside manner is excellent. She made sure to carefully explain discharge instructions and answered my many questions. I am thoroughly impressed, and so grateful. Thank you!

Mike LaForest

I am truly amazed by all the staff at VCA on Montgomery. I had a very tough decision to make today and all the staff made me feel very comfortable with my decision and we're very professional on how they do things. Very much appreciated.

Michael Trahan

When we woke up on Valentine's Day, our cat was very ill. We took him to VCA where he was found to have a urinary blockage. We almost lost him, but thanks to their efforts he is now fully recovered. His treatment was just like what a human might expect -- blood work, xrays, ultrasounds, ICU, medicine, etc. -- and so were the prices. If you have a sick animal and money to spend, this is the place to go.

Paul Cash

Very helpful and kind when we found a lost dog. Camille was patient and understanding with my six year old daughter who was disappointed she would not be keeping the microchipped (and obviously well loved) terrier.

Michael Haws

I drove in from Texas for Christmas and my poor dog was so stressed about being in a new environment (with a possibly possessed cat) that he made himself very sick. After he started behaving erratically and vomiting everywhere, I found VCA on google. Gave them a call and they were happy to listen to what my dog was doing and then give me a recommendation that I bring him in. Brought him in at around 11:30 at night on Christmas Eve. The staff could not have been nicer or more sympathetic towards my poor dog! Even after he vomited multiple times on their floor, they continually assured me it was no big deal and happens all the time. The vet was great, as were the techs. They gave my poor pup fluids and meds and sent us home with some medication and some very well written and detailed care instructions. My bill was very reasonable as well. I had come in expecting to spend much more than they charged me. It's very nerve racking being in a different place with a very sick dog late at night, but VCA made the situation about as stress free as possible for both me and my dog. I would highly recommend them!

Jeje Elias

Thank you for taking care of my baby I brought my dog in the being of the month she got into a dog attack with one my other dogs. My Dog she all healed up from the wound on her Paw they very nice to us. Thank you for getting my girl well

Z Q

Our beautiful and sweet Shar pei mix had epilepsy. Two nights ago, we rushed him here because he was suffering from continuous seizures. His prognosis was grim. Unfortunately we had to put him down to end his pain. The staff was very clear during the visit, giving us the options and the opportunity to make the right decision. They gave us space and time; everything we needed to help us through the sudden, terrible situation we were in. They were able to give us a print of his paw to take home with us, which meant a lot to me. Today we received a sympathy card and memory flower seeds. I am very thankful for all their kindness and help through our greif.

Libby Blasberg

I had the unfortunate luck of having major life threatening illnesses occur in both of my young labradors, one in 2016 and one in 2017. Dr. Ries and Dr. Kuhlman and all the staff at VCA saved both of my dogs lives and provided extremely attentive care ever after. Notably, one of my dogs had a very rare disease for the Albuquerque region because we had recently moved from another part of the country. Dr. Ries knew of it, knew the current research, and did everything possible to get my pup better and against the odds (high mortality rate of this disease!), he has survived for the past four years and is pretty healthy! Everyone who works there is so helpful and kind. I got regular update phone calls when my pups were hospitalized and follow up calls to check on them. I highly recommend this hospital and vet practice. Some may say VCA is "corporate" and a "chain" or too expensive, but let me tell you, the small veterinarian practice we were seeing was stumped by their presentations, did not know what was wrong with my dogs, did not seem to have a proper sense of urgency, and I strongly believe they both would have died if I hadn't chosen to bring them to VCA on my own. These veterinarians are exceptionally trained, many of the specialists have trained years beyond the initial veterinary school of 4 years, and they are involved in educating as well which means they need to stay informed of the latest developments. I am an MD and I have tremendous respect for the veterinarians at VCA. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Thank you!

D H

I've come here multiple times for the emergency care for different pets (ferrets, dogs, etc) and my pets received great care each time. It is very convenient that they have a 24 hour emergency area for instances you can not get into your primary vet.

Corey Williams

Dr. Parker, Maddie, and the other young lady (I regret that I didn't get her name) that assisted me at 2 am are good people. They are going to do what they can to provide the care your pet needs, while providing you with encouragement along the way. I ultimately had to put my beloved little dog to sleep, as her age was too great to justify putting her through costly treatments that may had only provided temporary relief. The day after she was put to rest, I found a lovely sympathy card in my mailbox, which included an imprint of my dog's paw! A touching gesture from a caring crew. I would highly recommend VCA hospital on Montgomery.

Amanda Ironside

The wonderful staff here have helped me through the passing of my beloved dog. They we're warm, understanding, and sympathetic during my tears. Thank you so much VCA! They even gave me a memento if my puppy to keep forever.

Janelle Martinez

Thank you so much for trying to save my baby Max

Jeri

My elderly 80 yr old mom took her dog who was foaming at the mouth, couldn't walk and was dying and they took multiple tests on her Maltese and charged her $2,000 as her dog was literally dying while my mother lives on social security! My brother who has ms and a brain injury was with her and I feel these people took EXTREME advantage of them. They are pirahannas! They simply should have put my mother's dog down in a kind and humane manner without making him suffer or my mother and giving her hope! Now my mother also has to pay $60 a month out of her social security which is hurting her immensely! I am going to file a complaint with better business bureau.

Paul Rietz

While traveling to Albuquerque we had a late night emergency with our 11 year old Germen Shepherd (Sally). Unfortunately it was her time. We were greeted with a great sense of urgency by the staff and they had Sally in the examining room quickly. When consulting with the doctor she was very helpful with helping us understand the severity of Sally's situation. We had to make the toughest decision ever for our girl. The staff was very helpful and empathetic to our situation. We picked up Sally's remains today and different staff members were there and we still had the same good feeling about how we were treated. Thank You

Tami Winkler

Just had to put my precious dog down and although the experience emotionally completely sucked, VCR gets 5 stars for their care and compassion. My wish is that you never have to put your pet down, but if you must don’t hesitate to go to VCR.

Thomas Godel Official

I can only recommend VCA. My dog had to be seen. Very friendly and good service. See you guys next time.

Toky Romero

My poor puppy got covered with hives and these Dr's and technicians did a wonderful job with her. Granted my puppy was very nervous to be there she was fine once she got used to the staff......great job VCA thank you so much for the great care you gave my baby

Janira Tucker

I’m shocked from reading all the reviews on this place. It sounds like it’s a hit or miss situation when it comes to getting a good doctor to see your animals. My two dogs are in ICU there as I write this and I too was surprised by the estimate we were given. I hope we made the right decision by leaving them there. As far as the cost I think I acted too quickly and should have researched them before going. It’s a Sunday and I felt I didn’t have much of a choice.

Tom Bohley

Phenomenal! When you are having a pet emergency, it can be intensely stressful. The staff here are amazing, calm, helpful, professional and caring. I would not hesitate to bring my girl back here. They are wonderful!

oliver gibson

Friends cat died due to these idiots not helping. Don’t go here for your family’s sake

Mina Miku

I wanted to thank all the staff from VCA and Dr. Blair. I took my dog who passed away on the 29th of September and they were very kind. The staff help us and showed their respect to the sadness we had at the moment when leaving our dog for cremation. I got a postal today with a very warm and kind message. Thank you so much it means alot to all my family. It's a great comfort for us in this moments.

Marshall Gonzales

We took our cat Gray and asked if he had rabies or the plague. After $750.00 they didn't know and wanted more test at a few hundred each. I don't think they are license veterinarian or any clue about animals. My cat is not doing well and it frustrating that I could have done the diagnosis at a my cost. MARSHALL

Matt Van Hook

Dr Stacy Peterson is incredible! We waited years to have cataract surgery on our pug and I wish we hadn't. Our 4 year old pug had her surgery a month ago and has had to see Dr. Peterson on a weekly basis (sometimes multiple times) due to some overseen complications. She has dealt with Rosie with love and the utmost concern for her health from the moment we began this journey. She genuinely loves her patients and has treated our family with the same care she would treat her own. I cannot recommend her enough and thank the entire team at VCA for their professionalism, consistency, cleanliness, and love. The photo below is from her day of surgery :)

Robbie Thompson

What a great all around experience. We have a brand new 6 week old kitten we adopted from Animal Welfare. She had gotten some goop in her eyes and sneezing. My Fiancé and I were extremely worried. The staff here at VCA got us right in. They were friendly and extremely helpful. They got our little baby kitten the exact help she needed immediately. Really amazing Vets, really helpful & caring Vet assistant. Couldn’t have been any better experience. I would recommend VCA to anyone looking for a Vet!

Annalisa Johnson

I'm very disappointed in this offices proffesionalism. I was scheduled for a 9:30 interview, which I put on my phone during the call to ensure I have the correct time and location. I checked in at the front desk and was given an application to fill out. It is a long application, which I wasn't told previously by the hiring recruiter that I was needing to fill one out, but I'm happy to regardless. I spend awhile filling out this application as it has multiple pages and long questions. I politely give it the receptionist and go sit back at my seat. A while passes by, I've already been there an hour at this point, and I go to the front desk to ask if I was going to have an in-person interview or if all they needed was the application for now since no one had talked to me since filling out the application. Another receptionist, who had been at the desk the entire time as well, brings me back to a private room to tell me that I was late and was scheduled for 9:00 am and they were not going to hire me and to leave. I am 100% positive that it was for 9:30 as I put it in my phone during the call, along with notes to enter from the south entrance, as I do for all my interviews and appointments. It was extremely unprofessional that they 1) Made a mistake on the time and blamed me. 2) Had me go through the entire application papers, then ignored me and wasted over an hour of my time when they knew they didn't want to hire me due to their mistake. In all my time doing interviews, as well as scheduling interviews since I have worked as managament and a hiring coordinator, this is one of the most unprofessional, rude, and an uncaring staff. I truly hope that they get their organization and compassion for their office together.

Raeanna Garcia

Let me just start off by saying this place way over priced ! This started with our dog having complications during her labor and needed X-rays and then have her oxytocin to help try and start it back up again so with just this stuff we were over $700 then needed a c section which they wanted 5,000 for. We of course could not pay $5,000 for a c section no matter how much we love our dog and her puppies so we had to turn it away and look for another place who would help us we went to Route 66 veterinary the next morning and they helped save our dog and two of her pups and only charged us $1600 ! If the VCA wouldn’t of been charging so much we could of saved all the puppies ! Now as we keep going into the week one of the puppies started getting week and sick once again took her to the VCA only emergency vet that was open at the time this time our visit was $100 ok more reasonable worked with a decent dr I thought . They saved our pups life had to inject sugar into her bone but once again said that she needed to stay there a couple days so they could try and save her life by monitoring her and tube feedings , question again ok well how much they said about $600 , so my answer was then we’ll can’t i tube feed her at home she said ya sure it’s just dangerous but if you do it right you will be fine. They told me if I couldn’t pay that they have someone there who would take our dog if we give up our rights and give her the care she needs , i said no that’s our puppy so I learned how to do it and have taken awesome care of her and brought her back and her weight has increased a lot. So fast forward a couple days on the spot where they cut a Tiny hole to give her sugar it is now slit open about a half inch I have no clue where it came from and I call the vet worried like what is going on she has a slit on her hip they said bring her in so apparently where they did it the sugar came back up and was lifting the skin and the skin was just ripping more and more it the dr gave her two staples the next morning one of the staples was ripped out so here we go back to the VCA this time was the worst they decided they would call animal control on us for banding our puppies tails saying we are abusing our puppies which we had no idea that was considered abuse and we had seen and heard from so many Doberman Breeders to do this so instead of worrying about why I went in there they were worried about the tail and charging $1700 to amputate it I told them once again I can’t afford to pay that , their answer was you can give up your rights to the puppies and someone here will take them and will we call animal control and let them Know you gave them up once again I said no!! These are my puppies no harming them didn’t know we couldn’t do that to the tails ! Long story short the cut we went in with turned even worse the completely cut the skin that was open off and left it a open wound when I said I was gonna go to another vet and when I said something about ok so what about the reason I came in they said the other vet will go have to take care of it , my response was this was caused by you guys tho they said ya but we also saved your puppies life ! I didn’t see the puppies wound till I got him I will upload picture they just left a huge hole in her hip !! We went to village veterinarian and only paid $180 for both our puppies tails and to be seen they were awesome help and friendly and did not try to take our puppies away !! Save your money and let’s stay clear of VCA it’s all about money to them

Holly's High-Kick

Warm and caring during the most difficult situations. I will always go to VCA Montgomery emergency, they treated my family so well during tough times. They care about your pet and you feel it. I guess some people complain about wait times or cost but VCA has had my business for many years now and it’s because they care about animals as much as I do. We were devastated by the loss of our 17yr friend. VCA montomery sent a card with my friends authentic paw print on a card with his info, we will always treasure this keepsake thank you VCA. Thank you Dr. Blair Wells and staff, you really made our family feel welcome. We had/having a hard time and you allowed us to do all of the things we needed to do to say goodbye and so much more. We are forever thankful.

ricki bloom

This vet had NO IDEA what she was doing! She said "I guess" and "I think..." like 100 times! Also they wanted to charge 1,330 to diagnose her. They didnt even bother to call her regular vet who i suggested they call for background. I waited two hours without knowing what is going on and without seeing my dog for nothing! i paid the office visit and left, no way they are treating my dog. When i went to my vet he told me the exact opposite of everything she told me and was right. Also when you sign in they have you initial to accept or refuse all treatment they think is necessary. I bet a lot of people accept thinking they are in good hands and end up with hundreds or thousands of dollars in unnecessary treatment. This seems like a $ scam because they should never treat with out consulting you about each option and giving you the price. This place is a corporate money grubbing mess. Ive also noticed all the bad reviews it says "im so sorry we love all pets, please email the hospital manager" Why dont you just have her read all of these reviews instead? Its her job to fix this not the consumers. Also Try Rio Grande Animal Hospital, they are honest and give you all your options and prices.

Steve Blunier

We had to put down our 16 year old border collie whose health had been failing. She took a drastic turn for the worse and we had to make the decision early on a Sunday morning to put her down. The only place we knew that might be able to help was VCA Montgomery being that it was over the weekend. The person who answered the phone was so sympathetic over what we were going through and was so kind. We arrived a few hours later for our appointment and we were treated so kindly by everyone. They had a small cozy room set up for putting your pets down to give you time to say your last good byes. The Dr. who put our Missy down was so caring too. Thank you for making our final hours with our dog Missy, as comforting as they could be VCA.

NeoliaBeth

In general I have had positive experiences with VCA (I highly recommend Dr. Gutierrez with VCA Town and Country) but this particular clinic has been beyond difficult to work with. My 3 year old dog has a very serious case of lymphosarcoma and we were referred to this clinic for an ultrasound. We were told to expect the results in 24 hours but 24 hours came and went without a word. When I called I was informed that the vet would be out of town for the weekend. He hadn't bothered to contact us or release the results to another vet. The receptionist I spoke to seemed incredibly annoyed by my desperation. I don't expect everyone to care that I'm losing my dog, but I would hope that the people I trust with her care would especially since they know her case is so critical. We wound up taking her to another clinic entirely (out of the VCA network). Within the hour they were able to give us the results we needed in order to plan for my dog's care. Never again will I take any of my pets to this clinic.

KJA

VCA DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR PET....THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT YOUR MONEY!!!! I had taken my dog to VCA when she was 3 months old to have her vaccinated. They gave her too much of the vaccine for her size and almost killed her! They had me take her back in so they could give her a shot to counteract the first shot that they had given her and charged me $75.00 for their mistake on top of the $200.00 they charged me earlier that day. They will also come up with some reason that they need to keep your pet overnight....dont let them! They will charge you $500 for each night and your pet will be better off at home with you. My dog now has a heart condition and I had to take her to VCA because they were the only vet in Albuquerque that had the equipment needed for my dogs procedure. They charged me $800.00 for that visit and $300.00 each month following "if I want to keep my dog alive" so the veterinarian says. We asked for a written script so we could find her medication online for less and they charged us $5.00 for each script. WHAT A JOKE.....they gouge you any way they can and play on your emotions. FIND ANOTHER VET!!!!!! VCA IS HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!

John Smith

$163 VCA vs $100 VESA vs $0 TLC for surgical consult of CCL. Also no rehabilitation services at this location. RESPONSE: You gonna lower the prices for everyone?

Mike Degidio

The VCA on Montgomery has always been in my dealings a consistent hub for competent vets, friendly office staff and high-grade effective service. We have our regular check up vets, but when those appointments need to be sooner, or you have to walk into their doors at 2am, they are a valuable resource. We recently arrived there late in the night concerned about an episode with our dog. They took her back immediately and began assuming her comfort and delivering her fluids. We waited for the Doc and know that these late night emergency visits are going to naturally have some sort of wait, they are very high traffic. Ahead of the wait line curve we stepped into the office and the Dr. had a complete work up and run down of what they thought the root causes could be. They gave us the worst case scenario on up to the most medial causes and made sure we understood what was being said, we had enough time to talk through a solution and took time to explain out or worst devil's advocate scenarios for every "what if" we could think of. We said good bye to our pup for the night and assumed we would hear the next day about the results from their testing. Not 10 minutes after getting home we had an urgent message from the Doc that our pup took a nasty nose dive and that she took it upon herself to try and gauge the condition of our dog. I felt that she went out of her way to give us the answer to our unfounded questions and brought us back in to see what they found. The condition was as she feared. An inoperable heart tumor with a zero reaction rate to chemo and was the most invasive aggressive type that will continue to grow until it claimed the dog's life. She presented all of the options from damage control to euthanasia and went through each question with depth and restraint. I didn't feel we were steered in any particular direction and with her guidance it made all of the sense in the world to let our dog go in peace and with dignity. These are the most emotionally intense meetings with people and you can feel hypersensitive about anything and everything and all of the staff, support staff, admins, techs and Docs were tremendous. It's always going to be a bittersweet visit when our pets are in trouble but we thank you all for your love, commitment and dedication to our city's pet population. ~Mike D.

S Sanchez

I took my ferret in months ago and had close to 500 dollars’ worth of tests done and they could not determine what was making him ill. I left with antibiotics and pain medicine, he improved over the next few weeks but was not 100%. The vet had recommended x-rays and ultrasounds as our next steps and possibly surgery. This past week he started showing some of the same symptoms and they had become more severe. My ferret is already older and was obviously in pain and I knew what the next steps were. I made the hard decision to euthanize him and not have him suffer through more tests and possible surgeries. I took him in and after 10 minutes a tech came back and stated that his “problem” was very common among ferrets and was controllable. I pointed out his previous negative test results (he had already been tested for this) and ongoing issues. The attitude I received was shocking, the tech kept focusing on this one test and ignoring his other symptoms. When I said, I had made my decision she acted as if I was putting my animal down needlessly. The sad truth is she did not care about my animal and VCA was just looking to get more money from me by trying to give me false hope and putting a very sick animal through unnecessary tests.

Jan Parks

These folks were great working on Lily. They have great staff, that really do care of animals. Dr. Elizabeth Pearson was so attentive. The are a little costly, however are worth it for the level of care and being through as they are Since out vet closed in the East Mountains, we believe that we will be there newest regular clients. They are worth the drive.

rockycasillas

We took our very sick dog down to the VCA on Montgomery, for the very first time ever, on Saturday April 14th, on a referral from our long time Vet here in Santa Fe for an emergency ultra sound and more importantly to beat the clock and to get the results read in "real time". Here, in Santa Fe, we do not have that immediate service available. The ultra sound may have saved our dog's life. We are now able to pursue medical treatment and our beloved dog may have a 50/50 chance to recover fully. The internist was super fantastic, talented, obviously very capable, friendly, clear minded and dedicated. ( Dr. Greg Kuhlman ) We do not have health care insurance for our dogs. We've always had dogs for over 30 years and have paid our vet bills. We called ahead to get a quote for the service which we quickly accessed funding for. We were prepared to pay in full. The final amount was significantly higher. In addition to the cost of what we now consider human grade health/vet care (which is professional and wonderful--- but so expensive) we had to access more funding, deposit that added funding into our exhausted bank account in order to cover the check written to VCA. We did contact their accounts receivable on Monday morning April 16th to ask if they would hold onto the check for 2 days and depositing our check on Wednesday morning the 18th of April and we were received with a stern, chastised, reprehensible greeting and interaction from the woman in accounts receivable department. I did tell her that we did understand this request was a nuisance and apologized for the inconvenience but she continued to be so unfriendly and indifferent. We did the moral thing for our beloved dog and we are prepared to draw a line in the sand if and when he has to be put down bc we cannot afford a 5K surgery that is highly risky and has a high rate of complication/death. We did the responsible thing and asked ahead how much the ultra sound would cost. The front desk did not apologize for the misquote, nor were they aware that they even provided a quote since they offered no flexible option. Of course VCA must operate their business so we took the steps to verify the cost before the service was rendered and I think that is still considered "the responsible thing to do" these days. My husband just survived a 1.2 million dollar radical cancer surgery which saved his life, took 3-4 years to recover from and we almost lost our home due to health care costs so we are on a tight budget and digging out of the health care system. And, we had the best health care insurance which we paid 17K a year for! So you can see why we are so frustrated with "health care" and that was just for the surgery alone. Comparatively speaking, I'm afraid now we've realized the same business model has now entered the world of veterinary care. I do understand that people might stiff vets...that's always been a problem, but we did not deserve to be treated like this from accounts receivable especially we are paying for these life saving services. It was degrading. Perhaps, sensitivity training is in order esp on how to communicate effectively and compassionately.

John Marrs

Our dog was diagnosed with a stomach tumor shortly after arriving in ABQ last year. The doctor and the rest of the staff were very friendly and helpful. We got realistic options for treatment and when we made the decision not to prolong our dog's life, they did a great job and created an environment where we could peacefully say our goodbyes. I have nothing but good things to say about the staff.

Gabe T

Had an emergency visit for my 14 year old friend (Shepard mix named Toby). The staff was so very prompt polite and caring for my dog and family. The staff made a terrible situation better and my family and I are so thankful Toby was comfortable. Thank you all so very much!

Lauren Crowder

The reception is great and worked with me with great patience. the doctors seem caring and kind. But when my dog needed emergency surgery and I was trying to get funds together ( I didn't have a few grand in my account) the surgeon told me I "took too long". And he "wasn't going to wait around all day" and left. Leaving me to find a new clinic to perform the surgery, or wait another day and leave my pup in ICU. It was one of the most callous acts I've seen from a health care professional.

Tracer14

Took my dog in because she got into chocolate. Staff was prompt and responsive. They explained it in detail and told me pricing upfront. Turned out to be half of what they quoted me and my dog was 100% back to health. Receptionists are friendly but vet staff gives off a judgmental, “I have better things to do” air. Called at 1am to check on her and the tech was friendly and they seemed happy I called to check. If they were friendlier in person, I would give 5 stars.

C

pretty upset. Brought my cat in bc she was coughing whenever she tried to eat, seemed to have something stuck in her throat. Was charged over $800 to remove a piece of grass--instead of just sedating her to look in her throat and remove the piece of grass, she was given a full blood workup, full xrays including interpretation and then sedated including an extra catheter just in case. I feel like the xrays ($250 and $100) interpretation and $245 blood work could have been avoided, had they just sedater her, looked in her throat and removed the grass. She'd just had blood work done in March. The Doc and techs are lovely and caring, I just feel like it could have been done less expensively considering what was happening.

critter

VCA advertises a "first visit free" promotion, so I made an appointment and took my puppy in for a checkup. After VCA convinced me additional tests were needed, which I agreed to, I was still charged the $107 for the first visit. I called and asked for a refund, but they stated the promotion was only in certain circumstances. I had originally scheduled follow-on procedures for what they estimated to be $950.00, but after researching 5 other vets in the area, it was clear to me that their prices are absurd. That combined with charging me $107 for a visit that was suppose to be free, leads to a 1-star, only because I am unable to give them a no-star. I highly suggest that those who love their hard earned money as much as they love their pets to go elsewhere.

P Collins

I couldn’t have asked for a better team to assist my family and our boy Jukka through his battle with Osteosarcoma. From having to amputate a leg and go through chemo, Dr. Schrempp and her amazing team helped give our boy a great quality of life until the end. Sadly, we ended up losing him due to the cancer spreading to his lungs. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so very much for the extra time we were able to have with him. He was our everything and miss him dearly. 2/17/2018

Allison Nastacio

My cat, Moko, was seen and taken care of right away. We called ahead to inform clinic we were on our way. Best advice, go early before it gets busy. A lot of phone calls were coming in while patients were getting info or checking in/out with only two receptionists.

Janice Saxe

I have taken all of my animals to VCA on Montgomery for many years. These include dogs cats birds and reptiles so I have had the opportunity to work with many of the outstanding doctors there. At all times everyone has been extremely professional and caring. The front office staff is amazing and all of the doctors are very knowledgeable and work with you to provide the best care for your pets. If necessary they will make a referral to a specialist for additional care. The fact that they have 24 hour service has been a wonderful benefit for me several times. VCA is also where I board my animals if I need to go out of town and they take extremely good care of them. I have referred friends and other family members to VCA and they are also very happy with the services provided. I do not anticipate ever taking one of my pets to a different facility.

Takiyah Dudley

Took my dog there for seizures & Dr. Taylor,Marie, & Kevin were kind, compassionate, & honest. The cost isn't cheap but they do there best to give the best care they can to you & your baby. I recommend to anyone in an emergency, i was a wreck & their attention & compassion to my circumstances & my baby girl issues helped calm my soul.

Christopher Idell

I was blown away by my experience. My pup's care was prompt and professional, the staff was incredibly friendly and sincere, and the bill was more than fair. ive been to a few emergency veterinarians around the country, and this was by far the best. I hope your pet never needs emergency care, but if they do, I hope you are inThis area for it. A+++

Daniel Cooper

Great staff, treated our demon kitty very well. Super helpful on holiday night for emergency service.

Daryl Reed

3 reasons I will keep coming back: the receptionists, the techs and the doctors. All the staff is caring and informative. Receptionists kept me updated and answered all of my questions, the techs were informative and kind and the vets were the most knowledgeable and loving people ever. I worked with 2 vets and an emergency vet all the times I've been there. I absolutely love Dr. Nolan and Dr. Schoonover. Dr. Chapman saw me on an emergency basis and she was very helpful. Any other questions I came up with later, the vets were always there to help. I love this clinic and will always continue my business.

Carl Thoma

Great DVM's, wonderful techs. Dr. Russman has the best bedside manner of any Vet my family has ever had.

Destiny Miller

My puppy got attacked by a big dog and he lost an eye. They were extremely compassionate and helpful. They made the prices very reasonable. They stitched him up and made him as comfortable as possible. I was a mess and they really eased my worries cause I knew my baby was in good hands. Thank you so much to all the staff and hospital who was there that night and fixed up my puppy. You guys are amazing!

Loretta Rankin

So update on my last review 2 weeks ago they referred me to a animal dentistry in Algodones, after going there having X-Rays done, the doctor there had to rewire the procedure on the bottom jaw that VCA did the previous week because it was pulling on the jaw and it was making it crooked, so after paying VCA their price I had to Fork out more to fix the procedure that VCA had done, I believe this could have been avoided if they would have done the procedure correctly I would have only had to pay out 1 bill, but now my little puppy has a straight jaw. I do believe VCA is only out for the money they have never once called me to ask how my little puppy has been doing. I will never never go there again, but I do recommend animal dentistry in Algodones, New Mexico wish I would have went to them in the first place

Adam James Jones

An absolutely outstanding facility. The staff are friendly and the doctors extremely knowledgeable and efficient. They took amazing care of our dog after he suffered a bad accident, and all for a very reasonable price. I couldn't recommend this place more.

Zach Kesner

They were very compassionate and provided good comfort care for my dog during his last month.

Pablito Marrujo

I take my pets exclusively to VCA on Montgomery and have taken both cats and dogs and can say we have always received excellent care and genuine compassion.

D S

Took my bulldog Sgt Rhino there tonight he was having symptoms and was sick the helpful caring staff took him in right away the Dr's there are very knowledgeable and helpful I'm going to recommend this place very clean I'm very satisfied and Sgt rhino is feeling better

Arika Valero

My 2 year old Boxer Boston Terror mix got out of my yard and was hit by a car. When I took her in to be seen that staff was wonderful and Doctor Liebl is great and has taken such great care of my dog!! This is a wonderful place and I'm thankful that my little fur baby is still alive and doing great!!

Jennifer Harris

Our cat, Tyson, was recently taken to the VCA on Montgomery in critical condition. He had been attacked by a dog and suffered major head trauma. The doctor that called me was compassionate, yet very honest about the condition of my cat. I rushed over, not fully understanding the severity of the situation, and was greeted by a team of professionals that were caring and highly skilled. We had to put Tyson down that day, and it was extremely hard, but I will be forever grateful for the care that we received in his final hour. In the future, all of our pets will receive their care here. The facility is top notch and the staff is extremely skilled. Above all, they are wonderful, caring people.

Ranelle Gose

I am from "small town, USA", and so my regular vet is back home, but since I have been in Albuquerque I have taken my animals to VCA. EVERY TIME I have been to VCA, my pet & I have been treated AMAZING! My conure & my dog got in a scuffle while I was back home at Dad's funeral. The staff at VCA was so compassionate & so good with my onery little bird. We had to euthanize the little guy which doubled my grief. The staff was so good to me. They made a cute little box with hearts on it, wrapped him in a blanket & tucked him inside so I could bury him at home. I've had to take my dog in several times. Didn't have an appointment but was greeted by cheerful & polite staff thru every door. Nurses & vets were not rushing thru things, answered all my questions in language I could understand & they sent all the info to my vet back home. Yes, VCA is pricey, but they have great staff all the time & take amazing care of your pets & you!! I was very blessed how they understand my financial situation and still were great about working with my vet back home where I could afford stuff like x-rays,labs, etc. VCA gets a total "thumbs up" 5 from me!!! AWESOME!!

Douglas Logsdon

Vet was nice, but hurried. The need more staff. Also far more concerned with billing than with treatment. If you have deep pockets you can try.

Karl Horak

Dr. Peterson did a terrific job with my cat's eye surgery.

Eric Watson

Staff members do their best to avoid any discussion of the expense of their services. They will happily suggest a service, dodge questions regarding payment, and tell you not to worry. Expect a surprising bill a month after your visit.

Robin Harley

Rescued this Bearded Dragon, who is suffering a broken leg and neglected from it's previous owner and had previously been seen at VCA, to see what could be done to help her and explained I had no funds. Shirley was very helpful in providing me answers and helping this dragon to the extent she could without having the finances. Also, called for Shirley this morning to ask how much or what needs to be done to save the dragon's leg and am now going to set up a go fund me account to help this innocent creature. Thank you very much for all your help and understanding! UPDATE 6/18/2018: I want to thank you Shirley for helping me find this beautiful Bearded Dragon a good home and knowing you all can provide her with the medical care she needs. It meant so much to me to be able to surrender her on behalf of my daughter, who could not take care of her, and place the dragon in the best of hands. It made me sad but knew I could not help her. Now she has a very loving person to take care of her and that is such a blessing. Thank you so much Shirley and for all of you at VCA and what you have done to help!

Katie Anderson

This is crazy! I just tried to schedule an appointment for my senior Corgi to have a dental appointment for a delicate extraction done since my basic, every day vet felt uncomfortable doing it. When VCA discovered I have a local vet I use but preferred that they do the procedure, they refused to make me an appointment since my “regular” vet does teeth cleaning too! Some BS about them being worried about getting referrals from local vets if they are seemingly “competing”, which defies understanding. Guess it really is about the money for them, and to hell with my dog’s health!

Atys Ra

The staff at VCA Vet Care is one of the best and most knowledgeable I’ve ever encountered. Everyone there – from Pam at the front desk to assistant vet Kristin and especially Dr. Shirley Russman – is supportive, kind, comforting, experienced, and encouraging. With particular regard to Dr. Russman, her talent and proficiency in caring for all pets, big and small, is tremendously impressive. I came in to the VCA office because my beloved Jungle Carpet Python, Medusa, had a mouth infection. When I first saw Dr. Russman and her assistant Kristin, I was instilled with confidence that both were going to be able to very capably care for my beautiful snake. And they’ve certainly gone above and beyond to make sure my first impression was not at all wrong. Dr. Russman is quite simply the best vet I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She is profoundly attentive, gentle, impressively resourceful, and reassuringly intelligent. She knew what treatment to prescribe for my python’s mouth infection and that treatment proved to be the right one. And she has followed through on every question I’ve had and every message I’ve left on her voicemail, and I’ve certainly left more than a few. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Russman for everything she’s done and continues to do. She always calls back when I have a question for her and she never fails to have time to explain things clearly and effectively. She’s truly one-of-a-kind and I really do feel that in her I’ve found the only vet I’ll likely ever need.

Banjo Judy

I have 3 dogs who all see Dr. Russman. She’s wonderful, always calls to check in how my kids are doing after they see her. The staff is great, friendly and kind. I can’t imagine anyone having a difficult time at this VCA.

Cynthia Freeman

I brought my kitties in since they were sneezing a lot. My husband and I had just returned from a trip, and the fact our cats were sick concerned us. Unfortunately, it was a Saturday night (we had just landed!), so most places were closed. But, we were afraid that our cats were unwell. Annissa (sorry, if I spelled it incorrectly) was amazing. She said that since our cats did not have yellowish/greenish discharge, they should be okay. It was probably stress induced and feline herpes (which I did not know existed!) and should go away in a couple of days. She wanted to make sure we didn't have to spend 200+ $ just to find out the cats are most likely okay. I left VCA feeling like the people who work there really care for the animals and the owners and don't want to just take your money. Thank you!!

Carolynne Ramirez

I took my dog in about a week ago. He had ended up having a cough and was congested. The way they took care of him and how nice everyone was, was amazing. I am so happy I went there and they helped me. Thank you guys so much!

Lezlee Webb

Dr Russman,& VCA have taken superb care of our beloved rescue dogs for over 24 years. The access to 24/7 care, thorough diagnostics, specialty clinic, & cutting edge treatment is priceless. Obviously, there’s a price,& that’s sometimes hefty, but thx to VCA we got 10 xtra years w/ our Lupus Newfie,& several xtra months w/ our bone cancer Great Pyr. And their diagnosis of Histoplasmosis is going to spare our latest puppy’s littermates’ families precious time & money. It’s never easy to have a sick pet. But it’s comforting to have VCA’s thorough & compassionate team of experts when only the best will do.

Adrianne Montgomery

I had to rush my rabbit in as an emergency and Dr. Russman and everyone at VCA were nothing but kind and caring towards both my rabbit and myself. Even though I had to put my beloved bunny down, the entire staff were kind and compassionate and made a heartbreaking situation go as well as it could. I will be bringing all my small pets in to see Dr. Russman from now on!

Elaine Theodoropoulos

I brought my dog in the middle of the night after he suddenly had a seizure. I could not have asked for better care from the staff. Everyone was kind, professional, and very caring and understanding. I spoke to one vet that night and another called me the following afternoon with an update and both were excellent. They answered my questions and took the time to explain everything. It was expensive, but any emergency veterinary care is. Before I left that evening I was able to visit my dog in the ICU and the facilities were clean and well organized. Excellent place.

lperlich

We had to visit VCA Montgomery today for an unfortunate reason: our ~16 year old Turkish Angora had contracted an oral abscess that made even basic eating unbearable for her. From the second we walked in, Cashmere and her family were treated with the utmost comfort and dignity. We were pretty set in our decision for a couple of days, and the staff first assessed to ensure it was the right one. From there, we were escorted to a calming, dimly lit room (complete with tissues, water, and comfortable sofas), where we went over logistics while our baby was given pain medication and a catheter. We discussed disposal options as well as payment so that we could get that out of the way. She was brought in, and we were allowed to hold her for as long as we wished, summoning the doctor when (and only when) we were ready, quietly, through a “doorbell” system installed in the room. The doctor could very well have been part of our family. She explained everything professionally yet empathetically. She examined vitals with closed eyes and her head down: mournfully, lovingly, and as if she were not doing a job, but rather just being a human being embracing the situation with us. Cashmere went home in a very well-prepared coffin, with her name hand-written on it. We were escorted out through a side exit, with genuine care. Five stars is not enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you, VCA Montgomery, for making such a hard day a bit better with both a wonderful facility and an exceptional staff.

dean frew

We had a pretty sick lab who spent 2.5 days in ICU at VCA and Dr. Russman and the entire staff there was outstanding . Extremely communicative throughout the process. they did what they could to avoid surgery. Now he is running with his sister and having a ball in the mountains 7 days later.

Michelle Bianchi

I brought my Pug into the emergency because he had something stuck up his little nostril. Dr. Blair-Wells was amazing. She made a great decision to try to figure out his problem without going through a complicated procedure. She was kind, gentle, and very informative. When she returned with the HUGE Foxtail that she retrieved from his little nostril, she was excited that she was able to get it out without a huge cost to me as well as a complicated procedure for my dog.

Kathleen DesMaisons

VCA is a top level SKILLED teaching facility. This means that we in Albuquerque have access to a level of care that a regular vet cannot provide for a serious emergency. I run a state wide rescue program and I also have 3 dogs personally. This is my first choice for medical emergencies. They know what they are doing. And of course it is expensive. It is a hospital. They save lives. This is not a place to get routine care. Use your local vet for that. And TALK with them about options and costs. Professional means both client and doctor figure it out together. If if you are kept waiting, it might be because they are doing a life saving procedure on my dog. They triage which means, most urgent gets done first. And you would want the same.

V SE

This vet is not animal friendly. They are clearly only concerned about making money. I found an ill dog and took it to the Montgomery location to get it help on sept 6th. They did nothing. Found out from the animal welfare dept that this vet literally sent this dog to the pound un treated with just an IV the same day and it died in a kennel at the pound on the 7th. What kind of vet doesn’t treat an animal clearly in pain? Especially when you bring it to them for help and they tell you they have a stray pet account especially for this scenario? Clearly they just let this poor dog suffer needlessly. Steer clear from this place if you are seeking help for a distressed animal!!

Mark Holland

VCA is basically the Mayo Clinic of pet care. You won't find better trained veterinarians and veterinary specialists in New Mexico. It's also almost the only animal hospital in the state that is staffed with a vet 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. In an emergency it is the only place I ever go. One of my beloved dogs was hit by a car and had a horrible agonizing fracture of her front leg. I raced her to VCA in the back of my pickup and ran inside. Within five minutes they had her sedated, in traction and on opiates resting comfortably. They performed complex orthopedic surgery on her several days later and after a week in their hospital (with daily visits) she was released to me and lived out a wonderful life. Many other dogs of mine have been cared for at VCA. That said, the care IS expensive. VERY expensive. The dog I mentioned cost over $7000 for all of her care. Pet health insurance is probably something we should all have. I've known several of the vets at VCA very well and some of them along with nearly all vets in private practice in Albuquerque dislike VCA-the corporation. Generally they feel that the rates they charge are excessive. I do not know how to judge that. I DO know that when it really matters, when a dog's life is at stake, VCA is where I go.

Jennifer Lindauer

Super friendly staff. Very professional. Acted like bringing a duck in with a broken foot was the most common thing ever. The vet even followed up with a phone call to check on our duck's progress.

Jon Roberson

Don’t come here unless you’re made of money. Nice people, clean, etc, but I just paid 130$ to sit in the lobby for 10 minutes, see a vet for five minutes and be told my kitten is fine. So basically a car payment to be told, “Just watch her”. So yeah. Dissatisfied and will very likely never bring any pet back to this rather predatory vet clinic. They want your money and are willing to go through your pets to get it.

Desi Cross

We lost our dog of 14 years (he passed on our way to the clinic) and upon our arrival the staff was very attentive to our situation. We were rushed to a private room immediately so we could grieve in privacy. My family is so appreciative to the employees who worked that day (08/13/16). We got to spend as much time as we needed to say our "goodbyes" to our dog, not being rushed once which meant a lot to our family. Although it wasn't easy, you guys made us feel comfort during a very difficult time and we are thankful.

Nicole Grundhoffer

I have visited this clinic for a number of pets and the staff has always been kind, compassionate, and willing to work with your means to provide the best care possible for your pet. Thank you to the VCA Montgomery staff for helping whenever a stressful illness or injury comes up!

Cloud It Up

I've been coming here for a few years now. They have changed, their prices have gone up quite a noticeable amount. A simple exam used to be 80. Now it's 110. I brought my dog in recently, she was 14 going on 15. Unfortunately that night I had to say goodbye to my pet. They were so money, money, money upfront. It really upset my dad that night, I guess since I was not the one paying I did not realize. I was so focused on my pet and holding her and being there for her, I didn't realize what a terrible experience they were making it for my dad. We have the money, we'll pay, you guys need to chill a little. They seem so worried about collecting payment you can see it on their face that that's actually their worry, not how you feel or your pet. Yes it's a nice place. Very nice, but the way they act rubs me the wrong way. This last experience we had confirms we will not return. They also did not have any change and they owe us $34.00, which they have to send a check in 6-8 weeks for some reason. That night they had NO CHANGE. What sort of company is this? They told us that they would have our change ready for us over the phone, when we came to pick up our precious babies, urn and remains. They did not and gave us the check option, or the option to leave it on our account. They try to keep your money. Give people their change, have cash somewhere put away, you're a company and business. Also sadly was over charged for the urn. VCA takes your pets to a place called pet memorial services. Vca will take advantage of you in your time of stress and worry. They charged us 155 for an earth urn. Which is beautiful, but it's cheap considering it's made of materials that won't harm the earth and will decompose away. Which is great if you're going to bury or scatter your pets ashes, I'm not. found out we could have gotten something like I imagined on the pet memorial services website for $70.00. Never returning unless it's an emergency, because that's all you guys are good for.

Crystal Figueroa

I've brought numerous pets here, and haven't had a bad experience from the facility, even though some visits are to help my friends over the rainbow. They are always considerate, and experienced. The price is a little high, but I'm always thankful with their after hours emergency care. We always refer friends and family and don't see that changing.

Stephanie Arrington

UNWILLING TO WORK WITH YOU ON PAYMENT! They damanded money upfront before they even would treat my dog for a potentially life threatening injury. Not everyone has money up front when a emergency happens. If I could give negative stars I would. Don't waste your time coming here unless you have thousands of dollars in your pocket. I walked in the door at 9:00pm on their paperwork they started that between the hours of 8:00am and 11:00pm the prices are non emergency, they however charged me emergency hour prices. The vet was rude, the only somewhat nice person was the front desk girl as she attempted to help us and unlocked the door to let us out.

Jessica Dinsmore

DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS HERE!!!!!! This place is only here for the money they do not care about the well being of the animals. We brought our dog in for a little cut on his paw....that's it! and due to the inhumane nature of the doctors here my dog ended up dying. The worst part is they tried to blame us "because we waited to long" they had gotten our bulldog so worked up that he started to have trouble breathing and instead of helping him they are letting him die on the table while they ask us if we would rather spend 10,000 dollars or let our dog die... we are watching our animal suffer and you expect us to make this decision right now????? You help the dog and discuss cost later; END OF DISCUSSION because that would be in the best interest of the animal and if you REALLY cared about the well being of animals you would be willing to work with people on the financial side not rely on the shock factor and making people make knee jerk decisions ..... THIS PLACE IS DISGUSTING AND I NEVER WANT ANYONE ELSE TO SUFFER THE WAY THAT OUR FAMILY HAS!!!! PLEASE DON'T BRING YOUR FUR BABIES HERE!!!!!!

Caleb Wilson

This place is amazing!!! All of the staff are very kind and lovely to talk to! I found a kitten about a week or 2 old and she was very sick and unhealthy. I was seen by doctor Kondek. She went above and beyond for me and my kitten, Ariel. I wish I new the name of the nurse that assisted the doctor. But because of those two people Ariel survived after they had informed me after the first visit that she would not survive after a few more weeks. They showed me how to help her the best I could at home, I wasn’t successful so I would have to take her in every couple days for about 3 weeks to be seen and given enemas. They went above and beyond for the little kitten and thanks to them little Ariel is loving life and playing to her hearts content. Terri at the front desk is fabulous!!! She is very kind, sociable and caring. Every time I come in to pick up her medicine or get the digestive care food Ariel needs, Terri always asks how she is doing and wants to know what she is like. Because of my experience with this location I recommended it to my family and they started to go there as well and the staff took care of them just like they did for me. To the staff at VCA Montgomery: YOU ALL ROCK!!!

Arie Deller

Fantastic staff. Super patient yet urgent when need be, and actually pretty affordable considering. Thank you!!

J.D. Bullington

Excellent staff. Oncologist on staff. Clean. Friendly front desk personnel. Immediate care given late on a Saturday afternoon.

Victoria Rascon

They saved our dog Jack one week ago who collapsed at the door after being accidentally overfed by our pet sitter. They did a needle decompression, pumped his stomach and saved his life! We are so glad we came home early from vacation because he would’ve died and we would’ve never known that he doesn’t have the receptor to tell him to stop eating! Thank you so much Emergency Vet and ALL the staff for saving our beloved pup Jack!!!

Janet King

We arrived to VCA from a referral from out Vet, we live 4 hours away from Albuquerque. We arrived for our pre-check and surgery was to be the next day. When we arrived they said he needed 2 surgeries, one 3 days away and the second 6 days away. The suggested bill was almost $4900!! To remove a small non-malgnant leg tumor. So we looked online for other surgical vet. We found Bolton Animal Clinic, which was accommodating to get us in for the next morning. They were able to fit him in 2 days later, cost $1400 total. Dr. Doran was the most thourough and had a truly wonderful staff that was comassionate and helpful. This was our experience.

Baby Cakes

Do not take your pet here!! This place is just money hungry and will care more about money than your pet. The vet would not properly explain what’s going on with your pet. Very inadequate!! Theirs other vet hospital who loves and care about your pet, also would work with you.

Brad Harmon

My dog had a medical issue--not an emergency but very uncomfortable for him. Their hours are from 7am to 7pm. We arrived at 6pm. There were only 2 other people waiting. We signed in and waited 30 minutes. Then we were taken to a room where we waited another 25 minutes. No one came to update us on why we were waiting so long. We finally walked out at 7:20pm and left without being seen. We didn't have an appointment--we walked in. Still, this place is NOT where you want to bring your beloved animal. Staff seemed cordial but PROFESSIONAL is far more important to me and my experience was horrible here. Do your pet a favor and go elsewhere.

Meghan Shea

Very expensive. I spent almost $2000 for blood work, xrays and a tiny thing of medicine for my baby to still die. I know they over charge, because I've had the same things done before to my other dogs at other hospitals. Arrow Animal Clinic is the best one I've ever found.

Susan Maupin

I recently had a very nice referral visit with Dr. Ries concerning my pooch. No complaints on that. BUT I called the referral center TWICE to get a copy of the report release form emailed to me so that I can have the report for my records. Both times I was assured it would be done. A week later and I have yet to receive the form. I checked spam and did everything I could think of on my end to facilitate matters including the second phone call. I am very disappointed. This was my first experience with them and you know what they say - you don't get a second chance at a first impression.

Bethany Godwin

If you're looking for a ferret knowledgeable vet, look no further. Dr. Russmen has taken wonderful care of my four babies for years now, and she is compassionate when it comes time for them to pass on.

Marissa Gold

Everyone was incredibly friendly and compassionate, I’ll give them that. But the doctor had absolutely no idea what was wrong with my cat and they wanted $2300 to figure it out, testing and an overnight stay. On the way out because there was no way we were paying that, the tech helping me to my car offered me a sheet of low price vets in town. I called good shepherd and the dr there had an idea of what was going on within a minute of us being in the exam room. She ran the same tests vca wanted to do in about 45 min for ~$400 and confirmed her original diagnosis. Apparently this vca is the most expensive animal hospital in New Mexico. I would not go there unless you have absolutely no choice (there are other emergency vets in town!).

Jodie Frederick

Thank you to Dr. Shirley Russman and your whole team from the call to walk out. My apologies for not remembering all your names. Being in an already distraught situation and making at least 10 calls you were my last hope. You guys provided for my dog and my family without hesitation and with such caring support. My Bentley was my world and you guys helped soothe the hard decision to make it better to decide what was best for her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and my family for caring as much as you do. You have gained a forever client as long as I have dogs you will be my vet of choice. You guys truely are the poster board for what a vet and clinic should be. I plan on telling anyone and everyone I know just how wonderful you all are. May god bless you all. Sincerely Bentleys family

Rob Halliday

Thank you so much to the VCA staff - particularly to Nurse Colin - for taking such excellent care of my dog Minnie. Colin was able to quickly diagnose Minnie’s health issue during the late night hours - she likely ate marijuana residue from someone’s joint at our hotel’s dog park - and was so gentle with Minnie. We recommend VCA and Colin!

Clayton Grant

Two reviews in one, don't bring your animal here if you value their life/well being. Brought one dog in because something in his mouth was bothering him enough to cause him to behave differently. They check his mouth and find nothing, run a bunch of tests and find nothing and say hes good to go. We called bs and went to a different vet the next morning, this other vet told us that his teeth were cracked and due to old age anesthetics would be risky on him. She gave him medication and hes been fine since. Now onto the second dog we brought here. This dog got into a bottle of ibuprofen, they put him on an iv for two days and say hes good to go home. Dog relapses and we rush him to another vet, the other vet says that for that medication the dog needs to be there for a minimum of 3 days. He's been there since and as of last night is doing well. This place is an absolute JOKE, don't waste your time or money. I don't know how any of these people graduated veterinarian school.

tenzin namkha

BE AWARE!!! This place is a scam. They don’t care about the pets. They take your pet for exam and don’t let you back with them. No real vet does this...vets need the owner there to get information. VCA takes them back there and then someone gives you an estimate of how much things will cost. It is always the max amount + other fees($$$). Than, after that, they sit you down and tell you about all the additional stuff you need. It’s like buying a car from a dealership and then you have to sit through their sales presentation of the extended costs! No joke. This is the only after hours place for pets near us so we have had to use them on more than a handful of occasions. Same trash everything. Our regular vet charges a 1/6 of what they charge not including the emergency fee.

Derek Brownson

An emergency visit alone is $138.00. Went in knowing my cat had an upper respiratory infection. Spent a total of 3 hours. Spent a total of $230 just for antibiotics. The room was dirty, blood on the wall and dirt and fur everywhere. Dusty computer and electrical. Receptionist didn't even know vet sold us antibiotics and was about to have us leave without them, I had to point out on the receipt for her. Vet Ms Martinez was nice but the overall experience was unfortunate. Not going back to this clinic.

Marty G

First of all, I hope that you never have to take your BFF to VCA. If you do, IME they will receive the best care possible. We just returned p SW CO from Joker's first chemo treatment and the staff couldn't have been any more professional. This is not an easy process. However I am confident that Joker is receiving the best care possible, and that I am receiving the best advice and counsel.

A. Wellesley

First and foremost, everyone who works there is kind. I was there that night because my dog had died of a stroke while I was driving down. There was nothing anyone could do, except offer consolation. When you're so grief stricken that you don't know what to do with yourself, being surrounded by kindness matters. Also, a big thank you to Dr. Kuhlman, who had treated my pup there when she first fell ill 3 months earlier: he had gone out of his way to arrive at a diagnosis and a course of treatment, and later assisted with palliative care by phone, even though I was out of state at the time. His advice gave my old pup 3 more happy months, and afforded me that extra time with her. I will always be grateful.

buddhalou

Very caring and competent staff. Likely saved the life of an extremely valuable family member after losing a fight with a car. Thanks gang!

Matt Conrow

I am an over the road truck driver of 20 years. My buddy, Buster became ill while in town visiting my mom (Buster's Nana). A different vet said it was a UTI gave meds and sent us home, well I left him with my mom to heal up, but he went down hill. The staff here at VCA were awesome! They got Buster in and started to run tests. They didn't like what was seen so they made a Saturday appointment w/ a specialist. They unfortunately found tumours, cancerous tumors. The tumors were blocking his ability to go to bathroom. The specialist talked to me on over the phone and explained the worst news I never wanted to hear. He explained the locations of each tumor, and what it waa doing. He was in pain, something he never showed. They treated my furbaby & mom with tons of respect. They gave Buster pain meds, installed a catheter and taught my mom how to do it to prolong his life just long enough for me to get back to town. Monday night I arrived to see my pal. He perked up when seeing me, we enjoyed a half of a day in the sun. They gave us name of vet to come to the house to send him to the rainbow bridge. Once the Dr that saw Buster on Friday got word from the specialist of Busters prognosis she called and left her condolences and you could hear the hurt (tears) in the voicemail. He was with me 24/7;1.3million miles and was in all 48 states. The staff here were great, not the cold hearts that were there 10 years ago when mom brought her furbaby in. God bless y'all for everything and R.I.P Buster.

Aften Ward

Always a fast, friendly, great experience!!

Damian Musello

I cannot compliment and recommend this clinic, and specifically Dr Ries enough: through and through they provided my family, my girlfriend and I with an incredibly caring and comforting experience during a very trying time. I was born and raised in ABQ, but have since moved to Colorado; my girlfriend and I were in town visiting my parents with our dogs, one of which had terminal cancer (inoperable osteosarcoma in her face and lymph nodes) . Our Golden retriever, Amara, (with the cancer) began a quick decent shortly after arriving in town (Thursday the 11th), and by Sunday we knew it was time to put her down. It is always hard to say goodbye to our wonderful furry friends; with Amara this was compounded by the fact that she was barely (as of Jan. 1st) 2 years old and was diagnosed only 2 months prior. Being that it was a Sunday we had few options and I had had previously pleasant experiences with this clinic before, so we went with them. From the second we walked in the door every member of the staff made us feel very welcome and supported, and they did everything possible to make both Amara and us as comfortable as could be in that situation. Both my girlfriend and I have worked in animal clinics in Boulder and can personally attest to the fact that the level of treatment provided by the staff and especially Dr Ries is not necessarily common place. The room they put us in was also incredibly well appointed for the situation and gave us a really nice environment to say goodbye to our little girl. Dr Ries took his time explaining the procedure and was especially effective at delivery a comforting and informative explanation. Thanks to the efforts of the team putting the catheter in, and the care Dr Ries took administering the medications we got the gift of watching Amara drift off very peacefully. Moreover, Dr Ries did a wonderful job of reassuring us that we had made the right decision and that Amara was no longer suffering. I have had many animals over the years and have had to put a number of them down (due to age or illness); I can say with confidence that this was by far the best experience I have had with this inherently heart wrenching and trying ordeal. The kind, warm-hearted, knowledgeable, and attentive staff, along with the inviting and comforting atmosphere provided make this a terrific clinic. If you take your pets here, you can rest sure that they are in good hands.

Deseree Gonzales

Can i give this place NO STARS? They rush your animal back do tests without your knowledge then come tell you about them and everything else they may need to do to diagnose food poisoning.? Want to keep your puppy over night and tell you money grows on trees, then make you feel horrible and tell you your puppy has 50/50 chance at living, she is WELL, HAPPY,HEALTHY Dog today, they are after your pocket and emotions Dont let them walk all over you !!!! I Dont know if i could ever trust a vet again :( DISAPPOINTMENT AT ITS FINEST

Vanessa Martinez

Took my cat in last night because she was attacked by a dog or animal. Paid 130 for the exam Dr. Janet Blair was very honest about how she didn't think my cat had Severe or permanent damage. I would need Meadow to have xrays and and other care to make sure she didn't have internal damage or that her leg wasn't broken but they wanted over a thousand dollars upfront, they have no payment plan or options. The doctor did try to work with me on the price but still too much for me. I told her I'll take Meadow to a regular vet in the morning where payment plans would be available she understood. It took awhile before they brought Meadow back to me because DR. Janet did what she could for her, she cleaned her cuts so they dont get infected, gave her a pain killer and antibiotics for the night and gave me a prescription for meds for her and didn't charge me. Even though this place is extremely expensive there are amazing caring people who do care for the animals and do what they can to help out struggling owners. So Thank u Dr. Janet and thank u VCA staff for your caring services

Stuart Flavell

No wait, professional demeanor, and a very caring vet for my cat. Purrfect. We were able to discuss costs candidly. I have had a few bad experiences with vets but this one has gained my confidence.

Annissa Fresquez

Top notch facility with the best receptionists, nursing staff, and doctors! Yes, the prices are high, but nowhere else in New Mexico will you have access to the diagnostics and expertise offered here.

Michelle Cordova

My family had to make a very hard decision to put little Nemo to rest. I had called around town looking for the right place and most affordable as we couldn't really afford the procedure but didn't want him to suffer any longer. The staff at VCA was truly a blessing. They gave us all the time we needed and then some. I especially want to thank, Dr Russman. She went above and beyond for us not only by helping us with that delicate moment but she stayed to help us after her shift was over and gave up her own personal time to give Nemo the best care possible. THANK YOU TO DR RUSSMAN AND THE STAFF!

Casandra Estrada

I never write reviews but I would love for bird owners to read my review and steer clear of this place!!! On Monday my quaker parrot became egg bound. We went in as an emergency and were sent home with oral calcium and oral pain reliever. My parrot died that same day. I have contacted and spoke to different avian veterinarians and this was not a case of go home and wait till she passes the egg, this was a situation where unfortunately I now know they should have taken immediate action! Surgery, removal, a shot of calcium!!! Something! Not a go home and wait it out. The avian vet was basically telling another doctor (that I don't know if she specializes in birds) what to do because she had surgery coming up. These were doctor Boch? And the other doctor was an older lady with grayish hair. Someone had already told me to stay away from here as they didn't do anything for a bird with metal poisoning. Unfortunately I thought my case would be different.

Monica Padilla

My regular vet told me to go to a specialist here at VCA Hospital for surgery. When they told me that my German Shepherds surgery was going to cost $2,500 I was in tears because I knew I could not afford it. They charged me $1,000 to leave my pet there over night. My German Shepherd is like a member of the family and our 2 little girls protector when my husband is away fighting fires in the summer. When I went home My husband and I talked about our finances and how we could try to pay for the surgery. When we we were calling back to the hospital to see what our options were they were rude to us because we couldn’t make a decision. They told me that the vet was too busy to discuss antibiotics to me and that I needed to make a decision on what I wanted to do. She was extremely rude to me and at a time of grief trying to decide how we are going to keep our German Shepherd alive they made me feel like I was bothering them. I paid my $1,000 the next morning when I went to pick up Ginger my German Shepherd. I took Ginger to another Vet in Los Lunas where they took the time to explain everything and all options. We now have an amazing plan to keep Ginger alive and we can afford it. VCA Hospital does not care to get your dog better, they just want your money. Good luck if you can’t pay a couple thousand to save your dogs life here. You have other options. Do not take your pet here.

Lauren Poole

Only go to VCA if you’re pet is in a dire emergency situation. They are capable professionals but the pricing is at least 2x what you will pay at a regular vet. I have no problem paying people for their time and work but insult to injury I had to pay $600 for my cat to die at the clinic before any emergency surgery could even be started. Staff wouldn’t negotiate removing ANY charges... which feels more hurtful when dealing with loss.

Ginger Freed

Called to see if they were open. The nasty reception I received was, Yes, then silence. I explained what was going on with my dog. Again silence, then okay well its $130 to be seen and it adds up from there....Wow thanks for the compassion hag. I think you should be fired and go work at a jail because your personality fits better at one. I will call tomorriw to talk to your boss.