My girlfriend and I had a positive experience with the VCA Valley Oak Vet Center. Long story short. We were camping about 30 minutes away and our cute little dog swallowed a fish hook. They took us right away and explained the 2 possible outcomes of which we were lucky to end up with the better of the 2. They were successful in extracting the hook and we were on our way back to LA within a few hrs. Needless to say, we were very nervous. Thank you so much for your help. read more

Never go here. Absolute worst. Front desk people never want to help will only tell you anything if you come in and pay hundreds of dollars just for a simple answer. They care more about money then your animals. Truly its very sad and disappointing. read more

I hate to be negative on this but we took our valued family member for a quality of life examination here. We ended with a protracted meeting on how we could spend our money. I felt our pets condition was glossed over while lots of invasive treatments were discussed. I'll be up front that I feel our pets comfort comes first, should they be able to be treated and recover I'm on board, but I don't feel man or beast should be exposed to life extension without consideration to their pain vs recover chances. The clinic offers many good things that I'd go there for. But I think they are pushing life extending services to hard for my comfort. read more

I am so pleased with Valley Oaks. My kitty baby (Flynn) only 11 mo old completely broke his hip. I called every vet in Chico and nobody would see him because he was un established anywhere else, I had no choice to take him to Valley Oaks or where I had gotten him in October, wags and whiskers, (and that was an obvious no after the phone call I had with them) when I brough him to Valley Oaks right away before even x-rays on his hip Dr. masonic tells me that he has a heart murmur some thing that should've been diagnosed from wags and whiskers, another reason I will never take my animals to wags and whiskers! Valley Oaks was able to tell me that he has a heart murmur and a broken hip and suggested that I get him seen for the heart murmur before surgery for precaution because the murmur is a grade 4-5 A couple of weeks later we go and see the cardiac doctor. She's able to ease my mind and answer all of my questions super kind and was able to be very transparent with me and then we were able to go ahead and schedule the surgery for Flynn. Who is home now. Recovering post Op two days and Dr. Spina was an amazing surgeon took all the precautions with the heart murmur. This was an amazing experience over all for me thank you VCA read more

If you want your cat to live do not take them here!!!!!! Brought my cat twice and they had no idea what was wrong. I ought to get a refund on the almost $600 I spent for nothing!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME VCA? Maybe I'll call my lawyer read more

Very disappointed!! Been using them for years for my 2 dogs. Even spent hard earned money on Rattlesnake training 3 times as per their recommendation. Went in today to get a bottled of ear cleaning solution. Waited 15 minutes to be told that the pharmacy said I have to bring my dog in for a checkup before they would sell me some. To be clear I have bought this many times from them before and it is not a subscription product. Since when does the pharmacy have the right to force me to bring my dog in. I have spent more than my share on money with them. So much for trying to support local. Shame on them. read more

I Tell You.. Lexi and Crew saved Our Puppies Lives.. They took such Great care.Our puppies were 7days old at the time.. Lexi even called to follow up 3 days later on the pups.. A Warm inviting Place.. read more

VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Center - Here is Our PuppyThat Lexi and Crew Took Great care of at 7days old. HERE he is at 6weeks.. - Veterinarians Near Me - Chico, California

Unfortunately this vet is only interested in money and they don't care for the patients. I will never take my pet there again.

If you look through my review history, you'll notice this is the FIRST negative review I've given, as it isn't my style to write negatives. But this negative review is well deserved, in my opinion! This past Friday, May 17th, 2013, I found a turtle on the side of the road who had been run over by a car. I took it to Valley Oak. The turtle has been EUTHANIZED, even after 3 different staff members assured me he would NOT be! Here's what happened: * On Friday I found this turtle, who had been run over by a car: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151963159783782&set=a.10150228241333782.389735.616998781 * I called all around and was going to drive him two hours away to have him rehabilitated, but finally found a local network of volunteers who take care of injured wildlife. There was a long list of them and I called the first name on the list. She and her husband didn't specialize in turtles but gave me the name of a volunteer who does. She also gave me the name of a local veterinary clinic that would give the turtle a place to stay and stabilize it until the volunteer could be reached to pick it up. I am naming the veterinary clinic publicly. You'll understand why soon: Valley Oak Veterinary Center - online at http://www.valleyoakveterinarycenter.com/ * While driving to Valley Oak, I left a message on the volunteer's voicemail and he called me back within minutes. He told me that I needed to make sure the clinic knew that either he or I would pick the turtle up when he was stabilized, and that one of us would care for him, because if I didn't do so they would euthanize him, as he isn't a native species (he was a red eared slider). I immediately called and told Valley Oak what the volunteer had said and stated that I did NOT want him euthanized and that I would care for him myself. This was the first call in which I was assured they would NOT euthanize him. I was told I could actually pick him up the next morning (Saturday) if I wished. * Saturday morning I called. I was informed that the turtle had been given antibiotics and pain medicine and was doing well. He would live, and was in fact quite active. They were waiting for a technician to work on his shell, and I should check back on Sunday to see if he was ready for pickup. Again I mentioned my desire that he not be euthanized, even if I had to pay for what was done so far. I was assured for the second time that he would not be put down. * Sunday I drove 45 miles (each way) from my house to Valley Oak to speak in person. The lady at the desk called another person to speak to me. She told me the turtle was very healthy and that one of their doctors who specialized in turtles would fix his shell with epoxy on Monday morning. Once again I made sure they knew I did not want him euthanized and would take him home, and would pay for the services rendered if necessary. The attitude of this woman led me to believe I was being a mild annoyance with all my check ins, but once again I was assured they would NOT euthanize him. I was told they'd put a note on the check in sheet I'd filled out informing staff that I'd be picking him up. I was also told they would call me once he was ready. * Now feeling like I was being a bother, I didn't call on Monday. I waited for their call. It didn't come. * On Tuesday, I didn't call because Bethany had an important school meeting that took up most of our day. At about 10 pm I thought about calling but decided to give them until this morning (Wednesday) because, again, I felt like I was being a bother. * I just called. They euthanized him because he was a non-native species and fish and game does not pay for treatment for non-natives, just as the volunteer told me they would do if I didn't call, even after being reassured three different times this would not happen and after offering to make payment myself. I am SO angry, but was kind to the rep I spoke with on the phone. read more

Wow. I am so ashamed that these people are responsible for taking care of animals. Family cat was brought here for a mystery illness. $450 worth of 1 exam and some blood work rendered no diagnosis. The vet insisted that the cat stay for observation ($$$), and after an entire day there with no communication from them, we called to check on the cat. Guess what? They wanted us to come get him at 10PM that night. Sounded kind of strange, but we did what they asked. At 10PM they were so anxious to get the cat out of there that they sent us home with no after care instructions and just said to call if we had questions. The next day the cat was so sick that we rushed him to a different Cat Hospital in Chico (I'm sure you can figure out which one), where he was diagnosed and scheduled for emergency surgery within 30 minutes. When we called Valley Oak Veterinary Center to tell them what happened with the new vet, the receptionist told us that if we were really that unhappy, we could just go get a lawyer. What the heck? Do not go here. DO NOT. The prices are through the roof because they need to pay the bills and mortgage on this brand new facility. They care very little for the pets and very much for the money. Also be advised that this is Mangrove Pet Hospital combined with a new vet into a new facility. read more

No one wants to have to take their pet to the emergency vet. It means that their pet is so sick that they feel it can't wait until they can take their pet to their normal vet. It also means that it is going to cost more than their normal vet. I think that it is part of being a responsible pet owner to be ready for these situations - both emotionally and financially. With the economy the way it is, it is a struggle to be ready to afford these emergencies. All that being said, Valley Oak's prices are high - even higher than what I would expect at an emergency vet. However, I thought the attention and care that my pet and I got was very good. As soon as I saw the place, I knew the hit on our bank account would be bad. It's a brand new building. The waiting room has a beautiful high, open-beamed cathedral ceiling that just screams, "you are going to be paying for this!". There is a coffee station that the staff makes sure to mention 2-3 times during your visit. Speaking of staff, there are at least 3 receptionists out front, which seemed overboard to me. They were friendly and helpful, though. When my dog was examined, the vet was very considerate of costs and did not push tests and procedures on us. I did not feel pressured at all. We decided to "wait and see" how our dog was doing and took her home, and the vet was fine with our decision. We ended up coming back several hours later to get some medication and a procedure done. We spoke to the vet a second time when we returned, and he was very nice and explained what to do next, etc. He even advised us to use a human, over-the-counter drug, because it would be cheaper than a equivalent prescription dog medication. We weren't charged for a second office visit even though I sort of expected to be - a pleasant surprise. I really like the vet we saw and felt very comfortable taking his advice. I wish the emergency never happened. I wish I didn't have to spend the amount of money I did. Personally, I would give up the cathedral ceiling, coffee station and extra receptionists for slightly lower prices. I sure am glad Valley Oak was there to take care of my dog when I needed it, though. read more

I want to give 2 stars because I just wasn't impressed based on the experience I had but they did save my dogs life so I give them an extra star. My dog was hit by a truck and Valley Oak was open, they took him in and saved his life. He was 10 months old. He had internal bleeding and a broken hip. I am disappointed there wasn't more follow up after the first surgery when he came home. But really happy they saved him and he was able to come home. After a month he would not put weight on his bad leg. I called and the girl at the rehab place called and jumped through hoops to get the history and referral for the rehab place by my house. He was in some serious pain. After calling back and forth they entered the wrong date on my referral/history and the rehab place was not interested in booking and appointment for a dog 10 days out of surgery... when it had really been 6 weeks. After that got sorted it still didn't look good for his hip. I don't blame anyone but I I wish I had known all my options right from the get go about his injury and the possible outcomes, complications solutions. Now he is 1 and has had to have second surgery replacing his hip. We had the replacement done at a different location because we don't live in the area and that's one reason we didn't go back for the surgery. He is doing great and will hopefully lead a long life. I don't know if this review will be helpful for anyone but I feel like it gives me closure to move on. (It was really expensive, but I think any where would be, I mean, they did save his life.) read more

So there are a lot of reviews where people complain about cost. Yes, you are right. The cost of vet services for a pet can be expensive. So can your health costs if you do not have insurance. A responsible pet owner should know about these costs and save up for potential illness costs. All living things need health care and eventually will have health complications or emergencies. Take this in consideration before adopting a pet. I was visiting Chico for the weekend when my new beloved companion, Wilbur had an increase in symptoms with his kennel cough and had passed it on to my other dog, Bear. We decided to take the boys to get checked out and to receive antibiotics. The vet confirmed that they did have this and gave us antibiotics. Upon the exam, she noticed that Wilbur had a heart murmur. We had x-rays done and it was confirmed as well as suggestions on how to care for him as the condition worsens (if it does). We received great care for the boys and every staff member who interacted with them treated them with love and compassion. This place is open 24 hours a day. A major plus if you have an animal in need. It's a beautiful, clean, and comforting building. They have coffee as well. I also doubt, as many reviews pointed out, that coffee was the reason for high prices. Get real. I also found it comforting that there was more than one receptionist. No long lines! My only complaint is that the vet did not go over the x-rays with me nor was I given paperwork about Wilbur's condition. Instead, I was handed a CD-R with images of the x-ray, but I am no doctor. I have no clue what to look for. I did have to call back to retrieve the name of his condition since it was long and hard for me to remember, especially under shock. Overall, great service. Thanks for all your help, Valley Oak. read more

I took my dog into Valley Oak Veterinary Center for one small laceration. I walked out paying $722. My dog Lily had a two cuts, one of which didn't need stitches at all. After their examination they had told us that she would only need 2-3 stitches. When I got her back, she had seven stitches on her shoulder and three on her neck. They had cut an quarter of an inch laceration into a three inch laceration. They also had given her unnecessary stitches on her neck. I had gotten my dog back looking like Frankenstein. Out of Our consern for my dog, I was wondering why my dog had gotten seven stitches on her shoulder and 3 on her neck. I had called the Vet and the technician twice also leaving voice mails. Neither called my back. I trusted them to take care of my dog. They made me feel like all they were not worried about Lillys health at all. All they seemed to care about was the money. Immediately after the stitches, it was oozing. They had said it was normal and if it got worse to come back. Within 24 hours, both the spots where they had stitched up lily were busted open and infected. I immediately called Valley Oak. They told me it would cost the same amount as before. Who has $722 laying around especially right before Christmas? I called around to different vets. I ended up going to Chico Animal Hospital. They were extremely friendly. Along with that they seemed to be very concerned with Lily and her health. This is where they informed us that both wounds were extremely infected. They gave us ointment, and made us an appointment to get our dog fixed. For the same service, I am baffled by the price difference. Chico Animal Hospital charged us $175 for the same services. I feel as if at Valley Oak I got a cold, money hungry person who was not concerned with my dog. At Chico Animal Hospital, I received a caring person, who generally cared for my dog. Our dog is a rescue. We have worked very hard to help our dog come out of her shell. This incident at Valley Oak set Lily back quite a bit. I am very upset with the treatment that we had received. I am posting pictures of both invoices. I don't know how marking up is justified. read more

VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Center - The estimates from Valley Oak on top and Chico Animal Hospital on bottom. The price difference is ridiculous. - Veterinarians Near Me - Chico, California

I guess internal bleeding isn't a big deal to these guys. Be sure you have good credit or a lot of money saved up because they won't help you otherwise. $135 to be told they can't help my suffering dog. I think you're in the wrong business if you care more about getting money then saving an animal. read more

Waited two hours and ended up just leaving. Have seen them before when we've had some accidents and they were ok but overpriced IMO. Came today because my dog was in a ton of pain with some mystery leg injury but $135 just for the exam PLUS whatever else they would have charged isn't worth waiting for 2+ hours. Terrible service and hardly an emergency clinic. Get more people on staff so walk ins don't have to wait literally HOURS when there aren't even that many people coming in for appointments. The western dental of vets. I won't be back unless it's a life or death situation and I have no choice. Do yourself a favor and get a local vet and not this chain garbage. read more

I wish I had checked the reviews before we took our puppy here. But in an emergency its one of the last things we checked. Our puppy was throwing up, having diarrhea and kept having to pee/search for a place to pee. We thought she had early stages of parvo. When we got to the vet, they had us go into isolation where it took over 45 minutes for us to be even seen by anyone. The vet tech was very nice, although we would go about 30 minutes in between her coming back to check. She kept saying that she would be back with the doctor and it wasn't until we had already been here almost two hours that the doctor came in. The doctor was not very friendly towards our puppy and was excuse the language, straight up dick. I would not advice anyone who loves their dogs to go here. He seemed very money hungry and kept trying to over medicate my dog. read more

We took our cat here three times within 3 weeks, THREE times, for a growth that suddenly appeared. With the first visit, they told us to wait it out. The second time, they gave our cat an antibiotic. When we returned for the third time that's when they finally realized something was wrong. Every week that we waited, our pet suffered and so did we. Our cat was diagnosed with cancer and we had less than a week before we let him go. He was a healthy and happy 13 year old indoor cat who never sustained a serious injury or illness in his life. We understand cancer can strike at any time but what we don't understand is why they never even hinted at the possibility of cancer with the first or second visit? They certainly have a beautiful facility but we will never go back to Valley Oak unless it's our last resort. We never heard back from them to see how we or our pet was doing, this lack of compassion seriously undermines their credibility. This facility is otherwise okay if you have no other alternative but it's not a facility we can recommend, especially if you're a cat owner. read more

Update: To their credit, they did f/u with me and the owner was very nice. However, his conclusion was that they did not misdiagnose anything, did everything by the book, and UNDER charged us. I'm not exactly sure how getting it completely wrong and charging me $1,700 jives with this. I understand wanting to take a look if you are unsure; the issue is that they told me they WERE sure. I believe these people mean well, but their veterinarians are poor communicators, leading to unrealistic expectations. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL READ THIS and understand that unrealistic expectations diminish the value the customer receives. If you tell someone you know what the issue is they believe they are going to obtain a certain amount of value with their money, and if after the expenditure the diagnosis was inaccurate they are going to feel that they did not obtain the expected value. If, on the other hand, you tell someone you are unsure and would like to check it out, not only does my value not diminish, but it increases if you do find something and fix it. This isn't rocket science. read more

DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET UNLESS ITS A LAST RESORT!! They have no problems taking your money but on several occasions I've waited in my car for 2+ hours for them to return my dog. And yes this includes repeated calls to the front desk. I returned my dog for her 2nd checkup and they had to call for her medical history... we were there two weeks prior for her health but they had no records of what happened during the visit or even the medicine prescribed. I had to tell them what they prescribed! I asked about an ulcer that we came in for and they didn't even know she had one, AFTER they already "checked" her out. This and many more reasons are why I am never taking anymore pets here. read more

Got to Valley Oak Veterinarian Clinic at about 11pm on Tuesday the 29th of October with my 16 year old daughter and her sweet dog, Swisha. I rang the bell and was begging for help as our poor girl had been in "status epilepticus" (non stop seizure)since 9:47pm. The woman just stared at me through the door. A gentleman opened the door, ran out to our car and carried our girl inside. I later found out that he didn't even work there!! They took our Swisha into the back and came out and told us very coldly that her temperature was over 110* and her liver, kidneys and brain had been cooked. Cooked!! They said this to my 16 year old daughter, who was sobbing uncontrollably!! Then the gal told us they needed $550 to put her to sleep. They said to take a few minutes to make some calls to find the money. They never told us if she was comfortable, never any update, just asked over and over if we had come up with the money. After about 3 hours the lady said that the vet would euthanize her but not if we wanted to be with her when she died!! They brought her out on a gurney to the waiting area so we could say our goodbyes. After they were done...they brought my daughters baby out in a white cardboard box and told us we had to take her with us!! These were the most cold, callous women I have ever encountered!!! To treat me and my daughter like they did was absolutely disgusting!!! And to make us drive the 20 miles home in the middle of the night with our family member dead in a box...well I cannot even find the words to express the way we felt and still feel. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE, NON COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE!!! They should be ashamed of themselves!! I ho read more

Where to begin.... We were forced to evacuate our house in Yuba City last weekend due to Oroville Dam. In the rush to leave, I forgot my dog's medications. I called Valley Oak and was able to get an appointment on the same day. Everyone we dealt with at the practice was helpful, kind, and went out of the way to make sure our dogs were taken care of. They even helped us out with the cost of the medications and services they provided us. The pricing of goods and services are higher than our regular vet, but you have to expect that at an emergency animal hospital (or human hospital for that matter). There were no hidden fees or any underhanded tactics when dealing with this business. My point with this review is that the business went above and beyond to take care of us when they didn't have to. Under law, they could have raised their prices up to 10%. They chose to exhibit the best of human nature in a stressful situation. They also guaranteed that if I need an emergency vet in the future, they are going to get my business. read more

Valley Oak is one of the very very few hospitals in the area to treat ferrets, Dr. Dohner treated mine when he was at his other hospital off Hwy 32. He's a sweetheart. Anyways, we had been treating our ferret with meds for his cancer hoping for improvement, and last night he took a turn for the worse. Stopped eating, couldn't drink on his own, and couldn't take more than a few steps without collapsing. We were going to wait til morning, but a friend told us that Valley Oak was open 24/7. Our little guy looked like he would be suffering til then, so we went there at midnight and were welcomed in without hesitation. Check in was quick and effortless because all my old info was transferred over to the new hospital. They took us to a room that was softly lit, had a couch covered in blankets, and even had a few plants to lighten the atmosphere. It was quite obvious it was a euthanasia room, but I'm so glad they had somewhere comfortable to wait and not some terribly uncomfortable chairs in an overly bright fluorescent room. Everyone we spoke with was very gentle and understanding. They gave us as much time to as we needed, when we needed, and were great at taking things step by step, and explaining what would happen next. There was a cold looking metal exam table that looked dreadful, and I'm so happy that instead of putting my sweet little boy on there they let me hold him in my arms wrapped up in a blanket. He looked comfortable and peaceful, instead of frightened. The doctor even reassured us that we were making the right decision, which meant a lot because it is one of the hardest decisions to make. As far as pricing goes, we really have nothing to compare it to because we've never had to do this before. It was $100 something for the euthanasia, and $200 something for the cremation. We of course were so happy to be with Rocko for his final moments and were comforted knowing he went peacefully, so how can you argue with costs on that?? The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is because we haven't used them for any other services, so I can't give more of an opinion on their normal services and normal hours. Thanks to all the staff last night for being extremely sweet and gentle with us last night, it was much appreciated in this rough time. read more

VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Center - Veterinarians Near Me - Chico, California

It's stressful enough having to take your dog to the emergency vet because you cannot get an appointment from "your" vet for a week. Trying to check my dog in this morning was especially bad. The office jerk picked this moment to harass me. Poking her rude nose in where she has no authority to be. First I must point out that my window and vents were open and it was not hot out. My vents let in plenty of air. The widow was also open but not enough for some to try to pet my hound though it. She is very protective of her cart and looks very friendly. Anyone could get their hand licked or bit. I don't leave widows down enough to take a chance. I was there to get my other dog treated. My dog in the car was none of the office jerk's business. I am not in the mood to explain any of this to the office jerk. When she demanded to know if it was my car and accused me of not having a window open. I had to tell her twice to mind her own business and then she back talked, that she would not. My plan was to drop off my dog as Megan Masonek, DVM who treated my dog for the same problem said I could. I am disabled and cannot sit for 4 hours straight waiting either in my car or on their benches without suffering great pain. That, which I did have the need to explain was preempted by the office jerk picking at me during this stressful morning. The office jerk feels great. Because I left without be able to explain what I needed to and get my dog treated. The vets were great every time I have been there. I have paid thousands of dollars to have my dogs treated there over the years. This is not the first time the office jerk has picked me. I wasn't so stressed, when she seeing me suffering from the back pain caused by sitting on their couch for over an hour, she harassed me last July. I was able to just ignore her. Reading this will make her day. Why they allow the bullying of clients by her is beyond me. It was 58 degrees and my dog in the car had plenty of oxygen and I don't answer to the office jerk or do as she commands. But since I left without treatment and her glaring at me for 4 hours. She won. She is a hero for publicly announcing a problem that did not exist. That a heck of a way to run a vet hospital. UPDATED: Regarding The answer from VCA. It was their employee's intention to disrespected and make me uncomfortable. She set out to hold me up to scorn, hatred, ridicule, disgrace, or contempt, in the mind of everyone present. She singled me out by loudly demanding whose red car is that with the dog in it? When I said mine. She had everyone attention focused on me. Then loudly for everyone to hear. She announced the windows are not rolled down! As if it was under conditions that endanger the health or well being of my dog due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death" My dogs are my children. I take care of their well being before all else. Leaving the window down in cold weather is against the law. I told her I know how to care for my dogs. To mind her own business. Once again she announced for everyone to hear, my windows are not rolled down! As if I was in violation of California Penal Code Section 597.7 PC and reinforced her message to everyone present that I was endangering the health of my beloved dog. She is no hero, she doesn't know the law or the conditions in my car. Told again to mind her own business. Again loudly,she said "I can't" and walked away. She cares nothing about my dog. Her purpose was to bully me and signal her virtue. I spending 6 hours driving through smoke escaping the Camp fire. I know for a fact, sitting in place, with the fans off. Outside air circulates into my car. Even when the dash vents are sealed. The smoke came in the other vents. Cracking the driver window one inch exchanges air back to the outside. The rest of my windows were up to keep the heat in the car as it was a cold morning. On 7/16/2021 I was told me that I could've dropped him off and returned. At that time other dogs were also being dropped off. I called ahead to give the staff lead time to pull my dog's records so I could check him in and pay quickly. Then take my other dog to Bidwell Park. During what was going to be a long wait. She was very distressed on 7/16 left home alone for hours. I was told after I paid and they pulled Charlie's file. The wait was 4 hours. And I must wait 4 hours onsite in my car or inside waiting to be seen or lose my place in line. That's new, not accommodating people with disabilities. I had a plan to care for both my dogs during this emergency that was not going to work. I took my dogs home and called the vet at PetCo. Told them my problem in a message. They called at 8 am and their vet saw my dog at 10 am this morning. While my other dog waited in the car. The office call and prescription cost $78 read more

I came here, as a walk in, at 4:50pm on a Saturday with a puppy for a quick check up, prior to driving back to Reno. We got a puppy from a breeder and our last puppy had a genetic heart disorder (and passed away at 7 months). I wanted to ensure we had a healthy puppy before I brought him back to Reno and introduced him to my two daughters. I explained that to the receptionist and they completely understood, and were all very welcoming....especially since they close for walk-in's at 5pm. Yes, the wait was a wait, but you have to remember it's a walk in facility, on a weekend. You're going to wait! I was in and out of there in less than an hour and a half though. So, it wasn't bad at all. The fee was about $20 higher than my normal vet for a checkup, but it was still reasonable. I don't know if I would use them for a normal vet office (I like small offices), but for a walk-in or an emergency, I would definitely come here again (if I lived in the area). read more

The staff is rude. The doctor will not call you. They refused to release our dog. All they care about is making money and keeping the dog longer than necessary. When you try to stop treatment they talk you out of it and make you feel bad so they can continue to charge you more money. Avoid this place. read more

What an amazing building. They give tours of the facility and I was blown away at the treatment area. It looked more like a people hospital than it did an animal hospital, lots of hi-tech looking equipment. My biggest take away from my tour was the staff (they blended two existing hospitals in to one) Everyone was smiling and looked sincerely happy to be there. This made me feel that they are truly love pets and what they do. I think I was most surprised that they are always open. As an owner of a eat-everything-I-see puppy, this is very comforting. read more

Wow. Yet another VCA flop. Our dog has been hacking for a few days. Maybe something stuck in his throat. Our regular vet could not find anything with an X-ray. Off to VCA to have his throat scoped. We dreaded going there because the waits are long and the noisy reception area makes the long waits worse. After a two hour wait we saw a vet for 5 minutes. She said she'd be back in 5 more minutes, but it was a half hour. She told us the one person who could use the scope machine was gone until Sunday. She gave us antibiotics and a cough suppressant to hold hold over. In two & a half hours we spent 10 minutes with a vet. Three hours later VCA called us to make an appointment for two weeks out because, in reality, the person who runs the scope machine was on vacation for two weeks and no one else can use the machine. The call we received was for a CONSULTATION appt, not for the actual scope. Since we're not going to let our dog cough for two weeks plus and possibly let a foreign body get imbedded into his throat we're looking for a vet in Sacramento who has a scope machine. VCA did give us two vets to call in Sacramento who may do scoping (1/2 a star). This place is supposed to be an emergency hospital--but can't do an esophagus scope without a long wait. Be aware of the long, noisy wait to get into a little room, a long claustrophobic wait in the little room and a long wait for the vet to return once s/he's been in the little room. read more

We love Valley Oak! From the vets to the kennel attendants, these guys are top notch. My dogs board and get their medical needs met here and its always a great experience. They are very flexible and always go the extra mile to make sure we are taken care of. read more

This place was absolutely FANTASTIC!! I was visiting fr San Jose and my 9yo male pug got a bladder infection on a Saturday. They are open until 5p on weekdays and charge NORMAL rates!! In the Bay if you need to see a vet after 5p on a weekend you are heading to the emergency room. The staff members were truly incredible and the vet Dr Whitehead (sorry I can't remember??) Were sincerely amazing! I'd highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great care, awesome staff members, and a beautiful modern amenities! read more

I was nervous going to VCA after reading some of the reviews. Which is why I'll take the time to write this one. My baby pit was dealing with some urine issues and I was worried sick. I knew she need a vet visit and as I arrived, they welcomed me and we waited just about 30 mins and got a room. Within an hour and 15 mins, we were out. Doctor Smith was so sweet and she answered all the questions I had (and I had many). She gave me information and offered help in another area my puppy needed. read more

They left us waiting in the lobby for an appointment with our dog for over an hour and in an exam room for over 3 hours more. The "vet" ordered numerous tests, yet later, no seemed able to report results. A records request showed at least one test sample sent the day before it was taken. A follow-up call recommended more overpriced services unrelated to the complaint which they incompetently ignored and stated, "We give up our houses if we have to for our pets." We (thankfully) soon discovered the prescription written by their "vet" mistakenly doubled the dosage, with potential lifelong, crippling results. We ended up seeking services from a Sacramento vet to finally find our dog relief. When our bottled-raised rescue kitten a decade later developed teeth problems and rapid weight loss VCA diagnosed him with terminal leukemia and sent us home with hydration needles and bags of water to infuse. His condition continued to deteriorate and we sought euthanasia with specific instructions discussed with 3 staff members on our wishes for how it was carried out, with assurances each and every time these steps would be adhered to, "...no problem." Later description by a smiling assistant of how our cat "put up a fight" and his condition when he was brought back out from behind a code-pad locked door was insidious. His legs were bandaged and he stared up at us paralyzed and unable to breathe. The vet, who'd treated him only a week before looked shocked when he recognized us, "I didn't know it was him!" (would your handling been different if you'd bothered to find out?) He ask if we wanted him to end our cat's suffocating with his final injection. A horribly scarring experience that I will never recover from. Before this chain of vet clinics was sold several years ago, it was top notch, leading edge. After its sale, it rapidly grew reputed among a wide range of animal health professionals and clients as a low-rate, over priced, up-sale treatment mill overflowing with such incompetence as to make them a danger to your pets and a menace, in general. Don't be mislead by the few positive comments here. Be assured, they are both rare and short-lived (literally). read more

I was afraid to leave my dogs here to get fixed. They seem in such a hurry to get your animal & you out of there! I did not trust them at all! Plus the place smelled really bad & the floor was sticky! read more

Crap crap crap .... I am so sad that I lost my vet to this, They all merged together. You would think this would bring a higher level of help to our furry friends nope! I took my dog their because we was having trouble breathing. He died on the table waiting ... SOmeone had come in looked at him said he was not an emergency. After speaking to many other vets, there are many different treatments....valley oak did nothing... but left me alone to watch my dog pass away. Then of course they charged me a giant bill...... Even thoe they did nothing ...... I like many of you loved my dog like my child. He was a true one of kind loyal and sweet dog. I was talking to a friend who works at a vet office in Sacramento I did not tell her the name of the vet just what happened.she already knew.... she had more people bring their pets all the way to Sacramento just to avoid valley okay If you Love your pet stay far far away from these pet killers. Best of luck to you and your critters. read more

They really care about the animals here. I have brought 3 of my critters. 2 on emergency. My first experience with them was 4o'clock in the morning when I rushed my 7 year old cat. They were very honest with me and told me they could try to fix her at a hefty cost, but it would be better to just put her down because of what her quality of life would be. Another emergency visit with another cat we came in because he was bleeding. I told them my financial situation (just after Christmas and rent) and they found the most cost effective way to treat him, even using another pharmacy. I really like this place and the staff, my only complaint is how expensive they are. I could take two kids to prompt care for the price of one vet visit fee alone. read more

Our little dog was getting sick over the weekend and Monday was much worse, our Vet here in Orland does not take emergency call's and had no room to see her they said go to VCA. We called them and they said yes bring her in, living in Orland you have to go clear thru Chico we got there and called for them to come out and they said "we can not see her" we said we had called and they had said yes they could see her and explained she was very ill had been vomiting and pottying all weekend and had quit eating and they said things had changed and they only had one vet on duty and No. We drove back home scared she would pass. We got her in to another vet here in Orland this morning and she was there until closing time and will be going back tomorrow. They did a full panel on her and found out she had become diabetic and needed fluids. She now is going to be on insulin. We are so thankful that another Veterinary here could see her as even our original Veterinary office would not take her in even on an emergency call nor would their answering service let the vet know she was very rude on the phone. VCA shouldn't even be open anymore ! they are in to the money not the concern for anyone's animal's We will never go there again and this was not our first time there either. read more

When i saw the low star rating i was skeptical to bring my pet here. I had called another hospital with great ratings but they didn't accept walk ins and i wanted my dog looked at right away. When arriving i was greeted by a lady with a smile and asked how she could help me. I was new to the place so i had to fill out a form and was asked to have a seat. Shortly after a vet came out to greet me and my dog Rizzy. I was surprised at how quick i was helped because usually walk in wait times can be a little lengthy. My dog is very skiddish and can take some patience. Throughout the entire visit all doctors were patient and really tried to calm my pet down and worked with her instead of just forcing her and trying to get the visit over with. I was sent home with some medication for her and a thorough explanation of what was going on with my dog. I was happy to know i took my pet to a clean, caring clinic. As far as expense goes i paid just over $100 for the walk in appointment, and medications for her. I was fine with these charges and really felt like she was in good hands. They seemed to really have compassion for my dog and were really sensitive to her needs. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a clean, affordable vet. read more

Our lab retriever, who lost his footing and fell 15 feet off a foot bridge into a rocky creek while we were camping in a mountainous area, received excellent emergency treatment yesterday from all the staff at Valley Oak Veterinary Center. He was throughly checked out for external and internal injuries and given appropriate medication for inflammation and pain. Desperate to get him to help, we had called around to other emergency vets who "had no openings" to provide emergency assessment and treatment for a potentially severely injured dog, so we were grateful to get in promptly and get treatment. The assessment was thorough and staff were kind and sensitive. We were relieved to find out he had no fractures or internal damage, but of course, is just sore and beat up, and needs to rest. Thank you to the staff. We truly appreciate it. read more

Visiting from out of town when my dog got diarrhea. After several days I tried getting an appointment with other vets but they would only fit me in almost two weeks later. I called VCA and was told there would be a three hour wait so I went in early the next morning. I was first in line, still waited almost an hour to be seen, but the care was excellent. The front staff is caring and friendly, and the doctor and Vet support staff were patient in explaining solutions and possible outcomes. They made sure to forward details of the visit to our own local vet and asked us to call them back with our dog's status. We felt our pet was in good hands and their treatment took care of the problem. Thank you for your kind and patient care in taking care of our dog! read more

I am surprised at all the negative reviews mostly having to do with the costs of services at Valley Oak. While I may be one of the fortunate ones to have the financial resources, I believe you can't place a dollar sign on the price of a precious life, pet or otherwise. I have had many encounters with the staff at Valley Oak and all have been positive. I have several pet cats. I have always felt respected, welcomed and fully informed by the staff. I have walked in at all hours without an appointment and have had my pets been seen promptly. The place is beautiful. I was a former client of Dr. Barry Dohner's Animal Medical Clinic. I am glad he joined Valley Oak. He is one of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever met. I have yet to see him at Valley Oak yet have seen several of the other veterinarians there. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Dallas Wentz and especially Dr. Erin Portillo. What a treasure! She was in constant contact with me regarding the status of my pet. Was it expensive? Yes. I am a medical professional and am aware of the cost of medical services/care. Were my pet's outcomes always positive ones? No. I just had to have my late father's precious kitty, Sissy, euthanized after a valiant attempt by all to save her life. She was my last little living connection to him here on earth and it was hard to let go. Do I blame the practitioners at Valley Oak? Absolutely not. I was treated kindly and compassionately up until the very end. Dr. Portillo even offered to come to my home to euthanize Sissy until Sissy "crashed" right there at the clinic and the decision was made imminently. As a responsible pet owner/ pet lover, I am so grateful and thankful for the Valley Oak Veterinary Hospital. Thanks to all and God Bless You for being the type of people who were meant to enter the field of veterinary medicine. Ann (Whitaker) Scott read more

VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Center - In memory of my precious Sissy. She was my little angel as indicated by her "halo" which doubled as a feeding tube. - Veterinarians Near Me - Chico, California