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    Buena Vet

    4.2 (136 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Services - Buena Vet

    Pet physical or wellness exam

    Pet vaccinations

    Buena Vet Photos

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    We have been taking our two cats (male and a feral female) here for 5-6 years. There are routinely issues. There is a separate 1-star review regarding our female cat's recent appalling experience at Buena Vet where they, amongst a litany of other things, sedated her and did none of the things they were supposed to do. Prescriptions are a problem all the time. Our male cat with terminal gastric lymphoma needed steroids and nausea meds at the end of his life for comfort. He ran out of his steroid. Despite being a patient for years and on his deathbed, they wouldn't give a refill because "it is a different vet that has not seen him before." Laughable because I don't think he had ever seen any vet there more than twice there. They wanted me to bring my dying cat who hated going to the vet and had been seen recently, in for a damn refill. My poor dude suffered unnecessarily for days while I frantically tried to convince them of their mistake and the torment they were putting him through. I was getting ready to go to the emergency vet because of Buena's incompetence before they finally gave it to him. It still makes me mad to think about how he suffered because of this shameful ridiculousness. Our feral cat's methimazole needs to be a non-coated, crushable tab to mix with churu. It's the only way she'll take it. Requested a refill. It went as a coated tab that can't be crushed. Another time, it went to the wrong pharmacy. Other times, there have been issues with transmission of the prescriptions. One time a pharmacist gave me a big eye roll saying they always have problems with Buena Vet. Communication is a problem. The person who answers the phone tries to answer questions that aren't appropriate for them. On numerous occasions over the years, they have attempted to give medical advice that they are not qualified to give only to be contradicted by an appropriate professional later. Once they told me my cat's medication that I requested a refill on that was previously prescribed from this same office didn't exist. I had to have the pharmacist from CVS call them to explain that this medication does in fact continue to exist. Another time they gave incorrect advice about how a medication worked. I wish I could remember more specifics. Due to the vet shortage, you'll rarely see the same vet, but changing vets isn't even the issue. The issue is them doing a bad job transitioning between vets. Over visits spanning 2-3 years now, they never got the dosage for methimazole right on the prescription. There was one mistake years ago, and despite explaining it to 3 different vets, it never gets fixed (the dose we are supposed to give is not the dose prescribed). Another example is not remembering that my feral cat will need sedation every single time. It was as if there was no record keeping at all because I had to explain this every time I had a new vet. They always want to torment her trying without it first. One time a vet promised me a very particular sedation plan with details laid out. Next visit comes, different vet, and they had no idea what I was talking about. Buena Vet needs to address the root causes of these problems, not blame things inappropriately on the vet shortage. In actuality, most of the problems here stem from front desk issues, communication problems, and process issues. The answer to these problems isn't to finger-point and deflect blame. It is to find the causes so they can be fixed. The vets, themselves, have all been good.

    Supportive end of life treatment. Felt like we were at home.
    Robin L.

    Today this office helped me by making an appointment on the same day for a cat who was dying. They even stayed open longer to help my friend who's cat was not a regular client . They were supportive through the whole process from begging to end. She was given many options. My friend decided to hold her cat through the whole process. It was a lovely and calm process with dignity. She was given time to process her feeling. I highly recommend this office. Thank everyone at Buena Vet for keeping in touch with us all day and helping with this delicate and difficult situation.

    Our beach doggy living his best life
    Kimberly L.

    Buena Vet is the most compassionate and accommodating vet in Ventura! Over the course of our doggies 14 year life we tried a few different places and I'm so grateful that in our pups last 5 years we took him to Buena Vet. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our beloved dog and I'm so grateful that we had Buena Vets loving staff to help us along the way. Compassionate, spiritual, and loving are just a few words to explain the environment that we were in. Buena Vet staff are incredible humans. Thank you.

    Monte taking a nap on his favorite chair

    I do not recommend this vet facility to anyone. Before you pass judgment on this negative review, ask yourself why are most of the doctors leaving this facility. I currently know of 4 within the last few months that have left this facility in a hurry. Very telling in my opinion. This vet charged my daughter for services they didn't perform and charged her for. After she discovered this and notified front end staff and manager Mary, Mary told her never to come back and dropped her cat and my cat Monte too! I guess Mary can't except her mistakes and doesn't like having them pointed out to her. Both of our cats are seniors and require daily life saving medications and require a doctor's perscription. the actions by Mary especially is unacceptable. She should not be in charge of any facility. Besides this dispicable behavior she doesn't know how to run a front end. You walk into this facility on most days with loud talking, gossiping and disregard for customers and their pets. Blame the management, right? My daughter's cat needed results that she paid for and didn't receive. And our cats are left in the lurch. Shame on BUENA VET and their manager Mary!!! What a joke. Can you say karma Mary? We were customers for over 4 years and 3 cats. Tell everyone you know that BUENA VET is no bueno.

    Lady!
    James P.

    This morning (Friday, October 16th 2020) I had the most disappointing and unfortunate visit I've ever had at Buena Vet. And quite frankly rude, insensitive and lacking all empathy (Thanks Sherri) for my situation. Back in early June, my parents dog "Lady" developed a couple of bumps on her left leg. Clearly unusual, I took her to the family vet for well over 13 years, Buena Vet (When we first started going there, they had great doctors as well as great office management but as the years went on, the doctors changed as well as the front desk people. Medical Director BRANDON HEIKES told me he was concerned about one of the bumps so he wanted to do a biopsy. I trusted he knew what he was talking about and even in her advanced age (11) I assumed it was what needed to be done. We learned that Lady had a mass cell tumor (cancer). One day I was in LA and I learn from my sister that Lady's lump is bleeding badly! She had to be rushed to the hospital. It was there my sister learned that the original prognosis was detrimental to Lady's situation. She should've received comfort care because of her age. Not at all what Heikes had told me. They wanted to know why she didn't get an x-ray which would've been far less intrusive. But now it was too late. She had an open wound on her leg that was never going to heal. So after countless trips to the hospital, bandage changes, pills 3 times a day (28 pills) that I have to administer (I mentioned I live in Los Angeles)The costs are well over 5k. It's been beyond frustrating and inconvenient. But Lady is happy. She eats well, walks. She's pretty much herself sans this massive exposed tumor that never should've been biopsied. That leads me to TODAY. For the past 2 weeks I've been taking Lady back to Buena Vet for her bandage changes at $35 each. The hospital was charging me $71 so it was a considerable savings and I could do two changes a week instead of one. Instead of the tech coming out with Lady as they usually do, "Sherri" walks up to my car window (Hey Sherri, we're kinda in a world pandemic maybe next time you call the customer like everyone else does). She was too close to my car window, so I got out of the car. She proceeds to tell me that by orders or Dr. Heikes (The guy who put us in this situation to begin with) it was now going to cost $100 for her bandage changes! I was SHOCKED! I explained to her that the emergency hospital charges $71. She didn't care. She just kept saying OK. There was no room for negotiation. I was more shocked by how rude she was being to me. Like more rude than I had ever been treated by anyone in customer service. There was absolutely no empathy whatsoever. I asked to speak to Heikes but she said he was busy in meetings, surgery etc. I said well after all that please have him call me. At this point, I'm so frustrated I start to cry. I can't tell you the last time I've cried. I continue to voice my displeasure and she tells me to find a new vet! After all these years! I call her a jerk and an ahole (And even now I don't regret that. That's how rude she was!) I asked to speak to the owner and she said no. She also said Heikes was NOT going to call me back. Thank GOD there were other people waiting for their dogs who witnessed this unfold. They were equally appalled by Sherri's treatment of me! I told them the whole story as I'm about to leave. Sherri comes marching back and tells me to leave the premises before she calls the police! THE POLICE?! She didn't like the fact that I was telling the other customers my story. An unfortunate story that NEVER should've happened. So Lady doesn't have much time left. We've accepted that. But today, Sherri really added insult to injury. My heat is broken for Lady. She's so happy and completely normal except for this thing on her leg that never would've become infected had we not gone to Buena Vet. Had I gone straight to the hospital, she would be fine! Yes she'd still have cancer, but who knows how much more time she would've had. Her age was a tremendously huge factor Heikes did not take into account. Her brother Baron has a lump on his chest but now we know to just leave it alone. The point of all this is when caring for your animals or choosing veterinary care, ASK QUESTIONS! Weigh the repercussions of your decisions. Find out if there are any alternatives and my personal regret, take your pets age into consideration when making those decisions. I trusted Heikes to make that decision and he made a poor one. Buena Vet, specifically Heikes AND Sherri owe my family an apology. No scratch that. They owe Lady an apology. This horrible experience will be with me for the rest of life and most certainly for the rest of Lady's life.

    Aldo after a super positive experience
    Tanya S.

    I have been looking for a new vet since my dog's vet retired earlier this year and I was not having any luck. I found Buena Vet based on a recommendation from a co-worker and I am beyond satisfied with the care provided. The ease and friendliness of making an appointment was my first hint that this place was going to be a winner. Our tech was Ana, and she was as sweet as they come. You can tell the love and care she puts in her initial assessment. Dr. Heikes saw us and spent over an hour listening to all my questions/concerns. My dog is 13.5 years old and had a lot of issues to review. The pricing is fair. I would recommend this place 10/10. Thank you Buena Vet!

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    The staff is friendly and efficient. No long wait times for appointments. You can get in same day for urgent needs.

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    4 years ago

    Great office. Our visit was perfect! I love the office staff and Dr. Heikes! He's the best! Thank you for taking such good care of us!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Buena Vet

    Does anyone know where Dr Villano has gone, since leaving Buena?

    Hi Joan, he's at Arroyo Vista in Moorpark

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Buena Vet

    I am very glad that I found Buena Animal Hospital and am actually looking forward to our follow up visit with Dr.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Pasek Kalee, DVM - Time to say goodbye

    Pasek Kalee, DVM

    (5 reviews)

    Once again, Dr Pasek and her uniquely qualified assistant, Rhiannon, helped me walk an elderly pet…read moreto the other side. Actually what they did was give me three of our best years together by accurately diagnosing his physical state for the first time in the 12 years that I'd owned him. It was a miracle. I thought I was calling her three years ago to put him down, and what happened instead was that we found out why he was sick. And they tenderly helped me care for him in his final time on this planet. They are compassionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely seem to care. It was important for me that he died at home so that the other two pets could know that he was gone to assist in their grieving. Dr.Pasek and Ray patiently and intuitively held space for me to find the right time. I highly recommend this team of professionals, not only professionals, but friends.

    Dr. Kaylee Pasek and her staff were exceptional in helping us take care of our beloved, elderly…read moreGolden Retreiver, Scout in her final months. Dr. Pasek comes to your home for veterinary care, eliminating the difficulty and stress of schelping senior dogs to the animal clinic. At almost 16 years old, Scout's health was declining as she started to have a lot of medical issues that are common for older dogs. It became nearly impossible to transport her to our Vet's office. Scout weighed in at 60 pounds, she could barely see or hear and was so stressed when in the car. Thank God for Dr. Pasek who could examine and treat Scout in the comfort of our home. Over the past few months, Dr. Pasek advised us on how to assess Scout's Quality of Life and when to determine the 'right' time to let her go. She and her staff were kind, caring, professional and patient making this difficult time more manageable. When the time came to end our darling Scout's life, Dr. Pasek and her staff provided a beautiful ending to a beautiful life. In our serene backyard where Scout frolicked her whole life, she was put to 'sleep' surrounded with love and then taken away for Aquamation. Afterwards, Dr. Pasek presented us with a book she wrote about grieving for your pet. It was well-written, heart-felt and offered great constructive advice on coping with the loss of a pet. The next day, a single rose arrived on our doorstep in memory of Scout's passing from Dr. Pasek. We highly recommend her services. Dr. Pasek is a top-notch vet and a really nice person. It might be a little pricey, but worth it as she helped us get through this traumatic fact of life...or rather death. Arlene and Dennis H. Ventura, CA

    Smiling Canines - Before and after.

    Smiling Canines

    (82 reviews)

    My vet recommended my dog get his teeth professionally cleaned, so I brought my good boy here…read more First of all, the location is pretty easy to miss. It's not located right on Main Street, but right before you hit Main Street, depending on what direction you're coming from. The parking lot is small, but I could find parking easily. Appointments are scheduled weeks out; therefore, arrive on time to avoid losing your spot! A family came late with their two dogs, and Smiling Canines tried to squeeze them between other dogs' appointment times, but it was a hassle for both the family and business. After I filled out and signed some paperwork, the staff immediately took my little dog in to have his teeth cleaned. The whole appointment lasted maybe 30 minutes. They also have a small store pet you can look in while you wait for your dog; otherwise, you can stay in your car or sit in a chair outside. The lady who greeted me was kind, professional, and efficient. The prices are around $185 - $250, depending on what type of cleaning your dog needs. Unfortunately, I paid $250 because I had not kept on my dog's teeth, and he had a lot of tartar buildup. So he will need to come back in another six months for another cleaning, and my good boy deserves the best. Thank you, Smiling Canines, for vastly improving my dog's teeth - and breath!

    Such an Awesome option for getting your dog's teeth cleaned! Without anesthesia! Love that they do…read morethis at various locations (we went to the vet location in Thousand Oaks) They did a great job and it literally took all but 30 minutes. Our pup was not traumatized at all. And he was his usual happy self afterwards. Cost was $250 - major inflation! The last time we had his teeth cleaned by them a couple years ago, (went to a couple others in between) it was only $150 I think?. Our pup has terrible plaque issues so we did have him get the anesthesia cleaning, at his vet in 2024 and he needed 9 teeth pulled. :o\ They too (our vet) recommend Smiling Canines! I highly recommend!!

    Gemcore Veterinary Services

    Gemcore Veterinary Services

    (499 reviews)

    Chatsworth

    My (third) senior pup and I are so looking forward to see Dr Gonzalez again this week for his 6…read moremonths preventative / well-being check up.. This is not my first review of our beloved Dr G, and I just recommended her to 6 more people again just these past 2 weeks. I always say to people I give her card to: "you will discover she is an Earth Angel - if she moved to a different town, I'd take my pup there... When you find a great vet, they are Gold! She's not only compassionate, present and knowledgeable, but also she does not oversell." Besides all the regular check ups, Dr G. has performed 2 substantial surgeries on my pup in the last 8 years, and has been extremely kind, providing valuable reassuring step-by-step updates throughout, especially aware that I had lost my beloved first dog, (with a different vet), when he did not make it through the anesthesia... In the 8 years Dr G. has been our one and only vet; everyone I have sent to Dr G. has fallen in love with her, and has thanked me for the referral. I trusted Dr G and her small compassionate team with the euthanasia of my precious second dog, Handsome. She is truly an Angel on Earth. At her Chatsworth location, I love that she's created a lovingly cozy "home environment" for the euthanasia experience. That it so needed during that deeply emotional time, and more veterinary offices ought to follow her example. I found her many years ago when I was dissatisfied with a busy veterinary front desk in Sherman Oaks, after they had made errors in my first dog's chart. Unfortunately he passed, and I learned that finding the RIGHT professional truly makes ALL the difference. So yes, I drive from Sherman Oaks. Gratefully so :) I am thankful that my cherished pups are her patients. Her ethics, her care, her kindness, her knowledge, her integrity - she's our number 1!!!

    We are incredibly grateful to Gemcore Veterinary Services for the compassion and care they showed…read moreduring one of the hardest days of our lives. Dr. Gonzalez was kind, patient, and thorough, taking the time to explain each step of the euthanasia process. She ensured our dog's maximum comfort throughout, even creating a makeshift pillow so he could rest peacefully. We were heartbroken, but her understanding and gentle approach gave us comfort while making the process completely painless and stress-free for our giant furbaby. She was available the same day and brought in a caring team afterward to respectfully and compassionately assist with our 132-pound dog. The thoughtfulness, professionalism, and empathy shown by Gemcore made an unbearable moment a little more bearable. We are deeply grateful and highly recommend them to anyone seeking a veterinary team that truly cares.

    Skyline Animal Hospital - Reception

    Skyline Animal Hospital

    (129 reviews)

    I know and feel how difficult our current conditions are. I feel both sides need to be kinder. I…read morethought a lot about posting this review. I decided to do so to share my experience and allow an opportunity for growth. I wanted to be proactive so I am thankful this wasn't an emergency. My pup has extreme allergy issues. I recently moved to So Cal from No Cal and started a new vet relationship. I explained to Dr. C what the pups experience had been and what I needed. I thought that went well. Scheduled a follow up visit to check in and review protocol as this is when his allergies take a bad turn. I specifically requested Dr c again and was told to come on a Tuesday. I arrived 10 mind ahead of appt to give them time to check me in and to be respectful of their time. First - Dr C wasn't even scheduled to work that day. It appears they may have double booked as there was another couple waiting with their pup. We both were taken to a room and the other couple were seen right away. I waited over half an hour and nothing. When I stepped out to ask if the vet tech could at least vaccinate the pup that seemed to throw everyone for a loop. Please no it is a large and appears to be quiet office. Many people seem to have not a lot going on and it appeared as if I may be disturbing then rather that being a paying customer with a request. When after standing around and nothing seemed to be happening other than just wait around. I thought this wouldn't work and left and got what seemed not of pure intent with a have a good day. If you are a parent you know what I mean when I say tone wasn't genuine. Now I am not angry just disappointed at people lack if care and kindness. I chose to drive further looking for a responsive and kind business. For me, this is not it. I was able to start service with a new vet within 2 miles from where I live. My message, be kind but expect the same in return. If not, go somewhere else. That is all we can do.

    One of my cats had been having digestive issues so when he started vomiting a lot and when my vet…read morecouldn't see him I called Skyline and they were able to get him in right away. Dr Messri is very knowledgeable and we were lucky to have him take care of Dill. We got bloodwork done and put my cat on antibiotics for the vomiting. Dr Messri went over the blood work with me and was told what to look for in the future which was nice. All in all I wouldn't hesitate to bring any of my animals here l. Thank you Skyline

    Buena Vet - vet - Updated May 2026

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