I am writing this to warn other pet owners. Our beloved 22-year-old cat, Snowbear, who also had Stage 2 kidney disease, passed away just hours after a procedure at this clinic due to what we believe was severe medical negligence by Dr. Jackie Holmes. On March 30th, we took Snowbear for a consultation regarding a lump. Despite his extreme age and kidney condition, Dr. Holmes suggested an immediate dental extraction. She claimed there was "very little risk." We explicitly told her he had eaten that morning and had finished a full bowl of Hydracare mixed with wet food overnight. We asked if we should come back another day since he hadn't fasted, but she dismissed our concerns, saying, "I have some time, we can do it now," and "should be fine." We trusted her professional judgment, but it was a fatal mistake. What makes this even more troubling is that, according to the medical records, this reassurance was given before any bloodwork results were available. Snowbear was over 21 years old and had known Stage 2 kidney disease. Yet we were told the procedure carried very little risk before any laboratory evaluation had been reviewed. The bloodwork performed that day later showed that Snowbear's condition had worsened compared to previous testing. His creatinine had increased from 2.2 to 2.5, his hematocrit had dropped from 35.46% to 29.82%, his hemoglobin had fallen from 11.9 to 9.9, and his potassium had decreased from 4.1 to 3.6. These changes suggested a significantly less stable patient than we had been led to believe. Even more concerning, the timeline documented in the medical records raises serious questions. The anesthesia record shows anesthesia beginning at 11:55 AM and intubation occurring at 12:00 PM. However, the bloodwork results are timestamped approximately 12:01-12:03 PM. This raises the possibility that Snowbear was anesthetized before the bloodwork results were available and reviewed. If true, that means a 21-year-old cat with kidney disease was placed under general anesthesia before the veterinarian had reviewed the very tests needed to assess anesthetic risk. As a veterinarian with decades of experience, Dr. Holmes should have understood that a patient of Snowbear's age and medical condition required the highest level of caution. Instead, the decision to proceed appeared rushed and made without a complete understanding of his condition that day. The procedure was rushed, and Snowbear was cleared for discharge only about 15 minutes after waking from general anesthesia. Dr. Holmes never told us to keep a close eye on him or warned us of potential complications. Shortly after we followed her instructions to give him Buprenorphine at home, he collapsed. We rushed him to the ER, he didn't make it. This wasn't just "old age." This was a rushed surgery performed on a non-fasting, senior patient with known kidney disease, followed by inadequate post-operative monitoring and discharge shortly after recovery. Our hearts are broken. Please think twice before bringing your pets here. We are beyond devastated. He is our precious boy and has been with us since before our marriage. Snowbear was far more than just a pet; he was a constant, living thread woven through the very fabric of our lives. He was there through every joy, every sorrow, and every major milestone we experienced. He was our family, our anchor, and a part of our souls. To lose him so abruptly due to what we believe were preventable decisions is a pain beyond words. We cannot imagine our lives without him, and the void he leaves behind is immeasurable. The two attached photos were taken on the day he went to see the vet. read more

Holmes Feline Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Dr. Holmes is excellent. She is truly superlative in treating our beloved felines! My cat Pancake had developed glitches in his coat that were very troubling. He became listless and isolated which is highly unusual since he is normally very active and social It turned out to be an allergy that Dr. Holmes treated and now he has perked up and is active, running around playing with his mates. His coat is back to normal with no glitches! Its amazing what an allergy can cause! Thank you Dr. Holmes! (and there are no barking dogs when you visit Holmes Clinic!!) read more

Dr Holmes and all the staff are wonderful. Our Korat cat Jinx loved being there when we would go on trips. And they loved him. The annual care was professional and left out nothing. Then the end came for our 15 year old friend. We sat with him at the vets as he passed away. Dr Holmes and her assistant that day were compassionate and attentive. It was a sad day, but made better by their presence. I recommend Holmes Feline Clinic to anyone who loves their cats. LaMon B. read more

We have two cats, Batman (2 yrs) and Robin (6 mos) under the care of Dr. Holmes. We originally chose the Holmes Feline Clinic based on the close proximity to our home. The extraordinary care and service we receive there will keep us loyal. I especially like the fact that it is a feline only clinic. We have used the clinic for boarding, shots/check ups and most recently, spaying and declawing. As a first time cat owner, I don't have much experience dealing with other vets so I can't help with pricing comparisons. I can tell you that each visit is well within our budget and worth every penny! The staff is very welcoming and knowledgable and give you the feeling that your business is genuinely appreciated. read more

Holmes Feline Clinic - Robin Kitty - Veterinarians Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Dr. Holmes and her staff are amazing! It is evident that each one of them adores cats and takes great care that visits to the vet are as non-traumatic as possible. The clinic is spotlessly clean and has two or three of its own sweet kitties running around to love on visitors (human and feline). I adopted my cat Ember from Holmes Feline Clinic after someone dumped her and her kittens behind the clinic. Since Ember's kittens had just finished weaning, Dr. Holmes fixed Ember a couple of days before I took her home (don't worry - her kittens were plenty old enough to be separated from mama and were adopted soon after!). Ember had no complications, and though cats are notorious for hiding symptoms, I don't think she had undue discomfort, either. When I brought Ember back for her yearly check-up, she enjoyed exploring the exam room for a few minutes before Dr. Holmes and her staff came back to examine her and give Ember her vaccinations. Their presence was very calming, and I think Ember barely noticed the injections. I hope everyone's kitties have a healthcare provider as professional, capable, and caring as Dr. Holmes. read more

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Ya'll I've never been to a pet clinic that's never reeked of dog! Well sign me up I'm sold on feline only clinics going forward! The place is as chic and clean as any upscale dentist office with pretty kitties walking around instead! No smells at all! Dr. Holmes keeps a clean shop and she is wonderful! Super caring, attentive, gives you a rundown of everything! My fur baby had 5 teeth extractions. I had to make a visit in advance since he was a first time patient. Appt was on time and he was seen immediately! I've always had to wait at a typical vet clinic even with an appt so this was refreshing! Fur baby was comfortable and he let everyone love on him. His extraction appt went smoothly as well with a call to inform me of how he was doing and when he would be able to be picked up. The customer service is amazing with call backs to check on recovery and he has a complimentary follow up appt to make sure he's healing properly! Ya'll that is chick fil a A grade service right there! read more

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One of my cats started limping and not moving around to the point that he pooped and peed outside the litter box or next to our bed because that is where he was the whole day. It was so SAD! I went to two local vets where I usually take my dog and 5 cats and the only thing they did was take more money from me, making me come for more visits and offering random things. Dr. Holmes fixed the problem in ONE visit. The first medicine didn't work, but it was truly an odd case. We simply gave her a call to let her know and she said that she needed to do some research and let us know. A few days later, she called us back to pick up a new medicine WITHOUT asking us to bring our cat or charging us for another visit. Second medicine resolved the issue and my baby is behaving completely normal again! I cannot even explain how grateful I am. She is the cat expert! read more

Dr. Holmes is an incredible veterinarian. She is so caring, compassionate, and genuine. She explains things so anyone can understand, and gladly answers questions. Dr. Holmes will never make you feel rushed. Anyone would be fortunate to have someone as experienced and skilled as Dr. Holmes to take care of their kitty. The staff at Holmes Feline Clinic is the best! They are always so welcoming, and smiling. They are super nice!! Dr. Holmes and her staff are a great team!! I am so thankful she has her own clinic. Veterinary care doesn't get better than this! read more

all of the staff clearly care about cats. Mine gets ...let's say "feisty" at the vet. Dr. Holmes and Jenn weren't afraid of my cat, which is more than I can say for some vets I've had in the past. Dr. Holmes is very thorough with her history taking and questioning and just as thorough with the actual examination. Twice she could have tried to sell me services/medicines I didn't need but she didn't. Instead she was concerned only with the well-being of my cat. I am VERY impressed with Holmes Feline Clinic read more

I've got some well-travelled kitties ranging in age from 1-14 years in age and they've been all over the country with me, and to different vets during their lifetimes. I've brought all four of my kitties, (plus fosters) to Dr. Holmes. Initially it was because she this is a cat-only clinic. She and her staff have shown great knowledge and caring for my girls, a couple of whom have special medical needs. I appreciate the fact that she doesn't try to "upsell", and has the best bedside manner. I cannot use enough superlatives to describe how pleased I have been with the care my cats have received under her care. read more

Sometimes you just know when somethings not quite right with your animal. Our cat, Little Bit, was exhibiting some unusual behavior and we had taken her to our normal vet. Great place wouldn't say anything but good things. However we felt it would be good to have her looked at by someone else. We found Dr. Holmes online and decided to take her there. She and her staff are what we have been looking for as owners of a cat. The care that was given to Little Bit was so different that what we had experienced before. She was able to give us a diagnosis and help us understand everything that was going on with Little Bit. She put our minds at ease. It was nice to walk into her clinic and there were no barking dogs to upset our cat. Her pricing is in line with others. Although for us it's a bit further to drive, we will not hesitate to make the trip because of the care Little Bit receives. The staff was so nice and helpful. This is a great place and if you have a cat this is where you want to take it. read more