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    Veterinary Specialty Services

    3.1 (194 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    Services - Veterinary Specialty Services

    Pet physical or wellness exam

    Pet vaccinations

    Veterinary Specialty Services Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Veterinary Specialty Services

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    Patient Room
    Kristen S.

    About two years ago, we brought our female tortoiseshell cat to Veterinary Specialty Services after two other veterinarians referred us there. The team at VSS carefully reviewed her imaging and records, and after a thorough assessment, recommended surgery right away. The doctor took the time to explain everything in detail -- what the procedure involved, what to expect, and the possible outcomes. We never felt rushed or pressured, only supported. Our cat was ultimately diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer that typically occurs in dogs. Despite the seriousness of her condition, the staff gave us hope and confidence that she still had a full, happy life ahead of her. The surgeon personally called us after the procedure to update us and reassure us that she was doing well -- which meant so much, especially since it was her first night ever away from us. Thanks to the skill, compassion, and dedication of everyone at VSS, our girl made a full recovery and is now healthy, happy, and very much the Queen of the Castle. We are so grateful and would recommend Veterinary Specialty Services to anyone in need of expert, compassionate care for their pet.

    My sweet baby who died in the car on the way to VSS.
    l t.

    I cannot begin to express my gratitude for how they treated me and my family during the death of our Dog. My little Yorkie was hit by a car. I immediately called VSS as I drove her to them to let them know we were on the way and to make sure they could see her right away. They were very kind and compassionate and told me exactly what would happen when I arrived so I wouldn't be surprised. They explained that they would come out take her from me immediately and rush her to the back to start working on her. Unfortunately, she passed on the drive over. I brought her in anyway and they quickly grabbed her and rushed her to the back and asked if I wanted them to perform CPR. I said yes but was very much aware that it was likely too late. A very kind doctor whose name I don't remember. She was middle aged, had lighter colored hair that was kind of long. She came back to us in the lobby within a couple minutes to say she was so sorry and that she thinks we should stop CPR. I agreed, I asked if she could be the one to tell my son who was driving separately that she didn't survive. She kindly agreed and said we could go into a room to visit with our baby and say goodbyes. The receptionist took us to a room that was clearly set up for those who are grieving death of their pet. I asked them if the doctor could come in before they brought our baby into the room to tell us what happened. They agreed in the doctor came in to explain to my son that there was nothing they could do to help our baby and why. The medical staff cleaned our little baby up, put her on some blankets, covered her up and brought her in on a cart. She looked peaceful as we said final goodbyes. There was a button to push on the wall that would alert them to come in and get her when we were ready. They explained that they would take her and bring her back to us since we were going to do a burial. Not only did they prep her in a burial bag, but they also made two keepsake ornaments with her hair and little paw Momentos. They did not charge us a penny for all of this which I would have gladly paid. I'm so very thankful for the kindness and compassion during a horrible time and very glad I brought her there even though she couldn't be saved. It was much easier on us knowing we tried to save her. I have also had several experiences with VSS when I fostered sick and pregnant dogs in the past. I know their prices are high, but it is warranted because they are one of the few 24 hour critical care locations for pets. I don't know what we would do without them in our St. Louis area.

    Gift Bag full of Meds
    Steven B.

    I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I hate having to come here, but I love the quality service they provide to my fur-babies. I've always said, my Murphy is a big hearted boy. He loves everyone he meets. He's shy at first, but once he warms up, he's a friend for life. Well this past week-end I found out, he definitely has a BIG heart. In fact, he has an enlarged heart that is pressing against his trachea. He was coughing and doing some heavy panting, so I called my vet and they knew the symptoms and sent me out to VSS. Being a Saturday and being a emergency triage for pets, this place was extremely busy. Even with the high volume of clients, the staff and veterinarians were still compassionate and caring. After x-rays and blood work, Murphy was prescribed a variety of meds and has a follow up with his regular doctor. I am thankful for VSS and truly appreciate their services.

    The cat and his boy.
    Susan H.

    Last week we discovered an abscess on our cats right foreleg, causing him obvious pain and forcing a limp. I looked for a nearby veterinary hospital and found VSS just up the road, plus a couple of veterinarians I spoke to recommended it. Like other reviewers said, it's not the fastest or most efficient operation, but our guy received great, thorough care and liquid medicine to take home to battle the infection and the pain. I could have done without the very long wait, but ultimately the care was solid and not as pricey as I feared. Very satisfactory.

    Years back, oncologist Dr. Bonnie Smith expertly and compassionately treated my dog Barkley until his passing. At present, my dog Jasper is being treated by Dr. Smith for lymphoma. When he was diagnosed, I immediately requested her as our specialist. Jasper was given a round of chemotherapy that currently has him in remission. This extra time with my beloved dog is precious to me. Dr. Smith is caring and professional. She respectfully listens to my concerns and takes time to explain her suggestions for his treatment. I trust her recommendations and knowledge 100%. Not only is Dr. Smith my favorite vet in town, but the entire oncology team at VSS Manchester is exceptionally kind and efficient. My small dog, who is disabled, has to be carried to the treatment area. He is always happy to be taken into their arms and is very receptive to their affections. My dogs are my children, and this doctor and her wonderful team have truly made a positive difference in our lives. I can't thank them enough.

    Our bulldog

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    11 months ago

    So happy they were open in the middle of the night. Very clean, professional, quiet atmosphere.

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    2 years ago

    I have had great experiences here. Obviously not a fun place to have to go to but the staff are kind and knowledgeable.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Veterinary Specialty Services

    I have a 5 year cocker spaniel who has a cranial cruciate ligament injury and trying to find out the cost of repair and who is good with this type of injury?

    Good morning, Stephen. Please call 636.227.9400 for assistance.… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Veterinary Specialty Services

    VSS was very kind and compassionate and Dr Kate diagnosed a very rare disease that other vets had not found.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Fox Creek Veterinary Hospital at Manchester Avenue

    Fox Creek Veterinary Hospital at Manchester Avenue

    4.3
    (10 reviews)

    Unfortunately we will not be going to fox creek anymore after our experience and I urge you to go…read moresomewhere else. Our dog had an interesting case that involved stitches in his tail. After a few weeks we went in for a wellness check & for them to take his stitches out. Again... we thought everything was good. They charge for unnecessary things on the bill which was whatever. We just wanted to make sure our dog was taken care of no matter the cost but they seem to use that against you. We noticed there was a stitch left in so we quickly take him back up there in hopes they would get them all out this time.. Flash forward a few weeks of him "no longer having stitches" and we see there's a few still in there... we're a bit upset that they missed them especially since it's practically healed now & we took him up a 2nd time to get them out. So we call and say they missed a few & she quickly cuts us off and say "this happens sometimes" ... I'm sorry this what? It shouldn't happen at all. Sounds like negligence & bad vet techs trying to work quickly to get more $$$ out of us. Seems like they can only handle small incidents with your animals. If it's something serious maybe go somewhere else. If you like mistakes, having to take your pet up multiple times, or like spending LOTS of money come here !! We sure don't so we'll be taking our business elsewhere. *we did take him to the kirkwood location one time in between visits at Manchester & kirkwood gave us a better experience just that one time than Manchester has this entire time. They're nicer & kirkwood will actually listen to you instead of cutting you off as you speak*

    This vet hospital was a life saver! I was checking my dog into boarding at a local kennel when I…read morerealized he was just past the due date for shots. My mistake for not realizing sooner. It was a Sunday night and I was leaving the early the following morning and the kennel would not take my dog. THANKFULLY Fox Creek was OPEN and could get him in! It was such a relief. The staff was kind and welcoming to us. Highly recommend them if you need animal care. BTW, in case this ever happens to you, 24-hour emergency animal hospitals don't provide vaccinations. So many lessons learned and prayers answered!

    Barrett Station Veterinary Clinic

    Barrett Station Veterinary Clinic

    4.4
    (41 reviews)

    They always accommodate me when I need to be seen that day. They are caring and I trust them…read morecompletely.

    After trusting Barrett Station Veterinary Clinic and Dr. Wieland with our dog's care for eight…read moreyears, we were deeply disappointed by the complete lack of compassion shown during one of the hardest moments a pet owner can experience. When it came time to say goodbye to our beloved dog, we used Lap of Love based on the clinic's recommendation. Lap of Love notified the clinic of the arrangements, and when I called to confirm they had received the information, the response was simply, "Yeah, we have the info." There was no acknowledgment of our loss, no expression of sympathy, and no mention of our dog. Unfortunately, that same lack of compassion continued when we picked up our dog's ashes. The front desk staff recognized us when we walked in, disappeared to the back, returned with the ashes, handed them to us, and that was it. No condolences. No "I'm sorry for your loss." No card, note, or acknowledgment of the life of a pet who had been a patient there for eight years. We understand that veterinary medicine is a difficult profession and that staff members experience loss regularly. However, a few simple words of kindness can mean everything to grieving pet owners. The complete absence of empathy during this process was shocking and hurtful. What happened was not simply disappointing--it was callous. After eight years of entrusting this clinic with our dog's care, the complete lack of compassion shown to our family during her passing and afterward was unacceptable. We were treated as though our dog's life meant nothing and our grief was an inconvenience. Basic human decency costs nothing, yet no one could even offer a simple acknowledgment of our loss. For a veterinary clinic, where families trust you with beloved members of their household, that level of indifference is inexcusable. The way this situation was handled left us disgusted, heartbroken, and questioning whether anyone there truly cared about the animals they serve. Based on this experience, we cannot recommend this clinic.

    Sulphur Springs Veterinary Clinic

    Sulphur Springs Veterinary Clinic

    4.0
    (22 reviews)

    We have been bringing our dogs here for several years. The check in employees are friendly and very…read morecompetent. The vets are knowledgeable and always really listen attentively. What I love about them is they never throw out a bunch of pricey items, they start with something easier and then move on.

    We have been taking our two dogs to Sulphur Springs Vet Clinic the past couple years. The clinic…read moreitself is not fancy - which is not important in a vet clinic. Getting an appointment is easy. The front end staff is fine but not as interested or enthusiastic as the majority of similar staff we have encountered in other vet clinics. Getting in on the assigned appointment time is no problem. Our last appointment was for both of our dogs and we saw Dr. Stuart who is lovely. She is the reason this is a three star review as opposed to two stars. The reason we are not enthusiastic about SSVC is the following: The time it took at our last appointment was excessive - two hours for relatively outine exams. After the vet was done I stood at the front desk for more than 25 minutes waiting for a few simple prescriptions. During this time nobody came to the front and apologized for the duration of the visit or the insane wait to get the prescritions and pay the bill - which was $351.00. The bill itself was breath-taking but did not factor in on this review. In the past 25 years we have had 4 miniture schnauzers and 1 yorkshire terrier. We have lived in STL for all but 2 of those years and used 3 vet clinics in STL and one when we lived out of state. The time issues at SSVC are extrodinary as are the front end issues compared to all our other experiences. Would we recommend SSVC? Given our experience as lifelong (more than 110 years between my wife and I) dog owners we would not recommend the clinic though we really liked Dr. Stuart. It is our belief you can find better service and qualified care elsewhere.

    Westgate Animal Hospital

    Westgate Animal Hospital

    4.0
    (4 reviews)

    UNBELIEVEABLE!!! We…read morehave been loyal to this place for some time now and when we bring our elderly dog in for blood work we leave with a limp, lifeless dog. They decided to take blood through the carotid artery which put him into a major seizure. We heard wrestling and screaming from the back. They come out with no sympathy for the mistake they made and handed us an almost lifeless dog and then proceeded to guilt trip us by saying "I doubt he will make it but you will feel guilty if you don't at least try to take him to the hospital" We get to the hospital and the doctor there said that "THEY MADE A HUGE MISTAKE!! They should NEVER of taken blood through the carotid at this dogs age. I BLAME WESTGATE FOR THE EARLY EXPIRATION OF MY DOG! NEVER STEP FOOT IN THIS LOCATION OR THEIR SISTER LOCATION BY 24 HOUR FITNESS ON CLAYTON AND BAXTER!!! After all of this happens we try to call and get some answers from the owner of the clinic to see why they decided to stick a large needle in my elderly dogs neck. We were not permitted to talk with the doctor, instead we were halted by the extremely rude receptionist who insisted on saying they have nothing more to say and when she could tell the sadness and anger in our voice she made it all about herself saying she felt threatened. I mean get some customer service. The owner of this place is a complete moron if he is allowing someone like that to run his place. I am speaking about the older, much less attractive receptionist at the Ballwin location (Not Jessie-she was always super nice) How unfortunate, but I guess its life.... Please take this into your decision on which vet to go to....DO NOT make the same mistake we did.

    I've taken both of my dogs to Westgate for several years now and have always been pleased with…read moretheir service. We used to see Dr. Early, but now we see Dr. Howard and both are very good at what they do. Everyone is friendly and the service is excellent too. They're not pushy and don't every force extra tests on you, plus they're reasonable compared to other vets. Westgate offers a clean, friendly, and simple environment. It's no frills, which makes it even better! I'd highly recommend Westgate for all of your pet's medical needs.

    Veterinary Specialty Services - vet - Updated July 2026

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