Belcher Animal Hospital

I have never written a review before but feel compelled to do so now. Having studied psychology, I understand that the good reviews are based on the follower mentality of not wanting to say that you have a bad doctor. Or else the 5 star reviews are employees and family of employees at belcher. The staff, especially Dr Platt, should quit and pursue new careers at a slaughter house. Instead of wasting your money here, go to VCA Oso Animal Hospital or Windsor Park. Read Less

I brought a sweet stray cat that had been dumped at our apartment complex to Belcher Animal Hospital because it was near my home and the cat was so weak that we wanted to get him to a vet as soon as possible. Over the course of a week, we visited Belcher Animal Hospital 3 times. On all occasions there was virtually no wait. That should have been a warning sign. The first time we brought the cat in, the older vet with the dyed strawberry blond hair (it could have been a toupee) seemed annoyed that we brought in a stray. I asked him to test the cat for feline AIDS but the vet declared the weak cat "too wild" to do so. He proceeded to give him $126 worth of shots that turned out to be useless. We brought the cat home and named him Pepper. I would not let Pepper live inside my apartment because I had two house cats and I did not want him to give any illness to my house cats. He lived both inside our mother's apartment who lives next door to us and in an igloo we keep outside our front door. After a week, the cat was absolutely no better. We fed him canned food throughout the week but Pepper continued to grow weaker and weaker. We were convinced the cat was dying of feline AIDS. So we took him to local non-profit dedicated to helping strays and had him tested for feline AIDS. It only took a few minutes for the vet there to test him and tell us Pepper was dying of advanced feline AIDS. It is interesting that this lady was easily able to draw blood and test the cat but the vet at Belcher Animal Hospital had declared the weak cat "too wild" to test him. Of course if the vet with the dyed hair had tested him, then he knew we wouldn't have paid $126 for the useless shots he administered to the cat. The lady at the non-profit told us to bring Pepper to a vet and see if he should be put to sleep. Here is where we made another big mistake. Pepper was so weak he was vomiting in the car from the motion. So we brought him to Belcher Animal Hospital because it was so close. Once again this same older male vet with the laughably dyed hair was annoyed to see us. He was extremely rough with Pepper. My 90-year old mother was with us and she was crying and distraught that her little cat was having to be put to sleep. We were all shocked by how rough this vet was with Pepper, grabbing his leg and twisting it so hard to administer the shots to put him to sleep. It was an awful ending, watching this poor cat that never scratched or hissed at anyone being treated so roughly in his final moments. And we were charged $100 for the "service" of putting the cat to sleep. The older male vet with the strawberry blond dye job was not Dr. Belcher. However, since he works for Dr. Belcher, I hold him responsible for this horrible experience. The vet who treated Pepper should work for a slaughter house, not an animal hospital. I agree with another reviewer Natalie S who had a similar experience at Belcher Animal Hospital. I am posting a picture of Pepper that we took on the morning he was put to sleep so that you can see for yourself that he was too small and weak to be treated the way he was by this vet. Our mother, a retired nurse who witnessed the entire affair, is still upset by how the uncaring vet treated Pepper. All Pepper wanted was for us to hold him and pet him. Does that sound like a wild cat to you? My advice to anyone needing a vet. Go somewhere else. GO ANYWHERE ELSE! I regret not waiting for an appointment at our usual vet Windsor Park Animal Hospital. Then Pepper's last day on earth would have been less tragic. Read Less

My experience was okay. They do have hidden costs and a very unfriendly receptionist who has a low tolerance for even well-behaved children in the wait room. The vet, however, was very friendly and informed, but I've still had far better experiences elsewhere. Read Less

We are extremely grateful to Dr. Belcher and his team! Our Perdie was limping and we called them to find out they were actually taking walk ins that afternoon! From the moment I walked into the dog entrance (they have separate entrances for dogs and cats, which is genius!) I was welcomed by Donna at the front desk who got my information and we were in within minutes to see Dr. Belcher! He calmed us down and explained everything that needed to be done. He and his great assistant Courtney finished in less then 20 minutes with the procedure! I highly recommend dr belcher and his team especially if it's urgent! Read Less

We moved to Corpus about 2 years ago and after some research decided to go with Belcher's. They are professional and courteous, and Diane at the front can tell you exactly what you need. Very pleased with this facility. Read Less

I came here for an initial free check up after adopting my dog from the humane society. The vet here is extremely friendly! I came back to get medication for flatworms and they had the pills ready to go within the day. I came a third time after my dog was choking on something and they were quick to see Cassidy. He couldn't find anything in her throat and explained things that could.be wrong and just to keep an eye on her and didn't charge me anything for that quick look. I highly recommend this vet for good service and knowledge.Read Less

I found three dogs running thru the streets, drove to Belcher and the young lady came out to my truck so that I wouldn't have to "attempt" to bring all of them in. I thought that was awesome. Later, after calling and getting nowhere with the numbers on the microchips, another young lady on the phone called Home Again and got information that I was unable to get. From there I was able to get the facility that implanted the microchip and get a name and number for the owners. Thanks to Belcher and Facebook for getting these pups back home to their family!!Read Less

I have taken my dogs there for the past 4 years and I absolutely love the vets! They are very knowledgeable and will take the time to answer any questions you have. I have never had an issue taking both my dogs there. I would recommend it to anyone. (:Read Less

Always fast and friendly service. They don't charge you all the ridiculous extras that most vets now charge. Dr. Platt is very knowledgeable and friendly and the lady at the front desk is always pleasant. Don't waste money going to other places in town.Read Less

I just wanted to let everyone know about the TERRIBLE experience I have had with my poor Emma at Belcher Animal Hospital here in Corpus. My dog, Emma, had a few tumors that needed to be removed. I took her to Dr. Pratt who works at Belcher to have the surgery done because I have been taking her there since I moved from Rockport to Corpus with her. One of the tumors happened to be on her tail. After her surgery, the woman who works at the front desk had Emma brought out to me, and told me to come back in 2 weeks for a follow up and to possibly get some of her stitches out. 2 weeks later I went back, and Dr. Pratt informed me that because I didn't come back in 4 days, now we are going to lose her tail, although no one in his office told me to come back in 4 days (if you know me, you know how punctual I am and how I would NEVER miss an appointment that I was told I needed to be at). We went back today, for her 4th follow up appointment (we've had to go back about once a week since her surgery) and my mom went with me to talk to the vet about their mistake, and about how they could help us out with the next surgery because we've spent over $1,000 with them in the last month and this is their fault. We were trying to have a simple conversation with the man and he got so angry he was shaking, and told us that he was so mad he couldn't speak to us and to just give him a minute. He also told me that he told me himself that I needed to come back in 4 days, which is a lie because I never saw him the day of her surgery, I only saw the office workers. We were only trying to have an adult conversation with him, about a mistake that was made at the fault of his employees that is now causing my dog to get her tail cut off. So if you take your fur babies to Belcher, I would highly recommend finding a new vet to care for them! Read Less

I took an outside cat there to treat skin disease. Left him there a week to get treated. I was told he's doing good while he was recovering there, and that he needed to stay there for one more week for full recovery. Should've never trusted what they said because when picked him up he was just skin and bones, not even close to what I've been told. They treated the skin disease but poor thing died the next day from being malnourished:( He looked ten times worse from when I took him in. They don't seem to care much about the stray animals even if you pay for treatment. Don't leave your pets there for recovery ever! My mistake was trusting them blindly, I never should've have left him there ... Read Less

I took an outside cat there to treat skin disease. Left him there for few weeks to get treated and get better. I was told he's doing good while he was recovering and getting well there, but obviously he wasn't because when I picked him up he was just bones and died the next day poor thing :( They don't seem to care much about the animals, don't leave your pets there for recovery ever! My mistake for trusting them, I never should've have left him there ... Read Less

I took a stray cat in today that had an abscess on it's leg and was hurting. The vet was so unbelievably rude to me making me feel bad for not wanting to spend over a $100 to help him. Then he got this attitude threw his hands up and said just pet him back in the cage and take him. I ended up spending $80 for an office visit and an antibiotic shot. I asked him if it would go away and he said that he would have to know the future to be able to tell me that! I held back crying and will never go back there again! It was not Dr. Belcher it was someone else. I can't remember his name unfortunately. :/ Read Less