My dog overheated at a dog park very suddenly, and I rushed him to MVS.  I didn't realize that they weren't Exceptional Care for Animals any more, but didn't have time to shop around or debate about it.  My dog was in severe distress, and they took him right in and started working on him to get him cooled down.  I thought I was going to lose him for sure, but to my surprise and delight, he seems to have recovered completely.  They sedated him, got him cooled down, and kept him overnight for observation.  It wasn't cheap, but they ended up charging less than the low end of their original estimate.  The only disappointing things were that they no longer have an animal ambulance, and the vet who ran things under the previous business is no longer there, and nobody could tell me what happened (it's not a big deal, I just had a good rapport with him years ago). Read Less

I loved my experience with Madison Veterinary Specialists. I have a french bulldog named Toast that seems to get sick and hurt every other week, and I brought her to MVS for an eye related issue. Dr. Pauli and her vet tech Jenn were the absolute nicest. I felt 100% comfortable in their hands, and they treated her with such care and love. Dr. Pauli explained all of the treatments in detail and I felt confident that we were getting the best level of care. Toast LOVED going there too because Jenn and the front desk staff gushed over her and gave her treats like crazy, so it was difficult to get her to leave most days! It's expensive (especially if you have to go frequently) but you get what you pay for - and in this case it's a group of kind people that want the very best for your pet. Read Less

Get a detailed list of potential costs. We were quoted $1,000 dollars as a middle cost treatment plan for our dog with lymphoma. 2 treatments in, the cost is already about $1,200 with about 3 more $300 treatments left. That also doesn't factor in the weekly blood work at the local vet. I feel very mislead about the cost by the vet. If the total treatment is going to be over $2000 then just say that. Also over charged by the technician by $100. That was only caught because I asked why we were going so far over the initial quote. They seem like nice people just be very clear about prices upfront. Read Less

I am extremely upset by the level of care my kitten received at MVS. If my kitten were a human, MVS' treatment would constitute malpractice. Potentially because of their actions, my kitten may not survive. At a minimum, I have to put my kitten in very expensive intensive care ($1000+) for the next 24-48 hours as the condition went too long without proper treatment. Here's the full story. My boyfriend first took my then 15 week old kitten in on Saturday, July 16th. A male doctor (I do not know his name) prescribed an antibiotic for an upper respiratory infection. Fine. I have no problem with the treatment during this visit. Over the following week, my kitten's respiratory symptoms worsened. Instead of just coughing, he also starts wheezing. He almost completely stops playing. On Friday, July 22nd, I therefore take him back in to MVS and off antibiotics per the instructions on the package. On that visit, my kitten saw Dr. Bates who seemed to think he had improved and could wait to see a regular vet with whom I had an appointment the following Wednesday. Dr. Bates mentioned he likely needed to be dewormed again but that was it. No concern about the lack of improvement in his respiratory symptoms at all. No additional medication or treatment prescribed. No concern that he had not gained any weight (this is apparently a red flag with kittens). I was still very concerned as he was wheezing a lot by Saturday, July 23rd and not playing at all. I thus did my best to get an appointment with a regular vet ASAP. The best I could do was to get him into a vet on Tuesday afternoon. The regular vet is ALARMED almost immediately once she sees him. Not only has he got a severe pneumonia, he's about half the weight he is supposed to be for his age. She explains that his best chance for SURVIVAL is to go into an oxygen chamber. That's where he is now. It is possible that my kitten's pneumonia is being caused by an underlying condition that is not treatable. We are still figuring out whether that's the case but, obviously, that is not the vet's fault. However, I feel MVS had an obligation to do a more thorough exam of my kitten and explain the potential situation to me. I am angry that they instead chose to just ignore the symptoms and tell me he was fine. I did not know that he was underweight and that a failure to gain weight in a kitten is quite so big a deal as it apparently is. They should have noted that and been concerned. Just shooing him out the door is completely unacceptable. Taking my kitten in the second time was worse than not having taken him in at all. Had they said they were unwilling to see him a second time, I would have taken him to a different emergency vet who would have acknowledged that he was not doing OK. Read Less

My dog was bleeding, and they left me and my dog in an exam room for 20 minutes. If this had been a more serious injury, he could have bled to death in 20 minutes! Then, after the vet finally examined my dog, they left us in the examination room for another half hour! Then, by the time I got home (10 minute drive), I found that he was STILL BLEEDING! Do yourself a favor, and get the phone number and address of another 24-hour clinic, so you don't have to go to this one. $82 for NOTHING! Read Less

I brought my dog in an emergency when he was attacked by an owl that punctured his eye. The care he received from Dr Julia Bates and the Dr Amy Pauli (opthamologist) was the best I could have asked for. I felt completely confident in their hands. Dr. Bates diagnosed my dog with Addison's while under their care for the eye wound, which was fortunate as it is treatable, and it helped explain a number of past incidences with our dog for which we never understood the cause. Dr Pauli handled the treatment of our dog's wound, which ultimately led to his eye being removed, with great compassion and described her diagnosis and treatment options and tradeoffs clearly so we could make the right decisions for our dog. I was very happy to have had their services for our dog who is a happy camper now. Read Less

Five years ago our son Henry (kitty) was diagnosis with cancer. Dr Mark Koeppl was the doctor who treated him and with his guidance and medical care Henry stayed cancer free. The cancer was found when removing his gall bladder. Henry was also diagnosis with CHF and soon became diabetic. Dr Koeppl and his staff gave Henry five more fantastic years of eating pepperoni pizza, mama-kitty cuddle time, watching kitty TV out windows and exploring his yard. Today Henry succumbed to CHF but it was Dr Koeppl who came to our home and with us said our goodbyes together and Henry on his favorite blanket with his favorite red toy pillow and in his favorite spot looking out his window passed away peacefully. If you want a doctor who is pragmatic and equally kind and loving then you should entrust Dr Koeppl and his staff to care for your furry and non furry loved ones. Thank you Mark for everything you had done for Henry and he was happy you were there as he past away peacefully and to the very end he was a very loving son who adored his mama. Read Less

My ten year old cat had been vomiting for nearly a week off and on. Friday night she grew seriously ill with intense vomiting. Early Saturday I called my family vet who said they were only open on Saturdays until noon so I would be better off to take my cat to an emergency vet. I am so glad I made the decision to go to the Emergency Vet!! I was given excellent directions to the clinic since I have only been in Madison a short while. The vet tech took us back immediately and took the vitals on my cat and reassured me they would get her the help she needed and the doctor would be in quickly. She was. Every thing was explained to me in detail; I was afforded options. I was given choices. No one pushed me into any decisions nor did they blow me off. I have owned pets my entire life and this is the most friendly, professional place I have been. Yes, it was costly but one expects it to be costly when you go to an EMERGENCY clinic on a Saturday. Tiger Lily was there the entire day and was treated properly. I was shown her Ultra Sounds results, I was told exactly why a suspected diagnosis was given. It is absolutely true, that, just as in humans, so it is in pets that diagnostic tests need to be administered before a conclusion can be drawn. I feel once you take responsibility to assume care of an animal you owe it to the animal to do what you can to make its life a quality one. That is also the mentality I sensed at this clinic. I can't believe some people have rated this place "poor" and other negative things said about it. I rate it excellent for cleanliness, friendliness, QUALITY of CARE and expertise. These docs didn't just read a book on "How to care for Kitty." If you want quality, you pay for quality. To ask for money up front is absolutely acceptable in a practice where they may never see the patient or the owner again. Do you want your animal to get well? If so, do yourself a favor and go to Exceptional Care for Animals. I was not disappointed and my beloved cat is on the mend and I am ever grateful for their care and concern. Read Less