Dr. Laura Whitelaw was EXCELLENT with my mini rex rabbit when he was in severe GI stasis. After being turned away for an emergency walk-in from Santa Maria Emergency (no exotic vets available) and Cat & Exotic (their doctor fully booked with surgeries etc.), I came to Bear Valley sobbing with my rabbit seemingly on his deathbed. Dr. Whitelaw was able to see my rabbit and took very good care of him. She knew what to look for, and recommended what my bun's old vet used to recommend for him. Luckily I had medications on hand from previous GI stasis incidents -- this definitely helped to save his life. RABBIT OWNERS: if your rabbit is prone to stasis, make sure you keep Reglan, Simethicone, Lactulose, Metacam all on hand. Of course, ONLY administer if you are 100% sure that your rabbit is in stasis, and take to a vet immediately!!!! Anyway, I'm so grateful to Dr. Whitelaw and everyone at Bear Valley for saving my critical condition bun. Thank you. read more

This veterinary clinic is the best. From the front desk to vet assistant to the vet. They have the best communication between all. They have been taking care of my two cats,two dogs for a couple years now. I recommend them to anyone who loves there animals. Or recently relocated here. Thank You for the removal of fox tail in my dogs nostril so far everything is great. . read more

I'm a very anxious pet owner so when my rabbit started sneezing suddenly, I immediately went into panic mode and made an appointment for him to get checked out. He was seen by Dr. Whitelaw who was calm, compassionate and receptive to my concerns. When the problem persisted after the initial checkup, she laid out a plan of action to help him feel better and made sure I was constantly in the loop. He ultimately needed dental surgery which was scary given he's so small, but Dr. Whitelaw and her staff took such good care of him and covered all the bases which I'm so grateful for! read more

Bear Valley Animal Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Los Osos, California

Great vets, great staff! Never pressured and felt that I was being heard... again, never pressured with procedures or meds...

Specifically asked if my cats could have any side effects frome their vaccines. I was tod "no". They are both groggy, have no appetite, and are hiding. They are normally active friendly cats who would walk through fire for a piece of ham. They either lied, or didn't know, or didn't care enough to give me the info I asked for. A few simple details would have made a difference. Other than that, they are great with the animals. read more

Pleased and relieved after my first visit with my Desert Tortoise. I appreciated how cautious and thorough Dr. Choy was with assessing the illness as deciding the best treatment. She explained everything to me in a way I could understand and made helpful recommendations. The other office staff were friendly and professional. I appreciated how quick they picked up the phone when I called, rather than waiting on hold or waiting for a call back. read more

Under quarantine - roommate having surgery and they will not refill prescription for my dog till he has a checkup- we are not going out till he is well and these people will not be accommodating and help us out. Last time we were in there they asked how much we could spend on our cat before treating him. Won't go into what a former employee had to say. Finding another vet and so should you! read more

I take my tortoises to se Dr. Choy. She is a very gentle woman with a wonderful bedside manner. Dr. Choy is very knowledgeable and has excellent communication skills. I have never left there without a basket full of information that I understand. I really recommend her to anyone with reptiles or any other exotic. I'm super happy with her care. Thank you Dr. Choy ! Please don't ever retire!! read more

Bear Valley Animal Clinic - Three happy and healthy torts! - Veterinarians Near Me - Los Osos, California

Dr. Choy's office has taken care of my pets for about 30 years now. They are kind and accommodating and have been super helpful over the years with all of my pets. I have always received excellent care. Very thankful for these wonderful people. read more

Dr. Choy has been taking absolutely terrific care of our sick foundling chameleon. At first we had no idea if he would even make it but thanks to her diligent care, he is pulling through! We are so grateful. Thank you! read more

This review is based solely on the fact that I just wanted to get my dog's toe's clipped and they wouldn't let me bring her in without spending $42 to make her a patient. And then on top of that another fee to get them clipped. In my opinion, that's ridiculous! I have a pug, anyone who has one knows they HATE getting a pedi & I can't do it myself. GEESH!! Small towns! I'm sure they're great at what they do, but they just lost my business. Bummer. read more

Dr. Whiteclaw and staff were patient and knowledgeable when I brought my dog in as a new patient for stomach issues. She was treated promptly and I felt the price was fair. We will be back, but hopefully just for a shot next time! read more

Dr Choi and her staff are wonderful. Very knowledgeable and they go out of their way to help. I feel very confident that Bear is in great hands and is always treated with respect and love. read more

I couldn't be more pleased with Dr. Choi and her ENTIRE staff. This was our first Vet when we moved here 11 years ago and we will not go anywhere else. Reliable, straight forward, very kind. Put your best friend in their hands. read more

I am so very disappointed by the service at this animal clinic as they refused to give me a copy of my dog's medical records/history and stated that it is not company policy to give them to the dog's owner (their client). They will give them to insurance and another veterinarian without issue but not to me. In order to get them I had to have three separate phone calls where they kept insisting this was not policy and it was for a good reason, that reason however was never explained and if it does exist it would go against what they themselves recommend on their website "It's best to keep a journal of your pet's health throughout his or her life, including behavioral shifts." My dog is just a puppy and I want to be a thoughtful responsible pet owner and track his health as I do mine and my child's. I also just got dog insurance and want to have all information recorded. In the end I was provided with the info but was told by Jamie, to seek care for my dog elsewhere in the future. Quite honestly their policy and this interaction was very disappointing. I made the same request at Central Coast Pet Hospital and Emergency, as my puppy had an incident back in January and it was a breeze to get this. It was an "of course, let me have your email" type of call. Which makes sense and its very much appreciated since it's a service I paid for. read more

I drive from AG to this place even though there's an exotic vet closer. Pets are our family, they treat my pets as such. When I put my pet down the office sent me a card with everyone's kind words, best place ever! read more

Today was my first time going to Bear Valley animal clinic with Sebastian also known as Bash. He has worms, poor little guy. They were great over the phone they were super professional and friendly in person. It happens to be an all female staff, sorry I am partial, think women are more nurturing. We're going back in a month and will take Freya that time so that she can have her wellness exam. I would check them out, I was really impressed today! read more

I brought my cat in to this vet 5 or 6 times for routine shots over the last year, and generally I was treated well, and I assumed that my animal was being treated well. A few months ago when I brought the cat in, the veterinary tech took the cat in the back and asked me to wait, instead of letting me come with to comfort and restrain him, as he tends to object quite strenuously. I warn them every time that he doesn't like the shots, and I trusted them, and didn't think much of it. After that, the last 3 or 4 visits have been the same routine - I have to wait outside while he gets his shot. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, when I brought him in for the same routine. I brought him in on a leash, with a chest harness, handed him over, warned the girl who took him, and waited...and waited... and waited. 15 minutes later a flustered tech asked me to come in the back and retrieve him. When I went back there, there were 4 disheveled and panting vet staff in the room, with the cat held down by two of them under a blanket. He'd escaped his harness apparently, which should be impossible, and the 15 minute wait had been them trying to get him back under control. When I came in, the vet would not let me take him, and instead wrapped him in the blanket and shoved him into a carrier, looked at me crossly, and left. Now, two weeks later the cat is finally starting to behave normally again. I don't know what went on for 15 minutes while 4 people chased this poor animal around, but it obviously wasn't gentle nor pleasant for him. This incident is almost understandable, in that he is an incredibly feisty animal, but I have to say that: 1) I warned them repeatedly that he struggles, 2) I've brought him there enough times for them to believe me, 3) Vet staff should KNOW how to handle a distressed animal - this is a 12 pound housecat; it should be manageable. 4) I should have been allowed into the room to help comfort and restrain him, and 5) This cat has been through a lot in his life, and always bounces back. For him to be traumatized enough to still be behaving oddly two weeks later virtually guarantees that he was not treated gently. I will not be going back to this clinic. read more

This was the vet I started using when I first moved to Los Osos. They were OK for shots and routine stuff I guess, but then my cat got sick with some problem they couldn't diagnose. The cat was so weak it couldn't even jump up on my bed anymore. It was a Friday or Saturday (last day they were open before the weekend), and they told me to take the cat home and try to get it to eat over the weekend, and call them Monday morning if it wasn't better. By Saturday night I had to take my cat to the emegency vet in Arroyo Grande, where they put it on IV fluids and diagnosed an infected tooth. They recommended a vet in SLO who extracted the tooth and put the cat on antibiotics. It subsequently recovered, but I'm convinced it would have died if I hadn't taken it to a different vet. Also, they wouldn't transfer my pets' records to the new vet. When the new vet called for the records, they said they didn't have any. read more

I have only been here once. My 13 year old dog had tumors in her lower intestines. They had ruptured causing internal bleeding. She passed out on a walk, wasn't eating, wasn't drinking... you could tell she was not well. They helped her hydrate with an IV. drip and were honest with the x-ray results. It was terribly emotional for my family, but we had to put her down; she was suffering. Dr. Hassan and staff were very personable and empathetic to our grief. They did an amazing job helping our beloved family dog. They minimized her fear and pain... and gaver her a dignified death. They gave us time and space to say our goodbyes. We are forever grateful for thier services. read more

They took very good care of my cat when she had to have laser surgery to remove the cancer from her face and ears. The clinic was very clean and the staff, friendly. I thought it was a bit expensive, though, at just under $1000. ~ www.ChristianPerez.bravehost.com read more

This Place was HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!! We took our cat in because he had an abscess on his back. They told us it was going to be $53 dollars and when its was all done they charged us $147 dollars. All the vet did was shave his back and give him a shot. The shaving itself was $30. What made it worse was that the vet who helped us treated us like we were idiots. I was trying to ask questions on how to prevent abscesses and her answers always came across like she was putting me down. She never answered any of my questions!! DON'T GO HERE!!!! ITS NOT WORTH IT!!! read more

My dog is not feeling well. l called at 5:10 this evening and talked to Jaime. I stated I wanted. To make a appointment for my dog to be seen, not yet stating that he was currently ill. She asked if they had seen him before, I said no. She then told me the soonest they could see him was Thursday. Since it's Monday I explained he was sick and needed to be seen earlier. Dead silence and nothing. How about drop offs in am that so many vets do??? How about "what's happening?" Nope got dead air read more

I moved to California from the east coast with my older cat, Gracie, who had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism-- a very normal condition for an older Siamese cat, and totally treatable. A vet I had gone to previously had used scare tactics and rudeness with me, and I was traumatized and convinced that because I am completely unable to give Gracie pills, she will "die a slow, painful death." I made an appointment with Dr. Hassan at BVAC because at the time, I was living in Los Osos without a car, and I could walk to the office. Dr. Hassan was kind and patient with me while I nervously cried, due partially to the fact that I had moved 3,000 miles alone with my cat just one week earlier. She told me about all of options, that I really should not worry, and suggested a Science Diet food that is easier and less expensive than medication. A month later, Gracie was retested, had gained almost a pound (huge for a 5 pound cat!), and her levels were normal. Dr. Hassan called to inform me of the great news and left a really sweet voicemail. I've since moved to SLO but still drive to Los Osos to buy her food, and will be rescheduling a check-in soon. I am truly astonished by some of the bad reviews on here... Maybe they happened on a bad day, because I couldn't be happier. Thank you to the wonderful staff at BVAC. read more

I absolutely love this Vet practice. They have always gone above and beyond to help with me and my dog. Always prompt with their responses. I have seen both Dr Choy and Dr Hassan, and feel very comfortable with both. I'm not sure about pricing in comparison to other vet clinics, but I've always been happy paying it. So much so that I drive from SLO (where I live) even AG (where I work) to see them. They have me as a client for life! read more

Maybe the rude people at BVAC do not know about an option for frustrated parrot owners and the unhappy parrot. Please let people know. This action has saved my parrots life. After 12 years of trying to make my parrot happy and satisfied in a human home, I have finally found a solution for her. I wish more people knew about outdoor rescues specializing in the needs of Cockatoos. Please be careful! This rescue is well managed and Lori loves her birds. Some "rescues" just take your bird and sell it to another home. That is not what my parrot needed. I did not know anything like this was available or I would have done it sooner. This is the state of the art care for parrots, it is the best life they can have in a captive world. The fact that she is always with others of her same kind, NO BREEDING WHAT SO EVER, is so amazing. Each kind is in their own free flight cage and they have their own flock. Please check out her website and call her! Feel free to call me too. If you have a Cockatoo or African Grey that is not happy, please call Lori Rutledge at COCKATOO RESCUE (360)654-1538. My parrot, Citron Cockatoo, is happy flying in big cages with other parrots of the same kind. Very hard and painful to let her go. But her well being is more important to me than keeping her captive in a human life. She is NEVER alone, she has same breed parrots that she cuddles and plays with. I cried for days, but it was the best decision I have ever made. ' Unhappy parrot can be very destructive to themselves and make our lives hard. All they want to be is with a flock. read more

Everyone and I mean EVERYONE who I know who has birds recommends this vet. There are just a handful of bird vets in the area, and Dr. Choy is the absolute best. She is caring and knowledgeable, and she takes the time to explain everything. Her prices are reasonable, and in fact cheaper than any other vet I have been to in the area. The only problem can be in booking an appointment, because she is so popular, but the office staff can often offer an emergency appointment to be squeezed in for an additional fee. read more

We have used Bear Valley for all of our pets' needs for several years. They have always been helpful and given advice over the phone when a pet didn't need to be seen. They are very knowledgeable and especially helpful with exotic animals like rabbits and birds. They seem to see all animals and they do a great job. read more

We have always been satisfied with the supportive and expert care of our pets.

Dr. Susan Choy, the veterinarian here is AN ANGEL! My dog Lucy had just had puppies via c-section in Los Angeles. A week later while visiting friends, my dog's stitches failed. Leaving a gruesome scene that needs no description. I honestly thought that we had lost Lucy for good. I burst through the doors of the animal clinic screaming like a lunatic. Dr. Choy saved Lucy's life and took care of us like family, she personally called us 2 days later just to check on Lucy. She didn't have the receptionist do it, she called us herself. THANK YOU DR. CHOY!! read more

My feline companion of 17 years finally got sick...she'd been so healthy all her life that it was odd taking her to BVAC for something other than shots. Within 2 or 3 months, Savannah suddenly had a cough, then an eye problem requiring removal of her eye by Dr. Choy, then sneezing that would throw her off her feet, and rehydration follow-ups by Dr. Hassan. We tried everything to restore her health, but she was old and breaking down by one thing after the last. Through it all, Dr Choy and Dr. Hassan were so very kind and understanding toward me...they knew and understood what losing Savannah would mean to me. Putting Savannah down was an impossible decision to make until I asked for, and received, counsel from both Dr. Choy and Dr. Hassan about when I should consider euthanasia. Both Doctors gave me an objective analysis of Savannah's chances as well as a heartfelt assessment from Savannah's point of view. I will always be thankful to Dr. Choy, Dr. Hassan and their staff for their professional, but warm-hearted treatment of Savannah, for allowing me to be with Savannah during the treatments for various problems and for the dignity with which euthanasia was performed. read more

At first I went to Coast Vetinary Clinic. They were a huge let down. I came here on a couple of incredibly positive recommendations. Dr. Choy and Dr. Dauer are by far the kindest people in the profession. Both are in a class of their own and I have a great amount of confidence in their animal care knowledge and abilities. The staff are all so sweet and patient, to the extent that I felt like I was getting special treatment. You know you're in good hands when your animal and you are getting that quality attention. I'm lucky to have found them. No other way to put it. They have my stamp of approval. read more

Dr Choy has cared for my cats for the past 15 years, including one major surgery. I have always found Dr Choy and her staff to be highly competant and caring. read more

Dr. Susan Choy saved the life of my dog Abbie. Her compassion and knowledge earned my loyalty and respect. I just can't put a price on that. read more

The kindest most compassionate Vet you will ever meet! After another local Vet gave us false hope charging us a good amount of money and still wanting to preform surgery on our almost 13 year old boxer we were faced with the awful decision to let her go only two months later. Bear Valley got us in the same day, took us right in to our room and talked us through everything with calmness, kindness and so much compassion Thank you is not nearly enough for what they did for us today! read more

Dr Dauer and staff were wonderful treating my ill dog on short notice. Being open on Saturdays is very much appreciated. The care provided is competent, courteous, thorough and with a short wait time. Thank you for your excellent care. read more

Dr Susan Choy is a wonderful vet..So kind and knowledgeable and caring...We have gone to her for years..

This is the 2nd time I have taken an animal to them because my normal vet was close. the first time was on a Saturday in 2010 they treated her and told me my dog was ok and take her home then she past away within the hour. I said I wouldn't go to them again and they closed in bear valley off Dartmouth. When I got my second dog and she got sick I needed a vet that was open and found that my vet was close and seen this on google and took her to this place (didn't know they reopen at a different location and was the same company) and took my Boxer there they gave her a treatment and said she was ok and was told to take her home. Again I lost my beloved dog of 6 years my only comfort animal that helps me. Again she died in less 8 hours. After contacting the Boxer society I learned it is a common Boxer illness that happens and with the correct medicine AND treatment she would have lived and still be with me. All I can say if you treat dog of special breeds know your ANIMALS. This could have been preventive. I understand you were busy with a cat that needed to be put to sleep and with their family, but make sure the others that come in get the correct treatment that is needed. Yes, the people was nice and all an I did have a wait time. At least I got time to spend with my dog while we was there before she left me read more

Bear Valley Animal Clinic in Los Osos is the only place that I will take my rabbits for their care. Dr. Choy is amazing with her knowledge and expertice with these "exotics". I recently lost one of my bunnies after quite few months of illness (bone infection). Dr. Choy assisted me in every way to cure him. It was such an emotional time for me! Dr. Choy and her staff were so empathetic throughout his treatment. I needed the emotional support that they provided throughout this terrible process. I would recomend this veterinary clinic to anyone who loves their animals and wants the very best care for them. They are a little expensive but I believe that you get what you pay for. read more

I have birds and dogs. Though overpriced, the bird care was good. Dr. C is one of the few avian specialists around. I have since started to go to Pismo to the exotic Dr. there and have been extremely happy with the care AND price. I will never go to Bear Valley again for my dogs. There was a string of 4 misdiagnosis and errors in a row on my dogs including: Misdiagnosis of mange in my new puppy (they told me there was nothing wrong), misreading a chart and giving one of my dogs a rabies booster 2 years early, missing an injury after a raccoon got my dog (initial visit more than $300 and when I brought the dog in because they had missed a deep cut they charged me again), and one other thing I can't remember right now. I went to Coastal until a doctor there told me that my dog had a UTI and I didn't believe him and went to Atascadero where they diagnosed her with a brain tumor (and subsequently saved her life!). Do I just have bad luck? read more