First, I'm sorry this is so long--
I completely agree with the majority of the posts here. Highway Vet is the only vet I will take my rescue mix Sophie. We usually see Dr. Kourtney or Dr. Elise, but Dr. Jim is great as well! What I really appreciate is the fact that all three of these vets come from different backgrounds, yet do not hesitate to confer with one another about a patient to really get a good feel for what is going on. For example, Sophie was having some major respiratory problems last summer, frequently sneezing so violently that she would hit her muzzle on the floor or the wall, furniture, etc. I rushed her to Highway Vet when she got a terrible nose bleed after hitting her nose on the deck. They took her in right away and took the time to address her issues, yet include me in the decision making process at the same time. Turns out she has developed severe allergies in her golden years-now we both take Claritin when spring rolls around and Dr. Elise gave some good suggestions for changing the environments she is exposed to in order to decrease medications and make Soph comfortable as well. They gave me a breakdown of the cost before they started, so I knew what I was dealing with (and how to prepare my wallet). Once diagnostic tests were completed all three vets took a look at the results and then conferred with me so that I could make a decision. Since Sophie is an older dog and has had recurrent health issues, we are frequent fliers at this hospital. They know her when she walks through the door (they actually greet her before they greet me-and I love that!) Dr. Kourtney always sits on the floor and talks to Sophie on her level and gives her kisses, loves and belly rubs before beginning her exam, and it clearly makes her more comfortable. Dr. Elise is great at addressing behavioral issues and I respect her because she does not hesitate to advocate on behalf of an animal, even if it ticks the human off. I know this because I have seen it myself, and a close friend that actually works at Highway Vet says the same thing. When I have been in for a visit they ALWAYS call to follow up and check on her. In fact, one of the nurses called me last night to inquire about Sophie and it had been two weeks since my last visit! I almost had no idea what they were talking about at first! I love this practice and really could not see myself going anywhere else. I'm sorry for the people who have had a bad experience, because this is a great place to take your furry children
HOWEVER, the only reason that I did not award five stars in this review is that they are very expensive. Even the friend I know that works there admits that their prices are high. And I hate that they charge you for follow-up visits. There have been several times that I considered leaving the practice because of this lone issue. BUT, they always give you a price estimate beforehand. I have never felt that they pressured me into unnecessary tests or medications. In fact, with my most recent visit with Sophie, Dr. Kourtney has been very conservative about starting Sophie on a medication without trying other remedies first. Also, it has been my experience (and I've had lots of them) that if you ask to break up the payments, they are willing to work with you. They don't want you to delay care of your animal because you're worried about the up front cost. I haven't found that at any other vet that I've been to.
I am sorry that there are few people who have had less than positive experiences with Highway Vet, because I honestly feel like it was probably a fluke. I highly recommend purchasing pet health insurance (I use trupanion) because it can really help with costs. Just make sure that you get the plan best for you. read more