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Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 10 pm
Jacquie H. said: "Dear UAH- Please practice your cloning skills and figure out a way to clone Dr. Ware so I can take him with me every place I move to. My Basenji mix Norah has suffered from allergy symptons forever! I noticed it when we lived in FL…" read more »
42 reviews for Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital
42 reviews in English
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Review from Erika O.
Phoenix, AZ
5/7/2012
I recently moved to Phoenix from the Chicagoland area about 2 months ago. My 7-year-old Lab came with me, of course. As soon as I knew what part of Phoenix I would be living in, I started researching vet clinics, and had actually decided on the one that I would use for my Lab's annual exam and anything else that came up (hopefully nothing).
Well, something did happen. Two days ago, my Lab -- who has never in the 5 years since I adopted her has EVER been destructive -- tore into my bathroom garbage. I came home after being gone a couple of hours to find ripped up garbage all over my living room and bathroom. And this was not any garbage -- oh no. It was mainly comprised of *ahem* used tampons and pads. I even had the used Nuvaring in there. All chewed up.
She seemed fine; I cleaned up the mess. She was fine the rest of the day and the next day (Sunday). Seemed a-OK Monday morning before I left work. Was eating, pooping, happy. Came home from work Monday evening, and on our walk she started puking. Guess what came up? Tampons. And then tampons and pads. And bile. I hadn't realized she had actually EATEN any of this crap and started freaking out. The tampons had plastic applicators. I didn't know if she'd eaten any of those. I was having a nervous breakdown that the stupid dog had given herself an obstruction.
It was already after 6 PM. The vet clinic I had chosen was closed. My options were: a) don't take her in anywhere; b) take her to Alta Vista; c) find a true ER clinic. I called Alta Vista and was told I could bring her in and she would be seen as a "walk-in." The employee did tell me the walk-in appointment fee was $20 higher than a regular appointment -- it would be $65. That was how much I paid for a normal appointment at my clinic back in IL. I took her in.
When I got to the clinic, I had to wait a bit, but I didn't have an appointment for one, and I didn't even think the wait was excessive. I'm going to be honest here and say that I did not go into this clinic with high expectations. I have had numerous unpleasant experiences in the past at clinics that allow walk-ins. Usually the vets are pretty crappy and the employees in general are rude.
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised. The tech was very nice, and I even really ended up liking the vet that came to exam my dog. I am notorious for being extremely picky with vets, and I'll admit to always being leery (I'm so prejudiced!) of male vets.
The vet that walked in was a Dr Marsh. He was very thorough and kind, gave my dog a REAL exam, and did not make the situation awkward AT ALL. And we had to speak repeatedly of pads, tampons, and Nuvarings.
My Lab received the exam and 3 x-rays. The dr showed me all the x-rays and explained the views and why he felt she would be OK and I should feel comfortable taking her home and just keeping an eye on her. I paid around $200 for everything, which I do feel is reasonable and fair.
If this vet is still employed by Alta Vista when Gracie's annual exam time comes, I will take her to see him. I am very lucky this clinic has such insanely great hours and is super close to my apartment. -
Review from Meg W.
Scottsdale, AZ
1/3/2012
I started coming to Alta Vista when my black lab/Aussie mix was a little over a year old. Since she was a little pup she's always been the dog that has something wrong with her/gets into something she shouldn't/injures herself by acting crazy.
But she's adorable and I love her to pieces...
I first came to Alta Vista when a friend recommended them for their hours and reasonable prices. I was living downtown so they were super close.
Right away I was impressed with the fact they could get me in that day for my pups broken toe nail. She was in a lot of pain and I knew she need help immediately. The wait was probably about 20 min, which wasn't bad at all. I am not bothered by long wait times at a vet or doctor office. It's not a restaurant people, get over your 'first world problems'. If there's a long wait, assume another creature needs more attention than yours! Jeeze! Anway...
The vet tec and vet were both very nice and professional. It turned out Sadie would need a small surgery to remove her toe, as the broken nail was super gnarly. It was expensive, but I wasn't pressured at all and they made me feel very comfortable! I had been to vets before that treated me like a deadbeat loser when I was nervous about prices.
They took great care of her, and even let her stay there all day after her surgery as I had to work late.
I have taken Sadie back to AV for 2 years now, and I don't even live downtown anymore! I drive clear across town, because they are the only vet I will trust. As long as I'm living in Arizona I will only take my dogs here, and I always recommend them to people looking for a vet! -
Review from Nancy G.
Phoenix, AZ
Updated - 12/19/2011
My wonderful boy had a growth on his tail. Dr. Jacquie removed it and even came to my house to redress it! He did really well and the bill was in the reasonable range (I am very conscious of vet costs since much of what you do is guided by your heart strings but tempered by your purse strings).
Dr. J rocks! Her staff was great since my big lug is a bit of a growler. They were a little intimated but Dr. J. "alpha dogged" him and he did settled right down. I highly recommend Dr. J!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2011
I have only seen Dr. Jacquie; she rocks. She is holistic and performs chiro and acupuncture, so if… Read more »
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Review from Shelly H.
Peoria, AZ
5/2/2012
Very caring vet. I have been going to a different vet for years. They always seemed to be about money are never worked with me on payments for expensive surgeries after been a customer for years. A friend recommend Alta Vista to me. My first visit was with my cat that had been loosing a lot of weight and now not eating. My old vet wanted to charge me $500 for an ultrasound which I could not afford. I went to Alta and they vet was so nice to me and the other employees really cared about my cat. The vet had a feeling my cat was terminal and actually did a quick ultrasound to see if she could see anything drastically wrong and she did not charge me for a quick peek as the other costs of the visit were very high already. I was not looking for free care... I was looking for a place that puts an animals health worthiness above money though. I ended up having to put my cat to sleep he was diagnosed with cancer. They were very sensitive to the situation and gave us all the time we needed before and after the medication was given. They are not close to me in fact they are about a 30 drive from my house but I will not go anywhere else again. Finding a vet that cares like they do would be a rare find.
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Review from Adriana B.
Phoenix, AZ
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to say I went to this location because of their hours and for the Yelp reviews I read. I had set an appointment and when I got there only one other person was out in the waiting area. I walked right to the counter and was asked to fill out some papers which was expected since it was my first time.
I finished the papers in less than 5 minutes and then I sat in the lobby for 30-35 minutes. Another woman walked in and told the lady at the counter she wanted to bring her dog in because he was acting strange. Her words "He was going up to a friend and wanting to be pet by him, he must be sick because he is shy" and then she got brought back with her pet! I was already sitting there a good 15 minutes, REALLY?
I was getting a bit upset because, well, I don't have all the time in the world and just wanted to get my 2 dogs looked at.
After 30 minutes I finally walked up to the counter and said "You do know I had an appointment at 11, right?"
Finally they brought me back to the examination room...I sat there for another 30 minutes! I couldn't believe it. My blood was boiling and I was to the point where I started to put my dogs back in the kennel to leave. As I was packing them up a tech came in to start off the temp and weight. She was very friendly and the reason why I gave more than one star.
The tech did her thing and left...and there I was sitting waiting for the vet for another 10 minutes!
Here I am 70 minutes after my appointment and still have NOT seen the vet, I missed another appointment I had because of how long it took.
When setting up the appointment for the next visit I wasn't given an card or anything to remind me of when it is. I have no idea when the next appointment is, I may have missed it but that doesn't matter, I don't plan on returning.
I did get a call the next day about the stool but they weren't sure if the samples had been mixed up because the adult dog had parasites that a puppy would have and the puppy had some that the dog should have so they just generally treated them both.
When I went to pick up the medicine the person at the counter couldn't tell me what I needed to do to give 1 mil of the medicine to the puppy. Another tech happily assisted me and gave me a syringe, thankfully she was there.
When I asked the guy at the counter what kind of parasites I was battling the guy said "I don't know"... I asked if it was in their records and he said "No"...wait...what???? So I stood there thinking he was finding out for me...no, he was doing something else...I took the medicine and they didn't even say "Make sure when you're done you bring a sample back in to find out if they are better" It has been a week since the 7 day medicine ran out and I haven't got a call asking if all was OK and if I'm going to bring in the stool samples.
I really don't feel comfortable with this place, and I'm upset that it didn't work out....I had better hopes to find a vet in the neighborhood since I'm new to it.
Time to find a new one. If anyone has found something in the area that's you went to, please let me know by message.Listed in: Just...stay...away...
Comment from Angie B. of Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital 12/21/2011
Hello, I would be happy to discuss your experience via… More » -
Review from Jasmine C.
Phoenix, AZ
11/1/2011
Had a very bizarre and disturbing experience with Alta Vista. I would not go back or recommend them to anyone.
When I made the appointment over the phone the staff was not overly helpful or friendly.
When we arrived for our appointment the staff did not greet me or my dog or respond to our arrival in anyway. Instead the three staff members at the front desk were bitching about other customers and the other staff. They were in really grumpy moods... talking about walking out.
I had to ask them if they would like me to sign in or to fill out paperwork.
I was told when I made the appointment that I could expect the appointment to take 1/2 an hour (after I asked).
I sat with my dog in the waiting room for almost 1/2 an hour before a woman casually asked me if my dog had been weighed yet. We weighed her and then I waited again for a long while. Then we were moved into an exam room where I again waited. The strange thing is there were no other patients the entire time!! I was told twice that the vet and people helping me had to keep leaving the exam room to go back to a meeting!
I was given almost no information on the reason I had brought my dog in. I decided to leave with no treatment.
There is more but I will save you the details. Suffice to say it was just all around a bad experience and a huge waste of my time.Comment from Angie B. of Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital 11/1/2011
Hi Jasmine, I was horrified when I read your post today.… More » -
Review from Jeremy G.
Phoenix, AZ
2/4/2012
Took my dog here on a saturday when her regular vet could not get her in. Rather than rack up hundreds of dollars in tests and X-rays, the vet I saw took a conservative approach to treating my dog's pain, till my regular vet could do a more affordable and comprehensive diagnosis on Monday. I was able to get in and out quickly, the pricing was upfront and reasonable. I would even consider making alta vista my regular vet given their clear appreciation for honesty and respect.
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Review from Lisa C.
Phoenix, AZ
10/7/2011
This is an overdue review - I haven't needed Alta Vista for weeks and weeks now, but I was putting together my 'to do' list and dog's annual exam/shots has to go on the list.
I needed Alta Vista's boarding services several times in the process of staging, showing and selling a house. My over-pampered, over-anxious Papillion was quite happy to go there, spend the day, spend a night or two and enjoy the attention. The staff is flexible and nice and don't usually seem overbooked.
I'm also realizing that the doggy needs a bath and she'll get one soon at Alta Vista's grooming group. She looked so pretty and smelled so good the last time! -
Review from Karen D.
Scottsdale, AZ
12/10/2011
Run away. I was horrified by Alta Vista. Pros- they have good hours and the front desk staff were nice. It appears they do a lot of emergency care walk ins which leads to chaos and long wait times though.
I took my Maltese in for a 2nd opinion about a lump. Exploratory surgery and removal was recommended and I scheduled the surgery. The tech was good, the Doctor was a flippant jerk once he came in the room and I wish I would have trusted my instincts and cancelled. He had no time for my questions and didn't even look at my dog.
The morning of surgery drop off, I ask to see the Dr to show him how much worse the lump became and was told no, which made me uncomfortable. As I'm leaving the parking lot someone is CHASING MY CAR. It's the doctor! I roll down my window and he says "I need permission to remove your dog's lymph node" (WHAT?) He seems irritated that I ask what that even means.... I stutter out an okay if you need to but I hope not...and off he goes. In hindsight I should have marched in after him and taken my dog back right then.
I called for results of my dogs exploratory surgery twice but no one was available to tell me the results. They scheduled me for 6:00 pickup. I wait about an hour... a tech brings the discharge paperwork out to the waiting room. She says "you're familiar with discharge instructions right?" I state - I don't even know what you did to him today - no one called me back. What happened today? She shuffles through the papers and discovers the paperwork is for dental work and says nothing about his lump removal results. About half an hour later she comes back to the crowded waiting room carrying my half-conscious dog who can't even hold his head up. He has about t a 5 inch incision on his stomach- its huge. I ask her again how the surgery went- she doesn't know - I'll get a call next week when they hear back from the lab. I asked they remove his lymph node? She replied "I don't know- I think so." Nice. I'm FURIOUS and just want to get out of there--I take my half-conscious now mangled dog and leave.
I could go on for another 3 pages.... It was a nightmare. No one ever called me. The discharge paperwork was wrong. The doctor was an incompetent ass. The tech didn't stand a chance because she wasn't given the right information. I continued to call for days to ask what the results of surgery were.. they lost the file.. then found it but it was incomplete.... No one knew. Everyone kept apologizing and but there was no excuse for this mess. I saw the Dr again when I had to come in for stitches coming undone after hours- he is without question the worst veterinarian I have ever stumbled across- might have been because he knew I had called and complained, but he was snide, sarcastic and unkind throughout the entire process. $1,300 or so later I literally was just glad my dog lived through this place.Comment from Angie B. of Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital 12/21/2011
Hi Karen, I would like to discuss your concerns about… More » -
Review from Kate T.
Phoenix, AZ
3/29/2012
I went through every pet parent's worst nightmare, a huge emergency with my dog (aka my child). Yes, I'm one of "those" crazy people whose dog is their baby...luckily everyone here understands that. My barely-ten-pounds dog got attacked by a dog five times her size, and it was very, very bad. My mom had been watching her at the time, thought she was already dead when she finally got the other dog to leave her alone, and rushed her to Alta Vista, which is close to her house. They took her back right away and they took wonderful care of my baby, who had multiple puncture wounds on her neck (barely missing a carotid artery), and needed multiple sutures as well as a drain in her back. I took her back to have her sutures removed and they were quick and super, super nice, and understood my worries that she was healing properly, let me show them spots where she was still tender and addressed all my concerns. The medicine they gave her helped immensely and she was back at 100% quicker than I had expected, given how bad her injuries had been. I have worked in the veterinary field and have been to other hospitals I would NEVER recommend, but everyone here was absolutely great taking care of my baby girl and they were so wonderful during this emergency trip.
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Review from Stephen G.
Phoenix, AZ
6/4/2011
My dad has been going here for a while with his dog, but it wasn't until my cat got sick that I checked them out.
I went in expecting them to start telling me all of these things I would have to do and money I would have to spend.
The first few visits them did the exact opposite. They told me stuff to do which would hopefully help her without surgery.
But it didn't work, she finally needed a feeding tube.
After a few weeks I am happy to say she is well on her way to her old self and couldn't be happier!!!
Every time I went in for a check up, the staff and tech's couldn't have been more helpful and friendly.
Dr. Penn specifically felt like he went way out of his way to help and was extra friendly & understanding in this very stressful time.
Can't say enough great things about them!
VERY happy with their service and recommend them to everyone!
(and for anyone making a big deal about the wait time, make an appointment!) -
Review from Kristina H.
Phoenix, AZ
12/26/2011
Dr Jacquie is a fantastic vet! She practices acupuncture, and has been treating my dog since summer 2011 for hip issues. She is conservative in her approach, and does not recommend unnecessary procedures or medications. Dr. Jacquie also answers emails when you have questions or concerns. I highly recommend her to anyone that wants to use holistic medicine to treat their pets.
The staff is also great, and very friendly. -
Review from John M.
Phoenix, AZ
11/24/2010
I cannot say enough about the caring and compassion shown by the vets and staff at Alta Vista shown to our beloved beautiful mutt, my housemate (the actual owner) and myself during her treatment - and in the aftermath of her demise. The kindness and gentleness shown by Dr. Hesser and staff to our girl will long be gratefully remembered as particularly will the doctor's genuine emotion and grief at her loss after tremendous efforts to save her.
The love of animals was apparent in everyone we dealt with at Alta Vista during this entire devastating episode. For those few who felt rudeness on occasion from some of the staff, aside from whatever else may have been going on in their lives that day, If you'll note the bite and scratch mark SCARS on most all of the vet techs, you might pardon them for an occasional less-than-sunny, love-those-animals disposition.
As others have noted, it's a clean, pleasant facility with a large waiting room. The hours, until 10pm M-F, and no-extra-charge Saturday and Sunday hours (til 7, I believe) are great. The ultrasound and radiology equipment appear to be state of the art and the surgical area clean and modern.
The bill for our girl's treatment is semi-monumental but we were accurately informed ahead of time and approved the expenses. Professional medical care is expensive whether for human or animal, and compared to experience with prior vet, I do not feel like we were ripped off and/or nickled & dimed to death - but I will be thinking more about that vet care insurance my consumer mag didn't think worthwhile.
Our gratitude and highest recommendation to Dr. Hesser and all the staff at Alta Vista who took such good care of our girl and who were kind to us as well. Past kudos to Dr. Penn as well.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Vinesa M.
Phoenix, AZ
12/8/2011
They saved my puppies! I adopted two puppies from the pound and 4 days after getting them home they came down with parvo. The vets and staff where fabulous! They where super caring and honest with the possible outcome. They didn't get upset with my calling all the time and where very patient with me and wonderful with my puppies. Thanks to their caring attention to detail my puppies and happy, healthy and parvo free.
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Review from Jon K.
Updated - 1/31/2011
I bring my dog in monthly for shots and I have never once had an appointment reminder. To top it off, I always spend at least an hour and usually closer to two waiting. The last time I was in, my appointment was delayed by over an hour. That is not acceptable and if there was another vet in my area I would be jumping ship.
Please Alta Vista, get your shit together.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/8/2010
The staff is very friendly but I'm convinced that I'm getting ripped off and that the surgery… Read more »
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Review from Norma R.
Durango, CO
1/28/2008
I have this cat, you see, whose name is Count Larry. Only in the last month, after 1.5 years of dating, has my boyfriend come even close to garnering the same amount of affection I shower on this cat. The cat and I have been through the ringer together.
He started displaying some disgusting behavioral problems, and I thought he was angry at the the dogs, but then he added lethargy on to the top of these problems. I took him to Alta Vista, very very worried... absolutely in hysterics, thinking I was going to lose my little Larry. The doctor took a look at him and took X rays, the first of which were too "fuzzy"... she charged us for these. The second set were fine, but she said she couldn't diagnose the problem and that we could make one of two inferences from the "gray area" on the X ray:
1.) That he is going to die if not operated on
or
2.) It's just a piece of poop that's stuck.
REALLY. So, basically they told me I would have to pay upwards of $600 to operate on something potentially benign, or run the risk of him dying by just paying $200 for the useless x rays and observation, with further "study" on the X Rays. Because we had limited funds and his illness didn't qualify for the CareCredit, we had to go with the latter, and kept him under close observation for the next 24 hours. They said they'd call in the next 24 hours to check up on him and to let us know what the new X Rays said.
Guess who never called?
After 7 days of badgering them about whether or not my cat was dying, they couldn't tell me anything and passed me off to eachother at least three times on every phone call.
They suck. Screw them.
UPDATE: By the way, Lar turned out to be TOTALLY FINE. After inspection of his bowel movements (totally disgusting, FYI... cats must be the smelliest creatures 2nd only to either ferrets or those monkeys that fling their own poo), turns out he just chewed a hair tie of mine and it started twisting him up a little. Nothing some kitty immodium-AD and force-watering couldn't fix. -
Review from Pierre Trudeau I.
Phoenix, AZ
8/30/2007
I don't even have any pets but I still have an experience to relate that justifies the 5 stars here. And it's a doozy.
While comfortably sitting at Postino's (for the very first time believe it or not) sampling my first-ever heavenly bruschetta with a friend, my girlfriend at the time called my cellphone. When I answered I couldn't understand a word she was saying because she was hysterical. Basically, her dog ate her bird. (Please don't laugh. The friend I was with couldn't resist and I almost punched him). She had come home, saw a bloody clump of feathers in one corner of a room, another bloody clump somewhere else, her guilty-looking dog sulking nearby, but no Mr Apples (a parakeet) anywhere to be seen. She ultimately found him hiding in the bathroom, barely conscious.
I drove over to pick them up and got my first look at Mr Apples. I was pretty sure he wouldn't make it. He was little more than an unrecognizable lump of bloody skin and bones. Even his long tail had been ripped off. We rushed to Alta Vista, calling them on my phone to make sure they were ready when we arrived.
They took Mr Apples away as soon as we got there. An attendant asked us questions and comforted my gf while the vets tended to him out of our sight. Maybe an hour or so later, a female vet came into our private waiting room to explain the situation. It was a miracle. The dog had punctured the little dude's body but he seemed to be holding up, and only time would tell if there was serious internal damage. A lot of feathers had been ripped off but with time they would grow back. He wasn't out of the woods, but with little-birdie antibiotics and time there was a good chance he'd be back to his old self.
The ending's a happy one. I don't know how the spunky little bastard did it but he eventually healed to a complete recovery, and he routinely gives the middle finger to his canine assailant. If you ever run into a serious pet crisis the way Mr Apples did, I'd say you can run to this place and count on the best care under the circumstances. -
Review from Ryan C.
7/27/2009
Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital has been my goto vet for years, even after I moved out of the area and now have to drive a ways to get there.
They've got very reasonable and competitive prices, and the ABSOLUTE BEST HOURS of operation of any vet in the area. If you work regular weekday office hours, and need a weekday evening appointment, it can be impossible to find that anywhere, but Alta Vista has always been accommodating.
My experiences with Alta Vista began years ago when my best friend Gideon ( http://www.youtube.com... ) came into my life. Alta Vista is a sponsored vet that you can choose for your free initial checkup when you adopt through the Humane Society.
I've also been back for instances of illness, emergency injury, and routine surgery (neuter -- not me, one of the dogs), and they've been friendly and helpful each time. I do not at this time recall the names of individual vets I've seen, but they all seem genuine and knowledgeable. I've only had Science Diet suggested to me lightly and then dropped, and any vet visitor knows what a pimp all vets are for that crap food. One of the vets was even supportive and knowledgeable when I was asking questions pertaining to transitioning to a raw diet ( http://www.rawmeatybon... ).
The neuter surgery I visited for was also a freebie using one of the Maricopa County Big Fix Program vouchers ( http://www.maricopa.go... ). I love that they participate in these programs which help the pet community. The voucher gave the surgery fee free, but not all the meds/aftercare, and Alta Vista was not pushy at all when it came to my choosing what level of care, and therefore expense, I wished to incur beyond the free voucher's value.
Alta Vista is a full service hospital and boarding facility as well. I've not used the boarding facility services. They've undergone a renovation, or actually, moved to a newer larger facility since my initial experiences. The new facility is spacious and clean, both front and back office.
**It is unfortunate that sometimes folks have experiences with their loved ones that end tragically, but it is not fair to blame the medical professionals who try to help, even if they end up failing, no matter if your loved one was furry or not.Listed in: Da K9 Boyz and I Hit da Town
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Review from Amanda M.
Phoenix, AZ
7/24/2009
My review can be summed up by the letter I mailed to the owner.
Personal names have been blacked out because I'm not totally horrible.
RE: Bootzer, male Chihuahua
Dear Dr. ******,
I have been a client of your location since I moved to Phoenix in 2004. Your facility has cared for two of my dogs, Bootzer and Mattie. However, I will no longer be bringing my pets to Alta Vista.
The reason for this letter is to inform you of my disappointment in your staff. On numerous occasions I brought Bootzer in for a consistent, honking cough. Each time your staff would test him for something new; such as Valley Fever or Kennel Cough and each time, after paying around $300 for a specialized test, we would be told our dog was healthy and just needed to shed a little weight.
On our last visit we met with **** ******. **** examined Bootzer and did not perform any tests, rather he suggested a prescription weight loss food and then tried to up sell us on flea baths and preventative de-worming. He had no explanations for Bootzer's cough except that he was overweight and small dogs often breath in dust and it could be a response to that.
On July 13th my husband and I had to euthanize our beloved Bootzer due to his trachea collapsing. The emergency hospital we took him to was extremely knowledgeable and knew right away what was causing his distress. After speaking with the veterinarian we learned that collapsed trachea is a common problem with small dogs, and Chihuahuas are a high risk for this problem and its not uncommon for this to be a hereditary issue. We were also informed that the cough and his lack of being able to exercise should have been a significant sign to any experienced, professional veterinarian. This could have been treated earlier with medication, a harness instead of a collar and putting a humidifier near his crate.
As you can expect, my family is very saddened by the loss of our friend and frustrated that not only could this have been prevented, but that we could have improved the quality of his life while he was with us.
I will be informing the public of my disappointment in Alta Vista via word of mouth and review sites like http://Kudzu.com and http://Yelp.com. I will also be contacting your receptionist to have Mattie's records transferred to a more reputable vet.
I don't know how much money we have invested in your clinic to date, but I'm confident that we spent too much - considering that the real issue was never diagnosed, tested for or addressed. I don't see you considering compensating us for our loss or the money we spent with your organization, but I want to voice my displeasure in losing a family member due to a lack of caring, negligence and incompetence.Comment from Angie B. of Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital 9/2/2009
The Doctor's and staff at Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital… More » -
Review from Julie P.
Updated - 2/28/2010
Several misses on communication have me re-adjusting the rating on Alta Vista. The hours are still killer. You just cannot find a regular vet with better hours... but somehow convenience isn't always the top criteria when selecting someone to care for one of your non-human companions.
My main complaint is that it is hard to see the same vet as they seem to change staff quite frequently. And if you do go here often, save your reciepts. I have paid my bill in full, only to be told I still "owe" on several occassions. If this were something that happened once or twice, I could probably ignore it, but I know this has occurred at least 5 times and that seems just way too frequent.
That being said, there are a couple of Dr's on staff that I believe are very good, if not exceptional and if you can be assured of seeing them, you should feel comfortable in knowing that your pet will be given very good care.
Dr. Sean Penn has always been quick to call if there were issues with other vets or complaints. He seems very knowledgable and isn't overlly defensive or dramatic, which is important in an escalating situation.
Dr. Jacquie Allgire is a wonderful woman that brings western and eastern medicine together. This is something you can find in the east valley, but in central Phoenix, it is virtually non-existant. She is also a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and has a plethera of naturopathic remedies. I love this woman and can't say enough good things about her or her care of my animals. There is no question that she actually cares for your babies and that is priceless!
Dr. Berney Mangone was able to diagnos a rare condition that my dog had been plagued with for months. He never rushed me, answered at least 100 questions, and actually found a pharmacy that would supply me with the needed medicines for about $450 cheaper than otherwise available. As this will most likely take more than one course of medication, that savings will add up very quickly. Dr. Mangone gave me back my happy Zoe and for that I will be eternally grateful.
If you go to Alta Vista, go informed, pay attention, and enjoy the long working hours.Listed in: Pets R Us
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2008
Having gone through a period of time when I would have sworn that I was running a hospice for… Read more »
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Review from Ess Y.
Phoenix, AZ
4/1/2010
You really cannot beat their extended hours and location.
Alta Vista took me and feline companion with alarming eye problem in for a same-day appointment around 9 p.m. and did a good job of making estimates clear and letting me know my options (from low cost to high cost). Though they were closing up shop soon, I did not feel particularly rushed.
The staff was loud, fun and boisterous with each other. I sat nervously in the waiting area while kitty blood was drawn and read a magazine article about Bonnie Hunt, pictured sitting in the passenger seat of a convertible with her dog at the wheel. Freaking LOVE Bonnie Hunt.
Only one other well-dressed young man with amazing high tops and a tiny pup were there that late, along with some guy whose poodle had just had its ass glands milked; it was excitedly rubbing its distended rectum all over the floor and filled the entire room with a war crime-like foul stench.
Doctor M phoned me the next day after lab work was completed and recommended a second test on the existing blood sample. No leukemia or diabetes, thankfully.
I've been referred to an opthamologist -- the doctor sat at his computer and looked up all the information I needed.
Total cost of visit, including medications and lab work: ~$240 -
Review from Liwi C.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/8/2009
I first started taking my animals to Alta Vista back in 2006 when we moved to Central Phx. I was impressed by their website and all the services they offer. Very pleased with the level of care my animals received and, although the exam fee is $45, I always felt like the staff, techs, and vets were truly concerned with the health of my pets and not just looking to tack on additional costs.
They have extremely accomodating hours and will even make house calls!
I started taking my Shi Tzu-Poodle to the Pup Scouts Doggy Day Care about once a week as well in hopes of getting him better socialized to other dogs (he's more of a cat-dog). I loved that they were also so excited to see him and even let him hang out under the check-in counter when he didn't want to play with the other little kids (the smaller dogs or those that are old and slow are kept in a separate area from the larger, high-energy campers). I boarded him there a couple of times as well and felt so much better about leaving him there than at the previous "Pet Hotel" I had used.
We just moved back to the area and am relieved to have them close by again.
I was truly won over by Alta Vista again last week when we brought our newest furry addition in for a check up. We had found an 8 week old kitten hollering after being put outside in the 113 degree heat. I've never seen a cat drink so much water in one sitting! There are of course a lot of "start-up" costs involved in giving a new animal a home. As I was getting ready to check out the gal at the front desk pointed out that I'd qualify for a Kitten Package that would only cost $200 total (all of which I did not have to pay at that time) and save me literally $300 when all was said and done.
A week later I was in at 8pm on a Friday night with one of our other cats. I will leave out the details of kitty's diagnosis, but the outlook was not good and completely unexpected. The vet took the time to explain the situation to me and then again to my fiancee. The tech referred to us as "Mom and Dad" while we were waiting for the outcome of the surgery, which made me feel that they understood how important our little guy was to us. The gal behind the counter even put on a DVD for our daughters and gave them crayons and coloring books. Even the guy who was mopping the floor pointed out where we could find the restrooms and water-cooler if we needed them.
In the end, we had to make the toughest decision I have ever had to make and had to put kitty to sleep. The care and concern of all those at Alta Vista that night meant so so much to me and my family. I left knowing that my cat had received the best possible care and fully trusting that the health and life of my cat was their paramount concern, even at 10pm on a Friday night.
Not that I look forward to taking our pets to the vet, but knowing that I can trust the people and place I take them gives me a lot of relief. -
Review from Chris C.
Lafayette, CO
10/19/2009
I'm not sure whether to give this place 2 or 3 stars.
We have taken our pets to Alta Vista for vet stuff as well as for boarding.
As far as the medical stuff goes, one time the vet was very friendly and helpful and we were completely satisfied. Another time a different (and very creepy) vet tried to get us to do all kinds of unnecessary tests on our cat and recommended hitting her in the nose (wtf?) .
As far as boarding goes, the person we dropped our pet off to was great. She said call anytime to check up on our cat. I called twice. Both times I got a different person and both times they were very rude and acted like I was a bother.
When we went to pick her up we heard an employee yell "SHUT UP" very loud presumably at one of the animals in their care.
That being said, our cat seemed healthy and as happy as one could expect after being boarded for a few days.
There are good things and bad things about Alta Vista. I think a lot of it depends on what particular employees you get on your visit. -
Review from Lyndsay W.
Phoenix, AZ
6/13/2008
I called Alta Vista yesterday because one of our dogs needs some dental work and I am pretty unhappy with the service that we have received from our current vet (Banfield at Spectrum/Christown).
The receptionist, Sissy, was extremely nice on the phone. She gave me a general quote for a dental and fit us in for an appointment the very next day, for free! She told me that we would be meeting with Dr. Harbo, the vet at the practice who does dentals.
During the time from when we arrived, finished filling out the requisite paperwork, and were ushered into the room, we saw several employees, all of whom were pleasant.
At this point, our experience changed completely. Adam was our final veterinary technician. He was terse, almost rude. He spent about 1 minute with us and the dog, and looked in the dog's mouth for about 5 seconds. He barely spent enough time in the room to hear our concerns. He left as quickly as he came in and was gone for quite some time.
When he came back, estimate in hand, he asked if we expected to see the vet. When I told him that I understood that our appointment was with Dr. Harbo, he informed us that if we wanted to speak to a vet, a $45 office charge would apply. We declined.
My problem is that I was misinformed when making the appointment, then treated poorly at the appointment. From a business perspective, they should have treated this free exam like an audition to win our business - because it was.
Will I try Alta Vista again?? I don't know. The price was right, but that really isn't the only factor. If it was, I would still be happy with Banfield (ugh.)
I want a vet (and their staff) who will treat me and my dogs with respect, and not value me only for my money. I also want a vet who does not treat me poorly because I have financial concerns - I just can't blindly drop thousands (or even hundreds) of dollars. Believe me, if I could, I would. These dogs are my babies.
I am bummed that my first experience at Alta Vista was not as good as I would have liked. Maybe next time. -
Review from Corianne S.
Phoenix, AZ
8/18/2008
There is nothing more frustrating than taking your pet to the vet because you think something is wrong with him, and having the vet completely ignore everything you tell her. This is why I do not take my dogs to Alta Vista anymore.
I took my older dog to Alta Vista after we adopted him because it was close, and I had a free exam certificate from the shelter. The vet seemed nice enough, and I'll give her a pass on the fact that she clearly had no idea what breeds he might be (she told us he'd get 50 pounds, max, when full grown today, he's 70).
So, figuring that they were ok from the first visit, I took him in when he started having issues. Vet #1 "thought" he might have bladder crystals, and sent him home with expensive prescription food and an order to come back in 4 weeks.
Vet #2, on the return visit, completely disregarded everything that had been written in my dog's chart as well as everything I told her, and wanted to run a bunch of expensive tests. Vet #1 had told me he'd just need a retest for the crystals, Vet #2 wanted to send him through the ringer. No thanks.
We got the hell out of there as fast as we could manage. I don't do doctors who don't listen. She may have the degree, but I live with the dog and know what he is and isn't doing.
Needless to say, we haven't been back. And my dog? He's perfectly fine. -
Review from Gene G.
Phoenix, AZ
11/6/2009
My family has been living in the neighborhood since the mid-50's. This is the place my grandparents, parents, and now I have taken our pets. Our pets have always lived long and happy lives. My last dog lived to be 17, which was way beyond her expectancy.
Yes, we have received some large bills from Alta Vista, but we have also seen them cure animals that should definitely have died. I will always take my pet here. -
Review from Janet S.
Phoenix, AZ
11/27/2010
The staff are friendly and helpful. They seemed really concerned when my cat got sick. The doctor personally called me when my cat was in the hospital overnight because of kidney stones. They did follow up calls as well. Plus the doctor was named Sean Penn, though I don't think it was actually the actor.
The hours are wonderful. I would recommend this business to anyone. -
Review from Catherine M.
Scottsdale, AZ
8/30/2007
My precious pooch attends Pup Scouts at Alta Vista and wow, do they have the doggie day care business down. I've been to Dog Day Care facilities all over the city and this is the one that's stuck. The staff are caring, well-trained and do perform a temperment test on new pups. The dogs rotate between one-on-one time with each other, with employees, and group time. This is the first place my dog has ever willingly gone knowing I was going to leave him.
Ollie gives Alta Vista four paws up! -
Review from Tina T.
1/2/2011
I had been using Alta Vista for years and while at times was annoyed by the service, overall I was happy with this place. They have really upgraded their facilities, convenient hours and I also consistently used them for boarding and grooming (approx $35 for my shaggy haired Shi-Tzu). I appreciated their detailed list of charges and also their treatment plans. I never felt pressured into following their recommendations.
While in the past, I would have rated 4 stars, I am giving them 5 for this past experience. My 15 and half year old dog entered a steep decline in his health over the last month dropping from 10 lbs to 7. This past week, with my dog unable to eat, barely walk, and hold his head up, we made the difficult decision to put him to sleep. The employees at Alta Vista treated us with sympathy and kindness when we called wanting to know our options. When we brought him this past Saturday, the doctor told me we made the right decision after examining him. She allowed me to hold my dog during the procedure and sat next to me providing me comforting words as I tearfully cradled my dying dog. She also had tears in her eyes as she shared her personal experience with pet loss with me. I don't remember her name (if she told me) but she really made my upsetting loss as comfortable as it could be. I will always really appreciate that. -
Review from chris c.
Phoenix, AZ
5/17/2009
This review is for the hospital AND the boarding facility.
New edit: Munch has stayed at AV a few times. Last time I picked her up, I arrived much earlier than I had stated on the intake form. Munch was outside with all the other dogs, playing and running around. I was happy to see her tail wagging and a "smile" on her doggie face.
Yes, the facilities seem a bit draconian. But they follow my instructions to the letter and as long as my dog is safe and uninjured, I don't mind paying the very low rate of $18 per day.
As for her operation, I must say that she is still totally fine. My cat was spayed at the "humane" society, and such mangling of an animal I hope never to see the evidence of again. I would rather pay a reasonable rate as a customer in order to expect to find a pet still able to bear a touch to the abdomen.....
My new rescue dog was spayed at Alta Vista. In my research, I was most impressed with the presentation/comfort of the waiting area. It was clean and spacious, which I believe is very important. The pricing for a spay was reasonable compared to other vets in my area.
This place is VERY busy, and as a new customer, I was not surprised that there was little attention paid to my dog's needs as I saw them. But they did the job and she did not appear to be worse for the wear. It might seem like this is a lukewarm review of the treatment we were given. In fact it is not, because my dog is a bit of a hot mess in the mental health department. She showed zero signs of trauma from the procedure. Her little belly healed nicely with no problems. Yay!
Same with the boarding facility. I asked to see the actual kennel area, which could easily serve as a setting for a horror movie. It is loud, dark and dank. But hey. I figured my dog was going to be miserable anyway, so as long as there were no signs of dogs being neglected or abused, it was worth the 18 bucks/day. And it was! She was VERY well taken care of and again there were no new crazy dog emotional issues to contend with later. They did their best to follow all of my instructions, which admittedly seemed annoying even to myself. But I didn't care, because for once it was worth it to me to be a bit demanding. My dog is important to me. Yay again! -
Review from Robert M.
Phoenix, AZ
11/5/2011
Last weekend I had to take my dog in for emergency surgery and didn't really have a choice, because my regular Veterinary, Dr Yocam at the South side Animal Hospital closes at 12 noon on Saturdays. So I take my dog to Alta Vista and the staff gets to work pretty quickly. I was told they will take blood and ex rays and call me back. My phone rings and the Doc says to me, i have to perform immediate surgery or your dog will not make it past the night. Turns out my dog had a septic stomach and tape worms had perforated his intestines and caused infection. The dog had surgery that night and had to stay at the hospital for two nights. Grand total came out to little over $2,800.00. This was a bit expensive and If Dr Yocam over at the South side Animal Hospital, would of administered the treatment, I probably would of spent half. This place did good job on saving my pet, but the prices are high.
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Review from Jordana B.
Phoenix, AZ
10/28/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I have been going to Alta Vista for years. We started when we found a stray on a Sunday who was covered in ticks and very ill. In a panic we go ogle searched vets and they were the only one open on Sundays. They were very helpful and sweet with our little stray who we were able to find a good home for. After that experience and the convenience of a vet open 7 days a week, we became regulars.
Through the years we lost and gained some pets. We had a puppy that passed away in a freak accident that we needed help with and they were wonderful. The vet tech even cried when she saw the poor little thing.
More recently, our hyper 10 month old puppy got out and was hit by a car in front of my house. I was home alone and in a panic. I could not even catch my breathe. Our puppy severely injured hid under our bed as he began to bleed out. After 10 minutes of failed attempts to get him out we called Alta Vista begging for help. NOT an ounce of hesitation two vet techs showed up at our home within 20 minutes. They were able to get our puppy out and to the hospital safely. After my husband and I arrived Dr. Penn greeted us and quickly explained what his injuries were and what our options were. He called other doctors for their advice and really offered us unbiased advice which was refreshing. Dr. Penn and the staff at Alta Vista have been really wonderful to work with. Dr. Penn has even called us on his days off to give us updates on our dog's condition so we aren't left in the dark.
i will say sometimes the waits are long, but it's well worth the trade off. -
Review from Amy D.
Updated - 12/29/2009
After having such a wonderful experience here with my cat a couple of years ago, I was incredibly disappointed with the treatment we got last April when my border collie, Queen, got sick.
They found a mass bigger than a grapefruit on her spleen. She was so lethargic, I couldn't walk her around the block. That was so unusual for her, especially with her breed. This was a dog I could take on 10-hour hikes in the White Tanks and she'd still be ready for more.
I was told I could have her go through surgery and that if it wasn't cancer, she could have a year more to live. Keep in mind, Queen was 12. Ripe age for a very active dog. If it was cancer (it would take two weeks to find out), she could go through chemo and have another 6 months to live.
I didn't feel that surgery or chemo were something that a) would give her the quality of life she had lived thus far b) was something I could afford or c) the best decision for her health.
I took her home (it was a Friday night) and decided to have her put to sleep the next day. When I got up Saturday morning to let them know I would be in, it took about 10 minutes for them to call me back. In fact, it was the actual vet calling, trying to talk me out of the humane treatment for Queen, and trying to talk me into spending time, money and emotional stress on my dog, just to have her for another year. Selfish. I couldn't bear to have her sick at ALL any longer. He pushed a little more, and I informed him I would be in as soon as my Mom arrived from Payson to go through it all with me.
I felt like the care they were giving was more financially-based than humane.
I'll never take any of my animals here again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/16/2008
I am so glad I found this place, and it's right across the street!
It's in Melrose, the quaint… Read more »
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Review from Jenny B.
Phoenix, AZ
1/26/2011
I used this animal hospital about 9 years ago, moved away and now moved back. Took my brand new rescued rottie there last night. I am sooooo pleased with everyone and all the services. Evan (Dr.) was wonderful. Very knowledgeable, full of suggestions, holistic approaches to my other rotties diet and gave my new boy incredible positive attention, love and careful medical care. I am now loyal. I will be bringing both rotties back to be showered with love, attention and fantastic medical care! Thank you Alta Vista for loving my pooches like they deserve.
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Review from Sarabear B.
Phoenix, AZ
1/27/2008
In addition to all the rave reviews about Alta Vista staff saving pets from horrible circumstances, i would like to add that they have very reasonable rates for routine care. I have also boarded dogs there for short trips out of town. The rates were good, and the dogs were returned happy.
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Review from J Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2010
The three and a half star average for this place is spot on. The big plus are the hours. The downside is that every time I have come in I feel like the doctor is trying to keep my visit under 30 seconds. In my experience the doctors make a snap judgment about what they want to do and then move on. I have had to be pushy to just get a few simple questions answered. On a few occasions they ordered tests and I was never called back when I was told I would be. In fact, I had to prod them to give me a call.
No one here is rude or anything like that. It's just that if you are looking for the warm cuddly local vet this place ain't it. But then again, if your dog eats a ziploc bag on Saturday morning then this place is the only place open.... -
Review from Wendy R.
Phoenix, AZ
10/10/2010
I have used them on numerous occasions. Most recently, we had to put an animal to sleep and they were wonderful and compassionate, helping us make our decision. They were truly compassionate and wonderful!
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Review from Allison S.
Phoenix, AZ
3/26/2007 1 Check-in Here
Alta Vista saved my puppy from the dreaded Parvo. This feat alone is a great endorsement for them, but there's so much more. The staff is always really nice and friendly to both people and pets. In addition to being a veterinary hospital, they also do grooming and boarding. All this and their amazing extended hours, make it hard to justify taking my dog anywhere else.
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Review from William B.
Phoenix, AZ
4/18/2010
Very helpful. They were able to get my dog in for oral surgery at a moments notice and were very professional. The place is run better than most doctor's offices. CLEAN and professional.
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Review from Bri D.
Seattle, WA
3/9/2009
It's very hard to choose a vet for your four legged friend that is practically your child. After doing a lot of searching, I decided on Alta Vista for a lot of reasons. The staff was very friendly to me on the phone with all my annoying questions, the location was close to my home, the hours are unbeatable, and they were able to get me an appointment immediately. My dog Rally only needed a Rabies shot, but it was still a big deal to me. When we came in for his appointment, I was pleased to see a very large waiting area that was very clean. Small lobbies are terrible for veterinary practices because the animals get way too anxious in those small places. The staff was also very friendly at the front desk. We waited about 15 minutes past our scheduled appointment, but I guess that's what all doctors do. Rally's vet, who we did not choose, was Dr. Todd Carter. Unfortunately, Rally did not take too kindly to him and was very scared. While I'm sure Dr. Carter is a great vet, I will probably select a female the next time around, as Rally feels more comfortable around women. Overall, a nice experience here.
