Zero stars. Not recommended for emergencies. Neglectful, uncaring, inattentive toward cats. Last May, in 2016, I called this hospital (Clackamas VCA, hard to forget where I went) with my beloved 20 year old cat in extreme distress at 2am, he had suddenly fallen over against me and couldn't get up. I was ready to say goodbye and just call Compassionate Care (in-home 24 hr euthanasia), as he was a very old cat, and had battled kidney disease for a while, but called this vet to ask what they thought, as they had helped me with my previous cat. They said he needed an exam before any decision could be made, and they were busy but could help. We took the drive, with my cat, my best friend, terrified and in pain and defecating on himself from the pain and fear of the long drive. When we arrived, the door was LOCKED. I was alone. It was cold. People were inside the waiting room with their animals just looking at me. I rang the doorbell repeatedly to no response. After a couple of minutes, I carefully had to set my cat on the ground, wrapped in a towel, and pulled out my phone to call the hospital. Only then did someone answer and finally come to the door and let us in. We were finally admitted, and I was treated as if I were holding a corpse. We were similarly neglected in the exam room like we were left outside, for maybe 20 minutes. After an exam, I was told there was nothing they could do as the ultrasound wasn't available until 6am and they couldn't medicate him based on guesses. They didn't want to give him pain medication in case he started to snap out of it. They suspected a blood clot, but didn't explain what that meant or what could happen. I said I didn't want to put him to sleep in a scary, unfamiliar (and seemingly very uncaring) place. We were left alone again, for so long that I had to call on the phone *again* in order to check out, so that I could get him home and try to make his last moments comfortable with a home euthanasia visit (I did this for my previous elderly, sick cat, with peaceful, painless results). My cat had severe seizures on the way home and basically died in the car, which was the last thing I wanted. If anyone had treated us with any amount of urgency or care, or helped better explain what to expect, or given us pain medication or other options, this could have been avoided. If they had just admitted that they were too busy or understaffed to see us when I called, this could have been avoided. There are so many ways this could have been avoided. They charged me a huge amount of money for this neglect and uncaring treatment, of course. I tried to contact them several times to relay my experience, to try to help others avoid it in the future, but they didn't seem interested in hearing from me (though they were somewhat apologetic on the phone). I got an email address but didn't get a response. I spent several thousand dollars on surgery here with a previous cat, and she pulled through really well, so I thought I could trust them in this emergency situation with this cat. Never again. I wrote this review over a year later because I was too traumatized by the experience to re-live it enough to put it into writing, until now. read more

The veterinarians are good if you can see them. The problem is that you won't. The thing that makes this clinic utterly useless is that their desk staff simply place callers on hold indefinitely, then disconnect them after some minutes. I've heard all manner of excuses for this now -- "it's a busy day", "the phones don't work well", "we don't know what happened" -- but the reality is that I've watched them handle calls in person and none of these things are to blame. The staff are. They literally just place people on indefinite hold, forget about them, and go about chit-chatting and/or surfing social media on their mobile phones. Sounds like a minor nuisance, right? Well, the problem is that my dog had cherry eye surgery there ten days ago. This morning, I woke up to see him with a clear postsurgical infection: swelling, squinting, discharge, redness. A professional, such as a veterinarian, would consider this an urgent matter and ask to see him immediately. Their staff, however, ... wait for the chorus! ... put me on indefinite hold, then disconnected me five minutes later. I called back, explained the situation, and was transferred to Opthamology voicemail. The automated message said to press 0 to speak to the staff if urgent. I press 0. Five seconds later: call ended. I called back a third time and said something like "look, I'm simply bringing him in if you disconnect me again before I have an appointment. Postsurgical infections are urgent." Suddenly -- qu'elle surprise! -- I'm talking to a live person at the Opthamology desk and I have an appointment within the next three hours. "The phones don't work well"...? ...really? If this was only the first such incident, I'd say nothing. However, on the day of his surgery, when the surgeon called me to confirm that it was OK to proceed, my attempt to return her phone call got ... chorus please! ... "please hold", ten minutes on hold, disconnected. Took three tries to reach her with the go-ahead with my dog *literally* on the surgeon's table. The desk staff simply couldn't be bothered. Fire your front desk. My wife and I are spam dialing opthamologists in Seattle as I type this, because the three-hour drive each way is less hassle. read more

Update: After I received VCA NW's response to my original review with instructions to email their Medical Director to go over my experience, I followed through and emailed Dr. Karen Kline on 12/6/19. As of today 1/2/20, I still have not received a response. I'm really surprised how careless this facility is appearing. I understand my grievance is due to my dog NOT having cancer after being told she did, however what would happen if they tell you that your dog has cancer also and you put it through chemo just to find out there was no cancer there either? Or, what if your dog does have cancer and you were informed they did not and you lose precious fighting time? I'd be very cautious going to this facility. Original Review: I had an appointment with Dr. Dowling, who came in with a student and asked me what I knew up until that point. I was confused and I told him you're acting like you're going to tell me you think she has cancer and Dr. Dowling's response completely caught me off guard: he leaned in, looked me straight in the eye and said "I DO think she has cancer". He proceeded to explain he couldn't help her because chemo (his specialty) would not help, but the only treatment option for her would be radiation. He gave me a printed list of radiation centers in the western US. In between him explaining what different radiation options there were, I kept asking the "but what about this" questions..How could she have cancer if everything is coming back cancer free? He said the surgeon didn't get down deep enough, even though they said they got a good sample. She wasn't showing any signs of cancer..no appetite loss, no lethargy.. his response was the majority of the animals he treats come in fine, without those symptoms, and that they hide it well. When asked what if I proceed with radiation and she actually does not have cancer, he said that knowing the definitive identity of the tumor is not absolutely necessary when we consider oncologic treatments and radiation has proven effective against other nasal masses. He also said given the invasiveness, size, and location of the tumor, surgery to remove the mass was not an option. These conclusions were determined solely on the analysis of the single CT scan. Her condition was disregarded, her age was disregarded, the negative results on the biopsies/FNA were disregarded, her previous retro bulbar abscess was disregarded. Everything was disregarded and emphasis was just put on the fact there was an invasive mass in her skull causing bone remodeling. I walked out thinking I'm in the denial stage of grief because I just don't believe it. After discussing the consult with my general vet, it was recommended I get a second opinion. The following week I had a consult with another oncologist at a different location. This consult ended quite differently; they took into account her age, the location of the mass, how she was presenting, and the fact she had previously had a retro bulbar abscess. While they weren't sure what it was, they did not think it was cancer. They specifically said if it's as aggressive as it appears, we would be finding cancer cells. Another CT scan was performed and from there, a surgery to completely remove the mass. Biopsy of the entire mass and bone resulted in a diagnosis of rhinitis/sinusitis; developed as a result of a migrating plant seed foreign body. In summary, at VCA NW, I was told she had cancer and surgery was not an option, only radiation. I sit here a month later with a mass free dog officially diagnosed with rhinitis that was treated with surgery. While my dogs' case was unusual, I felt I needed to share my experience, as what I experienced is why second opinions are so important. read more

I should have been put off by the Google reviews about wait times, but I really needed to see an internist for my elderly cat and my vet recommended this place. $1400 for NOTHING. $1400 they took from me and I got no answers, no plan for helping my cat, no diagnosis, nothing but an empty wallet and scared cat. After getting a second opinion elsewhere for another $700 I have a diagnosis, a treatment and some peace of mind. I know you don't get refunds in health treatment, but I want my money back! I feel completely ripped off and disheartened that these people are taking money from people in vulnerable situations who just want to help someone they love who counts on them for care and safety. Even the vet who recommended them was upset for me and dismayed at how shoddy they handled this. read more

These guys are the best when dealing with an emergency or tragedy. My husband and I drove right over when our fur baby kitty Mr. Gray lost the use of his legs from a blood clot. It was so sudden. We were in hysterics when we arrived and they ushered us to a quiet room where we could do paperwork. They took Mr. Gray and set him up on oxygen right away while they evaluated the problem. We had known for a month that this could be the end so it was really hard to get the news that it would be in his best interest to let him go. The doctors and assistants were so empathetic (and even teared up) during our visit. I would choose these people every time. They made the process easy during a difficult time. I felt like they actually cared about my fur baby just as much as I did and that's all I could have asked for. Thank you. read more

VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Clackamas, Oregon

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It's now been 7 days since my 1st phone call to TRY and talk to a Dr regarding follow up care for my dog Major. I've left 3 messages, my local vet has also called 2x and I wrote and email last week to the director of the clinic and still NO response what so ever!!! Not only that, but when my local Vet was kind enough to call for me to see if I could possibly get a response thru her, the receptionist gave her a line of BS and lied to her about why I still hadnt received a return call. They stated that they only had a phone# for my husband (which even if that were the case, they haven't called him either!) ... but I left my phone# at least 2x on each VM msg, so a bunch of crap! read more

We've had three different incidents with our kitties in the past two years and luckily, we live close by. We have a cat sanctuary in back and once, a cat escaped and got hit by a car (broken pelvis/tibia) and the other two times, the younger ones got into things they shouldn't have and caused harm to themselves (eating a sheepskin rug and jumping on a door frame, splintering the veneer and being impaled by it, just under the skin). Our cats have not only survived but thrived with the care and guidance provided at this pet hospital. From the front desk staff - who are as warm with animals as they are with people - to the vet techs, vets and orthopedic surgeons!!! Everyone is just wonderful. They educate you without talking down to you, maintain professional and personal care to both patient and owner. They set a very high standard. In the midst of extreme life and death choices, we found that we were supported with loving care. The price? About half as much as Tualitin Emergency Vet, the most expensive in town, I believe. And unlike their sister VCA, Dove-Lewis, they allow you to go back with your animal and visit. Even odd hours, if it's something especially intense. They are not rigid with your visits like many other places. All of these statements have been corroborated with other clients in the waiting room. We have had plenty of time to get to know the customers, believe me. Aside from that, the wait time has always been very short, even in non-life and death situations. The consensus that we've heard is that this place is known to be the "best in the Pacific Northwest in emergency pet care". People come from other states (even Hawaii) to get their pet's orthopedic surgeries done. We are SO glad they're so close. We really lucked-out with this place!!! UPDATED: three more visits since this review was posted and again, BEST ever!! Always so helpful, sweet and caring. When we need it most, they're there for us, everytime. read more

Let me start off by saying I never write reviews, but I feel like I have a responsibility to share my experience in hopes VCA NWVS improves their practice. As a little bit of background, I worked as a veterinary technician for about 7 years, so I am more understanding than most about the difficulties of veterinary medicine, especially emergency care. This all began when I woke up Sunday, July 13th. I noticed my cat experiencing sudden severe muscle weakness in his hind end. No known trauma (he's indoor) or poison ingestion. He was only able to stand up half way, barely able to walk, with extremely wobbly back legs. It was obvious he was experiencing a lot of pain. My husband and I were very alarmed. I called an off duty veterinarian friend who told us to go to an ER immediately. I chose VCA NWVS due to a previous good experience and their access to specialists. I called ahead of time and then arrived shortly before 9:30am. There was only about three other patients in the lobby, so we were optimistic about being see quickly. They took our cat back to make sure he was stable, then brought him back to us in the lobby, which we appreciated. I always expect a wait at an ER, especially if I have been reassured my pet's condition is not life threatening, so we waited. At about 11am, an hour and a half after we arrived, they moved us into a room and told us that we were next in line. By noon, we had been waiting in the room for another hour- so our total now was 2 1/2 hours. After all this time, my cat needed to relieve himself, but we were not offered a box despite our long wait, and he urinated on himself. At this point, I went out to the lobby and was told an emergency came in and the doctor had to stabilize the pet, but after that we were next. That was understandable, albeit disappointing- but I went back to the room to continue waiting. More time passed, 12:30, 12:45, 1pm, 1:15, 1:30- so now I have been here for FOUR HOURS, and my cat had still not been treated. I went out to the reception desk a second time, and again asked about the status. I was told a second emergency came in the door, and the pet had to be stabilized before the doctor could get to my pet. Obviously that is the priority, but I was informed the Dr had already completed her exam when they took my cat back. We just needed to hear what they found and start diagnostics, but we couldn't do that until the doctor came into the room to speak with us. This was pretty frustrating. I asked if a tech could relay that information so we could begin testing and I was told the techs were all busy as well. The front desk staff then told me that there was only one doctor on staff for the entire ER and there was 10 cases in the building. I was absolutely floored- ONE doctor? I have worked in the vet field for years, I know NWVS is a big hospital, and one of the main veterinary emergency clinics in the area. I know how busy small hospitals are with only one doctor, let alone a major ER clinic. The idea that they would only have one doctor on a Sunday shift was ludicrous. Combined with my anger about my cat being left in pain and now soaked in urine, I felt real sympathy for that doctor. At this point I came to the realization, after over four hours of waiting, that my cat may never be seen. With only one doctor available, there could very likely be steady flow of more urgent cases that would keep my pet from being treated. He was stable, and snoozing in his box, he had already urinated on himself, and we were looking down the barrel of what could be hours more of waiting. It was at this point I told them I would be leaving and waiting to see my regular vet the next day. Thank goodness my cat has now recovered, but that is no thanks to NWVS specialists. It could have been much worse, and my review would be very different. The front desk staff and techs were polite and friendly, but a litter box, as well as any unsolicited updates as we waited for hours, would have been nice. I do not blame the DVM or staff for our experience. They are obviously doing their best in a bad situation. NWVS is extremely understaffed and that is translating to under serving their patients and creating a bad client experience. Next time I have a pet emergency I will go elsewhere. read more

Dr. Ben Im and all the staff here are above and beyond. I felt like the team really cared about my pup, Jezebel, and treated her like their very own. I would give more stars if Yelp would allow it. Please know you're in good hands here. Incredible people. read more

VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists - Your dog is in good hands here - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Clackamas, Oregon

I'm so impressed with the whole staff here. They were able to get us in on a same day appointment for an emergency appointment. They were so kind and caring. Dr.Taylor was amazing with my Puggle and explained everything so I felt so much better about it all. read more

We have used VCA many times. I know emotions run high with pets and emergencies can be heart breaking. I think sometimes the stressful nature of these moments can lead to harsh reviews, warranted or not. I've been there with other clinics and know that yucky feeling when you feel uncared for by a clinic. HOWEVER, this time I get to happily say we LOVE VCA. First off, this is one of the few clinics with a full range of services that includes a neurological team. If you want to go somewhere that will have all the resources you need, GO HERE. We found out the hard way that many "animal hospitals" are not always equipped with the right diagnostic tools to help your animal in a moment of crisis, which sends you into a mad dash to other locations. When there isn't a moment to lose, this is enough to make your stomach turn...driving around town with your dog. I hope that bit of logistics is helpful for people. Now, getting to our specific experiences: In March of 2018 our corgi had a freak back injury (on a back that was already unstable, though we didn't know it). This resulted in his back half becoming paralyzed. It was a very scary and sad experience and we thought we were going to lose him. But the doctors at VCA walked us through every moment with clarity and kindness. They kept him comfortable and let us visit him too (oh the simpler days before COVID). In the end, our pup never regained the use of his legs but we were offered great support and resources to find rehabilitation services, a wheelchair and other tools to give him a quality life. That was 4 years ago and he is happy, healthy, goes hiking, swims...goes on normal walks like any dog. We are so glad we had good support from VCA. They saved his life and our sanity. Recently we found ourselves back at VCA for some UTI issues (common with dogs who have paralysis). Once again the doctors were helpful and very apologetic for the long waits (it's not their fault - COVID has made it hard and we value that they were making sure to see pets in dire situations first - our pup was "sick" - but not in a way that was threatening him or causing discomfort to him - so we were happy to wait our turn). We just appreciate the flexibility and care for our dog, especially in a time when getting into your primary care vet in a timely matter can be nearly impossible. In the end they did detailed tests and ultrasounds to rule out any serious problems and luckily there were none - and we were sent home with a great action plan to keep the UTI's under control. Our pup (as you can see in pic) is happy to be home and resting (which is amazing because despite his special needs, he really doesn't rest much, very energetic, so that's saying something ;) Thank you VCA for fitting us in, working with our schedule, making us feel heard. We know it can't have been an easy two years for the clinic and we really appreciate you! read more

VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Clackamas, Oregon

I literally am never coming back here again. The lady at the front desk was rude & annoyed from the moment I walked in the door, that's phone it lightly too. Very condensending then they wouldn't even treat my pets emergency because of a $50 balance previously! Mind you it's a emergency and I was willing to pay but not the $370 up front they just wanted just for walking in the door. Expensive & not genuine about pets at all. I highly do NOT recommend! read more

My kitty is now almost 6mo old and the most playful thing sweet and sassy. Healthy as can be too! read more

VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists - Kitty now:) so glad I didn't give up on her! - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Clackamas, Oregon

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Thank you to Dr Powell, Stephanie, and the team at VCA Northwest for doing their best in trying to save my little Kona and showing us so much love and compassion. Although it was such a tragic situation, we were comforted by the incredible professionalism and care provided. You are the absolute best! Lori read more

My vet told me to come here to get a liver ultrasound and to call ahead of time to check wait times. I called and ended up chatting with a vet tech during the call. Ultimately, they said come in. Checked in at 12:50. The initial welcome was warm, but as I sat down with the intake person she informed me I could wait for an ultrasound or could come back with an appointment to see an internal medicine vet, get ultrasound and if needed a biopsy. At this point in my head, wondered why they wouldn't tell me this on the phone! No biggie, I drove a little ways to get here so decided let's at least get the ultrasound. Fast forward to 2:40, where I am still waiting. I watched the waiting room empty out, dogs come and go, even out of the surgical suite and yet here I am. I finally asked when I could expect to get the ultrasound since no one would even glance at me or acknowledge that I've been waiting a while. They brought me back to a room where I proceeded to wait another 20 mins. When a vet came in, she told me I should have had my dog fast. Again why was none of this mentioned on the phone?! I could have saved myself a lot time, had a more accurate ultrasound for me dog, if the staff would have spent a little more time communicating. PART 2 of this ridiculous debacle: Per instruction of VCA and my family vet, scheduled an appointment for a biopsy. Checked in at 9:50 for 10 am appointment. At 10:30, the internal medicine specialist came in and proceeded to inform me they can't actually do a biopsy here and instead recommended a couple other tests to the tune of $770 all the while letting me know now that I have to go somewhere else for a biopsy. This is 7 hours of my life I will not get back, all the while I still do not know what is wrong with my pup and we have now wasted a few weeks because VCA is jerking us around trying to milk us for all the money and time they can. STAY FAR AWAY!!!!!! read more

Absolutely incompetent, uncaring people....came in for a stomach pro6and they wanted to euthanize my dog...STAY AWAY

Very expensive but I guess if you don't have a choice for your pet's emergency needs, you pay the price. Long wait, very busy. Over $500 to have an ultrasound of our small dogs gastrointestinal tract. They seem thorough and professional but it was a half day ordeal. I would avoid this place unless you have no other choice. read more

Update: About a week ago I made what will definitely be my last visit to this place. In my previous review I wrote about being pressured to euthanize my cat on the spot. This time, I brought in a 13 year-old cat that was having difficulty breathing, and again, seconds after the exam, they were recommending euthanizing the cat. The recommendation in and of itself I understand, but they make it seem like if you don't take this decisive action immediately and in their company, the decision can't be made. My cat was heavily drugged and comfortable, and then was dragged all over this office and antagonized until his breathing issues worsened. Advice to management: stop, stop, stop demanding that people euthanize there, and immediately. There is nothing wrong with calling one of the 24/7 at-home services so that this can be done at home and in peace. I understand you want that dollar, but this is a seriously scummy practice. If I had not been with my partner, I would have left with that cat (he signed the papers). I'm still angry. read more

This place has come to our rescue twice! The first time, they took my dog at 2am in the morning. In the middle of the night, she lost the ability to use her hind legs. We lived in an area without an emergency clinic or specialists, and so we drove 3.5 hours to VCA. They were incredible! The second time, years later in a new city, our local vet left us hanging and none of the nearby specialists had openings (they were scheduled weeks or even months out). I called VCA and they took my dog within 12 hours. We drove 2 hours to see them this time. They were, once again, incredible. Kind, compassionate, thorough, efficient, and knowledgable. I cannot complain! Only sing their praises! read more

If I could give this place negative stars I would. I'm going to try and take the emotions out of this negative review and just stick to facts. If you have an appointment that is coming up and they cancel for a mechanical breakdown of the equipment they put you to the back of line or how they look at it the nearest opening appointment. My dog was diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago, I made an appt ASAP to get him in. So the night prior to my appointment at 9 o clock at night I get an email stating the machine is broken and the appointment was canceled and they tried calling me. My phone never rang and no voicemail was left. I know they have my correct number because they called me Monday after my first appointment and collected payment via credit card. When they get the machine back up and running whenever that is, the time from when it was down to the time it was fixed appointments are lost. Now the nearest opening time is now a month out. So when people made appointments after you and they luck out right in time for the equipment to get fixed that benefits them and not the people that missed their appointment because of mechanical failure. It's a business I get it, this is how they treat scenarios like that one. Not saying my dog's appointment matters more than others, but it should take precedence in order they were originally scheduled. read more

I came to this location as an emergency after having a horrible experience at my local vet (city pet vets). I can't say enough incredible things about everybody at this location. We were initially helped by Jacqui and met with Dr. Kirkwood. They quickly took us in and helped my sick cat. Most importantly they were straightforward and understanding of my circumstance. I appreciate their ability to work with me in creating a medical plan which felt right to me and more importantly was best for my pet. Although this location is a solid 30 minutes away from where I live the care and kindness I experienced will keep me coming back for a lifetime. I highly suggest this high functioning, knowledgeable, efficient hospital for all your pet needs. read more

I will start by saying that I believe that their specialists have great reputations. In fact, about 7 years ago, I went there for my dog at the time, and remember them being competent and caring. However, I recently had a horrible experience with their emergency staff. I'm not sure if them being bought by a national chain a few years ago has changed things, or whether this side of the practice is just the weak link. Anyway, the story: I have a kitty with lymphoma (being treated elsewhere), but prednisone, predictably, made his diabetes come back. The day I went to NWVS, we had been to chemo and they did a complete blood panel. His glucose level was nearly 600! Oncologists don't treat diabetes, I couldn't get into my vet, and thought he should be stabilized with fluids (he was a bit dehydrated) and get an insulin drip if needed, or at least a new scrip. I was seen fairly quickly. But the "vet" looked very young and seemed very inexperienced. I still wonder whether it was a student. Within minutes, her recommendation was that since he "likely had ketoacidosis" he would need to be hospitalized several days for $7,000+, or -- given that I burst into tears -- we could just euthanize him today. I was perplexed and panicked! Were we SURE he was in a ketoacidosis crisis? I'd been looking for telltale signs and hadn't detected any; he was low energy from chemo; and from 95 degree weather. Right? "I think we really just need some insulin -- that is why I am here!" The vet responded that it was "likely" ketoacidosis. And she thought the cancer might be spreading and we should do an ultrasound, and a chest Xray, but again since that would be thousands, we could consider that, or euthanasia. I thought, "I just came from the best oncologist in Portland. We know the status of his cancer. It is localized. You don't need to sell me on thousands of dollars of unnecessary treatments, in lieu of euthanasia." Two totally inappropriate options. The "vet" said "hang on" and I guess she went back to confer with a supervisor and came back and said the miraculous "Oh, I spoke too soon, why don't we test first?" Duh. No surprise, 30 min later she came back sheepishly -- no crisis after all. Well long story short. He did stay overnight on drips to rehydrate and get insulin ($1,500). But it was a minor battle to get him released the next day. They insisted he stay another day and night for another glucose curve. But I am well aware that people either A) Do that at the vet for a day stay charge or B) Do it themselves, at home! Geez, after practically storming the place to spring my kitty loose, I went to my vet, they showed me how to prick his ear to test glucose, I got supplies at Walgreens, and we were on our way. Kitty is stable, cancer still being treated 3 months later. In short: Inexperienced. Wild speculation without running tests. Trying to upsell me on expensive procedures we don't need. And suggesting the only alternative is euthanasia when I balk (well, cry) at the impossibility of paying thousands for all the unneeded treatment. I will never go back here again. read more

After multiple visits to our regular vet and them not diagnosing our dog correctly we had a friend recommend VCA. We went in and not only were they prompt and very sensitive to us but they let us know that our dog had bladder cancer that should have been caught sooner. They gave us our options but were honest and we did not feel that they were trying to make extra money. We made the very difficult choice to put her down read more

We recently had a medical problem with our kitty Ginger - the background of which you can read here (http://www.yelp.com/biz/banfield-the-pet-hospital-portland-2#hrid:n7jii6Qu5nb_tilrUkwvwA) - and were referred to see Dr. Kroll, a veterinary neurology specialist at Northwest Veterinary Specialists. For me it's hard to think how to numerically rate a vet, doctor, or other similar service provider - especially when the problem has not been completely resolved - so I think the way to do it is based on how confident I feel with them, the customer service and care that was provided, and the "objective" things such as hours, ease of making appointments, etc. With this in mind I have to give NWVS 5-stars and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who's pet needs emergency or specialized veterinary care. We initially took Ginger in on an emergency basis with no appointment, but Dr. Kroll (rather than one of the general ER vets) was able to see her. During the initial exam he developed the preliminary diagnosis that she had a vestibular disorder relating to the inner ear, which is still considered a neurological disorder, but significantly less scary to us than a brain or spinal issue. He stabilized her with meds and cleaned the external portion of her ears, but was unable to do a full ear exam to determine the exact cause without anesthetizing her and doing a full ear cleaning, so we made an appointment to have that procedure done. Unfortunately she had another violent episode two days later (before our scheduled appointment), and after a phone consultation with one of the neurology technicians, we brought Ginger in again on an emergency call because her convulsion was lasting for longer than just a couple minutes. Dr. Downes, an emergency veterinary specialist, saw Ginger and again was able to stabilize her. She attempted to examine her ear, but as before, was unable to do a full exam due to the debris that needed to be removed. Dr. Kroll is only in the office Monday-Wednesday (it was a Friday), but Dr. Prouty, their other neurologist, is there Thursday-Saturday, so we agreed to hospitalize Ginger so that Dr. Downes could clean her ear, then Dr. Prouty would consult and help with the examination and hopefully determine what was causing the convulsions, problems with balance, and head tilt. I want to pause here to explain just how wonderful, caring, and professional all the staff and doctors at NWVS were. We were given a list of what to expect when your pet is hospitalized - they encourage you to call for info and status updates as much as you want, whenever you want, 24 hours a day (except from 7-10am when the staff are doing rounds for the shift-change). You are asked to pay a deposit based on the low-end of the estimate, but are told up front what they expect the final cost to be. As difficult as this type of experience obviously is, they do everything in their power to alleviate your concerns and deal with things like payment professionally. The procedure went well, and they discovered that her eardrum was essentially "obliterated". They saw no signs of any tumors or other middle or inner ear maladies that would indicate a serious problem. We're not sure exactly what caused her eardrum to be so badly damaged; whether her initial symptoms were a sign of an infection that ultimately caused her eardrum to rupture, or rather they were caused by the ruptured eardrum - we'll never know, but as of today her eardrum has healed and she appears to be on her way to recovery. She still has a head tilt and balance problems, but it's possible she suffered permanent vestibular nerve damage and this may never improve. During post-procedure re-checks Dr. Kroll has also identified what he believes may be a potential dermatological disorder, as she's still getting excessive cellular buildup in her ears. It may be related to the irritation and inflammation from the damaged eardrum, or it may be something else, but it instills a lot of confidence when your vet keeps looking for answers to problems that aren't easily solved. Dr. Kroll is one of the most gentle, warm, and professional vets I've ever dealt with, and like all the staff at NWVS, he seems to genuinely care about his patients and their families. Yes, NWVS is expensive. But honestly, I feel like I'm at least getting my money's worth here with their level of expertise, compassion, and consideration for their patients; and they do offer on-site financing options (through a 3rd party). They are also NOT a general, primary care veterinary hospital. They ONLY provide emergency and specialized veterinary care. Their specialists have office hours Monday through Saturday (hours vary by specialist, but my experience has been good with their hours), but they are open for emergency care 24/7, and someone's always there to answer the phone. If you ever need of this type of veterinary care I can recommend NWVS without reservation, as they've earned my trust and appreciation. read more

I just can't say enough about how absolutely awesome & wonderful they are here! They are kind, loving, caring, and so helpful. We lost our baby boy and they were here for us every step of the way. Thank you all so much, every single person there were terrific. We will be forever grateful! read more

In all fairness, let me first say that I have only brought cats here on an emergency referral, so all 4 times, the cats were seriously ill and I drove 90 miles to get here. No one here, on any of the 4 occasions over a period of 6 years was ever friendly or helpful. They treated me and my cat as an imposition and like they were doing me a serious favor just to look at the cat. Every time, the vet gave me bad news, that the cat was dying, but it was done in such a hurried monotone mumble loaded with technical jargon I didn't understand and which ended with a recommendation for more tests. VCA NW Vet Spec is a coldly sterile facility apparently lacking in any humanity. All this, plus putting my cat through a lot of unnecessary stress and $800 spent before the life-ending injections were administered. I do not blame the vet for being the bearer of bad news, but they could at least try to explain things in plain English and show a little compassion. read more

I really expected so much more from this hospital. The front desk staff are atrocious. Their lack of concern is apparent as soon as you walk through the door; they don't even greet you. My cat and I have been in 3 times in the last week and a half and have spent a lot of money here. I'd expect to be treated with some respect. Whoever manages this business should reevaluate the staff hired and set higher expectations for customer service. The one gal with the mohawk should be mentioned as she's the only one who seems to enjoy her job and understands how to treat customers. read more

Don't bother going to these people. Literally they are only out to make money. You'll spend $250+ to waste your time on a weekend for 4+ hours to get meds they have no clue if they will help to give you advice they will only end every sentence with seek further information or help at your primary vet. Stay away from places like this only out to take advantage of people seeking desperate help for sick or hurt animals. read more

My dog had a seizure and I brought him here because it was so highly reviewed on yelp. He ended up having some more serious problems and stayed here for over a week. The front desk staff that I dealt with that was excellent, they were always calm and collected, yet consoling and understanding. The specialist that I interacted with (Dr. Mack) was very knowledagble and did a good job explaining what was happening with the situation. The staff that worked with my little guy in the intensive care unit was always patient with him and really nice about letting us visit. So why did I bump my review down? Well, first our bloodwork that had to be sent out took FOREVER. It may be cheaper to come here than Dove, but you pay for it by having to pay for inhospital care for longer if you are waiting for results. Additionally, we were forced to make a decision when our little guys future became bleak, and after a lot of tears we decided it was time to let him go. It was an extremely difficult situation and Dr. Mack and one of the ladies at the front desk were excellent in helping us through this hard situation. The trouble came when our wishes were not actually communicated to the cremation services they used. I was really upset and called them to talk to them about it. I knew it wouldn't do any good to be mad, so I tried to be really calm and just explain I wanted to let them know an error had been made, and that something should be done so a mistake wouldn't be made in this situation again. They had me leave a message for someone and it's been a week, no word back. I get it, I've worked in administration. No one likes to call the unhappy sad customer back. But you do it anyway, because its your job. You apologize. That's all I wanted. End result: Come here for emergencies if you are in the area. Avoid if your pet needs long term care (where you'll need outside lab work) and if you do use their euthanasia services, triple check that they communicated your wishes to the crematory. read more

I was told this is where the vet experts are at, and I found out it's true. I took my cat here after spending a ton of money at my local vet clinic who couldn't figure out what was wrong. The vet on duty took one look at him and correctly diagnosed him, and then ran a simple blood test that confirmed his diagnosis. His explanation was clear, and he was knowledgeable. The staff was very kind and compassionate towards the old guy and myself. The bill was very reasonable. This is where I will take my pets in the future if they experience any real issues. The local vet clinic is okay for vaccinations and wellness check-ups, but that's about all. read more

They kept me waiting 1/2 hour after i paid. Said they were helping another dog but i saw two vet techs bsing in parking lot the whole time. I got a surgery for my dog and they did not call to check status on him. They didn't care. Id recommend a better place. read more

I was referred for an internal medicine consult for my kitty, Lucy. She had chronic vomiting issues, and was losing weight and not eating. My vet wanted her to have an ultrasound and an internal medicine consult. Dr. Stephanie Wan was so compassionate and helpful. She explained the most likely findings, and then had the unpleasant job of calling me to let me know that they'd found a tumor in her abdominal wall, and that it was most likely a pretty aggressive form of cancer, a diagnosis that was confirmed in two days. Even though the results came in on her day off, she called me to let me know. Just under three weeks later, we had to put her down. It was an incredibly difficult and painful experience, but Dr. Wan and the whole staff made it as easy as it could have been. I would call Dr. Wan with questions about medication, or how we'd know if it was time, and she was just so lovely and compassionate. She called me on her day off when she'd come into the clinic if I had a question. Sadly, Lucy didn't respond to the steroids like we'd hoped, and Dr. Wan never rushed me, or made me feel like I was taking up too much of her time. She compassionately supported my decision to euthanize her when she wasn't eating at all, and everyone in the office was just so very kind. I also never had to wait more than about 5 or 10 minutes for my appointment, which, at an emergency vet seemed amazing to me. They also were really great about explaining costs to me, and never made me feel guilty for not trying chemotherapy, which, at $2000 a month I couldn't even consider. I would wholeheartedly recommend these folks to anyone who cares about their animals. read more

Pleasant front desk staff. Friendly vet technician that took us back to the room & checks eye pressures (eye appt). However, both times my dog & I have been to this clinic in the last several months, the approach from the vet (ophthalmologist) has been to list multiple possible diagnoses & treatments, including surgery. All sounds good, but...it was almost impossible to have her listen - She talked so fast & so long, that she seemed to not care at all that I wanted to take a conservative approach first. I wanted to do one step-at-a time, to see what the least invasive & least expensive approach was that provided the best results for our dog! When I mentioned that eye surgery at this point (newly diagnosed glaucoma) didn't seem to be the first step for moderately high eye pressure, especially for a 12-yr-old dog that was going deaf & had very few teeth left, the vet became very defensive - saying she just wanted to give me all the options. Options are good! But, clearly, I think I will stick with a conservative approach, see how the drops affect the eye pressure and THEN we can discuss surgery as a last resort! With surgery comes anesthesia and all the complications that can accompany that! Just beware of pressure to have surgery done! It's not typically a first option! My dog has been seeing another amazingly patient and compassionate, vet ophthalmologist in Beaverton for years and we were never pressured like this! The challenges of moving. read more

We have been taking our Papillon-Pomeranian Penny to the Neurology Department to see Dr. Bilderback over the past few months. While the diagnosis for Penny has been difficult for all of us, the care she has received at VCA Specialists has been far above our expectations. The entire staff shows care, concern and true professionalism, often surpassing what we have received from some of our human health care professionals. From the take in experience (even with COVID protocols), to the detailed documentation of each visit....to having prescriptions called in and ready before I got to the Clinic to pick them up...we are impressed and say THANK YOU. read more

I agree with both the good and bad reviews. The day staff are excellent. My cat arrived with a tumor in his throat and couldn't eat or speak. The next day Dr. Weber kept me constantly updated with what they were doing to find the cause. When it proved to be an inoperable tumor, Dr. Weber couldn't have been more sympathetic about the bad news he had discovered. However the reception people are terrible. They project indifference to you and your pet and it seems like another job to them. They talk with each other a lot and don't appreciate you interrupting them if you have a question. The building is noisy by its open design. Every noise made by animals and humans and medical equipment blast through the entire place even in the examination rooms. The thin walls will make you hear everything that happens in the adjacent rooms. If you have a frightened animal, consider taking them someplace less frightening. The worst part was that they took my cat away supposedly for an ultrasound and left me sitting in an empty room forever. I went to the front desk but they seemed too busy to notice me. I know after hours are busy but it's not hard to drop in to tell a pet owner that their animal isn't sitting in a box under a desk somewhere. After waiting 90 minutes with no word of where my cat was, I couldn't stand it and simply walked out. I never saw my cat alive again. They finally called me a half hour later, completely unsympathetic to what had just happened. read more

I had to have my dog - my best friend of 13 years - euthanized today. It was so emotionally gut wrenching to have to deal with. The wonderful staff at this hospital made the process so much easier to handle. They were compassionate, patient, kind, and caring. They brought out a gurney to help us bring her in from the car (her hip was broken), talked with us about our options, and allowed us time to visit and say our goodbyes. A couple of family members even stayed in the room with my girl until she was gone (I couldn't handle it). The price was the least expensive we'd run across, and the care was beyond anything I could have expected. I highly recommend this location if you're looking for compassionate, and patient people to help your furry friends in their time of need. read more

VCA Northwest Vet Specialists saved our dog's eye!! It was badly ulcerated and on the verge of losing his eye, however they were able to do an emergency surgery to remove the foreign object from his eye and do a flap over the ulcer to support it and let it heal. We just got back from our 3rd follow up visit with VCA and everything is great! Not only did they save his eye, but he LOVES them there. We've been to a couple other vets in the past and he hated going to them. He would run the other way from the buidling and be scared in the lobby. At VCA he runs TOWARDS the entrance and is as happy and playful as ever inside! Everyone is extremely nice and caring and we couldn't ask for more! read more

We've been coming here for a couple years now, our Boston Terrier Frank was a special needs dog, and saw Dr. Shirley, the opthomologist at NWVS. One of our favorite vets we've ever met, he was really awesome, and the staff, in general, was really great. We had to bring Frank here a few nights ago, as he was having trouble breathing, and unfortunately, he passed away. The staff worked so hard to make him better, and even gave us hugs as we were leaving in tears. If you have an emergency, consider bringing them here instead of Dove Lewis. They're a lot less expensive and the care is phenomenal. read more

Can't say enough good things about VCA Northwest. After multiple visits to other local vets we ended up at VCA. They were knowledgeable, honest and ultimately compassionate. Tests determined that we didn't catch our Bean's cancer early enough. Again, VCA Northwest went above and beyond. read more

Horrible. Will not return. Found this place as we were desperate with our dog who severely injured his back leg in the afternoon playing. Over 6hrs later past midnight and I'm still waiting to get my dog back in my possession and each time I call for an update I'm told it's only a few more minutes to then me having to call 1-2hrs later asking for a follow up. All for blood work to be done and a checkup to see what is causing his issues. I seriously warn others from staying clear from this place. read more