Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists in Cleveland
Categories
Location on the map
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, US
Accessibility
Amenities
Toilets
Yes
Planning
Appointments recommended
Yes
Phone: +1 216-831-6789
Site: https://vcahospitals.com/great-l...
Site: https://vcahospitals.com/great-l...
Opening hours
- Monday:Open 24 hours
- Tuesday:Open 24 hours
- Wednesday:Open 24 hours
- Thursday:Open 24 hours
- Friday:Open 24 hours
- Saturday:Open 24 hours
- Sunday:Open 24 hours
Comments (199)
This clinic is always very welcoming! They make sure you understand what is going on and also provide resources to help you find ways to take care of your fur babies in emergency cases!I have brought my 12 year old Dachshund and my two cats to them and each time the front/tech staff were pleasant & the providers were informative. Special thanks to Dr. Martin & Anderson who treated my kitties (and myself) today with such care!
We’ve had both of our dogs here. Last year we brought our dog, Tessa, to the clinic because we couldn’t figure out why she was having some health issues. Dr. Canwell was extremely thorough and finally figured out what was going on. She had a stroke 4 weeks ago and they were extremely attentive and saw her right away. We adopted a blind dog, Trooper, in 2021 and started taking them to the ophthalmologist, Erin, and she’s been great. We just saw her again last week and the staff is just great. I feel confident in the care my pets will receive.
Brought my cat in for vomiting and lack of appetite. I was told while sitting in my car in the cold that her x-rays and exams would be starting. 1 hour later I get a call that they haven’t even started yet and that they were not aware that I wanted the tests done. I later on went to pick up my cat, where I was told to wait in the waiting area. An hour goes by and no one tells me anything. Very inexperienced individuals working the desk. The nurse who gave me my cat said to just give her a regular diet and no long term care instructions. I called back 2 days later since my cat was not improving and all they recommended was to take her to a primary, or come back to them and get another $1,000 worth of tests that all came back clean prior, done again. Honestly I did not feel any care from this location, and my cat is now suffering because of a lack of action and care from them. I have spoken to many others who go to other emergency vets, and VCA is overpriced for the services they provide, and do not even provide results or true pet care. Very disappointed and dissatisfied.
They stabilized my pitbull he had water in his heart and they were empathetic and caring..we all know veterinary emergency services will Always Cost Alot if Money We All Should Know That when you go to one of these places..but they were Fair and Caring and Saved My Dog and This is Worth every Cent I Spent!! My God Is Improving Daily And I Can Personally Attest These People Saved My Dog!!! I am Eternally Grateful and Would Recommend Them If You Ever Need Them, Hopefully You Wont But If You Do You Can Count On Them!!! Sincerely Gail Lawson and Paxi (Pitbull)
My beloved cat was going downhill quickly. Unfortunately my vet was dealing with an all-consuming emergency so I came to VCA. They took us in quickly and took care of my little boy. They were kind and compassionate…everyone. Today, at 1:30, a lovely young man from Faithful Companion, brought my Franklin home. I was pleasantly surprised. And so comforted to know that he’s home. It’s always sad to lose our pets, but it’s the day we know we will face when we bring them home. Franklin was a wonderful cat from day one. I did what I had to do. I have no doubt. But that doesn’t make it any easier. But VCA was just wonderful. Thank you so much to everyone.
The experience my husband and I had at VCA Great Lakes was exceptional. All of the vet staff and doctors were amazing. They were extremely friendly, listened to my husbands and Is questions and concerns, and were so gentle and caring for our dog Calvin. We will definitely be coming back to use their services if our dog ever needs another surgery or specialist appointment.
I’m so so happy with the experience I’ve had here this week. My cat needed overnight hospitalization for lily ingestion and I was absolutely terrified, but the staff here made it such a smooth experience for me that I trusted them with her fully. They were all kind, helpful and the service was super quick. The only downside is the price, but my cats health was more important.
Thank you so much for taking care of our dog today! From the first phone call to check out everyone was so nice and helpful! I’m glad to know they are there but hopefully we will not need them again! Roscoe is home resting comfortably!
My 11-yo labs usual vet recently discovered he had gone blind in one eye, and on further examination found some troubling signs. He recommended I take him to Dr. Conway for an ophthalmological exam. It did take some time to be seen — not surprisingly, there arent a ton of canine eye doctors in the area. But Dr. Conway was awesome. It took two rounds of testing, but ultimately she discovered an aggressive melanoma and recommended removal/enucleation. When a test was delayed, she called me to explain the delay. When we got results, both negative and positive, she left the message herself on my voicemail. The techs (including one woman who used to work for our vet and still remembers my pups) were always kind, patient and supportive.As a specialist, VCA is more expensive than typical veterinary care; we have pet insurance that helped to defray costs somewhat, but start to finish still ended up spending a few thousand dollars. Along the way, Dr. Conway never pressured us to authorize scans or to make particular decisions, she clearly shared information and offered advice only when I asked for it. She also assured me his surgery was routine, and said we could have it performed there or at his regular vet (we chose the latter and saved some money while not worrying about quality of care). Im very grateful for her approach and sensitivity to the costs of care. Definitely recommend VCA for pet parents with emergencies or specialist needs.
My dog Rhea was in labor on a Saturday. We ran into a stalled labor by late Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, our local vet was closed for the day. I called VCA and the tech I spoke with was very helpful. We had to take Rhea in for assistance with the birth. The staff was courteous upon check-in. Someone promptly took Rhea back and also cared for the puppies that had already been born. Communication was fantastic. I was given a call immediately after the examination and given my options for Rheas care. VCA helped to safely deliver the last puppy and had mama Rhea and puppies ready to go in no time. Very thankful for their services!
I needed to bring my cat in for an emergency check-up, and the VCA staff were so friendly and reassuring, both when I initially called, and once I arrived. They provided prompt updates about my cats treatment and showed me how to give her the needed medication. Though you never want to have to take your pet to the emergency vets, everyone at this site made it as easy and worry-free as possible.
03/24/2022The staffing and dr i dealt with were extremely gracious with me. My mind doesnt want to accept that a 10 month old kitten has reached the end of her fight with felv.Im sure I behaved that way as well. At no point did they snap back, or show anything other then they understand how hard this is.Thank you to all of those that were so kind.
First, let me say that my review is not reflective to the knowledge or professionalism of the Dr. who I saw while I was there having my dog evaluated for a potential dental procedure. The Dr. was very kind and seemed very knowledgeable. My review is specific to the clinic/ facility itself and their outrageous pricing that still (a full day later) has me feeling like I was “ripped off”. As I mentioned, I took my dog there for a consult on a dental procedure which my vet referred me to. I saw the Dr. for a total of 5 minutes in which she listened to my dog’s heart and looked in her mouth. It was confirmed that the dog would need the dental procedure as suspected. It was scheduled with the vet tech at that time and I was given a pricing estimate for the surgery. Then I was sent to the front desk to “check out”. I estimated approximately $75-$100 for the visit which seems to be about the going rate for an exam. That’s when I was told “Your total is $232”. “$232, I asked?!? For the exam? For 5 minutes of time?” I was told “yes”. I asked for a breakdown of the charges and was told that there is only one charge and that is $232. I stood there trying to process the cost and the services that had been rendered. I had not in any way anticipated that and it was certainly not in my budget. I scrambled to come up with the difference and left. I spent most of my drive home fighting back the tears due to the unexpected cost. I care about my dog and want to make sure that she gets the proper medical care. However, I just cannot understand how this facility is able to take advantage of people during one of the most stressful times when all people want to do is receive medical attention for their pet. If you are scheduling an appointment or consult here, PLEASE make sure to request their fees up front or you will end up like me, wishing I had done the same and reworked my budget to allow for this 5 minute visit
We had a dog emergency late at night on a Tuesday and the VCA was so helpful! They were knowledgeable, professional and got our pup fixed up and back to us within a few hours. We were very thankful for their quick and thorough assistance! Would definitely recommend them for your late night pet emergency!
Thank you to every staff member I came in contact with when I had to put my sweet cat to sleep. An emergency led me to call VCA and despite me being very rattled, I was reassured by their quick response and experienced the same kindness when we arrived. I truly appreciate the respect that was given at each step. A devastating afternoon was made a bit easier by the gentle and compassionate care that was given to us both, thank you.
I took my dog here for emergency after she was experiencing chronic Kidney failure symptoms. Even though she was not a regular in this location, she was treated with kindness and care. It took a few hours for her to be treated but thats expected because it is a emergency location and other pets might be in a critical state and will need attention first. Unfortunately she passed away because of her disease was too critical and her age (16) did not improved her survival chances. I will definitely come back to this location in case of a emergency. One thing that I believe will be beneficial is being able to reach front desk or the doctors via E-mail for non-emergency related questions, this can give a better management and control for the amount of non-related emergency inquiries.
After weeks of trying to get my cat seen by a non-emergency vet and having no luck, I took our boy to VCA Great Lakes for ER care. To say these people are compassionate is an understatement. They respected my choices with treatment, max of money we could spend, were very informative and timely with care. Im forever thankful for this staff and now thanks to them our kitty is back to his normal self already.
No one ever wants to go to the emergency vet, but everyone here is very knowledgeable and friendly. They do a great job of triaging the issues and helping immediately if you need immediate help. They are open 24 hours a day, because pet emergencies never happen during business hours. The waiting room is clean and set up for social distancing. They are up front about pricing and treatment. They are kind to both humans and animals and help make a tough situation easier to handle. I would definitely recommend!
I know Im biased because Ive worked here for the last 7 years. But, my team of nurses and doctors truly treat every patient like their own. Its not uncommon to catch a nurse cuddled up in a cage with a dog or cat who might need a little extra reassurance, or to hear someone singing a song they just made up about a patient. Its a fun place to work, and Im proud of the work we do.
Great experience here when our chocolate lab ate some grapes. I was seen quickly and walked through a few different care scenarios to address the need and fit our budget.Its clean, efficient and the vets are top notch. Highly recommend.
UPDATE: September 15, 20216 days ago we came to VCA with a sick pup. After 5 days, her condition improved somewhat but she still wasnt 100% & stopped eating & drinking. We brought her back to VCA & within minutes the VCA faculty & staff were attending to my Rosie Girls needs. Under the advice of Dr. Hirai, Rosie Girl was admitted to the hospital where they could keep an extra eye on her, run tests, & begin the proper medical treatment she needed. Also Ms. Amy was VERY helpful by explaining every medical procedure to me & my husband as well as every test they were going to run, & helping us to make the final decision to have Rosie hospitalized.After 24hrs, we were able to bring our Rosie Girl back home. Ms. Diana sat with me & went over all of Rosies discharge papers, medication, & after care instructions. When she brought Rosie out to us, I can tell she was much better than she was when we had brought her in 24hrs prior. Since our girl has been home she has been resting comfortably next me.Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU to all the doctors, faculty, & staff at VCA for taking such great care of our Rosie Girl. Our world has been flipped upside down since August 28th & your dedication to helping our Rosie Girl has brought us so much comfort. My family & I cannot thank you enough ♡♡September 9, 2021We are displaced in Ohio from Louisiana due to Hurricane Ida. Our pup evacuated with us & suddenly became very sick with some type of stomach virus.When I called & explained what was going on, the girl I spoke with was extremely friendly & extremely sensitive to our situation. They were able to see my pup right away & cater to her needs.My family & I cannot thank them enough for the quality care they have provided for my Rosie Girl.
Dr. Ferguson was absolutely incredible with my cat. Thorough, professional, compassionate, and I never felt rushed. The process was efficient and everything was explained to me (overall process, expectations for visit, cost, diagnosis, prognosis, etc) clearly. Thank you for taking such good care of my sweet Jose!
My Ashlee needed emergency vet services and my vet at Eastside Dog & Cat referred her here. From the moment we entered, their customer service exceeded my expectations. She was in critical care for 2 days, under the care of Dr. Frantz. I was allowed to visit her, which was wonderful! She has since transitioned to the care of Dr. Ferguson, Internal Medicine. I can’t speak highly enough of how caring and compassionate all of the caregivers in this office are. Highly recommend, if emergency vet care is needed.
My fiancé and i had to bring in our 9 week old kitten that we had just brought home a couple days before. The staff here were very understanding and rushed to get her looked at when they saw the condition she was in, and completely understood when we could only afford blood work. That bloodwork showed that her kidneys were failing, and the vet talked us through everything that was happening, that could have caused this, and also provided an open space for my fiancé and i to make the decision to euthanize our girl. Throughout the whole process the staff was nothing but apologetic and sincere and they made it so much easier to go through. We opted to get our kitten cremated and get a paw print back, and they let us keep a clipping of her fur as well ❤️. I have nothing but good things to say about this place
Great experience here. We took our 16 year old dog in who was experiencing heavy bleeding from a paw injury at night. Everyone was super helpful and kind. The nurse and vet both did a great job keeping us informed on the situation.
They dont care about helping your pet, they just care about money. My dog was here a month ago due to a staphylococcus bacterial infection that came back after 2 weeks. We paid almost 1k for the procedure. I just called today to ask for some medication since I am going on vacation and i won’t be with her for 7-8 days. I wanted to make sure she is ok at least until I come back and they refused to help me in any way. I would not recommend this place.
Recently our dog had a seizure without warning on a holiday and we brought him there. Unfortunately, we were given the bad news that he had an aggressive form of cancer and internal bleeding. Although we were completely devastated and heartbroken, Dr. Martin and the rest of the staff were so gentle and kind. The staff at VCA definitely care about the animals they treat. Also we really appreciated the sympathy card.
We are so very grateful to have such a wonderful, trustworthy emergency vet nearby! We have brought our German Shepherd, Pearl, in during emergencies twice and each time the staff was incredibly friendly, accommodating, and highly skilled. We trust that we will receive great care and highly recommend this veterinary hospital! They’re amazing!
We took our Dachshund, Leia to Dr Emily Conway for surgery on her Cherry Eye. The whole team did an awesome job, very caring and loving to Leia and took time explaining, talking to us, and calling us after we got home. Leia’s eye is 4 days post op, and looking great. Shephan was the tech, and he, too, took time to explain things and showed he cared. Dr Conway herself was caring and in touch with us from the beginning. Below is Leia enjoying a good chew with Dad’s help.
I recently brought my little rescue mini pitt into VCA at the recommendation of my vet. She had ingested part of a rubber toy that she had hidden from view. They kept her overnight and removed the foreign matter thru a scope the next morning. The staff and vet on call were wonderful and treated Sammy like a member of their family. It was a pricey experience, but I dont believe you have a choice in the matter.
I want to thank the staff at VCA Great Lakes for treating my dog, River, this past weekend. River was attacked and bitten by a dog in our neighborhood on Saturday night. Ive been a dog owner my whole life, and I never experienced a dog attack/bite before. The staff at VCA Great Lakes was very kind, calm, and patient on the phone when I called, audibly upset and shaken up.I had heard good things about VCA Great Lakes over the years after negative experiences at other emergency clinics in the area. Im glad I made the drive to VCA Great Lakes, and Im very grateful that they were able to treat River as a walk-in. She had an open wound that was sutured by Dr. Milner. Four days later, the wound looks excellent. Its clean and dry, and there hasnt been any bleeding or leakage from the site.Dr. Milner and Nicole H. answered all of my questions about the wound, medications, and care before we left for the night. Thank you again!
Very compassionate and hard working group in the face of chaos and being understaffed. Thank you for taking good care of my girl and getting us on our way as fast as you could!
We have taken him then a year ago thinking he had a stroke but it was vestibular disease. He was unable to walk, and didnt eat, but they took amazing care of him only to go home a couple week later walking. Such a loving and caring experience then, and just recently we had to take him there on the 13th, (they gave us and extra year with him) in which we had to say our goodbyes to him. I couldnt have asked for a better place to take him. Having issues dealing with things like this, the comfort was amazing. They allowed our family to meet up to give our kisses and goodbyes to samson, but they allowed our other dogs in the room as well. How amazing is that! That day I apologize I dont remember their names, but from the moment of walking in having that gut feeling what was going to happen, had happened from the time I walked out, every staff member there was compassionate. I work in healthcare, and today it is so hard to find caring, compassionate staff to have work for you but this is the place to take any of your animals, I know we will be back if need be. All I can say is Thank you, Thank you Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Took Buster in today because he was being lethargic and abnormal. As soon as I walked in with him there was immediate attention! I felt as if he was in great hands, and the desk/nurses have great communication. Gave us multiple updates on Buster while we were waiting, and left in less than 2 hours!
If I could give a zero or a negative number I would. I brought my sick cat in and they recommended that we put him down. Obviously I was extremely upset and said OK. When they asked if I wanted a private burial, I said I just said he could be cremated and then I could bury him next to his brothers. I get a call to come pick him up and it turns out it was a group cremation, and there are no ashes. They refused to even apologize. Never again
A very kind, professional and empathetic staff. Every member of the staff treated my kitty with care and compassion. When it was time for her to cross the rainbow bridge, the staff not only helped my kitty, they also treated me with empathy and care. They helped to make the unbearable bearable.
My fiancé and I had an emergency with our kitten we had just adopted, and she unfortunately had to be put down from kidney failure. Despite the situation, the staff was so incredibly kind and empathic to my fiancé and I. We appreciate you all trying your best to help us, and our sweet girl before she passed.RIP our little Soot! And once again, thank you VCA for being amazing.
My boyfriend and I brought his dog here after noticing that he had a dry cough that worsened when he was excited. Although they’re on the pricier side because we were there for emergency services, were very quick and informative.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! VCA is hands down the best emergency vet I have ever been to. We had quite the scare with our cat and he had to spend a couple nights there. Every single staff member I spoke with from the front desk, vet techs to the vets, were amazing. Always kind, super informative and gave great updates. Price will ALWAYS be high at emergency vets and some people just don’t realize that. Our bill was over 2500 and we’ll do it again for our little guy if we have to knowing he’s in great hands. Thank you to everyone at VCA for taking care of our boy and getting him healthy and home!
Teddy (my 14 YO cat) has been a patient of Dr. Leah Ferguson for a year now due to chronic pancreatitis/IBD/diabetes/kidney issues. Dr. Ferguson and her techs Taryn and Melody (and everyone else I may have not yet met) actually KNOW Teddy. They KNOW and understand his quirks and his problems and they love him. They all take the time to explain things to me and answer all my questions at length and I never feel rushed. I cant say enough about their skill and empathy. Teddys quality of life is still excellent thanks to their (and my!) loving care.
My cat Prince Loki was experiencing severe pain. I called my vet,but they were closed. There was a recording tho which said if it was an emergency take the pet to VCA. I did and they took him right away. First thing they did was they checked to see if he was breathing,which he was. They examined him and found he had a blocked urethra. Took the best care of him!!
Ill never be able to express how grateful we are to the entire team at VCA Great Lakes, especially Drs. Frantz and Brackney, and RVTs Brittany and Kalynne. When we brought our cat in because she was clearly in pain, but we didnt understand why, they quickly identified the problem and rushed her to surgery to remove an obstruction in her stomach. Although the surgery went well, she also developed a severe infection that was only apparent after the surgery was over. Our cat spent almost three weeks in the ICU at VCA Great Lakes and had to go undergo a second surgery because of the infection. The entire team there was never anything but fantastic. The RVTs always took my phone calls every morning and night when I wanted to check on her, the doctors called me every afternoon with an update on her condition and recommended treatment plan, and I even had pictures of her sent to me almost every day as she recovered! When there was a moment where it looked like we might lose her, they arranged for us to see her while taking necessary COVID precautions. Truly, we couldnt have asked for more; the amount of care they showed our girl is amazing. Weve often joked that we wished we could go to VCA Great Lakes when we arent feeling well, thats how incredible they are and how much confidence we have in their services. Thankfully, our cat is home and recovering nicely. We owe her life (and our hearts!) to VCA Great Lakes. Thank you for everything!!!
Our cat was put down (which we agreed to), but then they cremated him in a group cremation, which we did not agree to. We agreed to cremation, with the idea that we would get his remains back as we always had, but instead they cremated him in a group cremation without telling us. We are heartbroken, and now we can’t put him to rest with our other pets.
The incredible team at VCA saved our dogs life when we came to them in the middle of the night. It was during the COVID pandemic so patient/ owner care and safety were a challenge. This team worked tirelessly through the night to save our dog while keeping us informed. ONe of the overnight ICU nurses even sent me photos because I missed her!I am so grateful for this hospital.The day our pup came home, I bought them all pizza!Im writing this review because they had the audacity of sending us a thank you card thanking me for being a nurse right now (and for pizza, of course)!Thank YOU, VCA!Lucy is happy and healthy and we owe it all to you!
A great facility. My family cat Beamer and I were treated so great by the staff here at Great Lakes Animal Clinic. Sidney and Dr. Kate (truthfully the whole staff) were professional and informative of the situation we were going through. I highly recommend this facility to anyone who has a family pet they love and want well taken care of. Thanks to all for the care and compassion you gave to Beamer and my family.
Spent 9pm to 6am here this memorial day. My german shepherd Lana suddenly lost all use of her back legs and feeling. They sent several people to help get her from the car, she is over 100lb. Dr Ashli Hirai was amazing. We left at 6 am yesterday with my dog not being able to walk and Dr Ashli Hirai did everything in her power to find the cause, this location does not have an MRI but I couldnt afford that anyways and she understood. She prescribed medications for what she thought was the cause and as of 7 am this morning Lana is suddenly not only able to stand up again but able to walk on her own. Dr Ashli Hirai probably saved my dogs life, if not atleast her ability to walk. I cant thank her enough.This photo is a very drugged recovering girl who loves Dr Hirai, Lora and the rest of the staff very much.
Always such an amazing experience! both the daytime staff and nighttime staff are extremely kind, caring and attentive. you can tell that they genuinely care and enjoy their jobs. the only downside to this place is the pricing, but i dont really know how it is compared to other emergency places & given the lack of emergency places nearby as well as the awesomeness of this one, i wouldnt really consider going anywhere else. thank you vca!!
Weve been here several times, and most recently were seen quickly by the vets for our dogs who got into food with raisins. The staff was helpful, very friendly, and responded quickly to the severity of the situation. I would definitely recommend.
We brought our little chihuahua in, and he was taken care of so quickly. The entire staff is incredibly friendly. They took care of us even with our financial issue. Hopefully we won’t have to return, but if we do, I know we will be taken care of professionally and quickly! Thank you so much!
Even though they were at max capacity, they were willing to take my cat back and get her vitals and make sure she was okay with her respiratory disease flare-up. We were shocked when they told us there would be no charge for taking a look at her.You can tell these veterinarians and veterinary assistants truly care about the animals and what they do. We will not hesitate to come back if we ever need to.
I hate that this place has such bad reviews. I had to put my dog down and Id give them more stars if I could. Yes the wait was long, yes the staff (at first) may not have been the best... but look at what they are doing! They are saving lives of your fur babies... that has to be so stressful. Also if you cant get you animal into the vet what makes you think the ER will be any better?Unfortunately that was not the case for us. Our dog was old and had kidney disease and long story short, there was nothing much we could do. Having to experience this a few years ago, this staff was so thoughtful, kind and patient as we said goodbye to our dog that had been in our lives for 12 years. One of the nurses was reassuring that we made the right choice and was in the room with us talking us through what was happening. Other places just drop your dog in your lap and leave the room, take your money and your on your way... making you question if this was the right decision.
I cant thank this office enough, after finding a stray dog with 5 gunshot wounds. We had nowhere local we could take her to get help, we called here and they did not hesitate to have us bring her in right away! unfortunately they werent allowed to give us an update if she survived or not because we arent the owners but I hope the outcome was good news. After an hour drive to the office someone was standing outside waiting for us so they could take her into surgery! thank you for being open to help us so I could get some peace knowing that she was getting help and trying to give this poor dog a second chance.
My parents (and I) took their cat to VCA last night and we were impressed how clean the facility seemed. Dr. Martin took the time to listen to our concerns (even though they were super busy) and seemed to really care. The other staff were very kind as well. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who needs emergency services for their pet. I also liked that there were no surprises. They told us how much each procedure would cost.
My cat Louie was in obvious pain, which came on suddenly after my vet had closed, so I took him to VCA. I spoke to a vet immediately, and it was determined that he likely had a urinary blockage, which can be very serious, so he was taken in for care immediately. He was there for 2 days, which was expensive, but now Louie is doing fine. When I picked him up, a tech thoroughly explained what they had done and what his future care should be, including giving him meds, which they supplied, for 7 days and change in food. Everyone there was very professional and very caring, which helped tremendously since it was a very stressful time. I highly recommend them!
Im writing this review with tears in my eyes after losing our beloved 15 year old Leopard Dog yesterday. We took her to VCA as a recommendation from our normal vet who had to be elsewhere. All i can say is I am very impressed with the professionalism, compassion and honesty these people showed. I would recommend them to anyone in need of making sure your wonderful pet passes on totally peaceful by your side. Thank you VCA
My pom yorkie was attacked by a pit bull and almost lost her eye VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specially did and emergency surgery or she would have lost her eye. I called the office prior to me arriving and when I walked thru the door there was nurses an receptionists at the front waiting on my arrival. After the surgery the office has been very helpful with informing me 9n how to xare after the surgery and gave medication to take home thanks VCA for taking care of my baby
I had to bring in my dog for a torn back claw. The service was excellent. The staff friendly. The building is newer and clean and comfortable while you wait. Thank you for caring for our dog.
I brought my corgi in because I was worried he swallowed a foreign object. They recommended sedating him just to get an X ray. My dog is nervous around people and does bark at times but usually that subsides and he is instead shaking during vet exams from fear. I have never had a vet suggest sedating him in order to examine him. When I mentioned that I thought he would be fine without sedation to get the x ray they instead asked if he could just wear a muzzle. It is a red flag to me that they didn’t just suggest a muzzle first over sedation. I’m not sure if they just wanted to have an excuse to inflate my bill but it is safer for my dog not to be sedated unnecessarily.Additionally, they told me it would be a 10 hour wait just for the x ray and they told me to go home and that they would call me when they were ready for me. They never called me. Staff was also some of the least friendly people I’ve ever interacted with. I am not sure if they’re short staffed or if the issue was just that they were particularly slammed that day but I was really disappointed with the treatment I got from them and would suggest looking at other emergency vet clinics to serve your needs.
We brought our cat here when he was just a 6 week old kitten, he was diagnosed with panleukopenia and we were told he had a very low chance of surviving. The staff was super responsive and professional with all of our questions and even let us suit up to visit with him in isolation once which I think was against the rules, because he was alone in like an infectious disease section with no other animals. We were usually only allowed to see him through a glass window. We were able to take him home after about a week and a half I believe.Today, Jax is healthy and happy with a huge personality, and we are SO thankful every day for the vets who saved his life and kept him safe while he was so sick.
The people at the VCA where very supportive and caring and when my baby azder got sick they tried very hard to save him but he passed away. I would like to thank the staff and doctors and nurses who tried to save him. I will always have a special place in my heart for the people from the VCA.
The staff and doctors here saved our dogs (CCs) life! Our family cannot thank them enough for their compassion and care. A few weeks ago, we brought our Corgi, CC, here as an emergency patient in the middle of the night after desperately calling other emergency veterinarians with no luck. We waited throughout the night while checking in on her from the parking lot. At the beginning of the appointment, we were on the phone with Poison Control but ended up not needing the consultation from them and cancelled it as the veterinarian was able to provide the necessary care after doing an in-person examination of CC. This saved us an additional $75. Thank you Dr. Frantz and all of the veterinarians, nurses, and staff who provided such amazing care for CC. They also took time to explain in detail the care she would need to finish her recovery at home. She is doing well now and has made a complete recovery! CC seemed comfortable and happy with the staff, giving them kisses before she left for home.
We are grateful to VCAs medical and administrative staff for the compassion and empathy that they showed when we brought our Lola in. They were clear in the different options available to us after her diagnosis and were extremely caring during our final moments with Lola and very respectful and patient for our request to have other family members come and join us.
Very disappointed. I called and told this place my mother was on her way with her dog who was paralyzed from the hind end with maybe a possible stroke. I said it would be about an hour and asked if they can come in. The person on the phone responded with yes they can come in with masks on she sounded rude in a way and just said tell her to come in with mask on...... This place Didnt even seem to care that I called and warned them she was on her way.(its not like every emergency animal hospital is down the road) When my mom arrived they turned her away! They said we are at full capacity what the heck? They obviously dont care here even with a warning call! Im so glad my moms dog had to suffer for another bumpy car ride to the next facility that gladly took my moms dog and treated him and quickly.I would never ever recommend this place again!
I was sceptical to the quality of care and the amount of money any treatment was going to cost at midnight on a Tuesday night. When my wife and I had and emergency with our very first cat, Cheeto, this place was our only option.Unfortunately his prognosis wasnt so good but they handled it with an affinity and rapport that deserves commendation and recognition. The techs and the vet, Dr. Emma Thomas are absolute super heroes and both my wife and I cannot express our graditude enough.They helped one of our best friends in the whole world manage his pain and discomfort in a way that made us and him, feel comfortable and cared for all the way until the end. They truly have a difficult job and I love, appreciate, and respect the amount of passion they have for what they do. Cheeto thanks you too.
My dog was having trouble breathing so I rushed him to this emergency room. On the way he improved but the staff was happy to triage him and check his vitals. He ended up being ok and coming home with me. I am so glad this emergency room was available in the evening for my dog. They responded quickly to my dog and were truly interested in helping him feel better. Very professional staff. I had a good experience here.
Our Lily sees Dr. Conway the Eye Specialist here and we take all of the fosters pups that need an Eye Exam to her as well. We love her! She is so kind, caring and patient with all of the furbabies. Dr. Conway takes the time to explain everything in detail and in a way you can easily understand. The Staff are very nice, helpful and accommodating. They even worked in 2 of my Foster Pups within a few days of them arriving at our home. Talk about dedicated, caring and professional, They are the best in the area.
We brought a 3 week old puppy to them today with what we thought was a huge cyst or tumor. The size of a golf ball. They checked him in and healed him. Hes perfectly healthy now and thats the puppy we are keeping for our family. Thank you to VCA vets! You saved our puppies life! We will be going back! God bless these workers! Highly recommended
I can see how people have sticker shock - but that sticker shock is typically due to emergency services. When I, a human, go to the ER I expect to be billed more than a typical PCP visit and this is the same concept. I actually had a very positive experience. The wait was long, because again, patients are triaged and their stability is evaluated and issues are addressed in order of urgency. I felt that although the staff was brief and didn’t handhold, they were sensitive and took their time to reassure me and listen to me. I felt the doctor (Martin, I believe) went above and beyond in examining my dog all while keeping my wishes and financial capabilities in mind. Would I use them for routine care or ongoing treatment? Probably not with the price difference, but for emergency care in the middle of the night? Fantastic. Thanks for taking care of my old man!
I brought my cat there through emergency after he hadn’t been himself for a few days. The emergency department was extremely busy, but I understood that my cat wasn’t as critical as some of the other fur babies so it took longer than expected before the doctor spoke to me. When it was my turn, the doctor really took her time explaining her thoughts and my options for treatment. The estimate was about what I expected, and because I never got pet insurance (kicking myself now) it was all out-of-pocket, due same day. I took the advice of the doctor and proceeded with what they thought was necessary for my cat to get better. Thankfully he is home and back to his normal, playful self! If I could influence ANYONE reading this, I’d say to seriously consider pet insurance (we as humans have it for the same emergent reasons) and trust the staff at this facility to care for your sick pet. Thank you everyone!
The staff & doctor Conway are highly recommended and not only due to their expertise but the genuine care & concern for our per family and pet owners. They took great care of our older dog in his time of need. Dr Conway was patient with me when asking question and provided several options for care. Jason was also very keen and astute to our needs and very personable. It made the difficult sutuation much less anxiety filled. Pleased with overall experience. 🐶
My cat Pawl was seen by Dr Ferguson for his ongoing asthma issues, even though we had to wait in our car due to COVID, she was great. She called me while he was still in there and spent quite a bit of time with me on the phone going over his issues and recommendations. She was sweet and very caring. She made me feel like my cat was the only patient she had that day. No rushing me off the phone at all. Very positive experience.
I was recently there with my cat and it was a very long wait, no updates, staff was rude. When I did see a Dr it was determined that we needed to see a specialist (which is why my vet sent me there), but they could not provide these services. How are you a specialty clinic with NO specialists??? So I had to go to another veterinary specialty clinic to actually get care. I wasted time and money at Great Lakes for no reason. They need to communicate better. I am looking forward to the specialty/ER clinic opening in Highland Hts. I am sure they will have specialists. It is really sad because this place could be better if it was run more efficiently and they showed interest in their clients. Obviously there is a need for these pet services but this clinic can not provide the care.Very disappointing!
Unfortunately, I’ve had to go to the emergency vet a good amount of times. The staff at VCA are so caring, calm, and sympathetic. I know that they care about my pet as much as I do, and will always be honest with what is needed. They take the time to explain all of the options. I’m so grateful!
The first time I went to VCA with an emergency was in 2017. I had already gone to another emergency vet the night before and my regular vet that morning and on the way there my cat coded in the car. They were able to bring him back but he coded again. Without me asking, the vet went over all the other vets notes and assured me they did everything they could. It was comforting to know that. This time I had hopes that my baby could get better but when they did more tests it just was too much for him to go through. The staff was wonderful and caring, and I could tell they had spoiled my baby when I couldnt be there for him. Having all the answers this time made the decision to let him go easier. There is an emergency vet much closer to my home but I trust VCA so much more.
I came in with a newborn in a stroller and a puppy with bloat. The staff was very friendly and helpful, my dog was quickly seen and they were able to treat him right away. Oj was amazing he was the tech that helped my dog and kept me filled in on what was going on. He saw I had my hands full and helped so much he was super informative and answered all my questions and was super polite and even helped me bring my puppy back to my car while I got situated with my baby! thank you Oj! He’s an amazing worker and you can really tell he loves and has a great passion for what he does! Will definitely come back if an emergency occurs with my pets again.
Young inexperienced young woman at the desk made the determination my puppy was not critical, how? Beats me she neither examine or asked questions. Rude, self-important and ill-trained is how best to describe her.Luckily, a more experienced older lady with dark hair overheard the conversation and intervened, checked us in and said a tech would be up to make an assessment. A few minutes later the tech brought us back to an exam room and determined the pup should be seen.It is truly the luck of the draw whether your pet will be determined appropriate to be seen and for this reason as well and the poorly trained desk staff and their manager Lindsey, the facility deserves no greater than 2 stars.
A little pricey, but knowledgeable and personal service.My wife and I brought our dog here for the eye specialist, Dr. Conway. After some initial challenges with phone communication (pet peeve of having the default message say due to unusually high call volume. If its your default message, thats not unusual!), the rest of our experience was great. Dr. Conway was knowledgeable and communicative, and even offered us an alternative when I expressed my dissatisfaction with the phone queue. Our pup is currently recovering well from her surgery!The price for everything felt quite high, though we admittedly did not go get another quote as this was the most convenient specialist for us, and again Dr. Conway did a great job explaining the situation. Maybe its right on market average, but based on the other reviews, it seems price is part of the package with this business.
My dog started coming here after a pretty severe case of pancreatitis. The doctors and staff are so caring and really put us at ease the whole time she was with them. They took fantastic care of her and she has been doing fantastic since her stay. Her follow up care has been just as wonderful. If you ever are in need of emergency care I couldn’t recommend them enough.
My dog was bit by another dog at the dog park this afternoon. After trying the local vet ERs and not being able to get in within a reasonable time frame, my husband called here and explained everything to the person on the phone. She told him to bring our dog in and they could see her. He drove 40 minutes to get there only to be turned away being told they wouldnt see her because she wasnt critical, making this assessment by just looking at our dog at the front desk but never examining the severity of her wounds. While she may not have been in critical condition she did have several bite marks on her face and a nasty one in her leg that needed stitches. They then proceeded to give us a list of hospitals which included the ones by our home that had an 8 hour parking lot wait time.
I called them asking if they offered walk ins. When I told them that my dog was throwing up, diarrhea, isn’t eating or drinking anything ( going on about 5 days) after sprayed in mouth by skunk they told me to give him a freaking bath and rinse out his mouth. No help whatsoever after every vet I called told me to take him to the emergency clinic. Ridiculous.Edit: you had the capacity so don’t blame the pandemic, on the phone you guys said you take walk ins and we can come in but once i mentioned the skunk you guys basically said oh forget about it. Now my dog is deceased, thanks.
My family has three cats, one of which has intestinal trouble. Once our wonderful vet had exhausted all they could offer to help, they referred us to VCA. Our experiences with them have been excellent. They are extremely well organized, consistent and frequent communicators, and are compassionate and caring with your pet. Everything from surgical procedures to picking up refills on medicine, have been easy and helpful in improving our cats health. I highly recommend VCA. It is not cheap, but that is expected for the services they offer.
We brought our 11 year old German Shepherd, Sommer, in today. She was unable to stand/walk, and had lost control of her bladder; our regular vet was unavailable. After a lengthy discussion with the ER vet (Dr. Thomas), we made the tough decision to have her put to rest. It was a heartbreaking decision, but the staff was SO wonderful and kind. I dont know how those lovely people do their jobs without breaking down every single day.Thank you all for being kind, compassionate, and gentle. You all deserve awards for being the strongest, kindest people. It does not go unnoticed. ❤❤❤
Very good experience when we took our dog here due to him being in an altercation with another dog. He was sedated for his ear to be assessed for internal damage and he had a laceration near his shoulder stitched which healed perfectly. They were very efficient and prompt. Thanks for taking care of our Jeter!
We have been taking our greyhounds to VCA for several years. One of our greyhounds sees Dr. Conway for Pannus. She was losing her vision a few years ago, but it is well managed now. Another one of our greyhounds is rather reckless, and is trying to become a frequent flyer for minor emergencies. The staff is wonderful, and the costs are definitely higher than what youd see at a regular vet visit, but lower than weve seen at other emergency facilities.
I can’t thank this team enough!!! I took my cat in at 5pm for an infested wound. They did surgery that same night and I picked him up at around 1am. I’m so glad they could help him so soon and with such care. I would have spent anything, but the cost was much lower than I had expected which was definitely a bonus! Thank you for all you do and for helping Felix!! He’s currently rocking this watermelon e-collar as he recovers ❤️
I came in with my cat having discharge coming out of her eye’s they said it was a 3 hour wait. I waited 3 hours nothing.. I called to ask how much longer it would be they said they would call me in a half hour they did not. So I called back to ask how much longer it would be they said 2 more hours. I waited 2 more hours and called back again still nothing because my animal isn’t in critical condition. I was two people away from being seen, but if there were any other critical patients my wait would be longer. Please do yourself a favor and and don’t go here!!! I will be calling my vet and telling them to not recommend this place at all. I really wish I could give this place negative stars.
If I could give zero stars or negative stars I would. Brought my cat in last night and was given worst news, rudely. Was then told I had to pay 75% of the insanely high bill up front before they would do anything to treat her , but that she would still die. When finances became an issue they were not willing to work with us, so we opted to withdraw our fur child from their care and take her elsewhere. At that time the vet, who shall remain nameless for now pending litigation, very rudely said she would call the humane society on us. Not only would they not make her comfortable for the transport, they left her in the cold while I was forced to sign a form stating I was going against medical advice.This morning I got a call from the humane society, in which I had to explain how we took our baby, who is ostensibly the most spoiled cat ever, to another vet who we were familiar with, but was further, and had her humanely euthanized at an affordable price. 💔 since the vet here decided to take the route she did, i have contacted a lawyer and the board of veterinary medicine. This woman lacks ethics, compassion and manners and has absolutely no business being near humans let alone animals. DO NOT TAKE YOUR ANIMALS HERE!
Took older cat in. Paid a bundle, cat died on way home. I think they should have known how bad she was before they suggested procedures. Its not the money, Id have paid anything to help her. They told me she should be feeling better in about an hour and a half. She didnt even make a half hour. Died in the car before we got home. Sure did not expect that!
Have had good experiences in the past, which is the only reason they get 3 stars instead of 1, but was very disappointed this week to be turned away after rushing my pet in with concern she may have broken her leg and being told it wasnt critical and she couldnt be seen. Their Instagram account states they limit cases to criticals from 10p-8a. It was 950pm, so I guess close enough? The sign outside estimated a 3-4hr wait, which is pretty standard (and reasonable) for an ER, so I can discern no reason for this. Was very lucky to find another clinic willing to see her (and they had way more cars in the lot and a 4-6hr wait), but left vca feeling very let down.
Took my cat there after two years with our regular vet with no answers. Have multiple tests done and the only thing they could come up with was allergies..then one day his levels all plummeted and My guy was on his death bed, his labs came back and everything was basically shutting down. Our vet sent him to VCA vet and they gave us the option to provide aggressive treatment or put him down. was only 2 so I was ok to do whatever it took. They told us not to get our hopes too high because it was that bad but still tried all they could. Now four months later he’s running around and back in better health. We now have answers and it seems as though he has a rare autoimmune disorder with no cure but we now have different options. Dr. Ferguson and her team are THE BEST. They show so much empathy and are always helping me understand things better and answer at a reasonable time. Highly recommend!! Pricey but so worth going in debt for my guy to live the best life he can even if it’s not as long as a healthy cat. 😻
Just keep driving further to the next E.R. that’s not gonna waste your money. Staff is barely empathetic. No way in heck should i not receive updates on my pet if they’re under your care. Wish i could get a refund. Left my pet in pain but administered medicine to make it sound good with a raised price as a topping. A new vet detected what they should’ve & ironically wants her off of their prescription. Huge shame! I can definitely see the staff reading & laughing at this, wouldn’t be surprised from the type of vibe they give off!
We took our cat Logan in yesterday she got her tail caught in motor of the couch and it had messed up her tail pretty bad, they got her right in and had to amputate her tail. She went through surgery last night and is back home now and doing great. I have so much appreciation for the staff for taking great care of her and helping her. This emergency veterinary facility is top notch. Thanks again
Our sweet cat ended up at the emergency vet and miraculously pulled through thanks to the staff. He has a chronic condition that requires frequent check ups. We decided to keep bringing him back to VCA Great Lakes because of the wonderful care they provide. They treat him so well!
I took my dog to VCA Great Lakes for the first time. I’m currently waiting for her to wake up from sedation. I am very impressed with the vet (Kelly I believe her name is). She is very friendly, willing to listen to your concerns, and will talk you through her reasoning. I mentioned my phone was almost dead while waiting (I was told it could be another 2+ hours, and wanted her to be aware my phone may be dead by then) and she made sure to get a charger out to me so I didn’t have to run home for one since all communication during visits are through the phone currently. Very professional and friendly.
My shih tzu Rosie came to VCA with a slashed cornea as a result of rough play with her little sister. Dr. Conway and Dr. Boyd treated her with compassion and kindness during all examinations. The medications prescribed had Rosie on the road to recovery and eased my anxiety and concern. Vet techs Angie and Joe always provided comfort and coffee with every visit. The entire staff could not have been nicer! I would recommend VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists to anyone who is in need of exceptional care!
If I could give negative stars I could. On January 27 at about 11 pm we brought our six month old kitten in after she collapsed after throwing up a few pieces of elastic. As soon as they saw her they said she may need hospitalization or if we can’t afford that we should start to think about humane euthanasia. They stabilized her with a $500 approval for treatment. They then wanted to hospitalize her for further tests at a cost of $2500 or we should have her euthanized.If we brought her home they said they doubted she would make it through the night, they couldn’t guarantee she would make it there either. We took her home against there recommendation where she proceeded to walk around a little when we got her home. By morning she was fine. It was a very distressing night especially after they right away pressured hospitalization or euthanasia. Way to play on people’s emotions in a distressing time.
My immediate experience with this Vet was wonderful. I called and spoke to Becca and voiced my concerns about my cat and she was empathetic, reassuring, compassionate, and friendly. She reassured me that though the problem may not technically be and emergency that I dont have to feel like bringing my cat in would be a burden and that of course he deserves care regardless. The interaction I had with her encouraged me to drive 25 minutes to this vet rather than other vets closer to my home SPECIFICALLY because of my interaction with her. Due to Covid-19 no humans are allowed inside. Becca came outside and grabbed him and the wait wasnt too long before we received a call from the vet. Dr. Ziegler was absolutely wonderful. She was thorough in her exam and her explanation of what she checked for in her exam and what his condition was. She gave me several different options regarding how I wanted to approach his issue ranging from more conservative options to start with to very thorough testing. I did not feel any pressure to have more than necessary done and I didnt feel as if he was being neglected by her reassuring me that I could start with a more conservative approach to his care with little worry. She was reassuring, thorough, kind, intelligent, and well spoken. When it comes to cost I wouldnt say it is the most cost effective but it is an emergency veterinarian providing 24 HOUR CARE 7 DAYS A WEEK. With that said I would absolutely absolutely recommend seeking care here.
Very compassionate, very thorough and explained everything that was going on. Worked with me and provided great care (since my cats vet is not open on Sundays). Will still have to take my cat in to regular vet Monday; but Im very grateful that they worked up a plan that alleviated my cats urinary problem for now. Thank you soo very much!! Highly recommend this place.
Our nearly 15 year old cat, Mr. Chops, had to be admitted for IV fluids and diagnostic tests when he went into sudden acute renal failure. We called ahead after our vet referred us and were pleased that the VCA staff was ready and waiting for him when we arrived about 45 minutes later. Everyone we interacted with has been wonderful - friendly, caring, and knowledgeable. He stayed for 48 hours (we were encouraged to come visit him!) and then came home with fluids, medications, a large sampler of kidney diet, and excellent home care instructions. After a week of caring for him at home, we went back today for a follow up and things are looking good. Hes gained almost a pound and is obviously feeling much better. It is a little scary having to learn to give your cat injections but Rachels demonstrations were excellent. Dr. Ferguson spent plenty of time with us today explaining all of her findings and the care plan going forward. Is it expensive? Yes - but you get an itemized bill and can see exactly what was done and what everything cost. We were not pushed into any tests or treatments that we didnt want or that didnt make sense to us. We do plan to invest in pet health insurance for our two younger cats, because this expense was a shock to us - but it wasnt unreasonable at all. Mr. Chops has gone from being one sick kitty with horrible kidney numbers to a bright-eyed and happy cat in a little more than a week, so were happy.
*Honestly, I would give no stars if I could for starters.*We have a 6wk old puppy who came in with seizures and unstable (which we spoke with the pet hospital on the phone). Once we reached the location we had to speak with a rude receptionist, who asked us a various amount of questions which we have already disclosed to them. They did not come out until we told them he was beginning to have another seizure in the car. We waited about thirty minutes and received no type of feedback from anybody until we called and advocated for our sick puppy when we were told that he hadn’t had anymore seizures, they said he appears to be depressed and was a very, very sick puppy! Our puppy had never had any other symptoms like this and hadn’t even looked as if he was in total distress until he had an episode! Later, they continued to tell us that they would get back to us after they run some test and draw his blood, which we thought he was already getting since he was in the ER for almost an hour by now. After many other test and more remarks about how sick our puppy was, and gave us a ton of horrific diagnosis such as, life threatening disease or an option of being put down, they called and said that they recommended that he stays over night repeatedly without even saying what was wrong to later say he was diagnosed with parvo virus? They basically kept telling us the worst news ever, saying his health would decrease fast without even giving us any type of ideas for treatment or alternatives. The doctor told us AGAIN that we should let him stay over night and they would send him to a neurologist to test and scan for and MRI which would start at about $4,000. Either way, we decided that we wanted to go somewhere else and get a second opinion because the service and communication was so bad. After being told by one receptionist that they would get ready to discharge our sick puppy, we had to call once more, only to be told that the lady we spoke with had went on break and never communicated that a plan of action had already been in place, which was for us to leave with our puppy and was forced to wait about another hour! Overall, I’m just disappointed because we are first time pet owners and for us to put the lives of our 6wk old puppy in their hands not knowing what’s going on! To have them tell us the same thing in return was very alarming. I get they are busy during these times but, I didn’t feel as if my pet was in good hands and cared for properly. On top of that, not to mention that we were at the ER for 7hrs, paid way to much in my opinion for them to barely do anything for him.The fact that they were so persistent that we leave our puppy here for them to monitor him and were only going to ultimately tell us that he was still sick was upsetting as if they had other motives.We read numerous reviews and decide to give them a chance seeing as though we were in a rush, but now I felt we would have been better off somewhere else.
Had ophthalmic appointment with Dr Emily Conway was a very positive experience. She and her vet technician were exceptionally professional and informative providing all options prices were reasonable particularly for specialists and there are only 3 vet eye specialists in the state. I was very pleased with their service. Efficient and helpful
We rushed our cat into the office and staff immediately responded and tried to help him. It wasnt a happy ending for us and we were upset and never paid attention to anyones names but my family thank you for trying to help our beloved cat and for the professionalism and compassion you gave us.
Our dog lost his vision suddenly and we took him for an emergency visit. They seemed very compassionate and caring toward my pet. They communicated well over the phone since I couldnt go inside with him due to Covid. They recommended a visit to a neurologist as they believe thats likely the cause, and didnt run up the bill by running a bunch of unnecessary tests, which I appreciated. They provided a very detailed written summary of the visit, and we were in and out relatively quickly.
Dr. Conway, and every staff member @ VCA has been incredible. We cannot thank her enough for helping our little guy Fredd. His degenerative eyesight is stabilized for the most part. As an older dog we are so very happy with the results. We had an emergency visit on 1/24/20 for Fredd. While we could have gone to the emergency vet in Mentor we chose to make the trip. Dr. Ziegler was wonderful as was Becca and Mollie. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Dr. Conway and all of the team members have been incredibly supportive while caring for our dog Beanie. Everyone is more than happy in answering all of our questions and helping us determine the right path for Beanies health journey.
Front desk secretary by the name of KAREN was very unprofessional took my dog that was in distress to this location after a hour and a half wait received a call from doctor explaining diagnosis of my pet received itemized bill only to be told that my current insurance was not covered. In the process of me working with second front desk secretary ty who was very helpful and professional suggested that I try to apply for care credit and trupanion being that those are the only two providers that pay upfront…Karen immediately got up from her chair walked aggressively towards me while I’m standing at the counter and got extremely loud and aggressive in front of another patient that was in the office as well and stated that I was trying to “commit insurance fraud” my minor child was present with me and I asked Karen what was the reason that she was getting so loud with me and I asked to speak with either an office manager or the doctor Karen rudely replied NO multiple times I felt very attacked, embarrassed and upset that she conducted herself like this in front of my child and others patients that were in the office. Oj and Ty were very helpful in defusing the situation by taking me and my child to a private area. This was my very first time at this location and most likely my last. Karen should be fired and I will be following up making a formal complaint this was by far the worst experience I have ever encountered.
I highly recommend this facility. Everyone is very caring and compassionate. They took EXCELLENT care of my dog in his time of need. Staff was patient with me when I called asking how my dog was. I hope I do not need to have emergency services again, but if I do, without a doubt I will be bringing my pets here!!!!! Thank you for care VCA!!
No one I spoke with was very friendly, from the receptionist, to the vet techs, to the multiple vets. It seems like they only have one emergency vet working at a time, which obviously makes everything go extremely slowly. We waited for hours before we even heard from the vet, and then once we did speak, they very quickly hung up the phone before I had a chance to process what they said. One of the people I spoke with misgendered my dog, and another vet tech came to my car and started talking about doing some tests because my dog was so young—once I replied that my dog was five years old, they realized they had gone to the wrong car, which I understand is an easy mistake to make while doing curbside service, but if they had even mentioned the name of the pet, the confusion would have been cleared up immediately. They were extremely rude to my primary care vet, who called in to find out more about the situation. My primary care vet also told me that many of her clients come here, yet she has never been sent the records for these visits. Also, my dog went in wearing a collar and didn’t come out with it, which I didn’t realize until we had already driven the half hour home. Needless to say, I won’t be coming back.
Avoid this facility for emergency care. Ask your veterinarian for other options in the area. More experienced management and medical staff are needed ASAP!!! Their lack of communication of my pets medical condition throughout the day has caused unnecessary trauma for my family. They need extensive training in the importance of compassion and empathy towards pets/owners. They are more focused on payment and less on the care of your pet.
Triple check your bill. We were double charged for a service our dog received there. We only noticed this after my husband previously posted a negative review about the quality of care and negligence of the medical staff. We were billed $3,200 for multiple test and an overnight stay with no answers. Two days later we took our dog to another emergency vet and with x-rays (which the VCA ran every other test but x-ray) they were able to tell our dog had advanced cancer everywhere and was suffering. So I’m not surprised that they overlooked charging us twice when they overlooked our dog was suffering and had cancer.
While we received good care the prices are pretty outrageous. We paid nearly $1000 for an exam, X-ray and IV fluids. They didn’t have any explanations but they said he needed to stay overnight (another $2200). When we asked if he would pick himUp when done with the IV fluids and take him to our vet in the AM they got an attitude with us. Everything from there was met with snark from them. While care and treatment of dog is great, attitude seems to depend on what you’re writing the check for.
My baby Twister has been under the care of the staff at VCA Great Lakes for many, many years. The love, patience, guidance and consideration extended to me and Twister is priceless. His specialist and vet techs, Dr. Ferguson, Dr. Conway, Rachel, Melody, Joe and others, have always provided exceptional care. They have always taken the time to insure that I understand everything related to his many ailments and that I’m comfortable with his treatment plans. Next, the front office staff members, especially Erica and Liz, have always made me feel as though Im visiting friends whenever I go there, rather than bringing Twister in for treatment, because theyre always offering me listening ears or giving me big hugs when needed. Finally, Taryn (vet tech) never forgets to give Twister lots of hugs and send me photos of him whenever hes kept overnight for illness or surgery. Taking the time to do it is so thoughtful and greatly appreciated. So in closing, I LOVE the entire staff at VCA Great Lakes (Richmond Road) and for those I didnt personally mention, please blame it on my head and not my heart because youre all wonderful too!!!!
The incredibly team at VCA saved our dog’s life when we came to them in the middle of the night. It was during the COVID pandemic so patient/ owner care and safety were a challenge. This team worked tirelessly through the night to save our dog while keeping us informed. One of the overnight ICU nurses even sent me photos because I missed her!I am so grateful for this hospital.The day our pup came home, I bought them all pizza! I’m writing this review because they had the audacity of sending us thank you card thanking me for being a nurse right now (and for pizza)!Thank YOU, VCA!
We went Saturday 13th this June, very panicked and worried about our cat, they took such good care of her and us. Updates with everything going on, and when they broke the news shed need to be put down they were so professional. I got hysterical crying on the phone and they just listened to me and I cant be more grateful for them being so understanding and kind. I got her ashes today and I found the hand written letter too, they really go the extra mile and care about you and your pet. Thank you Dr. Kelly, and the other staff who were so sweet and understanding about our situation.
We had a real scare with one of our fur babies today. VCA took amazing care of our pup!! They made him feel comfortable and safe even when he was in pain. All of the staff, especially the amazing doctors, took the best care of my baby!! The doctors were incredibly sweet and i am very grateful! Will definitely come back with any issues with any of our animals & would highly recommend!
We took our beloved dog here for emergency treatment during the night. He was released and passed away in less than four hours. This place is a joke or should I say highway robbers. We received an extremely high bill but lost a family member (priceless). If they was unexperienced or didnt know how to treat our pet they should of said that. Instead of telling us he should improve in 2 days. We could of seeked help else where. Please avoid this place for emergency treatment.
Our German Shepherd was very anxious. Dr. Conway & the Ophthalmology Dept & VCA staff was so professional & caring. We had a serious emergency & they helped us so much. Dr. Conway’s knowledge was a God send. Thank you & we highly recommend VCA Great Lakes.
I took my sick dog to this place and being open 24/7 IT HAD NO DOCTOR CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS. NO DOCTOR SO I HAD TO HAD MY SICK DOG IN THE CAR TRANSPORTION HER TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL WHAT A WASTE OF TIME WHEN THEY PROBLEMLY COULD OF HELP HER NEVER AGAIN
I have been taking my senior cat to see Dr. Conway and Dr. Ferguson for over a year. Both have taken very good care of her. They provide thorough and complete updates and are very practical in their advice. Everyone at the facility is nice and helpful and it is never a problem getting an appointment when I need one.
Let me tell you something. The professionals at VCA are beautiful people. They are fast, caring, clean, and professional. And most of all compassionate. In these days during this pandemic the last thing anyone needs is their pet having to be rushed from their arms in the late hours of the night masked from 6ft but from the staff answering the phones to the nurses answering questions and communicating procedures and doctors providing care my 18yr old cat came through a very scary facial reconstruction in a timely manner and under budget because my husband and I are laid off due to COVID. I was able to bring my sweet old girl home to my toddlers and she is doing so well. Thank you Dr McHenry, OJ & Everyone @ VCA! You are Awesome!! I will sing your praises for years to come!
I took my dog to my vet for a recheck on her eye. She told me her eye was bulging more and needed to see an eye dr ASAP. Of course I couldnt get in for weeks. My last call was to VCA., which was no different. The girl told me to just bring her in through the ER. The ER vet was very rude, I told her twice that the girl that answered the phone was the one who told me to bring her in through the ER, as her eye was beyond what my vet could do. The follow up was better, as I talked directly to the eye dr. She has another apt next week. I would have gave it more stars if it wasnt for the ER vet. The eye dr was very helpful and also Josh. I can understand being there over 3 hours on the ER visit. But her follow up was over 2 hours.
Seeing poor reviews is disheartening considering VCA Great Lakes has saved two of my animals MULTIPLE times. Ive actually chosen to come here instead of my primary vet before because I trust their diagnoses and treatment so much. They are kind, thorough, and reasonably priced as far as emergency veterinary care goes. Please understand that emergency medical care for you would be expensive without insurance, too. Thanks VCA Great Lakes!
Beware! We had a doctor who will remain nameless at this establishment play on our emotions and scared us with a cancer diagnosis, making us feel like there was no time to decide what to do. The animal had a wound that was swollen and was given a fine needle aspirate. The had initially lost the samples, the very next day it was given a cancer diagnosis. We were told that we had to schedule a surgery in the next 5 days before a surgeon was set to retire. They quoted astronomical prices to do a simple digit amputation. I’m talking upwards over $3k. We aren’t dumb, so we went to get a second opinion. After getting the digit amputated for $600 INCLUDING a biopsy, we learned that there was no cancer whatsoever! The wound was from a puncture that swelled and was completely benign. Disclaimer: I’m not saying that this is the company’s motive to make money off of your relationship to your pet. All I’m saying is if things sound off and you’re not sure of a diagnosis or test result, GET A SECOND OPINION. Your pet and your wallet will thank you.
Fur child and I were both in quite the conundrum. Staff was thorough with all my questions and check-ins and went above and beyond with our unique emergency. Puppers went in falling over and came back to me confused for being away but shiny, healthy, and hamming it up much quicker than anticipated. Front desk staff very nice and Dr. Martins took the time to speak directly and specifically about her needs. Was very reassuring knowing she was safe here.
So here is a little story about my experience with VCA Great lakes vet specialist. My 4 year old cat Pancake was recently diagnosed with lymphoma and verified she does have feline leukemia. Rewind to a few hours earlier.. Our local vet was shocked when I brought her back two days later from her previous appointment because she was breathing hard and I demanded xrays. She then told me there was lump in her chest but was shocked that it even was there because she sounded fine days before. She pushed for me to put her down but when I refused she gave me two referrals out and neither one gave me the time of day. I was heartbroken and lost my baby girl is my everything! After an hour of me and my mom searching we stumbled upon VCA I called immediately and with no delay they said bring her in. So we packed up and made the hour and 15min drive. As soon as we got there we were greeted and she was taken back and test were ran. I spoke to her oncologist and she warned me it was going to be pricey if I decided on chemo , never once did she push me to put her down or force me to do treatment. They put up with me calling every two hours for 3 days she was there and took amazing care of her during her stay (even let me sneak to the side door to give her kisses goodnight.) 3 weeks later they still continue to treat us amazing and love to see Panny. They even have gone one step further and have been texting me saying how much they love and miss her. Truly amazing people and we are so thankful !! They deserve more than 5 stars in my opinion!
I was very happy with the service I received. I had never been to VCA before, but I came home after work to find my cat in severe distress, and the local vet we normally use was closing up for the day. They referred me to VCA. Unfortunately, it was a 30 minute drive from where I live. When I arrived, the staff displayed the sense of urgency you would hope for in that type of situation. Unfortunately, my cat died soon after we arrived. But, the veterinarian and the rest of the staff were very compassionate and supportive. In a terrible situation that no one would hope to be in, the staff at VCA was everything I could have hoped for. The price also seemed reasonable.
Very kind & understanding people. Neighbors gave me a 1-2 day old kitten they found who was not doing well. They had no problem seeing him & providing a loving way to end his suffering.
I came several times for emergency because of my dog, always an ok service they helped me I cant complain, but this last visit deserves 2 stars maybe 1 but I give them 2 just because of previous experiences, so here it goes.I took my because he had some eyes issues the came out of nowhere, when I took him he was ok,at least his eyes were a little opened and could see what is wrong with it a bit, just needed exams to see what is going, well those exams made his eyes worse, now he cant barely open his eyes, has them shut down and it seems in pain, so seeing that I called the next really early on the morning I explain the situation to them, and they told bring him to check him but I just took them yesterday what other exams are you going to do and I dont have money to be paying everyday for something you guys should have taken care to begin with.And the answer of one of them was, but is different dr, and I am thinking, so different dr different results? And the person I talk told me if you bring now which is less than 24 hours you dont have to pay again, well based on that I drove 30 mins each way go them to tell me, that he needs the same exams done yesterday by another Dr and it was going to cost me certain amount.I mentioned what the other person told me, and the technician tells me its the Dr choice referring to the charges.Since we all having difficult times financially because of covid-19 I dont have money to be spending every day for something should have done right and made it worse to begin with.So idk if there are other emergency vet places but do your research so you dont finish like I did.Now because of that I have to wait another week until the regular vets sees him and because of the negligence and greed for money of this place, my dog will be blind and suffering because they refuse to have him something to make him feel better knowing the results of his eyes already, otherwise why they give me medication?Why do other exams? The first exam was wrong,expect different results within 24hours? Or it is because now they want to prescribe another overpriced medication?Anyways thats my experience and I will look for other emergency places for animals, this is going to be my last resort emergency wise now.So be aware.
This was the worst experience I have ever encountered. My entire story would be to long to post, but let me put it like this. My dog came through the ER with an obstruction. They did a bunch of test and stated that surgery would be the best option. The asked for a $4000 down payment and we procedured. I was told this is a very simple procedure the doctor is not board certificted in surgery but does do them all the time. Less than 1% chance of death. Shortly after the procedure my 1 year old, healthly dog started to decline. He became sepsis and a couple days later died. The vets really dont know why this happen. I picked up my dead dog and was sent a bill for more than $8000 without being notified how expeniseve all this was. I guess that was a gift from them. I asked other vets on their opinion and they are not sure why this procedure ended in death. Mistake somewhere? we talked to the director and he says they did everything right. Ofcourse like I suspected. Just to put the incing on the cake. I tried to submit to my insurance and they denied the claim because they think it not related to the first visit (which was 1 week earlier) and my insurance wont pay on 2 seperate obstructions. Even though the doctors told me that they dont know if it was, it could be. I asked them for something in written so i can submit to my insurance to help pay for this. Guess what? No , now they dont think so it was. Thank you VCA for killing my dog and sending me a $8000 bill for it.
I heard many bad things about emergency vet clinics but I am here to tell you about my experience with VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists!THEY SAVED MY DOG, the LOVE of my life!!!!!! Katie the emergency room Dr (SPECIALIST!!! AWESOME LADY) and Dr. Irom (FABULOUS DR.!) worked tirelessly doing everything they could to treat my dog. We were sent to VCA after our regular vet was not able to provide overnight care, Cody was experiencing kidney failure and pancreatitis which we later learned was from Cushings disease, Cody was in the hospital for 7 days and I am so grateful for their care and allowing us to make 3 or more trips to the hospital each day to visit with our dog. Cody is our son and this was extremely important to us! I couldnt wait in between visits to be with my Cody. I am so grateful to everyone that made this difficult time easier for us and Cody. We are still seeing Dr. Irom for follow ups, another thing I wasnt aware was possible, thought the care was only for emergencies!Thank you for being so kind and providing exceptional care!I know during this pandemic things have changed and we are no longer able to be with our pets during office visits but this is extremely important to us and our pets to be able to be with them especially during office visits and critical care. I was hoping that your policy would be adjusted somewhat to allow 1 client in with their pet with appropriate face covering during an office visit. I keep rescheduling my appointments because my dog is very nervous and with his medical condition I cant have him stressed out if he is not with one of us. Stay safe and thank you again!
Took time with our sick kitty, more care and compassion than what I have personally experienced with people doctors.
We took our dog here on recommendation from our vet because he needed to see an oncologist. After paying $3200 he was diagnosed with a skin condition and waiting for biopsy results. We could tell he he was still suffering and we took him to another emergency vet with in 24hrs. With a simple X-ray and within an hour, they concluded he had cancer that had metastasized all over. At this point he was unable to walk and the cancer was terminal with no treatment options. They said that it was inhumane to keep him alive for much longer. We took him home to love him one last time and had to euthanize the next morning. We are still waiting for biopsy results from the VCA....
Our Dog Lily was diagnosed by our local vet with Lymphoma in February 2019. They suggested that we contact VCA, which we did. The doctors were fantastic, they provided us options and made sure that we knew that whatever decision we made was the right decision for us. Our journey with our precious 8 year old pup started there. We ended up doing the treatments until just a few short weeks ago they stopped working. We knew that day would come but it still devastated us. The last visit they told us that she wouldnt have much time. You could see how much this affected the doctor. She was teary eyed and we were openly weeping.The ladies at the desk were also always very helpful and friendly. I would put Lily up on the counter while I paid her bill and they all commented at how cute she was and would pet her. The last bill payment for the medication was the hardest. The one person (I wish I could remember her name) asked about a followup appointment. When I said there would be none she was in tears. After processing the payment she asked if she could come over and give Lily some lovin, which we gladly accepted. She then hugged both my wife and I . I am truly grateful for that interaction. They all seem to care so much.When it came time this week to make sure Lily was no longer suffering we wanted to take her to VCA, however, Lily was always scared on car rides and it is about a 45 minute ride. We ended up taking her to our local vet but if it wouldnt have been for that ride I would have made sure she went back to VCA.Thank you VCA for your compassion, caring and treatment. You all became more than just vets to me. I dont wish anyone have to go through this with their pets but if they find themselves need your services for any reason I highly recommend you.
I was referred to VCA when my Cavalier KCS developed intestinal and other health issues that my local vet thought were more serious than they were equipped to handle. I am so glad they sent me here, Dr. Ferguson and her staff have been great. The Covid issues have made communications difficult at times but I have been kept informed and in the loop at all times through phone, e-mails and very detailed reports. My best friend is doing much better thanks to the care they have given her.
I took my part Maine Coone/long hair domestic cat here for an emergency visit. Our regular vet couldnt see us, so they recommended this place. The staff were friendly and the free coffee was awesome. They were even so kind as to clean up my cats carrier for me because he got sick in the car.However, communication here was severely lacking. The main doctor and another woman who gave us updates were never on the same page. One would say a procedure was just done and the other would say that he was waiting to have that procedure done. I felt like we just kept getting inconsistent information, so when I got my bill and it was $800 I was a little suspicious as to how many things he actually needed on there. Communicating what I am paying for and why it is necessary is vital in the trust I have in a business.The thing that made me angry though was the lack of follow up. My cats urinalysis showed blood and protein and I had to call them to discover this. They were supposed to call me a few days later with our results but I called them a week later and even then they had to go find the results and call me later that day. They also didnt give me any advice on what to do going further.My cat was traumatized for days after this vet visit. Full disclosure, my fluffy cat had a hairball stuck in his bum. I had to bring him in because he could have given himself a hernia trying to pass it if I didnt, and I could have injured him if I tried pulling it out myself. I wasnt given any information on how to prevent this happening to him in the future. They didnt recommend any hairball medicine or diet changes, or anything at all. In fact, I got more useful information from an employee at a pet store after the fact, in regards to potential diet changes and hairball medicine.
I cant say enough great things about this place. All the staff are just wonderful people.....very helpful.....pleasant.....and make you and your pet feel at home. Ive had 2 dogs visit VCA. The first was my boxer....they saved his life. the staff helped me get qualified for Care Credit which helped me at the time be able to pay for his surgery. The second is my Great Dane. She had some congenital abnormalities with her eye and has had 2 surgeries. I am very pleased with my experiences with VCA and would recommend to anyone.
We have only praise for VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists: we give them top marks for their service and kindness in Chewys time of need. They have first rate veterinary care and excellent support personnel. Chewy has received absolutely professional care and concern for the duration of her treatment which is going on a year and counting due to complications with diabetes.
I have nothing but good things to say about VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Emily Conway and her team have been caring for my dog Maggie’s eye disease over the past year, and they are so kind and compassionate. Dr. Conway always takes time to answer my questions and explain the disease progression and treatment plan, which I greatly appreciate.
Our bulldog was having signs of a stroke that ended up being grand mal seizures. We called and rushed him to VCA Great Lakes. Upon arriving, they met us at the door and took him back immediately.Throughout the stay, they were very caring, helpful and super friendly from the front to the back. He was admitted to the ICU and they had no problems with us visiting him. They also were great with giving us updates and guiding us to whats next.They took wonderful care of him and we are very pleased with their services. Their level of care is high quality and exceeded our expectations.Any emergency vet is going to be expensive --- they actually over estimated our quote by almost $700 and gave us our money back when we picked him up!Thank you all very much for helping our pup! We are so thankful for each and every one of you!!
We came here with our boxer, Casper, and were extremely happy when we left! We had went to an animal hospital in shaker heights and were told there was no vet in! It was really frustrating because my dog couldn’t use his one back leg at all. When we got to VCA, We hardly waited at all before a staff member came and got Casper. She was so sweet and you could tell Casper felt really comfortable going with her since we had to wait in the car. They called us shortly after and (I was sure they’d try to push expensive x rays on us since that is what most vets do) but they said he didn’t need them at the moment! Only if he didn’t improve! We walked out of there spending under 300$ and I will definitely go back in the future! I highly recommend this place!
I took my dog to the emergency clinic. I was NOT expecting this to be a cheap trip and have never spared any expense for my dog, but even I was shocked at the end prices, $90 for fluids, $600 for x-rays - which is more than surgery, anesthesia, pathology, x-rays, and meds for a growth removal at her regular vet (who was shocked at what I was charged). But I took it because she is my baby. What has ticked me off is the email I got today that her insurance claim cant be processed because the clinic is showing I still owe the full balance. The night I took her in I had to give them my credit card info via the phone (because covid), and got a text message from the credit card company showing the charge go through, before they even returned my dog to me. This charge for the full amount (showing paid to that specific VCA Hospital) has been cleared on my credit card since 12/20. When I called the woman I spoke with was pleasant but couldnt help and I now have to wait until tomorrow for the supervisor to call me back. How does a company operate this way? Now my insurance reimbursement (if any) will be delayed even longer. I would not have even known about this had my insurance company not notified me. Where is this $1200 the clinic just seems to be missing? Because its already come out of my account. Very unprofessional.
I feel compelled to share my experience in hopes that anyone reading a negative review reads my story and can understand what an amazing place VCA truly is.I had to make the incredibly terrible and emotional decision to put my dog down this past weekend. The plan was to go to Buddy’s normal vet on Monday when they opened, but his condition became an emergency much quicker than expected. My mother called VCA, explained what was going on and they told us to bring him in when we were ready. We walked in hardly able to speak with tears rolling down our faces and they took us to a room down the hall right away. The compassion and sincerity of the staff was unbelievable right to the end.Once Dr. B came in she was immediately calm and so patient with us. Listening to my story of when I first got Buddy, listening to the issues he had been having and just genuinely caring about how terribly sad this all was for my mother and I. But what got me most of all was when she looked at us and said “you’re making the right decision”. I absolutely lost it. She had know idea how much that meant to hear because how do you really know if it’s the right decision? The affirmation was needed and greatly appreciated.Overall they made a terrible experience feel as bearable as possible and I cannot express how greatful I am for their kindness. The doctor even sent a hand written card expressing her condolences. This place is over the top and I’m so glad to have ended up there knowing that my baby was in perfect hands.
Exceptional!! I can’t begin to explain how amazing and fantastic this place is! From the moment we walked in the door was outstanding! These people really go above and beyond to ensure the care and love of your fur baby! Our baby went in with seizures and they admitted her to ICU. We received timely updates and awesome pictures!! We live 30 min away and having to leave our baby there was very hard but knowing she was in such good hands was the best comfort we had. Our dog has high anxiety but was so comfortable there. They strive for that. Our bill was so much less then expected. We would have sold our home to help our baby but it wasn’t even as much as a mortgage payment so we were so happy. Thank you all again. You have a special place in our hearts forever.Heidi & Teigen Gavrilovic
A week ago, my dog went into my bag and ate a bunch of trail mix containing raisins and I rushed her here. I was so happy that I made the right decision and came because I severely underestimated how much she ate! The staff were so kind and attentive to both my dog and I and I appreciate them keeping me informed throughout the process. She hasnt had any problems since then and my primary vet is now monitoring her. Thank you so much to all the staff!
My young adult dog was experiencing extremely dire and concerning gastrointestinal issues from an unknown source. From the initial call with Brittany, I knew we were in good hands at VCA. Upon arrival, we were greeted with kind hearts and a loving and understanding atmosphere. There was absolutely no wait (we didn’t even have time to enjoy the accommodating and clean waiting room) and upon arrival in triage, Jeff, who completely understood Dill’s yellow ribbon, nervous dog personality, greeted us. In fact, the entire staff won Dill over which is a remarkable accomplishment!!Dr. Ellis could not have been more informative, understanding, and treatment focused. I asked so many questions and she patiently explained everything and assuaged our concerns! In a time of extreme anxiety and panic, Dr. Ellis comforted us. I truly cannot thank you enough and, while I hope to never see you again (for Dill’s sake), I know if I do, we are in good hands.Because of the kindness, comfort and attention we receive from our regular vet, I was extremely skeptical, and, truthfully, worried about bringing Dill to an emergency vet. That skepticism was immediately eliminated by our experience at VCA. The urgency of the entire staff was key to my peace of mind – it was as if Dill was their own! The bill was completely reasonable, broken down clearly, and discussed with us up front. I highly recommend VCA to anyone experiencing the unfortunate shock of a suddenly ill animal.
Our dog is a Patient of Dr. Conway for Ophthalmology and we are thrilled with the service, not only at the front desk, but with the Doctor and her Technicians. The office staff is very friendly and accommodating. Clean office and we have never had long wait times for our appointments. Always on time and very helpful. I encourage others who love their pet (like I do) to call VCA Great Lakes for their pets medical needs. :)
I can’t say enough good things about this place! My dog was deathly ill for 5 days, was at the vet 3 separate times prior to coming here, and nobody was able to figure out what was wrong with him. Their ER veterinarian was very thorough, took her time examining him, and detected a mass in his abdomen. She knew something was very wrong and ordered an ultrasound. Their radiology specialist found an intestinal blockage that was missed 3 times at other facilities in the days prior! If not for their thoroughness, and level of skill, my dog would be dead. He needed emergency surgery and ICU care which wasn’t cheap, but where has anybody ever heard of a cheap surgery?Regardless, they were up front and honest about the costs and our options, and there were no surprises at discharge. In our case, his total care ended being less than the low end of their estimate and we were actually refunded money. I don’t know if they’ve replaced a lot of staff since some of the negative reviews were posted, but every working soul there was nothing short of an angel in my experience. Everyone was deeply compassionate, happy to answer questions, and really really knew their stuff! I was texted videos by the nursing staff during his ICU stay, and called daily by his attending veterinarian with updates. His surgeon gave me the foreign body they retrieved from his intestines and let me dissect it! This group of people are some of the most knowledgeable and compassionate caregivers I have ever encountered for people or pets! I say this as a Nurse Practitioner and former ICU nurse! I hope to never need their services again, but if I do, I wont go anywhere else! Thank you for all that you do and thank you for saving my Huckleberry’s life!!!
Our cat had a bad viral eye problem that our usual vet could not cure. We took Monte to Dr. Conway for further diagnosis and treatment. So glad we did. Monte started to recover immediately. He is almost entirely better now. Feels like a miracle! Highly recommend Dr. Conway for animal eye problems.
Our brand new puppy, whom we had only had for 2 days (from Friendship Animal Shelter, Elyria) needed to be hospitalized for parvo. It was heartbreaking to leave our 8 week old puppy, however, the staff and techs and Dr. Katie Franz made it bearable. I cannot say enough about the kindness that the entire staff showed us and the loving care our Heidi received. The VCA hospital was clean and odor-free. We HIGHLY recommend this facility for any animal emergency.
I cannot say enough about how wonderful the staff of VCA are and what a great facility it is. My 6-lb yorkie, Scraps, had been mauled and was severely injured and in shock when I rushed him in last month. He was admitted and taken back for care immediately and without question. The medical staff was able to stabilize him and kept us apprised every step of the way on his condition. We were treated with kindness and care by everyone on duty and throughout multiple visits back while scraps convalesced. The facility is clean, highly organized and state-of-the-art. I cant tell you what incredible care they took of our little guy and what an amazing job they did getting him back in perfect health. If it wasnt for VCA we wouldve lost him for sure. Id like to give a special shout out to Dr. Thomas and vet tech Renee for going above and beyond the call of duty, and just for being incredibly kind, caring and awesome human beings! I highly recommend VCA in any emergency care your beloved pet may need. Thank you all at VCA again for taking such great care of our Scraps!
Our experience taking two Boston Terriers to see Dr. Conway has been nothing but exceptional. As our dogs have gotten older and encountered eye problems, Dr. Conway and Joseph have walked us through whats going on and what is needed to help ameliorate the dogs health concerns. Everything is always explained to us clearly, and they are sure to ask before going forward with any procedures. I cant recommend them any more highly!
Its hard to not recommend a companion animal oncologist, because they are hard to find, but I would say if you have a pet with cancer, if you can go to another place for treatment, do so. I had a pretty negative experience with their oncology vet. I should point out, Ive worked in animal research for several years and also as a zookeeper, so I generally feel pretty comfortable speaking with vets about my pets needs, and I like to think I have a pretty good sense of when a vet is providing adequate care and advice to me.After my senior cat was diagnosed with terminal cancer here, I set up a consultation to discuss palliative (quality-of-life maintenance, non-curative) care. I was very clear that I wasnt interested in putting the old guy through any invasive treatments that would buy a couple of months at best, and that I really just wanted to look at different chemo and end-of-life maintenance options. Despite that, the doctor insisted we discuss radiation treatments for approximately the first 25 minutes of my visit, and when I reasserted, for the third or fourth time, that radiation was not for me or my cat, she said, well, your cat isnt a good candidate for radiation, anyway. OK, glad we just wasted half of this visit then.The doctor went on to recommend we begin giving the cat quarterly CT scans ($2k a pop, mind you) to track the progression of the disease. When I asked what benefit that would have, given that the disease was terminal, and therefore knowing that a tumor has developed or grown does not change the outcome or treatment, I was not provided with an answer. Frankly, this felt like a cash grab.Overall, Id say the 50 minute, $150 consultation included about 10-15 minutes of discussion on chemo options, and really she just gave me a pamphlet on dog chemo options and told me to read it and that cats were pretty similar. Money not-so-well spent consulting with this vet.Furthermore, a couple weeks later, my new vet contacted VCA to speak with the oncologist to help familiarize herself with my cats case. I had not expressed any dissatisfaction with my new vet regarding my experience with this oncologist, however my vet commented that she had an unusually difficult time getting a response from the oncologist, and that she was concerned because she felt the quality of information provided to her by the oncologist was both contradictory and poor.To me, this suggests that this oncologist lacks organization, knowledge, and frankly, a drive to provide quality care to pets. I was very disappointed and while my hope is to never need an animal oncologist again to begin with, should I have that need in the future, I will not consider returning to this office.
Brought my dog in through the Emergency department on 6/25/2019. Romeo had been having an eye issue since the beginning of May without any real results after treatment from his primary vet. Everyone was very compassionate from Erica at the front desk, the tech Angie, the emergency vet,Dr Ganofsky and especially Dr Conway for fitting me in between her extremely busy schedule.I am very pleased with how this situation was handled. I feel I was very well informed and my fur baby was well taken care of during this visit. All charges were explained, approved by me and at a very reasonable charge. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS FACILITY TO ANYONE WITH A FUR BABY EMERGENCY!!!!!!!Thank you everyone at VCA
The Vets here are the most caring people. They really want what is best for the animal and have their hearts in the right place. They were so good to our dog. When we put him down, they were there with us to comfort us and I appreciate everything they did. Prices aside, this is a great place. Worth the money if you want your dog to feel at peace.
We noticed that our male Siberian cat had a slight problem with his rear left leg. We were afraid that he might have a fracture or some other issue, so we sought out a vet on the east side that was open on Sundays. We found VCA via web search, called them, and were told to bring him in.My wife and I arrived around 2:15 PM, spent about 10 minutes in the waiting room, and were taken to an exam room. The CVT (Credentialed Veterinary Technician) who escorted us to the exam room gathered some basic info, took our cat to get his vitals and to have him triaged by one of the vets. She brought him back and told us that the vet would be in to see us shortly. We wait about 10 minutes, the Dr. Sigurdson came in, greeted us warmly, and asked us more details about his behavior, medical history, etc. She had us get him to walk around the room to observe his behavior and movement. She then did a detailed exam. Our cat did not appear to have any fractures or other serious issues. She discussed the options we had available and we decided on a blood test, a pain med, rest, and monitoring over the next few days. All together she spent about 30 minutes with us. The fee for their services and the pain medication was around $290.00.We would go back to VCA if our regular vet was not available.
GLVC has kept my Waldo healthy and safe for years now. His quality of life has improved 100%. They are not only superior doctors and technicians, they they love and care for your pet as if it were their own. All of them are heroes to our best friends.
We took my beloved cat to VCA Great Lakes late last night to be euthenized. He had cancer and was in a lot of pain. He let us know it was time to go.Being late on a Saturday night our vet was closed. They have VCA listed on their website for emergency care.The staff was so kind and compassionate. They explained the process in detail and someone sat with us until everything was over.♥️
My friends little dog got attacked by a mastiff. She was not doing well. Her eye was hanging out. It was an ER trip. They wouldnt help the dog w/o $1800. Not even put the eye back in. What kind of Dr does that? And send the poor dog away? Idk. Thats really pathetic in my book. Theres no excuse to let an animal suffer. They did give the option to euthanize 😶an otherwise healthy young dog. Sad. Sad. Sad. I guess they dont take an oath. Or do they?
My baby Jags had gotten into the trash where some Baclofen was discarded, an she had eaten a fatal dose, which is the truth I received from the Dr once I expressed not being able to pay 4K. Upon entering the clinic to see my baby excessively sedated and passing , I’m upset they even suggest to keep her knowing she was pretty much dying. The girls at the front desk was laughing an have a blast as I felt my life slipping away from me losing my dog baby that was the most insensitive thing for me. I’ll never forget it. For me I wish the quality of life was more important instead of making me feel that because I couldn’t pay now I should put her down peacefully but she was already paralyzed an barely breathing. I appreciate the Dr in the end for being honest with me and thanks for the card. My dog meant more to me than you know. The girl who answered the phone initially I think Tori was beyond compassionate thank you. I guess it’s a business at the end of the day so money means more.
I have worst expericence in this clinic.The front desk girl was very rude. There is no value of emergency in this emergency clinic.People who are coming after are treated first and gone and We still wait 3 hours for doctor to see my dog.After that nurse told different rate for medicines and receptionist is charging more money than being told.I suggest everyone to keep dog home before coming to this emergency clinic.
I came in because my vet was closed and recommended this place. However, when I came in I didn’t expect to spend my night here! I have things to do like WORK! When I came in there was no one I quickly got into a room and my cat was scene and the doctor came in shortly after to give us the updates. Then tick tock tick tock......waiting.....waiting an hour goes by I ask the front desk any idea when we can leave and I was told to be patient?! Be patient just like you were in a emergency with people you would be there all night. First of all, how about a thank you for your patience and second of all did these animals come in with gun shot wounds or something what is so severe that I had to be put on the back burner? At the end of the day it is an animal let’s keep everything in its place you cannot liken an emergency room to a vet clinic you go to the ends of the earth to save humans but with animals any minor not just major threat to their health vets have no problem giving the option to put them down so I don’t even want to hear that. There’s no reason I should have waited that long only thing is I can think of is too many trainees do that during the day not at “rush hour” people have things to do. Staff was friendly but they need to be balanced with the flow of the patients in and out make better use of their time especially if you are going to charge your clients an arm and a leg. If I didn’t love my cat I wouldn’t have stayed and dealt with the stress but I hope to never have to come to this facility again. I went to another one previously and the time in and out was fast and my cat was better and he suffered from the same problem but this facility too many hands in the pot taking up my precious time!
If I could give them no stars I would. Puppy was not critical enough to see them. they told me they couldnt help after I called and spoke with them and then drove all the way there. to have the nurse come out and say they do anything because she is not critical enough. Horrible Place, not helpful at all. Dont know why they are even open if they are not going to help.
I want to say that before I go into how disappointed I was with my visit that the staff was very polite and courteous. I was taken into a room right away and treated very well . I was greeted with compassion and concern and I have no issues with the professionalism of the staff. Now for the bad. I arrived at 9:45 pm with a very ill dog that had vomited up blood and was very lethargic and also had a case of diarrhea. Knowing those 2 things it would be an obvious indication that the dog was dehydrated. After they took me in and took my dog back they return to me about an hour later with a proposal of what they needed to do which was blood work x-rays. this estimate was just shy of 1000.00. I told them to proceed figuring this was going to be an expensive night and was not that shocked. they told me it would be a couple of hours to get the results back and 3 hours later they were. I was told that they could not see an obstruction but they recommended that she stay 48 hours and see a specialist in the am and go on IV fluids and the estimated cost would be 4000.00 my heart sank because I knew I could not afford this. I asked if they could just keep her on fluids for the night and I would take her to my vet in the AM. The new price was 2000.00. Now it is 2am and my vet opens in just a few hours so I decided to take my dog home and paid 1100.00 for my 5 hour visit. During this visit my dog who was recommended to stay on IV fluids to treat dehydration was never put on fluids. She was given a small amount under the skin since I was taking her home but I dont know why if it was so critical for her to get these fluids why she sat for 5 hours without getting them. I also felt like I was in a very venerable position since my dog was very ill and that proposing these very high prices they were taking advantage of that situation. Every time I questioned prices they came back with an area where I was receiving a discount. I understand that this is a business and the objective is to make money but the amounts that are being quoted were mind blowing. I will never go to a VCA facility again. I believe the business practices of this company prey on people at a very emotional state and victimize them in a very unjust way. Not only did I feel taken advantage of I was truly sickened by the treatment of a senior citizen that brought her dog in while in cardiac arrest. the staff rushed out and said do you want CPR the lady was in tears and said yes and the rushed the dog back. then while she was being asked questions about her pet it did not make sense to do the to an old dog that was on 4 medications a day for CHF. She them opted to have him put down. A few minutes later while going over the bill they pointed out yes pointed out that they were discounting the CPR rate to 12 price since she did tell them to do it and they started it and then stopped like they were doing her a favor. I was mortified to say the least. Again I understand that this type of business is costly to run and has a lot of overhead but it does not warrant the prices that are charged and the blatant display of taken advantage is really unbelievable. I was finally able to leave the clinic at 2:40 am. I had a dog that was hospitalized for for 2 weeks and was on iv fluids every day and that he was there and my bill at the end of this 2 weeks was less than 2000.00 this included around the clock care and other medications. I have had pets of all sizes for most of my life and I have never seen something like this.
We brought our dog here after waiting 4 hours at a different emergency clinic. Everyone was so nice and we were seen and Penny was treated right away. We were able to relax a little with coffee and snacks in the lobby while knowing she was in great hands. We cant thank everyone there enough!
Absolutely Amazing!! First let me start with, I have an 8 year old daughter who suffered a stroke and has Cerebral Palsy. She has been on medication since birth to help with muscle spasticity. Her Therapy dog “Teddy”, had accidentally ingested some of her medication that fell on the floor. Turned out to be very toxic for him and it paralyzed his chest and he could barely breathe.Our vet was not equipped to treat Teddy (who by now was doing pretty bad), and reached out to VCA. We rushed as fast as we could the 25 miles to get there. The Vet, not a Vet Tech, was waiting on us upon arrival, and took Teddy back to begin treatment. Now when they get us checked in, and give us the treatment plan for him. The cost was way more then we can afford, even if we could make payments. We were faced with having to put Teddy “down”. The Vet stepped out for a moment, and when she returned, she says that she had contacted a donor she new and that they would cover the entire cost of his treatment plan. This wasn’t a quick fix. Teddy spent 3 days in the I.C.U. Teddy is back home now, and back to his “normal”, playful, and love able self.I can’t even begin to sing their praises enough for everything that they did for my family. We will be forever grateful!! Everyone there is so kind and caring. Would recommend Highly to anyone!!
It is hard to fully describe how much I love this place. I am the pickiest when it comes to vets for my cats. Moved here from California and was on a quest to find good veterinarians. VCA Great Lakes Dr Ferguson and her team..Melody and / Dr Irom are some of the best vets you will ever find. I brought 2 cats to Dr. Ferguson with very complicated issues and she has pretty much helped to save and prolong their lives. I really am indebted to all of them. You wont find a better place in the Cleveland area. And on top of all of it the kindest people you will ever know. I would recommend them to anyone! Wish I could give 6 stars:)
My dog, Daphne, succumbed to end-stage renal failure last night. With nowhere else to turn about a place to keep her body until I could come into funds for her cremation, I turned to VCA and I could not have made a better choice. I spoke to Becca on the phone (Im not sure if thats how you spell it and if it isnt and you see this I apologize Becca!) and she was so caring, so patient. She really made me feel reassured and it was a light I didnt know I needed. Id never met this woman until last night and yet I felt I could put my entire trust in her, and in a sense I did.When I went to receive her body today, Im not sure who I spoke to at the front desk, but the experience was the same as twelve hours prior; nothing but compassion and caring people. Both behind the desk and in the waiting room. I hope to never have to use VCA again, for either the reason I did or an emergency. But, if I do, I can trust my fur babies will be in good hands.Thank you, VCA. You made a terrible night just a bit easier.
This facility is difficult to work with, unfriendly and overcharged for a simple blood draw...$150+ dollars claiming that they did a thorough review. The appointment lasted less than 10 minutes and they were aware that the blood draw was a follow up for use with MedVet in Columbus for our dogs on-going b-cell lymphoma treatment. Repeated calls were necessary to get bill adjusted and, even after they agreed to adjust the bill, I was told that I would have to come in with our credit card as they couldnt do adjustment any other way. I just gave up. So disappointed in their care, lack of compassion and price gouging.
I suspected our cat was at the end of his road and couldn’t handle waiting until Monday to make a normal appointment so we decided to bring him here. As soon as I walked through the doors and explained the situation everyone was so kind. The front desk ladies, the technitian, and the vet made us feel like they really cared. They were all so respectful and made this as painless as possible for us. We are very glad we brought him here and said goodbye to him in a great hospital.
Dr Conway is fabulous however this is a company that offers you a chance to win a $100 for a 5 star rating!
All I have to say is this place was magnificent. We brought pebbles here because she had some intestinal blockage. We thought she wouldn’t make it but the great doctors, love and compassion towards Pebbles was amazing. We are so thankful that we have our baby back and she is doing great. I want to tell everyone at this location THANK YOU! I know the staff here are doing their jobs but they do it with compassion. For some, the expense is a little overwhelming at times but it is an emergency room. They have expenses to pay just like any other business. Don’t listen to the negative reviews. It can be expensive but our pet is a family member not just a dog. THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH. :-)
There are a few areas I would like to review which I will break up below. But the overall summary is that this facility only cares about money. If you want compassion and caring, go elsewhere. Ive used the surgery center in Akron at Metropolitan and the ER services at Westpark in the past and they were both wonderful, attentive, knowledgeable, and very caring.Emergency Services - my dog got very ill very quickly. I brought her here for ER services since she was already seeing an internist here and assumed since she was only 3 lbs and in critical condition that they could get a hold of her internist if needed. I believe we had Dr Ziegler in the ER - she seemed very inexperienced, and as I looked up her profile online now she is merely an associate vet. My dog was in very critical condition and as she reviewed the blood work she kept insisting on having all the pieces fit into 1 diagnoses rather than having treat multiple issues. They also noted that they could not provide services like an ultrasound until Mon AM (this was Fri evening). I asked the vet tech (younger girl, long dark hair) if she needs something sooner if they would refer me to another hospital that could actually provide the level of care that she needs. The vet tech got very snippy with me (after I had just signed a 4k estimate without hesitation...this place will not do anything until you sign on the dotted line...I was provided with multiple estimates, including one before even an initial IV) and said yes which was wholly unconvincing. Overall I had a bad feeling about the quality and level of care and in the end they were unable to save my dog. Ive had emergency services in Westpark and they took my dog back immediately to assess and start treatment and I didnt have to discuss estimates or pricing until they knew she was taken care of.ICU - my dog was admitted to the ICU where I was assured she would have 24/7 care. I was called and informed that she passed away in her cage without them knowing it until the vet tech did the rounds. Im not exactly sure how she could pass away without anyone noticing when there is 24/7 care in the ICU (or so I was told). When I pressed on this I was told there is always someone in the ICU but they do rounds once an hour - so Im not sure what value there is to having someone in there. They also told me they would send text updates - I had to confirm this with 3 people (front desk, vet tech when I visited my dog, and vet tech when I called for an update before 10pm) before I finally received one. I also had to ask and remind 3 people (vet tech, front desk, and vet) to finally be able to visit her before I left. Even more shocking and horrifying is when the vet called to inform me that she passed (we spoke around 2am) she asked me if I wanted to settle my bill! I had already prepaid $2,800 which would have more than covered the cost of her short time with them but again money is ever present when dealing with VCA.Internist - I was seeing Dr Irom for the past 2 months. Prior to this experience I would have said that she cared and spent time explaining everything to me about the care of my pet. However, she only works Mon - Thurs, and after finding out in the ER that she is off and unreachable if you see her you better hope you pet only needs her during her working hours. Also, my pet passed away Friday evening. By Saturday morning my regular vet had called both myself and my parents when she heard the news. Dr Irom is in today (Monday-I called and confirmed) and I never heard from her. I think that shows the level of care and compassion at this facility.My dog was in very bad shape and it is very likely another ER may not have been able to save her, but from the cold indifference of the staff to the constant signing of estimates (and trying to get me to settle my bill at 2am after informing me of her passing) this facility made a terrible experience even worse.
I would not bring any animal here. We brought our dog in after a very normal morning, went to the groomers, then was very lethargic and breathing heavy. We were very concerned and it was a Saturday so we had no choice to bring our dog here. They took our 10 pound dog immediately after seeing him dehydrated and in his condition and started doing tests. After a 4.5 hour wait of no one telling us what is happening to our dog and no update, we were called into the room for them to tell us he had to stay over the weekend to get fluids and pain control, which would cost around $3300. And then we discovered that for the 4.5 hours of us sitting in the waiting room and our poor dog sitting in the back (who by the way hates vets).. they didn’t even have him hooked up to an IV. - even humans are given IVs when they enter the hospital. The doctor told us our dog was dehydrated when we first entered and still didn’t start fluids or even give us the option to start or not. I would highly recommend choosing a different 24 hour emergency vet.
Our dog was having seizures and pain. Made two emergency trips, one late Thursday night, one early Saturday morning. The vets and staff were excellent. Reasonably priced considering the staff and resources they have available 24 hours per day. Kind, caring, and very helpful. You can tell they really care about your pet.
I would highly recommend VCA. The doctors and staff are incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and they treat their animals with lots of love and care. My cat was there recently for a few days and the staff went above and beyond to give my cat the best care possible and keep me updated on his status. Best animal hospital experience Ive ever had!
We had a very sick dog with kidney disease and were on the verge of putting her down, when we took her to this animal hospital for treatment. With their extensive knowledge and care, our dog survived and has made a miraculous recovery! All the staff treated us very kindly and Dr. Brooks called us twice a day to give us updates on her condition. He took plenty of time answering all our questions regarding her disease. We couldn’t be more pleased! Our heartfelt thanks to them for caring so much about our Emily.
Worse Experience!!I took my dog in because of he was close to passing away. The individuals working there started off quite friendly and showed empathy for what was happening. As we began the process to administer euthanasia they told me they would take my dog in the back to prep him. First by giving him a sedative to help him relax, and by there being fluid in his lungs the doctor said he would be able to breathe easier. So like any normal person I say “ok” and I tell my dog “I’ll see you in a second”. As I am signing paper work and going over my options regarding body care all of a sudden the doctor comes in and tells me my dog is beginning to pass away and I should come in to say goodbye. So when I walk in the back I see my dog surrounded by 4 people his chest not rising or falling as they are trying to put a needle in his vein. I noticed a band aid on his back leg suggesting they they tried to put the needle in his back leg but were unsuccessful. While in front of me they tried his front leg—again unsuccessful. And finally were successful in his back leg to finally end my dog’s struggle. He without question was choking to death (fluid was in his lungs and when we laid down he couldn’t breathe) and he had no idea I was even there.Immediately after he was pronounced dead I began to express my frustration with not being able to interact with my responsive dog. I never got a chance to even say goodbye to my dog while he could look and know it was me. But of course my thoughts were not received well. One individual there even tried to tell me “he knew you were there, he was just ready to let go, you weren’t” —which I felt insulted my intelligence. I knew this day was coming, I watched him get sicked, and I brought him to you because I knew he was struggling. So how am I not ready to let go, because I wanted to say my last goodbye? That same empathy that was shown at the beginning of the service quickly disappeared. They collectively couldn’t bring themselves to saying “We messed up”. I understand you are the experts in this field and usually you are right. But, this time you handled the situation all wrong.I am completely dissatisfied, and I feel it’s my duty to strongly encourage anyone that reads this to never use their services. Especially in your pet’s final moments.
I never wanted to have a reason to take my dog to VCA - wed never need to go to an emergency center, right? So so wrong. After Pickles got into a nasty fight and injured his eye, we made the trip to VCA Great Lakes. The staff was incredibly kind and attentive, giving updates as they assessed the damage. They were there for us in the following weeks and months as we came in for opthemologist appointments. I am so thankful that they were there when we needed them.
My dog got super sick and his vet told me to take him here. it was a Friday and they took him back. We were told that my dog was VERY sick and could die, but their technician was out until Monday (it was Friday). They said that we could leave him here and wait until Monday...REALLY!?!? I took him to Akrons Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital that night. They MIGHT be good on weekdays, but i wouldnt take your animal there on a Friday or the weekend. When i took my pup to Akron, they told us that we were misinformed - yes, my dog was very sick BUT was not close to dying! i will not take my dog back here unless i had no other choice.adding more on: they also charged me $1000 for basically nothing...thumbs down.
Taking our cat here was the worst thing we could have done.. We felt they took advantage of the situation and pressured to either spend nearly $4000 or putting him down. The next day our regular vet diagnosed our cat with diabetes and other than getting regular injections he’s totally fine and at almost no cost. Would never go back to this vet EVER!
Just had to take one of my dog’s in for an emergency procedure and the care was EXCELLENT!! We have visited VCA Great Lakes on too many occasions and each time the dealings with the staff had been top notch! Thank you for taking care of our fur babies and the parents who are freaking out while you have them in your care! I appreciate you all!!
We had an emergency with our cat one night and came in right away. They address emergencies right away, however there is a wait to get results from testing and imaging. The techs and vet took the time to explain what was going on and gave a thourough plan of action, with rationales on why a particular test or treatment is necessary.Being an emergency room, they do charge a visit fee, in addition to fees for particular services. There can be also a wait, but it is expected from any ER. They went over all the costs beforehand, explaining each amount. I do not think the costs are unreasonable, based on the fact of the various services offered. They often have specialists on site and provide consults with imaging specialists. The wait time to read imaging results is also warranted because of the consult with specialists. It is worth the wait to make sure nothing is missed.The facility itself was quite clean. One may expect animal hair everywhere, but this was not the case. I cant comment on experiences during other hours of day, except the night service.
After consulting with my regular vet for nearly a year about my 12 year old cat’s diarrhea and weight loss, I finally decided to go to VCA. In fact my cat had actually stopped eating and would probably have died within a few days. Poor Nina (never a large cat) had dropped to less than 5 lbs - truly skin and bones. The staff at VCA immediately performed several diagnostic tests including an ultrasound of her GI tract as well as a battery of lab tests and were able to prescribe a combination of antibiotics to treat what was later diagnosed as pancreatitis and possible IBS. (My regular vet had tried treating her with the same antibiotics but at the wrong dosages and length of treatment.) Eventually we also added steriods to her treatment regimen. Nina is now doing much better - has gained well over a pound and is eating with gusto. I credit the staff at VCA with saving her life and greatly improving her quality of life. While the initial visit was not inexpensive- the follow up care was reasonable. Well worth the investment!
I brought my little girl Beagle here after a neighbor kicked her in the head so bad that her eyeball, and optic nerve were were dragging on the ground. (She was defending her nursing puppies from the fenced-yard intruder.) Despite the fact I am retired, and on a fixed income, Great Lakes worked hours in surgery to save the eyeball, and her sigh. We agreed on a zero-interest payment plan for the $1k surgical expense, and they provided free already opened medications, and a half-dozen follow up exams, without additional charges. Both little girl Beagle, and the puppies went on to lead happy and healthy lives.
I had a small emergency for my dog. She was in a lot of pain. My primary vet could not see her and sent me to VCA. I was in and out in an hour-ish. The vet doctor (Dr. McHenry) I had was amazing. She kept it plain and simple, no sugar coating and gave me choices for my dog. Rather than saying x-rays are the only option, cause I am sure that would be expensive. I recommend this place for emergencies. The only downside is that it is $112 for a visit. I think that is way too much. My dog is my baby so of course I am going to pay it.
Please be careful using these services when you do not know what is wrong with your dog. Our healthy 2 year old Border Collie Aussie Mix was terrified of the fireworks on the evening 7/3. At 11 p we let him out to go to the bathroom when a neighbor let off a very loud firecracker- he bolted through the electric fence and ran down our side street in total fear. 20 minutes later we found him and his back paw was bleeding and he was panting heavily. We had no idea what happened to his paw. at 12MN we immediately drove to VCA Warrensville and the staff took him back right away. Dr Kelly came back to tell us his pulse was 220 and his temp was 104.7 and that his paws lost the top layer of skin and that would grow back. The plan was to get his vitals signs under control with fluid boluses, pain meds and sedation when they debrided his paws and send us home with anti anxiety meds Trazadone. .We were given the option of admitting him for 12 hours ( Dr Kelly did not think that was necessary) so we were able to take him home after 5 hours with assurance his VS were stable ( fever down to 99.) Explanation given was his anxiety & heat stroke caused the VS spike. 12 hours later his breathing was 80 a minute - I immediately called the VCA and was told that is normal for a dog having had sedation and opiates for pain. I said no its not, opiates decrease respiration. They said they were only concerned if he was acting hyper. He was lethargic - we were about to take him back in when he died, right in front if us and the adoring grandchildren. We then found out in the neighborhood that he was likely hit by a car - we were never given that info to share with the Vet. I spoke to our dogs personal vet who read his medical record and he indicated with the wound description in the medical record - abrasion with asphalt- he felt the wound description clearly warranted a differential diagnosis of blunt force trauma and it ought to have been investigated and IT WAS NOT. He likely died of internal bleeding secondary to the hit that these VETS did not even consider. We took him back to VCS for cremation. I cannot believe no one besides a Vet Tech has ever called us (upon my request for a call) with condolences and to tell me they missed diagnosed him.
So pleased with my service, I knew what to expect going into an emergency animal clinic. I knew the bill was going to be a little pricey and honestly I didnt care about anything else but getting my baby better. And they did exactly that. The environment was so clean and sanitary .honestly I was kind of skeptical to come here because of the 3 star rating, but then I asked the secretary Carolyn why it was like that because I wanted to make a 5 star review already and my visit wasnt even close to over yet. They gave my Layla the attention she needed and I was kind of upset I couldnt bring my baby home but I knew she was in excellent hands so I wasnt to worried. Overall I was very satisfied from the moment i walked in to the moment i walked out. Thank you again.
This place was the absolute worse. We took our dog there, today, because she was having trouble breathing. I had my 20 year old daughter with me and this was her very first time in a situation of life or death with a pet that she had had from a newborn puppy. This child was ready to spend every single cent that she had to help her friend until they dropped a price of $2,000+ dollars for tests and 24 hour hospitalization and still there was no guarantee because of the dogs age. The kicker is that they back you up against a wall because you have to pay the entire amount before any service is performed or you can apply for their credit card which you may or may not be approved for. Youre almost left with no choice but to put the dog out of its misery, which we ended up doing. We told the nurse that we only wanted to be present for the first part of the procedure where they administer a drug to make the pet sleep...just how they would do for surgery. We told her that we did not want to be present for the 2nd part of the procedure which actually put the animal to sleep. This was NEVER communicated to the doctor and this lame duck was about to give the 2nd drug while my daughter was holding the dog. I had to stop him and inform him that we did not want to witness that part. This doctor had absolutely NO emotion....he just turned around and mumbled that no one told him and he walked out of the room. No apology to my daughter....no compassion that she was crying her eyes out....NO NOTHING. This was clearly just a job for him that hes done so many times that he is just immune to families and how devastating this is for them. Do not give this pet hospital your money. Take your pet and your money somewhere else.
I had the worst experience EVER at this place. They tried to charge me a ridiculous amount of money to treat my cat. When I questioned the price they told that I should give my pet away or euthanize it. The cat had a block urinary tract and they were trying to charge almost $2000 to treat him. Treatment was to insert a catheter and drain/flush the bladder. I had the same thing done at the vet 14 months ago for $386. Now lets get back to the point. When I explained that I love my cat and wouldnt consider that and if I wanted him to die I wouldnt have brought him here, they continued to say it. The doctor herself even came in to make the suggestion (vindictivaly) even after I specifically told the nurse that making that suggestion was both extreme and a moot point because I wanted my cat to live. Anyway after I consented to pay a lesser amount they were done with the cat in less than 30 minutes. Really, you would kill an animal over a 30 minute procedure. These people are vultures.
Total reviews rating 3.8
199 Reviews for VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists 2023:
Review №1
2022-01-28My dog needed a foreign body removal surgery and unfortunately was unable to get it at his regular vet. VCA was the closest vet to out home. I called and was able to get him in immediately. All of the staff there was so kind and friendly. My poor boy had to stay for 2 days, and never once was I worried about it. The staff called regularly with updates, and was more than willing to give me an extra update or two when I would call myself. He couldnt have been in better care.That being said, it is a 24-hour emergency clinic so it is going to be more expensive than a regular vet. We paid several thousand dollars more than we would have if our vet had been staffed accordingly. Again, knowing its a round-the-clock emergency center we knew it was going to cost more.All in all I would still highly recommend this clinic. Just he fully prepared to pay more when you go to an establishment that is always open and specializes in emergency care that you are going to have to pay extra.
Review №2
2022-07-21Dr. Kanwal, Nicole, Jodi and all the other staff who have helped my doggo “Lettuce”, deserve an award.I brought my girl to them due to a traumatic injury to her face. Dr. Kanwal reviewed my photos and got her in quickly because she knew it shouldn’t wait (large area of bone exposure). She did a lot of work in my girls mouth and was honest about her concerns for the integrity of the repair due to the severity of the injury. We followed every single direction and gave all the medications as prescribed.Lettuce is doing amazing!!! I was very impressed by the suture work Dr. Kanwal did for the avulsions!We went to our 2 week follow up appt and everything was healing nicely. We will be going back to Dr. Kanwal in 4 months for some teeth to be removed as a result of the injury and I can honestly say i wouldn’t want anyone else to do her dental work from now on. I was very impressed with her work.Not to mention, Nicole would always let me know how much the team loved lettuce and missed her. That made me so happy knowing people were loving on my girl the same way we love her at home!
Review №3
2022-03-23My 12 year old fur baby has had terrible teeth. He had a canine that most likely needed removal and my regular vet suggested to bring him here. The staff was so friendly and efficient and Dr. Kanwal was amazing with my pup and the surgery on his mouth. He had 6 teeth removed and did great with recovery. I am so happy that I brought him here! I highly recommend VCA!
Review №4
2022-02-19From the front desk girl, to the assistant in the back, and Dr.Miller, everyone was compassionate, extremely kind and caring. I have had many furry kids. I have never been treated so well from any veterinarian….. Awesome place.
Review №5
2022-05-03VCA Great Lakes has truly been amazing to me and my dog Maverick. They were able to recognize how sick he was and moved up his appointment. By doing this, he was then able to be diagnosed and start treatment before the time of his original appointment. He probably would not have survived if he had to wait. Everyone has been so kind and understanding through this tough process from reception to ER techs and vets who are not involved in his actual case. Anytime there’s an update or progression of his illness and it’s in his teams off hour’s, Dr. Smith and Renee, tech are notified and call me when they are back in the office. The provider on hand then helps with the immediate problem. I have not seen this, even with my primary care vet. It shows an amazing system that truly cares for the well-being of your pet. Dr. Smith and Renee have been so kind and knowledgeable throughout this process. You can tell immediately that they have found their calling and I’m so happy they lead his care team. I would recommend VCA Great Lakes to everyone with a sick animal as they have you and your pets best interest at heart.
Review №6
2022-04-09A dedicated group of caring professionals. With a 4-week wait for a routine appointment with our primary vet, we turned to VCA Great Lakes when our cat showed signs of a critical ailment. As we suspected, it turned out to be terminal for our 18-year old Siamese. VCA very sympathetically explained options and were very attentive to our needs. Rest In Peace, Angel. You are already missed.
Review №7
2022-08-01My baby girl Emani was hit by a car! She had to spend 3 nights in a hyperbaric chamber! They did everything to make sure that she got to come home with us! The staff were all wonderful and kept in constant communication! They never got tired of answering my phone calls day or night! I can’t thank them enough for saving my baby girl
Review №8
2022-03-04Can’t say enough good things about this place. My dog Happy saved me three years ago. So when he was throwing up what appeared to be blood, I had to take him somewhere fast. Relatively new to the area I wasn’t sure and relied on Google which led us here.From the minute they spoke to me on the phone to getting into the lobby everyone was calm and caring, kept referring to Happy as my baby- just another sign of the character of the staff here. Doctor Stelmach was thorough and clear. She even ran bloodwork a second time just to double check a reading. Michelle ran my payment and made conversation while I waited for them to bring Happy out to me at the end of the night. She and everyone else up front kept the mood easy because to be honest I was pretty upset inside about my guy being so sick.I can’t recommend this place enough. Take all of your loved furry family members here.Thank you!!!
Review №9
2021-11-15Ive recently read pros and cons regarding VCA. I definitely have experience with VCA. However, even though my aura did not mix with the veterinary who would eventually perform the required surgery, I felt, at that time, true compassion of the associates. Totally helpful in securing payment strategies - my bill was almost 10K. Yes, it was expensive, but it was late at night and on a weekend...where do you find a regular veterinary service that will respond? You deeply love, you do what your heart tells you and God helps you find a way. It was not just an ordinary surgery, special screws and bolts had to be made, because of the small size of my cat. After surgery they allowed me to visit before going to work and after work. They would place my love on my lap on either a thin pillow or blanket for at least an hour visit.
Review №10
2022-05-21Our Soft coated wheaten terrier couldn’t stop vomiting one day and we drove to VCA on an early weekday evening. We did end up having to wait because there were a couple of critical cases happening, but they took very good care of our boy while he was waiting. They suggested we head home while he waited to be seen, and sent pictures of him meanwhile so we could see he was ok.Thank you to all of the staff for being incredibly friendly, caring and considerate. We feel very lucky to have VCA close by!