Bluepearl Pet Hospital Richmond

So expensive, but then we do what we must for our fur babies. My cat had a serious adverse reaction to his rabies vaccine and we ended up at Dogwood a few times over a few days. They were good at providing options for treatment, since we didn't really know what was causing his fever on the first visit. Fever of undeterminate origin is a tough diagnosis to treat, but they did what they could to get his fever down. He eventually ended up having to do an overnight stay, but they took good care of him during that stay, and he was on the mend after responding to broad spectrum antibiotics. My only complaint was that I wasn't able to be with him for much of his examination time. I would have liked to be there when the vet checked him out. They were quick to send his records to my primary care vet, so follow ups were easy. I definitely appreciated that. Read Less

They can't work within a budget. The vet insisted on a $400 x-ray that ended up telling him nothing he didn't already know. I had told him that money was an important consideration, he said he didn't feel comfortable starting his treatment without this expensive procedure, and implied he wouldn't prescribe the medication my dog ended up going on. Basically leveraging guilt to sell services. I'll never go back there. Read Less

Our Shiba Inu woke us up at midnight stumbling, drooling and had limited use of her right side. We took her to Dogwood and we were immediately seen. The vet tech was great. They checked her vitals and then did blood work when all that checked out ok the vet came in and gave us a very thorough description of what could be going on, we asked lots of questions and she did not rush at all she was great and answered everything! She decided to treat as a stroke but we could not know for sure with out an MRI that could not be done there. She told us to follow up with our primary vet within a week and she prescribed our dog Valium. We opted to not do an MRI due to the cost. After getting home and letting our pup get lots of rest and monitoring her eating and drinking closely as well as giving her the Valium she has improved greatly! We are following up with our primary vet this week, but we are very pleased in the service we received. Read Less

Just went there for an abscess on my dogs paw and they not only said "they couldn't do anything for the abscess " but the charged me $95 to do paperwork! The vet said she had to leave the exam room to "begin the paperwork so she could get and only possibly, antibiotic and an E collar, they could not diagnose " What are they there for if not to diagnose and fix the issue? So she left the room and 25 minutes later So Did I! I told the girls at the desk I had bad feelings about the Vet on duty and they charged the $95.00 anyway! Really??? I would give no stars if that were possible. Apparently they only treat  if the cause of the wound is obvious Read Less

Had to make an emergency trip with my cat.  They did a fantastic job!  Swift, accurate diagnosis and treatment.  I couldn't have asked for a better experience.  Thank you for being there when my cat needed help. Read Less

This Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center is a passionate and comprehensive companion animal center.  I have had 2 dachshunds in the last 6 months that have been there.  One of my furbabies did not make it through his injury -- but was taken great care of from his first visit to his last.   The second furbaby was also taken great care of -- from his referral to his surgery and to his release.  Further -- they have amazing surgeons that work in tandem with the internal medicine vets.  I have nothing but great things to say.   Between my first and second dog, I got Pet Insurance (which made all the difference)....but regardless, the care was worth every penny.   Get pet insurance for the very reason that it relives you of the burden of cost at a time you do NOT want to think about cost.   Thank you Dogwood, Blue Pearl and Virginia Vet Surgical Associates.  I am forever in your debt. Read Less

I adopted a sweet little kitten about two weeks ago and, for the first five days, the little guy refused to eat food. I tried both kibble and wet food, and he just simply rebuked it, save for a few bites of the wet food one night. He also had a pretty bad wheeze, so I worried he was ill.I called the vet that I had already made an initial visit for the next week, but they were booked solid. They suggested Dogwood for immediate assistance. I called in the morning to give a heads up that I'd be bringing him in after work.The wait time wasn't too long to see a vet, which was nice. I did find it odd that they brought him back without me though. Maybe that's the new cat-mom in me speaking, but I would've liked to watch them examine him.The vet was nice and seemed knowledgeable when I spoke to her. She suggested baby food or a different wet food to get him to start eating, and she thought he had the beginning of a virus, so she said she didn't want to give him antibiotics.The total for the visit was around $90, which is more than double the cost of a full vet exam at his regular vet. I hope I don't need to bring him back any time soon, but I'm glad there is an emergency vet within quick driving distance for severe issues.Do keep in mind that they don't hold records for emergency visits. I called a week later because I misplaced his record and was hoping they could fax a copy (later found it a few days later) and they weren't exactly pleasant. Felt like they were judging me for losing something so important.On a positive note, my kitten started eating well once I tried a seafood flavor on him. Turns out he just doesn't like chicken. Read Less

Fast service. One day after my initial telephone call we had a consultation with a surgeon who performed surgery the same day. Our surgeon, Dr. Giannetto,, was an excellent communicator who ensured we understood our pet's condition and treatment options. All administrative staff were helpful and friendly, and never kept us waiting. Unable to comment at this time about the outcome of the surgery. Read Less

My pet was about to pass away. It was difficult for my family to let go, but we didn't want him to suffer. The staff was amazing and very sympathetic toward us. However the cost was almost as painful as the lost. Overall they handled everything with class and the staff was top notch. We had satisfaction. Read Less

We have gone to Dogwood on two occasions for emergency care for our dog. Both times they have literally saved our dog's life and been very kind to us. The staff are very helpful and take the time to explain the treatments and costs during your visit. As an emergency facility, we completely understand that a fee is required up-front to evaluate a dog. For our first visit, our dog had bloat which is extremely time-sensitive. We were seen very quickly and while our dog stayed there overnight, we either called or received calls with regular updates on his condition. We were able to see our dog right after surgery and at other points during his stay, which meant so much to us. Emergency pet care is expensive in general, but we feel confident that our dog got the best care available, particularly from the surgical teams. We had no issues submitting Dogwood's paperwork to our pet insurance company. It is also great that Dogwood is in the same building as surgical, heart, and oncology practices etc. so that they can all work together on our dog's care. Thank you, Dogwood! Read Less

The staff were polite enough. I did have some long wait times in the office and over the phone, but that was easy to forgive. I'm giving them a lower rating because when my dog came in after being seriously bitten by a much bigger dog, they failed to notice that one of her ribs had been broken and was lodged in such a way that it could easily puncture other organs. Her regular vet identified the danger and now she's being prepped for a second surgery this week at a different emergency facility.. It would have been safer and less painful for Lulu if everything had been addressed right away. Read Less

First off I'll have to say the medical staff were the best I've seen. I'm actually rethinking my local vet for someone more professional that would had found my dogs conditions well before needing the Dogwood services. On the down side I did see as many here have is that this facility has a uncaring corporate side that is truly all about the money that forces the medical staff into continuous up-sale of services without an honest "opinion" of the true condition and outcome of your pet. Read Less

Dr. Higginbotham, Elizabeth and Emelia are as good as it gets!  My Sidney has a bleak prognosis, but Dr. Higginbotham and his team were caring, compassionate, upfront, and honest about all of our options from payment methods, to surgical options and possible outcomes, to palliative care.  They gave us time to cry, discuss options and were available to answer all the questions that came up based on all the possible scenarios!  Thank you! Read Less

Went to the surgery department for a consultation. I am a general practice veterinarian myself, and I always find the specialists to be knowledgeable and friendly. I trust them to take good care of my pets who are like family to me. Read Less

We received amazing service and care for my dog. The procedure and follow up care was expensive but I'm not sure if it was any more so than a different surgical facility. If it would have been cheaper I would give them 5 stars. Read Less

I took my basset hound in on April 15, 2018 after he was attacked by another dog. All of the staff there were extremely kind and caring in their treatment of Hank. They not only provided quality care for my dog at a very reasonable price, they provided my with peace of mind which is invaluable. I most definitely recommend Dogwood if your pet has an emergency. Read Less

They want your $, not what is best for your pet.  Our dog had a tumor which was ultimately going to be fatal.  Their "protocols" are designed to bring you back as often as possible to charge you for another visit, more lab work, etc. Just requesting a medication to keep an animal comfortable at the end-stage of their disease, and they say they want blood tests to check for liver and kidney damage.  Who cares at that point, he'd going to be dead soon.  They lack any understanding of the concept of palliative care, and even worse, lack all compassion.  Their oncology service wants access to your wallet, nothing more.  Dr. Waite is without a doubt one of the worst oncologists we have ever experienced. Read Less

We were in the Richmond area when our little 11 month old mix breed puppy got very sick. By a stroke of luck we found Dr Cameron at Dogwood Veterinary Emergency Hospital. Being 1000 miles from our regular veterinarian and having a very sick fur baby we were terrified for our baby. The staff were very caring and professional and Dr Cameron, a lovely young doctor, was incredibly knowledgeable and had little Polly Pup-n-Stuff feeling better with fluids, anti-nausia medicine and diagnosed the cause of her gastrointestinal condition. Dr Cameron helped us put Polly on a special diet protecting her delicate digestive system. We couldn't be happier. Read Less

We cannot recommend Dr. DeVito and her staff highly enough. Our pet had some uncontrolled bleeding around 11:00pm and the staff did not hesitate to jump in and assist. The next closest vet available for our exotic pet was 2 hours away and she would have surely not survived the trip. We cannot give the same praise to the receptionist that greeted us that night, but Dr. DeVito and her staff saved our girl's life and we cannot be more appreciative! Read Less

Initial impression is that it is all about the money. Front desk staff was extremely rude on the admission and discharge visit. Professional staff were friendly and informed yet lacked follow through on progress updates. No call to us was ever initiated by Dogwood staff. Our 5 calls to them necessitated 5+ minutes of wait time with services available promo recording. Dogwood was highly recommended by our primary veterinarian and we will surely follow up with her on the experience. In the past, we have had pets receive emergency care at Cary Street Emergency and Veterinary Referral and Critical Care. The difference, in my opinion is that Dogwood is a corporation type environment while the others provide service in a more caring and compassionate environment. Could never recommend Dogwood Veterinary Emergency. On a positive note, our pup came home after 24 hours! Read Less

This place was almost too good to be true.  I had an emergency with my cat 2 days before Christmas (when all vet offices are closed).  She was seen immediately upon arriving, they took time to explain things to me, including what it would cost.  Everyone was knowledgeable and professional.  I couldn't have been more pleased.  My brother used them when his dog was very sick, and he says the same thing.  Excellent Veterinary Emergency center.  I won't be going anywhere else when I need emergency care for my pet.  OUTSTANDING! Read Less

Our 14 year old dog suffered severe heatstroke over Labor Day weekend.  His temperature hit 109 degrees.  After two days with the caring staff at Dogwood, he came back to life and this 80 pound dog is almost 100%.  We feel very fortunate. Read Less

I took my cat here when he wouldn't stop throwing up. They were so helpful and took him back quickly. They did anything possible to help me understand what was wrong with him and helped him feel better quickly! Even though it was on the expensive side, they tried helping me out financially and tried to make this a quick and painless experience. Being an ER it is definitely understandable that it was going to be on the expensive side so it was very appreciative that they had the empathy and cared for my baby like he was their own cat. He was better by the next morning and has been better since! Thank you so much! Read Less

I own a pet-sitting business, and in the 20+ years that I've been doing this, I have (thank goodness) never had to take a pet that's in my care to see the vet, much less to an ER facility.  So I was most grateful when I brought a very sweet Bull Terrier ("Shiner") there, thinking she had bloat, which is very dangerous.The good news was that it wasn't bloat -- the bad was she had acute pancreatitis.  Regardless, everyone there from the front desk staff, to the techs, to the veterinarians were awesome regarding her care, and were very patient (pun intended) with "Team Shiner", which included her traveling humans who were out of the country, to other members of her extended family, down to myself, all calling for updates, explanations of her condition, what to expect, etc.The costs were pretty significant, but when it's your "child" or a child you're looking after, it's worth it.  And being they're an ER facility, they give you initial estimates of the costs of care to cover a 24-48 hour period, and rightfully so, collect the money upfront.The entire staff cared about her well-being and even followed up with phone calls post-treatment to get updates from us!  I would recommend them to any and all pet-lovers/owners/sitters.  This place rocks!  :)On a related note, Shiner's humans have pet insurance, and I do too, and I highly recommend looking into it for your pet/s.  I have Nationwide, and it's very reasonable. Read Less

Second visit and yes very expensive but no secret. All is explained to you up front and the decision is yours to proceed or walk away. The negative reviews regarding costs should not reflect on the caring professionalism these physicians and staff provide. Although my Memorial Day weekend ended in tragedy and I had to lay my dog to rest, I would have paid double if he could have been saved. As another review stated, thes people are the real deal. Read Less

The staff and Pyhsicians here are awesome. Very professional and caring. Second time visit and yes very expensive, but would not hesitate to save my best friend. Although my visit on Memorial Day weekend ended with much sadness these people were supportative and caring. If you complain in reviews about costs, you probably don't need to be a animal owner. These professionals are your only hope, GOD bless them all. Read Less

Horrible. Misdiagnosed my dog and suggested she be put down the day we took her. We took her to another vet that determined she just had an infection and is almost completely healed. It breaks my heart that people that are supposed to care for animals use youthenizing as a first resort before even having actual facts. I just think to myself what would've happened if we agreed to her suggestion and not have taken her elsewhere, we would have put our dog down for no reason. If you don't have to go here please don't. Read Less

We had to bring our Standard Poodle Tux to the Bush Veterinary Neurology Service within Dogwood. We were very impressed with the professionalism, knowledge, friendliness, and patience of the Bush staff, and the Dogwood front desk personnel.We felt grateful that we were referred to Bush by ur local vet. Read Less

If I could give a -5 I would have. Took my cat in for a UTI. They wouldn't run any tests to try to see if he was blocked or if he was just inflamed. All they wanted to do was major surgery where they would insert a catheter and force him to pee through that into a bag. They claimed that it was possible that he would rip out the catheter and that it would cause him extreme stress and harm. Claimed that the surgery was risky and that he could die if the stress was too high for him. When I questioned the surgery and the need for all of that which was a $2500 procedure, they gave me a paper showing a service fee and a sedation fee and said take him to his regular vet in the morning. Waited for 3 hours without being able to see my cat or know how he was doing to be brushed off because I felt the procedure was unnecessary if they were not completely sure what was wrong with him. If you don't have $2500 to spend, they don't want to help you. Staff used scare tactics and were rude. Will never return to this center no matter how much his regular vet reccomends them. Worst experience ever. Read Less

The staff is wonderful! I had to take my dog there a few years ago for a virus. My fiancée dog got sick this week and I knew this was the place to go! We were very worried about her, but after her exam and some prescriptions, She is on the mend now. Read Less

Very bad experience! Do not take your pets here. The vet technician that waited on us had terrible bedside manner and talked 100 miles an hour. She is in the wrong profession. Dogwood needs to reevaluate their hiring process on their employees and find more companionate people to represent their company. I will not go back. Read Less

Last year during the big snow storm my dog had a spinal stroke to where she lost all function of her hind legs. Rushed her to the emergency vet here at Dogwood. The doctor I saw was Liana Granum, DVM. She told me that Ellie would need to have spinal surgery at $5,000 and when I told her I didn't have that kind of money, she told me to put her down. WHAT? That didn't make sense that those were my only two options. That Monday I went to my normal vet at Dr. Bill's where they told me to try steroid therapy. After 4 months of treatment under Dr. Bill's care, Ellie began walking again. Here I am a year later extremely happy that I chose to listen to my gut instinct and not put my dog down like recommended by your facility. I will never recommend this place to anyone. Read Less

I was referred by my vet to internal medicine and was concerned about other reviews I read. They were either fabulous or awful, no middle ground. Well, my concerns were unfounded. The staff was friendly, helpful and prompt. They were extremely accommodating as my dog can be aggressive toward other dogs, we were taken immediately to an exam room upon arrival. Dr. Bailey was very thorough, she and her staff explained everything fully and answered all questions. Her approach was conservative. It was a situation where a costly MRI could have been pushed to put money in their pocket but it was decided it may not be revealing to his condition so Dr. Bailey felt we could hold off. She could have easily taken the other route. I was very happy with the whole process and would gladly make the trip from Norfolk again. Read Less

Well, I brought in my dog, because she had some issues with her right eye. It was cloudy, red, and just seemed irritated overalls. We even waited in the room for dered about an hour. Then we paid $130 for an eye exam and they didn't even give us any medication for the eye. We left and went to another place to find out the reason her eye was irritated is because she had a cyst. After two days, I decided to call Dogwood again. The lady on the phone wasn't being clear and even yelled at me! Even with the lady being receptionist being EXTREMELY rude, we were desperate for the cyst to be removed. We decided to rush her into Dogwood. What do they tell us? They can't remove cyst. The worst place for care and service. Absolutely do NOT go in there.Read Less

My boy koi was attacked Sunday morning by my neighbors dog, for the second time. He was scheduled to get his stitches out today but due to the attack the staff at Dogwood helped me out, they did all they could that I could afford patched up koi, then sent us home with meds to keep him comfortable until I get him to our vet on today. They were so nice and treated me well , even with the fact that I had no money.. I gave then all I had and they didn't turn us away. Read Less

I want to thank the wonderful staff for their kindness. We were in there Friday the 23rd unfortunately to have our sweet Puddles cross the Rainbow Bridge. The kindness and support and compassion was so heartwarming. We thought that would be the last we would have to be in there for quite some time, however we were back Monday the 26th with our other dog Chunk who had to have surgery on his ear. My poor boy was taken care of so nicely and the staff yet again was simply incredible. Very informative, professional, and kind. We were kept informed through the whole process. Thank you so much for everything and keep up the wonderful work you do. Read Less

This place cares about nothing but the MONEY! Your animal doesn't mean a thing unless you can cover the full bill right then and there€they refused to see my dog who has stones stuck in his urethra and is not able to pass urine (emergency!!!) they want $800 today (day before Christmas) to cath him, $2500 for surgery that would have been done Tuesday cause of the holiday and $2000 to hospitalize him till Tuesday€SAD they are all about the money verses the care of your animal. They treated me with 0 respect after I said I couldn't afford that bill today, made me sign a leave against medical advice form and took $60 for giving me an estimate!!! The staff is rude and snooty and I will never recommend this place to anyone€LOCKE TAYLOR has helped many people in my situation and they actually care about your pet!!! Read Less

Avoid if at all possible!! They do not care about your pet's well being. I wish I would have seen the negative reviews before we brought our kittens into Dogwood, but we were panicked and they were the closest ER vet. My husband and I took our two 7 month old kittens into Dogwood yesterday as one of them was passing bloody stools. We brought in a sample of the stool as well, assuming it would be tested. Apparently there was no need as we were immediately told they wouldn't test it. This should have been our first red flag to go somewhere else. Why wouldn't they test the problem? My kittens were then taken "to the back" and when I asked if I could go with them, I was told no, which seemed really strange as I am used to waiting with my kittens until they are seen by the vet. This also made me really uncomfortable. But then, the kittens were left for nearly 2 hours before we were told they were being seen! This made me furious! Why cast my kittens aside for 2 hours when they could have been waiting with their humans? While waiting in the reception area we saw others fill out paperwork and asked the registration staff if we were supposed to register our kittens. They said of course we were and they must have over-looked that when we walked in because it was so busy (but, we were the only people walking in when we did... now I was officially nervous about how professional these people were.) When we were finally brought into to a room at the 3 hour mark we were still not able to see our kittens. A vet came in and talked to us about the treatment, and then said he would give an estimate of payment. I asked about testing the stool to see if they could narrow down the infection and they said they would not be able to use it because there was litter in it and if we wanted to do that they would have to manually extract a sample. That seemed too extreme for our kittens who have already been through this 3 hour ordeal so we passed and stuck with the recommendation on just giving the kittens medication. We just want them better. We finally asked if we could see our kittens. So, after 3.5 on their own, we finally got to see our kittens. They were noticeably stressed. Our sweet kittens who normally love and cuddle each other were hissing at each other and growling. Neither of us had EVER heard either kitten hiss before! We asked about where they were kept to determine what would have made them so stressed, only to find out they were kept together in their small carrier the entire time (3.5 hours at this point!). NO WONDER they were stressed. We also found out (after having to ask) that they were not given access to a litter box during their stay either. What I can't understand, is, if the wait was going to be that long, why not let our kittens wait with us in the waiting room? They are already sick, why stress them further by not letting them stay with their humans until it's time for the exam? Or, why not have a larger crate for them to wait in with a litter box? After our awful 4.5 hour visit we were just praying our sweet kittens would return to themselves when we got them home into a safe and comfortable environment. We started medication right away, but, the lack of consideration for our kitten's well beings has made us incredibly skeptical of the vets at Dogwood and we followed up with their Primary Vet as soon as the office opened this morning. In the end, the suggested course of treatment and antibiotic was the same, but Dogwood's general disregard for the well being of our pets remains off-putting. In addition, or primary vet said they would like a stool sample, even if it had a little litter in it, whenever we can drop it by their office--without needlessly doing an unpleasant manual extraction for our kittens. They want to know exactly what is making our kittens sick. The only pro for Dogwood is that the waiting area is decent and there is coffee and tea available. However, we will never return and we will warn all of our friends who own pets to go elsewhere. Read Less

Avoid!! They do not care about your pet's well being. I wish I would have seen the negative reviews before we brought our kittens into Dogwood, but we were panicked and they were the closest ER vet.My husband and I took our two 7 month old kittens into Dogwood yesterday as one of them was passing bloody stools. We brought in a sample of the stool as well, assuming it would be tested. Apparently there was no need as we were immediately told they wouldn't test it. This should have been our first red flag to go somewhere else. Why wouldn't they test the problem?My kittens were then taken "to the back" and when I asked if I could go with them, I was told no, which seemed really strange, as I am used to waiting with my kittens until they are seen by the vet. The kittens were left alone for nearly 2 hours before we were told they were being seen! 2 hours alone in a foreign environment when they are already sick? How is that good for anyone's well being? Why couldn't they wait with us in the waiting room if Dogwood was just going to cast them aside?When we were finally brought into a room at the 3 hour mark we were still not able to see our kittens. A vet came in and talked to us about the treatment, and then said he would give an estimate of payment. I asked about testing the stool to see if they could narrow down the infection and they said they would not be able to use it because there was litter in it and if we wanted to do that they would have to manually extract a sample. That seemed too extreme for our kittens who have already been through this 3 hour ordeal so we stuck with the recommendation on just giving the kittens medication. We finally asked if we could see our kittens. So, after 3.5 hours on their own, we finally got to see them. They were noticeably stressed. Our sweet kittens who normally love and cuddle each other were hissing at each other and growling. Neither of us had EVER heard either kitten hiss before! We asked about where they were kept to determine what would have made them so stressed, only to find out they were kept together in their small carrier the entire time (3.5 hours at this point!). NO WONDER they were stressed. We also found out (after having to ask) that they were not given access to a litter box during their stay either.After our awful 4.5 hour visit we were just praying our sweet kittens would return to themselves when we got them home. We started medication right away, but, the lack of consideration for our kitten's well beings has made us incredibly skeptical of the vets at Dogwood and we followed up with their primary vet as soon as the office opened this morning.In the end, the suggested course of antibiotic treatment and medication was the same, but Dogwood's general disregard for the well being of our pets remains off-putting. In addition, our primary vet asked for a stool sample to test, even if it had a little litter in it, whenever we can drop it by their office--without needlessly doing an unpleasant manual extraction for our kittens. They actually are interested in determining why exactly our kittens are sick.The only pro for Dogwood is that the waiting area is decent and there is coffee and tea available. Read Less

I just want to thank the entire staff for their caring nature through a very difficult decision our family had to make this weekend. Words can not express how grateful we are for every staff members kindness and grace they showed us. I would recommend this establishment to everyone I meet. Read Less

We had a wonderful experience with the staff at Dogwood ER this weekend. Our dog had thrown up multiple times throughout the night, so we took her in on a Saturday morning at 5am. The staff was very friendly and helpful. While we waited on her bloodwork and xray results, they gave us the option of waiting in the lobby with Ruby or staying in the exam room, wherever we'd be most comfortable. When it was determined that our pup would need to be hospitalized, they brought us an estimate first and explained the cost before having us pay. We were able to visit Ruby while she was there, and staff were always happy to update us on her whenever we called. They gave her lots of love and attention, and we were comforted knowing she was in good hands. We were even reimbursed part of our bill when it was determined that she would not need everything listed in the original estimate. It was obvious that Dogwood truly cares about their clients (humans and pets)! Read Less

This is an excellent veterinary office, with compassionate staff that provide outstanding care. I am impressed with how they tend to the animals' families as well as the animals whom they treat. The cost is not low but was frankly less than I thought emergency care would be and was clearly stated in writing. I have a dog sleeping at my feet tonight who would not be there were it not for his recent treatment at Dogwood. Read Less

We brought our puppy, Hugo, in to be treated. It was very scary for us and our pup, but from the moment we walked in the staff made us feel very comfortable. They were very thorough in explaining the tests, rationales, options and costs. One day later, our little guy is already acting more himself! We can't thank or recommend Dogwood enough. This is the place to go if you have a pet emergency! Read Less

My dog had a broken hind toenail on a Friday and we couldn't get in to our vet until the next week. He was limping so we took him to Dogwood. They initially said it would be an hour wait however, they took him back to get his vitals and one of the vets looked at him and removed the broken part. Didn't need to wait an hour and they didn't charge us. I would definitely recommend them! Read Less

My first and hopefully last visit here was great! They answered my calls promptly and worked with me over the phone before my hour drive. Once I got there they respected my budget and did everything to make my baby comfortable and also helped get the ball rolling on diagnosis and treatment before following up with our primary vet. It's convenient that they are open 24 hrs and always have someone to answer questions. The staff was respectful and kind I couldn't have asked for a better experience for an emergency visit. Read Less

We brought our girl Lucy in yesterday morning. Things became worse than expected after seeing her MRI and pressed with time, the staff was very helpful in answering questions that would assist us to make a decision on her care. When in a situation like we were, we learned fast that our dog is worth much more to us than money. Our girl had to have surgery to remove a broken bone in her neck that was pressing on her spinal cord, causing right sided paralysis. They got her right into surgery without a wait and it all went as expected and she is still being monitored. We are hoping and praying to get to see her and also bring her home tomorrow, as tomorrow is also her first birthday. We have a very very long hard road to recovery ahead of us but our girl is a fighter, and we are going to fight with her. My day yesterday was supposed to be spent at a wedding, and instead I missed the wedding and I spent 10 hours there with Lucy, which I would do all over again if I had to. The staff was wonderful during such a difficult time. A huge thank you to Dr. Higginbotham for everything he has and continues to do for our pup. Not wanting to leave, I even asked the staff for local places that would deliver food, and they kindly gave me info on different places. Still praying for the best possible outcome for Lucy, but we know without a doubt that we brought her to the right place. Thank you all!!Read Less

It's taken me a few weeks to get here, to write this review, but I would say to anyone reading this right now wondering if it's the right place to take your beloved pet....DONT. Find another place. We visited dogwood a few weeks ago. Our sick girl, was referred here by VCA, and we were told she was too critical and that Dogwood would be best equipped for emergency surgery. Well, 5 hrs later, tests, and about $900, we were told she didn't need sugery, that she wasn't critical but they thought it was possibly a foreign object, gave her fluids and we took her home......yes, she got better in about 2 days, which lasted 1 week, when she fell ill again. This time I took her elsewhere, where we found out that the original VCA diagnosis that Dogwood said she didn't have, the surgery they said she didn't need, was exactly what was wrong. She passed that day, never made it out of the hospital. We lost our sweet girl because of the clear incompetence of those charged with her care at Dogwood. Read Less

We had to take our fur baby in due to seizures. The facility is amazing! The staff, friendly and helpful.When we checked in they explained exactly what would happen. When they knew the wait would be excessive, they offered to take our baby to the back to keep an eye on her if there was something we needed to do.When we got to see the vet it was still very thorough and all our questions were answered.I hope we don't have to use emergency services again, but I wouldn't hesitate should the need arise. Read Less

Yesterday I came home to find bloody poop/diarrhea and vomiting all over my house (no joke, it looked like a murder scene). To tell the truth it took a bit of time to notice anything was wrong because my dog greeted me at the door as normal. After I found all of the evidence of him being sick I called a friend of mine (Helping Hands owner, Dr. Lori) and explained the situation to her, as well as that I knew my dog had gotten into my mom's luggage and eaten some IBU 2 days prior (and god knows what else). She recommended that I go to Dogwood; so at 9:15pm, I got in the car with my bichon and drove over to Dogwood (I've never had a pet, and this is actually my fiance's dog). I was seen right away, I filled out my paperwork and Gabby came right out to get my pup. I waited 25 or so minutes and was taken bag to the exam room. Dr. Tobia came and talked to me and gave me all of her reasoning and suggested course of treatment, she also provided me with a pricing of all suggested treatments so that I could make an informed decision.  They suggested a blood panel in addition to the initial review of my pup. They also thought an x-ray might be a good idea to see if he had an obstruction, based on what I told them I knew he ate (cardboard packaging), but Dr. Tobia said that it was up to me on the x-ray (an additional $235) and it wasn't 100% necessary, since I knew my dog better than she did. I decided to forgo the x-ray, and after another hour Brogan was brought back to me, looking/acting his normal self. Dr. Tobia and Gabby spent a good amount of time with me reviewing what had happened and the medication I was being sent home with (as it was very late I was not processing much information). Explicit instructions were given to me upon discharge as well. Gabby and Dr. Tobia were great and I hope I never have to go back, but I would go back to Dogwood. 12 hours post our visit and other than hating having to be in his crate, Brogan seems to be a little better. We will know more tomorrow. Thanks Dogwood and your friendly staff. Read Less

I just want to thank the staff here for assisting me in laying my dog to rest. She was suffering badly and they showed true compassion as me and my family went through the process. Handled her with care && They allowed us some time with her, did not rush us out of the room, which was very helpful for my grieving process. You are truly appreciated. "For Lyrik" Read Less

I am never one to write a review, but the wonderful staff at Dogwood Emergency Vet and  Bush Veterinary  Neurology Service Department saved my little baby Vegas. Vegas was brought in Monday night for problems pertaining to her hips. The Dr. Granum working that night listened to my concerns and thought the problem was larger than that. She made notes for the neurology department to look at Vegas the next day. The Dr. Higginbotham from the neurology department called me promptly the next morning to discuss what was going on with my baby. After hearing my concerns about Vegas's odd behavior and mannerisms, he suggested she get an MRI. After the MRI was done, they discovered a deeper lying issue. They quickly diagnosed what was wrong, gave her the appropriate treatments ( all in the span of 72hours), and got my baby feeling better. Every question or concern I had was answered promptly. I got to take Vegas home yesterday.  Early this morning, I called Dogwood with concerns. Because Vegas is a small pomeranian, she had trouble handling all her medications. They told me to bring her in, and gave her a shot to help with the nausea. Dr. Granum also suggested a different time line to distribute Vegas's meds for the next week. I cannot say enough good things about this place! Everyone, from the doctors, to the nurses,  to the front desk were absolutely amazing. I don't even want to think of the outcome of my dog's fate had I taken her elsewhere.  Thank you so much to everyone at Dogwood Emergency Vet and Bush Veterinary Neurology Service!!! Thank you, thank you thank you!!!! Read Less

Could not ask for a better emergency vet.  The service the up front pricing was right on. We certainly appreciate the love and friendliness and kindness we received as we walked in to when we left the phone calls we received for updates. Thank you is just not enough for helping us through the rough time with Sir Weston.. Also I loved being able to leave Wes knowing that this hospital was like a hotel for my baby boy! Read Less

I am so thankful to the staff here who literally saved my dogs life, no exaggeration. My 5 year old, 15lb minpin named Dash started pouring blood from both ends out of nowhere. I took her here at the time because it was the closest place to me. My dog was severely sick with a case of HGE. My mind couldn't even comprehend how serious my dogs condition was when I first arrived. In the beginning when I got the estimate I was trying to save a penny and thinking for sure this cant all be necessary. After tons of meds and a plasma transfusion it was a miracle her poor little body bounced back from deaths doorstep.  I appreciate the very first doctor taking the time to explain to me in a timely manner what was what.  Time is like the biggest factor in a dogs survival with HGE(which I didn't know at the time).Had the doctor not done that I wouldn't have agreed to such aggressive treatment and my dog would have died that day.Dash was there for 4 days and it was touch and go. Since they are 24/7 the doctor changed every 12 hours but it was like each doctor I saw was better and better they all had the knowledge and education to make the right decisions. I visited Dash before school, after school and after work so 3 times a day and not once did they not let me see her or act like I was a crazydog mom. I called a few times during the day too and they were cool with that.I made a yelp account just to write this review. Dash was sick the last week of November and now its January and she has recovered amazingly. The cost did suck to have to incur BUT now that shes better I realize I would have paid double to have her here plus im sure all emergency vets charge about the same. So basically I am certain the quality of care my dog got is what saved her life. If I had taken her to a place that wasn't as sharp and on point she easily could have died. If the business or staff reads these thank you again for your help and I hope Dash lives forever in health so I never have to need emergency care again. Read Less

We came in on a Sunday afternoon and got helped right away. They took such good care of our chihuahua mix Kat! Gave her lots of love and made her feel so comfortable. They were able to remove what was stuck back in the gums of her mouth without sedation and even threw in some soft dog food with her antibiotics so it would be easier for her to eat while her mouth was healing :-) thank you for taking such great care of our baby! Read Less

No complaints. I called on a saturday and they were able to get us an appointment with the internist on monday morning. They ran alot of tests including an ultra sound. Turns out my dog needs a special diet which they prescribed along with a few other medications. They included a coupon for one of the medications. We called back later in the day as he still wasnt eating. They returned the call that night and the next day to check in again. Bill was about 600 dollars, and worth every penny. My dog is back to being himself. Read Less

Our 10+ year old lab went under anesthesia today so an internal medical vet at Dogwood could use a scope to confirm she has Laryngeal Paralysis. (Recently, she began intermittently gagging very loudly.) I was very upset to discover that when we went to pick her up from the procedure that THREE of her legs had been shaved and reflected multiple needle point punctures as it seems the technician had difficulty inserting an IV for sedation! Complained to the Vet that the tech needed training and should have turned it over to someone else earlier (The tech did after trying repeatedly on TWO of our dog's legs and the tech admitted that these pricks caused pain to our girl!) Hard enough dealing with hearing your girl has Lar Par without this kind of lackluster care . I've used Dogwood Emergency & Specialty services previously and have had great experiences (Dr Roy Barnes)! I have raved about this center to everyone I know... However, today's experience was awful. Most disappointing was that when I complained, I felt there were more excuses that policies in place had been followed so I felt dismissed. Not a good customer experience today! Please use this as a training opportunity! I give this experience a ONE STAR rating. I would be remiss if I did not let everyone know that Dr Roy Barnes at Dogwood is the best! This summer he performed surgery on our puppy - it was complicated surgery but we felt confidence in his ability. He went above and beyond and that puppy is completely healthy today! I give him TEN STARS! I highly recommend Dr Barnes!!!!Read Less

I have over 25 years of experience in the veterinary medical field covering 3 different hospitals and one specialty and emergency center. I am also the proud owner of that dog that everyone has once in their pet owning days that special buddy. When Hoss' local veterinarian found a growth in his ear, he recommended we bring him to Dogwood for an MRI. Dr Barnes and his staff were wonderful. The care and treatment Hoss received once the decision was made to go forward with surgery was amazing. We received the type of care I had always given throughout my career. The staff was polite and caring. Dr Barnes did not let any question go unanswered and explained all procedures thoroughly. This was not an easy road for us, considering Hoss is 14. We have had all those experiences everyone has who has ever owned a pet. We have lost that young dog or cat for some unexplained reason that no one should ever go through. We have lost pets to cancer, kidney failure, seizures and old age. Hoss is a member of our family and we want to extend a huge thank you to Dr Barnes and everyone involved in his surgery, recovery and recheck. You all are simply among the best!!!!!! Thanks again. Read Less

I would like to take a moment to encourage everyone to make an informed decision when choosing where to take you pet. I experienced the exact scenario that Shirley Ferguson did. My Molly was misdiagnosed and under triaged. For this reason, she died unnecessarily. The compassion offered to me and my family was less than what I wold expect from the local sanitation staff (trash man). The fees I paid were refunded and excuses were made. The management of this facility mirrors that of a manufacturing facility making trash bags. You and your pet are placed in a cold room where you are left for hours without the first person to care for you and your pet for extended periods of time. I am a health care professional and have seen enough to know that this place has a lot to be desired. I encourage those who have had similar situations to contact the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine and file a complaint. Don't allow them to simply refund the money you felt was going to be used to save your pets life only to find out they gave poor care and let your pet die. RIP Molly, I will not let this go!!! Read Less

One of my dogs developed sudden paralysis in one of his rear legs on a Sunday morning of a long holiday weekend.  Since dachshunds are prone to back/spinal issues, we immediately sought emergency medical attention at Dogwood at the recommendation of our vet.Once the initial intake was done at the front desk, we were immediately taken to an exam room.  The vet tech, Meredith, was thorough and patient with my dog, who was a tad cranky since he was not feeling well.  There was a bit of a wait (about 30 or so min) to see the vet but there were lots of other patients that morning too.  We were seen by Dr White.  She too was thorough and patient with a cranky dog.  She was very knowledgeable about the breed and the special problems that dachshunds can have with their backs.  During the course of our visit, my dog started to show signs of improvement by putting weight back on his leg!What I liked best about Dr White is that she carefully analyzed the problem and the improvements my dog was showing during the course of the visit.  She did not try to up-sell or over-sell me on loads of expensive procedures and tests.  She carefully explained what we needed to do and what we needed to watch for over the next few days and when to bring him back in should any of the following happen and to follow up with our regular vet in the next couple of days.  What could have been a $1,000+ visit was only $90.   Should we have an emergency situation with either of our pets in the future, I will certainly bring them here with confidence. Read Less

We took our cat here when he was very lethargic/ breathing heavily and they took care of us right away. They kept us informed of all changes and were very helpful in answering questions. Asia  and Chelsea were extremely understanding and kind when we were frantic when we came in the door and I appreciated it so much. It was expensive but I would expect it from an emergency service. Read Less

Excellent staff.  The receptionist was working with us as soon as we walked in. The tech had us in an examining room right away.  Everyone was caring and compassionate.  The Vet explained everything to me.  Everyone we interacted with was great, they understood how concerned I was and helped make a very scary experience better. Read Less

When I got home from work last week, my 12 year dog has gasping for breath  & I rushed her in. She was suffering . I authorized oxygen & xrays so we could see what was wrong, but she was failing fast, so I asked that she be euthanized. Everyone, from the front desk to the doc, to the people in the back were very caring, competent, professional and compassionate.Even after she passed, the doc took the time to carefully show me the Xrays, which showed a big tumor pressing on her narrowed trachea. The front of that tumor had been removed a month ago, by my vet, and she was still recovering. After that conversation,  I knew I had done the right thing, It had been a very traumatic evening & I felt empty when I left without my dog. A week later, I received a card from the practice and all 6 of the people with whom I had come into contact had taken the time to write me a handwritten note!! That is really above and beyond and it meant alot. I never expected that level of caring and it did make me feel alot better.I wouldn't hesitate to use them again. I asked my rescue group how their prices compared to other emergency vets and they said that we use them alot because their prices are reasonable ( in the world of emergency vet care, that is!)I am just grateful we have emergency vets. Otherwise, I would have had to watch my baby suffer and die and I would never have gotten over that!! Read Less