They saved my baby panthers life. She is back to being her Panther self and I can't be happier.read more

Our cat George has urinary tract issues. These are common to male cats from what I can "google"…read more For the second time in his 10 years, he stopped urinating for more than one day (we track his habits because his first blockage almost was the end of him). We called and they said bring him in ASAP!! From the reception nurse to the vet, Dr Tello, were all exceptionally helpful and clear in explaining what was going on and how it could be treated. (no life and death this time). So now, meds...do your stuff!!!

I like the dr's there but every time I need a med or make an appointment for my dogs I have to go…read morein to do these things. No one answers the phone and their voicemail is always full. Very frustrating. This has been going on for a while.

I run a nonprofit Goat rescue and had a foster bring my dog that Wood belongs to us to this clinic…read more The dog was given back to the rescue from the foster and I have requested records for three days personally and through the rescue and through the veterinary clinic. This dog needs severe medical treatment and I do not feel that Dr. Fay's office was giving the best advice on how to handle the conditions of the dog therefore I am taking it to a second opinion, but unfortunately, I cannot seem to get the paperwork that needs to have that happen and his health is starting to decline because of this ! I've been told getting records from this facility has been very difficult for not private people but other veterinary offices. This is very very concerning considering people want opinions and everyone takes paperwork at the time of the visit when they have an emergency case.

My little Yorkie had an emergency on a Friday with an adverse reaction to the 1st dose of a new…read moreliquid medication. Her vet was out of town for a conference but also doesn't have any after hour emergency services available. Her office only refers to an emergency hospital in Tacoma, an hour away on a good traffic day. I called the emergency service and they referred me to Blue Pearl as it was much closer to me being Seafair weekend at 5pm (on a Friday!). This was my first experience going to a Pet ER. (Thank you, Jesus!). My expectations were that we would have a wait that would be no different than a people ER (except that you don't have sick people with stuff you can catch all around you!) and it was busy. We had a really nice triage tech, Hannah, who was kind, seemed knowledgeable, and compassionate to my anxiety. She took Sophie back to be examined by the doctor after explaining the process. I marked on the consent that I wanted to know what they were going to do prior and an estimate prior to additional treatment. Dr. Nicole (if I remember correctly) came out to talk to us. She was wonderful! She explained the issues with Sophie's condition as she had Kidney Disease and what we could do to make her more comfortable moving forward. This was so helpful as my husband has had difficulty understanding Sophie's medical condition and how serious it was. We made a plan together and we were lucky to have had that done as they got in a critical emergency that was going to take all of the medical staff to navigate so those that were there waiting would have a much longer wait. I, myself, appreciated that they were very transparent on what was happening so that if I had not yet been helped, we could have gone elsewhere, if need be. I really appreciated also, that I was told that if I had any further questions afterwards, I could call at any time. Unfortunately, I did the next morning and was able to speak with one of the vet's who was just as amazing as Dr. Nicole was the evening before. She shared additional information and then worked to help get a request to fill a medication to help Sophie at a local place to where we live. I didn't know that the Centralia/Chehalis area now has an Urgent Care Clinic or I probably would have gone there first but I DO NOT regret at all that we went to Blue Pearl!! Unfortunately, my Sophie had more issues overnight and we had to make another trip to Blue Pearl Sunday morning where the hard decision was made to release her from the suffering of this ugly kidney disease. I am devastated with how quickly things went from bad to the worst. The staff at Blue Pearl in the Westside of Olympia - everyone I had contact with on the phone and in person - were wonderful. They were gentle, kind, compassionate and very empathetic during each and every step. They provided a cozy bed and blanket for Sophie while we were taking our time to say our goodbyes. The doctor was kind, compassionate and caring as he watched my heart break into a million pieces. We were told we could take as much time as we needed through each step which we did. For something so hard to go through, they made it as easy as possible for which I will be eternally grateful. The only suggestion that I could make is that, if it were possible, to have a couple of rooms set aside specifically for these circumstance with comfortable furniture for those taking the time to say goodbye and grieve afterwards. And a nearby restroom (away from those waiting in the lobby) or a sink in the room, a strange request but I would have liked to rinse my face after crying so much. Also, since all the financial things were taken care of in the room (SO appreciated also), a separate exit so the grieving family doesn't have to walk through the lobby. I do understand that this is a hospital and that type of space may be hard to provide but that is the only change I would make to this experience. Again, I am so thankful to have been referred to this facility and all of the kindness that they showed my family during this most difficult time. I am so sorry that there are others that were not able to have such an experience when taking their beloved pet for care according to the reviews.

Obnoxious woman on the phone was no help at all, didn't care about me or my dog. There are better…read moreoptions besides this nationwide corporation owned by a candy company.

Requires every pet that comes in to have an exam, whether healthy or sick. Can't get a spay/neuter…read morewithout 2 exams. One that you pay for, and another right before surgery. Waited 45 minutes each time, I had 2 appointments there... I ended walking out on my second one.

I love Dr. Jensen and her vet tech. (Sorry I'm drawing a blank but she is also amazing!) She was…read morevery understanding when I had to put 2-16yo doggies down only 2 years apart. I got a sympathy card and every one in that office signed it. Now, I have a Yorkie dog and a Bengal cat and I will bring them to Dr. Jensen until she retires! Hawks Prairie is the best vet place for me, hands down!

I took my Dutch Shepeard mix, Aroarah into the Tacoma branch this evening after the usual urgent…read morecare was closed and I couldn't get her into my regular vet until the next day. They were extremely Busy and told me that it was a very long wait to be seen by a Vet. I had concerns for the severity of my dogs situation and the staff Over worked and backed up still took time to get us into an exam room and spared a couple Nurses to give Aroarah a quick look over and helped ease my mind by ensuring me that my situation was not as severe as i had feared and that i had time to wait until i could get her to our regular vet appointment the next day. They were kind and helpful and saved me a lot of worry and money! I have read some of the other poor revues on here and i believe that a little understanding goes a long ways as much as people want the staff to be understanding to their situation i am understanding of what they have to do to help everyone and I am Very appreciative of the staff to lend me some help when they didn't really have the time to do so nor did they have to. Thank You!

The people and facility at Blue Pearl are amazing. My big dog had to have an MRI and immediately…read moreneeded surgery to remove a bulging disk in his cervical spine and they did such an amazing job taking care of him through the entire process! They were in constant contact with me during it all so I knew what was happening during this insanely stressful time. And, most importantly, they successfully corrected the issue in his spine and my 125lb, 6 year old dog is regaining all of his abilities. I just can't say enough about how impressed I was and how truly thankful I am for everyone there.

My dog got sick very quickly and a trip yo our vet was escalated to this hospital. She had been…read morevomiting and not responding to pain med's, her little life was fading. I was not ready to lose her, but the quality of her life was one of intense pain. The vet was very compassionate and was also concerned and felt she had sepsis. The cost was astronomical. Nearly 3k$. I wish there were places that recognized ppl cannot afford that much in this economy. That is the reason for 4 out of 5. We are seniors and this will take us years to pay.

I know that one bad review probably won't hurt this clinic, and honestly, that is not why I am…read morewriting it. I'm writing this because I hope another pet owner reads my experience before trusting this clinic with their animal and takes the time to look carefully at the reviews and make an informed decision. Please don't assume that the negative reviews are simply people being difficult or impossible to please. These are real people, just like me, who love their animals and trusted this clinic to take care of them. I brought my cat in because he was walking oddly and had a fever. After the examination, the doctor told me she couldn't find anything wrong with him and couldn't understand where the fever was coming from. We were sent home with antibiotics for my cat. I was left believing that they had thoroughly examined him and that there was nothing obvious causing his symptoms. The next day, I decided to carefully examine my cat's body myself because I was still very concerned about him. I was shocked to find open wounds and scratches on his head. (Photos attached )These were not hidden or impossible to notice. I was very surprised that after a professional veterinary examination, I was told they could not find anything wrong. I paid for the examination and additional testing because I trusted the clinic to properly evaluate my cat. Unfortunately, I ended up finding the physical injuries myself after being told there was nothing wrong.I went back to the clinic because I wanted someone to take responsibility for what happened and, more importantly, they giving me options for how to properly address the problem with my cat. The money was never the point for me. I wanted accountability and for the clinic to acknowledge that something had been missed. I spoke with the assistant manager, who asked me to give her a couple of days to look into the situation and talk to the Manager and get back to me. She never did. I had to physically return after 12 days to the clinic again because I never received a call or any follow-up. When I finally spoke with the manager, he gave me one explanation that how this could've been missed... After a long conversation he told me that he was not going to give me any refund because doing so would mean admitting that the clinic/vet had made a mistake. That was extremely frustrating and disappointing to hear. As a pet owner, this experience has been incredibly upsetting. I trusted this clinic with my cat's health, and I expected a thorough examination and proper follow-up. Being told that they "didn't find anything wrong," only for me to find open wounds and scratches on my cat the very next day, is something I find extremely difficult to accept.The lack of accountability and communication is what has disappointed me the most. I want to make one thing very clear we were never doing this to get a refund but the least they could've done after failing the physical examination...What we wanted was accountability.There were several reasonable options the clinic could have offered after the situation came to light. For example, they could have offered to perform another thorough physical examination to make sure there were no additional wounds or injuries that had been missed, or they could have offered to clean and properly treat the wound to help prevent it from becoming infected. Even simply taking the time to examine him again and make sure he was okay would have shown us that they genuinely cared about making things right. I truly hope sharing my experience helps another person avoid going through the same frustration, disappointment, and worry that we experienced.Please read the negative reviews. Don't automatically assume these people are lying or exaggerating. Behind those reviews are pet owners who love their animals just as much as we love ours.We trusted this clinic and we felt let down.

I believe this facility is closing. Our experiences there were wonderful. Our last visit was to put…read moredown our Starbuck (Pomeranian). They were VERY caring. We will miss them greatly.

I wanted to share a recent experience my family had at Columbia River Veterinary Specialists. I'm…read moreposting this to inform others in the community, especially pet owners, about what we experienced during an incredibly difficult time. This is not meant to discredit the clinic as a whole, but to be transparent about an interaction that had a significant emotional impact on us and may be important for others to be aware of. Our family recently brought our cat to Columbia River Veterinary Specialists during one of the most painful moments a pet owner can experience--having to say goodbye. I want to be very clear that the majority of the staff we interacted with were kind, patient, and compassionate. The woman at the front desk treated us with warmth and respect, the staff member we spoke with on the phone beforehand was helpful and understanding, and the veterinarian who ultimately assisted with end-of-life care was gentle, loving, and respectful. He took the time to explain everything clearly and treated both our pet and our family with dignity. Those are exactly the kinds of people you want working in a field that involves end-of-life care and emotional vulnerability. Unfortunately, our initial interaction with one staff member significantly overshadowed the experience. When our family first arrived, the individual who took our cat back (not the person who checked us in) made comments that strongly implied judgment about why our pet had not been brought in sooner. These remarks were delivered in a way that felt accusatory and lacked empathy, especially given that our pet was actively dying and we were already emotionally overwhelmed. Financial limitations are a reality for many families. Being made to feel guilt or shame for not having immediate access to thousands of dollars--at the exact moment we were facing the loss of a beloved pet--was deeply inappropriate and unprofessional. Veterinary professionals are entrusted with not only animal care, but human compassion. This was not the time for assumptions, judgment, or commentary--it was a moment that required empathy, discretion, and support. I'm sharing this because no family should be made to feel judged or shamed while saying goodbye to a pet. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously and addressed internally, because the rest of the staff we encountered demonstrated the level of care and compassion that should be standard in situations like this. Our pet deserved peace and dignity in their final moments--and so did our family.

My poor dog Sammy had an tooth abscess rupture and burst through his lower eye lid. I found out…read moreafter a visit to my regular vet that it would be $4400 because he had to have all of his teeth pulled...like WHAT!!? I made contact with Dr. Patterson at Yelm Vet, who let me know I could bring him in for an evaluation. After doing so I learned they were able to do it for way less for the same procedure and medication. I was able to gather the $$$ and schedule his surgery VERY quickly! They were exceptional and handle Sammy very careful & saved 3 of his teeth!!! He is not an easy one as he doesn't like anyone but his immediate family. I am so thankful for Dr Patterson, the surgeon, and the team for taking care of this. I felt I was at a loss when my vet gave me the quote they did. Kudos to Yelm Vet, I will definitely be back and or refer anyone to them!

Our little kitty, Keisha, began having trouble with blood sugars, some weakness, sight issues, and…read moreface pain. Dr Fleming was very patient while answering all of our questions and willingly did additional requested tests, and kept seeking for the source of her pain. Unfortunately, her condition escalated before more advanced tests could be done as an outpatient, and after a few days in the ICU, she had to be put to sleep because of a large inoperable brain tumor that was rapidly causing brain damage and worsening pain. Yelm Vet was very accommodating with her appointments and didn't rush through them as so many do. We are grateful for Dr Fleming's thoroughness and time. We've used Yelm vet for many years and for many pets, and have always been happy with their care.

I was there for many years, taking multiple cats, and was well satisfied. I left when I moved…read more However, the front desk people changed, and the new person was unpleasant, making me an appointment but not noting it in her system so when I went there, there was no room for me. Even if I move back to that area, I won't be returning to Steamboat Animal Hospital unless I read a review that the poor front desk people are replaced with competent receptionists. I thought at first they just needed training, particularly with the unrecorded appointment but also with smaller items earlier that just seemed they didn't know better. Finally, though, the continuing incompetence reached the last straw. Vet there, though, was great and the care once I passed the front desk was excellent.

I'm giving a 2-star rating because of the great vets at this clinic, the front desk people however…read moreare rude and and don't follow through on what they say they will do, nor do they make notes in the pet's chart so the next time you call they don't have any record of previous calls. I've been With Steamboat 27 years. it was a great clinic when Dr. Murphy owned it but since it's been sold, it's steadily gone downhill. I've had several problems with them but at the most recent problems. I got a new puppy and had all recent spay and vaccination records from the rescue organization. I called Steamboat to bring her in to establish a new pet And get flea meds. Although they couldn't get me in for 2-1/2 months they wouldn't sell me or give me a rx for flea meds. But what finally made me leave the clinic was when my 6 year-old dog became seriously I'll. They couldn't get me in for 3 weeks. So I took him to urgent care. Urgent care wanted me to follow up in 10-14 days with my regular vet. But Steamboat still couldn't get me in. We went back to urgent care and again they advised me he needed to be seen by my regular vet soon to have bloodwork and xrays. Steamboat could only get me in several weeks later for a drop-in visit. Staff was rude and failed to call me back. I'd drive to Seattle to get him seen asap but fortunately I found 3 other local vets who could get him in immediately. Steamboat is not a clinic I would ever take another pet too and wouldn't recommend them to anyone who cares about their pets.

3 yrs ago, we had to take our 16 yr old cocker spaniel as she was having seizures and she would…read morewalk in circles. Found out she had brain tumors and we had to put her down. The staff were so compassionate and understanding our grief. Another time, we had just adopted a kitty and she found my husband's fishing pole and got a hook in her mouth (catfish? Lol) we took her there and they cut off the hook and gave me medicine for pain. Whether you have an emergency or not, this is a good place to go.

Please look into other veterinary options before bringing your pet here. This facility operates…read moreunder corporate/private equity ownership, and in my experience, the priority is extracting maximum revenue from pet owners in vulnerable, emotional situations rather than providing reasonable, compassionate care. Their billing practices are aggressive and egregious. For example, when an animal is hospitalized, you are not only billed for the medication itself, but they also charge an exorbitant dispensing fee, upwards of $50 or more each individual time a single pill is administered. These routine administrative markups accumulate rapidly and feel designed to take advantage of hospitalized pets whose owners have no choice but to rely on inpatient care. They also frequently over-bill and you need to go through each bill with a fine-tooth comb to ensure it is correct. It is quite obvious that there are internal leadership mandates to maximize billing. We went through the heartbreaking process of trying to treat my cat's lymphoma. In the end, despite spending over $20,000, the treatments were unsuccessful and we lost our cat. The financial strain made an already devastating ordeal so much more painful. In addition there were frequent unprofessional incidents with staff or doctors that required escalation. Escalation lead to zero results whatsoever. If your pet needs emergency or specialty care, consider alternatives like Timberline or independent, local practices that are not controlled by foreign conglomerates or private equity firms focused purely on profit margins.