I brought my cat here for a CT on the recommendation of an emergency vet in the same center. Getting an appointment was challenging due to what was explained as staffing issues (Our phones are busy, we will have to call you back - and not getting a call back) but once I made the appointment on the third attempt everything was great. I was told the CT would take about 2-3 hours so I left to do a couple errands and came back and waited in their lobby. I was there as bit over 4 hours. The staff was really friendly and it is a nice, quiet facility. The doctor reviewed the procedure and let me know they did see something that needed a biopsy, which sunk my heart. He went over a few possibilities and explained in detail what could happen that night, such as a bloody nose, which I am so grateful he told me because when it happened, it didnt cause panic. I did send an email the next day with a photo and a question but did not get a response. I lagged on writing this review, as I did get the results back and my cat has cancer so my world has been turned upside down, so I forget the name of the gal at the front desk that I chatted with a lot this day about cats and birds and other things, she was really nice. My cat seemed comfortable in the exam room which made me happy. read more

Update: my kitty is now 20 years old and doing well! Thank you Adv Vet. for taking such good care of my boy. read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Watching my kitty on the iCat Webcam after his radioiodine therapy. - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

We had a wonderful experience from start to finish with our boy's Radioactive Iodine (I-131) treatment. With a young child at home, our beloved fur baby needed an extended stay of two weeks, and the care he received was exceptional. We were regularly updated on how he was doing and had access to a live camera feed, which made the separation a little easier on us. A special thank you to Sharon, who provided daily updates and clearly showed so much love and care for our boy during his stay--it meant the world to us. The cost of treatment was very reasonable, and most importantly, our guy is healthy again! We highly recommend this facility for anyone considering this treatment. The compassion, communication, and quality of care truly stood out. read more

I found this place through its good reviews after some research on I-131 clinics for my hyperthyroid cat. Everything went fine or as expected until my cat got spicy during her treatment. That's not normal for her; she's friendly and usually a relatively easy cat to treat. At the same time, the clinic stopped communicating with me as expected. It started with me losing access to the cat cam and finding an email in my inbox that she'd been treated (they said they would call me to let me know how it went). Further down it said my cat had been moved to alternative housing (without camera access) due to her personality. This was confusing not only because it didn't sound like my cat, but also because AVMI had never informed me this was an option. I called a few times that afternoon trying to get more information about what had happened, how the treatment had gone, and how my cat was doing now-and was met with either very evasive or dismissive responses from the clinic staff, which was worrisome. There was a tech Sarah who was unwilling to take any steps to create a better environment for my cat (even after she sent me a photo of my cat looking stressed, laying on a metal grate-definitely a different image than the representative "alternative housing" pictured online), and the head of the clinic staff Lisa Broome who refused my request to talk to Dr. Broome about what happened during my cat's treatment even though she could provide no additional detail herself. She also refused my requests to add a blanket or other features to my cat's cage, saying they were already there-until I disclosed I had seen a photo, and that what she was saying was simply not true. Then she said yes to my requests but got off the phone quickly. Later that day I came to discover that AVMI had shockingly blocked my phone number while my cat was in their facility, as my calls continually failed despite changing various call settings, but they would go through if I dialed *67 first or used another person's phone. I had called them only four times in the 48 hours my cat had been in their facility so far-I was not abusing the phone system. And yet they blocked my number while my cat was housed in their clinic! This is completely unconscionable. I drove to the clinic at one point when my calls weren't going through and dealt with Sarah again who kept smirking and rolling her eyes at me, otherwise ensuring she was not helpful in any way. Then I either borrowed someone's phone or dialed *67 to check on my cat 1-2 times a day, which even Sarah said would be an acceptable call frequency. As long as I didn't press them for information they didn't want to give, or let them on to the fact that I was deeply questioning how they were caring for my cat, the conversations stayed amicable. A couple of times when I called, Dr. Broome actually picked up, so I was able to ask him more about what happened, although his answers were a little vague and he sounded checked out. They didn't give her more gabapentin which my vet had prescribed for sedation if she was anxious, even after I reminded them it was a flavored liquid they could easily add to her food, and they became confused when I asked whether they used the pheromone calming spray they agreed to use when they admitted her. Later in the week there was a much more professional and caring tech I interacted with, who even called me to give me updates, which I greatly appreciated. Saturday morning Dr. Broome met with me to discharge my cat. I asked if he could send his full records to my general vet, and he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. Every time he spoke, she growled from her carrier. When I got her in the car, I put my hand out to her and she started licking it. She's been her usual affectionate self since. I don't doubt that she snapped for some reason involving the stress of the hospitalization, but also some vets are not good at handling cats; it's hard to comment on whether Dr. Broome is one of them. She came back reeking of feces and urine, her front claws shredded--not sure why. There were a number of steps AVMI could have taken to decrease her stress, and it took a great deal of advocating on my part to get them to perform some of them-or claim to. The fact that it took so much exhaustive effort on my part to get basic information from AVMI once they had treated my cat tells me that something is obviously amiss at this clinic. I know some people have great experiences there, but I was not one of them. If nothing out of the ordinary happens, it might seem on the surface like this clinic provides excellent care. But if you have a concern, information is hard to come by. It's like they are in intense CYA mode. Not sure what all there is to hide. In their other one-star reviews I found similar themes. In the end, I was relieved to get my cat back alive. read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Their advertised alternative housing. - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

See all

I was quoted $2700 for the therapy with the understanding that there would be additional charge for extra days. I agreed to the price, and paid the requested $400 up front. Upon arriving two weeks later, I was told that the cost would be $2900 because xrays of the heart were recommended. When I complained about the misquoted price, I was told that the xrays could be omitted. I am not going to spend that much money and not follow the recommended treatment protocol. The full treatment should have been provided for the quoted price of $2700! Too soon to know if the treatment was a success. read more

I searched for the best Radioactive iodine treatment center in Los Angeles when my cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. AVMI Tustin had the best reviews, and they weren't exaggerating. Dr. Broome is the kind of doctor you want for yourself- patient, compassionate, as is everyone who works there. I felt like I was doing the best I could for my cat, and the cat cam really helped me feel reassured that Puss was okay as I watched him most of the day! They responded promptly to calls and emails, and 5 weeks later, Puss's thyroid levels are normal, and he started playing again. It was worth the drive from LA- these people are the best! read more

Dr. Broome & his staff are all wonderful, caring & informative 'cat people'. They treated my scaredy cat Jethro for hyperthyroidism in February. He was hospitalized for about a week and the staff was wonderful taking my calls & giving me updates on how he was doing. They have a webcam so you can see for yourself how your kitty is doing. And they also have kitty tv in the kitty thyroid ward so the kitties are engaged & entertained during their stay. Jethro is doing incredibly well now! It took him a couple of months for his body to get used to his new normal. But he's doing great now! I highly recommend looking into this treatment if your kitty is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. If your kitty is a good candidate for the treatment, you can trust you kitty with Dr. Broome! read more

See all

My 13 year old cat was referred here for hyperthyroidism from our Los Angeles vet. I found Dr. Broome's considerate and thoughtful explanations detailing the process which really aided us when dropping him off. My cat Extra Mayo is a loving and kind boy, but at the vet he's been referred to as Extra Spicy Mayo because he turns into a very fearful and reactive cat. My daughter's and I were excited to have a webcam on him, but Dr. Broome and the wonderful front office staff did warn us he might've designated a larger space without a camera. As expected Extra Spicy Mayo came out and he was given the larger space without a cam, which was disappointing, but I trusted that was the best decision for my cat. I was anxious the entire time he was gone (as any parent would be), but we were given daily updates and picked him up after 4 days. When my husband picked him up the lovely front desk staff said our cat had become Extra Sweet Mayo and would wait at the front of his space for cuddles by the end of his stay. And I do believe that. Their office is decorated with cat memorabilia and picture frames - you can tell they love and care about animals. They have a cat clock that reminded me of my grandmas, which is a nice touch in a world where everything has to move fast and people dedicate such little time to each other, every time I called I was never rushed and always given thoughtful and considerate explanations. Overall, I am so happy we brought him here. read more

I am appalled at the horrible article this supposed medical facility has published on its web site about giving cats Methimazole. It's full of attempted humor about the challenges pet owners sometimes have when giving pills to their cats. Ridiculous humor such as "look for the soggy pill under your couch" and other comments which reflect stupidity, ignorance and a lack of compassion by your supposed staff of professionals. Not one helpful instruction or piece of advice on this topic. I can only speculate this organization has financial ties with veterinary medical facilities that do surgery to remove the thyroid or do radioactive iodine treatment rather than treat with oral or transdermal medication. Simply disgusting and very unprofessional. And by the way, whoever wrote this trash obviously lacks grammar skills: "How to Give Your Cat it's Methimazole". "it's" is a contraction for the phrase "it is". Are you working on a new article full of ignorant comments about cancer patients dealing with hair loss? read more

Well after 6 days at AVM, our cat Frank is finally home and readjusting. For anyone interested in the hyperthyroid treatment for their cat, I would definitely recommend researching here. We treated our cat homeopathically for a year after he was diagnosed and managed to keep it under control, but in the end the tumor grew and we knew it was time to do the treatment. 1) It is on the more expensive side, but cost is just a number when it comes to your loved one. I'm not sure the average cost but it was between $1200-$1400 for us. 2) The wait was a bit slow to get our cat checked in. Waited about 40 minutes which was a slow torture knowing any minute he would be leaving us. 3) The email/webcam was excellent. I felt like we were able to see what was going on 80% of the time with the little one. And they did a good job updating the web portal with invoices, weight, medication, etc. 4) Some people we called in were super friendly and a couple others seemed a little..burnt out/ robotic? 5) The most difficult thing which should be a forethought to others understanding the isolation your cat will have to go through. Watching the webcam you realize they are stuck in a small space (even smaller for the bigger cats--wish they had bigger spaces for bigger cats) with very little stimulus and interaction. It was pretty depressing seeing him like that all week. Overall, for the type of treatment and probably dangerous environment for the staff to be in long term, I think they do what they can the best they can. A little more stimulus again would have made the week go by a little easier but I still think it was/will be worth it (pending his return to normal heath). **note to owners, we brought in some extra toys and personal food which I think helped a tiny bit (though we didn't get our extra food back) read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Watching our little one on the webcam - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

I chose AVMI for my cat to have radioiodine therapy. My cat Zoe is 14 and has only ever been away from home once, 13.5 years ago! Needless to say, as many other cat parents know, I was very anxious about her being away. She was dropped off on a Sunday and I picked her up on a Thursday. The the doctor and techs were extremely nice and knowledgeable which definitely put me at ease. The icameras are a very cool feature that I was so glad to have access to (although I did become a little obsessive with checking them lol). The communication I received was phenomenal. 10/10 I recommend this place. If it had to be done all over there isn't anywhere else I'd trust to care for my baby. It's only been 2 weeks since the treatment so I still don't know if it worked for Zoe but paws crossed her numbers will be good at her first follow up labs. read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Zoe - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

Every single employee at AMVI treated me and Tiger Lily with incredible "bedside manner". I was given plenty of reassurance and never felt like just a number. They all had lots of patience for my many questions. They always treated Tiger Lily like she was part of the family and not just an animal. Thuy even took the time to find a flower blanket for Tiger Lily's photo because she has a flower name. When I expressed worries Sharon assured me that she'd make sure Tiger Lily got a room with a webcam. Dr. Broome let Tiger Lily sit on her bed while he did her exam because he thought she'd feel more comfortable that way. It's all those little things that add up to make one great experience. And of course Dr. Broome did an excellent job of patiently explaining complex medical things in a simple way for the layman to understand. Thank you AMVI for taking such great care of my cat. read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

We had outstanding care from Dr. Karen O'Neill at Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging. Caring, informative, gentle, kind and she clearly knows her stuff. She took wonderful care of my dog and took plenty of time during intake to make sure all my questions were answered. I have rarely felt so confident in leaving my pup -- especially for a procedure that required her to be put under. She has a liver disorder and it is always nerve wracking to do anything too invasive with her. It was a bit of a hike for us, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. The quality of care and the peace of mind I had leaving her with these professionals was worth the travel time and cost of the visit. The reception staff were also very kind. They knew I had a bit of a wait and offered a rec on a cute coffee shop they like in old town Tustin. Obviously hate to be in a position where these services are necessary, but if you're in that boat, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better place for it in the greater LA area. Hope we don't NEED to come back, but I'd use them again for any pet in my care. read more

I've debated whether or not to write a review. But I think people should know about some issues AVMI has with customer service. Our kitty was also admitted for radioiodine treatment a month ago. Cali is only 8 years old, so we decided this treatment would be the best choice over the long run. We were looking forward to seeing her over the course of her stay via the kittycam. The office posted an admitting picture of her on their FB page that same evening. Of course she looked terrified; we didn't expect her to be happy about being in a strange place without us where she could not roam (she's an indoor-outdoor girl). We waited on Monday for the link that Dr. Broome told us we would receive to our kittycam so we could view her throughout her stay. It never arrived, and no phone call was made to us to explain what was going on. I had to call twice Monday, the day of her treatment, and again the second day of her stay to ask what was happening with her kittycam. After speaking with Sharon who had said she would check with "IT, " I received an email saying the camera was broken, and they were sorry for the inconvenience. I replied asking why there wasn't something they could do so that we could see our girl. All was quiet until I received an email from Dr. Broome that evening explaining that they had ordered a camera from NY, but that it would not be there until Cali's final day. Even after I replied to his email suggesting someone send us a photo of her each day with the daily report they already email, nothing was provided. And the "admitting" picture Dr. Broome said he had attached (which was not attached), was a picture before her treatment, not after. Sadly, no attempt was made by the office to help us to see our kitty all week even as other families were able to see their pets in real time. When we picked her up on Friday, we were charged the estimated cost of $2,300, so no surprise in cost. I'm happy to say that Cali is doing well. They seem to have done a good job at removing her tumors (she had two) as she is thriving. Her regular vet just last night (on a Saturday night taking the time to treat us with the same care he affords our animals) called to affirm how well her labs look one month post treatment. But AVMI's lack of care for the family-- us-- who worried all week is why I've given a lower rating. As professionals who profess to care, I feel they could have been proactive in relaying what was happening and done more with VERY little effort to provide an alternative to help assuage our worry. read more

I euthanized my 12-year-old cat 72 hours after discharge from AVMI. I found the idea of locking him - an indoor cat who runs from strangers - in a cage ("cottage") for at least 4 nights, with no stimulation or comfort and a nearly-empty litterbox, to be cruel and inhumane. I told the primary care vet and AVMI that my cat is extremely stressed by handling. I believe in quality of life over quantity. My heart was telling me to try the flavored methimazole and hope for the best. But the vet and my friends persuaded me that my cat would be "fine" and would "forget about it afterwards" and it was "the best thing I could do for him." At admission, bloodwork and the x-rays conducted by Dr. Broome supposedly showed that my cat was "otherwise healthy" besides the hyperthyroidism - it had not progressed to cause damage to any organs. He was healthy enough to be released without any subcutaneous fluids like the sicker cats. The hospitalization was pure anguish for me. I watched the webcam 12 hours a day. After we dropped him off, they posted a photo of him looking scared and alone on Facebook, without our prior knowledge or consent, which they do to advertise their practice. What person could look at a cat who is crouched and wide-eyed in terror and think that's an advertisement? Day 1, he looked frantic. He kept looking out of the little semi-hidden part of the cage and panting. I have never seen him engage in open-mouthed panting. Days 2-4, he didn't sleep, didn't touch his dry food, just walked around sitting in different positions restlessly. He flipped his litterbox over every day. I called to ask why the box had almost no litter. They said they "don't have storage space" to hold onto radioactive litter, so they deprive the cats of adequate litter. Why don't they rent storage space for used litter to keep the cats comfortable? We brought him home in the afternoon on a Thursday. They quoted me $2,275 on the phone, but once we brought him in, they said he needed $200 in x-rays, and they charged me for an appetite stimulant that was not on the written estimate, so the total was around $2,500. He was thrilled to be home that night. But Friday morning he wouldn't touch food or water, wouldn't come out of the closet, and had strange congestion and mucosal vomiting. I thought maybe it was a cold/flu. On Saturday I called AVMI; they told me appetite and behavior changes are normal. I pressed them to communicate with a doctor because 2 days without any food or water is not normal. No doctor was available. I took him to the ER on Sunday. Dr. Broome called while we were waiting for testing, speculated that he has a cold which - Dr. B emphasized - he did not contract from the hospital, and recommended an anti-nausea injection. ER vet came in right after we hung up and informed us that chest x-rays revealed heart failure. My cat had fluids in his heart and lungs. Liver was starting to show damage from anorexia. Faced with the option to re-hospitalize him for stabilization, then take him to a cardiologist and administer daily medications to prolong his life with a median survival rate of 1 year, we chose the only humane option and said goodbye. Looking back at the discharge records, I discovered Dr. Broome wrote that the admission x-rays revealed "mild heart enlargement." I asked AVMI for a copy of the radiology report, and the receptionist said this does not exist because Dr. Broome reads his own x-rays. He never told us about the heart finding or discussed the implications. We would never have consented to radioiodine had we known my cat had a life-limiting heart condition. I notified AVMI of the death the next morning. Eight days later, no one has called to offer condolences, answer questions, or request more information to understand why their patient was dead 72 hours after discharge, so I can only speculate about what happened. I believe the extreme and prolonged stress caused by a lengthy radioiodine hospitalization was more than his little heart could bear, and it sent him into heart failure. Certainly it's not a coincidence that an "otherwise healthy" hyperthyroid cat goes into a medical crisis immediately upon discharge from AVMI. You know your cat. If the thought of several days in solitary confinement sounds unbearably cruel, listen to your own judgment. I can't stop thinking about how miserable my cat looked on the webcam for 4 whole days. Pets don't live forever, but I wish I had allowed mine to live out his life in his home, where he felt safe and loved. read more

Dr. Broom is the best! Our cat Bella was suffering from hyperthyroidism and had lost a lot of weight. Thankfully we caught it early and our vet Dr. Son recommended Dr. Broom to us. We took our cat Bella there and she received radioactive iodine therapy. It has been 2.5 months since her treatment and she has gained all of her weight back! She is much happier and calmer than before. Our cat had to be hospitalized for 4 days. But the online camera really helped eased our anxiety during her hospitalization. We couldn't wait to take her home when she was ready for discharge. We could tell she missed us very much :( We were really impressed with the follow up calls from Advance Veterinary Medical Imaging. They made many attempts to follow up on our cat to make sure that she is on the road to recovery. Their attention to detail is impressive. We are very, very satisfied with the care our cat Bella has received. Highly recommend this place if your cat has hyperthyroidism and needs radioactive iodine therapy. This place is it! read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Our beautiful little kitty "Bella" - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

I thought this place was well and fine until 5 months after my cat's treatment when I realized her labs had been misinterpreted. Her thyroid hormone was dropping and her marker for kidney disease (creatinine) was rising. When this happens, they almost always need to be treated for hypOthyroid, or else they will die, just in a different way. Google "Dr. Mark Peterson hypOthyroid" - Dr. Peterson invented I-131 treatment in cats and does research on this exact phenomena. Research on this has been published for 4-5 years now. There's no excuse to not be up to date on these studies as a specialist in the exact field. I took all this to her primary vet and my suspicions were correct. She met all 3 parameters for clinical hypOthyroid and had been left untreated for 4 months despite the numbers showing exactly this since JANUARY. Even my primary vet, Dr. Youn @ VCC said we should have tested TSH to confirm hypOthyroid in January and begun treatment then, as per Dr. Mark Peterson's protocols. When Dr. Broome reported my cat's results (after 2 follow up labs), he said they were within normal range. This was not true. They were subclinical and 3 weeks later, were back to clinically hypOthyroid. She's finally on medication as prescribed by Dr. Youn, but had I not reviewed my cat's labs myself this would have never been caught. She has all the symptoms of hypO - lethargy, weight gain, even hair loss on ears. I shouldn't have to diagnose my own cat after paying a specialist $1000 for this treatment. Dr. Broome and his staff have completely ignored all my attempts at respectful communication since my cat's proper diagnosis of hypOthyroid. I have called, emailed, left messages - all have been ignored. VERY unprofessional and disrespectful. I have told all local vets in OC and LA that I work with how Dr. Broome and his staff behaved. read more

Dr. Broom and the staff are great! Very friendly. Dr. Broom is very thorough in explaining the process, effects and after care. He answered all of our questions before we could even ask them. They keep you informed every evening of your pets progress and disposition with an emailed flow sheet that outlines everything that was done that day, and all treatment provided. They have icam's so that you can check in on your pet. The ONLY reason that I am not giving 5 stars is because during my initial call to inquire about the treatment I was read a very scripted outline of the procedure, after care and cost. The cost I was quoted for a 4 night stay was $2300.00 and 100.00 a night extra if the pet had to stay longer to excrete the radiation to acceptable levels. I was told over the phone that they require a urinalysis and that would be an extra $100 unless you have one done at your own veterinarian, which I did and provided to them. What I was NOT told is that they require thorax imaging which is an additional $200.00 and things like subcutaneous fluid given are extra as well along with a few other things that added up to a total of $262.81 more than what I was quoted over the phone. Of course they gave me an estimate of the true cost at the time I went in for the consultation and dropped my cat off, but I was already there and they had my cat in a cat house in the back already. Besides, had they told me all of the charges up front I still would have gone forward with the treatment, I just would have been a little happier if everything was what they said it was over the phone. Total transparency! They are the only place that does Radioiodine therapy in the area so if it is what is needed for your pet it's not like there is any competition. Again, I highly recommend them to treat your pet just make sure you get all of the cost information up front. I hope this information helps anyone looking into this type of treatment and/or any treatment offered by this facility. read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

Brought our 14 year old tuxedo cat here for treament for an over-active thryroid. I felt like they explained things well, reception was courtesous and helpful, and the Doctor took time to answer any questions I had. I wasn't rushed in and out, which I appreciated. While my cat was in treatment I was able to view her via the webcams. Anytime her cage was soiled it was cleaned relatively quickly. Being able to see her was a nice comfort the week she was there. I'd recommend this facility if your cat needs the radioactive iodine treatment. read more

It's been 2 years since our 15 year old cat went in for the iodine radiation treatment for her hyperthyroidism. I kept meaning to write this review, because we constantly are reminded of how lucky we are that we found this treatment and Dr Broome to help us with our situation. Our kitty is 17 and still alive and thriving! . Our Cat was not doing well the moment covid started and it was very difficult to go through at that time. We discovered she had hyperthyroidism and we went to see Dr Broome, as suggested by our vet and we did some of our own research and everything led to him. We were nervous because Dr Broome discovered our little old lady cat had only one kidney! This added to the severity of her condition. She was labeled as high risk and she is very codependent on us in her old age, so we were worried. Th web cam helps a lot and we were able to watch her eat a little and move around. The first week or 2 back home was rough because you can't touch the cat too much and they are in shock. It took a lot of care and patience. But we are on the other side of it all and doing so well. So thankful for this treatment and Dr Broome! The cost of this procedure was beyond worth it! read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Ali watching me write this review. She's thankful but never wants to have to go through treatments again lol - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

My experience at AVMI Tustin was nothing but amazing. The entire time, from scheduling my appointment to picking up my cat after treatment, I was confident knowing he was in good hands. Dr. Boome is very clear when it comes to your pets issue and how the course of treatment will go. I was kept informed and in the loop at all times, and I could even watch my cat via web cam while he was being boarded during his treatment; he seemed calm and comfortable the entire time. However, he seemed to get very bored and lonely- expected when no one can interact closely with them. I especially love that AVMI welcomes any and all questions and concerns you might have. They're very kind, patient, and accommodating, and most of all its clear they care about your pet. I highly recommend this vet if you have been referred here. You will not be disappointed- top of the line care for your fur kids! read more

I am so impressed with this facility. Doctor Broom, Heather and the rest of the staff were wonderful. My little furbaby was in good hands. The doctor explained the procedure as well as aftercare very thoroughly. Heather was also amazing. She called me daily to provide me with updates. Very sweet and also very thorough. Great customer service. She really is a gem. The webcam is also awesome. I was able to check in on my cat throughout the day. This brought me peace. So glad I brought my cat here. read more

Sadly, I dont have a good review to write. My Keifer was admited in October. Keifer was required to stay the full 7 days. I logged into the kitty cam multiple times a day, and noticed on at least 3 occasions that the camera was shut off 90 minutes or so before the end of "visitations", leaving me to wonder how he was doing, and whether his water bowl was full. There was an evening prior where I had to insist via email that his water bowl was nearing empty, and lights were about to be shut out... lo and behold when they went to check on him, his water was indeed empty, not at all good for a senior kitty with mild kidney disease. His daily reports said perky, bright, and alert. Yet, when I picked him up, I was told in-person that he was combative and "left alone" most of the time. Which I guess is why there was no facebook photo of Keifer. My Keifer was such a sensitive soul, his combativeness, was a cry for help. Something wasn't right. I also learned that he defecated himself and had to be bathed, but was not dried off for fear of his stress levels. How many hours was he sitting WET and "left alone" in a cage? His reports said he was eating regularly - I later learned that was due to the appetite stimulant he was being provided, something I probably wouldn't have agreed on for my senior kitty who had just 2 weeks prior been diagnosed with mild heart disease, that the clinic was fully aware of, and reccomended stopping his new heart medication for his treatment period. My bill, which was quoted btween 1200-1500, was $1800 when I arrived, with no warning and no explanation of why such a difference , tho I did see a $20 charge for the bath. When I brought him home, there was a sadness and extreme weakness about him. So much so that I cancelled my class that evening to just lay beside him. The week prior this weakness and sadness was not there, in fact I have video of him days before treatment - happy and talkative. At home that night, he wouldn't eat, and it was taking all of his strength just to lower his head to drink from his water bowl. I immediately emailded Dr. Broome who suggested maybe he ate something unhealthy or was upset by the car ride home, and not to worry about anything, just keep an eye on him My Keifer was a road-trip warrior. He traveled with me across country twice, not to mention trips to new york, vegas, nashville... there was no stress associated with the car, nor had he eaten something bad. About 6 hours after reaching out for Dr. Broome for advice, my Keifer let out a huge MEOW, stood up and then collapsed defecating himself. I immediately rushed him to the ER, as it was now midnight- 12 hours after his release from AVMI. I'll spare you the angonizing details, but my baby took his last breath 48 hours after leaving AVMI. The Dr's could not stablize him. He was given a blood transfusion. He was given fluids. He was given antibiotics... and died in my arms of his own free will. Now, I know... there's a risk associated with this treatment. Looking back, I wonder why everyone insisted this was the right treatment for a 16yr old with other issues. I would have happilly continued on with our pills and monitoring schedule. It breaks my heart that my baby's last week, was spent in a treatment center, labeled as combative and someone to leave alone.. I messaged Dr. Broome of his passing... he was polite and offered his condolences, but I guess I was expecting a condolensce card from AVMI, or a staff donation in his honor on his Memorial fund page, or hell maybe even an offer to reimburse some of the $1800 I had just spent on a treatment that didn't work for him... but none of that arrived. In fact, to add salt to the wounds, 2 weeks later I received an email inviting Keifer in for his follow-up appointment. I responded that he had died 48hrs after treatment... and to that email I received nothing. Not a simple Sorry, no response, nothing... which just felt so wrong. I am happy so many of your kitties seem to have had positive experiences at this center, but we did not. My Keifer is gone, and I feel like there were many things that AVMI could have done better for both he and I, before, during, and after his treatment. More of Keifer's story can be found online at www.gofundme.com/KeiferTreatment and you can see for yourself how alert and vibrant he was in the videos just days before treatment. Thanks for leting me get this off of my chest. read more

See all

I took my 14-year old cat Sandy to AVMI in late July of 2019 and I have to say it was the best decision I have ever made. She had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about a week before I made the appointment weighing in at 6.2 pounds with constant vomiting. She had become clingy where she was independent and cried every day and night. I have had this cat since I was 10 and she was a newborn, suffice to say she is a very important part of my life. While Dr. Broome and his staff care for numerous hyperthyroid cats, I still felt like they cared as deeply for my pet as I did. They were always willing to answer questions and explain every part of the process. The cat camera is an extremely wonderful addition, and I always had it in the background of my computer while I worked. Even after I took Sandy home, his staff were still available to answer my post-care questions. I never felt like I was being brushed off or rushed by his staff, they were always patient and kind. While the treatment is on the expensive side, the care they put into treating your pets and, by extension, you, made it entirely worth it. I believe I paid between 1200$-1300$, but it was worth it to avoid giving Sandy pills for the rest of her life and doing tri-monthly blood panels. Sandy is now 15 years old and weighs 11 pounds. Her vomiting has all but stopped, save for the occasional hairball, and is back to being independent. I would recommend this treatment to anyone with a hyperthyroid cat who wants to avoid the stress of pilling their pet and numerous, expensive blood panels. read more

See all

My 16-year-old cat, Gracie was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and the prospect of medicating her twice daily for life quickly got old, even before we considered the possible side effects and lack of efficacy. So it was really no question that I wanted to go with the radioactive iodine treatment. But I was still quite nervous. Dr. Broom was very thorough explaining everything to us and answering all of our questions. All the staff at AVMI was helpful and courteous. The facility was neat and clean. And though it was stressful to watch my girl sit in quarantine alone for 4 days, the webcam service is very nice peace of mind, as is the ability to log in and see daily logs on treatment. I knew that kidney disease often goes hand-in-hand with thyroid problems and that treating the thyroid might uncover previously unknown kidney problems that we would still have to deal with. This is something people need to be aware of. And you must take it seriously if tasked with administering subcutaneous fluids to your cat after discharge. Fortunately for us, one month following her treatment, Gracie's thyroid levels are all back to normal and she shows no signs of kidney problems. We'll keep following up, but we're thrilled with the outcome and hope to have many more happy years with our girl. read more

We took our 16-year-old kitty, Onyx, in for radioactive iodine treatment on 8-24-14. The front office is beautiful and tranquil, with a fish tank that our Onny liked looking at. Before we let him go for the next week we spoke with Dr. Michael Broome and he explained everything to us in detail. He's a really nice guy. From the next day onward we received emails nearly every day from AVMI with updates on Onyx, suggestions and tips for re-introduction of pets that have been out of the home for a while, and, PIX! They sent screen grabs of his webcam, as well as two pix that look like they were professionally done (they weren't - just a good photographer). They sent us a lot of pictures. Renee in the front office is so nice and answered any questions I had when I called. We missed Onyx so much, but we didn't worry about him because he was in good hands. We peeked in on him a few times a day on his webcam. The procedure was over $1300, but he is now cured of his hyperthyroidism. He has kidney disease but we were told that when the hyperthyroidism was cured it would bring the kidney issues to the forefront. Overall we are very happy with the treatment that we and our cat received at AVMI. We would recommend them to others :) read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Onyx as seen on webcam - August 2014 - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

If I could, I'll give them bazillion stars!!! Dr. Broom explain all details before the treatment and guide me each steps. Very professional, Caring, kind and Amazing doctor!!! My cat had hyperthyroidism and I chose here for radioactive I-131 treatment because their radioactive I-131 treatment is not necessary to use Methimazole before the treatment. I live in SD, but SD treatment place HAVE TO use this methimazole first which I did not want to used( I researched and I don't like this meds side effects or future effects). So I decided to choose AVMI even it's in OC. Now I can tell that I made the BEST decision ever!!!!! From the beginning till the end of the treatment, Dr. Broom and his stuff were AMAZINGLY give me a guide and details step by step. Joshua Stewart was taking care of me and my cat everything from the first call I made. He called me and confirm the apartment, tell the details of processing. He's very professional that any questions I had, he did answered. Since my cat was hospitalized, he gave me all the treatment updates everyday by emails and calls!!! Renee emailed me for details too! I can't say thank you enough Dr. broom, Joshua, Renee and other stuff and nurse ! I can see that They truly care about animals and their family !! Especially, my cat is like my baby, how much I've been nervous, scared, worried about my cat since he's away from home... they know exactly our family feeling and they do consider, show the kindness, taking care of not only my cat, but also my feelings too. Also, Thank you for the icam! I can check on my cat when he's in hospitalized everyday on my phone!!Amazing technology, Amazing the best stuff, I am very happy and satisfied. Highly recommended AVMI to everybody for sure!!! read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - This is my cat Frappuccino from icam when he was hospitalized. - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

I wish I could leave 0 stars. My eleven year old cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism by her local vet and was recommended the iodine treatment at this facility. When we dropped her off, she was around 9 pounds, relatively fine with plenty of energy and appetite. As soon as we dropped her off she fell into a thyroid storm (can be extremely fatal), with EXTREME elevated heart rates and low blood sugar. This actually caused her to experience a minor heart attack as well as a seizure. Now I don't blame these events on the vet HOWEVER, because of these unfortunate side effects, the iodine procedure was pushed back until she could be "stabilized". Now what i don't understand is why any practicing veterinarian would preform a radioactive procedure on an unstable cat. They told us she would be able to handle the treatment and it would all be fine but it was absolutely not. After the treatment, she became EXTREMELY lethargic, low energy, couldn't even lift her head up or groom herself. She lost 3 pounds in ONE MONTH. We tried everything. We had to force feed her, provide appetite supplements, and many more pills. We were willing to try even more. At the emergency vet care she was given subcutaneous fluids as she was extremely dehydrated. She was unable to use the liter box and would defecate on herself. It was such a painful painful thing to witness. Finally our local vet recommended euthanasia, saying there was nothing left we could do, her body was shutting down. We spent close to $5000 trying everything we could possible do but at the end of the day we didn't want to watch her suffer. This place should NOT operate on cats who are unstable and unable to recover. They looked at our cat as a price tag, knowing they could extract money. They should've sent her home as soon as the heart attack symptoms and low blood sugar were seen. Instead they chose to push forward and rush through the procedure. I do not recommend this place for any kitties that are unstable or have any sort of pre-existing condition. read more

I took my cat to Dr Broome today for a CT scan and was so impressed with him. He really took his time in explaining everything. I found him thorough and very compassionate. The facilities are clean and taking all covid precautions. I would come back to see Dr Broome in a heartbeat. Definitely recommend. read more

While in the past the client relations were stellar with previous cats that received the I-131 treatment (2011/12), as of late 2019, they seemed to have declined. I no longer live in the area, but 1000 miles away, but no clinics in my state or the closest neighboring state offer the thyroid scintigraphy. When I initially called, the woman with whom I spoke was jovial but curt. We scheduled the appointment and I had the other clinic where I am email xrays. Now, I suppose it's my error in not realizing that the xrays also had to be done with 45-days of check in for treatment. So, I missed that by 8 days and was told at check in that they had to be redone. I was quoted $130 for one view with radiology consult. At check out, it was $200 and 2-views plus the consult. Now, their website says there are no one size fits all requirements, and "If additional testing is indicated at the time of admission the indicated tests and their costs will be included in an itemized estimate that will be provided at the end of your consultation appointment", only I never had a consultation since the vet wasn't present when my cat was admitted, I just received an estimate after checking in with a technician, not consulting with the veterinarian. During the time trying to prepare for the trip down to the facility, I had a few phone or email interactions. One email I asked if I need to have kitty retested for FIV/FeLV within the 45-day period. He was indoor and had tested negative previously. One response simply 'No'. No other text. Another was courteous with more text. Upon check in, a tech checked me in. I asked where the doctor was because at previous treatments, the consult (which they charge $150) was done WITH the doctor at check in. They said he was returning back from vacation and his flight was delayed but that I would hear from him that evening after the scintigraphy, which I did. However, this is not a consult when you don't meet with the client and patient to discuss all of the records that were sent over, AND any pretreatment requirements that were missed/expired and need to be repeated. At check out, another tech or assistant met me in the room. I asked again about seeing the doctor. I was told he doesn't do the discharge. WHAT? I asked to speak with him and i was made to feel by the person like it was a burden. I also asked if he was given his oral steroid that morning for his asthma and couldn't get an answer. I waited 30-min at my scheduled discharge to no avail, and finally left before traffic got worse. When I paid the bill, I saw that either someone isn't good at record keeping, or he hasn't been given his inhaler (he needs it twice daily) or oral med since Tuesday and it was now Thursday afternoon. Unacceptable. Now I realize clinics change their daily ins/outs over time, but to go for specialized treatment and never once have the doctor talk with you in person is just flat out wrong. Specifically when they should be discussing with you the condition of your cat in relation to the treatment. Putting it down on a piece of paper that they give as a handout is not an acceptable substitute. I just hope they're still as efficient and meticulous at providing the treatment since they've not maintained the client relations they had just seven years ago. Back then, it felt personal. Like they cared. I got daily email updates, and now they send pdf flow sheets for the day. Yet, I only got those for the day he was admitted and the following day. Two full days with no idea what was going on. Today, it feels just like a business with no personal investment in the patient or their own read more

My 12 year old cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and my vet recommended the iodine 131 radiotherapy with Dr. Broome at AVMI. My cat was a bit frail at the initial assessment as over the last 6 months prior to his diagnosis, he had lost quite a bit of weight. He was otherwise his normal self, eating, playing, grooming. After he was brought in for treatment, there were other concerns they had and did a few additional tests and after discussing with me, determined to go ahead with the treatment. At no time was I ever presented with the possibility that he was too frail or too thin to go ahead. The day after treatment, my cat collapsed at the clinic. After exhaustive resuscitative efforts, they were able to bring him back but was now in acute kidney failure and he had to stay there an extra 4-5 days until he was stable enough to go him. At that time, when Dr. Broome spoke to me about what happened, he said that the cat started out pretty thin and just couldn't tolerate the treatment. Well, no one said anything to me about this prior to receiving treatment. When we came to pick him up, he was a skeleton. He had lost about 2-3 lbs. When we took him out of the carrier at home, he couldn't walk, barely ate, didn't groom himself at all. We were administering daily oral medication and subcutaneous fluids. Fast forward to today, about 6 weeks later, and we are going in to put him to sleep. He is not well. Barely eating, barely able to groom, and still having difficulty walking. I believe that at that initial assessment, they were not confident my cat would be able to withstand this treatment and the right thing to have done would have been to say, "Let's put him on oral medication get him stronger, gain some weight, and come back in a few months to reassess." Dr. Broome and his team may be good at what they do, as evidenced by all the successful treatments they have performed, however, I also believe that they failed, at least in this case, to do what is right for the patient, opting instead to get paid. Instead of the quoted $1,500, we paid them over $4,000 and now for what. I wouldn't even bring up the payment had anything they did been successful in helping my poor guy. If your cat is in anyway unstable, do not send them here. I trusted them when they told me that he could tolerate this treatment. It is my biggest regret. read more

I have not seen a more efficient, professional and caring office than AVMI. I can not say enough words of praise for Dr. Broome and his team. Dr. Broome clearly explained the radioiodine treatment my cats received. He took the time to answer all of our questions just as his staff would do when I called with questions during my cats stay. The facility is immaculate, the status of the cats was updated on a daily basis and we could watch them in their "rooms" during their stay via remote cameras. I was concerned I would lose my one 15 year old cat prior to the radioiodine treatment. He is now a new boy! He is gaining weight, has more energy, plays and grooms himself and is so very happy. I saw such a miraculous change in my cat that I decided to take my second cat in who is also experiencing, on a lower level, problems with his thyroid. I strongly suggest that any pet owner who has concerns about their pet's thyroid health, ask their vet about radioiodine therapy. If you decide to seek it for you cat, I strongly recommend AVMI. You can't find a better place. read more

Years ago Dr. Broome treated two of my cats for hyperthyroidism with great results! I'll always refer other veterinarians and pet owners to him and his practice. He practices heroics! read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

When we were directed to take our cat to Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging, I was in a panic. I'm an over-protective parent of a very small fur person and the diagnosis and treatment as outlined by our treating vet sounded frightening. I had to make several calls to the clinic before we actually got there and I was impressed with their courtesy and willingness to answer my questions without making me feel dumb. When we got there to check in our cat, the receptionist was kind and explained things to us. When we met and spoke with the Dr. Broome, he was kind, patient, reassuring and thorough in answering any questions. The iCat web cam allowed me to check on my cat at any hour. I absolutely and whole heartedly recommend Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging to anyone who has a pet in need of their specialty. The entire staff, including the doctor, are the most caring and capable people. They are top in their field, and they deserve the best rating I can give. read more

My husband and I brought our 7 year old calico cat to AVMI to treat her recently diagnosed hyperthyroidism and couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. The entire experience, even from just the initial inquiry call, was fantastic. The staff did a great job putting us at ease with the whole process and keeping us updated throughout the week while she was undergoing treatment. Dr. Broome was such a calming presence in our intake appointment and helped to make sure our cat was getting exactly what she needed. She had been having constipation over the last few months, so Dr. Broome recommended that she stay in an open run area instead of the cat condos, so she would be able to move around and help her digestion stay on track while she was away from home. Something so small as this attention to detail made all the difference in assuaging our fears and it was a huge relief to know she was in such great hands. It has been about a month since her treatment and we will be taking her to our regular vet to check her thyroid levels this week; I even received an email this morning from AVMI checking in on us to make sure we were on track for a follow up appointment and would be sending them the results. Overall this very difficult and stressful time was made that much easier by the caring staff at AVMI and I am beyond grateful for all they have done. read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - Photo of our cat Amy at her admission to AVMI. - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

See all

I also cannot recommend these people any higher. I do not understand any of the negative reviews as the receptionist Vanessa was wonderful, as was Dr. Broome. I experienced no negativity at all from any one there. They were all super compassionate, kind and very knowledgeable people. It was just to awesome to have this technology available for my cat's treatment. Loved getting to watch him daily on the webcam too. Communication was excellent too. Every person I encountered at AVMI was very attentive and responsive to any questions I had, and I would definitely return here should I ever have another cat in need of this treatment. You have to go into this course of therapy knowing that every case with every cat is different. Due to the very nature of hyperthyroidism, there could be underlying issues with your cat that won't come to light until after the thyroid is treated. Do plenty of research beforehand so you can thoroughly understand this condition. I didn't know anything about it and spent several weeks doing internet research and now feel I have at least a pretty firm layman's understanding of what it is all about. My cat is ten years old, and has plenty of quality life years ahead of him, and I'm very grateful to AVMI for that. Thank you all so much! read more

We brought our valued pet into to have the radioactive iodine treatment for two tumors on her thyroid. AVMI took care of her as if she were their own pet. She is 100% cured and happy. Also, included free is a pet cam so you can see your cat live via a webcam from 8am to 8pm daily. This is a great feature and takes away some of the separation anxiety for the owner. read more

Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging - This is a painting, not an actual cat after getting the radioactive iodine treatment. - Veterinarians Near Me - Tustin, California

See all

My 14 year old Maggie was referred to AVMI for her hyperthyroidism. I had a consultation with Dr. Broome who patiently and lovingly consulted with me and gave me a thorough description of what her treatment would be like. He called me that same night to tell me about her tumors, what he was going to do and how much radio iodine he would administer and an estimate of when she would come home. He knew I was scared about having to give her subQ fluids for two weeks when I brought her home but told me how he taught his 90 year old mother how to do it. Needless to say I opted to go with giving my cat the fluids which she actually had to have cause she has kidney disease. Anyways, as a freaked out hyper vigilant fur mama, AVMI was so kind and patient (even though I probably drove them crazy) to me and even gave me weekly updates for the first two weeks to see how my Maggie was doing. She got off to a rough start upon returning home because of her personality of stress and she didn't want to eat and they told me exactly what to do. And the price for treatment was not astronomical and totally worth every penny. Her thyroid is normal! All I can say is Dr Broome is top of the line and they really care for your pet top notch. The kitty cam and Facebook page with a picture of your cat is a nice touch. Thank you Dr. Broome for being so full of love and knowledge. read more

After trying a number of non radioactive options for treating my cat, the only viable solution to save her life was the radioactive iodine therpay. This veterinary clinic was amazing. The staff was helpful, informative and very attentive to the cats. Dr. Broome is a wonderful vet and spent an hour of his time and very focused attention to get to know my cat, Mink during her admission. Dr. Broome's manner with my cat was so gentle and reassuring and after a while she came out of her bag to engage him despite the unfamiliar setting. I met Dr. Broome previously, 28 years before, when he treated another cat of mine in 1991. The video access to the cat cam during the day was very reassuring for me and allowed me to track my pet's progress in her recovery and required isolation, in her cat condo. The clinic permitted me to provide a cushion, blankets, and familiar smelling things to support Mink in her stay at the hospital. She is home now, a month later and healing nicely. I am so grateful and appreciative to Dr. Broome and his staff. I would highly recommend this facility without question. They made a rather traumatic process manageable and were extremely attentive sending updates daily on the cats progress and her care. read more

Excellent in every way. Us and our 17 year old cat made it through this treatment and the whole way, the team at AVMI were outstanding. Personal, caring and thorough. Lots of communication so you know what is going on every step of the way. So far, after one month, our handsome cat is healthy and happy! Don't hesitate... it was a positive experience! read more