The St. Louis Animal Emergency Clinic
Kirkwood, Missouri
Reviews
John Salisbury
9 Oct 2022
REPORT
My senior dog was ailing, it was late at night and I decided it couldn't wait for my regular vet to open; took him to St Louis Animal Emergency Clinic. They weren't able to diagnose what was wrong (h...
My senior dog was ailing, it was late at night and I decided it couldn't wait for my regular vet to open; took him to St Louis Animal Emergency Clinic. They weren't able to diagnose what was wrong (he seemed to get well all on his own) but when I went to pick him up I discovered that they had neutered him. When I asked why they said, "Oh, um, we found a mass on one of his testicles." Without telling me or getting my permission they castrated him. I should have sued them.
Randy Ryno
20 Sep 2021
REPORT
This place is simply awful..a friend needed help with her beloved cat Bear as he was refusing to eat or drink and could not even walk straight as he toppled over when he tried to take a step..you coul...
This place is simply awful..a friend needed help with her beloved cat Bear as he was refusing to eat or drink and could not even walk straight as he toppled over when he tried to take a step..you could tell he hadn't eaten in days as he was very skinny and just a week before that he looked totally healthy! The friend is recovering from Covid 19 and we suspect that Bear had the illness due to his very fast decline. We contacted the local vet and they recommended us to rush him to this facility..we called and were told to bring him up. When we arrived we called as soon as we pulled in and was told there would be at least a 3 hr wait. We pleaded for someone to come out and look at Bear as he was not doing well at all and a nurse came out and immediately told my friend that the price of the treatments would be at least $500. We asked that Bear be put on an IV with fluids right away as he was severely dehydrated..the nurse took him inside and stated an IV may be started right away..3 to 4 hours later the doctor finally called and asked what was going on with Bear. My friend explained Bear's symptoms and that she thinks Bear must have been infected with COVID 19. The doctor stated that cats don't really show symptoms like that if they do get infected with COVID 19 and that it could be Bear's kidneys or liver malfunctioning and that they would have to run a bunch of tests to determine the cause of the symptoms, and the doctor said due to Bear's rapidly deteriorating condition all of the tests and treatments could come up to $1000's of dollars and she may want to consider putting him to sleep if she doesn't have the money. The doctor stated that nothing was done for Bear, an IV with fluids wasn't started as requested as he wanted to wait and run tests to determine the causes first (Bear had been inside the facility about 4 hours after we arrived with NOTHING being done for him) and the doctor stated that due to Bear's age and condition, saving his life would likely be too costly for my friend and very difficult. My friend was asked to think about it for a few minutes..she called them back and asked about the cost and process of putting Bear to sleep..the nurse told her the price and offered to bring Bear back outside so my friend could say her goodbyes to him. My friend said her goodbyes to Bear and the nurse was quick to tally up the total bill to my friend..$187.38 for the "emergency" fee and the medication to put him to sleep. My friend paid the bill in cash and that was the last time that she got to hold her beloved cat of 12 years..Bear was one of a kind and I truly believe that if Bear was brought to our regular Vet during business hours through the work week, he would have been put on fluids right away and tests would have been run and POSSIBLY Bear would have recovered. The feeling that the employees gave off was that they were concerned most about the money instead of doing "emergency" practices..such as INSTALLING AN IV WITH FLUIDS which may have given his strength back and possibly saved his life. Well, they made their $187.38 on Bear's behalf to put him to sleep..i guess some money is better than none, correct? The way my friend was talked to and treated was abhorrent and I strongly recommend everyone take their loved furry babies elsewhere...as going elsewhere may end up saving their lives.
Cathy McMillam
24 Jan 2021
REPORT
I was so worried about my 10 year old cat who wasn't eating.
Thank God for Dr. Laura Esser and her kind and professional staff.
Got home and Skittles is eating like crazy.
Dr.. Esser did a complete...
I was so worried about my 10 year old cat who wasn't eating.
Thank God for Dr. Laura Esser and her kind and professional staff.
Got home and Skittles is eating like crazy.
Dr.. Esser did a complete exam and blood work. She explained everything to me and gave her recommendation.
The appetite stimulant worked. And Skittles will also be taking a probiotic for 25 days.
I am very grateful.
LadyAssassin 111
1 Jul 2018
REPORT
I had to put my pug down. they helped ease her pain and made her last moments comfortable and with her family. they made her paw prints for free for me as well
Heather F
16 Jun 2018
REPORT
Took my dog here for his cluster seizures. They shaved his arm and put in an IV cath. Told me he needed an MRI, which his primary care vet has always told us he does not; it's plain epilepsy consideri...
Took my dog here for his cluster seizures. They shaved his arm and put in an IV cath. Told me he needed an MRI, which his primary care vet has always told us he does not; it's plain epilepsy considering how young he is. They gave him No drugs, like diazepam to stop the cluster seizures. They wanted to keep him over night to monitor him. That visit cost 150.00 for them to do nothing. I left with my dog and took him to VSS off Manchester. The vet there told me the same as my primary vet. The dog does not need an MRI. Long story short, we paid a lot of money to be told you need to pay a lot more money for something the dog did not need. May I add that the vet, which seemed pretty young, dissed the way my primary senior vet has been treating my dogs epilipsy for 2 years. All he needed was something to stop the clusters until I could get to my own vet. VSS off of Manchester gave my dog meds for it.
Jennifer Delnegro
16 Jun 2018
REPORT
Last night, my pet rat unexpectedly started having seizures and difficulty breathing. Since care for critters is difficult to find, I called the Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend BEFORE heading out ...
Last night, my pet rat unexpectedly started having seizures and difficulty breathing. Since care for critters is difficult to find, I called the Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend BEFORE heading out and the woman I spoke with told me they were able to euthanize rats, that they were open 24 hours and I could come in at anytime. I was given no indication that there would be an issue.
Upon arrival 2 hours later, we were told by the desk clerk that the 1 veterinarian on staff (1 vet on a Friday night?) had just started scrubbing up and sterilizing for a procedure and it could be 2 hours before we could be seen. Not in surgery yet, just scrubbing up. My pet was clearly in distress, and THEY TURNED US AWAY. She didn't even bother to go back and check with the vet to see if we could be fit in, she just referred us to another clinic. I would like to point out that the clinic was empty. No other patients waiting or in rooms that we could see. If they were slammed, it would be understandable to wait but it was dead. Crickets.
My question to AEC is, would you have helped someone with a dog or cat that was in distress, injured or bleeding? Would the vet have stopped "scrubbing in" to assist them or would they have been turned away or made to wait for hours also? I know to some, it's "just a rat" but you are an emergency clinic! You turned away a sick pet! While I can't prove we were turned away due to it being a critter, they knew we would be in since I CALLED AHEAD! All animals deserve the same level of care, particularly when they are clearly in need of critical care.
This experience was deeply disappointing as we've used them before with our cat and were always treated with kindness and received excellent care. Fortunately, Webster Groves Animal Hospital has an urgent care center we weren't aware of and they were compassionate and able to help us end his suffering. We will use them in the future if it's needed for our pets.
William Albert
16 Apr 2018
REPORT
Place was packed. Found out they only have one vet on duty in the evenings. We brought our dog in for seizures. Waited an hour and half to even hear if our dog was okay. That’s terrible. Not the ...
Place was packed. Found out they only have one vet on duty in the evenings. We brought our dog in for seizures. Waited an hour and half to even hear if our dog was okay. That’s terrible. Not the vets fault. That the fault of the management. I guess they don’t care about our pets. It can’t be the money as much as they charge. Get a management team that cares.
Lynn Burrus
23 Mar 2018
REPORT
DO NOT GO HERE!! Our regular vet could not get us in for our rescue dog who we took into our home as a hospice dog. She had already been suffering and we were devastated that there was nothing else w...
DO NOT GO HERE!! Our regular vet could not get us in for our rescue dog who we took into our home as a hospice dog. She had already been suffering and we were devastated that there was nothing else we could do but give her peace by giving her eternal sleep. This dog had already had many years of abuse before we were lucky to have her in our home if only for a few months. The staff was noncompassionate and made us wait at least half an hour to put in her IV line. When the vet came in he was not caring and after she left us he simply said ," your dog has passed." Duh,! Thanks for your compassion especially for my daughter who provided such compassionate care for our angel in the limited time that we had her in our life. I hope at least they will read reviews and realize these pets are our family and some sembelance of compassion would make one feel better about this type of decision. Oh yeah, keep your sympathy card instead have some emotional compassion please!! Act like you care at least TRY!! We are all so fragile when we are hurting and grieving for our loss of our special animals. That is all we can ask!!!
sharon catanzaro
21 Jan 2018
REPORT
I would highly recommend if your pet has any kind of emergency to take them here. I cannot say enough good things about the staff and the care they give. My 13 year old yorkie got out on my mother and...
I would highly recommend if your pet has any kind of emergency to take them here. I cannot say enough good things about the staff and the care they give. My 13 year old yorkie got out on my mother and was hit by a car. They took her in immediately for an exam. before any treatment they went over cost and what they intended to do. X-rays showed she had a fractured pelvic and she had head trauma and was in pretty bad shape (I was worried she wouldn't make it). I left her in their care and visited every day and after three days was able to bring her home. They had reduced the swelling in her brain and taken such good care of her I will never be able to thank them enough. All the staff is wonderful and caring.
Sarah Mattingly
14 Jan 2018
REPORT
We took our 3 year old dog here when he broke his nail and was bleeding profusely. Our regular vet was closed so we had no choice but to come here. When we arrived there was no one in the waiting room...
We took our 3 year old dog here when he broke his nail and was bleeding profusely. Our regular vet was closed so we had no choice but to come here. When we arrived there was no one in the waiting room. We still waited over an hour to get a room and then waited even longer to see the doctor. While we were waiting our dog kept reopening the wound and kept bleeding all over the exam room. I will never use this animal hospital again. No one even came to check when they knew he was bleeding. Never again! We left after waiting 2 1/2 hours for a doctor and went to Webster Groves Animal Hospital. They got us right in and we waited about 15 minutes for a doctor. The staff was super friendly and very caring!
Emily Reynolds
27 Dec 2017
REPORT
I called ahead of time and asked if they could see a turtle. Long story short, I showed up at 2:45 am, and the wonderful staff there took such great care of my Red-eared slider!! They were friendly, p...
I called ahead of time and asked if they could see a turtle. Long story short, I showed up at 2:45 am, and the wonderful staff there took such great care of my Red-eared slider!! They were friendly, professional, and they walked me through everything. Best of all, the bill came and it was affordable! I would highly recommend them!!
Kelly M.
16 Aug 2017
REPORT
This morning my mini pot belly pig had a critical emergency at our house, he was dying in my arms. Our regular vet was not in today, so I frantically started calling emergency clinics trying to find o...
This morning my mini pot belly pig had a critical emergency at our house, he was dying in my arms. Our regular vet was not in today, so I frantically started calling emergency clinics trying to find one that could treat a mini pig. I reached the Animal Emergency Clinic in Kirkwood and had a very nice conversation with Joan, she helped calm me down. I gave her a very detailed description of what was happening. She put me on hold to talk with the Doctor, and then came back and assured me that the Dr. (Dave) could indeed see a pig. She told us to get Piggy there as soon as we could. I loaded piggy up and drove 40 minutes to the clinic. I called and spoke with Joan again, to let her know my estimated arrival via GPS. She told me they would be waiting at the side door for me with a large animal stretcher to transport him in. When I arrived at the clinic the Dr. (Dave) came out, he non-chalantly looked at my seriously injured pig and said "I'm not comfortable working on your pig you need to take him to Mizzou" At this point I was looking around for hidden cameras but this HAD to be a joke. But it wasn't. He never examined our pig, or invited us into our office. He had no comforting words, or bedside manner. Literally just came out to my car to tell me to leave.It felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I still do. The heart-less-ness of his words and actions today were unfathomable for someone who is suppose to help people. I drove an hour to get our Pig to another Vet and he is still in critical condition. Those 80 minutes I spent driving back and forth to his office could very well determine if piggy makes it or not. I called the office back and asked to speak with Dr. Dave or Joan to get clarification on why this happened, it was like a bad nightmare and I at least wanted answers on where the communication was dropped. Neither of them would get on the phone with me. So instead I let the poor woman who answered the phone have it, and she probably didn't deserve that and I'm sorry. I wish I could rate this Clinic a Zero and not a 1. Looking at their other terrible reviews I don't see how they are still in business.
Lauren M.
26 Jun 2017
REPORT
We had a terrible emergency with our potbellied pig, our dogs had mauled her and ripped her ear off. We called so many animal hospitals looking for some help, and animal emergency clinic was there whe...
We had a terrible emergency with our potbellied pig, our dogs had mauled her and ripped her ear off. We called so many animal hospitals looking for some help, and animal emergency clinic was there when no one else was. We are forever grateful to them and would highly recommend them.
Debbie Pullin
6 May 2017
REPORT
My experience with the St. Louis Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend was of the highest quality. My sweet, dear little kitty who was 19 years old, was not doing well. She had been steadily declining o...
My experience with the St. Louis Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend was of the highest quality. My sweet, dear little kitty who was 19 years old, was not doing well. She had been steadily declining over the past week and that day, a Sunday, we knew she needed to be seen immediately. We didn't wait long and Dr. Amy came out and told us that she was suffering and provided us with those impossible choices. She told us to spend as much time as we needed to decide whether to put our sweet fluffy down that day or wait until the next day at our regular vet's office. It was a very difficult, sad and horrible decision. We cried and cried, held our sweet kitty, and discussed our options. We finally realized that the time had come to say goodbye and so with the very patient, kind and gentle Dr. Amy, we did say goodbye that day. Dr. Amy was so kind and wonderful - I can't imagine anyone being as supportive and generous with time and space as she was with us. I am so grateful that she was working that day. Thank you, Dr. Amy - for creating a safe space for us to make that excruciating decision and for your support.
Kristina Carney
12 Apr 2017
REPORT
This morning turned out to be the day I would say goodbye to my pug Daisy. Hardest day of my life, and even though it was quite expensive here, the quality of care from these people outshines the pric...
This morning turned out to be the day I would say goodbye to my pug Daisy. Hardest day of my life, and even though it was quite expensive here, the quality of care from these people outshines the price. They were very accommodating, passionate, caring and helped me every step of the way and gave me all the time I needed with my little love. Although I didn't take what I wanted home, I did get clay footprints which I'll hold dear forever. Highly recommend this place anytime day or night.
Rebecca W.
16 Mar 2017
REPORT
Animal Emergency Clinic didn't get me a diagnosis on my cat's mass but still charged me for the procedure--I had to go somewhere else and pay the same amount to get a correct diagnosis. When I asked t...
Animal Emergency Clinic didn't get me a diagnosis on my cat's mass but still charged me for the procedure--I had to go somewhere else and pay the same amount to get a correct diagnosis. When I asked them about it, they said they didn't do anything wrong and sometimes the results just don't come back right, since they are working with such a small sample. So why did the second vet perform the same procedure and receive the correct results. Just luck, I guess, huh? They also charged me $400 for an ultrasound, while the vet specialist I took my cat to in order to get a diagnosis only charged me $150 for the ultrasound.SO--take your cat, even in emergency, to Vet Specialist Services off of Manchester in Ballwin. They are wonderful. Kate Sycamore is great. They have ER services 24 hours.
Art Pitchford
1 Mar 2017
REPORT
tl;dr: Go here for truly high-quality care, but be prepared to pay for it.
Had to bring in my cat for an emergency checkup after he was displaying signs of a urinary blockage (a very serious conditio...
tl;dr: Go here for truly high-quality care, but be prepared to pay for it.
Had to bring in my cat for an emergency checkup after he was displaying signs of a urinary blockage (a very serious condition for male cats that can cause death if left untreated). They got him in right away, explained everything to me, ran the full gamut of tests, and talked me through what everything meant.
Thankfully, it was less serious than a blockage, but I had confidence in their diagnosis due to the level of detail, expertise, and professionalism displayed by the staff and two vets that I worked with.
The only downside is the cost. Emergency vets are expensive, and this was no exception. For an emergency visit, diagnosis, tests, and overnight stay, it ran me close to $1000 for what turned out to be a non-life threatening condition. Fortunately I have an income that allows me to support my animals in this way, but many do not. Emergency vets are businesses, which means they're there to make money, even if they do truly care about the animals, which I should say this vet 100% does.
Petunia S
20 Feb 2017
REPORT
This place has saved my dog's hide twice now, the first a dozen years ago when he broke his foreleg really, really badly at the first joint. After I refused to allow an amputation, they did their best...
This place has saved my dog's hide twice now, the first a dozen years ago when he broke his foreleg really, really badly at the first joint. After I refused to allow an amputation, they did their best for him, and their emergency surgery at 10 PM during an ice storm turned out pretty great. This time the little beast stole some super dark chocolate out of my purse. After doing some calculations that indicated he truly was in danger, the clinic staff gave clear and concise directions for inducing vomiting. 15 min. later, the little rascal is back in business. It's wonderful to have skilled and helpful vets and vet techs available 24/7. God knows my knucklehead dog keeps no office hours.
Kristen W.
30 Jan 2017
REPORT
Competent veterinarian but incredibly rude receptionist and office staff; hard to get an answer by phone & was frequently interrupted; waited over 45 minutes to pick up my dog simply because there was...
Competent veterinarian but incredibly rude receptionist and office staff; hard to get an answer by phone & was frequently interrupted; waited over 45 minutes to pick up my dog simply because there was no office staff in the lobby for an extended amount of time. Does not seem well run, would recommend seeking care elsewhere such as Webster Groves Emergency Animal Hospital.
Melissa S.
21 Jan 2017
REPORT
I went into this facility with my cat who was actively going through the dying process and they made us wait 2 hours with my poor pet laying on a metal slab table. Their lack of compassion for our sit...
I went into this facility with my cat who was actively going through the dying process and they made us wait 2 hours with my poor pet laying on a metal slab table. Their lack of compassion for our situation unfortunately sullied any professionalism they showed once they helped us. If I hadn't gotten upset and begged someone to see us, I think we would have waited 4 hours.
Melanie C.
23 Dec 2016
REPORT
My 9 yr old beautiful Russian Blue cat was in Kidney failure. After taking him to the Human Society for tests and evaluation, he needed 24 hr emergency care if he had any chance. The Human Society pro...
My 9 yr old beautiful Russian Blue cat was in Kidney failure. After taking him to the Human Society for tests and evaluation, he needed 24 hr emergency care if he had any chance. The Human Society provided a list and I chose this office as it was the closest to my house. I walked in to the converted old house as the only customer and after 30 minutes, knew this was NOT the clinic for me. After getting an estimate for $1500, and being snapped at when asking about visiting my sick pet during his hospitalization, I thought the vet was rude and condescending and her diagnosis as it turns out, was all wrong. During her consultation, she declared the cat could not pee on his own, that he had been obstructed, (which the other vets had assumed too) and asked would I be comfortable having to extract his pee for him for the rest of his life? I paid the $94 fee and drove 10 minutes down the road to Webster Groves. The place is shiny and clean, wonderful thoughtful staff and my beloved cat is receiving excellent care ... all for $800!!! As of this post, my baby is receiving fluids, eating and drinking and best of all, PEEING ON HIS OWN and while the damage to his kidneys is still unknown, we are both fighting for a blessed Christmas!Update: Bear is now home, and released with completely normal blood work, NO KIDNEY DAMAGE. Thank God I didn't listen to this vet!! PLEASE ALSO NOTICE - the only good reviews this clinic has are from people outside the St. Louis area, pet owners be warned!!!
Valerie Meyer
12 Dec 2016
REPORT
The doctors and staff were wonderful. They did everything they could to save my dog. Unfortunately it was his time to go. They were very understanding and sympathetic. They gave us a room and told us ...
The doctors and staff were wonderful. They did everything they could to save my dog. Unfortunately it was his time to go. They were very understanding and sympathetic. They gave us a room and told us to take our time. In our time of hurt they did everything they could for us. I would recommend them to anyone.
francine harris
7 Dec 2016
REPORT
Loving, thorough, attentive. After looking at the reviews, I was a little nervous to take the kitten there because there were some negative comments about them being scammers, etc. But I found the sta...
Loving, thorough, attentive. After looking at the reviews, I was a little nervous to take the kitten there because there were some negative comments about them being scammers, etc. But I found the staff and doctors there to be really attentive with me and my cat, extraordinarily thorough in his examination and communicative with me. It seems as soon as the doctor (Dr. Lord) understood money was a concern for me, she got even more thorough in explaining my options, what things would cost, whether I could afford to wait for my regular vet. I wound up returning on two more occasions to the emergency to resolve the cat's issue and both times, the doctor on duty (Dr. Esser) was very kind and patient with me and the cat. Essentially, my 11-year old had urgent constipation and ultimately had to receive two enemas to get him regular again. But he's digesting on his own now and considering I thought he might require surgery, I feel very grateful that I was working with a clinic that didn't milk me for everything they could get me to pay for. The procedures were still not cheap, but I feel I could have done much worse and I think they only after gave him what he needed. Thanks so much. I loved both of my doctors and the staff was great.
Raymond F.
5 Nov 2016
REPORT
I mean honestly where else are you going to go? My cat had an open wound infection. Actually multiple. Fluid and puss all over her. They took care of biz-nass with some drain plugs and staples and me...
I mean honestly where else are you going to go? My cat had an open wound infection. Actually multiple. Fluid and puss all over her. They took care of biz-nass with some drain plugs and staples and meds. Now my lil babe is good to go. Of course its going to be expensive. Again, where else can you go? At the time I was seen in a timely manner. I see some reviewers on here complaining about the wait time. Seriously. How do you complain about the wait time at an Emergency room? 3.8 stars. great work. really kind staff. but pricey.
Andrew Maag
1 Nov 2016
REPORT
Went here a little after 11:30pm with my sick dog. After some imaging and tests, surgery was decided on. They did surgery at 1am until 4am. Little dog is great now, just some obstructions and perforat...
Went here a little after 11:30pm with my sick dog. After some imaging and tests, surgery was decided on. They did surgery at 1am until 4am. Little dog is great now, just some obstructions and perforations that were repaired by this medical team. Would highly recommend, always open, always friendly. Thank you!
Dave M.
8 Oct 2016
REPORT
Over 2 hour wait time and the front desk receptionist was rude. The place is not as clean as our regular vet office and they seem to be very disorganized. Our dog had to stay overnight for surgery and...
Over 2 hour wait time and the front desk receptionist was rude. The place is not as clean as our regular vet office and they seem to be very disorganized. Our dog had to stay overnight for surgery and when picking him up the next morning the wait time was again extremely long and the front desk nurse was rude and seemed unaware of what was going on. Place is inefficient.
Cynthia J.
4 Oct 2016
REPORT
More often than not, bad reviews will correlate with the type of outcome (bad vs. good) and the owner's ability or willingness to pay for care. What you have to try to understand is how much it COSTS...
More often than not, bad reviews will correlate with the type of outcome (bad vs. good) and the owner's ability or willingness to pay for care. What you have to try to understand is how much it COSTS to run an emergency hospital. They are not a non-profit that receives grants and donations, they must stay in business by having an income. It can cost thousands of dollars each day for them to stay open so that you have a place to take your sick pet on Christmas eve. To call that greed is just ignorance. Any business has bills to pay and if they don't (if YOU don't pay yours, they can't pay theirs), they will not be open. THEN where will you take your pet on Easter Sunday?
Lacey B.
25 Jul 2016
REPORT
Dr Esser has now helped two of our dogs and we couldn't be more grateful! She performed surgery on one of our dogs that decided to eat one of his toys.....and helped our other dog who has heart diseas...
Dr Esser has now helped two of our dogs and we couldn't be more grateful! She performed surgery on one of our dogs that decided to eat one of his toys.....and helped our other dog who has heart disease. I brought in the second dog when she was is respiratory distress and she was quickly put on oxygen and seen. Dr Esser is very caring, explained everything to us, and was very good with our poor girl! We were just now able to bring her home, but we felt okay leaving her with this team. Dr Esser and all of the vet techs we dealt with were wonderful! On a previous visit, we had seen a different male vet (can't remember the name) that we didn't care for much, as he simply blew us off on our dog that needed surgery. But, they called us in again the next morning (after seeing the X-ray this vet said was normal) and Dr Esser performed surgery that day. For that, we are thankful for the delay in surgery!I would definitely recommend this place for true emergencies! So thankful for the staff here who truly care for our little ones!
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(314) 822-7600
Business Hours
Monday
Mon
08:00AM-18:00PM
Tuesday
Tue
08:00AM-18:00PM
Wednesday
Wed
08:00AM-18:00PM
Thursday
Thu
08:00AM-18:00PM
Friday
Fri
08:00AM-18:00PM
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The St. Louis Animal Emergency Clinic
Kirkwood, Missouri
Business Hours
Monday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Tuesday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Wednesday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Thursday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Friday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Reviews
John Salisbury
9 Oct 2022
My senior dog was ailing, it was late at night and I decided it couldn't wait for my regular vet to open; took him to St Louis Animal Emergency Clinic. They weren't able to diagnose what was wrong (h...
My senior dog was ailing, it was late at night and I decided it couldn't wait for my regular vet to open; took him to St Louis Animal Emergency Clinic. They weren't able to diagnose what was wrong (he seemed to get well all on his own) but when I went to pick him up I discovered that they had neutered him. When I asked why they said, "Oh, um, we found a mass on one of his testicles." Without telling me or getting my permission they castrated him. I should have sued them.
Randy Ryno
20 Sep 2021
This place is simply awful..a friend needed help with her beloved cat Bear as he was refusing to eat or drink and could not even walk straight as he toppled over when he tried to take a step..you coul...
This place is simply awful..a friend needed help with her beloved cat Bear as he was refusing to eat or drink and could not even walk straight as he toppled over when he tried to take a step..you could tell he hadn't eaten in days as he was very skinny and just a week before that he looked totally healthy! The friend is recovering from Covid 19 and we suspect that Bear had the illness due to his very fast decline. We contacted the local vet and they recommended us to rush him to this facility..we called and were told to bring him up. When we arrived we called as soon as we pulled in and was told there would be at least a 3 hr wait. We pleaded for someone to come out and look at Bear as he was not doing well at all and a nurse came out and immediately told my friend that the price of the treatments would be at least $500. We asked that Bear be put on an IV with fluids right away as he was severely dehydrated..the nurse took him inside and stated an IV may be started right away..3 to 4 hours later the doctor finally called and asked what was going on with Bear. My friend explained Bear's symptoms and that she thinks Bear must have been infected with COVID 19. The doctor stated that cats don't really show symptoms like that if they do get infected with COVID 19 and that it could be Bear's kidneys or liver malfunctioning and that they would have to run a bunch of tests to determine the cause of the symptoms, and the doctor said due to Bear's rapidly deteriorating condition all of the tests and treatments could come up to $1000's of dollars and she may want to consider putting him to sleep if she doesn't have the money. The doctor stated that nothing was done for Bear, an IV with fluids wasn't started as requested as he wanted to wait and run tests to determine the causes first (Bear had been inside the facility about 4 hours after we arrived with NOTHING being done for him) and the doctor stated that due to Bear's age and condition, saving his life would likely be too costly for my friend and very difficult. My friend was asked to think about it for a few minutes..she called them back and asked about the cost and process of putting Bear to sleep..the nurse told her the price and offered to bring Bear back outside so my friend could say her goodbyes to him. My friend said her goodbyes to Bear and the nurse was quick to tally up the total bill to my friend..$187.38 for the "emergency" fee and the medication to put him to sleep. My friend paid the bill in cash and that was the last time that she got to hold her beloved cat of 12 years..Bear was one of a kind and I truly believe that if Bear was brought to our regular Vet during business hours through the work week, he would have been put on fluids right away and tests would have been run and POSSIBLY Bear would have recovered. The feeling that the employees gave off was that they were concerned most about the money instead of doing "emergency" practices..such as INSTALLING AN IV WITH FLUIDS which may have given his strength back and possibly saved his life. Well, they made their $187.38 on Bear's behalf to put him to sleep..i guess some money is better than none, correct? The way my friend was talked to and treated was abhorrent and I strongly recommend everyone take their loved furry babies elsewhere...as going elsewhere may end up saving their lives.
Cathy McMillam
24 Jan 2021
I was so worried about my 10 year old cat who wasn't eating.
Thank God for Dr. Laura Esser and her kind and professional staff.
Got home and Skittles is eating like crazy.
Dr.. Esser did a complete...
I was so worried about my 10 year old cat who wasn't eating.
Thank God for Dr. Laura Esser and her kind and professional staff.
Got home and Skittles is eating like crazy.
Dr.. Esser did a complete exam and blood work. She explained everything to me and gave her recommendation.
The appetite stimulant worked. And Skittles will also be taking a probiotic for 25 days.
I am very grateful.
LadyAssassin 111
1 Jul 2018
I had to put my pug down. they helped ease her pain and made her last moments comfortable and with her family. they made her paw prints for free for me as well
Heather F
16 Jun 2018
Took my dog here for his cluster seizures. They shaved his arm and put in an IV cath. Told me he needed an MRI, which his primary care vet has always told us he does not; it's plain epilepsy consideri...
Took my dog here for his cluster seizures. They shaved his arm and put in an IV cath. Told me he needed an MRI, which his primary care vet has always told us he does not; it's plain epilepsy considering how young he is. They gave him No drugs, like diazepam to stop the cluster seizures. They wanted to keep him over night to monitor him. That visit cost 150.00 for them to do nothing. I left with my dog and took him to VSS off Manchester. The vet there told me the same as my primary vet. The dog does not need an MRI. Long story short, we paid a lot of money to be told you need to pay a lot more money for something the dog did not need. May I add that the vet, which seemed pretty young, dissed the way my primary senior vet has been treating my dogs epilipsy for 2 years. All he needed was something to stop the clusters until I could get to my own vet. VSS off of Manchester gave my dog meds for it.
Jennifer Delnegro
16 Jun 2018
Last night, my pet rat unexpectedly started having seizures and difficulty breathing. Since care for critters is difficult to find, I called the Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend BEFORE heading out ...
Last night, my pet rat unexpectedly started having seizures and difficulty breathing. Since care for critters is difficult to find, I called the Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend BEFORE heading out and the woman I spoke with told me they were able to euthanize rats, that they were open 24 hours and I could come in at anytime. I was given no indication that there would be an issue.
Upon arrival 2 hours later, we were told by the desk clerk that the 1 veterinarian on staff (1 vet on a Friday night?) had just started scrubbing up and sterilizing for a procedure and it could be 2 hours before we could be seen. Not in surgery yet, just scrubbing up. My pet was clearly in distress, and THEY TURNED US AWAY. She didn't even bother to go back and check with the vet to see if we could be fit in, she just referred us to another clinic. I would like to point out that the clinic was empty. No other patients waiting or in rooms that we could see. If they were slammed, it would be understandable to wait but it was dead. Crickets.
My question to AEC is, would you have helped someone with a dog or cat that was in distress, injured or bleeding? Would the vet have stopped "scrubbing in" to assist them or would they have been turned away or made to wait for hours also? I know to some, it's "just a rat" but you are an emergency clinic! You turned away a sick pet! While I can't prove we were turned away due to it being a critter, they knew we would be in since I CALLED AHEAD! All animals deserve the same level of care, particularly when they are clearly in need of critical care.
This experience was deeply disappointing as we've used them before with our cat and were always treated with kindness and received excellent care. Fortunately, Webster Groves Animal Hospital has an urgent care center we weren't aware of and they were compassionate and able to help us end his suffering. We will use them in the future if it's needed for our pets.
William Albert
16 Apr 2018
Place was packed. Found out they only have one vet on duty in the evenings. We brought our dog in for seizures. Waited an hour and half to even hear if our dog was okay. That’s terrible. Not the ...
Place was packed. Found out they only have one vet on duty in the evenings. We brought our dog in for seizures. Waited an hour and half to even hear if our dog was okay. That’s terrible. Not the vets fault. That the fault of the management. I guess they don’t care about our pets. It can’t be the money as much as they charge. Get a management team that cares.
Lynn Burrus
23 Mar 2018
DO NOT GO HERE!! Our regular vet could not get us in for our rescue dog who we took into our home as a hospice dog. She had already been suffering and we were devastated that there was nothing else w...
DO NOT GO HERE!! Our regular vet could not get us in for our rescue dog who we took into our home as a hospice dog. She had already been suffering and we were devastated that there was nothing else we could do but give her peace by giving her eternal sleep. This dog had already had many years of abuse before we were lucky to have her in our home if only for a few months. The staff was noncompassionate and made us wait at least half an hour to put in her IV line. When the vet came in he was not caring and after she left us he simply said ," your dog has passed." Duh,! Thanks for your compassion especially for my daughter who provided such compassionate care for our angel in the limited time that we had her in our life. I hope at least they will read reviews and realize these pets are our family and some sembelance of compassion would make one feel better about this type of decision. Oh yeah, keep your sympathy card instead have some emotional compassion please!! Act like you care at least TRY!! We are all so fragile when we are hurting and grieving for our loss of our special animals. That is all we can ask!!!
sharon catanzaro
21 Jan 2018
I would highly recommend if your pet has any kind of emergency to take them here. I cannot say enough good things about the staff and the care they give. My 13 year old yorkie got out on my mother and...
I would highly recommend if your pet has any kind of emergency to take them here. I cannot say enough good things about the staff and the care they give. My 13 year old yorkie got out on my mother and was hit by a car. They took her in immediately for an exam. before any treatment they went over cost and what they intended to do. X-rays showed she had a fractured pelvic and she had head trauma and was in pretty bad shape (I was worried she wouldn't make it). I left her in their care and visited every day and after three days was able to bring her home. They had reduced the swelling in her brain and taken such good care of her I will never be able to thank them enough. All the staff is wonderful and caring.
Sarah Mattingly
14 Jan 2018
We took our 3 year old dog here when he broke his nail and was bleeding profusely. Our regular vet was closed so we had no choice but to come here. When we arrived there was no one in the waiting room...
We took our 3 year old dog here when he broke his nail and was bleeding profusely. Our regular vet was closed so we had no choice but to come here. When we arrived there was no one in the waiting room. We still waited over an hour to get a room and then waited even longer to see the doctor. While we were waiting our dog kept reopening the wound and kept bleeding all over the exam room. I will never use this animal hospital again. No one even came to check when they knew he was bleeding. Never again! We left after waiting 2 1/2 hours for a doctor and went to Webster Groves Animal Hospital. They got us right in and we waited about 15 minutes for a doctor. The staff was super friendly and very caring!
Emily Reynolds
27 Dec 2017
I called ahead of time and asked if they could see a turtle. Long story short, I showed up at 2:45 am, and the wonderful staff there took such great care of my Red-eared slider!! They were friendly, p...
I called ahead of time and asked if they could see a turtle. Long story short, I showed up at 2:45 am, and the wonderful staff there took such great care of my Red-eared slider!! They were friendly, professional, and they walked me through everything. Best of all, the bill came and it was affordable! I would highly recommend them!!
Kelly M.
16 Aug 2017
This morning my mini pot belly pig had a critical emergency at our house, he was dying in my arms. Our regular vet was not in today, so I frantically started calling emergency clinics trying to find o...
This morning my mini pot belly pig had a critical emergency at our house, he was dying in my arms. Our regular vet was not in today, so I frantically started calling emergency clinics trying to find one that could treat a mini pig. I reached the Animal Emergency Clinic in Kirkwood and had a very nice conversation with Joan, she helped calm me down. I gave her a very detailed description of what was happening. She put me on hold to talk with the Doctor, and then came back and assured me that the Dr. (Dave) could indeed see a pig. She told us to get Piggy there as soon as we could. I loaded piggy up and drove 40 minutes to the clinic. I called and spoke with Joan again, to let her know my estimated arrival via GPS. She told me they would be waiting at the side door for me with a large animal stretcher to transport him in. When I arrived at the clinic the Dr. (Dave) came out, he non-chalantly looked at my seriously injured pig and said "I'm not comfortable working on your pig you need to take him to Mizzou" At this point I was looking around for hidden cameras but this HAD to be a joke. But it wasn't. He never examined our pig, or invited us into our office. He had no comforting words, or bedside manner. Literally just came out to my car to tell me to leave.It felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I still do. The heart-less-ness of his words and actions today were unfathomable for someone who is suppose to help people. I drove an hour to get our Pig to another Vet and he is still in critical condition. Those 80 minutes I spent driving back and forth to his office could very well determine if piggy makes it or not. I called the office back and asked to speak with Dr. Dave or Joan to get clarification on why this happened, it was like a bad nightmare and I at least wanted answers on where the communication was dropped. Neither of them would get on the phone with me. So instead I let the poor woman who answered the phone have it, and she probably didn't deserve that and I'm sorry. I wish I could rate this Clinic a Zero and not a 1. Looking at their other terrible reviews I don't see how they are still in business.
Lauren M.
26 Jun 2017
We had a terrible emergency with our potbellied pig, our dogs had mauled her and ripped her ear off. We called so many animal hospitals looking for some help, and animal emergency clinic was there whe...
We had a terrible emergency with our potbellied pig, our dogs had mauled her and ripped her ear off. We called so many animal hospitals looking for some help, and animal emergency clinic was there when no one else was. We are forever grateful to them and would highly recommend them.
Debbie Pullin
6 May 2017
My experience with the St. Louis Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend was of the highest quality. My sweet, dear little kitty who was 19 years old, was not doing well. She had been steadily declining o...
My experience with the St. Louis Animal Emergency Clinic on Big Bend was of the highest quality. My sweet, dear little kitty who was 19 years old, was not doing well. She had been steadily declining over the past week and that day, a Sunday, we knew she needed to be seen immediately. We didn't wait long and Dr. Amy came out and told us that she was suffering and provided us with those impossible choices. She told us to spend as much time as we needed to decide whether to put our sweet fluffy down that day or wait until the next day at our regular vet's office. It was a very difficult, sad and horrible decision. We cried and cried, held our sweet kitty, and discussed our options. We finally realized that the time had come to say goodbye and so with the very patient, kind and gentle Dr. Amy, we did say goodbye that day. Dr. Amy was so kind and wonderful - I can't imagine anyone being as supportive and generous with time and space as she was with us. I am so grateful that she was working that day. Thank you, Dr. Amy - for creating a safe space for us to make that excruciating decision and for your support.
Kristina Carney
12 Apr 2017
This morning turned out to be the day I would say goodbye to my pug Daisy. Hardest day of my life, and even though it was quite expensive here, the quality of care from these people outshines the pric...
This morning turned out to be the day I would say goodbye to my pug Daisy. Hardest day of my life, and even though it was quite expensive here, the quality of care from these people outshines the price. They were very accommodating, passionate, caring and helped me every step of the way and gave me all the time I needed with my little love. Although I didn't take what I wanted home, I did get clay footprints which I'll hold dear forever. Highly recommend this place anytime day or night.
Rebecca W.
16 Mar 2017
Animal Emergency Clinic didn't get me a diagnosis on my cat's mass but still charged me for the procedure--I had to go somewhere else and pay the same amount to get a correct diagnosis. When I asked t...
Animal Emergency Clinic didn't get me a diagnosis on my cat's mass but still charged me for the procedure--I had to go somewhere else and pay the same amount to get a correct diagnosis. When I asked them about it, they said they didn't do anything wrong and sometimes the results just don't come back right, since they are working with such a small sample. So why did the second vet perform the same procedure and receive the correct results. Just luck, I guess, huh? They also charged me $400 for an ultrasound, while the vet specialist I took my cat to in order to get a diagnosis only charged me $150 for the ultrasound.SO--take your cat, even in emergency, to Vet Specialist Services off of Manchester in Ballwin. They are wonderful. Kate Sycamore is great. They have ER services 24 hours.
Art Pitchford
1 Mar 2017
tl;dr: Go here for truly high-quality care, but be prepared to pay for it.
Had to bring in my cat for an emergency checkup after he was displaying signs of a urinary blockage (a very serious conditio...
tl;dr: Go here for truly high-quality care, but be prepared to pay for it.
Had to bring in my cat for an emergency checkup after he was displaying signs of a urinary blockage (a very serious condition for male cats that can cause death if left untreated). They got him in right away, explained everything to me, ran the full gamut of tests, and talked me through what everything meant.
Thankfully, it was less serious than a blockage, but I had confidence in their diagnosis due to the level of detail, expertise, and professionalism displayed by the staff and two vets that I worked with.
The only downside is the cost. Emergency vets are expensive, and this was no exception. For an emergency visit, diagnosis, tests, and overnight stay, it ran me close to $1000 for what turned out to be a non-life threatening condition. Fortunately I have an income that allows me to support my animals in this way, but many do not. Emergency vets are businesses, which means they're there to make money, even if they do truly care about the animals, which I should say this vet 100% does.
Petunia S
20 Feb 2017
This place has saved my dog's hide twice now, the first a dozen years ago when he broke his foreleg really, really badly at the first joint. After I refused to allow an amputation, they did their best...
This place has saved my dog's hide twice now, the first a dozen years ago when he broke his foreleg really, really badly at the first joint. After I refused to allow an amputation, they did their best for him, and their emergency surgery at 10 PM during an ice storm turned out pretty great. This time the little beast stole some super dark chocolate out of my purse. After doing some calculations that indicated he truly was in danger, the clinic staff gave clear and concise directions for inducing vomiting. 15 min. later, the little rascal is back in business. It's wonderful to have skilled and helpful vets and vet techs available 24/7. God knows my knucklehead dog keeps no office hours.
Kristen W.
30 Jan 2017
Competent veterinarian but incredibly rude receptionist and office staff; hard to get an answer by phone & was frequently interrupted; waited over 45 minutes to pick up my dog simply because there was...
Competent veterinarian but incredibly rude receptionist and office staff; hard to get an answer by phone & was frequently interrupted; waited over 45 minutes to pick up my dog simply because there was no office staff in the lobby for an extended amount of time. Does not seem well run, would recommend seeking care elsewhere such as Webster Groves Emergency Animal Hospital.
Melissa S.
21 Jan 2017
I went into this facility with my cat who was actively going through the dying process and they made us wait 2 hours with my poor pet laying on a metal slab table. Their lack of compassion for our sit...
I went into this facility with my cat who was actively going through the dying process and they made us wait 2 hours with my poor pet laying on a metal slab table. Their lack of compassion for our situation unfortunately sullied any professionalism they showed once they helped us. If I hadn't gotten upset and begged someone to see us, I think we would have waited 4 hours.
Melanie C.
23 Dec 2016
My 9 yr old beautiful Russian Blue cat was in Kidney failure. After taking him to the Human Society for tests and evaluation, he needed 24 hr emergency care if he had any chance. The Human Society pro...
My 9 yr old beautiful Russian Blue cat was in Kidney failure. After taking him to the Human Society for tests and evaluation, he needed 24 hr emergency care if he had any chance. The Human Society provided a list and I chose this office as it was the closest to my house. I walked in to the converted old house as the only customer and after 30 minutes, knew this was NOT the clinic for me. After getting an estimate for $1500, and being snapped at when asking about visiting my sick pet during his hospitalization, I thought the vet was rude and condescending and her diagnosis as it turns out, was all wrong. During her consultation, she declared the cat could not pee on his own, that he had been obstructed, (which the other vets had assumed too) and asked would I be comfortable having to extract his pee for him for the rest of his life? I paid the $94 fee and drove 10 minutes down the road to Webster Groves. The place is shiny and clean, wonderful thoughtful staff and my beloved cat is receiving excellent care ... all for $800!!! As of this post, my baby is receiving fluids, eating and drinking and best of all, PEEING ON HIS OWN and while the damage to his kidneys is still unknown, we are both fighting for a blessed Christmas!Update: Bear is now home, and released with completely normal blood work, NO KIDNEY DAMAGE. Thank God I didn't listen to this vet!! PLEASE ALSO NOTICE - the only good reviews this clinic has are from people outside the St. Louis area, pet owners be warned!!!
Valerie Meyer
12 Dec 2016
The doctors and staff were wonderful. They did everything they could to save my dog. Unfortunately it was his time to go. They were very understanding and sympathetic. They gave us a room and told us ...
The doctors and staff were wonderful. They did everything they could to save my dog. Unfortunately it was his time to go. They were very understanding and sympathetic. They gave us a room and told us to take our time. In our time of hurt they did everything they could for us. I would recommend them to anyone.
francine harris
7 Dec 2016
Loving, thorough, attentive. After looking at the reviews, I was a little nervous to take the kitten there because there were some negative comments about them being scammers, etc. But I found the sta...
Loving, thorough, attentive. After looking at the reviews, I was a little nervous to take the kitten there because there were some negative comments about them being scammers, etc. But I found the staff and doctors there to be really attentive with me and my cat, extraordinarily thorough in his examination and communicative with me. It seems as soon as the doctor (Dr. Lord) understood money was a concern for me, she got even more thorough in explaining my options, what things would cost, whether I could afford to wait for my regular vet. I wound up returning on two more occasions to the emergency to resolve the cat's issue and both times, the doctor on duty (Dr. Esser) was very kind and patient with me and the cat. Essentially, my 11-year old had urgent constipation and ultimately had to receive two enemas to get him regular again. But he's digesting on his own now and considering I thought he might require surgery, I feel very grateful that I was working with a clinic that didn't milk me for everything they could get me to pay for. The procedures were still not cheap, but I feel I could have done much worse and I think they only after gave him what he needed. Thanks so much. I loved both of my doctors and the staff was great.
Raymond F.
5 Nov 2016
I mean honestly where else are you going to go? My cat had an open wound infection. Actually multiple. Fluid and puss all over her. They took care of biz-nass with some drain plugs and staples and me...
I mean honestly where else are you going to go? My cat had an open wound infection. Actually multiple. Fluid and puss all over her. They took care of biz-nass with some drain plugs and staples and meds. Now my lil babe is good to go. Of course its going to be expensive. Again, where else can you go? At the time I was seen in a timely manner. I see some reviewers on here complaining about the wait time. Seriously. How do you complain about the wait time at an Emergency room? 3.8 stars. great work. really kind staff. but pricey.
Andrew Maag
1 Nov 2016
Went here a little after 11:30pm with my sick dog. After some imaging and tests, surgery was decided on. They did surgery at 1am until 4am. Little dog is great now, just some obstructions and perforat...
Went here a little after 11:30pm with my sick dog. After some imaging and tests, surgery was decided on. They did surgery at 1am until 4am. Little dog is great now, just some obstructions and perforations that were repaired by this medical team. Would highly recommend, always open, always friendly. Thank you!
Dave M.
8 Oct 2016
Over 2 hour wait time and the front desk receptionist was rude. The place is not as clean as our regular vet office and they seem to be very disorganized. Our dog had to stay overnight for surgery and...
Over 2 hour wait time and the front desk receptionist was rude. The place is not as clean as our regular vet office and they seem to be very disorganized. Our dog had to stay overnight for surgery and when picking him up the next morning the wait time was again extremely long and the front desk nurse was rude and seemed unaware of what was going on. Place is inefficient.
Cynthia J.
4 Oct 2016
More often than not, bad reviews will correlate with the type of outcome (bad vs. good) and the owner's ability or willingness to pay for care. What you have to try to understand is how much it COSTS...
More often than not, bad reviews will correlate with the type of outcome (bad vs. good) and the owner's ability or willingness to pay for care. What you have to try to understand is how much it COSTS to run an emergency hospital. They are not a non-profit that receives grants and donations, they must stay in business by having an income. It can cost thousands of dollars each day for them to stay open so that you have a place to take your sick pet on Christmas eve. To call that greed is just ignorance. Any business has bills to pay and if they don't (if YOU don't pay yours, they can't pay theirs), they will not be open. THEN where will you take your pet on Easter Sunday?
Lacey B.
25 Jul 2016
Dr Esser has now helped two of our dogs and we couldn't be more grateful! She performed surgery on one of our dogs that decided to eat one of his toys.....and helped our other dog who has heart diseas...
Dr Esser has now helped two of our dogs and we couldn't be more grateful! She performed surgery on one of our dogs that decided to eat one of his toys.....and helped our other dog who has heart disease. I brought in the second dog when she was is respiratory distress and she was quickly put on oxygen and seen. Dr Esser is very caring, explained everything to us, and was very good with our poor girl! We were just now able to bring her home, but we felt okay leaving her with this team. Dr Esser and all of the vet techs we dealt with were wonderful! On a previous visit, we had seen a different male vet (can't remember the name) that we didn't care for much, as he simply blew us off on our dog that needed surgery. But, they called us in again the next morning (after seeing the X-ray this vet said was normal) and Dr Esser performed surgery that day. For that, we are thankful for the delay in surgery!I would definitely recommend this place for true emergencies! So thankful for the staff here who truly care for our little ones!
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