Vca Southpaws Veterinary Specialists And Emergency Center

I seriously can NOT Thank Dr. Hubert and the team at VCA enough, on May 31st 2018 I woke to a horror story with my 20 + year old Maltese Tig. A devastating event and a more devastating end. I honestly believe I am still walking in a fog as my pain is still very fresh and real. But I am awake enough to call out superior care and service and I wanted to publicly praise this team for how kind, loving and respectful of me and my dog they were. I am not a 5 Star kind of person but they deserve each and everyone! Thank you so much for everything. Read Less

I hate to write a negative review but feel a 3/5 is more than fair. Some positives: The front desk staff was very kind, we were able to be seen same day as our dog was brought in for what we had thought was pnemounia but turns out she has many tumors in her lungs. Being able to be seen so soon was a plus. negatives: Dr. Deborah L'Heureux. I do not believe she intended to be just awful but you have to understand we just got news that our 7 year old happy energetic pup had very serious lung cancer and it is 99.9% terminal. Now we already knew this before going to see Dr. L'Heureux but even before she did the sonogram of our dog she sat with us in the lobby out in the open and proceeded to tell us how bad this was, that our dog was most likely terminal, that she "wouldnt be in pain like someone stabbed you in the arm but would be in pain like 'cough' cough' you had the flu". It was the pace in which she spoke which was extremely fast, the circles she was speaking about our dog being terminal, and the openness of the lobby that made us feel really awful. Once back in the sonogram room she just. kept. talking... would not stop.. spoke so quickly that someone who wasnt in shock would still have trouble keeping up. She proceeded to then tell us that getting a biopsy of one of the tumors could be bad bc of "collapsing a lung, then getting a pnuemothorax and then having to intubate.. and who wants that.." My fiance finally was like ok stop we arent going to do that. We just left, paid the bill, and went home feeling like there was ZERO hope. NOTHING. Now, the reason I write this review is not to make a huge statement but bc I am sure that this has happened to others and that if it has.. go speak to an ONCOLOGIST.. someone who specializes in cancer.. not the person who reads the labs (not to minimize it). But we went to Hope Advanced Center in Vienna and were spoken to slower, calmer, and not entirely doom and gloom. Also, to Dr. Deborah please PLEASE slow down and realize that you may be trying to give honest news but there is a way to do it.. and its not in the lobby at warp speed. Read Less

Excellent care, friendly staff and very knowledgeable Drs. They have just about any type of care you pet might need all in office. It is always very bright and clean and cute decor throughout. Dr. Brem is very experienced with bully breeds and their breathing issues and was wonderful to work with for soft palate/nate surgery for our Frenchie. He received wonderful care. Would highly recommend this office especially if you have any of the brachy breeds. Read Less

I've seen VCA SouthPaws now for two separate issues. First, our 2 year old Siamese "Nymeria" developed mediastinal lymphoma very suddenly. While initially came in for what we thought was a chronic cough, we were devastated to receive a cancer diagnosis. The entire staff was caring and empathetic as we hospitalized her overnight to drain fluid from her lungs, and then when we brought her in for six months of chemo treatment. We were able to meet with our oncologist, Dr. Hofer, and she was exceptionally clear and concise regarding the medical details, while still maintaining care and empathy for us and our pet. Second, we brought in our 5 month old Siamese kitten "Wrex" for a GI issue. We were reluctant to hospitalize him, but the staff did an amazing job of laying out our options. The hospitalization, although stressful, cleared up all issues he had, and three days later he's gone from sickly, dehydrated, and unable to eat, to his usual excitable (and occasionally annoying) kitten self. It was also wonderful, when we brought him in, that many staff remembered us and Nymeria, even though it'd been several months since she'd been seen for chemotherapy. I will always recommend VCA SouthPaws for both their expertise in all aspects of veterinary medicine, and how caring their staff is regarding sensitive medical issues. Read Less

Dr. Hubert and Dr. Blades were the kindest and most helpful vets we could’ve asked for. Our kitty got very sick very suddenly, and they were very patient in taking our numerous calls and answering our questions. We ended up having to put our lady down, and Dr. Blades sent us a thoughtful, handwritten condolence card a few days later. It may be a small gesture, but it helped us to know that we made the right decision and that the doctors sincerely cared about us, both during and after our time there. I’d highly recommend, VCA truly cares about both pets and their owners and wants to make sure everyone receives the best care possible. Read Less

Waited over three hours and people who came in after me where seen first. When asking the techs how long it would be I was given rude responses and one lady just walked away not responding. I got a hand put up in my face also. This place is not recommended. Literally wait the day or so to see a more professional vet. Read Less

Thanks customer service at this place was abysmal. I was recommended by my vet which is why I went to Southpaws. Getting any information after our visit was like pulling teeth. I was told my dog would need medications, but I had to be the one to ask all the questions! Where will I get it? Do I come to VCA to pick it up? Will you call it in? Do I have to call it in? What are the instructions for administering it? I also had to call for the results of her tests. After all that my dog was no better and I took her back for a follow-up. I was in the waiting room with my dog for A long time until I turned and looked at the receptionist. She then got up and walked to the back. When she returned I asked if she new how long it would be because we were waiting almost 20 minutes. She said we had been waiting for 16 minutes and that it would be "soon". (The clock in the waiting area was a few minutes fast.) When we were called backed I asked the lady (the only nice one of our visit) if she was told we were here when we arrived she said she had been waiting for us but was just told, so the receptionist just didn't bother to tell anyone we arrived and it wasn't even busy. Finally, when we were wrapping up our appointment with the vet, I asked her if I would be notified about the results of the tests my dog was going to get. She was very rude and defensive and said they always respond. This is actually untrue considering our last ridiculous email exchange, described by the questions I had to get all the answers to above, ended with me asking if I would need to call to make the follow up appointment or if we were going to schedule it via email and I got no response. I will never go back to this place and my other pet owner friends I will tell to steer clear of this place. Read Less

We called several times. Whenever we called they were too busy to address our concerns and had to call us back or keep us on hold. They didn't allow us to spend more than 10 minutes at a time to visit our dog. We felt very disconnected as a pet owner when our dog was sick. Doctors and nurses perform rounds for fours per day. This time takes away from 15 hour visiting time allowing only an 11 hr. visit window to see your pet. Waiting rooms were saturated with the smell of urine. When we wanted to talk to the doctors, they would put us in a waiting room every time. Read Less

I can't thank Dr. Talarico enough for giving my dog back the use of his hind legs after he herniated a disc in his spine. We are 3 weeks post surgery and my dog is back to his full range of motion, happier than can be. We are supremely grateful for the excellent care and customer service and will always recommend VCA to anyone who is looking for stellar care for their pet. Read Less

Brought my dog on an emergency situation at CVCA for bad fainting spells etc... was greeted very kindly at reception desk.... my dog "Bonbon" was immediately picked-up by caring Staff members and treated without delay , I was kept informed at all time of every procedure and tests done on my dog by attending Nurse and Doctor in great details. I was so pleased with the compassion an genuine caring they showed me, it was an exceptional first experience for me. Thank you. Read Less

The vet care is extraordinary. Dr. Sheafor (oncology) is THE BEST. She is intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, kind and caring. The front desk staff, not so much... The "patient care coordinator" neither cares nor coordinates. The process of getting an appointment, getting prescription refills, following up with the doctor as directed, or coordinating with other vets is excruciating, frustrating, and upsetting. If you need a specialist or ER, go to SouthPaws. Be tenacious and don't let the admin staff deter you from getting the best medical care for you beloved pet. Read Less

I do not know how anyone could give a bad review. This place was so loving and caring when we took our Frenchie to get examined for a neurological problem. Our Vet recommended Dr. Knoeckel who was as kind and gentle as he could be. He explained things to us in lay terms that we could understand. He was not rushed, he answered all of our questions very patiently and he had a great sense of humor. If you are taking your pet to this facility, then you are probably treating something that may cost a little bit of money. That's to be expected due to the expertise and specialties that these Vets possess. The facility was so comfortable with comfy chairs and rugs. My dog is having trouble walking so she appreciated the rugs and not having to get up on a metal table and slip and slide all around. The vets sat on the floor on a nice rug and gave her the exam. I have nothing but the most extreme kudos and thanks for this facility. They diagnosed my dog accurately and I would bring her back again if I had to. The staff also were as friendly as they could be. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Read Less

I almost never write reviews and I hate to give a bad one to any place that is trying to help animals. I do believe the vets care and try to help but the facility is badly managed with horrible communication to clients. Several years ago, they saved my cat's life and gave her another two years, which I will always appreciate. My recent experience, while my cat was dying, was anything but good. My regular vet recommended I take my cat to South Paws when she stopped eating. She said it was her "best chance" and I do believe that. Over the next few days, my cat continued to deteriorate. She was old and I do believe South Paws tried their best. But I can't get past the bad communication. I would repeatedly call for updates only to have no one call me back. When I did talk to a vet (a different one every day), they were clearly overworked, busy, and didn't know the details of my cat's case. I would have to remind them of medications she was on or tests my regular vet ran. I also couldn't get consistent information out of them so that I could make decisions for my cat. It got bad enough that my regular vet (who is wonderful) called on my behalf and then called me and talked me through my options. In the end, nothing was working and I decided to euthanize, a decision I still struggle with. I probably still would not write this review if it isn't for what happened next. I opted for private cremation and was told my cat's remains would be shipped to me. Over a week went by and I heard nothing. Finally, I called South Paws to find out what was going on and they said they would check. The receptionist then explained that my cat was still there and had not been picked up yet, that pick ups only happen on Monday and Thursday. I thought this was strange since both of those days had passed since my cat died but just said ok. I got home that night and found a ups slip taped to my door. When I looked up the tracking info, my cat's remains had shipped two days before. So she had to have been picked up and cremated already and either the receptionist was lying or thoroughly confused. This experience summed up all of the communication problems I had with South Paws. They were all far more eager to run my credit card than take the time to explain options or do what was best for my cat. My hope is that someone there will see this review and rethink how they do business and treat clients. Read Less

Just ran into this facility because my dog was bit their wait was long so we decided to go to another place but the staff could not have been more friendly and comforting I was visibly shaken up and offered water my dog was visibly hurt and was offered a warm towel. Will definitely go there in the future for visits. Literally could not be more impressed! Read Less

SouthPaws has always been there when we've needed them, Offering skilled and loving care. On our most recent visit, the Dr. saved my sweet puppy through her timely diagnosis of aspirational pneumonia. Each staff member's actions show that he/she truly cares about the well being of their clients and patients. Sending a heartfelt Thank you to each of you! Read Less

SouthPaws had an opening 30 minutes from now. We took it, hung up, and left in the car. Our regular vet said Xena needed an ultrasound ASAP given her symptoms. The ultrasound revealed that Xena had cancer which had metastasized. Ugh. The vet was incredibly sensitive and took her time with me at the ultrasound. I was impressed with the entire operation from the front desk, to the waiting area (separate rooms for dogs and cats), to the actual diagnostics. Read Less

I have never had a worse experience in human or animal medical care than the four days I had to deal with this facility. I was referred to their specialists by my regular vet. They require all payment prior to care, and won't even speak to you about your pet until you've paid them. After the first procedure to remove a polyp was not successful, I was told surgery was the only option, and thus began two days of stress as they piled on the charges. Finally on the day of the surgery, I was told I needed to pay almost $1400 for a CT scan prior to surgery. I argued, and was told I wouldn't have to pay for the CT. When I finally picked up my cat the next day, and looked at the receipt they gave me, they only credited me for half of the cost of the CT. I will never return to this facility, and will ensure no one I know ever uses this office for their pets. Read Less

We were very happy with the doctors and service here initially, but then two things happened. Firstly, extra charges were slipped into the final bill that were not reflected in the initial estimate. This would have been fine had it been a small amount, but it wasn't. Furthermore, even though we were eventually reimbursed, the way it was handled was disappointing. They didn't just admit the mistake and reimburse us immediately; it was explained that reimbursement was authorized because our vet had already provided test results that were then repeated by the VCA SouthPaws doctor. Actually, their estimate & bill expressly state that NO procedure will be undertaken/charges made without prior consent of the payee. Breaking their own rule should have been ample cause to merit reimbursement. Secondly, I have been trying to get follow-up advice from the doctor who treated my pet, because his condition seems be worsening. Again, discharge documents expressly advised us to follow up with the doctor within 5-7 days, however, repeated phone calls and messages left have yet to be returned two weeks later. Good treatment is important, but should be assumed at a place like this. In my opinion, follow-up and prompt response defines customer service and professionalism, not just polite receptionists. Lack of these makes me feel like they're insincere and really only in it for the money. How hard is it to have someone (even just an on-call nurse) return a call and provide follow-up advice, especially when your pet's quality of life is at stake? Read Less

I can't say enough about how great VCA SouthPaws is, and specifically, Dr. Balogh. We adopted a puppy (Tippy) with a missing front paw and some previously undiagnosed hip issues. Dr.Balogh has attacked our problems head on and has guided us in Tippy's current care as well as her likely long term care. The individual attention he has given us is amazing. If Dr. Balogh is indicative of the quality of doctors at VCA SouthPaws, the establishment is a place you can trust with your pets. Also, all the nurses and the wonderful people at reception are top notch too...thanks VCA SouthPaws! Jarrod Frakes Read Less

My dog needed ACL surgery so we were referred to South Paws by our vet. We brought our dog to Dr. Siemering. He examined our dog and scheduled surgery for the next day. We brought her in and they put her under full anesthesia only to be told that when they went to perform the surgery, they discovered a staph infection on her leg (the same one that was examined the day before) I must note my dog is a pit and doesn't have long fur meaning it was clearly visible. He then had the audacity to try to charge me for the anesthesia; however, after we went back and forth, he agreed to waive the fee. He then gave me medicine to clear it up which didn't work. I spoke with my primary vet who was a little confused as to why that medicine was prescribed as it is not the first line of defense for a staph infection and is very expensive. Nonetheless, we went forward with her surgery and 6 months later she is still limping and in pain. We have since moved out of state and while at first Dr. Siemering was helpful in finding a resolution he later declared that after spending nearly $5,000 on the surgery I should go and spend another $250+ to get her an X-ray. When asked if I could be reimbursed for some of these additional fees he replied that there is no reimbursement and then refused to respond to any of my voice mails / texts. His professionalism, not to mention his veterinary skills, leave a lot to be desired. I recommend you take your dog to another doctor in the practice or go elsewhere.Read Less