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    Columbia River Veterinary Specialists

    2.9 (306 reviews)
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    RIP

    Worst day ever, our baby crossed the rainbow bridge. CRVS made time for an emergency appointment. He was unresponsive and they met us at the car with a gurney. While the news was horrific, the staff went above and beyond. Staff was caring and kind, and the veterinarian went over options. We picked up his ashes today and they had included a cast of his paw print and a tuff of hair. I am so glad we have those mementos.

    Lana: 11 year old female Black Lab.
    Steven D.

    My 11-year-old Black Lab was attacked by another dog, leaving her with a couple of puncture wounds on her head and a lacerated ear. The team at Columbia River Veterinary Specialists handled the situation with professionalism, courtesy, and clear communication. From arrival to departure, I was in and out within an hour.

    Lulu

    We took our lab dog there in March because she was lethargic, wouldn't eat, depressed, withdrawn. They ran a bunch of tests immediately, X ray and ultrasound. Advised us to leave her there overnight to see if something passed in her stomach (a piece of bagel from the day before) because she may have swallowed something or also she may have a suspicious mass by her bum. They ran additional ultrasounds and X rays the next morning, and magically The piece from Her stomach Disappeared. No disgnosis, no explanation, They sent her home with a bundle of meds, 4500.00 later and she was worse than when we took her in. When she came home, she was horribly sick, breathing fast, not eating, lethargic, so sick. she looked horrible, so we brought her into our regular vet 3 hours after, which was in Portland. Within an hour, they figured out exactly what it was, which was salmon poisoning, a test that they ran on her immediately when she arrived. Because of her symptoms, they did a fecal test on her and told us immediately what was wrong. Columbia river vet did not do a fecal AT ALL EVER (they had 24 Hours to do This!) on her but instead risked her life and ran fancy tests. DO NOT EVER TAKE YOUR ANIMAL THERE. THEY JUST WANT TO RUN YOUR BILL UP AND DONT FOCUS ON DOING WHATS BEST FOR YOUR ANIMAL. We've learned a lot. Dogs in the NW by rivers are exposed to salamanders, fish, that bacteria is toxic so it's toxic to dogs- it should have been the first question they ask living where we do. Our vet asked us right away about the potential and ran a test. CRVS NEVER cared about our dogs life. This illness is 70% fatal if not treated within 10 days. Our sweet girl almost lost her life and it would have been at the hands of this awful place. I didn't trust my gut and my gut was telling me They were a money grubbing vet, confirmed my our vet 3 hours after getting her. Don't give this place a thought, go elsewhere. They aren't in it for the animals, but for the money.

    Denise W.

    Last Wednesday night at about 10:30pm I brought my 10 year old German Shepherd in. The girl working the front desk was rude. Two assistants or techs came out, realized it was emergent and took my dog for x-rays. About 10 minutes later the vet came in. She was kind, explained what was going on and that there was really only one option. I was told Kira had been given some pain medication and I would be taken to her. A few minutes later the girl from the front desk came in with paperwork showing all of the creamation choices. She then told me she would take my credit card. I told her I hadn't been given a bill yet and didn't feel comfortable just handing over my card. After another 10 minutes or so I went and asked to be taken to my dog. I have never been separated from my any of animals at a vet other than a few minutes while they draw blood or take x-rays. The girl at the front desk told me it was hectic in back and they were busy taking care of other animals. I did not ask her to do anything other than bring me to my dog. It was almost an hour before I was taken to her. It breaks my heart knowing she was in a strange place, in pain and alone simply beacause no one could take 2 minutes and bring me to her. I said goodbye to Kira that night. Kira deserved the comfort of being with me until it was time to let her go. She didn't deserve to be left in some room alone for almost an hour. Do better!

    Foreign body that was pulled out by my dogs vet after being told twice he was okay by Columbia River Vet.

    I have brought my dog in for 2 different situations and I have not been impressed either time. For both scenarios we brought our dog in 2 nights in a row, just to be told that his vitals are fine and send us home. The first time, my dog ended up having a severe lung infection (pneumonia) and had to be hospitalized for 3 nights and be on medications for 6 months. Columbia River Vet saw my dog two times prior to his hospitalization for this and did not do any diagnostic tests because his vitals were fine, even though I explained to them what symptoms he was having and that he was not acting normal. He was having breathing issues and throwing up blood and they still did not take me seriously. It was a hopeless feeling being sent home twice knowing he wasn't okay. By the time his normal vet could see him we explained the ER told us he was fine, but the infection worsened at that point and our dog almost didn't make it, but luckily Pacific NW ER & Pet Specialities took us seriously and helped him. The second and most recent time I brought my dog into Columbia River, he was having gulping/swallowing/licking fits. He was having somewhat labored breathing and snorting a lot, he just wasn't acting himself. I spent a combined 9 hours waiting over the 2 times I brought him in this last time, just for the doctor to see him for maybe 15-20 mins each and telling us his vitals and physical exam seem fine and he can go home. I knew that he wasn't fine, so I was able to get him into the urgent care at his normal vet the next day (East Padden Animal Hospital). They took his symptoms seriously and immediately started running tests. Xrays were done and nothing stood out like crazy so they partially sedated him and went into his throat. They pulled an insane amount of sting and grass out of his throat/ esophagus!!! It seems unless your animal is coding or in absolute distress, this ER does not take you seriously. Both times my dog's vitals may have been stable, but he was dealing with very life threatening issues. If you have a pet in need of emergency vet care, I would 100% suggest you don't waste your time/money here. Time is precious when it comes to our animals being sick, seriously don't waste it here.

    RIP Betsy
    Gena C.

    Our 10 year old rescue Chihuahua, Betsy, started having 2-3 seizures per month since November, just out of the blue. Our primary vet told us we could start her on a seizure medication but if she was only having a couple of minor seizures a month, we may want to hold off. All her labs and exams were good. Fast forward to 12 Feb, Betsy had a grand Mal seizure early in the morning and continuous smaller seizures that just wouldn't stop. We brought her to CRVS and with the exception of the initial Tech that came to the waiting room to speak to us and didn't listen when we told her we never did start Betsy on the seizure meds. She felt like she needed to chastise us, while our dog was seizing, for stopping the meds (which were never started). We complained immediately and fortunately, never saw her again during our visit. The front desk staff was wonderful and caring as was Dr. Garrison. After his exam, it was determined that the cause was most likely a brain tumor that had finally gotten large enough to become symptomatic. He was so kind and empathetic. The decision was made to euthanize her and end her suffering. It was done with respect and she went with dignity while she held her in our arms and said goodbye. The staff is very caring and respectful. It was greatly appreciated on such an awful day in our lives.

    Broken toes
    Holly W.

    Very good with communication which is so key during these times. It's hard enough to have your furry loved one injured but to just hand them off to an unknown person and not be present ( thanks Covid) made my experience even more difficult. The staff and the drs were all very empathetic, patient, understanding and willing to answer any and all questions. My fur baby left with options , recommendations and everything needed for the best outcome.

    Blue resting after anesthesia and pain pills

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    Ask the Community - Columbia River Veterinary Specialists

    Review Highlights - Columbia River Veterinary Specialists

    “Klauss and her team were able to treat his current eye ulcer and put him on a regimen to prevent future eye ulcers.”

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Hearthwood Veterinary Hospital

    Hearthwood Veterinary Hospital

    (56 reviews)

    Hearthwood is amazing. We took in a rescue kitten from a co-worker who recommended them as they…read moretook their other pets there too. We wound up moving our other animals over because the care and love they show all the animals is beyond evident. When it came time to say goodbye to our GSD due to an aggressive liver cancer, Heather communicated with me via text on a Friday afternoon to get Loki seen at an urgent care since they were booked. She then continued to touch base throughout the day as we got appointments set, records forwarded to the other clinic and then fit us in with a last minute Saturday appointment so he could cross the rainbow bridge and shed his pain. The texts were beyond appreciated as I could barely speak without bawling. Dr Primley was also compassionate and comforting as we said goodbye to our gentle giant Saturday afternoon and I cannot thank them enough for the kindness and care they showed us during that difficult time. I highly recommend them to anyone needing care for their fur babies.

    A Rollercoaster Experience at Hearthwood Veterinary Hospital: Good to BAD to LOL…read more Strap in, folks, because this ride at Hearthwood Veterinary Hospital is all about highs and lows, with a heavy dose of mystery. My debut was good Dr. Dena Baumgartner, (picture shown on their website below), savvy vet tech (picture not shown), and the vibe that my furball and my wallet were in good hands. But hold onto your hats, because round two veers into the twilight zone. The plot thickens with their photo policy - so cloaked in mystery it could star in its own detective novel. I wanted to document my pet's first happy vet visit. If Hearthwood was a book, it'd be titled 'Why We Hide.' Auditing seems overdue, doesn't it? Then there's the 'VIP (Very Isolated Pets)' treatment - pets and owners parting ways for procedures, waving more red flags than a matador. Me and my sidekick? We don't play that game. We took our paws elsewhere after a peek behind the curtain revealed too many unanswered questions. They wanted to separate me from my pet for a simple booster shot. I thought that was odd since we were already in a private room and they were holding the shot in their hand. Wouldn't you think that was odd? Don't even get me started on time - or the lack thereof. This tech (see picture below) is 45 minutes late for the appointment. As you can see, she is less 'fashionably late.' It's not just about the wait; it's the principle. Most people count that as a "no show" at 20 minutes? Where do you draw the line? 15, 30 min? If it was the other way around they would easily charge me a "no show" fee. They also charged me wellness exam fee of some $60 which I did not authorize nor was I advised that a exam was being conducted. Bottom line: If you're shopping for a vet where secrets don't shadow simple check-ups and respect for your time is a given, let my story be your compass. It's time to vote with our feet, because the path to change is paved with our choices. In America, we vote with our dollar. And people like this business need to respect that. I hope people who read this review note that I was not offered an apology or a refund. Transparency, accountability, and punctuality aren't just nice-to-haves; they're must-haves. Here's to finding a place that checks all those boxes. If you want to see more authentic looks at our local businesses, click my profile to read more. Have a beautiful day. Hearthwood Veterinary Hospital Business Website - https://hearthwoodvets.com/

    Veterinary Emergency Group - VEG veterinarians in surgery

    Veterinary Emergency Group

    (60 reviews)

    Tanasbourne

    I took my Kitty to VEG on 8/13/26 when she was experiencing many symptoms, which included nausea,…read morediarrhea and no appetite. Upon walking in, she was triaged immediately, with no wait, and I could tell that the staff truly loved what they do, and showed so much compassion and respect towards myself and my pet. They ran blood and urine test, and received results within minutes, to assess her medical needs and made educated diagnosis in record time. Dr. Sean Cummings, went over the results with me in such a thorough manner and could clearly see which aspects of the report findings were causing her health problems. He had such a patient demeanor with my cat as well as other pets he was treating and his knowledge of pet health was very impressive. Erin was the Nurse caring for her, and stayed by her side handling everything from administering medications to cleaning up potty accidents, and made sure I was able to hold her on my lap between treatments, even though she had an IV. She was admitted overnight so they could monitor her, and I was welcome to stay with her as long as I wanted. Right before I left, Erin brought her an IPad so she could watch fishie videos in her kennel, which I thought was the sweetest thing! The open stations made it so nice to keep up on her status, and she was never taken out of my sight during her care. I was also able to call to check on her anytime to get updates. The next day, Dr. Krista Valentine assisted her, and checked in with me until I was able to return. They sent me her treatment estimate so I could review, and if there was anything I had questions on, they were thorough to explain. Milla was the Nurse who called me when her condition improved and I received immediate reports on her status, and she even gave her a bath when needed. While I was on my way to visit her, as she was expecting to need to stay another night, I got the best news, that she was ready to be picked up to bring home, which was such a blessing. Erin let me hold her while she got her medication ready. I could see a huge improvement in her, and she was so much happier and much closer to normal, compared to 24 hours earlier. It truly was a miracle how they were able to treat her health issues so quickly. She was diagnosed with pancreatitis, kidney disease and a urinary tract infection, and was severely dehydrated. Thank you to all the great staff for taking such great care of my fur baby, especially to Dr. Cummings, Erin, as well as Dr. Valentine and Milla. I want to give extra recognition to Erin, who was so exceptional, knowledgeable and thorough in caring for my Kitty, you set the bar high, and should be held as an example to other pet caregivers! I will bring her back for any urgent medical needs and will recommend your clinic to anyone who needs a pet hospital.

    My cat chewed off and swallowed my shoelace, Scott the front desk person was amazing during my…read morewalk-in. My kitty was immediately seen before a couple of hours of waiting for X-rays and discharge. The doctors and nurses were so comforting and amazing. You can tell they really care and love animals. I rarely leave reviews but this place was such a relief during a scary time. (And they take carecredit!)

    DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital - Emergency veterinarian bonding with a patient.

    DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital

    (742 reviews)

    Alphabet District, Northwest

    Dove Lewis has shown nothing but kindness with my kitty's passing (she was elderly, but this was…read moreunexpected). I was told by my two friends watching her that she was well taken care of, they answered my international calls quickly, and even sent a card in the mail within just a couple of days. My little Bella was in very trustworthy hands and that's why mattered most. Thank you, Dove Lewis team.

    It is a shame that such an exceptional institution allows itself to be represented, at it's front…read moredesk, by an employee so jaded that they come across as irritated by the concern people have for their animal's well-being (aka the very nature of their job)! It should be well within the purview of a medical establishment to offer guidance over the phone to a potential client, only in order to assess the level of urgency in an emergency. I wasn't asking for trade secrets, but when I asked how to monitor my dog going forward, I was hit with a paywall and told it "was a decision I was just going to have to make". Marco's dismissive attitude was insulting and bordered on unethical. I understand not being able to offer a diagnosis without an exam, but to fail to even explain whether or not an exam was necessary, is a dangerously negligent precedent to set. Last night my dog licked a crushed grape off the kitchen floor, and may have ingested a second one. I read a lot of alarming information online about kidney failure and that even one grape can be extremely toxic. He is 105 lbs and healthy; a toxicity calculator I found on google said that vets generally consider a safe threshold to be 1 grape / 10 kg of a dogs weight. Reassured by this, i continued to monitor my dog. 24 hours later, after escaping the yard and running around the neighborhood, he came home, drank some water, and promptly threw up what looked like nothing but water and a couple blades of grass. This, combined with the fact that I have not seen him urinate since returning home, seemed to justify a call to Dove Lewis. At 1 am, consulting Google was definitely not helping, made worse by AI's many contradictions and condescending tone, it seemed like a no brainer. Dove Lewis had consistently impressed us in the past with their politeness, expertise, and kindness; truly living up to their identity as a "24/7 non profit emergency veterinary hospital". The times I was unable to pay for an appointment, their staff had always been willing to provide off the record advice, at the very least, to help me assess risk, or simply put my mind at ease. As a result of this, I was always happy to pay the $220 exam fee, when I was financially able. All of this considered, I was shocked by the callous tone in which Marco answered my most recent call. When I told him I couldn't afford an exam, but was hoping to get some advice, to make sense of what I had read online, he told me he "couldn't give out any medical information over the phone", that "I could try Google", and that essentially, without $220, I wasn't even entitled to a basic level of decency. The last time I was at Dove Lewis, I had paid the full fee and waited 12 hours before being asked if I would be happy to take a rain check on the exam. They basically told me that my dog's injury was going to heal on it's own, and scheduled an appointment for the next day. I live across town and, after spending the entire day prior in their waiting room, I was unable to make the trip downtown the following day. I was hoping the rain check from 2025 might have counted for something, not necessarily an appointment, but sharing a little information over the phone, as it turns out, was still too much to ask.

    BluePearl Pet Hospital - Before and After

    BluePearl Pet Hospital

    (91 reviews)

    Hollywood, Northeast Portland

    From the time I called to talk with an advice nurse to the time we left everyone at Blue Pearl Pet…read moreHospital was friendly, polite and helpful. They kept us well informed and updated throughout the visit. Unfortunately, we lost our Saint Bernard to late stage lymphoma cancer and it was heartbreaking. Dr. Emily was amazing, I'm sure it's not easy delivering this type of news but she showed sympathy and comforted us in our time of need. All the employees showed us compassion and gave our fur-baby the best of care. We didn't leave with our boy but left knowing we made the right decision and that he crossed the rainbow bridge in peace. A few days after we received a condolence card in the mail and a little over a week later we were called to come pick up his memorial package. It was well put together and made us happy to see his paw print along with a couple vials of his hair and some information regarding pet loss and how to cope with it. Thank you to the Blue Pearl Family, you were all kind and caring in a very hard time for us. We truly appreciate the gentle care you gave our boy.

    Very disappointed…read more I took my dog here after she'd been vomiting for over 24 hrs. I let the front desk know my dog is highly reactive to other dogs, so we'd stay in the parking lot (in the hot July sun) in my car. The tech who came out to triage us said it would be about 2 hr wait and that that could change if someone more critical came in. I understand, when you go to emergency it's a blessing to be at the end of the line... you're not in bad shape! We waited almost 3 hrs (still not complaining... clearly someone was having a worse day than us). Once I went in and asked if we'd been forgotten, as I'd seen multiple other people arrive, walk in and walk out only to drive off before anyone came to see us, I got a text thanking me for my patience. While reading the text, I got a call saying it was our turn. The call dropped. I called back, and was told we just lost our spot! It was like 30 seconds of silence! A doctor came out, they seemed irritated from the start. Told me that no matter what they'd sedate my dog and began offering me options. I refused to sedate her (it hasn't gone well in the past) so they sent us home without so much as a "good luck", after making me feel like an idiot from refusing to sedate her. About 2 hours later, we were at DoveLewis. My dog was so lethargic she could barely walk. We were triaged and admitted within 30 minutes. She was admitted to Dove for severe dehydration and an extremely high heart rate. They kept her overnight. I asked the doctor at Dove if they thought my dog would survive the night if I took her home.... Doctor said probably not! So, BluePearl, you left us sitting for 3 hours (again, not complaining if there's someone worse than us) in the sun in a hot car, treated me like a second class citizen for not consenting to sedation when I know sedation isn't good for my dog, then sent us home like nothing was wrong when something clearly was wrong! I understand you're busy.... But you could have killed my dog!

    Compassionate Care - in home dog euthanasia

    Compassionate Care

    (286 reviews)

    This was a very hard day, our beloved Sophie had lived for 14 and 1/2 years and she was holding on…read morefor us and we had to set her free. Compassionate Care came right on time and was so kind and caring. We had time to say our goodbyes, we loved her so much and she was a really High anxiety dog, going for rides triggered her, so having someone come here was perfect. I highly recommend this establishment. Thank you.

    My experience was okay…read more I made a most difficult decision to let my beloved cat go after a long weekend spent almost entirely in ER trying to figure out why he would no longer eat and why his eye was swelling shut. And an even longer two or three weeks before that fighting to get him to eat. Like others here, Kevin was closer to me than my human family. I was busy with the doctors in ER so my partner called in to make the appointment to ease my stress. He said I was primary contact, but it was difficult to make that clear all the way until the day so communications were continually going to him. Not a big deal in the overall picture, but it didn't make the experience any easier. This was my cat for 8 years before I met my partner and while he loved my baby, I was the one with the lifelong bond. The doctor showed up within the time window allotted. We both found her a little cold. I felt like we were just a job and everything was done by number. My BF picked up my cat and carried him to me, but the doctor said we should do paperwork first which resulted in me putting him down after building up to do what I deemed impossible. I was emotional and crying. This really should somehow be handled before the visit. There were corrections to be made on the form. I was about to lose my baby and this only made me aware that I was filling out his death warrant. I am utterly heartbroken. I know holding your baby until the last minute is catharsis and closure, but I found it traumatizing. His passing was peaceful at least. Everyone's goodbye will be unique, and my example will not necessarily match what others experience. Everyone we spoke to was professional. I just wasn't feeling the compassion.

    Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - vet - Updated September 2026

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