We brought our dachshund, Opie, to the ER unexpectedly and had such a positive experience…read more Elizabeth Sigman and the entire staff were incredibly professional, compassionate, and calm during a stressful time. They never pushed invasive measures -- instead, they clearly explained all options and allowed my family to make the best decision for our dog. As someone in healthcare, I truly appreciated their respect for shared decision-making. Highly recommend if you ever need emergency care for your pet. We're so grateful for the care Opie received.

AVOID!! Please go to a privately owned Veterinary, for the sake of your precious pet! Blue Pearl is…read morepart of one the largest companies in the world, MARS, (the candy company). They own over 2000 vet hospitals in the world and their doctors are paid more if they bill you more! Here's part of our story..... Our healthy 2.5-year-old dog Teddy was admitted to BluePearl Sarasota with seizures. Within an hour, while Teddy was alive in their hospital and we sat in the waiting room, BluePearl emailed us an iINVOICE FOR HIS CREMATION (I didn't see the email until 3 days later). The next afternoon, 2 veterinary specialists were called on the phone and both gave the same advice: start antibiotics and steroids if we could not afford the $6000 MRI. The recommended treatment was affordable. We could have done it that afternoon. But we were never told about the recommended treatment! For the next 18 hours, Teddy suffered terribly, frantic, adverse reaction to the drug he was on. His fever climbed to 105.9 degrees. He hadn't slept in over a day. He was disoriented, drooling, hyper-sensitive to every sound and touch -- and the treatment that would have helped him sat in his medical chart, undelivered to us and un-acted on by the vet covering his care, as well as the vet on the overnight shift. On Saturday morning, a different vet sat down, read the chart, saw what the specialists had recommended, and started the antibiotics and steroids. Within 90 minutes,Teddy fell asleep for the first time in 36 hours. Read the shocking information I found out and more about Teddy's Story at TeddysStory.com and share your story.

We came on a Saturday night at 10 pm and they were very quick with service and very knowledgeable…read more Made a plan of action and was very affordable. Highly recommended this place in Tampa

We arrived at VEG ER believing our baby girl, Joy, a 13 year old shih tzu, was having an allergic…read morereaction to a vaccine. Her face was swollen, she was uncomfortable, and we were deeply worried. Dr. Jamie Davison conducted a thorough evaluation and helped us understand that Joy may have been reacting to an insect bite. During her examination, she also identified fluid in Joy's uterus, raising concern for pyometra. For those unfamiliar, pyometra is a life threatening uterine infection that can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and sudden death if not treated promptly. I will be honest. Given how frequently "lifestyle treatments" are pushed in veterinary medicine today, I was cautious and protective. We were worried about both the severity of the diagnosis and the cost and risks of surgery. I also considered seeking a second opinion. Dr. Davison did not rush us. She walked us through every step, from bloodwork to ultrasound findings, explaining what she was seeing and why it mattered. She earned our trust gradually and professionally. When we made the decision to operate, her attention to detail stood out. She avoided the large external stitches we have seen in the past, and when prescribing medication, she remembered that I had mentioned Joy does not swallow pills and provided liquid medication instead. Those small considerations made a meaningful difference in her recovery. Further testing of Joy's uterus after surgery confirmed tumors. Removing them likely prevented a catastrophic outcome. What began as a suspected allergic reaction became a life saving intervention. It has been a week, and Joy is steadily returning to her loving, spirited self. If it were not for Dr. Davison's thorough examination and clinical judgment, we might not have discovered the underlying condition in time. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Davison and the entire VEG ER team working that night, including nurse Loni, assistant Fred, and CEC Kalyn. Their professionalism, clarity, and compassion made all the difference.

Regrettably, we have had to visit VEG a few times with my 15 1/2-year-old fur-baby. At each visit,…read morewe were immediately assessed by a doctor or medical technician and asked the most crucial questions about our baby. We are allowed to stay with her, which is an essential aspect of this visit. I find it distressing when they take my dog away, and I am unaware of what is happening to her behind the scenes. Is she being treated, or is she just sitting in a cage? At VEG, I'm always with my pet, receiving information and support. There is no other emergency veterinary clinic like VEG. If you are concerned about the price being more than others, they are not. They don't over-treat or over-change. If it's important to you to be with your pet when they're going through a medical crisis, this is the place for you.

Currently waiting here while my dog is being treated for ingesting a toy he chewed up and ate…read more This is by far the most professional, attentive, and kind vet staff I have ever been around My dog is very reactive and HATES the vet. With all his barking and resistance not a single staff member broke composure, unlike other vets we have been to. They were reassuring "they got this," and it was no problem. Being around people who understand my dog is such relief as a reactive dog owner. Thank you.

I never want to have to visit a pet ER again, but if I did, I would absolutely come back here…read more Dr. Riddick, Marykate, and Jennelle took amazing care of Finn. Jennelle was our main point of contact and truly made the experience so much easier. She kept both Finn and us calm and informed the entire time. Dr. Riddick was clearly very busy that night, but when she got to Finn, she was thorough, reassuring, and took the time to clearly explain what she was seeing, how she would treat it, and potential healing considerations given the location of the injury. Finn needed stitches, and she provided very detailed aftercare instructions. We followed up with our regular vet a few days later just to make sure everything was healing properly, and I'm happy to say Finn healed great and had his stitches removed today. VEG even offered to remove them for free as a follow-up, which we really appreciated, but we opted for our closer vet for convenience. One thing we really loved was being able to stay with Finn the entire time. We could see him throughout the process and even watch as they placed the stitches, which made a stressful situation feel much more manageable. We're so grateful for the care Finn received here and would highly recommend VEG to anyone in an emergency.

*WARNING: STAY AWAY* I brought my sick cat there on 10/9/25 - she was bitten by a tick. When I…read morepicked her up the next day this is what I saw: She was covered in her own urine and feces, withdrawn, & stuck in a cage she couldn't even turn around in. I cried so hard when I saw my baby!! For literally 2 IVs, an antibiotic, and an overnight "stay" VEG ER in St Pete charged me over $8,300 before it was over. Just. Don't. Subject. Your. Beloved Pet. to this torture! My cat still has neurological issues that she did NOT have before we want to these charlatans. Stay away and learn from our horrible experience!!!

I was Very Disheartened by my visit with Epic Vet! I felt like they cared more about the money than…read morethe care of my dog! Very dismissive when I pointed certain things out regarding my dog's issues. I do not recommend them!

Very very expensive. My dogs history was given to young vet…read moredoctor. She completely ignored her history of what my dogs meds that was given in her pass illnesses. And what has worked. After 24 hours of my dog puking and pooping blood, she gave me the med needed,BUT AT HALF OF THE NORMAL DOSE SHE HAS HAD IN THE PAST!! DONT GO HERE THEY DONT LISTEN TO THE OWNER!!

Our sweet Charlie ended up at the emergency vet with a bladder obstruction that required surgery…read more What started as straining to pee turned into a whirlwind of ER visits, anesthesia, and a major procedure to remove stones from his bladder. I don't usually share personal stuff like this, but I'm making this post for one reason only. If you ever have an emergency with your pet, go to VEG ER for Pets. When we were trying to find a vet to perform the surgery, our VEG doctor sat there and personally called vet after vet to get someone to fit us in. And when we finally found the right place, she stayed on the phone with the surgeon and fully briefed him on Charlie's condition so there was not a single gap in his care. They kept us informed, comforted, and confident that our boy was in the best hands. He made it through surgery like a champ and finally came home but after we got him settled, his temperature dropped and we had to rush him back to VEG. They immediately took him in, warmed him, ran an ultrasound to make sure nothing was wrong, monitored him until he was stable... and didn't charge us a dime. Because of how long this whole process was, and having to go back again, we saw three different doctors at VEG, and every single one of them treated Charlie (and us) with the exact same level of urgency, compassion, and kindness. That consistency in care meant everything to us. Charlie is home now, snuggled in blankets, eating, and slowly getting stronger! If you ever face an emergency with your fur baby, VEG is the place to go. We are beyond grateful and will recommend them to anyone and everyone.

We have been here twice with our family. On our last visit we unfortunately ending up have to let…read moreour little Maddie cross the rainbow bridge. The staff is absolutely amazing. They explained what was happening and what our options were and gave us time to say goodbye to our little girl. These processes are never easy, and the staff was there to make sure that she was comfortable and without pain.

My 6 year old rescue bulldog has a corneal ulcer. His regular vet treated him and after a week…read morethere was little improvement. She simply told me to keep giving him his eye drops, and bring him back in a week for a re-check, and if it hadn't improved she'd probably refer him to a specialist, Now why, if your plan hasn't worked in a week, would i follow it another week before you give up? So i called Beacon and spoke to Ambar regarding bringing him in for a second opinion. Ambar was awesome. She was friendly and professional, she asked good questions and actually listened to my answers and concerns. She was honest, that there may not be anything else they could do except to refer him to a specialist. Well, i was seeking a second opinion so i did recognize that opinion could mirror the first opinion, but Ambar did share the things that made me nervous, and she clearly displayed obvious empathy for my concerns and most importantly for my dog, so after she volunteered an explanation of the costs i decided to take my little buddy to them. When we arrived Ambar came outside to meet us. She talked to my dog, making an obvious attempt (successfully) to put him at ease, and escorted us inside. She was very professional, but also friendly and my dog immediately liked her. I doubt it was more than 10 minutes that we waited before our tech came in the exam room. She introduced herself and her first effort was to calm my dog, Then she got a very thorough background, also asking good questions and listening to my answers. My dog was so comfortable that he sprawled out on the couch next to me and took a nap. She wanted to take my buddy boy in another room to get his vitals but he resisted and she simply said nevermind, he's nervous so we'll get them here. But I insisted and told him it was ok, so he went with her. After she brought him back, She told me the vet would be in shortly after she reviewed the case. Perhaps another ten minutes went by before Dr. Scheppke came in. She, too, introduced herself to my buddy boy, and then she reviewed with me the notes, problems and concerns. Another person who asked good questions and truly listened to my answers. Dr. Scheppke actually sat down on the floor to examine buddy boy, and she was sweet and loving toward him in the way that only a genuine dog lover can be. After the exam, she told be she was going to go write up her plan and would be back shortly to review it with me. It wasn't very long before she was back, and she reviewed her plan, including the costs with me. I had questions which she patiently answered while my buddy boy laid next to me calmly snoring. I approved her plan which included a couple new tests and new meds, and she took my buddy boy off to the treatment room. After treatment Dr. Scheppke came back in to review treatment, explain the things i needed to do at home, and to answer questions. When all was finished, Ambar came back to get us, asking how it went, what were they able to do, making a fuss over Buddy boy, and once again showing she cared. At no point during the visit did anyone make me feel rushed, quite the contrary. EVERYONE acted like they had no concern in the would except for me, and my dog. Rescue dogs often come with emotional baggage, and fears that may appear unfounded, but to the dog, they are quite real. My dog is no exception. At every point during this visit, every single staff member made every possible effort to calm his concerns and avoid his triggers. The empathy they all showed him was heartwarming and obviously quite genuine. When it was time to check out, everything was exactly as Dr Scheppke said it would be, including the cost. Yes, it was pricey but considering the quality of the care we got, i felt it was quite fair. A couple hours later Dr. Scheppke sent me an email which included her written report of the problem, the treatment and the things that i needed to do for him. It was a clear, well written summary on the entire visit. I hope you never need to utilize Beacon's services, but if you do i would recommend them as strongly as I possibly could. Buddy boy, who likes everyone but trusts no one, was so comfortable there that he didn't want to leave, and that's the best review they could get.

I am not saying this is a bad place for pet care and the staff is incredibly kind. And I knew what…read moreI had to pay because they gave me an estimate. My dog had a small mass on her tail removed 2 days prior to this visit. One of the 2 stitches was gone. Of course, it was an hour after my regular vet's office closed. This is the contents of my bill just so people can be prepared. Reminder, this was to replace 1 stitch (suture). And I just found out they aren't the only 24 hour emergency pet care in St. Pete any longer, the is another on 4th St. Exam: $169 Wound care $147 Suture $252 Bandage $126 fell off her tail within an hour Augmentin $136 (available at CVS for $22) Caprofen Injection $106 (available on line multi dose vial for $85) Total bill $938.53 (double what the original procedure cost by my vet) This place is outrageously overpriced, remember this was to replace 1 suture.

Our Bernese Mountain Dog, Bruno, recently had surgery at our regular vet to remove a tumor in his…read moremouth. Thankfully, everything came back benign. As expected, the surgery affected his appetite, but a few days later things took a concerning turn. By Sunday--four days post-surgery--he had completely stopped eating and drinking and became very lethargic. By that evening, he was barely moving. Having lost a dog years ago to kidney failure, I didn't want to take any chances, so I brought him to Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists, where I've had good experiences in the past. From the moment we arrived, the team was excellent. The receptionist was kind and attentive, and after the initial exam, Dr. Ormsby came in and immediately connected with Bruno. As soon as she walked in, he perked up. What stood out most was her approach. Instead of ordering a battery of expensive tests, she said, "Let me make him a charcuterie plate." She hand-fed him baby food and a few other items--and he ate. She discussed a kidney test but didn't feel it was necessary based on his symptoms. Instead, she explained that some of his post-surgery medications could be causing gastrointestinal inflammation and treated him accordingly. We followed her guidance at home, and Bruno is now eating again and getting back to his old self. Too often, veterinary visits feel transactional. This was the opposite. They truly cared, and it showed. I'm very grateful we chose Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Ormsby was kind enough to follow through with the many questions I had regarding the unexpected…read morepassing of my Harry. Thank you to Dr. Ormsby and staff.

Avoid this place at all costs if at all possible…read more.. they told me my dog had a strained back muscle and sent her home when she was locking up during an emergency visit... after trying to upsell 'cold laser treatments) The next day she was bleeding from her nose and mouth, blue pearl found out she had internal poisoning that they could've treated/ reversed had they caught it the day before when they said she had back pain. She ended up dying four days later at blue pearl.

They deserve negative five stars. While I knew this beautiful boi for only twelve days, the pain…read moreof losing him is intense. Euthanasia is never easy; the experience at AA Animal ER in Palm Harbor turned what should have been a peaceful passing into a real-life nightmare, and the memory will haunt me for the rest of my days. All euthanasia stories are sad, but this one is horrific. I am beyond angry. Milo was brought to us as a stray from Holiday. While not a fan of other cats, he absolutely loved humans. His purr was so loud, as was his growl at any cat who ventured near his condo. Milo loved chin scratches and belly rubs. His neutering at Planned Pethood on 6/19 was routine, his SNAP was negative, and he appeared to be healing nicely. However, something changed on the evening of 6/30. Milo was crying out, and his chest was heavily heaving. I texted our vet, who told me to keep a close eye on him and unless he deteriorated, bring him to the office in the morning. Within two hours, I knew Milo couldn't wait. His crying had intensified, his heart was about to pound out of his chest, and he had discharge from his nose and mouth. His temperature was only 94.6. I rushed down to AA Animal ER to get him some relief. I wish I didn't. The treatment both Milo and I received was despicable. In retrospect, I should have let him pass on his own - it would have been much less traumatic than what we experienced. But, I went to the ER to find him HELP, not to put him down. Upon our arrival, I found their doors were locked. I rang the bell; no one came. I rang twice more; no one came. I called and was asked, "Did you ring the bell?" They wouldn't allow me in the building ("because this is an ICU"), when I objected to that, I was told, "You're more than welcome to go somewhere else." There was nowhere within a reasonable distance TO go. I had to hand Milo over to them and fill out the papers outside in the dark. I was told that the doctor would CALL me. No, he wouldn't come out, and I couldn't go in. He would CALL me. A long time passed and finally he called. He told me that the oxygen wasn't helping him, that he couldn't hear any heartbeat because his lungs were so "harsh." I asked what should I do? The notes from the visit indicate the reason for euthanasia was "Financial Constraints" rather than the heath issue that led to the euthanasia recommendation. I was not given any options for any treatment or tests nor the price to perform them. He only said that Milo wouldn't survive diagnostics. They finally brought me around the entire building into a harshly lit freezing room where the euthanasia would take place. I waited at least ten minutes before the vet brought Milo, wrapped in a towel, to me. The sedative was given in Milo's stomach rather than via catheter, and it had no effect on him. In the notes, his weight is listed at "0." I can only surmise that the dose wasn't enough. When the vet placed Milo in my arms, he was really struggling, flailing, throwing his head back and crying out. The vet (Kyle Kushubar) at my strong request finally administered the euthanasia drug. I've never seen that drug take so long to work. When Milo locked eyes with me, I could read his mind - he was so confused. He was asking me what was going on and why couldn't I help him. To add insult to injury, as I struggled to open the door to leave with Milo, the vet just stood there looking at me. I had to ask him twice to please open the door for me. His response? Just push the bar. Seriously? The amount of compassion that was shown to Milo and to me was ZERO. That poor boy didn't deserve to die that way. The staff and that vet won't give Milo another thought. I, however, will carry this pain and the guilt I feel for bringing him there, for the rest of my life. I'm so sorry, Milo. Additionally, I just realized looking at the invoice that they charged for euthanasia AND they charged for "IV Catheter Euthanasia" which was not done. Vet said he wasn't going to try to catheterize Milo and injected him in the stomach.

Probably one of the best veterinarians around truly miss coming here the entire staff is amazing…read more I highly recommend manatee veterinary clinic. The doctor is definitely highly knowledgeable in his craft and his fine staff definitely compliment him

The absolute Best for your companion!!…read more Our Boy "Samson" loves all the hoopla He gets and any time He has an issue it's resolved immediately Highly recommend the Doc & His staff