VCA Kaneohe Animal Hospital

I rarely leave reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience. My dog was a patient of Dr. Severson while we lived in Hawaii. During an appointment, Dr. Severson specifically told us that the NexGard Plus our dog was taking was not enough to prevent heartworm disease and that there was concern our dog could develop heartworm issues. As pet owners who take our dog's health extremely seriously, this caused my family a great deal of anxiety and worry. What was most disappointing was the lack of follow-up communication. After that appointment, I made four separate attempts to speak with Dr. Severson regarding my concerns and questions about my dog's potential heartworm risk, and my calls were never returned. When a veterinarian raises concerns about a potentially serious condition, I believe pet owners deserve the opportunity to have their questions answered and concerns addressed. Since moving off-island, we have established care with a new veterinarian, and the difference in communication and support has been night and day. Our current veterinarian reviewed our dog's preventative medications and reassured us that NexGard Plus is a heartworm preventative and that our dog had been receiving heartworm protection while taking it as prescribed. Learning this after months of worry was both relieving and frustrating, as the concerns raised during our visit with Dr. Severson caused significant and prolonged anxiety for our family. I also want to be fair and note that this review is directed specifically at my experience with Dr. Severson. The other veterinarians we saw at the practice on separate occasions were extremely kind, supportive, and attentive during our appointments. While we never needed follow-up calls from them, we always felt listened to and cared for during our visits. I understand that veterinary practices are busy, and I am not writing this review out of spite. However, clear communication is a critical part of veterinary medicine, especially when discussing serious health concerns. Being told that my dog's existing preventative medication was not sufficient, then being unable to get a return phone call despite four attempts, left me feeling unsupported and frustrated during a time when I was simply trying to do what was best for my dog. Unfortunately, that was not the level of care or communication I expected.

Pretty heartbroken right now so this will be a short review. I just had to put my dog and best friend down yesterday due to a mistake made with his healthcare. I understand mistakes happen, but it doesn't help with the grieving process.

Best on island. Period. They met me and my dog w compassion, knowledge and true desire to have my boy walk out with the best outcome. Not money hungry but hungry to truly help him. I appreciate their professionalism and care more than anything. I’ve been on island 5 years and this is the best care my dogs ever had. He’s my baby and money isn’t the issue, it’s trust in the people caring for him and telling you what he needs. A lot of vet clinics on this island cash grab. These are not those people. These humans are meant to be in this industry. Mahalo Nui Loa to you all

Please, please go elsewhere. When our cat was very ill, we had her seen several times within days at VCA Kāneʻohe. She saw several veterinarians at this clinic &, although she had high fever, could not walk, etc. they continued to send her home with us (with fluids & meds to calm her, for whatever reason) due to being unsure of what was causing it. It reached a point where they sent us to the VCA emergency clinic where they simply prescribed her antibiotics & fluids, curing her symptoms completely. It cost us THOUSANDS in total for hospitalization all for antibiotics I had hoped for much sooner. Additionally, the cost we did incur was less than what they suggested because we advocated for our cat and ourselves. There would have been absolutely no harm in prescribing them much sooner but, instead, our cat got progressively more sick before they suggested hospitalization. All in all, we never felt anyone was entirely competent in diagnosing what appeared to be something quite simple. Some time later, we still feel very much like we were taken advantage of &, although it’s bad enough that it cost us thousands unnecessary, it could have cost our cats’ life. There are many smaller clinics in the area that are much more reliable. Please spare yourselves & your pet(s) from the situation we found ourselves in.

VCA Kaneohe Animal Hospital sets a remarkable standard in both compassionate employee care and speedy service for pets. The workplace atmosphere is infused with genuine concern for staff well-being, fostering a positive environment. In emergencies and everyday pet needs, their swift response showcases an unwavering commitment to the health and happiness of our furry companions. I recently had to bring my pup BlueBerry in for a bee sting to the face that cause his mouth and eyes to swell up. Doctors and techs acted quickly as a k9 triage and Berry was 100% back to normal 3 hours later. I would highly recommended VCA Kaneohe for both exceptional employee relations and for top-notch pet care! 🐶