I had to bring in my foster kitten that started twitching. They immediately jumped onto treating her which made me in awe how amazing their teamwork was. They were so sincere and compassionate. Also, they gave rescue discount and waved some cost for the cause. I really appreciate them. 1,000% I recommend read more

I had a positive experience at VEG. I came in with my cat who was very stressed (hates getting in carrier/car) but had some kind of urinary issue. They took me in rapidly and the Doctor was very kind and empathetic to my nervous cat. They diagnosed his issue quickly and let me know it wasn't a complete crisis so that helped calm me down. They did a blood and urine draw which went very smoothly given how nervous my cat was, and overall the doctor/nurses walked me through all the steps very honestly and openly with estimates provided at every step which was very appreciated. As a layman I cannot say how much of the tests they did were strictly necessary and what was nice to have, but doctor explained everything very thoroughly so I left feeling like it was pretty reasonable. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is because although I arrived around 7 when it was pretty empty, by 8-9PM when my cat was getting his draws and test results, the place became a lot busier and the doctor couldn't attend to me as much, so I ended up not being able to leave until around midnight, including at least one period of over an hour where I was just waiting around. But I can't really blame them that much-- I was in a private room because my cat is skittish so I didn't see, but when I left I saw the place was a total zoo with lots of people, so I think they were just overwhelmed. Overall -- very good service. Bill was a bit high, but they gave me options and walked me through every step with estimates for my confirmation. Only downside was longer wait time as the night progressed. read more

My dog had open wounds on her neck and I brought her in and they looked at her, typed up a random estimate slapped with a $900+ bill (mind you they didn't even know what the injury was at the time) and because I couldn't pay it right then and there or because I couldn't get approved for their "care credit" card they straight up turned me and my bleeding pup away out the door like it was totally just another day. I'm sure that they get people who skip out on their bills all the time but maybe that wouldn't be the case if they didn't charge out the freaking a-word for services. read more

Love this place! Have had many emergencies and have gotten to some of the staffs names. They are so caring and efficient. And love that you can be right there with your pet the whole time. No hidden doors, you see what you get. read more

Considerate and compassionate staff and the establishment is nicely taken care. Clean, good amount of space, looks like they have a rhythm and flow that makes operations efficient. Worth noting: Expect big urgent care invoices and be prepared to ask questions, line by line, to make sure you understand the costs and necessary treatment. I received a BIG OLE $$$ bill in the thousands and had to review each item, and upon doing that with the (very patient) Vet, they decreased the amount over 50% for the unnecessary treatments. I think every pet parent can agree that the most important thing for our fluffy little ones is proper care and love from the professionals treating them. This is why I'm rating this place a 5 star. They were all terrific people and took wonderful care of my dog (and me!) during a high stress day. P.S. They also offer coffee and snacks and that was a lifesaver after being there for 3.5 hours. read more

The staff here are some of the most caring talented people I have ever met. Dr. Daisy Tigler took the best care of our sweet Cookie when she went into anaphylactic shock from a bee sting. We were seen immediately and we were able to stay with our dog the whole time so she wasn't scared. Beautiful facility, private rooms to rest in with your pet. 100 stars! read more

what went well? EVERYTHING. My baby cracked his tooth last night and although VEG doesn't have dental equipment (they should) my dog's tooth was hanging by a thread. They were quick with coming up with a plan and removing the tooth, putting him to sleep, and walking him back up (took about 20 minutes altogether) I was so informed, impressed and grateful how quick this team was especially Grace J. The RVT. Although they weren't able to take the entire root out we were glad they were able to get the most uncomfortable part out and we took him to his vet to handle the rest. I love the open concept of VEG, I was able to be apart of everything and I'm so so thankful. read more

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amazing find. I was looking for a place to euthanize my 16 year old dog - home care has become too corporate -- and i happened to call VEG. when i discovered they had a comfort room, i knew i found my place. everyone was amazingly kind and helpful and we could spend as much time as we needed before and after. I highly recommend VEG for those who know it's time to send their baby home. read more

Waited 4 hours! Clearly you can see it was a huge waste of time. Very unprofessional and unorganized. Especially the young Dr Brooke Migdal. Looked like a dear in headlights trying to be busy. read more

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Stephanie Leung is an incredible doctor and the whole team was very attentive and clearly extremely passionate about caring for animals. We appreciate them tremendously!! read more

One hopes they never need to visit an Emergency Vet, but if you have to, I highly recommend VEG or Vetrinary emergency group. The staff were friendly and super empathetic. They fully explained the process for evaluating our Frenchie Lady. One thing that set them above is not separating us. Our Lady doesn't do well away from us and they made sure she was comfortable and safe. Dr. Malik Chennault and staff were thorough compassionate and exactly what we needed today. It's likely a long rode ahead for us, but we are so grateful to receive care and bring lady home a little more comfortable and with a diagnosis. Thank you VEG groups and staff keep providing amazing emergency care! David & David Moose and Lady. Also, considering the work up required I found the pricing reasonable. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Core values of this business - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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VEG is in the old Pacific Dining Car space and although I miss the Pacific Dining Car, VEG has reinvented the space beautifully. They have a huge parking lot which is always super convenient. I like that they are 24/7 for emergencies! When we walked in they gave us a room to wait in which was very nice. I liked that their policy is to keep pets and their people together whenever possible. They had healthy human snacks in the waiting area which was a nice touch and they were really yummy. The vet who helped us was wonderful, very kind, and knowledgable. I felt like my pet was in good hands. read more

My dog and I had to visit in the middle of the night and everyone here was SO HELPFUL. My poor dog was super sick and they were incredibly gentle with her. They got her to a point where she was herself again and she ate and drank when we got home. They were able to run some labs and figure out the issue. They even filled her medication after her labs came back (and refilled it when she spit out a whole dose). Price: I thought the price was fair and they let me know upfront all the costs. They even worked with my pet insurance afterwards to make sure we got it covered! Staff: everyone was so kind and amazing. A staff member (I think her name was Joy) even took a moment to reassure me which means a lot when you're in that situation. It's been a few weeks and my dog is all healthy now thanks to them! Edit: I forgot to mention they answered all my calls and didn't add any charges for phone support! read more

We have had some good experiences with veg, and I looked for a customer service contact number with no success before writing this review. That being said, recently we had a very disappointing experience. My daughter brought in our beloved 11 year old frenchie Bella as she was struggling to breathe. They immediately performed CPR while my daughter was off to the side and then at some point she was moved to a more private area. Eventually they came to tell her Bella did not make it. They brought the dog in so my daughter could say goodbye and her tongue was hanging out. Could they not have covered that? While she was on the phone with her sister in Denver and hysterically crying they interrupted and asked what she wanted done with dog (cremation, specific package, etc.). Her sister was mortified by hearing them asking these questions at that moment and she then heard the ding of them tapping my daughter's credit card for $900+ dollars. This just seems so heartless to me. Was it really necessary to interrupt her phone call to settle up right then? She was a repeat customer, they knew she paid her bills, they had her contact info., etc. Seems to me they could have given her some time and space to process before they bothered her with the details. Could they not have called her the next day? This seems so heartless. Very disappointing way to handle a traumatic situation. read more

Our 2-year-old Lab started limping after a rough playdate, and our vet recommended VEG for immediate care. Even though the ER was packed, we were seen within 30 minutes -- a huge relief. Dr. Centola was kind and gentle with our dog. Based on his physical exam of the hip and leg, he suspected a possible CCL tear. He provided pain relief, explained the options clearly, and referred us to an orthopedic surgeon if needed. He took the time to answer all my questions and lay out a treatment plan. If you have a large dog dealing with an injury, I highly recommend seeing Dr. Centola and his team. They truly care and take the time to explain everything. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - I'm still a happy dog even when I'm injured! - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I had a very positive experience with VEG. My dog woke me up with bloody diarrhea at 5:30am on a Sunday morning. He had just been neutered on Friday, and I panicked that it was a complication. I called Access first as I had never heard of VEG, and they actually suggested VEG as an option that may have less of a wait than they did (2-4 hours at the time). I called VEG and was able to speak to Dr. Leung right away. I really appreciate that they do this! I explained our situation and she did not think it was an emergency, but did recommend that I take him in to be seen that day. Our vet isn't open on Sundays and I'm an anxious person, so I opted to take him to VEG anyway. We got there around 6:15am. They were able to see us right away. They took us into a common area and explained that it's an open concept so that we owners can stay with our pets. A nurse came over to take my dog's vitals. They offered us water and put down mats and a floor chair to help make us comfortable. Dr. Leung was still there, and she came over to talk to us and examine him. She was patient and understanding (I was very anxious) - it turned out that the bloody diarrhea was most likely a side effect of one of the medications he was on as part of his post-op recovery. She advised that we stop that medication and prescribed a couple of new ones to help with the diarrhea and protect his stomach. Then they sent us on our way. The visit cost $225, and with 2 medications and tax the total was $303.22. This is our first ER/urgent care visit, so I'm not sure what this type of thing typically costs. But this honestly was worth it to me for the relief and peace of mind. I don't even know if I could have gotten a regular same-day appointment elsewhere with my vet closed on Sundays. The VEG team treated my dog with care and were kind and patient with me. They gave me clear action items. They will be my first call next time, though hopefully that won't be for a long while if at all! read more

I'm grateful VEG operates 24/7--it's reassuring to know help is available for pets at any hour. Parking was free and convenient, and the hospital is in a nice area. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. However, I'm unsure about the quality of care. Our dog was scratching excessively, and I suggested it might be an allergic reaction. The initial visit cost $225, and they recommended shaving the area ($136) and giving an injection to stop the itching ($230). I questioned the injection because I didn't want to just mask symptoms. Shortly after we declined, our dog developed bumps and hives, confirming an allergic reaction, which was then treated appropriately. While I appreciate the availability and kindness, I wish the diagnosis had been clearer from the start and that treatment options were explained more thoroughly. Only after I asked questions about the services recommended, we found out what each of the treatments were and most of them were not needed at all, not in the diagnosis stage or on the treatment after. read more

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I am in a bit of a difficult situation with my dog. I recently took my dog in to see the vet for an initial small rash on her back that wasn't causing her any issues. I could just feel they were there.. she was given an allergy shot and ever since then she has been itching uncontrollably for over seven days. I went to a dermatologist no answers, $500 later. Called my vet back, wanted to refer me to a different dermatologist.. it's costing a fortune. It's getting scary, it's uncontrollable itching. I took a dog in with zero itching issues to now having a dog that is uncontrollably, itching, and biting and eating her paws. I have tried everything from chamomile baths to Epsom salt to oatmeal bath last night and seems to have alleviated some of the itch, but only for a day or two, and then it starts back up to flare. It's not flees!!! I was scared so I decided to give the ER a call and the nicest doctor got on the phone with me. I'm gonna butcher his name. It's Dr CHENNAIUL. I might be completely off, however, I felt compelled to write an excellent review for this doctor. He listened to everything I had to say and gave me his medical opinion as an ER doctor, whether or not it was something serious enough to bring her in and he gave me a fantastic overview, fully knowledgeable. Everything I needed to know to put me at ease. I highly recommend this ER for your animal. They seem to really care and the doctors seem to be extremely knowledgeable 10 stars if I could give it!! I very rarely post a review unless I am completely unsatisfied absolutely over the moon! So it's a good place to take your animal. They're good, people they care. read more

VEG saved my dogs life, there's no one I'd trust to take care of her more in an emergency!! A couple weeks ago my dog, Dove, suddenly went into anaphylactic shock from a suspected insect bite. I rushed her to VEG and by the time we arrived 15 minutes later she could barely breathe or walk. Dr. Melman and his team sprung into action immediately to stabilize her and made sure I was as informed and calm as possible the entire time. I'm beyond grateful to Dr. Melman and his whole team and I'll never forget the kindness everyone showed to Dove and I during the scariest night of my life. I will note that yes emergency vet care is expensive, but VEG provides exceptional service and with pet insurance (which all owners should have!) its 100% worth every cent. You can tell the entire staff loves animals and are the best at what they do. They also allow you to stay with your pet the entire time which is extremely important to me. Thank you again!!! read more

I want to thank the amazing people at veg for turning one of the most stressful experiences into something comforting and reassuring. From the moment I walked in, I could feel the difference. The facility itself is stunning--bright, clean, and designed with an open floor plan that immediately puts you at ease. There's no sense of being shut off or left in the dark; instead, you're part of the process every step of the way. You can actually see what's happening, which builds so much trust right off the bat. What really blew me away was the team. The doctors and staff are incredibly kind, compassionate, and truly passionate about what they do. They took the time to explain every single step--what they were going to do, why they were doing it, and what I could expect next. And the best part? They do it all right in front of you. There's no whisking your pet away behind closed doors or leaving you wondering what's going on. It's transparent, honest, and so calming. I've never been to a vet before where I actually left feeling better than when I walked in. Usually, these visits are filled with anxiety and uncertainty, but not here. The staff made me feel like everything was going to be okay, and that kind of peace of mind is priceless when your pet is in distress. If you're ever in need of emergency vet services--or honestly, any veterinary care--look no further than veg. I can't thank them enough for the care they gave to both me and my pet. This is the kind of place that makes all the difference. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Best vet related experience ever. From the moment we stepped in till we left, we felt taken care of and supported. The entire staff is incredibly caring and kind. Our little dog felt comfortable and was helped immediately. We loved that we could be with her the whole time. Beautiful, clean space with a wonderful diverse team! Keep it up, VEG! We will recommend this place left and right. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We had to put our elder cat down a few months ago and took him to this Veterinary Emergency. Everyone was wonderful. They were understanding, kind, caring... I can't say enough good things about them. A few weeks later, we even received a condolence card from them- so thoughtful. Thank you for everything! read more

We love these folks, and our cat loves them even more! 24-hour local access to caring, conscientious professionals who WANT your pet to feel safe immediately and feel better as soon as possible - it can't get any better! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Our little ginger baby loves you as much as we love him - and his boo-boo is WAY better today. So good to know that there's someone for us around the clock who cares! read more

I only have good things to say about my visit here. I came in after my dog broke a mirror and ended up with some scary lacerations on his back and legs. The doctor who helped my boy was Dr. Chavez and the team she had with her that night did a real good job at making us feel like things were gonna be alright in an otherwise stressful situation. The facility was spotless and everything looked well organized. Every employee there was kind and welcoming. Vet trips are always expensive and the zip code definitely had me thinking twice about what the bill was gonna end up looking like but compared to quotes I was getting from other places in West LA, this was the most "affordable" option. I would give 6 outta 5 stars if I could. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - #stitchestime - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Been two weeks since we lost our beloved bulldog, Bubu, and we miss him dearly. But I cannot express how amazing VEG was in every aspect of dealing with our emergency to being there during his final moments. The staff were incredibly professional, had excellent bedside manner and treated us and our dog with such care. Can't thank you guys enough for all your hard work. Our Bubu is so missed but the loss has been softened by your loving care. Thank you, VEG. Truly. Thank you. read more

Took my doggie that was healthy but I was concerned about the itchiness, vet prescribed me medication super powerful tiny pill that made my dog very sick (diarrhea). I called them and asked for a refund and ofcourse they denied the refund I just wasted my time, wasted $250, my dog got super sick. Never ever coming again!!! read more

My dog was sick and near death and I brought her in and left without her. It was time to send her over to Rainbow Ridge. They were kind, caring and real with the prognosis would be fatal anyway so I let go of my pride and selfishness to keep Sheba here and suffer or let her go and not suffer, so I said by to my baby girl and the doctor was cool! Smooth process. Thanks guys for making it a great experience than heart wrenching! read more

I wouldn't give this place even 1 star if I didn't have to in order to continue with my review. I am 75 years old, in those 75 years I have had the pleasure of owning MANY dogs. Never have I experienced a day like this one with any of my animals. My mobile groomer that I have used for over 10 years was that my rental condo ( our house. In Pacific Palisades had burned down, so I wasn't near my usual veterinarian) She was trimming the hair around the mouth of my 14 pound Yorkie Shih Tzu mix, and nipped the inside of her mouth. It was a small cut, but as cuts in the mouth will do it was bleeding a lot. I had remembered saying different veterinarians on Wilshire Boulevard near our rental condo so I asked our groomer to drive me up Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica California. On the corner, I saw a large red building with the letters VEG EMERGENCY HOSPITAL. By that time, Lily's mouth had stopped bleeding, as we went in the building she got scared. Her heart started beating, and her mouth began to bleed again. The receptionist showed us to the back to a room of the enormous space it occupies. A woman came in, who was not a veterinarian and asked me if I wanted bloodwork. I didn't realize that was something that would be needed for a cut in the mouth was not sure why she was suggesting it, but I assumed it was something that was needed so I said OK we were kept in that room without seeing the doctor we eventually saw for almost 5 hours. I was sick with a cold and could hardly sit up holding Lily. My groomer and I took turns holding her after being kept in that room for all of that time. We were finally taken out to the middle of the room where there was a metal table where a woman put Lily on it. She panicked,her heart beating so hard made her mouth start bleeding again. A doctor came over, began to give her oxygen or something, and then changed his mind. Look to see if it needed stitches and saw it did not. We went up to the desk, I handed her my credit card and we left. Later to see that I had been charged the exorbitant amount of $939.21. She was prescribed three prescriptions. The total over $200 that she never even needed. I called the vet several times asking to speak to the manager, Lauren Linville, but she was always either in a meeting not there or busy. It took me weeks to finally see her, I had to go in there and sit and wait for 45 minutes while she was " in a meeting" once again. I explained the situation to her. I even brought the prescriptions back to return to get a refund ( which I did not get ) and show her Lily never even needed any medication. They should have seen what the injury was kept an eye on her while we were there with her and we should've been out of there in 45 minutes tops and the charge should've been $230 for the Emergency visit. She said she would get back to me in four days, as she was going out of town. I spoke with her this morning. She said she had gone over the bill and was not going to deduct any charges. I'm planning on reporting this business to the Better Business Bureau. I would avoid this place like the plague. Lilly was so terrified from the experience that she hid under the bed for three days only to come out to eat a little and relieve herself. I just spoke to Laura Linville. She said she had gone over videos and the bill and was not going to deduct one cent. This is outrageous. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Manager - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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May I also add it's been longer than a week and my dogs report has not been finalized by dr or even released to me as I asked for records on Tuesday. Stop copying and pasting responses sad to see. read more

VEG On Wilshire in SM are scammers. I wrote a review a few weeks back. VEG responded to my review with, WE DID nothing wrong. Telling me to reach out to management...I had tried to work it out with them and then the answer my review with contact management. I had already done so and this was the response. Again DO NOT go here...Please go to VCA animal hospital on Sepulveda blvd.They have the knowledge and expertise for all animals... VEG has only 1 vet doctor on or 2 with a very limited scope... VCA will not rip U off read more

Absolutely an incredible experience. When in a moment of true need for emergency pet care I cannot imagine a better place.

I had a medical emergency with my dog. My vet was closed after hours so I rushed here to Veterinary Emergency Group. They provided me a low $1200 and a high $5200 estimate. Of course when the bill came due it was near the high end. Of course. I asked for a 10% discount since it was way over mid point. These guys would not even provide a small discount. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! Soak the customer because this place knows customers will pay anything to take care of their pet. Veterinary Emergency Group, do not bother responding to this review how you are sorry this and sorry that. You could have helped me out by either not overcharging or offering me a 10% discount. You gave me neither. Do not reply to this review, it is not welcome. read more

This happened about a year ago, but I realized I never left a review. Around midnight, my leopard gecko had a severe prolapse and was literally about to die. We rushed to Veterinary Emergency Group, and they took us in immediately. Dr. Fink was amazing. He was transparent and told us that it was his first time doing surgery on a reptile and that there was a 50/50 chance my gecko wouldn't make it. Nevertheless he did an incredible job, the surgery was a success, and my gecko pulled through. He's alive, healthy, and doing great to this day. I'll always be grateful to Dr. Fink and the VEG team. They truly saved his life. read more

Veterinary Emergency Group - Gecko under anesthesia. - Emergency Pet Hospital Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Came home to find my cat with some kind of abscess on her side. Took her to VEG and they took good care of her. She has been fine ever since and surgery wound healed well. I have not been there sine but the only thing I would change is that they lock the front door 24/7 and didn't have a buzzer so you have to call with your cell phone (front door is not visible to front desk. Not great for emergencies. read more

In 2022, I adopted a 10-month-old golden retriever named Milly. She is the love of my life, but a crazier, more impulsive, less chaotic animal does not exist. Thus, in the ensuing four years, I have run the gamut of Westside veterinary emergency rooms. Each has taken wonderful care of her and I have left other reviews to that effect. However, today we spent three hours at VEG to remove a foxtail that had lodged in Milly's right ear. We literally just arrived home, but I was so blown away by the caliber of the care that we received that I decided to leave a review. Typically, when you go to an animal emergency room, you're "encountered" in the waiting room, your animal is spirited away behind closed doors, and you receive periodic updates. VEG has an open plan model. When you walk in you see all the veterinarians, the veterinary assistants, the other families, and all the animals. Each are safely sequestered in individualized groupings, or at treatment tables, but they are being seen in front of your very eyes. You are welcome to interact with your animal during diagnosis and even participate in treatment. Milly was fighting the sedation and making it difficult to access her ear and they allowed me to stand there with them, holding her head and speaking to her. Frankly, I don't know if that helped Milly but it sure helped me. The staff are welcoming, warm, smart, professional, and all appeared very happy to be there. It's an odd thing to be behind the curtain in any kind of medical practice, and to see the camaraderie, humor, and the collegial interactions was very reassuring. Knowing Milly, we'll be back. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! And many thanks to VEG for taking such wonderful care of my dog. read more

I cannot recommend this business highly enough. We took our puppy in last night for a small emergency and were immediately seen after about two minutes. We were given a complete estimate and we're in and out of the clinic within 30 minutes. Everyone there was amazing and the clinic is super high tech and let's see what is happening with your dog the entire time I definitely recommend read more

I took my dog Lilly there for an emergency visit as she was throwing up blood. Dr. Valdez was kind, courteous and professional. My poor baby was so sad and they helped her get back to being 100%. They did all different types of tests to try to find a root cause as well as doing x-rays and ultrasound. I highly recommend this facility as they know what they're doing. The entire staff was kind and empathetic. One of the best parts of this facility was being able to be next to your dog during the entire process. They even have a bed for you to sleep in if you want to spend the night with your dog. read more

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VEG is so great. The only emergency vet in the area with absolutely zero wait. I had to come in twice in the same night with my pup and they didn't charge me twice for the visit fee which was very kind. They also took off some smaller charges such as for reading her oxygen levels which I appreciated. They were so patient with my anxious pup and really helped us both get through the night emotionally too. Kit, the vet tech, was especially wonderful. Kit stayed two hours past the end of their shift just to make sure my pup felt safe. The fact that they allow you back with your pet makes a huge difference. Being so terrified driving there they eased my nerves knowing they could handle it and would let me be there every step of the way. I saw some other reviews mention the open concept was difficult for their anxious/reactive pet but I disagree. They had several private rooms and let my dog decompress in one for as long as she needed before poking and prodding her. Highly recommend this place if god forbid you ever need a vet ER. Update: I had to come in a third time and they again waived the fee. They also helped me get her in with a specialist. Thank you VEG! read more

My fur babies always receive the best care. I trust all the staff has my baby best interest at heart in every aspect care and comfort.

It's been 2 yrs and I'm still traumatized by my experience at VEG on Wilshire, SM, with "Dr" Jeff Lowenthal. I hope he is no longer there, nor practicing anywhere! Pet parents BEWARE and remember that name! He does not know what the heck he is doing and should not be treating animals. Certainly should not be given the title of emergency vet. He was young, fresh out of school. The only good thing I can say is the two young women techs who tried to care for my cat were the MOST amazing, educated, caring and gentle people. I wish I could remember their names. I brought my cat in because she was having trouble breathing and was crying loudly in pain. She clearly had a respiratory infection because her nose was stuffed up, but there was no question there was a more serious underlying issue (the howling crying in pain). Because she was fearful of being at the vet, she was emotionally shut down when I brought her in and so did not feel safe enough to express her painful cries. Many cats DO shut down at the vet, so the pet parent's accounting of symptoms should be considered. When I arrived I was quickly put in a large (quarantine) room with all windows just behind the veterinary desk a the back of the room. Naturally, since they took us right in, I thought we'd be seen quickly. It was late at night and there were very few cases there. There was an emergency brought in while I was waiting - an injured opposum. I watched the entire staff, including 3 doctors, work on him. Why couldn't one of them break to examine my cat? After 2 hours, the day shift vets left, and only one night time vet was there. I sat there for 1.5 hours as I waited and watched the night vet doctor (Jeff Lowenthal) eat potato chips and search the internet! I'm not kidding. I popped my head out of the room several times to ask when someone would see my kitty - he was snippy with me - the type of personality that if you question him - he retaliates and ignores you even more. Finally after being there for three hours, they did an initial exam and took some blood. That took another 1.5 hours to get results. The bloodwork showed some abnormalities but the doctor did not have a clue what was happening with her - so I asked for an X-ray or ultrasound. I waited another hour for that because - the doctor said - there wasn't a doctor available to read the results. Excuse me! This is supposed to be an emergency vet hospital! If the vet on site cannot read basic X-rays and do an ultrasound - what good are they? And why keep me waiting for hours instead of sending me somewhere else?? Finally the X-ray was done and it showed a very enlarged spleen and possibly a mass. They had given her a convenia shot for her obvious respiratory infection (didn't to swab anything to determine a pathogen). We waited another hour for the off site radiologist to look at the X-ray. I had been there from 10:30pm to now 3:00am. My cat was in such physical distress that I told the technicians if they cannot help her (she was an old cat, a rescue, and I knew she wouldn't do well with extensive treatment at home because she did not like to be handled), that I wanted to consider euthanasia. I explained to these lovely girls that my cat had been screaming in pain and whatever it was, it was serious. With that information, Jeff Lowenthal informed me that he had the report back from the radiologist and he still did not have a diagnosis. He said they do not know why her spleen was so enlarged and it could be anything - and since they don't have the ability to treat her - he is referring us to a 24 hour animal hospital. What? Aren't I in a 24 hour hour animal hospital? It's now 5:00am. I reiterated that as sad as I am to say it, I wanted them to humanely euthanize my cat if they could not treat her.She was exhausted from pain, I was exhausted, and did not want to put her through another lengthy process of trying to diagnose her. I was horrified that this animal hospital was not able to do so after keeping me there for 7 hours. Dr Lowenthal refused to euthanize her saying he cannot euthanize a healthy cat! I tried and tried to explain how badly she had been screaming in pain. Unfortunately, this POS excuse for a doctor was the person in charge. I had to go home with my poor kitty. I videotaped her to show how bad things were when she was at home. When the day vets and management staff came in that morning, I called them and played the video of my cat screaming. They agreed my cat was in serious distress. They reviewed her labs and scans and agreed there was a serious issue in her abdomen which required more thorough testing. They suggested I bring her back in and they would accommodate my request to put her out of her misery. I will forever be sorry to my poor cat for bringing her there. I would have done anything to help her - I even paid over 2500k for these basic studies - but the key takeaway here is that I brought her to an emergency vet to get a diagnosis. They failed. read more