I wanted to share a recent experience my family had at Columbia River Veterinary Specialists. I'm posting this to inform others in the community, especially pet owners, about what we experienced during an incredibly difficult time. This is not meant to discredit the clinic as a whole, but to be transparent about an interaction that had a significant emotional impact on us and may be important for others to be aware of. Our family recently brought our cat to Columbia River Veterinary Specialists during one of the most painful moments a pet owner can experience--having to say goodbye. I want to be very clear that the majority of the staff we interacted with were kind, patient, and compassionate. The woman at the front desk treated us with warmth and respect, the staff member we spoke with on the phone beforehand was helpful and understanding, and the veterinarian who ultimately assisted with end-of-life care was gentle, loving, and respectful. He took the time to explain everything clearly and treated both our pet and our family with dignity. Those are exactly the kinds of people you want working in a field that involves end-of-life care and emotional vulnerability. Unfortunately, our initial interaction with one staff member significantly overshadowed the experience. When our family first arrived, the individual who took our cat back (not the person who checked us in) made comments that strongly implied judgment about why our pet had not been brought in sooner. These remarks were delivered in a way that felt accusatory and lacked empathy, especially given that our pet was actively dying and we were already emotionally overwhelmed. Financial limitations are a reality for many families. Being made to feel guilt or shame for not having immediate access to thousands of dollars--at the exact moment we were facing the loss of a beloved pet--was deeply inappropriate and unprofessional. Veterinary professionals are entrusted with not only animal care, but human compassion. This was not the time for assumptions, judgment, or commentary--it was a moment that required empathy, discretion, and support. I'm sharing this because no family should be made to feel judged or shamed while saying goodbye to a pet. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously and addressed internally, because the rest of the staff we encountered demonstrated the level of care and compassion that should be standard in situations like this. Our pet deserved peace and dignity in their final moments--and so did our family. I would like to call out Nicole Akerill aswell. She does not deserve to work in a profession like this! Thank you very much. read more

We unfortunately had to use this emergency vet for our dog but fortunately for us, they were all wonderful! From the front desk, to the technician, to the veterinarian, they were all so kind, warm and excellent at their jobs. Yes, it's expensive to have a dog need emergency services. You should know that before getting a pet and you should know things are going to inevitably happen. Having a great team ready to take care of your pet the best they can is exactly why I highly recommend bringing your pet here for emergency needs. Thanks Dr. Tegan and staff! read more

Worst day ever, our baby crossed the rainbow bridge. CRVS made time for an emergency appointment. He was unresponsive and they met us at the car with a gurney. While the news was horrific, the staff went above and beyond. Staff was caring and kind, and the veterinarian went over options. We picked up his ashes today and they had included a cast of his paw print and a tuff of hair. I am so glad we have those mementos. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - RIP - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Update after leaving here and going to another vet.....read on: Original: Come here if you want to spend $1000 on looking at your pet. Then to be told it's gonna be a few more thousands to get him treated. These people are thieves! Update: left here after they told us it would be a few more grand to treat our cat. We did not approve, took our cat and went to another facility. We were charged 500 for the other facility to do exactly what Columbia river vet specialist said they did because the vet at the other facility said that nothing was done. Just to prove even more that these ppl are thieves. read more

My 11-year-old Black Lab was attacked by another dog, leaving her with a couple of puncture wounds on her head and a lacerated ear. The team at Columbia River Veterinary Specialists handled the situation with professionalism, courtesy, and clear communication. From arrival to departure, I was in and out within an hour. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Lana: 11 year old female Black Lab. - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

We took our lab dog there in March because she was lethargic, wouldn't eat, depressed, withdrawn. They ran a bunch of tests immediately, X ray and ultrasound. Advised us to leave her there overnight to see if something passed in her stomach (a piece of bagel from the day before) because she may have swallowed something or also she may have a suspicious mass by her bum. They ran additional ultrasounds and X rays the next morning, and magically The piece from Her stomach Disappeared. No disgnosis, no explanation, They sent her home with a bundle of meds, 4500.00 later and she was worse than when we took her in. When she came home, she was horribly sick, breathing fast, not eating, lethargic, so sick. she looked horrible, so we brought her into our regular vet 3 hours after, which was in Portland. Within an hour, they figured out exactly what it was, which was salmon poisoning, a test that they ran on her immediately when she arrived. Because of her symptoms, they did a fecal test on her and told us immediately what was wrong. Columbia river vet did not do a fecal AT ALL EVER (they had 24 Hours to do This!) on her but instead risked her life and ran fancy tests. DO NOT EVER TAKE YOUR ANIMAL THERE. THEY JUST WANT TO RUN YOUR BILL UP AND DONT FOCUS ON DOING WHATS BEST FOR YOUR ANIMAL. We've learned a lot. Dogs in the NW by rivers are exposed to salamanders, fish, that bacteria is toxic so it's toxic to dogs- it should have been the first question they ask living where we do. Our vet asked us right away about the potential and ran a test. CRVS NEVER cared about our dogs life. This illness is 70% fatal if not treated within 10 days. Our sweet girl almost lost her life and it would have been at the hands of this awful place. I didn't trust my gut and my gut was telling me They were a money grubbing vet, confirmed my our vet 3 hours after getting her. Don't give this place a thought, go elsewhere. They aren't in it for the animals, but for the money. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Lulu - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

They were good with my Great Dane who ended up with some stomach issues that we couldn't get under control. I liked that they offered us three choices of how they could help from aggressive and invasive, less aggressive and invasive, and a protocol that included watch an see. They didn't really try to upsell the services or seem to judgy when we chose the lesser of the options. The only issue with this place is that sometimes you are going to sit for a very long time, if there are more severe issues that come in. It all makes sense, but not a place that will be a "quick" visit! read more

I wish I never called Columbia River Vet Specialists. They killed my dog accidentally and did not even say sorry! read more

I brought my cat in because he wasn't feeling well, and after being seen, I was given a huge price quote with no other options offered. My cat had a blockage, and since it was his second time, they suggested an intensive surgery costing between $6-9K with a minimum three-day stay. I explained that I couldn't afford it and asked if there were any alternatives. The response I got was that without the surgery, my cat would go into cardiac arrest and die. When I started crying, she mentioned a few places I could call for potentially lower prices. I contacted Tualatin Emergency Vet, and they told me to bring him in, saying it would cost a maximum of $2K. I returned to let her know I was taking my cat there because it was more affordable for me at the time, and she warned me that my cat might not make it there. Well, he made it just fine! He stayed for one day, they provided all the medication he needed, and even gave me several options for his new food to see what he liked best. The total came to $1100, and when I explained that money was tight, they informed me about a few places that offer grants to help with vet bills. This clinic truly cares about saving animals' lives and offers options for everyone. I would not recommend the first place I went to. They seem more focused on money, offering no alternatives and suggesting your pet will die unless you agree to pay their astronomical prices. There are far better, more compassionate options out there--make sure to look around! read more

Last Wednesday night at about 10:30pm I brought my 10 year old German Shepherd in. The girl working the front desk was rude. Two assistants or techs came out, realized it was emergent and took my dog for x-rays. About 10 minutes later the vet came in. She was kind, explained what was going on and that there was really only one option. I was told Kira had been given some pain medication and I would be taken to her. A few minutes later the girl from the front desk came in with paperwork showing all of the creamation choices. She then told me she would take my credit card. I told her I hadn't been given a bill yet and didn't feel comfortable just handing over my card. After another 10 minutes or so I went and asked to be taken to my dog. I have never been separated from my any of animals at a vet other than a few minutes while they draw blood or take x-rays. The girl at the front desk told me it was hectic in back and they were busy taking care of other animals. I did not ask her to do anything other than bring me to my dog. It was almost an hour before I was taken to her. It breaks my heart knowing she was in a strange place, in pain and alone simply beacause no one could take 2 minutes and bring me to her. I said goodbye to Kira that night. Kira deserved the comfort of being with me until it was time to let her go. She didn't deserve to be left in some room alone for almost an hour. Do better! read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

I have brought my dog in for 2 different situations and I have not been impressed either time. For both scenarios we brought our dog in 2 nights in a row, just to be told that his vitals are fine and send us home. The first time, my dog ended up having a severe lung infection (pneumonia) and had to be hospitalized for 3 nights and be on medications for 6 months. Columbia River Vet saw my dog two times prior to his hospitalization for this and did not do any diagnostic tests because his vitals were fine, even though I explained to them what symptoms he was having and that he was not acting normal. He was having breathing issues and throwing up blood and they still did not take me seriously. It was a hopeless feeling being sent home twice knowing he wasn't okay. By the time his normal vet could see him we explained the ER told us he was fine, but the infection worsened at that point and our dog almost didn't make it, but luckily Pacific NW ER & Pet Specialities took us seriously and helped him. The second and most recent time I brought my dog into Columbia River, he was having gulping/swallowing/licking fits. He was having somewhat labored breathing and snorting a lot, he just wasn't acting himself. I spent a combined 9 hours waiting over the 2 times I brought him in this last time, just for the doctor to see him for maybe 15-20 mins each and telling us his vitals and physical exam seem fine and he can go home. I knew that he wasn't fine, so I was able to get him into the urgent care at his normal vet the next day (East Padden Animal Hospital). They took his symptoms seriously and immediately started running tests. Xrays were done and nothing stood out like crazy so they partially sedated him and went into his throat. They pulled an insane amount of sting and grass out of his throat/ esophagus!!! It seems unless your animal is coding or in absolute distress, this ER does not take you seriously. Both times my dog's vitals may have been stable, but he was dealing with very life threatening issues. If you have a pet in need of emergency vet care, I would 100% suggest you don't waste your time/money here. Time is precious when it comes to our animals being sick, seriously don't waste it here. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Foreign body that was pulled out by my dogs vet after being told twice he was okay by Columbia River Vet. - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

I brought my dog in for excessive vomiting and waited over 5 hours before I had to ask to leave and get my dog out of the back room. They were waiting on a secondary review on X-rays. The receptionist was absolutely horrible she showed no kindness or compassion to myself or anyone that came in this evening. I usually do not come here but it was the closest any my concern for my dog overrode my judgement. read more

Our 10 year old rescue Chihuahua, Betsy, started having 2-3 seizures per month since November, just out of the blue. Our primary vet told us we could start her on a seizure medication but if she was only having a couple of minor seizures a month, we may want to hold off. All her labs and exams were good. Fast forward to 12 Feb, Betsy had a grand Mal seizure early in the morning and continuous smaller seizures that just wouldn't stop. We brought her to CRVS and with the exception of the initial Tech that came to the waiting room to speak to us and didn't listen when we told her we never did start Betsy on the seizure meds. She felt like she needed to chastise us, while our dog was seizing, for stopping the meds (which were never started). We complained immediately and fortunately, never saw her again during our visit. The front desk staff was wonderful and caring as was Dr. Garrison. After his exam, it was determined that the cause was most likely a brain tumor that had finally gotten large enough to become symptomatic. He was so kind and empathetic. The decision was made to euthanize her and end her suffering. It was done with respect and she went with dignity while she held her in our arms and said goodbye. The staff is very caring and respectful. It was greatly appreciated on such an awful day in our lives. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - RIP Betsy - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

On 12/23/23 my dad took his boxer in for an issue with his right eye. Dr Vanessa Rizzo examined his eye. She performed a tear test and an ulcer test and found normal tear production and no evidence of a corneal tear. He was prescribed an ointment with instructions to follow in 2-3 days with his vet if no improvement. After no improvement he took his dog to his regular vet. Upon looking at the dog and the paper work. They notice Dr Rizzo examined the LEFT eye! Which would explain why no ulcer was found. With an examination of the right eye. It was determined he did in fact have an ulcer. Proper medication was prescribed and a follow up as it's possible more treatment will be needed. When CRVS was notified they did issue a refund. As you can clearly see in the pictures it's rather obvious which eye was injured. How can a mistake like this happen? read more

Awful communication! Zero urgency! They have never solved the issue with our pets. Two ended up padding away due to their lack of urgency. The third pet was taken to another vet and they saved him. Never, ever again. read more

Took my cat that got hurt from a big cat fight. The staff was very kind, organized, took care of my cat, sent me home with meds and everything. Also affordable for emergancy service. Would use them again! read more

I don't mess with Yelp too often, but when I saw the negative reviews here I had to leave one of my own. My sweet good boy Blue was just treated my Dr Walton. He was truly fantastic, and he quite literally saved my dogs life. Blue presented with sneezing, lethargy and partial anorexia. We took him to our regular vet in White Salmon bc that's where we live. They wanted to do a nasal flush, suspecting something was stuck in there, but suggested we might see a specialist first. They were very happy to do it, though. Thinking the flush could be a waste of money if it didn't solve the issue, we decided to see the specialist. We called all around and Columbia River could get us in the soonest, without astronomical pricing. Dr Walton saw Blue literally the next day, and advised we do a CT scan. He just about insisted upon it. When we got the estimate, it definitely took us aback for a second. But it is what it is, and thank goodness for pet insurance. So, we did the CT scan and it turned out that Blue had a massive tumor in his nose that had entered his brain. If we had gone through with the nasal flush, it would have instantly killed him. Dr Walton was shocked by the size of it, because Blue's symptoms didn't lead toward anything to do with the brain. His bed side manor was truly excellent. He spoke eloquently and decisively to both myself and my husband, and consulted with both of us separately over the phone and in person as we couldn't both be present. The time he spent with us was significant and deeply informative. We felt his care and concern, and Blue responded to him so well too--dogs know good people. He's presently advocating for us to get a referral to a top oncologist, with great consideration and understanding of cost concerns. Is it cheap? No, the sort of treatment you go to see a specialist for is not going to be cheap. If it is, you probably don't want to be there. Did we wait a while to get Blue back? Yeah, it's an emergency hospital. I'm sure they had more pressing emergencies that made their estimated time take longer. That's not anything anyone can help, and I would only hope that it I brought my dog in bleeding to death they would prioritize him over a CT scan. Also, the front desk and tech staff is just lovely. They're the sweetest people. They gave my daughter a little squishy and thanked her for being patient, how wonderful is that? Blue did not get the diagnosis that we were hoping for, and treatment for him may not even be possible. Vets can't change untreatable cancer, it would be absurd to fault them for that. It is what it is, and they did the absolute best and most that they could do. If you had a lousy experience, consider it may have been out of their hands. And please please please get pet insurance. Thank you, Dr Walton and staff. Blue is home resting nicely now. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Blue resting after anesthesia and pain pills - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

So this is a hospital, and at the time I took my cat it was a 24 hour hospital. Unsure if it still is because I know they cut back hours at one point. It is going to be extra expensive to take your cat after hours to a hospital. So please just expect triple the normal bill. At least. And a horrendous wait time. That is not what the one star is for. I expected these things. You should too. The one star of this rating is for the wrong dose of medication being prescribed to my cat. When I called with anxiety about a severe side effect, they confirmed the dose with me and the man in the phone was surprised to hear the dose of medication, and told me that my cat had been taking too much (!) He said he couldn't tell me who prescribed the overdose. He claimed they "couldn't tell which doctor" had put in the medication order. Huge red flag... a doctor cannot even be held accountable for their actions, if that's true. They also advised me to keep feeding dry food to my cat who came in for urinary crystals. I now know that this is bad advice. What is needed from this point on is wet food. I gave my cat wet food, watered down for a week, and a product called UROMAXX for a couple of months. Then, strictly wet food from that point on. And even though they claimed my cat would "definitely be back for this happening again" because once it happens it almost always happens again and usually within 6 months...... it's been 3.5 years and he's been completely fine since switching him to wet food. Thank God! But I hope they've since realized this and now give better advice to pet parents. read more

I brought my dog in today, he was barely breathing and tongue was turning purple. I've never been so scared in my life. Everyone there was right on it, they took him right back and got him stabilized and were all so sweet. I thought I would be stuck with a huge bill (which I would have gladly paid to save him) and in the end I only paid $290 for everything. Thank you so much CRVS for helping my boy. read more

Came here at 5pm with an urgent but not emergency problem and did expect to wait some. The person checking me in was nice, as was the tech who came to take my dog back to evaluate. After that, we waited FOUR hours with no communication. There was one family in the waiting room. No one came to update, or say there was an emergency the docs were working in. I checked in twice with the front desk girl who was completely unconcerned and had literally nothing to say. She also said nothing when I explained what happened happened and why we were leaving g without seeing a doctor after four hours. I sure hope this facility does a great job on emergencies, but they sure seemed absolutely unconcerned about clients or their families. read more

I am beyond livid with this place. On Sunday 1/5/25 around 2pm my neighbor brought in my cat that had been attacked by her dog. She was so scared and her first instinct was to bring my cat to vet care. We live just about 5 mins away. My male black cat. Around 2:20pm I called the CRVS. I explain to them that my neighbor brought in my male black cat. They were so quick to tell me it was not my cat because it was a female cat. Later that night I decided to go in for myself to get clarity it was not my cat. They wouldn't give me any information or let me identify the cat. When given specific details about my cat. ( fur and sharp teeth) receptionist checked in the back and came back and all she said it's not your cat. I called again because something felt off. They kept telling me it was a female cat. I've been looking for my dead cat for 4 days and yesterday I decided to call one more time and the receptionist tells me the sex was unknown and it was sent to the crematory and to call them the next business day. Well I called and he was cremated with other animals and I can no longer get his ashes or say goodbye to my sweet baby. I am understanding of being busy and I know people make mistakes. But if they had just taken an extra 5 mins... just maybe I could have said goodbye to my cat. read more

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I brought my dog in for paralysis in his back legs. The techs let him jump off the 3 ft. gurney onto the pavement. I was shocked. Then when I asked for help loading him, a different vet tech dropped him onto his back after he was just diagnosed with a spinal cord injury. I told reception several days later and no one got back to me. Absolutely unacceptable. The only positive was one of the receptionists was decently empathetic. I regret to say I don't recommend going here. read more

My dog was hit by a car and his hip was out of place. Rather than do simple hip replacement (I never got a quote for that) staff continually they steered me towards more expensive surgery - quoting a $2600 starting fee. More than one staff member INSISTED that there was more than a 50% chance that hip replacement would not work and that surgery was really needed. They charged me a total of $965.82 before I realized that I was dealing with a "car dealership" mentality with an Upsell attitude. After paying $600 for their x-rays, I sent them on to Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency (TVE) and drove to Oregon to follow up with them instead. TVE charged me $534 for hip replacement & medications and my dog was back to normal behavior within a week. read more

I took my dog there approximately 1 month ago. They checked her out then said they where too busy to discuss findings with me and said they would call me later to discuss. Now 1 month later no phone call and I received a bill in the mail and a typed report. This is terrible service. I have lots of questions about my dogs health. Whenever I call the only Vet than knows anything is either not working that day or not available. This is the third and final time I used them. Apparently they are too busy to provide good care. All they seem to be able to do proficiently is send out the bills. In response to your response. I tried calling 3 times as well. The vet was never available. Instead of trying to make excuses on social media. Why doesn't anyone call me to discuss my pets health needs? read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

After a horrible accident I brought my kitty here last night. They took him right away and gave him pain meds so he would be more comfortable. He was an old man so we made the difficult decision to have him euthanized. The staff was so patient and empathetic. Couldn't have asked for a better experience during such a tough and emotional time for my daughter and I. Thank you for helping my kitty and treating us so kindly. Rest in Purrs sweet kitty. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Cody kitty - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

My elderly dog took a turn for the worse and we had to rush her here. They have safety procedures for Covid. You wait in your car and give them a call. Vet tech comes out and provides you paperwork and triaged the situation. When we arrived, my dog was stable, so that meant we had a long wait. It was hours before she was able to be seen, and by that time she exhibited new symptoms and needed to be hospitalized. (There is a Panda Express and Burger King in the shared parking lot, so you can grab some fast food while waiting.) We headed home and hoped for the best. I didn't have to wait and guess how she was doing. The vet called me throughout the night to provide me updates on my dog's improvement. This made me happy and relieved to have consistent communication. When the next vet shift started, she too, provided clear communication. We were able to pick her up the next evening and she's doing great with the treatment plan they proposed. I really appreciated the communication while she was in the hospital. read more

If you ever wondered why people put their dogs down. It's not because they want to. It's because they can't afford to take care of them because places like this charge an insane amount of money and abuse people who love their animals. 0/10. I do not recommend. They might be nice but the amount that they charge people is a crime. You are forcing people to choose between their animals and paying their bills. These prices are beyond unreal and take advantage of people's love for their pet. Do not recommend find somewhere else. I did compare pricing with some other places, and I will be taking my dog somewhere else. This place is disgusting the moment you walk in the door you can feel them wanting to take your money. And the lack of compassion for your animals life or your well-being . read more

NOT GOOD ORTHOPEDISTS! I'm not normally one to post such a negative review, but I SUPER caution anyone going here for specialty care. I believe the provider really did not look at my pey holistically & recommended/scheduled a $6k TPLO for my 6 year old Doxie! Luckily, I was not comfy with that & received two other opinions. One was from Tanasbourne ER who was amazing & ultimately, my pup had a multi-level hemilaminectomy at Bridgetown Vet in Tigard. The issue was that his lumbar disc ruptured so severely that it chipped a bone fragment into his lumbar spinal cord which impinged his right rear leg - Likely referred pain/radiculopathy to the leg (kind of like humans and sciatica). But, how odd that this ortho didn't recomnebd checking a Doxies back!! Thank goodness I listened to my intuition... My pup is now attempting to sprint everywhere again (don't worry, I'm slowly guiding his happy spirit to recovery lol). He has no remaining back leg shortfalls! Issue was that I needed to make a fast decision. Because I was personally aware this could be IVDD & my pet could suffer long term disability, I didn't have the luxury of wtg, but am SO glad I did not listen to the ortho at CRVS! I only had so much money available & it went to the proper surgery! read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

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The people at the front desk here are very ignorant and we're not helpful whatsoever the entire time I have been waiting just diagnostics by a nurse. Have been waiting over 2 hrs and since I brought my chihuahua in this woman has ripped papers out of my hand extremely rude. I was told by several ER's my fur baby is needing to be seen urgently and have not even been able to have her vitals checked. I do not recommend this place to anyone who wants care for their own family pet. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - A desk - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

I rushed my cat Moe here the day before Thanksgiving after his regular vet said he needed emergency care. Unfortunately, my sweet boy was not in good shape and the outcome of him surviving was looking bad (and even if he did the quality of life would not be there). So, I had to make the difficult decision to put him down and the staff and vet who assisted were all very gracious. This was a horrible day for me and they made it as comfortable as possible. They sent a card afterward and the cremation process is fairly quick. They send you an email with tracking when the remains are on the way to you (so you don't have to return to the ER which could be emotionally triggering). I know some people have said not the best things in these reviews; but I had a different experience and felt it was important to share. The picture is my cat, Moe. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

I will never Ever take my animals to this place It seems like they are more interested in treating animals that will give them the most money faster then seeing an animal that they can actually help Wen in on Sunday at 5:45pm and was there till after 10: pm and still not able to see anyone for my dog The people there couldn't believe we had been there that long I sent my wife home at 9:00 because she works on Monday I understand that some emergencies come in but it doesn't mean my animal isn't just as important I WILL PUT MY ANIMAL DOWN MYSELF BEFORE I GO BACK Run away read more

Very good with communication which is so key during these times. It's hard enough to have your furry loved one injured but to just hand them off to an unknown person and not be present ( thanks Covid) made my experience even more difficult. The staff and the drs were all very empathetic, patient, understanding and willing to answer any and all questions. My fur baby left with options , recommendations and everything needed for the best outcome. read more

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Their incompetence led to the tragic loss of my beloved dog at Columbia River Vet. Jennifer Blouin, DVM, told me her technician took my dog off oxygen for a 30-minute break, and when they returned, my dog was struggling and turning cyanotic. To make it worse, she later denied it in court. This loss has left a lasting void in my life, a pain I hope no one else has to endure. read more

Our older doggie experienced sudden seizures, it's been one of the most traumatic experiences ever. I sincerely empathize with anyone who has to watch their beloved go through it. Everyone at CRVS has been consistently awesome, extra kudos to the Front Desk team. And Dr. Krull and his neurology team have been thorough, professional, and have exuded warm "bedside" manner. It's common to complain about the exorbitant costs, but it's the way with all veterinarians, emergency clinics like Dove Lewis, and also CRVS. In the midst of a crisis it's normal to scrutinize if recommended tests and remedies are necessary. However, this is not the fault of CRVS, it's the gross pet industry as a whole. Owning a pet is expensive, the decision is not to be taken likely. Conventional wisdom suggests to skip pet insurance, but in our case, it saved us $1000s. I watched fellow dog owners in the lobby cry because they had to make the decision to forgo treatment because they couldn't afford it. That's just sad. The medical profession takes an oath that requires them to save any HUMAN life - even a p.o.s. loser - but this doesn't apply to a sweet animal. There's my rant. Back to CRVS: I recommend them wholeheartedly. For certain complex situations know that your only choice is VCA or CRVS. My only constructive criticism is that instructions sometimes differed between the emergency team, the neurology team, and the Front Desk. Parking and checkout are easy here. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Never not found parking - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Wonderful experience!! Dr.Schafgans and team are great!! Reception very friendly and professional. Shout out to Amanda, Internal Med Dept. Our dog Wilson adores Amanda and so do we!! Wilson is very comfortable with Amanda and we appreciate her caring and concern for him. read more

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists - Wilson in his happy place. - Veterinarians Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

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Go at 6 pm last night. 13 people ahead of us. I get a text an hour later. We realize you have been waiting for a while. Due to high patient volumes, we are experiencing longer-than-normal wait times. Thank you for your continued patience. At 11 pm I call. I ask how many pet ahead of me they say 7. At 4 I fill out the paperwork again. This is the 4th time. At 6. I get the same message. At 645 i get a message Korrie Matta Justus has been cleared to be seen, please head to the hospital now. You must arrive within the next hour. Please text back to confirm that you are on your way and provide ETA. When you arrive, please respond to this text with your parking spot # to let us know you are here. If you have sought care somewhere else or not longer need to be seen, please reply to this message with the number "9" to be removed from the queue. 6607 NE 84th Street Suite 109 Vancouver, WA 98665 I call and they had canceled us in the list at 6 pm last night.. They told me on the phone that the Dr would be there at 8. I called and they could not see us. Excuse was we are at capacity. As I waited for more then an hour. 5 people in the lobby walking around sitting on the computer. Looking like just hanging out till there shift ends. I watch 6 new people come to work for the day, including a person that was bring there pet to work. That would be great if I could go to work and have a puppy day at work. Or bring my own dog to work and be seen when people have been patiently waiting for 14 hours. read more

First off: this is an ER. It's not going to be timely and I am aware of that. There are always difficult situations. I've been here twice, and the first time, they were honestly very helpful. My puppy woke me up sounding like he was choking, they diagnosed him with kennel cough and gave me some meds. I'd probably rate that visit 5 stars. The second time, however, is my reason for this rating. I got home from work on Tuesday, and realized that my cat looks like she was either having a seizure or a stroke. She was twitching, her mouth open and her eye was super watery. I rushed her to Columbia and they immediately took her back, and thus my wait began. I went in expecting that if she was okay, I'd be out around 9:30ish (I got there around 5:15). I settled in and waited. When the vet finally came into the room I was in, it was close to 9 and we talked through our options and I elected to take her home as the vet said she hadn't seen any more seizing episodes. This was around 8:45. The vet left the room saying she will get the discharge paperwork done so I went to the front and the lady said she hadn't received anything. Completely get it, the vet is busy. But then an hour passed. Then an hour and a half. Finally I had to leave without my cat because I needed to go get my puppy from the people who were watching him. I took him home, got him settled, drove BACK to the ER and at this point it is 10:45. They FINALLY tell me what I owe. $300 for ???. Okay fair enough, I paid it and wait for my cat. 30 minutes later I'm extremely annoyed and ask her again, and she goes "sorry, we had two stats come in after you left and don't have any free hands". Ma'am, that would mean a lot more to me if I had already been waiting for almost 2 hours BEFORE I left. 45 minutes later, the receptionist goes back, and finally comes out and says "okay they are just removing the catheter then someone will bring her out. WHY HAS SHE HAD A CATHETER IN HER FOR 2 HOURS WHEN SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DISCHARGED?! They finally brought her out to me and I left because I was exhausted and felt horrible for putting my cat through that. Worst part? She is still twitching. She hasn't stopped twitching in 2 days for more than 45 minutes. So either she just MAGICALLY stopped for 5 hours at the vet, or they didn't actually monitor her at all. So I paid over $300 for a vet to pretend to monitor my cat, put a catheter in her for reasons unknown and then keep my cat and me hostage for 3 hours after saying we were going to be discharged. read more

Its an Emergency office. These will not be pleasant experiences, they are emergencies. keep that in mind when waiting and living in the world around you. You are not alone in this, keep calm, your pet will be taken care of in a timely manner. I have been here twice for different animals, and I cannot imagine the trauma and stress this establishment deals with on a daily basis. My Dog's ear had been tore open by accident and he was seen, treated and mended in an 8 hour period. I was initially quoted $1500-$1900. Final bill was $1250. They are professionals and do the best that they can. Thank you to the staff for their service. read more

I wish i could give then less than one star. I brought sick cat at 8 am, there was nobody in the waiting room ahead of me. They were quick to take my cat and ask for prepayment of 1500 $. After spending 10 hours at the clinic waiting and 5 mins with Dr Valentyne ( who's the only working diagnosis for a drooling cat was dislocated jaw..) We left without any diagnosis and still a very sick cat. Fluids were given to the cat only after my request. Staff were dismissive, I do not have any confidence in this provider or support personnel. There were other animals in the waiting room, acutely ill, throwing up without getting care for hours. Very frustrating experience. read more

I needed an emergency vet late on a Sunday. I read these reviews pretty objectively because I work in restaurants and I know how exaggerated they are. I thought ok people are in a state of panic and if any one thing goes wrong they think the entire thing is wrong. So I went. It was incredibly expensive. They told me that my cat didn't have an infection and that she didn't have a fever. They gave her some fluids and nausea medicine. Skip forward to that Thursday. The cat hasn't eaten in a week and a half. She has mucus coming out of here nose and mouth and eyes. I take her to a regular vet. The vet touched her and ear, didn't even get a thermometer in it, and said she had a fever. Sure enough, takes the temp, fever. She feels the car all around. Confirms theirs no stool in her bowels. No urine in her bladder. Her conclusion is that the cat has a "RAGING upper respiratory infection." She gets fluids, antibiotics, she gets appetite enhancers. I'm sent home with more appetite meds and recover food to entice her to start eating again. So take it for what it is. I found it insanely expensive to have an entirely missed diagnosis and very little productive help. read more