VCA Palo Alto Animal Hospital

Edit to add: They replied to my review asking to email them. Never heard back. They only respond with “please email us at _______” on reviews to make it seem like they’re proactive. It’s all an illusion. All they care about is that the debit/credit card gets approved. So again, I came to this VCA because my dog had a foxtail stuck in her mouth. Our regular vet was closed for the day that’s why we came to this VCA in Palo Alto. The vet that helped us, gaslit me into believing that there was nothing wrong with my dog, that I was just an overly concerned dog parent. When we got home that day, I SAW the foxtail stuck in my baby’s mouth. The next day I took her to MedVet in Mountain View and they were able to locate the foxtail and they removed it. DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU ARE NOT IN A CERTAIN TAX BRACKET. DONT COME HERE IF YOU DONT LOOK RICH. The vet that helped me pretty much called me a helicopter parent and I know she was going based off my appearance. Im paying the CareClub price at a different VCA, I’m not poor. Anyways, I was reassured over and over that my dog did not have a foxtail lodged in her mouth. Even after I physically saw it, they said it was nothing. We get home and I notice that my dog is still acting unusual and uncomfortable, I look and what do I find? The fox tail. I feel her lower mouth to see if there's any bumps and guess what? Her lower left jaw is swollen in one particular area and it's RED. I'm not a vet and even I know that is where the foxtail is and it is getting INFECTED. I paid and had to believe the word of these people when I knew deep down in my gut something was still wrong with my dog. And even when I tried to explain my concerns, they acted so offended as if they knew better than me, and of course they do, but I know MY dog better than them. PS. I had to come to this VCA because the one I normally go to was closed on that particular day. I ended up going to MedVet in Mountain View and their whole service AND demeanor, beginning to end, impeccable. Perfect. I recommend MedVet over this VCA in Palo Alto.

My dog has had anal gland infections two years in a row. This year, the doctor pushed for additional treatments that were not done the first time, presenting them as preventative, but I declined and requested the same treatment as last year. The bill ended up being lower than the previous year for the same service, which raises serious concerns about inconsistent and potentially inflated pricing. On top of that, my dog was discharged without being cleaned up, and when I called later to ask about pain medication, I was told all staff had already left for the day. These practices make the care club membership feel pointless, and I do not trust the clinic’s approach to pricing or follow-up care.

I have never written an online review before, but I feel obligated to do so after the very negative experience I had with VCA Palo Alto's dental care for my dogs. I brought my two 7-year old dogs to VCA Palo Alto for their annual check-up and was advised to return for dental cleanings. The process started with a pre-appointment and bloodwork, which cost around $1,000. We then scheduled the dental cleaning, which cost $6,000 for both dogs. During the procedure, we received a call informing us that VCA was unable to complete all the necessary extractions for one of the dogs. They recommended I see a veterinary dentist for a second opinion and further care. I find this approach highly unprofessional and misleading. VCA recommended we pursue dental treatment with them, but they did not inform us beforehand that their team might not be able to complete complex extractions. They should have assessed our dogs’ age, breed, and medical history and advised us accordingly before we invested thousands of dollars in incomplete care. Now, we are left with incomplete treatment, more stress on our dog, and a second round of costly dental work elsewhere. I do not recommend VCA Palo Alto for dental procedures. Instead, go directly to a veterinary dentist who has the full training and capability to complete all necessary care in one visit.

Omg this place is amazing!!!! Dr Smith is the WoMAN - definitely trust her with your pets’ needs. She helped my Aussiedoodle deliver 12 babies - all healthy and gorgeous. She followed up and cared deeply about every pup. I’ve never had such a positive experience at a vet in my pooches lifetime. Thank you Dr Smith!!!!!

This place is amazing. As background, I've been going to Adobe Animal Hospital for +20 years. After they expanded and moved to their bigger location, their service changed. It wasn't the little hospital that once cared for my many canines. Somewhere along the road they lost that community vet vibe I really loved. Ever since, I'd been keeping an eye out for a good local vet. A few years ago, while cat sitting for a good friend, I ended up having to make an emergency visit to this VCA. It turned out my friend's cat, who was a senior with a myriad of health issues, had to be put down. With my friend out of town and having to work with the doctors and nurses at VCA myself, I was blown away by their empathy, kindness and end of life care. They were professional, thoughtful and accommodated me even though I was not the owner. I was able to get see my friend's cat and hold my phone up to his ear so they could say their final good-byes. When it came time for me to find another vet for my 16yo grumpy floof and my newly adopted semi-feral kitten, this was the only place I considered. And, I've actually referred several people here before becoming a client myself because they're that good. Each visit reminds me of what makes this hospital so great. From Marisa to Cynthia to Dr. Dean they're an all around great team and you can't go wrong if you choose to bring your fur babies here.