I ADORE my regular vet in Redmond, but my pooch was due for some major dental work, and my regular vet quoted us a range of $550-$950 for the operation. I knew this was going to cost us a lot, but that is just SO big a range, it's hard to budget for. I contacted the purebred rescue league lady, from whom we got our pooch 3 years ago, and she recommended the Value Pet Clinic, saying they're located all over WA state, and the rescue leagues and humane societies she is affiliated with (outside of King County) all use this chain of vet clinics, and they love them. She strongly recommended I get a quote for the dental work my dog needed, saying I'd still need to probably pay for the wellness visit/initial exam (which is reasonable). But I went online to the VPC website and signed up for a free initial exam, so that charge was waived. Great deal!
I went to the Bellevue site and was struck by how large and clean the place was. The gal at the front desk was super nice. I filled out some paperwork (not a lot, as I registered my dog online beforehand). I know it's the modern way to go, and it's eco-friendly (save a tree and all), but I'm not a big fan of signing "paperwork" on an electronic keypad without seeing what exactly I'm signing (the gal showed me a paper form for each signature needed from me, but still, you couldn't see the form on the electronic keypad. There's just a line for your signature. You could be signing your life away, for all you know. Oh well, I'm just a dinosaur I suppose).
I loved the vet who did my dog's exam! Sure, it was a quickie exam, and the dr focussed on my dog's teeth (knowing I was there primarily for a quote for dental work), but the vet, Dr Wise, was really cool, and I liked her approach, with my dog and with me (!). Better yet, they quoted me a price range of $330-$450. WOWZA, huge difference to my vet. And that included all the meds I needed to take home with me post-procedure (pain meds and antibiotics).
My regular vet would've had to do this job on a weekday, but VPC could do it on a Saturday, which is very convenient for me (as I work full-time). I dropped pooch off on a Saturday at 7:30am. There was a lady there with her dog, (there for a spaying), saying she comes here all the way from West Seattle, as the prices are SO much better for vet care. Anyhow, got a call at 11:30-ish that pooch was fine and it was over and I can get her anytime after 12:30pm.
When I got there, my dog was loopy and drugged but the tech said she did great. They had to extract 6 teeth (I was told beforehand that 2 definately were abscessed, but more "may" have to go. Still, I was shocked so many were pulled. I was totally unprepared). The tech gave me some basic post-op instructions, and I purchased some flea meds while I was there. (Note: not sure why the other reviewer said meds here were crazy-high priced. I usually buy Revolution online at 1800petmeds, and 6 months of the flea med costs $82-ish online. At VPC, I got 6 months for $87 - and they have a promotion going on, so they threw in 2 extra months of the stuff. So 8 months for $87. Seems competitive to me).
At home later that night, I read the post-op typed papers the tech had given me. THere was a lot written on the sheets in medical-ese re: what exactly they did to my dog. It would've been nice to have been told what they did (other than pull out 6 bad teeth). Also, I saw on the bottom of one sheet that they want to see my dog in a week. No one told me that. I'll have to call them to inquire if this post-op appt is included in the procedure price or if this is extra or what. I like that they want to follow up on my pooch, but surprised it wasn't mentioned. Also, surprising that they never called me later that night or the following day to see how my dog was doing. But all in all, I think this is a super clinic, and the prices can't be beat. read more