Our golden retriever got sick, and we took him to our vet. She did some tests on him and urged us to go immediately to Blue Pearl in San Antonio. We did, and they ran some tests and confirmed our boy needed immediate surgery for a large mass in his midsection. After removing his spleen and sending off samples to be checked, it came back that he had an aggressive cancer that had spread to his liver. They said nothing could be done locally, but they would refer him to VCA Capital Vets in Austin. We got him in to be seen by oncologist Dr. Alex Pyuen. She reviewed all his medical info from Blue Pearl, did a workup on him, and confirmed all we had heard at Blue Pearl. Dr. Pyuen came into the room where we were waiting with our Tye. She explained what he had, what was going to happen to him, and the prognosis. She also went over things we could do, including chemo, but she didn't want to give us any false hope. So how can I give them a 5 star review when they can't save our pet? All I can say is that Dr. Pyuen had the utmost compassion for what we were going through. She sat on the floor with Tye nearly the entire time she was explaining everything to us. She talked about the Golden Retriever she had growing up, and her love for that dog, and Goldens in particular. The hardest part for us was coming to realize that even with chemo, they could only extend his life for a very short while. She emphasized quality of life for Tye and for us. I really appreciated that. So now, we are going to do our best to make sure that we enjoy every single day that Tye is with us. read more

When faced with a a fur-baby's terrifying diagnosis, VCA Specialists is a hopeful place to find help. Dr. Weinstein was straight forward as well as caring. Best of all, when we met him for consultation on a Thursday and asked if surgery could be done on the following Monday, the answer was "Yes." The dread and worry of complications was cut by that quick action. I hated leaving my little one in hospital for the nights required; however, the night nurses were diligent about updating me and even sending photos. What a comfort that was!! In spite of the fact that my mind anticipated the worst, our prognosis was actually the best possible. The large mass on my tiny Yorkie's liver was successfully removed, with no malignancy found. I am forever grateful to the expertise of Dr. Weinstein and the competence and compassion of the nurses and staff at VCA Speciality Hospital at Shoal Creek. read more

VCA Capital Area Veterinary Specialists - Louie aka "Little Man" - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

I called for an appointment for my kitty with cancer. First appointment 3 weeks away, with the diagnosis, this wait doesn't help when all the tests have been run. The discussion of possibilities weeks away. Nothing to make her feel better nothing. But even worse a very large dog was barking uncontrollably when I was booking an appointment. How can I possibly bring my baby to a place that is the worst possible environment, not a place to make her feel safe and comfortable when she will already be freaked out and hurting. I don't understand the concept as my world is already upside down. read more

My seven year old Newfoundland was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, and Dr. Weinstein literally saved her life. The surgery was severe, and now she only has three legs, but the care that she received there from not only the doctors to the technicians is beyond outstanding. They are knowledgeable , kind and provide excellent medical services. read more

We were referred to Dr. Weinstein when we discovered a large mass in our dog's (Lola) stomach. Dr. Weinstein went above and beyond to answer any and all questions we had. He honestly has the best bed side manners I've ever seen in a doctor. He also looked for alternate ways of how we can tackle this mass. We ended up going the surgery route. Dr. Weinstein removed a very large benign mass (she was 4.5lbs lighter after the surgery). There were few complications but overall she did well and recovered like a champ. The staff at VCA Capital Area was AMAZING. I called and emailed them so many times (I was the annoying/paranoid parent) to check on Lola and they responded to us with updates every time. Unfortunately our story doesn't end there. During the surgery, we discovered a tumor on her adrenal gland. Dr. Weinstein recommended several tests that we could run to understand what it was. Unfortunately the adrenal gland tumor turned out to be malignant. Again, Dr. Weinstein was available to talk us through all our options and answer all the questions we had. This time we decided against surgery due to the risks associated with this surgery. We talked to Dr. Strottner about chemotherapy and Dr. Treuil about radiation. They were both amazing. Back story- We are from California and we were in Round Rock, TX to take care of my sister who is going through cancer treatment. We are heading home this week so we decided to do radiation with Dr. Treuil here. Dr. Treuil was thorough in explaining everything. He definitely put us at ease. Dr. Strottner spent so much time with us explaining everything about this type of cancer. We told her we have to go home since the treatment is about 6months. She referred us to a VCA in California where we can continue Lola's treatments. We were beyond blessed to have been referred to this clinic. Dr. Weinstein, Dr. Treuil, and & Dr. Strottner are AMAZING. The staff at VCA Capital Area was really sweet and extremely nice. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I can't thank you all enough for taking such good care of Lola. read more

VCA Capital Area Veterinary Specialists - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

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As others have said, I'll start this by saying I hope you never have to go here. And I hope that I never have to go back. But if you do need to bring your pet here, please know that your are in one of the absolute best places you can be to help them. The front desk was extremely professional and kind. The techs immediately help put your pet at ease. We had a surgery done by Dr. Weinstein and I truly can't say enough good about him. He took the time to explain everything to us. He went above and beyond to spend all the time with us necessary to make sure we understood what was happening, what to expect, and put some fears at ease. I've never had a doctor, for myself or a veterinarian for my dog make himself so available to answer questions regardless of the time of day. I can't thank Dr. Weinstein and the rest of the folks at VCA enough. Getting the referral here likely means you've had a tough day or two but just know that the folks here are awesome at what they do and you and your pet are in incredibly capable hands. read more

I have to add Cassy, Nicole, and Ye Rang to this list of wonderful professionals and doggy lovers! They treat us with the utmost respect and always get back to us in a timely manner. As our dog has gone through the beginning of her chemo, we have tons of dog-parent questions that don't go unanswered! Seriously, love the attention to detail and personable nature of Cassy and Nicole when they help us handle our pup with her treatments (they are great listeners and pick up on every detail we give them), and Ye Rang is absolutely on top of every call, text, and running the right people down for our 1000's of questions while also being super sweet and professional. I honestly have a lot more good things to say about these lovely folks... This VCA is packed full of amazing people and I could not be happier to have our Bella in their hands for her treatment and the start of this new leg of her journey read more

VCA Capital Area Veterinary Specialists - Miss Bella the dog. - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

They let me and my furry family member down in a big way. They discovered a very treatable issue while my cat was there for cancer but decided not to say anything. As a result, he suffered needlessly for another week until I realized exactly what the issue was- fleas. When I spoke to the vet she said they didn't bring it up because it was an "uncomfortable" conversation to have with pet owners. My reply to that was that they tell people all the time that their furry family members aren't going to make it, and she needed to reevaluate what an "uncomfortable" conversation was. She also tried to say that they treat cancer not fleas, and that excuse is also unacceptable. Both the vet tech and the vet knew he had had surgery at another clinic just a week before, saw that he had fleas, and decide to say nothing. Unacceptable. read more

I wanted to take a moment to say that my experience here with the caring team at VCA was wonderful, and that was not an easy thing when you're dealing with cancer. My cat was fighting a nasal adenocarcinoma and it is a brutal type of cancer. She saw Dr. Treuil for SRT radiation therapy and was loved by his team and the office staff was so kind to us. She saw Dr. Strottner in oncology and she was thorough and patient with us so that we could find the best road for my girl based on where she was at that point. They helped give my girl another 8 and a half months on a cancer case that others said would have ended her life when we started. Had we found the tumor sooner it would have been an even longer period or it may have been shrunk to remission. When my girl passed away they sent us a memorial book with each member having signed it and talked about their experiences with her and their prayers for our family. It was one of the nicest things any clinic has ever done for one of my babies and for me. I really felt like my girl mattered to them and that meant the world to me. Thank you so much! read more

VCA Capital Area Veterinary Specialists - Memorial - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

I am extremely pleased with the staff at VCA, especially Dr. Weinstein, who operated on my German Shepard, Greta. From the first consultation, he was always available , very honest with me and told me what his recommendations were. Greta had a tumor removed from her adrenal gland two days ago and was discharged from the hospital this morning. Thank you, thank you for taking care of her! read more

VCA Capital Area Veterinary Specialists - Greta today - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

We have been taking our dog to this place for the past 5 months (and spent over $20,000) to be treated for Lymphoma Cancer. We will NOT be returning after our last visit. We brought our dog in for an emergency visit after speaking with the vet the day before and being told that his cancer is rapidly progressing and we need to change his chemotherapy protocol. We were also told that this new treatment is a sign that he will be passing away soon. We noticed that in the past two days the lymph nodes around his neck had grown back significantly. I spoke to an assistant who said they can fit us in if we arrive the next morning at a certain time. We received an invite to arrive at 9:30am the next day which we did. When the assistant came to collect our dog for treatment she did not greet either my husband or I and barely acknowledged our dog and was curt with us for no reason; clearly she was having a bad day. She then proceeded to ask what medications he was on as if he it was his first day. He is on a heart medication and was prescribed steroids and anti-nausea pills BY THEM so we were alarmed that this wasn't in their records. As my husband was explaining that this should be on file with them, the assistant stopped and said, "Am I sensing an attitude?". Both my husband and I were confused as to why she would be asking us this so we asked her to explain in what way he was giving an attitude to which she could not answer but kept insisting that she didn't like his tone...? She then said that since we were late our dog would have to sit in the back and wait all day to be seen and that those are the consequences of not showing up on time. I said that they then need to fix their scheduling system because we arrived at the time that was in the invite. She proceeded to blame me for not understanding the brief conversation I had with her the day before when she mentioned the drop-off window and instead followed what the invite said. We were then approached by the receptionist who told us we need to leave and that they would not treat our dog! We now have to rush to find another Oncologist in the area who can start his new protocol a protocol for which VCA is aware that is a sign this is the end for my dog. Throughout our visits the receptionist only referred to me by name and never my husband even though he was by my side every time and even went by himself to have our dog treated when I was away so they have worked with him personally but never bothered to learn his name or look him in the eye when they address us?? They have noticeably had an issue with him since the beginning. My dog has not eaten in three days, he is skin and bones, lethargic, coughing and can barely stand up. It is disgusting and deplorable that what seems to be some kind of personal grudge against my husband and his voice (?) superseded their ability to be professionals and to help my dog for which we have paid them a lot of money to do. I would think at the very least that after our patronage we should expect to be treated with respect. I would also think that as an animal health care facility they would have concern for my dog's health which they clearly do not. If you are looking for either, do not bring your pet here! read more

My furry baby is doing great . Thank you Dr. Weinstein and the rest of the staff. I was disappointed that no one called Me during the evening to give me an update on his status but oh well . read more

CAVS became an important part of my life back in August 2010 when my doggy (Conan) was diagnosed with stage IIIa Lymphoma at just over 3 years old. As of writing this review, we're at week 22 of 24 weeks for chemotherapy. It's not an easy road to go down, but CAVS has been fantastic throughout the entire process. Initially diagnosed with a few months to live, Conan quickly went into full remission from his lymphoma shortly after beginning chemotherapy. With the exception of maybe ten total today days throughout the entire treatment, Conan has been his usual energetic and happy self. CAVS did a great job of communicating the side effects of each treatment and responding to any concern I had. The first treatment of Cytoxan resulted in Conan throwing up and diarrhea'ing all over the house... I told them about it, and the next time he had Cytoxan they gave him additional anti-nausea medicine and he was just fine. To be honest, at first I wasn't a huge fan, but really that was my denial of the situation and rejecting anything associated with it... As time has gone on, I've come to really appreciate the great work that CAVS has done for me and my family. The entire staff is great. They always call the day before an appointment as a reminder. We're regulars now, so most of the staff instantly recognizes Conan and shows him some love. The oncology techs are excellent. I'm the skeptical type, but they've really earned my trust through their obvious knowledge/proficiency with the treatments and genuine care for the patients. If you are reading this review judging whether or not you want to choose CAVS for cancer treatment for a pet, I hope my good experience helps you (feel free to PM me for any details/information as well). It's expensive (between $150 and $500 per treatment), but they do an extremely good job and I feel that it was completely worth it. read more

VCA Capital Area Veterinary Specialists - A happy patient :) - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

Let me say at the outset - I hope to never ever see VCA Capital Area Veterinary Specialists ever again. Never not ever. It is my most profound wish in all the world that no one reading this review ever has to see them. So why the five star review? Because the reason we went to VCA CAVS was because our sweet girl Rue had a serious and very aggressive form of skin cancer. The CAVS staff, from Dr. Strottner on down to the people manning the front desk, were unfailingly kind, sweet, and professional. They loved my sweet girl, and she knew that they loved her too. She always perked up a little when we came in for her appointments. I believe it is thanks in no small part to the care they gave her that she not only beat the expected survival time for the cancer she had, but had entirely good days until the Last Good Day. We knew at the start how this would end. Dr. Strottner and her team knew too. But they fought the best of fights. Thank you for all you did for our sweet girl. read more

Dr. Philip Treuil and his team of technicians and all other staff members at VCA/Capital Area Specialists provide an extraordinary level of medical care and genuine concern for pets and the people who love them. We are so fortunate to have Dr. Treuil in Austin as an expert in radiation oncology and as a veterinarian dedicated to being informed on the best and most current radiation procedures and technology. Know that he is eminently competent and you can rely on his advice. My Sparky is a Jack Russell terrier who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in July. I am so glad the neurologist recommended Dr. Treuil and that he did radiation treatments. Sparky has been chasing squirrels and lizards in the back yard ever since. I am realistic about the medical research indicating Sparky will not have a long life; but, I am grateful for every day of his good health. I very much appreciate the time Dr. Treuil took to explain all treatment options and prognosis. Dr. Trueil and all staff members gave Sparky their own love and attention, in addition to exceptional medical care. Many thanks to all of you! read more

It's your fur baby. What would you do? What would you do if you found a large mass on his leg? Well, you would take him immediately to his regular vet. They would not feel comfortable taking it out due to it's size and the proximity to the knee joint, muscles, etc. They would refer you to Dr Caplain at CAVS. You would take him in for a consultation and discuss a treatment plan with Dr Caplain (all the while apologizing for his drool all over their otherwise clean facility). Dr Caplain would recommend a CT to evaluate how involved the mass was and she also would anticipate him staying in the hospital a few days post-op. You would try not to swallow your tongue when you saw the estimate ($2500-3800). You would discuss with your significant other and mull over using lidocaine and an exacto knife. You would then take out a Care Credit account online which is almost disturbingly easy (CAVS does not offer payment plans. The entirety of your bill is due upon service). You would drop your fur child off, entrusting him to folks you hardly know, and try to get that image out of your head of him looking back, questioningly at you as they lead him away. You would worry all morning. You would almost cry with relief when they call you at 11:30 to say the surgery had gone amazingly well, they felt certain the mass was a fatty tumor, and that you could take him home that evening. You would really shed a tear when you find out Dr Caplain had foregone the CT and taken xrays instead and therefore your total bill was just over $1600. And if I were you, I would take two days off work to care for your fur baby, but since the surgery was so much easier than anticipated, I would read, relax, sleep late, eat out, goof off, oh, and occasionally give him a pill. That's just what I would do, tho. (aside: when I took my fur baby back for recheck 10 days later, Dr Caplain was almost as overjoyed and relieved as I at the biopsy results and Jake's recovery. She probably is thrilled to give good news for a change.) read more

Summary: a smart and compassionate vet who is very good in person--but communication after my appointment was lacking in the extreme. I ultimately gave up on working with this clinic due to the difficulty of getting my questions answered. The details: My dog had a mast cell tumor on his leg that my vet was unable to take off. I was referred to Dr. Caplan at Capital Area Vet Specialists. When I met with Dr. Caplan in person, I was impressed with her willingness to sit with me and answer all my questions. Her "bedside manner" and compassion were very evident in person. We talked about how the surgery would go. Then she decided to do an ultrasound, to make sure the mass on his leg was all we were really looking at. The ultrasound found a mass on his spleen, which was sent off to the lab; I was told I'd hear back from them within a few days with the results. I waited two full weeks to hear any results. I called several times to check in--after the first week I was told his results had arrived but no one had had a chance to interpret them. After another week of waiting a tech told me that there were notes all over the lab reports indicating that a radiologist had to be consulted--so clearly someone had *looked* at the reports, they just hadn't called me with the news. That was how I found out his cancer had metastasized--I guessed it purely based on the note about the radiologist. Another weekend passed, and finally Dr. Caplan called to tell me that the cancer had metastasized. She said she'd get me some information about chemo and we'd go from there. I was still willing to work with them at that point--I know things happen, and was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I waited two days for the chemo quote and, after receiving them, emailed the clinic to ask if I should make an appointment with Dr. Caplan to discuss the pros and cons of each treatment option, or if we could do that with a phone consultation. No one e-mailed me back. I left several phone messages with the receptionists and sent two more e-mails. One vet tech told me on one phone call that he "needed to check with the doctor" and would get back to me--and no one ever got back to me. Finally, after another full week of waiting for someone to contact me, I got a call from the clinic inviting me in for an appointment. I went ahead and set an appointment, thinking we would finally talk about treatment options. Then a half hour later someone called me to find out if I'd "made up my mind" yet about which treatment option I'd prefer. I was blindsided. How could I make up my mind when no one had answered any of my questions yet? I stammered a reply and hung up feeling vulnerable and stung. All this time I had assumed that Dr. Caplan was getting my messages and thinking about my questions, and that she was just too busy to call. But now it sounded like, somehow, no one had even realized I'd been screaming for help for weeks on end. I don't know where the communication breakdown occurred--I don't know if Dr. Caplan just needs a better infrastructure at her clinic to handle client communications, or if she herself somehow fails to realize that the anxiety and pain of waiting weeks on end to make difficult decisions about a beloved pet's health can be harrowing in the extreme. Either way, their negligence made for a very painful few weeks for me. We are now receiving treatment over at the Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital with Dr. Locke-Bohannon, who has been welcoming and easy to work with (hope to have a review up for them soon, as they've been outstanding). read more

I didn't know what to expect when we were referred to Dr. Jones here who is a Veterinary oncologist. I never even heard of such a thing! As you can imagine, upon diagnosis of cancer with my precious kitty, we were confused and scared. I feel like CAVS did their best to alleviate our fears. We met with Dr. Jones for a consultation. She seemed very knowledgeable and was upfront with the idea that whatever route we chose (amputation, chemo, or pain management) that she was unsure about the outcome of any of them. Vets are expensive, as you can imagine, but when you're in a situation of a diagnosis of cancer, I feel like CAVS is a very capable team. read more

This review is mostly related to Dr. Elaine Caplan, one of several at this practice. Dr. Caplan, in addition to being a vet surgeon, also does animal acupuncture (at least for dogs). For several years she treated our great dane Hubert for pain in this way. I was dubious at the start, but she was recommended by our regular vet and we decided to try it. Our dog went from having to take a half Rymadyl a day to only occasionally if he had exerted himself unusually. The doctor also treated another of our dogs for a cyst that just would not go away. Because the practice gets lots of emergencies she would sometimes be in a rush, but always took the time to answer questions if we had any. Her staff was also great, they always had kind words for us (especially for Hubert). read more

I was referred by my vet after my sweet little Ferguson lost mobility in his hind legs and it was determined that he needed a specialist. After describing his symptoms the receptionist urged me to get him in ASAP, which was the next morning. Dr.Caplan was the Doctor that we were assigned to and she is Amazing!! I can not describe all the ways in which she made this terrible experience more bearable. She has spent so much time face to face or on the phone with me since we brought him in. She has helped me to understand his condition and given me hope. Everyone that works there is so wonderful and always excited to see Ferguson. Even though he has been through a lot of pain and anguish he is never hesitant to run right through the doors to see the people that work there. These people really do care about your pet! Thank you for all you have done for us read more

This is truly an amazing group of people. Everyone in the office is so friendly and caring, taking time to snuggle a dog whenever they can. Our 6-month pit had a twisted paw that was making it hard to walk. After acupuncture, physical therapy, and a failed attempt at a splint, we went to Dr. Hulse for help. He incredibly informative and up-front about what he thought was going on and how to fix it, giving us realistic expectations but also telling me he'd keep doing whatever necessary (at no added expense) to get the job done right. What a guy. We picked up our little darling yesterday afternoon and were amazed at the customer service. There was a short booklet prepared for us that covered absolutely anything we might have questions about, including how she was sedated for surgery, what exactly was done in the procedure, what medications she needed to be taking and when, and a schedule of when we need to come back for follow-up visits. A tech took us into an office and went over everything in the book in case we had any questions about what was in it. I can't imagine anyone having any questions, though, because it was so thorough. Color me impressed. I would recommend anyone in this office without the slightest bit of hesitation, based entirely on my interactions with Dr. Hulse and his techs/surgical intern. There's obviously a high level of expectations from those who work there, and it shows in everything they do. Also, I don't know if all the other vets are the same, but we got a 20% discount on everything and a free initial visit because our pibble was a recent shelter rescue. When you're an unemployed dog foster who accidentally adopted your latest foster without realizing the extent of its injury, the free exam and discount is a godsend. read more

From reading the reviews, it seems that most of us end up at CAVS after our loved ones are diagnosed with something very scary. I ended up at CAVS when my pup got nerve sheath tumors. The folks at CAVS were exactly what I needed them to be - reassuring, comforting, informative and supportive. They don't actually have a radiologist on staff right now so they flew in a radiologist on the weekends and he prescribed the treatment for them to follow during the week. I didn't have any problems with him not being there during the actual treatment - the staff seemed to know exactly what to do and the vets that are there at the clinic were able to see my pup for follow-up appointments so there was no lack of care. Overall, I'm very pleased with the service we received but we're keeping our fingers and paws crossed that we don't have a need for their specialty care again. But if we do need them again, I'd be happy knowing that we have such a good place to go. read more

Great caring vets and staff! We brought our little shelter dog (chihuahua/spaniel mix) to Dr. Hulse because we were concerned she would need her leg amputated. She was in a bad car accident before we adopted her from Austin Animal Shelter and the Shelter's vet had recommended amputation. Dr. Hulse and his staff took the time to diagnose Betty and determine that we didn't need to amputate and should only be doing this as a last resort. Both him and his intern were amazing with our Betty. You can tell they love their jobs and love animals. They spent a considerable amount of time with us and Betty explaining different methods of treatment to try to get her to use her leg more. The office also gave us a good discount because Betty is a shelter dog and they now have a loyal customer. It's a haul since I live in Lago Vista, however I was so impressed by this staff that we will definitely make the trip! You can't go wrong with bringing your loved ones to this place! read more

I have seen Dr. Caplan for different things for a number of years. First, a bunch of chiropractic and acupuncture appointments for my dogs. She was extremely knowledgeable, very sweet and easy to talk to, and seemed to very genuinely care. Recently, I saw her for a growth in my dog's mouth to discuss surgery to remove the affected part of the jaw. I had concerns about how many of the surgeries she had done and she had her staff talk to me ahead of time about all her experience, whereas another surgeon in town wouldn't discuss his qualifications with me until I paid for a consultation. In person, Dr. Caplan took a lot of time with me, was very kind, and answered all my questions. She made it a point to fit the surgery into her already packed schedule so that I wouldn't be waiting until after the holidays as she was going to be out of town the following week. Following our appointment, as I looked into other options, she emailed back and forth with me on a weekend about radiation as an option because my dog's jaw removal surgery was scheduled for just a few days away, and I desperately needed to make a treatment decision. She reached out to her radiation people who weren't even in the office that week, and even offered to make some calls to connections at Colorado State for me. SHE DID ALL THIS ON A WEEKEND. Though I feel a little badly for her that she cares so much about her clients she sometimes doesn't just turn work off at the end of the day Friday, I am ETERNALLY grateful for it! The staff there are SO sweet, and Dr. Caplan is awesome. I highly recommend this place. read more

Cannot say enough good things about the care our sweet boy is receiving here. We initially took him here just to get a second opinion as he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. They ended up finding other forms of cancer as well. Dr. Strottner and Dr. Treuil have been so amazing and thorough with us. They answer all of our questions and keep us informed as our boy is going through treatment. They were able to explain all treatment options for us and explain everything to us so we felt we could make an informed decision on how to move forward. The staff has always been so sweet and very knowledgeable as well. I definitely recommend taking your pet here if you have any doubts about the current treatment you are receiving or answers you feel are being left unanswered. read more

Dr. Caplan and her staff have taken great care of my French Bulldog and his spine over the years. She even rearranged her surgery schedule to fit him in and ensure that his condition didn't worsen. I have peace of mind when I leave my dog with her. The staff is always warm and friendly. Dr. Caplan is wonderful and will explain in great detail what to expect as your dog is treated. I wouldn't trust anyone else with my dog's spinal health. Thank you, Dr. Caplan. read more

I just had to take the time to write a positive note about my experience at CAVS -it has been a pleasure taking my dog to a hospital that has specalists on board as well as a multi diciplinary team of professionals. I had a sense of security leaving my dog in the care of this amazing team and facility. Thank you Cavs team! You rock! read more

Before I detail my experience, please note that my review is an amalgam review of my experience with two distinct veterinarians there. Dr. Hulse is a 5-star veterinarian to me. Dr. Caplan is a 1-star, but she was so bad that she brings the overall review down to a 2-star review. My miniature, 11-month-old poodle dislocated her hip and we were referred to this place, bringing her in on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We met with Dr. Hulse in our first appointment. He agreed to try a "closed reduction," which is apparently veterinary-speak for popping the hip back into socket. It also happens to be a much cheaper procedure than the surgical option ("a femoral head ostectomy "). After leaving our poodle with him for the day, he told us the procedure succeeded and ordered rest for two weeks for our poodle. In the meantime, we're $700 lighter and he schedules a follow-up appointment that Friday with Dr. Caplan. Thanksgiving comes and passes with our dog appearing to do much better. She favors the dislocated leg, but she seems pain free - very happy and playful (she's practically a puppy still). Basically, she seemed to be on her way to a full recovery. Then Friday arrives. We have an 11 a.m. appointment. Both my wife and I go optimistically thinking our dog is going to receive a clean bill of health. But when we get there, Caplan is not in the office for her appointment. The receptionist says, "we'll call her and she should be here shortly." Twenty minutes later, they inform us that it will be another half-hour so we can go and do something else while we wait. Grrrrrr. A little after 1 p.m., we get a call from Caplan with grim news. She examined our dog and her hip is back out of socket so she recommends surgery. We're shocked by this news and rush back to the vets' office. There, Caplan explains that she can feel the hip out of socket and surgery will probably be necessary to keep it from continuing to pop out of socket. In this "conversation," Caplan never stops talking. I would love to ask questions and make several indications that I would like to interrupt with a question, but Caplan KEEPS on talking. Man, that lady is longwinded. Moreover, she was rude and actually appeared to get angry with us (FTR, we were being polite and are generally nice people, not even mentioning her being 2 hours late). Once she literally threw her hands up in the air at my wife because she did not know the name of the pain medication our first doctor had given us. Then she began to write a prescription for an opiate painkiller and I declined the prescription because I was pretty sure my poodle had been happy pain-free for the past couple of days, and the opiate just turns her into a drooling, miserable mess. When I declined, she crumpled up the prescription right there and aggressively threw the wadded paper into the waste basket. By her expression, she seriously looked mad. Then they brought out our poodle. She was doped up, out of it, and wrapped in a tight cast. We were shocked. The difference between her condition at arrival and her condition at her departure was striking. Caplan scheduled us for surgery with her on Monday morning. That Friday night was dismal. Our poodle couldn't walk anywhere and was so out of it that she couldn't eat and she was peeing on her self. The next morning was no better. By Saturday afternoon, I called the number given to us and insisted that Dr. Hulse do the surgery and not Caplan. Our surgical appointment was rescheduled to Tuesday. In the meantime, we decided to remove the cast (Caplan had said that it would be okay if our dog chewed it off and it was more precautionary than anything). By Saturday night, our dog started to improve drastically. By Tuesday, she was back to her old self with a slightly gimpy leg. But here's the real kicker to this story. So we take her in for surgery with Dr. Hulse on Tuesday. By that afternoon, my wife gets a phone call from Hulse. He says "Why is your dog here for surgery?" "For a dislocated hip." "Well, we just did a catscan and her hip is in socket and looks good." Son of an EFFIN' bitch! Now, to Hulse's credit, he could have done surgery and we would have never known better, so I commend him for doing the right thing. It couldn't have been easy to make that phone call. Now, if we had left the appointment with Caplan, I truly fear what would have happened. I fear we would be another $1000 lighter and our dog would have had invasive surgery resulting in the top of her femur being cut off. There's more (like when the receptionist offered that they keep the $1300 remaining on our deposit and we got a call to remind of us of another appointment for surgery when they should have been reminding us of a followup appointment) But that's the gist of our experience. Overall, not good. Bottom line: I recommend avoiding Caplan when going to this place. Try to deal with Dr. Hulse if you have a choice. read more

I took my dog Munki in for a consultation with Dr Stiller last week and was very impressed with her and the service. Everyone was nice, professional and I had a great experience. Dr Stiller was so patient and caring with me and Munki. I highly recommend Dr Stiller and VCA CAVS. Munki gives them 2 paws up too! read more

My 5 year old dog was diagnosed with 2 different kinds of cancer and we were referred to Dr. Caplan and Dr. Jones. While the treatment and surgeries were very expensive, they saved my dog's life. Dr. Caplan was very aggressive in surgery and got clean margins on both tumors. I always get great service from the techs and the front desk. Two Techs that I dealt with Emily & Crissy, were both patient and took the time to answer all my questions and deal with me when I was freaking out. I hope I never have to go back, but I definitely recommend it to anyone who finds themself in this position. They are great doctors, but you are definitely going to pay for it. read more

This place is literally THE best. Last year my cat got very very sick out of nowhere, and we took him to an emergency place where they said he had a tumor in his chest and had days to live. They referred us here. Dr. Caplan didn't jump to that conclusion, and after performing numerous sonograms (only charged once) said we'd need a CT to be sure. I was very very poor and couldn't afford all the services provided, but they gave me so many options and were patient about letting me get financing. It turned out, my kitty had a hernia and his insides were all pushed into his lungs. Because of Dr. Caplan's huge heart, they worked things out where I could save my cat... like I literally went from thinking my cat would have to be put to sleep to my cat being able to live out his many years to come. Dr. Caplan performed the surgery, and my kitty was in the clinic for a few days. They let me visit him, but they kept him to watch over him. Now, it's been over a year, and while he still has a few residual issues, he's back to normal. I can't believe it. I am so so grateful. A yelp review isn't enough. Also, the entire staff is incredibly sweet, patient, and kind. read more

My 7 year old lab was diagnosed with a kidney tumor and my vet referred me here to Dr Caplan for further diagnosis and treatment. I brought my dog in on a Monday morning for a CT scan. They called me later in the day to tell me that they could not operate to remove the tumor and that they wanted to put him on chemo. They wanted to keep him overnight for observation, so I came in Tuesday afternoon to discuss the treatment and pick up my dog. They put me in a room and left me there for about 40 minutes before they came in to talk to me. I could hear them talking out in the hall about the treatment. I couldn't believe that they didn't have this ready. They finally came in to see me and gave me an estimate that averaged to about a grand or so per month for the chemo treatment, more tests, etc. I was hesitant to agree to the treatment right away because they threw it together while I was waiting and because the cost was so high. To try and keep this review a little more consise, I'll just say that I also didn't appreciate their tactics in trying to get me to agree to the treatment and the professionalism, in general. Anyway, they said they would discuss other treatment options and get back to me in a couple days. Fast forward to Friday afternoon. They still haven't contacted me, so i gave them a call. I was told that Dr Caplan was in surgery and that everyone else was busy. I left a message for Dr Caplan to call me back. Monday morning. Still no word, so another call back to them. Dr Caplan did talk to me this time, but she interrupted me and said that an emergency came in and that she needed to call me back. I was trying to find out if I needed to take precautions for my other dogs or my wife (who was 8 months pregnant). Dr Caplan never called back, but later that afternoon I got a call about how my dog was doing on chemo. He wasn't on chemo! I was still waiting for Dr. Caplan to call me back. There's more to the story, but it's really not important. It's just more of the same. Bad information. Phone tag. Them not following up. Etc. I gave up on them and decided to take my dog somewhere else. There were other options for treatment. One of those options included managing my dog's pain and discomfort. This was not discussed at all here. read more

My 1.5 year old lab mix and I were referred to CAVS by his regular veterinarian. My crazy athletic little boy had torn the ACL and meniscus in his knee. From the very beginning, CAVS put me at ease - everyone is compassionate, warm, and super friendly. They explained the surgery and healing process thoroughly and simply, and they even have a payment plan available. Dr. Hulse is a top notch physician, if only he treated people patients, too! He went above and beyond my expectations by calling me the evening after Kingsley's surgery, even though the vet tech had called me earlier in the afternoon to let me know of his progress. In case you still aren't sure of how great CAVS is, the Austin police department also being their canines here for treatment. read more

My dog was a patient of Dr. Caplan's at her clinic's previous location in Round Rock. The experience of taking my dog through cancer with Dr. Caplan was incredibly painful, but poignant at the same time. Dr. Caplan truly loves animals, and she has created a clinic and assembled a staff of professionals who share that love and treat every animal with respect and gentle care. Communication is excellent, questions are answered, and tears are shared. We just took another dog through two different cancers at CAVS, and again, I can't say enough good things about this clinic. When my dog's cancer was no longer "curable," Dr. Caplan treated him palliatively with Western medicine and with acupuncture and herbs, and his last months were filled with love and attention, as much as we could give him. I hope you never have to go here -- but if you do, you and your pet will be treated with great compassion. read more

these guys are freaking amazing, my puppy Odin broke his leg on a Thur, they fit me first thing next morning as the vet i went to that night did not do surgeries. The docotr said surgery wasnt nesscary and Odin was in a splint for 4 weeks. Not only did they have a drop off service every week for four weeks , where each time I dropped him and and could get stuff done( new puppy doesnt allow that ) they took great care of him . I am soo pleased read more

Dr. Gabi and Dr. Elaine are the best! My Bella Marie had many lumps on her as she is getting on in age and we brought her to Capital Area Vet for her treatment. They were wonderful to me and my dog. Followup calls and attention to detail along with great results make this group my go to specialists. read more

Dr. Daly and her staff have been absolutely angels taking care of my baby, "Daisy" for bone cancer/amputation of right front leg. All the doctors there have very good reputations. "Daisy" is doing extremely well and enjoying her walks with mom:) read more

Dr. Caplan and her staff took great care of my dog, Athena, during her battle with cancer. I couldn't have asked for better service, and for the compassions they all showed when the cancer ultimatly got the better of her. Thank you for everything! read more

I had a great experience with everyone at Capital Area Veterinary Specialists. My beloved lab of 14 years ended up with bone cancer. The staff and doctors all had a smile for us when we were there for appointments. One technician even carried her out to the car when she couldn't walk. I eventually had to put her down and am very grateful for the respect and love we were given while in their care. read more

First of all I must say that I went here for Dr. Hulse to operate on my dog. He is an amazing surgeon and I would highly recommend him if your dog has any orthopedic problems. I would give him 5+ stars for his top-rated care. However, the clinic is definitely not what I'm used to. I had specific instructions for the staff, repeated them about 5 times to several different people and made certain that it was noted on my dogs chart. When I called later in the day my specific request (that I was assured would be followed) was not. As a matter of fact the technician didn't even realize I had asked. How can that be after telling everyone and noting it in a chart? Obviously there is a communication problem here. All the other times my dog has had surgery at different clinics, someone has called the next day to see how she is doing. No one called from this clinic. I called to make a follow-up appointment for my dog two days after surgery, and again no one asked me how my dog was doing! I am NOT used to that and find it incomprehensible. I get the feeling that my dog is less of a concern than my money, or else someone needs to spend some time doing an inservice on how to treat customers. read more