VCA Almaden Valley Animal Hospital

I’m extremely disappointed with how my appointment was handled. I received a confirmation text stating my guinea pigs had appointments at 11:30 and 12:00, which reasonably implies a window during that time. Nowhere in that message did it explain that arriving closer to 12:00 would result in my appointments being canceled outright. When I arrived around 12:00, I was told they suddenly couldn’t see my pets because the doctors were going to lunch and they “needed an hour and a half” to see both guinea pigs—something I was already aware of and had been told previously. What I wasn’t told was how rigid and unforgiving the timing would be, especially considering the confusing wording of the confirmation text. I had already taken time off work for this appointment, and the response I received was

I just went in for a wellness exam for my cat, and I had Dr. Heidi Stiehl as my vet. She was so kind and attentive towards my cat, and she patiently and fully answered all of my questions relating to my cat's health. My cat was stressed at first, but she calmed down through the appointment! The appointment was also very efficient and I didn't wait long, but at the same time, it didn't feel rushed. I've had good experiences with some of the other vets here as well. The pricing was very transparent, but after searching up prices for the 3yr Purevax Rabies Vaccine, the $219 they charged (just for the vaccine!) is extremely steep and more than double the price in other clinics. However, having the appointment be a good experience for my cat was overall worth it in my opinion.

This Vet clinic is our cat, Hoovers’ clinic for all medical related care for a couple of years. The veterinarians are highly knowledgeable, who genuinely care about their patients. The entire team is dedicated, compassionate, and professional. Every visit they treat our cat, Hoover, like he is their own, showing so much love and care. The doctor takes time to explain everything in detail, answer all my questions, and provide excellent advice ensuring I feel comfortable with the treatment plan options. I trust this clinic completely with Hoovers' health and would recommend it to anyone looking for top-quality veterinary care. Thank you so much VCA Almaden team for going above and beyond to ensure our kitty is comfortable and well taken care of!

Had a wonderful experience at this when we went in for our first appointment to establish care for one of our kitties. Dr. Miyamoto and the CSRs were very attentive and kind. I would definitely recommend this location!

Update: after discussion and communication with management, I am satisfied with how my experience was handled. I will preface this by saying that I’m sure the doctors and technicians here have adequate medical knowledge and would not do anything that jeopardizes the health of the animal. However, over the past three months, I have experienced worsening communication and disingenuous business practices that has left me wary of their customer service. I actually had a good experience the first few times I came to this location, but during a follow up for my cat’s fracture, there was a miscommunication where the doctor ordered an x ray and interpretation that left me with a $600+ bill that I was not given an estimate for. I did pay the full amount. While I verbally approved of the procedure