UPDATED AFTER CAH OWNER REACHED OUT TO ME…read more
We faithfully took 3 dogs and 4 cats to this clinic over the last 13-15 years, but due to high charges and a rotating staff of veterinarians resulting in a fractured continuity of care, we have moved on. It feels very corporate now, though I should make it clear I was incorrect in my previous belief CAH was bought out by private equity and/or now has an executive board to answer to. I am glad to know that isn't the case and that vets are salaried (not paid commission or how many patients they see), but regardless, the feel of the office has decidedly changed to a less personal, attentive experience.
Prices were high before but are outrageous now. Neutering a male kitten--a very quick and simple procedure--is nearly $400, and that's *just* the neuter; adding the pre-neuter exam, microchip and other related procedures and prep add a couple hundred more. Spaying a large breed dog was nearly $800, which floored me. Many clinics offer much lower spay/neuter services to encourage responsible pet ownership and reducing the pet population, so these prices I find exceptionally egregious.
In contrast, our new vet neutered, microchipped, examined, and gave the first round of shots to our kitten for $300, and I was told spaying a large dog would have cost us no more than half CAH's charge.
The quote we received for our dog's teeth was ranged from $1100-2600 (and we had previously paid $2000+ for our old dog's teeth here); new vet did a wonderful job on the same dog's teeth for $700 and said the highest they ever charge for dental is $800 in cases where all or nearly all teeth are pulled. I just referred a friend who was quoted $3000+ for her cat's dental to my new vet--he did it for $750.
When our geriatric dog had an issue with her eye, we took her to CAH 3 times and saw at least 2, if not 3, vets, leading to a continuity of care issue where one vet was unaware of what the others had done. Ultimately, they said they couldn't do anything to help her and recommended we take her to a canine eye specialist in Pasadena or Alhambra. We asked if the eye could just be removed, and was told no--we needed to see the specialist first. CAH in essence washed their hands of our dog's case.
Outside of the impracticality of those locations and the frustration of not getting help from the vet, an exam at those locations is $300 just to walk in the door; the procedure she ended up needing would've run $3000, and that's without the additional testing that would be necessary before the procedure. In contrast, our new vet recognized almost instantly what was going on with her eye, knew what procedure was needed, and did it himself for under $400. He was safe and accurate in his treatment and this procedure ended the constant problems that had us coming back to CAH 3 times. More than the money, we feel the new vet is personally invested in our animals' care and we feel secure knowing he is looking out for them, and us; this has decidedly not been the case at CAH the last few years we were there.
I am unsure what is happening behind the scenes to have caused this change leading to a rotating staff of vets and sky high pricing, but we decidedly did not feel like we were receiving premium care for the platinum-level prices we had to pay, and this is why we left. In fact, we have been receiving far more attentive and effective care for about 30% of the cost at the new office.
The vets at CAH do genuinely care, but as employees, they have limited autonomy. I recommend everyone find a smaller, private practice vet office owned and run by the vet themselves. You get MUCH more attentive, personal care, at a fraction of the cost.