VCAHospitalsReviews 48

VCA Valley Vets, 853 Falcon Park Rd, Lower Burrell, PA ******* is the worst place to take your precious animals. I was a customer close to 40 years and then it sold, and it is now a CORPORATION. Vet overturn is high, most workers are nasty and smart mouthed. My dog was dying of cancer. One morning I called for an emergency visit, was told it would be $90, I said fine, then I was asked do I think my dog was ready to be put down? What! I'm not the vet, I just need someone to look at him, ok but it will be $90, I have pet insurance ok. I was told to bring him down right now. I was up 26 hours straight, they knew this, I take care of my spouse 24/7 and I was taking care of my dog just about as much. I get there, not one person behind the counter acknowledged me. I finally told them who I was and what I was there for, just got looks. The place was not busy, I waited and waited and waited, then ask when this ER visit would happen, they said well, you are a fill in, you just have to wait until someone is available! No, I am not a fill in, I called and was told I would be an ER visit for $90.00, believe me, the $90 was mentioned over 4 times by the less than brilliant person who answered the phone. They all knew my dog had cancer and that I have been taking care of him about 6-7 weeks. Long story short an argument ensued, yes, I was mad as a hornet, one of the vets, started yelling telling me to leave, she was going to call the cops on me! I left. They knew I still had free services on my health plan, so they sent me a letter telling me I am no longer welcome at their FU Hospital. Left me hanging with no vet and a dying dog. He lived less than a week after this. All they care about is PROFIT, they do not care about animals or people. NO COMPASSION, NOTHING. I would not take a dead rat there, they would somehow make money and harm the RAT. People stick with small vets and clinics, there is where you get treated like a person, your animals are not dollars signs, never go to this ROTTEN PLACE...

First off this place treats pets and clients possibly. Secondly, they're overpriced for their services. But worst of all they get blood for transfusions from a canine blood bank where pets are horribly abused.

Horrible experience. We are bringing our dog for cadi injections to VCA Aventura Animal Hospital every 2 months for the pass several years and today they rejected to do the injection with the explanation that the dog has some ear infection and we have to spent over $400.00 first to do some ear test and treatment which has nothing to do with the appointment we scheduled for the injection. Cadi (cytopoint) injection is a treatment to reduce any allergies and slow down the itch. Our dog was treated for ear infection previously in VCA Aventura by Dr. Alexeev and I would say that he is only one doctor at this clinic who are a real doctor and provide a truly health service and not a business services to the pets.( Unfortunately he was off today and injection can be provided by any technicians)
Medical Director Gabrielle was very unprofessional as a health care provider and very good as a business provider trying to do a business first and then worry about the health of the pet.
I would not recommend this clinic if you really need a professional services to your pets. For the pass several years the doctors and personal change constantly here most likely due to unprofessional services they provided.

VCA did a big buyout of area independently owned clinics. All of the pricing doubled or tripled. Much more concerned about money than animals. "Stay Away from VCA"

It was Labor Weekend. My dog became sick in the AM on Friday. I took him first to a hospital in Ventura, CA. They didn't work past 5pm. They asked if I had 10-15 grand or put him to sleep. Money wasn't the issue. They had to find me someone. They then recommended VCA and I had to transport my dog from Ventura to VCA. This was over an hour and half drive. When I handed my dog over the nurse, this was going to be the last time we saw each other. I was taken into a room and asked the same thing, do I have 10-15,000 dollars. Now imagine the prices kept going up. They assured me he was going to be ok. So flash to Tuesday when I get called and my dog has been given CPR and they can only do it for another few minutes before - they have to give up. Wow so he had surgery and was doing great Sunday, and Monday, and Tuesday Oh Crap. What he died of pneumonia but didn't know if he got it before he got there or got it there. Keep your animals away from this place. They take all of your money and give your animals IMHO horrible care. I can expand, if asked private. The worst experience of my life.

1st Medical Malpractice Incident: My dog Winston was in the ICU at VCA when they forgot to give him his medication for his collapsing tracea. When he was discovered writhing in pain and slowly suffocating, they resuscitate him. However, after going through this Winston was never the same.

2nd Incident: I had stopped using VCA after the aforementioned medical malpractice; however, 13 years later, I had to use them because my dog Bentley needed a internal specialist. He was having problems with his large intestine so they said he needed a $5546 ultrasound. I agreed and when I took him home that night I noticed he was urinating blood for the 1st time. When I called and explained this was not even the problem we were dealing with so what happened during the ultrasound? They said they had found bladder stones but the new symptom of him urinating blood was a "pure coincidence." A coincidence it was not, but the fact the ultra sound required 'slight' pressure on the bladder, it seemed obvious that they most likely pushed too hard. Anyways, Bentley required emergency surgery, which also resulted in addition problems. When I complained to management I was told not to return. The irony of all this is who the hell would return after they have done everything in their power to maim the two dogs I love, and would do anything for…

VCA does not practice medicine, but instead they practice conning people out of their money bc the resource they have tapped into entails the following. 'unconditional love' equals untapped, unmeasurable amounts of money. PLEASE TAKE YOUR LOVED ONE ELSEWHERE.

Brought my dog in at 6pm. She was bleeding from the rectum and vomiting. They did not see my dog until 5am. 11 hours, her back legs and tail was covered with blood. I requested that they at least put her in a room with pads. They said no. Then I asked that they clean up the area with was now covered with blood and vomit. They keep saying that someone would come out and clean it up which didn't happen for two hours. How disgusting, to treat an animal with no regard. They charged me for antibiotics and did not give them to me. They said her vitals were stable. She had a RBC of 72. I took my dog to my own vet and she had 104 fever, and lost 5 pounds. They told me they didn't know what was wrong with my dog. For $2500.00, I should have gotten some answers. Shame on you people, it's obvious that you're only interested in making money, you should not be in business. I would never take my dog there again. Every time I went to speak to the girl at the counter to tell her how bad my dog was bleeding, she told me that she was not a priority. Maybe you should train your triage people to have more knowledge. Never in my dreams would I think people could treat an animal so poorly. Shame on all of you.

Initially I came here to get help for my very sick dog. I was given options and during the discussion of those options, I was under the impression they were going to help me with the medication to give her relief so that we could save her however they gave her medication to relax her so that they could kill her. I would NEVER have chosen to do this. I would have surrendered her to the hospital so that someone else could have adopted her after the doctor helped her. I was tricked. Then we paid for a private Cremation and revived a call a few days later stating there was a mistake in the process and my dog was Cremated with other dogs and her ashes were discarded. However we are happy to give you a rock with her name in it. ‍ like that was supposed to make me feel better. NEVER trust them

Cash grab cash grab cash grab cash grab cash grab cash grab cash grab cash grab cash grab cash grab cash

They only got a 1 star because unfortunately you can't leave it blank, wish I could make it a zero. We took our kitty to vca river for emergency care on a Saturday evening. No tests were run because we didn't have and could not get $600 up front for their deposit for unknown treatments. They sent us home with a prescription and a wish of luck. The doctor lied on the discharge paperwork which stated that we had refused care due to lack of finances. Vca river only has one possible assistance program (care credit), which after being denied we later found out that if you don't have a credit rating of at least a 600 or better they won't assist you. Vca river refused to keep our kitty through the weekend even after we informed them that we had located funds but it would be Monday before we would have it. It is now Sunday night and our kitty has passed away in our arms due to the lack of caring and compassion and straight refusal to work with us in an effective way that could have saved our kitty life. IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR ANIMAL,NEVER TAKE THEM TO ANY VCA HOSPITAL. THEIR STANDARD OF CARE RATING WITH THE BBB IS A 1.2 OUT OF FIVE. WHICH LITERALLY MEANS WORST IN THE BUSINESS.

Most unethical place I have ever worked, If you want to have a positive career and trust your employer run away from them and never work for VCA. They illegally charged employees taking money away from employees retirement plan and lost in court, but still deny such claims. Not very ethical if you ask me.

I strongly do not recommend taking your dog to this clinic.
Dr. Longo treated our beloved dog in a very unprofessional, uncaring,without emotion and compassion. He decided that it was right for him to go through a procedure knowing he is old and has health issues and a small heart murmur. This was a problem and there was a good chance he won't make it alive.
Our dog was suffering tremendously for two whole weeks after this procedure! We took him back to the vet ( Dr. Longo) to give him an injection that would calm him and ease on him, the doctor gave him an injection that actually caused him much more discomfort. He died with so much pain hours after the doctors visit.
Unfortunately this clinic is all about money,the doctor treated him without any emotions.
I would also like to emphasize that the staff at the clinic was good and kind. My criticism is towards the doctor himself only!

Apparently your plan auto renews back to the original date you made the account every year. Now they tell you this once and then never again like your suppose to remember one bit of info a year from now. Then they renew it with no warning no hey we're renewing your $#*! nope they just take it. Caused me to have a bill taken out I wasn't planning for thus making me 2 hundred in the hike. And now these dumb $#*!s who took my payment out on the 9th of December was again taken out in the 23rd. You all are best lucky it didn't overdraft me again or I'd be looking into lawsuits.

Worst visit. Long story that I don't want to relive. Vet Dr. Boyd nearly killed Niña. She ASSUME her diagnosis and she made a fool of herself. Thank God I didn't put Niña out. She said she would not make it and had problems breathing. I brought Niña home. She breaths great and she went through what animal poison control says. How do I know. If she had physically examine her lungs they were fine. Do you and your furry a favor stay away.

I have been going to this vet for a couple of years and was fine with them until my last couple of visits. Took our dog in for his annual shots and to look at a paw he was limping on. The dr gave our dog the Bordatella shot, which is optional and we don't get, without asking us. I wasn't aware until we checked out. When I saw the charge, I questioned it and the receptionist said, "too bad we can't squeeze the medicine back out of him!" That shot cost us over $50. We were prescribed medicine to help with his paw and told to make a follow up appointment. I was told the appt would be no charge since it was a follow up. We went to this appt and checked in and waited for about 10-15 minutes before being told that they canceled our appt. They had called my home phone but I didn't receive the message. I should have been notified when I checked in but was not. My son made another appt a few days later. After that appt was made, I rcvd 4 text messages, 1 call on my cell phone, 1 email, and 1 call on my home phone. Why wasn't that done when they canceled the previous appt? When my son came to the next appt he WAS charged for a follow up appt. I called immediately and expressed my frustration with this office. I was told that a manager would call me back... I NEVER received a call. I waited 2 weeks and called back again and told them my frustration and was assured that Sarah would call me that day. She NEVER called and I have not heard from anyone there... that was 2 weeks ago! I will not go back to this vet. I advise people to look over their bill before they pay it because once they get their money, they don't seem to care about your concerns!

The east meadow location is truly an example of how it should be. From the front desk, to the techs, to the doctors! They are truly incredible at providing outstanding service and care for Mocha. I cannot say it enough!

This is for VCA veterinarians in the Austin, Texas area.

I had a dog given Graves' Disease by a now VCA-owned clinic, and he did not recover. That was a medication error.

Ten years later, the Graves' causing veterinarian was overbooked and sent me to another VCA veterinarian who couldn't recognize an emergency, didn't do most of an exam, and didn't do necessary labs. (Because they're not an urgent care clinic and don't have onsite labs—they just fraudulently advertise) Their vet told me to wait on unnecessary testing for treatment. My dog died, hours later, pretty awfully.

I'm certain that vet could not pass a basic veterinary triage exam. She never mentioned what actually killed my dog, and insisted on something else.

And, once again, my primary vet probably caused that emergency by pushing VCA branded supplements that interfered with medication.

These are wildly overpriced, awful veterinarians that can't do basic emergency triage and make medication errors that are fatal.

Avoid Austin area VCA. They're a bad corporate veterinarian in a city full of good private vets, and two other better veterinary chains. There's no reason to give them your business.

I brought my dog here about 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, she passed away very quickly. I expressed that I would like for her to be cremated. I was given a booklet with options for cremation arrangements. I selected and paid $130 for an urn for her remains to be returned. I called asking why her remains were not ready to be picked up. The employee stated that the communal cremation was selected and I did not want the remains returned, simply stating "sorry". There was not even an offer to refund my money considering services were not rendered.
It was painful to lose my dog so suddenly and unexpectedly. It is a lot more painful knowing that she has been discarded thanks to the mistake of the incompetent employee of River.
I hope that no one else experiences this pain. Do NOT trust this vet with your pets remains or care.