VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Hospital

Reviews 3

A

A Private User

There are two sides to BAVS. One side of the practice deals with Internal Medicine issues, the other Oncology. My experience with each was very different. First of all, the vets I dealt with, on both sides, were kind and competent. The staff on the Internal Medicine side were not so warm and forthcoming as the staff on the Oncology side who were absolutely wonderful and supportive. My biggest beef though is with the Internal Medicine side. When you bring your pet in for the initial consult, a staff member comes up to you and asks you to wait in an examining room and then takes your pet away. Now, if you are coming here it means that you have already either exhausted your personal vets expertise, or its an emergency. Either way you and your pet are stressed out. Its not unusual for your pet to be taken off to be weighed, but then, at least in my experience, they are returned to you very quickly and the pet is examined, in your presence, by the vet. Not here. Here they just take him/her away and you dont see them again for at least 15 to 20 minutes. When your pet is returned to you it has already been examined out of your sight by the vet, whom you meet for the very first time, and they come in to discuss their findings with you. THIS IS HORRIBLE! Imagine if you went into a specialist pediatricians office with your sick child and they did this to you! You would scream bloody murder! If we care enough to bring our pets to a specialist to begin with it means that we love them very much. They are like treasured family members and they are whisked out of our sight at a time of real stress! My precious little dog was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was recommended that I have a consult with an oncology specialist. There was no way I was bringing my dog back into this place to be taken away from me again! I did come in to consult with an oncologist and she couldnt have been nicer. When she asked why I didnt bring my pet in I explained to her that I didnt want him to go through that again. She was truly shocked. She explained that this was not how they handled things on the oncology side of the practice. She was not aware that this was the procedure on the other side of the clinic. She did ask me to fill out a comment card to explain how this practice made me feel. I did comply, but I dont imagine it will make much difference. At any rate, we have concluded that my regular vet can take care of any of my pets needs until his demise. She and the oncologist will consult with each other and that will be all. I hope never to need the services of a specialist again, but if I do, I will consider other options than BAVS if I have to go through the Internal Medicine side of the practice.

A

A Private User

It has taken me 2 years to finally be able to write this, so traumatized was I by my horrible experience at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists. First, I dropped $11,000-- yes, thats right: ELEVEN THOUSAND dollars -- at this place in one month, and the ice-cold staff members could not even find the decency to talk to me on the phone in my time of intense emotional trauma when I called with a simple question. One stone-hearted receptionist actually told me if I wanted to speak to a doctor, I had to schedule an appointment for three days later. What?!?!!?! My dog had ONE week to live, I had just dropped $11,000 at this place, and no doctor could find the grace or decency to call me back? NO! That is not acceptable. Second, this place has so many vets swarming around that you will never get the same one that you got last time, which means that every time you go in, the new vet does not know you or your dog or understand your emotional/ financial situation. One jerkface veterinarian (and believe me, thats a charitable description) actually had the nerve to WALK OUT ON ME in a fit of anger after I burst into tears during an appointment. He never returned--- and they still charged me for the appointment, for which they did absolutely nothing!!! One month, $11,000, and endless hurtful insults and uncaring interactions later, my dog died. I dont blame them for her death, but I do blame them for bilking me out of my entire life savings and treating me and my cherished dog like garbage. Now, two years later, my other dog has cancer. Guess what? Im NOT going to BAVS. Were going to an excellent oncologist at Santa Cruz Vet Hospital who has 30+ years of experience, is reasonably priced and treats me and my ailing dog like we are the most important clients on Earth. The staff ooohs and ahhhs over my dog and acts like hes the most cherished creature alive. Not only that, but my dogs cancer is now in remission! This has taught me that even in a time a crisis, its worth it to take a few extra minutes and read the reviews and get recommendations first, for the sake of both yourself and your pet. I should have written a letter of complaint to the Calif. Veterinary Board about the terrible people at BAVS, but I was too traumatized at the time to do so. If I could give this place negative stars, I would give them a -20. Final word: Stay away from BAVS San Leandro at all costs-- unless you want to get bankrupted and treated like the scum of the Earth. I am so sorry to my poor deceased dog that she had to spend her final days here, and I will never forgive myself for putting her in the hands of these cruel, heartless shells of human beings.

TA

Taina Machado

My Beloved Brownee died at my house and I went here at 1am. Two nurses came out with all their gear on to see if there was anything else they could do. I said she had passed hours earlier. Now, this is the first time I had a doggie so this was the first time I dealt with a death. The nurses were very comforting and then came out with a gurney and strapped her in it and took her in the building. I didnt know but they have private cremation services you could pay for etc... We were taken in to the consult room after to view all the items they have in the cabinet. The lady said you could pick out anything in the cabinet you want. The price was very reasonable, $267.00. It covered the cremation, the urn, the plaque with the writing and the pick up and delivery and I emailed the photo I wanted on the urn of my beloved Brownee. Everyone was so caring and comforting that I wish they would be like this for humans. A lot of my coworkers never knew about this place for the passing of their animals. I have been telling everyone that when the time comes for your animal to go to that big park in the sky. When Brownee was brought back to VCA they called us and we went down to pick her up. After more paperwork to confirm the pick up they brought out the urn in a beautiful velvet bag. They again said their sincere apologies and we sat out in the car to review everything. We got a certificate with the urn, almost like a death certificate. It was so overwhelming we sat in the car and had a private service right there. It was so emotional and perfect, it couldnt get any better then that. It has been a couple weeks now and I recently received a lovely sympathy card from the entire staff including the Doctors which just added that special touch. It has made the healing process very special and shows that they truly care. My Brownee was well taken care of professionally and with sincere regrets from the staff. I will always remember how they handled her and our feelings during the weakest and saddest time of our lives. Thank you VCA for making this closure very special. My MooMoo Brownee Oct. 2002- April 2015. U will alwayz be remembered & missed.