Reviews of Veterinary Emergency & Specialty center of New Mexico (Veterinarian)

Jim B

As I am writing this I am truly heartbroken over losing our amazing dog Eli early this morning. We woke up at our usual 6am and found him in an extremely debilitated condition. I brought him to the Vet Emergency center. It was obvious our dog was in very critical condition. Dr Lopez and her team immediately took over trying to save our dogs life. Our dog was too sick to be saved but Dr Lopez and her team are a solid professional emergency vet trauma crew that I feel gave 100% to try and save our dog. I am grateful for their effort and compassion during one of the worst times in my life.

Alicia Garcia

They did really great when we had to put our dog to sleep. They made us feel comfortable and they let us stay with as long as we wanted to.

Maxine Wilson

Dr. Julie Stephens has been the only doctor of many to successfully diagnose and treat my cat who suffers from a chronic condition. A change in medication and diet has transformed a lethargic cat into a happy, energetic one. I am so lucky to have found her.

Annamarie Shunny

Dr. Peter Schwarz and the staff are thoughtful, empathetic, well trained, communicative and professional. They took excellent care of my boxer, Charlie Gomez, we are grateful. After a year of no diagnosis Dr. Schwarz figured it out!

Vanessa Woods

Dr. Nielsen and her team literally saved our Maggie's life! She was attacked by another dog and her stomach and organs were ripped open. Lots of surgery and rest, she's not out of the woods yet but by God, she saved her life! We cant be more thankful! There is not enough we can do to thank them.

Anon Omys

Ive never had to deal with such a catty receptionist. She couldnt give two f**** about my dying bird. Heartless b****** should be fired

Lori Fisher

They are good, but our most recent experiences have not been good ones. They anesthetized my puppy for a needed surgery, then decided not to do the surgery because of a very visible rash. I understand not wanting to do the surgery but the rash was so visible that he should never have been put under. Of course they wanted to charge us. No way. We've also been way overcharged the last 4 visits so BE SURE TO EXAMINE YOUR INVOICE/BILL BEFORE YOU PAY.

B ella

If you can't afford much, don't expect much. If you can afford anything...expect the best. My dog was suffering and we couldn't afford x-rays. We were treated coldly and as if..."well these are your only options..." and when I had to make the decision to euthanize her, we weren't even given the option to have her ashes returned or a paw mold or anything memorable like that. After asking, the Dr said "well I assumed since you couldn't afford x-rays that you couldn't afford any extra's, so I didn't offer them." Not being able to afford something doesn't mean you're a bad parent. I rescued a puppymill Pekingese 4 years ago and had her spayed, rotted teeth removed, infected ears fixed and gave her a good life. But, instead I was made to feel as if I was a bad owner because I couldn't afford x-rays. Shame...tsk tsk.

Dylan Davis

My dog tore a deep 5" gash on his chest while we were out hiking. I brought him in on a Friday night for emergency surgery to stich up this gash. There was a considerable wait time but all of the employees seemed to be going as fast as possible and made it aware they appreciated my patience. They stitched up my dog and took care of the wound and sent me with detailed instructions for recovery. 2 weeks later I stopped in to have his stitches removed and he's completely healed from the accident. The waiting room is clean and overall the facility seems clean and kept up. The previous complaints about pricing are ridiculous. It's an emergency clinic so you should expect higher prices. And even with that, I was surprised my bill was not more than it was. Great clinic with a pleasant and knowledgeable staff.

Marisa Gonzales

DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET HERE IF THEY ARE SICK. I took my 5 month old puppy here after she had contracted the parvo virus. They told me I had caught it early, had me pay $700 to leave her there over night for 24 hours. Called and told me after the 24 hours she was good to go home, that she was eating, and to give her fluids and her medication as I did accordingly. My puppy DIED A DAY AFTER I TOOK HER HOME. They did nothing to help my dog. Nothing. And when I called them back and told them she was crashing, all they said was sorry there was nothing they could do unless I had another $700 to leave her over night. They don't care about your pets. They just want your money. I would give 0 stars if I could because I had to cremate my puppy yesterday.

Dennis Hernandez

Very compassionate staff. I had to put a family member to rest and they supported me emotionally through the whole thing and explained in detail what they were doing in every step. The Dr who administered the meds even went as far as holding my hand as my sweet dog passed. It was a very sad day but it was much easier with such a caring staff. Thank you to all of you.

Roberta Davis

My 16 year old dauchsand was having difficulty breathing. Staff rushed him in immediately. The front staff was very courteous and understanding as I was so worried. Treatment was immediate . The doctor was friendly and let me know treatment would be hours. If I wanted to go home they would call. The doctor called at 8pm. My dog was doing a little better but needed more time to see if medication they were giving him would start working better. At midnight I get a call. The doctor indicated my dog was not doing well. It was my decision to continue or not. I chose to put my fur baby out of his misery. Doctor indicated she would keep him alive if I needed to come down. I was there in 15 minutes. She allowed me to see him and comfort him as she put him down. I could see he was struggling for every breath. Afterward they allowed me to be with him in a quiet, private room. Everyone was so comforting and understanding of my grief. I thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart for making a difficult situation with love and compassion.

Karyn DeBont

I have never had a bad experience here. The doctors and staff are first rate.

Robert La Porta

The staff and doctor were all very compassionate and sympathetic at a difficult time. That means a lot when you are losing a furry family member

Jovan Gauthier-Vincent

Dr. O'Bannon, Dr. Rossi, and their associates were all very helpful. Our cat was able to get a full tooth extraction (stomatitis, an ugly disease where a cat's body rejects their own teeth) the same day and she's a much happier kitty now. The only reason I take off one star is because they lost my follow-up appointment and I had to go in the next day. I had let work know ahead of time I was going to be late due to the appointment. Unfortunately I stressed out my cat putting her in the kennel for 45 minutes for nothing and had to do it again the next day (which I was fortunately already off that day, otherwise it would have been messy). They did apologize profusely but I'm not sure how you lose an appointment that was scheduled a month ahead.

Samuel Miller

Worst service ever. Charged me almost 200 dollars and never even did anything for my dog. All they wanted to do was charge me for more things like xray. Took my dog to the veterinarian clinic vca on Wyoming and they took and did and exam and realized she had an abscess with no x-ray. This clinic is not about animals but about how much they can charge for extra money for things you do not need.

Christine N

This is the worst place ever. The employees have ZERO sympathy or empathy for the pet owners coming in or the people calling in. These poor people are freaking out about their fur babies and the employees mock them when they think no one is watching or listening. My pet was prescribed the wrong amount of meds. The dose she was given was too high for her. Thank goodness I went to my normal vet where they care about the animal and not about the money. I’ll gladly save $600+ to have go to someone who cares. Give your employees some sensitivity training or get rid of them.

Robert Wasserman

Our almost 12 year old rescue dog, Rice, was happy, active, and in great health, until last Sunday morning when, he was lethargic and had a swollen abdomen. I took him in to Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of NM, and the front office staff and vets were terrific. Unfortunately, RIce was bleeding internally from a very aggressive form of blood vessel cancer that had already spread. They gave him IV fluids, and that perked him up and made him more comfortable, but the prognosis was a slow bleed to death that surgery could not avert, so we had to put him down. Dr. Megerry was awesome - knowledgeable, kind, and patient with all of our questions. The criticalist who initially treated Rice did a great job, although we never met him. Dr. Lindsey Nielsen (another criticalist) put him down while being incredibly patient and sensitive to our needs and wishes. She also sent us a heartfelt note of sympathy. Overall, I thought Rice's treatment was exceptionally good and I would recommend this emergency vet service very highly.

Julie K

My dog had an infection that had somehow spread to her liver and she was gravely ill. We tried administering antibiotics ourselves initially but she was not getting better. It became more and more urgent so we checked her in to the clinic where she stayed for 5 days under constant care and on IV fluids where she could get all the medication she needed 24hrs a day. I hated having to leave her there but she was under constant care and not left alone. It was expensive to be sure but well worth it. They have excellent staff there, Dr. Hale diagnosed her right away and a later liver biopsy confirmed her diagnosis. It is a relief knowing that one can give their pet the best care possible with a caring staff. My girl recovered while she was under their care and is now back to good health. She'll have to continue her long term care for her liver, but she is better now than she has been for months. I would definitely recommend them!

Sara O

Amazing care and compassion!

Liquid Intuition

Took my cat here and the staff was very friendly and explained care options really well and went over pricing before treatment. Very grateful for them and treating my cat and giving us good guidance on after care. Thank you.

ThEoNEaNdONlY RaMDiLla

So far, The Veterinary Emergency Animal clinic has done very well with my dog Zia. No other vet noticed she had lockjaw. They found out immediately what was wrong and gave her a horse antidote to see if it would work. So far it has worked and my dog is doing way better today. I have thanked this place for what they did for my animal since no other vet said she had lockjaw. The others said she was absolutely fine. Sad.

Sandra Pena

I've visited VESCNM twice in the past year. The staff is friendly and you can tell they all are animal lovers and they wanna be there. Last year my cat was super sick, they were very thorough with the testing and taking care of her, but she didn't make it; they were very supportive and understanding, also very patient with me. I went back today ( 30 days short of a year) with one of my dogs and they were as loving and caring to my baby as they were last time; I was surprised to see the staff was the same, which tells me they love what they do and where they work, since they are still there. My dog will be ok, but I'll definitely be back if I had any Vet needs; I also make sure I recommend them for any emergencies. They have great specialists!

Davis Family

We were referred here because our dog had high liver enzyme levels. His regular vet felt that it was his gall bladder which can be life threatening so she referred us to the surgeon here for a consult. Dr. Schwarz preformed the surgery and it was not his gallbladder. It was fine. His heart and liver were enlarged. The biopsies he took indicated no cancer but an antibiotic resistant e-coli infection in the liver. They began IV antibiotics and he seemed to improve. He ate well yesterday morning and we thought we would take him home today after visiting him yesterday. We got a call early this morning and were told he was having trouble breathing and was put in the oxygen kennel. An hour later we went down there because he was dying. The Dr. on duty Dr. Hyatt (believe she is the co-director) was AWFUL. They were performing CPR when we got there. I was crying and pleading for Cheeto to come back. She very coldly said, "He is not coming back. He is gone." No compassion or empathy from her. Dr. Schwarz and the other staff we met were very kind, hence 2 stars. However, I will NEVER take a pet there again. VCA does a better job IMO.

Anna Stanley

I’ve been several times and they are always honest, forthright and helpful. The cost and wait time is obviously more because it’s after-hours emergency. They need payment at time of service so looking into care credit can be a good option before you go, but I’ve never found that they charged me unnecessarily and have always taken good care of my animals.

Hilary Walker

This place is excellent; Dr. Brent Megarry was so nice and helpful both times we've been. The vet techs & staff have also been wonderful. Our 2 dogs were both bitten by a rattlesnake last year, and were given fast, lifesaving treatment. And this week one of our dogs had a deep cut that needed staples. Both experiences were made much less stressful because of how friendly and knowledgeable everyone was. We live in the East Mtns (where there is no 24hr clinic) & I feel very happy knowing there's a great place in Abq. for emergencies. Thanks to the great people at VESCNM for saving our dogs' lives!

Josh Taylor

If you would like to wait in the horribly uncomfortable waiting area while no one tells you anything about your animal, then this is the place for you! We have had nearly 10 experiences with them and nearly all have not been positive. While I will say the care of the animals is generally good, that is where the plusses end and the negatives begin. Their vet techs are petty judgmental and overall unprofessional. Their charging practices are ludicrous (they charged us a biohazard waste fee, but we got our dog back COVERED IN BLOOD that they would not clean off). They have left us waiting in the waiting room nearly every time for 5+ hours without any information, despite numerous pages. Frankly, I have never been more angry with a business. We have started taking our pets to VCA on montgomery and eubank. While it wont be cheaper, the people will treat you much better. Its a shame that this place has a higher rating than them, this place is a shame.

Thom Lano

Be aware that these people charge a great deal of money and draw out care to extort as much money as they can from pet owners in a panic. They kept my dog alive for seven days only to tell me what they knew or should have known on the first day, that she would have to be put down, then charged me $7,000. It is a confidence game preying on the vulnerable.

Teresa Dodge

Dr. Schwarz and his staff provided compassionate, and excellent care for our dog, JJ. She had to have surgery for torn ACL's on both of her back knees. We were very anxious about the health of JJ but the Dr. and the staff provided emotional support during this difficult time. I highly recommend this veterinarian and staff. Job well done! Teresa Dodge

Pat H

I've been to this clinic several times with my friend with her dogs - the vets and staff are extremely caring. It isn't cheap, but then neither is a trip to our regular vet - or a trip to my doctor for that matter. The dogs got excellent care and the staff is wonderful.

Maya Rivera

I just want to thank the staff that was there last night (6/5/18). Me and my fiancé had to make the hardest decision of our lives to put our dog bear to sleep. The doctor was the sweetest in helping us with our decision and making sure it was the right one for our poor pups sake. I’ve never experienced watching my pet pass away but the doctor gave us all the time we needed to stay with him and gave us many options. Thank you so much to the staff here. It means so much to my family and I. I highly recommend coming here for any of your pets emergency issues..

Christy Draper

Was referred here by my primary vet for post splenectomy with splenic mass removal for overnight post op monitoring. I’ve lived in many cities and received vet care both emergent, specialty, & general. On a local & national comparison of my experiences ...this place is awful. The front desk is rude & discompassionate, which I could get past if the vet or any of the vet techs were any different. My dog was taken back following transfer orders from my regular vet for overnight post op monitoring. I was not allowed to be present or witness my dogs exam by the vet. I was placed in a room until an extremely abrupt & abrasive vet appeared with a clipboard with their estimate. You can bet the first thing out of her mouth was not a report of her assessment of my dog or her rationale behind her assessment, but straight to the money & reviewing the estimate line by line. I was so caught off guard by the frank unprofessionalism & then her talking about my dog in the context of the bill & the services. The vet framed the conversation around service fees-& the risks of all dogs post splenectomy-not based on her personal/ professional assessment of MY dogs individually evaluable situation. It felt like scare tactics to get me to agree to services my primary vet had already indicated she didn’t need. The risks she outlined in attempt to nudge me into more services did not line up at all with my primary vet’s guidance. The costs & services they put into their estimate were $ 500 more & not at all what my primary vet had discussed with them & with me. On top of that, my vet told me my dog can go home with me after overnight monitoring & was discussed ahead of time with the vet at this place. On arrival the vet refused to plan to discharge her to my care & insisted she stay there at my expense or she would transfer her back to her primary vet - but she was “not allowed” to return home with me the following morning... WTF? My dogs vet ... you know the one that knows her and operated on her says she can go home. She is MY dog ... you can’t plan to hold her & not give her back to me ... esp. after my vet has already communicated the plan. Vet techs had no compassion with me at the clinic they were cold & unwelcoming, one stood over me at the kennel gate- hand on hip -like I was wasting her time as I said good night to my dog. When I informed them I’d call x2 at specific times I was encouraged not to call to check & not to come see my dog. Again, when I went to say goodbye and goodnight to my dog for the night ( during their “visiting hours”) they acted like it was an inconvenience. The front office staff was even worse about it. Horrible place. Callus people. If my dog ever needs surgery that needs over night monitoring again ... I’m driving to a neighboring state or trying VCA. Update: When picking my dog up the following morning. Staff was more pleasant to deal with. I was asked to pay when I came in prior to being allowed to see my dog or discussing how she did overnight- so I did. When in the room a vet tech did the discharge - I asked if she had blood work and her most recent values. At first she said , “no she didn’t” and then I said , “it’s on her bill” and she said well let me check again ruffled some papers and said that yes she had blood work. I then asked if she received any medication she said, “no she didn’t- she did great through the night with no problems- we really didn’t have to do anything but watch her.” I said that’s on the bill too. I then asked for a copy of her medical record for her stay & she said the vet that admitted her and was here last night had gone home so we will have to have her check the charts first to make sure everything is documented. I was told I’d receive a copy via email later that day. It’s been 24 hours since I picked her up & I’ve not received a copy. This is obviously problematic from a billing standpoint & a documentation and veterinary care standpoint. Why if you have left for your shift would your charts not be updated? Why would you not be able to provide me a copy?

cast d

Awesome staff! Great service from start to check out. Our Poweder was taken care with lots of love. They are professionals and are the absolute best ever! Dr. Smith we thank you and your staff so very much. Keep up the great work! We need more people like you and your staff in this world

Emily Bollard

My moms cat stayed here. My mother went to visit her cat, and found her covered in her own urine. They also charge $12 every time they check blood pressure.

One Love One Faith

2 of my babies have had to go to th er vet within the last month and I have to say both times were suprisingly great experiences. The were kind, knowledgeable, imformative and as far and er wait times go, it actually was not bad either time we visited. Which was on a Friday night and Thanksgiving night. Of course it's a little pricey, but it's the same as an er visit vs. a visit to your primary dr. I most definitely highly recommend this er vet to any one in need of after hours veterinary care.

Chriss Fury

My 8 week old puppy was attacked by another dog very badly. They said she has swelling of the brain, a few puncture wounds in her neck and above her eye. They said they took Xrays and an MRI but could not detect any head fractures even though they knew they wouldn't be able to detect it in the first place. After a whole night in the ER, they called me in the morning, saying that she should be able to come home sometime in the afternoon and someone would give me a call. I never got that call and it wasn't until the evening that I had to call to check on her status. They had nothing new to tell me besides what they had already told me in the very early morning that she was doing better, she was eating. So why is my puppy being kept there as long as possible and why isn't anyone returning my calls? Why do I keep getting charged more for inconclusive results with no change in status? This place is unbelievable!

Aaron Davis

Outstanding care, they saved my cat's life when another clinic failed during a life-threatening urinary obstruction. He is still happy and healthy two years later thanks to this amazing team. Some people complain about the cost but this is emergency specialist care and it is worth every single penny for your pet's life.

Aimee Duran

The doctors are great! My review is for the front desk person, Krissy. We were very upset because our dog was to go in to a $4500 surgery. We were paying over the phone with a credit card and she was extremely rude and inconsiderate to the fact that she was speaking to my 93 year old grandmother. Not only was she rude to my grandmother but she was also extremely rude to us about taking a payment over the phone. I have had many animals over the years and never have I been treated by a vet representative so poorly. I will not go back because of her behavior.

Dennis South

I had my toy poodle in for surgery of what they thought was a fatty mass. They called and said as routine they do an X-ray of her before surgery to make sure they are okay for it. When they did it should she has two spots on her lungs that appeared to be cancer and so they didn’t want to proceed with the surgery. The Dr talked to me some on the phone about it an said I could pick my poodle up. When I got there the put me in a room and I thought the Dr was going to come discuss things with me further but I was wrong. A young girl brought me my dog without her lease or harness and I ask is the Dr coming in to see me. The girl said no that the said all she needed to on the phone and I could just go pay the bill and get checked out. It was like they were all nice and concerned until they realized they weren’t going to be able to collect the $ 1900.00 for the surgery. Then attitude seem to change. I feel like it is just about the all mighty dollar.

Iris Varela

I felt the service was good didn’t have no complains. Friendly staff wish the surgeons worked more often in Santa fe

Tanya Lowry

This is the THIRD time we have needed the services provided here (the first was a specialty operation not an emergency). Every situation has been handled with tremendous care, expertise, and professionalism. Our most recent visit might have been as well managed at our local vet but it was a Sunday and waiting a whole day + night would likely have killed our sweet dog. They provided regular updates and allowed us to visit once he was strong enough (visits aren't always the best thing for a pet in the hospital but our dog is quite chill so it didn't add stress when we had to say goodbye). We would not hesitate to bring our pets here if another emergency happens or if specialized services are needed.

Ea Diaz-Mora

It would have been more humane of me to take my animal "out back" than to have brought her here!

WRAITH S

They overdosed my dog with medication and said she was unresponsive and said she needed to be put down. The vet instructed the tech to rush us into putting my dog down with no remorse. I'm in health care for humans and knew the dosage was to much for a little dog and so I waited it out for the medication to wear off and my puppy became more alert and would raise her ears when I called her name. So I proceeded to request for the vet, when she came in she stated " I will not examine the dog again and I have already made my decision"! So we left and went to the VCA, they are very nice and helpful but expensive. They stated that my dog needed xrays but she might have liver failure do to the amount of meds that were given to her and to just take her home and observe her and we tried to follow up with ponderosa for xrays and they were sent to a specialist but my puppy did not make it make it before we could get the results back. The Animal hospital was terrible they and wanted to order to many unrelated tests and would not order xrays and sent me to collections for $50, the cost of the OD med because the didn't run my pet insurance. Any place can give shots or check ups. Please take your pet anywhere else in a pet emergency!

Tony Stark

Horrible experience. My dog had a laceration and a bone protruding. It took an hour just to get a tech to even see him and they took an extra 5 hours to stitch him up. I can understand other emergencies could have priority, but this looked like it would have been a high priority. I had him bandaged up and can only imagine they made him wait those hours in the back with an exposed wound. Price was outrageous for stitches. They mangled his leg to put in an IV catheter and he must have lost a lot of blood. If you love your pets, I cannot recommend someone bring them here. Just like the rest of the substandard medical care in this city - it's horrible and this place makes it even worse.

velvet witch

Hello everyone, Please excuse my Google name. I'd like to give this place an honest review. I usually don't like to give negative reviews about a specific person but I was kind of annoyed. The girl at the front desk with artificial red hair was somewhat rude. I asked her a simple question & she responded with a "smart aleck" comment. I think that she should learn to converse in a more sympathetic and kind manner to people who are worried about their pets. Anyhow, the vet tech with the dreadlocks, I believe her name was Jamie, was a really sweet girl. She was extremely helpful, respectful and kind. I wish more people like her with caring and down to earth attitudes worked at veterinarian offices. I also think this office should employee more staff because the wait at check in was very long. The girl at the front with red hair took 10 minutes to get my paperwork back. I understand it may get busy but when people take their pets to an ER they are expecting speedy assistance. I hope you take it into consideration to employee more staff that way more lives can be saved.

Joanna Ballejos

A terrible experience $800.00 later. My Shar pei Coco was attacked by a Rottweiler and was in need of stiches, then they tell us, it could be from $600-800.00, so they needed$ 600 down. They would know there after the procedure was done exactly how much it would cost. Yes it was $748.00. The Vet Dr. was like she was rushing through the whole ordeal, unbelievable. Then 10 days later we take her to remove the stiches, they did not even clean around the stiches The job was like if a child stiched her up was a horrible job. That's what $748.00 gives you.. A dirty dog.

John Apodaca

They took care of our beloved dog Daisy during her final hour. Very professional.

Hannah Komadima

Don't bring your pet here. . . unless you are already expecting the staff to completely misconstrue and lie to you about the cost of their services! I walked in the door tonight, 8 months pregnant, bawling my eyes about the death of my puppy. I was kindly greeted, immediately told there was no exam fee, and taken to a room. Minutes later I was quoted a price range of $130-$150 and even initialed a detailed price breakdown. When I was at checkout.. . .even more devastated and sad because my dog was officially going to be euthanized, I was surprised that the actual cost was $204.03. It never feels good to lose a pet. It is always a difficult decision and I spent a week agonizing over the "right" thing to do. In a difficult situation I would have appreciated honesty, so I didn't leave feeling like I had been the victim of emotional manipulation and abuse. I had spent hours over the past week with our vet and other vet services, trying to insure that when the time came. . . I would NOT BE SURPRISED OR BLINDSIGHTED! I was surprised and blindsighted The staff lied and was dishonest about prices. I did not appreciate leaving without my pet, and leaving feeling that way. Boo! I am disappointed in people. I should never be so trusting.

Jean Givens

Always open. They've taken care of 3 of our animals. Attentive and caring.

Lisa Monrean

Took Our 2yr old Lab Mix Hank here because of a Grapefruit size Mass under his chin. Dr. Lopez saw him and did Bloodwork and Ultrasounds on him. Gave him Some Meds and said we should see an Improvement in 12 hrs. Didn't Cost as Much as I was Afraid it would and I Felt Comfortable knowing he'll be ok Soon. We will Follow up this week with a Vet close to home but I'm Very happy this Clinic is here for Emergencies such as this tonight. I did not at any time feel they were doing unnecessary test to jack up our bill. Thank You Dr.Lopez and Staff

Joshua Ashley

DVM Brent Megarry was fantastic! Knowledgeable, understanding and accommodating. 5 stars. I wish I got the Vet assistants name. She was so compassionate and wonderful. Thank you for helping my pup this weekend.

Valeria Garcia

We brought our dog Moana in last night because she hadn't been feeling well. The staff, techs, and doctors were all very kind to Moana and gave us helpful information and medication. Unfortunately we still ended up taking Moana to her regular vet a couple days later because she hadn't improved, but the VESC provided just the care we needed in an emergency.

Katrina Popovich

Rude, Rude, Rude every single person that works front desk is rude they are in need of some serious customer service training.

Linda Kelley

Thank you for your outstanding, compassionate care for our KaDee! We just brought our 10 month old Brittany home after an accidental medication ingestion. She received prompt, competent and compassionate emergency care and monitoring from Dr. Jenn Lepp and the staff! Dr. Lepp was very informative and kept us updated on KaDee's status while under her care. She also informed us of the minimum and maximum potential fees ahead of time. We were given a refund for the services that were not required which was nice. Thanks to everyone for taking such great care of our KaDee! We greatly appreciate everything you did! Linda, John, and Ryan (KaDee too :))

Annelies Joss

We took our 5 year old dog, Cooper, to this clinic after he ingested food that had Xylitol as one of the ingredients(26 August, 2018). We were told from the very beginning that he was a very sick dog, and they gave us very little hope. We were told by one of the vets that he probably would not make it through the first night. They recommended several times that we should consider euthanizing him. We asked if there was any chance that he would survive and recover, and we were told there's a 20% to 30 % change of survival after Xylitol ingestion. We told them to do whatever they could to save Cooper's life, as long as he was not suffering (we made it also very clear that cost was not a concern, and we gave them our credit card).They told us he was not in pain, but that he felt like he had the flu. We visited Cooper 4 to 5 times a day, and during the first few days, most of the techs were very nice, the vets were all very pessimistic, and it was devastating. Saturday morning (1 Sept), the vet in charge was again telling us Cooper had very little chance surviving this. He also told us that he could not do ultrasounds(???) even though we were told on day 1 that he would need and get ultra sounds at least once a day to check for internal bleeding (his blood was not clotting at all, and at this point he was also very yellow). The person who took Cooper back to his kennel after one of our visits, was very rough with him. I was so discouraged, I called our regular vet and told him what was going on, and could he recommend another place we could take Cooper to. He told us about VCA, just down the street from this place, and we transferred Cooper. We immediately felt so much better, and even though they also told us there were no guarantees he would make it (they had read his records from Veterinary Emergency and specialty center), they were willing to try whatever they could. His blood started clotting again, and he slowly started eating very small amounts of food. The whole time he was at VCA, all of the staff was very positive, and after the initial visit, during his admittance, They were very reassuring that Cooper had a very big chance of surviving this. Our Cooper has now been home for almost 1 week, and he's improving every day. The yellowness is fading, He's eating normal portions of food, and his energy is greatly improving. They expect full recovery! If we ever have a pet emergency again, we'll be taking our pets to VCA. I just received a reply, and I do feel like I should respond. A couple of the vets were willing to work with us, several of the vet techs were very kind to both us and to Cooper, and yes, they did start treatment that did save his life, but It seemed that from day 1 there was very little encouragement, and really no hope was given that Cooper could recover. That weekend was extremely discouraging, like I mentioned above. The vet was extremely pessimistic, and had we listened to him, Cooper would have been put to sleep. I do get the feeling that not much is known about Xylitol yet, and we're just glad we were willing to fight for our Cooper. I learned three years ago to be an advocate for my sick loved ones, when my husband was in the hospital. Cooper benefitted from this too, and he's alive today because of it.

John Smith

They give you CCL surgery 95% success rate vs. 60% with physical therapy. They only have physical therapy available in Santa Fe, so what do you think their always going to recommend? They don't seem to want to personalize the statistics to your personal dog.

Mariena Cabrera

Called to see how much an emergency vet fee cost and the young lady that answered our phone call thought it was more important to talk and LAUGH with the other unprofessional girls she was working with at the time while we tried to explain to her our dogs symptoms!!! While, what ever was going on in the background (that was so funny), she had asked to repeat myself as if she wasn't paying attention in the first place!! It was so rude and unprofessional I feel really upset that this rare 24 Hour vet clinic around me has young immature girls working for them! That's just an embarrassment for the company!!! I called on 5/14/17 @ 12:04am. I hope these girls get fired as I take my dogs health very serious!!

sailorstarfairy

Went twice - two different kitties (one has since passed away - old age) and the other is with us and happy as can be. First visit was for the older kitty, and the doctor (as I recall was a middle aged gentleman with reddish hair). He was extremely gentle and caring of my older cat and took very good care of her. Second visit was about four years later (the younger kitty had run out of the house and gotten snagged on a fence - thus needing stiches) anyway, we told the vet (different person - a lady perhaps late thirties) that we were in financial bind and she offered us information about a credit company that might be able to get us a credit account (we didn't qualify) however, she was able to work with us and we were able to get the second kitty fixed up so well that when we took the kitty to the regular vet, the following Monday - the regular vet said "Great job with the stitches, no oozing, no infection. Just keep an eye on her eating and litter box. Otherwise she's good." :)

Robin Miller

They treated me like crap because I did not want to work up my 17 year old dog to try to "fix" him. He needed to be euthanized, and they charged an arm and a leg and were not very kind despite my obvious grief. Oh, and it was quite expensive, which they claimed was because of his weight (only 45 lbs, not a big dog). Never again.

Sophia Jadalla

I had taken my dog in around 3am for a stomach obstruction. They charged me a total of $900 for two X-rays, an exam, and the kept him for 5 hours before I could transfer him to my actual vet for the surgery. This initial exeperience went really well. Two days since than, and I misplaced his antibiotic. I called to see if they may be able to give me a few pills so that he wouldn't miss his dose (I was planning on picking up more from my vet tomorrow when they open). Amoxacylin is a cheap, non-narcotic medication. The woman on the phone, Christina, was very rude to me. She said they would have to re-examine him and charge another $90 in order to give me the antibiotics, regardless of the fact that I also had the prescription from my vet. I understand that this may be their protocal, but I had done nothing to elicit how rude she was to me. I've always gone there for emergencies (for years) but this is the last time I will ever use them.

Doreah Hopewell

This place only cares about money and not your pet and any animal's well being.

Martha Gallegos

Aside from the cost.. I am so glad that this vet was here! They did a great job on my cat and so far is doing a lot better than he had been. It did take awhile to hear from them to get updates but when I did they told me everything and where even willing to wait and see what questions I had. I never felt rushed or like another dollar walking in. I know I would have paid the same at another place but without all the amazing help!

Sonia Markee

Being an RVT, whenever I've needed help with my fur babies, I've ALWAYS gone to VESC. Quite professional, understanding, and compassionate during times of distress.

Jimmy H.

My vet called ahead to see if there was an opening for an endoscopy which they were told we'd get right in. Our Vet sent us with all our x-rays as well as the ultrasound dating back from that morning to a week prior. My wife and our 3 dogs 1 being sick set off on a 3hr journey. We brought in our sick dog and he went in right away so we were hopeful. Unknown to us this vet clinic had lied to our Vet. There was no internal med even available, they had went home for the evening so our $1800 bill was going to turn in into $2500 for an overnight stay on top of the $1800 for the procedure we drove 3hrs to get on top of the $2000 we already spent at our local vet. So deciding that our pup couldn't make it home to our local vet just to turn aound and drive back the next day we had him put down. Thanks for killing our family member.

Brian Clingenpeel

I am absolutely disgusted with this place. My cat was attacked by several dogs. When I came in they let me know in no uncertain terms that it didn't matter that my cat was barley alive, if I didn't have money upfront, they would not even look at him. I begged and pleaded, telling them I had no problem paying, I just didn't have that much up front. They would not even consider billing me. I thought these people choose their field because of their love for animals. How do you sleep at night turning away crying owners and bleeding cats without treatment. If you have ANY choice but coming to Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New Mexico. P

Andrea Washington

Worst Vet Ever!!!! Only care about making money and not helping animals. They charge you and arm and a leg just to see the animal. They wont work with you set a payment plan up and keep your animal and the longer they keep them the more they charhe. Horrible DO NOT GO HERR!!!!

Mollie McGraw

In 2012, our vet told us our young rescue dog needed knee and hip surgery because she had malformed hip sockets and knees. We received referrals to two different specialty veterinarians. The first vet gave us an astronomical quote and said the price may increase depending what he found during surgery. With this response, we were considering whether putting our young dog down was the most sensible option. Fortunately, we were referred to Dr. Schwartz at Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New Mexico. His quote was very reasonable. He operated only on our dogs' knees but did it in such a way that it solved both the knee and hip issues she was having. After 6 weeks of recovery, she was able to walk and run. Our positive experience was confirmed when we spoke with our local vet who told us he was impressed with Dr. Schwartz and the solution he crafted for our dog. Five years later our dog is walking, running and enjoying life. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Schwartz. Thank you!

Shanna Thibodeaux

Brought in our very ill 7 year old cat having extreme breathing difficulties. I didn't like that I could not be with my pet while she was initially examined and given an IV while I filled out paperwork. I understood she needed emergency care but I wish I had been with her since she was scared. The vet spoke with me about 30 minutes later after I had been left to wait in an empty room. He explained they were giving her oxygen and then briefly explained that what I thought was a respiratory infection (all of our pets caught a bug from a new shelter adoption at our home days prior, despite being seperated from each other) was actually something much more serious. Cancer, heart disease or pulmonary issues was suspected. The vet assured me this wasn't a "cat cold" causing her deterioration, but no other information was given. Medical care beyond that would have been thousands by the day with little guarantee of her relief or survival. I originally wanted to bring her home but the vet explained she would likely not make it through the night, so I decided we would put her down there. I felt like what was wrong with her could have been more detailed in explanation from the doctor, I felt like I wasn't fully informed as to why exactly I should be putting her down. (but I also understand they are professionals so my second guessing and "what if" now is probably just my profound grief.) I wasn't told what her initial exam showed or why the doctor thought her respiratory symptoms weren't related to a passing illness but something terminal instead. Her passing was peaceful, painless and fast and everyone was SO compassionate and kind to me and my cat during her euthanasia process and afterwards. I was given time and moral support, tissues and I could not at all complain about that part of our visit. It was heartbreaking but made bearable by the kind staff and the doctor explained everything about what was happening as she passed which I found very positive. It was expensive in the end (300 for exam, oxygen, iv etc) but not to the point I felt I was price gouged or ripped off. Compairable prices to our other vet visits. (Especially considering it was 2-4am emergency) The memorial paw print and transport bag afterwards were nice afterthoughts from the staff and they even helped bring her to my car so she could be buried at home. A bitter sweet experience. I would say this is a good clinic and would use them again if needed. Bedside manner was somewhat lacking, but I felt comforted knowing our family member was in the hands of professionals who assured me that I was making the best choice I could under these circumstances even if I didn't understand exactly why this was happening to her.

Miles Fisher

We had a cat that ate something inorganic, and was throwing up/lethargic on Christmas Day 2017. They signed us in, but while waiting, a desperate gentleman came in carrying his dog which had just been hit by a car. They took the dog in right away, so we had to understandably wait for an hour or so. They got our cat in, took x-rays, and the doctor discussed her findings. Very good service. The Dr. didn't see anything conclusive on the x-rays, gave our cat a nausea med and a subcutaneous fluid infusion. Cat ended up fine. So, 2.5 hours of Christmas at the pet hospital, but well spent. I recommend this clinic, and fully appreciate the dedication of this staff on Christmas!

Doc Holiday

Called this place 30 minutes before arriving, telling them we are bringing in a very sick, possibly dying puppy. Once we arrived they had us feel out paperwork and wait around 30 to 45 minutes before getting the paperwork, after that a hour passed before doing a parvovirus test that was supposed to only take 10 to 15 minutes(25). All this time was passing as the young puppy is slowly dying. They finally take her in the back, just to find out she had died. If they would have seen her sooner, she would most likely still be here. If you want your family members to live in time of emergency, then do not take them to this place.

Cory Reid

This place is an embarrassment. Don’t take your animals here for an emergency ever! My cat suddenly became ill, was running into things, walking awkwardly, unable to jump up or down from perches, and complaining loudly in addition to being lethargic and having not eaten. We describe her symptoms and they order blood work. Say everything is normal, then tell us to get X-rays for fear of a stomach blockage when we’re complaining she can’t see and is walking weird. What!? Avoid at all costs. If I could give zero stars I would. Oh and how about ordering a shot of antibiotics and charging us $411 for no good reason. Thanks for nothing. Update: Later in the evening she began having seizures and worsened exponentially. We took her to another vet who diagnosed her with a brain or spinal tumor and gave us the real prognosis. We had to put our beloved pet down later that evening after watching her suffer even more and were out even more money to do this. Avoid this place! I can’t say it enough! They are lazy and will let you watch your pet suffer after ignoring the symptoms you describe.

Krystal Bartholomew

After taking my dog to my amazing vet I was told that my dog needed to go to the ER and she suggested I take her to Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New Mexico for prompt treatment. First contact I had with the staff at Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New Mexico was over the phone. I called to get a price quote on what the treatment might run me so I will be ready when I got there. The staff on the phone was extremely helpful and considerate the stress I was under at the time I call. Because of the help she gave me over the phone I was able to get everything in order I was going to need to support my dog financially and made the overall visit less stressful. When I got to the ER it was already almost 8pm. My dog was not in a life treating situation but he was in pain still the staff reacted right away. They keep me up to date with all action that would be take to help my pet and what actions might need to be taken and how he was holding up. In the end he came out of the whole experience feeling much better. While I waited a few real bad emergency’s came in and the care I saw the staff give the animal and there support they offered their human counterparts showed the true goodness of humanity.

William McCafferty

Our dog popped a stitch from an operation a couple of days ago. We took her here as recommended by our vet for after hours treatment. We got in right away, they looked her over promptly, and let us know that due to the location of her sutures it was expected that one might pop. It was not critical and not practical to fix, so they cleaned the sutures and sent us on our way free of charge, which I thought was very nice of them. Every single person was courteous and professional.

Alicia Lovato

We brought our 13 year old chocolate lab in and the staff treated our dog like family❤️ we will only come here from now on. Thank you for everything.

Elise Bennett

I took my puppy in late on a Parvo scare. Krissy at the front desk was just marvelous. Little noodle was quite traumatized from that giant swab, and Krissy I just loved on her till she felt good again. An absolute doll. I also want to give a huge thank you to Dr Lopez for taking the time to explain the results, charges, ect. And she was fantastically friendly as well. I want to add that I'm so thankful this town has a full time emergency service. Yes it costs a little more, but that's the cost of saving lives. Thank you!

George Kuechmann

We had to have them put our dear cat to sleep, they treated all of us with compassion, late on a Friday night. It is a terrible thing, to have to make that decision, but our sweet cat no longer has to suffer.

Joe McDuffie

We rushed our dog to the Veterinary Emergency center because she was obviously sick. Lethargic, shivers, no appetite and breathing hard. Overnight they ran a series of tests, X-rays, and Ultrasound scans and determined she had pancreatitis. Starting out with the emergency staff things went well. As the days progressed however, the service deteriorated. During the 5 day stay, it was harder and harder to talk to someone about our dog. The return calls they promised never came. When we finally got ready to take her home, they were very happy to take our $3500.00 dollars, (about $700.00 more than we expected) and thats where the service stopped. We called the evening we brought her home after seeing blood in her urine but once again, no one returned our call. We didn't hear from them for days and only after we contacted them to complain. Her vet was cold and uncaring. Our dog was just an number, a dollar figure.

Lea Beth and Matthew BarkerLaDue

My energetic lab got "porcupined" at 2:00 in the morning. Obviously it was a traumatic experience for all, but the doctor & the staff did a great job. He is healing nicely. Hopefully he won't engage with a porcupine any more. Thanks so much!

Teresa Lucero

I have had to dogs (kids) put to sleep there. The doctors and nurses did everything they could to help my girls. They were all so good to us. I would recommend this ER to everyone!!! They are fantastic!

amber castillo

i took my dog there and they were very quick and professional, very friendly and now my dog is ALIVE! and well and healthy. thank you so much!

Jeanie Sickafoose

This was the worse experience! My dog is now gone and this clinic was most unhelpful, especially. Dr. Garb. What an arrogate, unfeeling person. If I had seen someone with compassion, maybe my dog would still be here. And I would not have sat around for 48 hours while my dog was stuck in their clinic.

Beatrice Villegas

Took a really long time to get discharged. Hadn't had this experience here before. Maybe more vets needed?

dreamer2606

DO NOT EVER USE THIS CLINIC!!! *Coming home from spending the day in the mountains I almost got into a multi car accident. When I had to slam on my breaks my dog who was out the back got thrown off onto the floor (I went home that night and bought a car seat). When we got home I noticed something was really wrong. She was flinching, twitching and her eyes were dull. She was not really responding to me. I rushed her to this clinic, 30 minutes away, only because they were open. The vet comes in looks at her and asks me if she had been given or got into Marijuana. Absolutely not was my response. He says "She looks like a Marijuana dog, you can tell me, I'm not the cops" There is no way in hell I would get my dog stoned. I explained once again we were hiking all day then almost got in an accident, couldn't it be head injury, shock, or maybe ate a weed? He said he could do blood work for $180.00. My reply was well if this is shock or injury what is blood work going to show you? Yet again he mentioned she looked high. I was soooooo pissed!!! How dare he accuse me. I told him I was leaving and he left us there for about 10 minutes waiting for paperwork. I shouldn't have paid the $98.00 we got no assistance.

Ruth Martin

If I could give negative stars for this sad excuse of an emergency clinic, I would happily do so. My dachshund couldn't walk this morning and was yelping in pain when touched so I rushed him over to Veterinary Emergency and Specialty immediately. There were no other patients, my dog was crying in pain and the a*****s working at the place left us in the waiting room with no attention for almost half an hour after I finished the paperwork! Didn't even take vitals. Further, I could hear the guy from the front desk chit-chatting about nonsense with the tech in the back. I did a search on my phone after we'd been waiting for over 25 minutes and found Route 66 Emergency Clinic, so I walked out and took my pup to the other clinic which was vastly superior in every way. Guy at the desk didn't even seem surprised that I left. This was actually my second, near-identical experience with Veterinary Emergency and Specialty and I will NEVER be back. How do they manage to stay in business?

Gina Henriquez

This place seems to have the only cardiologist in the state of New Mexico and, probably knowing this, charge out the butt for something that another state charges much less for. Now I have to drive all the way to Colorado for my dog to get heart surgery and I don't know if she will even make it! 5300 is a ripoff! Colorado State Univ is willing to do it for 2k plus a free echocardiogram! Plus when I first called this place for my puppy's first echo the woman over the phone said the echo AND exam would be 450 all together. I was relieved until I went there and in person they told me it was 575!!! I had to pull 75 dollars out of pocket with carecredit just to get it done. They didnt even offer me a discount for THEIR employee giving wrong information! Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere.

T Z

Nice staff and Jamie was very friendly and knowledgeable! You can see her passion for animals the way she treated our girl!

Isaac Weatherwax

We have a Dexter he’s 7 years old. Around 8lbs if he feels good. Dr. Laura Horn, at the Bolton animal clinic, started helping us with him in 2013 between her and ourselves we got him stabilized. His immune system was off he lost hair and his paws looked like they were rotting. Dr. Horn worked with Dr. Rebecca Mount and they were amazing!! We got our boy back to health and unfortunately several years later our dude has another problem. Apparently due to immunosuppressants he succumbed to a bacterial infection. We were sent to a different department ‘Internal Medicine’. And not greeted at all.’Dr. Julie a stephens’ couldn’t even take the time to introduce herself. She scared my girlfriend and when we went for a follow up she didn’t even bother to have his records handy. She made us look up the last time we visited and after asking if she could get his records we saw hide nor hair from her afterwards. After spending several thousands of dollars ‘dr julie stephens’ has spent less than 10 minutes in the room with us. He also was bandaged and we didn’t notice it until we got home ‘julie’ Couldn’t even bother to tell us he was bandaged because she was so busy telling us “put him back in the carrier other animals also come in.” She never bothered to introduce herself!

Jamie Huggies

If you care about getting the right treatment for your pet rather than being a walking bag of money, then go somewhere else.

RKC

My dog passed away 6/29 10PM. One of the worst days of my life. I am devastated. I had rushed him into this Vet emergency and specialty center on 4000 Montgomery and these guys were above and beyond professional. Took my yorkie in within 1 min while I was doing the paperwork. Kept me in the loop every minute on what was going on and what the treatment would cost so I did not get blindsighted. They are absolutely not after money like the other reviews suggest. The other reviews are totally way off based on my experience. They tried to save my yorkie but could not due to the sever septic shock he was in. They did their best. No extra and unneeded tests, just what basic was needed to try to revive him and diagnose his condition. I would 100% recommend them for any pet services and absolutely for emergencies. RIP my adorable child. Thank you team.

Jacqueline Baros

Needed to rush our fur baby in from Socorro to Albuquerque for emergency care in the middle of the night. They were able to see her the second we walked in the door. Additonally, all the staff were very kind and helpful and knew exactly what to do to calm my very skittish and scared Mini Australian Shepherd. I am so thankful and can’t say enough good things about this office and it’s staff.

Kylie Boggess

I think the main problem with the care they provide is that it seems so uncaring. We all love our animals, but we can't afford to have everything done every time. When I needed to take my dog home on her first day after surgery because I could not afford another day (where the treatment offered was just hydration), the vet and vet techs were extremely rude and unprofessional. When I signed my dog out against medical advice, my husband and I were treated horribly. We were tapped out at $2500 and I felt I could make sure she was hydrated from home. My dog has done fine. Overall I think the medical service was fine, but the way we were treated was awful. Haven't they ever been broke trying to make the best decisions with limited resources? I can't imagine a vet tech has $2,500+ to drop in two days. The vet tech literally would not give at home care instructions because we "knew it all." I can't believe I paid so much to be treated like that.

alison jayne

HORROR: HORROR. On Friday, June 17, 2016 Dr. Julie Stephens diagnosed my 3 lb Chihuahua Zoe, with Pulmonary Hypertension after performing an echocardiogram. On Monday, June 21, 2016, my beloved dog passed away in my arms at 1am. That's 3 days later. Dr. Stephens and Dr. Carlyn Reynolds (Cardiologist) gave my dog Viagra and the blood thinner (Plavix). A protocol that I can't find anywhere on the internet. The standard protocol for Pulmonary Hypertension is Viagra, no where can I find a Vet who combines it with blood thinners unless it's believed that the dog has been clotting or will clot, which was not the case with Zoe. Within 48 hours or 2 doses of Plavix my dog had a massive vestibular syncope, Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Stephens decided to keep my dog on Plavix even though I found out after Zoe passed, in their internal records, that they believed that Plavix may have caused an internal bleed, which I now believe was the cause of Zoe's pre-mature death. Dr. Stephens decided to keep my dog on Plavix even though I found out after Zoe passed, in their internal records, that they believed that Plavix may have caused an internal bleed, which I now believe was the cause of Zoe's "pre-mature death". If Dr. Stephens and the other Doctors at VESC suspected a bleed, they should have told us to stop the Plavix to see if her condition improved. Also, had she told me about the bleed, I would have stopped the Plavix myself. Maybe saving Zoe's life and the last 24 hours of intense suffering. Zoe had every symptom of a "Plavix Induced Hemorrhage" and they missed the symptoms. In my opinion Dr. Stephens was a coward and lacked empathy. As Zoe's family we had a "right to know" the full extent of her condition, but she even explain to us what Pulmonary Hypertension was. She didn't tell us that if we took Zoe down to sea level (instead of where we lived at 7,200 feet) that she may have lived longer due to increased oxygen levels (which we would have done within 24 hours). All she gave us was "false-hope" with medicine and sent us home, with no explanation. What Dr. Stephens stole from my family was Zoe's last 2 days on this earth. For this, I will never forgive her because I can't get those 2 days back. Zoe's last 2 days would have been very different. We would had a chance to say goodbye and spend more quality time holding and kissing her. But Dr. Stephens robbed us of that. Now we are left without closure and wounded hearts. My family is still heart broken and grieving, all these months later. I would never recommend taking your dog to The Veterinary Emergency & Specialty center of NM because of my family's horrible experience.

Deborah Hurtado

They saved my puppy’s life. She was a rescue and after we brought her home she started throwing up and couldn’t stop. Went from jumping around to barely moving in the half day we had her at home. Brought her in and she tested positive for parvo. It was touch and go for a few days but in the end she pulled through. She is now the happiest little dog I’ve ever had. Thanks for saving my dog’s life.

Laura Nunn

The vets ignored my observations of my own animal and did not give her the treatment she needed. Instead, they did a bunch of unnecessary testing, never ruling out the concern that I had. After she stayed an entire day, I brought home a very sick animal and had to wait until my vet opened on Monday morning. My vet discovered that my concern was valid, within hours of me showing up without an appointment. Something the ER could not do with a whole days worth of time. My pet is now getting treated for the issue that I took her to the ER to check out, for which they refused to exam her and did nothing but waste my money, time and cause my pet to be in pain for way longer than necessary. The Doctor seemed to believe that I had no idea what I was talking about. Apparently at this ER, the pet owner's opinion and observations count for nothing and the Doctor who just met my pet knows everything.

Allan Castillo

I would love to Thank the employee and the Veterinarian Doctor Lopez. She was very caring and helpful to my little Ginger. Who have a bad night. And luckily this Veterinary hospital was open, had to drive from Rio Rancho, The other Veterinary was closed. We arrived at 1am, left happy, that we took Ginger home. With her meds. THANK YOU very much. Ginger thanks you too.

Jeremiah Points

You guys give no help for any money

Sammie Fusco

I am very grateful for all of the wonderful people who work here! They treated my pup with so much love, treated me with respect and kindness, and moved quickly to assess his needs. Thank you so so much to all of you. I 100% recommend this place.

Jenn Dunn

These people have no compassion. Took my money and sent my sick kitty home in pain. Knowing he was in pain, how could anyone be so mean...so my cat had to suffer 12 more hrs just so I could take him to a REAL vet. Why could they just be truthful and tell me my cat was sick and was dying.

Monica Jaramillo

This staff was the friendliest to deal with when having to possible put a pet down. Thank goodness I didnt that day but the front desk still called to check on my pup and vet was just so helpful and caring♡

Karen Sommerhalder

I brought my kitty here on a close friends recommendation and they have been wonderful. They were very upfront with me about his condition and that he was in trouble. He was diagnosed with pyothorax which can be a fatal infection in the chest cavity. They made sure I knew everything going on every step of the way and contacted me twice daily for updates. They also listened to what I as the client wanted and didn't have a complex agenda to try and pressure me into spending thousands of dollars on invasive treatments before trying a less invasive route. That in itself speaks volumes that they listen to their clients and showcases they are compassionate do not view their clients/patients as an ATM. I highly recommend the doctors, techs, receptionist and the facility. They are all very sweet and wonderful. My kitty looks better than he did before he was sick. Definitely 5 star care and treatment. Your precious family member will be in great hands here. I trust them and that's saying a lot because my fur babies are all I have.

Michael Avila

My dog who suffered from cluster grand mal seizures was left alone in a kennel for a full minute seizing before any medication was administered. When I asked why they wouldn’t give me a direct answer.

Forrest Tracey

"No Firearms allowed" I won't go there by choice ever. By not allowing citizens the right of self defense makes not a single person more safe. In fact it makes that place a target for nut jobs that seek out "Gun Free Zones" that allow them to do as much harm as possible.

Randal Keys

Buyer beware. This place is shockingly expensive. Two nights in the hospital for a small pet with no surgery was over $4000. They appear to profit from people's distress and seem to be biased towards recommending treatment even when the long term prognosis for the pet is a significantly diminished quality of life. Avoid this place.

Alex Elliott

Aside from the very poor customer service and attitude from Deidra and waiting for three hours to be seen when they knew exactly when we would be there after driving all the way from Farmington they took great care of our dog and kept us informed along the way. Our dog is healing nicely and got to keep his foot thanks to a successful surgery and a knowledgeable staff.

David Fox

This place was awesome. We came to this clinic becuase our normal vet recommends it and now I know why. Our 8 year old yellow lab/retriever split her left dew claw on a walk. We brought her in at 5:00 and the receptionist immediately took our information and believed it would be a simple fix with a rapid recovery. Our experience was everything I could have wanted. We waited about 20 minutes in a comfortable area with a cup of tea. When our technician was ready, we walked in, I explained our dew claw issue, and she took Nan back to the vet area after only a few follow up questions about vaccinations. Not long later, she was back and happy. The claw was addressed, and everything was pretty much according to what the receptionist suggested would be the case. I got some instruction about how to care for Nan until the claw was healed and was on my way. Start to finish in less than an hour.

Jamie Hammond

I want to thank Krissie and all of the staff for being so wonderful recently when it was time for our sweet little Chiweenie Audrey to leave us. They were so caring during this very difficult time. They helped make a very hard day more bearable.

Miranda Trujillo

First off, let me just say the receptionist at the front, thank you for being so kind and helpful. Now the actual vet, and "nurse" we're rude right away. My dog was not breathing and they took about 30 minutes to actually come into the room. When the vet came in she (Jenn Lepp) came in, she said she right away knew what was wrong and when I told her no that could not be it, he answer was "I've been doing this a long time I know what I'm doing" clearly not Jenn because you had to send another vet to come deal with my family. Then wehn I caught jenn in a lie she wanted to say I was the one that lied. Now calling the head offices, I left a voicemail and it's been 3 days and I have not received a call back at all. Worst vet ever, do not bring your pets here, they will charge you then if you want to know what's wrong you have to pay an extra for testing that doesn't get done correctly. If you get Jenn Lepp just walk out.

Javier Keeweece

They are truly amazing. Staff is super friendly, very good with pets and pet parents. Very willing to work with us on the price of surgery. I wish they did everything I would not hesitate to bring my dog here regularly.

khoy bert

Initially was walked into a room covered in bloody paw prints. The room they had us wait in was unsanitary. I noticed stains on the examination table and grabbed a tissue and when I looked it was grey from dirt and blood. The nurses seem incompetent. When trying to take my cat’s vitals they hardly tried calming her down before recommending sedation. I wasn’t even sure if the doctor was talking about my cat because she kept using male pronouns for my female cat. The nurses and doctors lack empathy for scared pet owners. Seems like they’re trying to extort pet owners by getting them to agree to give unnecessary treatment. Unless your pet’s about to die don’t come here. I’d rather wait and get the best treatment for my sweet baby than to be seen by people who don’t care.

Jennifer Smith

Took my dog for a dental consult and they charged me $100 just for the consultation! If you like getting ripped off then this is the place to go. The vet thinks very highly of her credentials and wanted to charge over $1000 to potentially $1700 for the dental and tooth extractions. I had previously paid only $400 for the same procedure by a vet with similar qualifications and experience. Ended up going somewhere else and paying about $600 for the same procedure. Again, if you extra money to throw away for dental care for your pets then this is the place for you (note the sarcasm).

Ed Kappus

Very kind and considerate handling of our cat's euthanasia.

Lauren Mueller Skinner, CRS ABR

Dr. Megarry and his staff are gracious, gentile and profesional. I highly recommend VESC over Petroglyph.

Catherine Murray

My dog had been hit by a truck and had to undergo orthopedic surgery. I had no problem with the care of my animal. However, I was disconcerted because the estimate was between $1700 and $2100. When I asked some one else how much was the amount I would be charged it had grown to $2700 and I was told I had to increase my Care Credit limit. I was transferred to the vet and asked him exactly how much it would be. He said again betwee $1700-$2100. This happened a couple of times as I talked to different people. Finally, they faxed me this estimate with a permission to operate. When I went to pick up my animal and pay again the price had climbed to over $2700. When I showed my estimate the bill was rectified. If I had not questioned it I would have been over charged $600. Many people are upset and focused on the care of their animal rather than the price. I really believe that someone in the back is cooking the books. Be very careful.

Christina Huesing

My pup Payton was hit by a car, needed surgery, got Parvo and had to stay in isolation for a week. This was a traumatic event for her as well as myself. Every person I had contact with was informative, caring and understanding of my emotions. Specificity, Tenisha, the Vet Tech, took care of her everyday and loved on her like she was her own. Doctors Tallant, Freeman, Neilson and Hyatt were all absolutely amazing. The front desk staff (there are a lot of them, just a few are Krissie, Deidra, and Taylor) were all friendly and helpful. Not once did I have to worry about her or question them. I will continue to refer and use them.

Rick Garner

Caring, compassionate and informative. Took our girl to them only to find out it was terminal. Sudden for us. These ladies were awesome!

Donald Aragon

Was extremely satisfied with the service and my dogs were well taken care of. I would recommend them to friends and family. Good work.

Alex Applegate

I took my sick cat there and paid $400 for the exam and lab tests. The clinic failed to send her samples to the lab for analysis until after a week her visit and probably wouldn't have sent them had I not called repeatedly asking for the results.

gaelan de Wolf

Just want to say 'thank you' to all Dr. Nielsen & all the staff (Tess, Chris & Dierdra). Our little cat, Jupiter, was severely dehydrated and it bad shape. We had to take him in early on a Sunday morning. Everyone we met were kind, caring and attentive and the whole appointment/testing process was very efficient. After Jupiter's treatment, Dr. Nielsen followed up with me personally to answer my questions in regards to Jupiter's progress. Jupiter is now on the mend and cute as ever. THANK YOU ALL!

Anonymous Buqueno

I brought my two dogs in for porcupine quills in the face on a Sat. afternoon because my regular vet was closed. One dog was in really bad shape with quills inside her mouth and throat, and the other just had a few in the mouth and paws. The bill was steep with expensive anesthesia, antibiotics, and work, but they reduced the exam price for multiple pets, and were great with follow up. Our feisty porcupine eater ended up with traveling quills poking through her lips and nose in the following week, and they were great to see her for free and continue to remove the quills, not charging for extra anesthesia or time. I really appreciate the care they took with her, and that they didn't continue to charge us for each visit. All staff were very kind. In a pinch, I would go here again.

Abril Vigil

This place is absolutely terrible. Just recently took my dog here because we believed she had some sort of stroke or seizer. Not only did they accuse us of getting her HIGH they laughed at us when we asked if she maybe had cancer. They made my mother feel completely terrible as if it were her fault. We were able to find another vet who was absolutely amazing and told us that she was indeed having siezsers and possibly had a brain tumor JUST FROM LOOKING AT HER. This place is full of money hungry jerks that takes advantage of distressed people. We literally paid $500 just for then to tell us that nothing is wrong with her??????

Earl Williams

Absolutely an outstanding clinic. Several of their staff are considered amongst the best in the world and that is what we encountered. It is the Mayo clinic for small animals. So very glad we have a clinic of this high caliber in New Mexico.

Katy Nash

Had the worst possible experience at this clinic. We had to emergeny put my 13 year old Pomeranian to sleep, they treated us horribly. I had to watch my baby suffer for close to two hours because they were to busy to see us. They were laughing and carrying on right outside our room. I don't recommend this place to anyone. My dogs last moments were horrible, I wish this care on no one.

Clayton Grant

The people here are great, they've saved one of our dogs that had a new type tumor that was unknown to the area. They were extremely friendly and professional and I don't plan on taking my animals anywhere else.

Kami Belyeu

PLEASE READ- THIS VET SAVE MY LITTLE GIRLS LIFE. We had spent thousands at TLC and they could not diagnose what was wrong with her. I took her to this vet and on sight they could tell what was wrong. They immediately treated her - FOR FREE FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX MONTHS- and now she is on the mend. Because of this WE ALSO DONATE BLOOD to their blood bank. Dr. Mount is just the most wonderful, kind, loving vet I've met. I would have lost my baby if it weren't for her.

J.T. Dawgzone

Very caring and helpful staff. 24/7, Even on holidays.

N Valdez

We would like to thank the entire staff who assisted in Precious' surgery yesterday. You all are so kind, sincere and willing to assist in anyway possible. Precious is 1 day into her 8 week recovery and although she had a rough night, it was reassuring to have VESCNM staff available through the night. UPDATE!! Unfortunately, as the saying goes, "too good to be true". There were follow up visits to change out our pup's bandages (FACIAL CAST) and no one knew how to efficiently handle that task. The bandages were loose, the tape came apart and then.....WE WOULD GET BILLED! After we were told that the changes of her bandages were included in the surgery cost!! AND even after their staff was incompetent at changing out the bandages? Who is wasting who's time here? We would go home after the changes and then take MORE time off work to make 2-3 trips back and wait for them to try again. After an unfortunate incident were a staff member left Precious unattended, she was able to pull the feeding tube out which entailed ANOTHER SURGERY to replace it and the Dr. was crass enough to attempt to blame his staff's incompetence on our pup. AND advised us that it would cost another $600 to replace the tube!! WHAT!! That didn't happen on my daughter's watch, it happened on the facility's watch! Only after SEVERAL SERIOUS discussions with administrative staff, did they decide not to bill. Eventually my daughter decided it was safer for her to start changing the bandages herself. This was no easy feat as it consisted of building a facial cast, but SHE DID IT and she DID IT BETTER than VESCNM!! In the end, Precious healed and low and behold....4 months later there was a bill in the mail for the supplement that we previously paid for!! Let me say as well, this supplement was billed at 4 times the cost of the product on-line and even at a local pet store!! Shame on you VESCNM for exploiting people over the love of their pets!!

Robert Sebring

The staff and veterinarian were compassionate, efficient, friendly, and highly competent. My cat (Gizmo) was seen by a tech within five minutes of our arrival. The veterinarian was very careful to explain my pet’s condition and possible complications. While the outcome wasn’t good, I knew that my pet had had the very best care.

Kyle Bitner

When other veterinarians have turned us away; This place has always been there. Thanks to everyone that works here for everything!

shae brown

The doctor was great and they took good care of my dog. But it was almost like a human hospital in that it took All day to get her discharged and when they said I could come get her it still took an hour for her to be released. Just be sure to give yourself way more time than you need.

Steve Steiner

This place will take advantage of you in your time of need.They will bill you for items without your consent. This place only cares about dollars not pets. Do not use them find another vet.

Karen Craig

Zero stars, really. Much the same as a previous poster. Stay away from this place. My dog had some sort of seizure so we scooped him up and raced over to this ER. Once he was there, they checked his vitals and said he was stable. He then started bleeding from his intestines, and more than 2 hours later, after alerting the staff numerous times, the vet never came in to check on him. WE NEVER EVEN SAW THE VET!! We called Rt. 66 ER, then raced him over there, where he had a complete blood panel and xrays within minutes. Turns out the delay after he started passing blood may cost him his life. He was horribly dehydrated by the time we got him to the other ER and is now on IV fluids, along with liver and kidney meds to try and save him. We'll know in 24 hours if he'll make it. Hey vet, have you ever heard of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis? Turns out it's fairly common - like 1st year med school stuff for vets. ASAP IV fluids is essential to saving the dog and you would have, and in the end MAY yet by ignoring my little guy, be responsible for his death. The curdled blood all over your front sidewalk, which probably STILL hasn't been looked at, let alone cleaned up, was literally the definitive red flag. If I could sue the first vet for malpractice, I would! If the place on Montgomery tries to bill me for the time we spent there, I'll open the gates of hell upon them by contacting my AG and the BBB. Try me. I dare you.

Margie Miller

Exceptional!!!! Highly recommend! Staff is amazing. We were traveling through Albuquerque in an RV when both of our dogs became very sick and required hospitalization. So blessed we were close to this outstanding emergency clinic.

Stefanie H.

If I could give no stars I would! We took our dog in after he had a seizure and over the phone they said it would 110 to see him and find out what’s wrong. 300 if he needed stablizing. He was admitted and when we saw the vet he said he had no idea what was wrong so he would need to keep him over night for testing and it would cost anywhere from 2 thousand to 3 thousand dollars with a deposit of 750! When we said we couldn’t pay and we were taking him home, he said our dog was unresponsive and pleaded that we put him down because if we took him home he would die painfully during the night. He assured us he would suffer and die. We took him anyway because I did not trust him at all (he was responsive by the way) I nursed him back to 100% health myself by morning. Imagine I let them kill my dog!!! It’s been 3 days and thankfully our dog is back to normal.

Verleen Callister

Beware the Swedish doctor!! Ends up my dog IS very sick . This doctor could care less. He did nothing but talk about himself and crack his knee for us!

Jennifer Dopierala

My dog was attacked by another dog at the park. I did not see any wounds right away but he was not bearing weight on one of his legs so I brought him in within 30 minutes of the occurrence. The vet (Clare something) took him out of the room to assess him. She said she did not see any visible wounds and treated him for a soft tissue injury. A few days later he was still not bearing weight on that leg so I started checking it. I found 3 puncture wounds that were scabbed over. His regular vet cannot see him for another week so I was going to take him back to Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center. I called them to see why the vet did not find the wounds the first time. They started making excuses, "Maybe it's new, maybe it's fleas or ticks, maybe he did it to himself." I was just questioning the competency of the vet and they were making excuses for her. I will no longer be bringing my pets to them.