Irving Pet Hospital
Category: Veterinarians [Edit]
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset1434 Irving St
(between 15th Ave & 16th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122 (415) 664-0191
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sat 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
58 Reviews for Irving Pet Hospital
One of Irving Pet Hospital's Favorite Reviews
I've been going here for years (unfortunately no more-for the time being-since my Guinea Pig sadly passed away), but I want to say that the staff here are very knowledgeable and have a lot of heart.
I came home yesterday to find that my sweetie had passed. I called Irving Street Vet Hospital, and found out that they could arrange to have her cremated. There is an option for either Group cremation or Private (for $100 extra).
As for standard visits, the staff offered good options and never made a hard sell for their services. A while back I'd decided I didn't want my GP to have surgery since I didn't think it would improve the quality of her life. They respected my wishes + helped make the rest of her life as comfortable as possible. Thanks for the memories ISVH!
***
PS: A few days after I said farewell to my beloved Guinea, I was surprised to receive a sympathy card from her doctor, inviting me to a group memorial service at their clinic. I know we're all incredibly busy these days, so I was especially moved by their heartfelt gesture.
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Love, love, love them! I now live 30 minutes away, but I still drive out there to take my dog to Dr. Joe Fong. He is the utter best.
Irving Pet Hospital has been taking care of my two cats since they were born in 2000. One cat recently had his teeth cleaned, and Dr. Borut called that night to check in on him. He told me what to expect and how to make him comfortable.
Things were a little iffy at Irving Pet the last 3 years (e.g., indifferent front desk staff, food orders getting "lost") and I considered going elsewhere. But Dr. Borut is a terrific vet and I decided to stay. The practice has undergone an ownership change recently, and things have improved. However, my cats really couldn't care less, as they continue to go apeshit when I approach them with the kitty carriers.
What made me call them?
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
today's 3:10pm phone call:
me: hi, late Tuesday night, my dog had a ruptured anal gland; we went to the emergency vet, down the street, where they treated her, and suggested I follow up with a regular vet, by the end of the week. was going to make an appointment for tomorrow, but the thing is, just now, I got home from work, and noticed that the hole, from the rupture, today, it has grown from the size of a pencil, to the size of a silver dollar; so big that I can actually see parts of her, parts that I'm really not comfortable seeing, that and she's shaking a bit, and oozing a bit. is there any chance you might be able to see her?
IPH: how soon can you get here?
me: ten minutes; you can see us?
IPH: we'll make time.
When we got there? My dog, she was wrapped in the suggested towel, and though the lobby was crowded, though the people at the counter were busy, we were immediately noticed and greeted. Said the "suicide girl" with red hair and multiple facial piercings: "Can we help you?" Said I: "I called about my terrier." Said the "girl next door" girl in scrubs: "Yes, we were expecting you; let me take your dog back to be examined while you fill out some paperwork." Said I: "Here you go, and thank you for seeing us so quickly." Said the curvy girl at the computer: "How could we not, you just sounded so helpless on the phone...and sweet; plus, this is what we do."
I'll never go anywhere else.
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So on Monday I decided it was finally time to find a vet and I finally settled on Irving Pet Hospital. I was surprised to find they had appointments open the next day, though vaguely suspicious why they weren't more booked. Turns out my suspicions were groundless!
I was actually a few minutes late because Muni was being Muni, but I did call right before my appointment to let them know, and they were fine with that. When I got there, I filled out the new patient form and by the time I was done they were ready to bring me back. They were extremely patient with my very scared kitty who refused to come out of his carrier, sit still, or any engage in any otherwise helpful behavior. Despite this they managed to get his weight, temperature, and the exam done. Everyone was really nice and friendly, and I got a genuine sense of caring.
One thing that surprised me is that his doctor actually recommended against a rabies vaccine since he is entirely indoor, and apparently there's a (very small) chance of developing a tumor at the injection site. I was impressed because I definitely have the "First Time Cat Owner" stamp on my forehead, but they didn't remotely take advantage of my ignorance.
Lastly, looking on Yelp for vet reviews, I noticed very little pricing information anywhere other than ZOMG!!! $300!!! As a first time pet owner I really didn't know what to expect and what was reasonable. So for anyone that was curious, my total bill was $86: $50 for an exam, $20 for a booster shot, and $16 for a nail trim.
TL;DR version: Nice, patient, accommodating, and knowledgeable staff + reasonable prices = yay
It's too bad. We've been here a few times and I liked them, but I think the office has steadily become very unorganized. I made an appointment for Tuesday morning dropoff & pickup for an exam, vaccinations required for boarding/dog day care, and dental cleaning. My sister got there Tuesday morning at 8:00am and was told that we made a mistake, it was Wednesday. Then we were told that we couldn't possibly have made an appointment for all that in one visit because their usual process is to do bloodwork one day and cleaning the next. Then they said it would be $500. Then *they asked my sister* which vaccinations we needed; how should she know? They're the vet professionals, right? Then this, then that. We left. They really didn't seem like they knew what was going on. It's too bad because Dr. Borut is pretty nice.
I've had rats for years and I've moved around quite a bit, so I've had to visit many vet clinics. A lot of general veterinary clinics know less about my rats than I do or don't consider small animals "real pets." This is not the case at Irving Pet Hospital. My rats have gotten great care from Dr. Borut. He did an amazing job on a lump removal for one of my older girls- there wasn't even a scar after it healed. I've seen a number of these throughout my several years of rat ownership, and this may have been the best work.
All the staff here has been really nice, and they actually love animals. You'd think that would be a given in the vet world, but it isn't. I know those cards are trivial, but it feels good to get a sympathy card after a euthanasia. It's stupid, but it helps.
My only criticism is that they need to make a record in my file when I've had an animal euthanized. Sometimes when I call for an appointment they ask me if it's for an animal that I no longer have.
i have been taking my cats to joe fong for over 3 years, since he worked at arguello. i will follow him wherever he goes. he is the most compassionate, intelligent veterinarian i have ever known. i worked as a vet tech for 6+ years and although i have worked for some good vets, no one even comes close to joe. he connects with each individual animal and is an excellently educated and experienced professional. i trust him implicitly.
at irving street, the staff is great, so it makes the whole experience really great. the techs are good, very good and the front desk staff is down to earth and friendly. i recommend this place, and joe in particular, hands down.
This place deserves more than 5 stars!! They have the best front desk staff, vet tech's and doctors out there! They might seem expensive, but if you want quality care and personal treatment this is the place to go. You get what you pay for- and if you don't believe me go to the spca or pets unlimited. you might end up paying a little less at these places initially, but when you have to return 2 or 3 times because they can't get the diagnosis right or they have injured your dog and you don't realize it until a day later (spca!), then you end up paying more than you would have in the first place had you gone to irving street pet hospital.
I had to bring my kitten, Pygmy to get her ears checked because it turned out that since our other kitten, Sophie, had ear mites that the nasty looking discharge in Pygmy's ear might be made of the same parasite.
So my roomie Karla recommended me to Irving pet hospital because that's where she took Sophie to get checked up. Since Pygmy is my first pet ever, I went along with her suggestion.
The people here were very nice. the vet tech who took care of Pygmy was very sweet and very gentle with Pygmy who was already a little nervous about being in a new environment. The staff was welcoming and Dr. Lowe took good care of Pygmy. She even went as far as coming to me in the waiting area confirming that Pygmy had mites and asked me if I wanted to look in the microscope and see them. I made this disgusted face, shook my head vigorously and said, "Eeeeeewwww. No. Nasty!"
Then I get my bill. Holy Shit! $250.00!! To get Pygmy's ears cleaned and treated?!?! WTF?! I made the disgusted face again. So they had to first swab her ear to check the discharge under the microscope. What did it take - like, less than 5 minutes and they charged me $50.00. Then another $50.00 to get it cleaned. And more money for the medicine they had to put in her ears to kill the mites on top of the $50.00 they charge for the general exam. Then charged me more for stool samples of my kitten and a bunch of other stuff. I must have had BRAND NEW PET OWNER stamped on my forehead.
I asked if they did installment payments because it would help me out a great deal for now -Especially with Thanksgiving along the way. I was planning on making a few items for our Thanksgiving dinner, which have now narrowed down to one dish after this pet visit. I was told that they didn't do that and they were under new management, yadda, yadda, yadda. That it's an option in the future but since it's my first visit, yadda, yadda, yadda. The girl at the counter was very nice about saying "NO" to my request. She went to the back office, I suppose, to ask the accounting manager who didn't even bother to come out and talk to me about it (I know, good service, right? NOT) only to get a rejection that would put a serious hole in my wallet.
So I paid the bill. What was I supposed to do? Say no to the service and have Pygmy suffer some more with those ear mites and infect Sophie all over again? Whatevs. So I paid it.
Then I got home. I told Karla how much I spent. She was as freakin' shocked as I was! We compared bills and Sophie who was treated for a cold, upper respiratory problems AND ear mites was charged $100 less than me!
Yeah - must have had BRAND NEW PET OWNER WHOSE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE stamped ALL OVER my forehead.
3 stars because the staff was very very nice and that's a plus for me. And they fixed Pygmy's problem and I think Pygmy feels like a million bucks now. But the discrepancy between Karla's bill and my bill leaves me slightly uneasy. Though the staff was very nice - the discrepancy in the bill makes me a bit wary about how organized (or disorganized)their accounting system is. So I will have to do more research on other pet hospitals before I decide to go back to this one.
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Update: We still go to IPH for routine care, but given the difficulty (say, impossibility) of getting same day appointments, we now drive down to Los Altos to Adobe Vet for urgent care appointments. We also switched to Dr. Fong as we have found him to be more reachable and understanding of our needs. The vet techs are amazing and truly love the animals, and the front desk seems to be doing a better job overall. Just wish IPH made a little more effort to fit you in on same day appointments, especially on the weekends.
The pros: Front desk staff has always been very kind and professional, Dr. Lowe is wonderful, support staff professional and facility neat.
The cons: Took them way too many tries to update our phone numbers after repeated requests, very expensive - ie no tech visits for a vaccine booster so pricey as also have to pay to see the vet, often slow.
We may switch but stay as we like Dr. Lowe .... so time will tell.
Absolutely the best place for my dog.
I've been (well, my dog has been) a patient of Dr. Fong for the last 2 years, and I've followed him everywhere he's gone. He truly cares about animals and gives the best care/treatment for my dog - always puts the animal's comfort first and very sympathetic towards the guardians as well. He answers all the questions I have and follows up on the conditions regular basis, and I cannot be happier.
Their charge may be a bit more than other places, but when I asked, he explained that they do have up-to-date equipment and provides medications to exclude any pain and discomfort for the animals.
Hats off to the best vet I've ever had.
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O STARS!
I had just moved to San Francisco, hadn't received my 1st paycheck yet and was paying an exorbitant amount of money in general as we all do to live in this city. My dog stepped on something which required stitches to his paw. I went to irving Pet Hospital where a random vet cleaned, stiched and dressed his foot.
Within the hour my dog had the bandages off just from walking around. No big deal. I called Irving Pet Hospital the next day and told them what had happened. They told me to come in and they'd redress it. I asked if it would cost money because after spending so much to have his foot stiched and without a paycheck I was on a very tight budget. The receptionist told me it would be _free of charge_.
I went back that next day, the same vet took him to the back, rebandaged my dog, I thanked him and was about to walk out the door when the receptionist said, "that will be $60"!
I explained how I had called the day before, spoke with a receptionist who told me it would be free of charge. She asked who that receptionist was? I told her I didn't think to get a name. I mentioned that I didn't actually have 60 dollars to pay her with at which point she called the vet back out.
I explained the whole situation again to the vet, he said he'd take care of it. He took my dog to the back for some reason while I waited in the front wondering what he was doing. When my dog came back out, the vet had removed the fresh bandge from his foot!
I said what's going on!? The vet said, "you told us you couldn't afford the bandage so I solved the problem by removing it"! Can you believe that?!!!! It wasn't about the welfare of the dog -- it came down to 60 bucks. 60 bucks that the vet threw in the trash. Who does that!??!
I immediately took my dog to wallgreens and bought 8 dollars worth of bandages.
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We love this place.
Two old cats (one's a diabetic) and a gigantic dog. These are my children and I won't take them just anywhere. Plus I'm a freak about their health and the staff here is awesome. They don't make me feel like an overprotective mother when I call with a stupid question (Thanks, Suzanne!).
Dr. Fong and Dr. Borut are great. You can just tell that they care about what they're doing.
As far as the prices, I don't feel like you can put a price on you kid's health. You get what you pay for, and, while I don't feel like it's inordinately expensive here, I don't mind writing the check at the end
of our visits.
I wouldn't take my four legged children anywhere else.
This pet hospital USED to be fabulous - it is now under new management. The best doctor has left and the front desk staff is rude and clearly lost about what they are doing. Twice they have called me to tell me a medicine I ordered was in , and when I drove to pick it up they had no idea what I was talking about and seemed disinterested in helping me.
I thought I would give them a few months, since new management is always tough, but it's been about 6 months and no improvement. My cat has had recurring UTIs and the doctor kept giving her antibiotics, which never helped but were very distressing for her. When I suggested other methods of treatment people have found useful in addressing this kind of problem the doctor was dismissive. Without looking into other options, he eventually said he couldn't help her and she was just going to have these UTIs indefinitely.
I have to admit after reading some of the reviews, I was a little reluctant to try it out. The reason I did was I had several very positive recommendations about Dr. Joe Fong, and if you search his name on Yelp, he has glowing reviews at the different facilities he has worked.
I was very happy with my entire experience at Irving Pet. Dr. Fong is one of the nicest and approachable vets I've been to, and in the 34 years I've lived in San Francisco, I've been to Arguello, Pets Unlimited, SF Vet Specialists, and Balboa Pet Hospital.
My previous vet at Pets Unlimited left there earlier this year, and the next vet I went to, Dr. Barchas, left Balboa, so I was looking for someone that was going to stay in one place. Since Dr. Fong bought into Irving, I shouldn't have that problem again.
My dog, Peanut, who I should have named Calamity Jane, has a long medical history and Dr. Fong was actually interested in her past problems. He checked her over very thoroughly even though she was only there for a watery and squinty eye.
I did not think the prices were too high, $50 for the office charge, (I paid $52 at Balboa), $35 for the eye exam, and $15 for the eye ointment. The charges seem to be in the average range for SF.
All the staff were nice too, and even the people in the waiting room were friendly.
If there were problems here like some of the negative reviews say, I think under the new direction of Dr. Joe Fong, it will fast become one of the best facilities in San Francisco. He seems very dedicated to excellent pet care and client satisfaction.
My only negative is the building itself is a little dreary, kind of narrow in the hallway in the back, but this is a very small negative when you know your furry little kids are well taken care of.
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Dr. Fong is the best!
We recently went through a pretty traumatic experience with the passing of of recent cat, Nermal, and Dr. Fong was great in helping us through the ordeal. His genuine care for pets and their caretakers really shines through.
Now we have a new pet and will continue to take him to see Dr. Fong. Thank you Dr. Fong for all you help
Let me state that I've never been to this hospital, but my dogs were under the care of Dr. Fong when he was at Park Animal. He was treating one of them for heartworm and a liver issue...she was pretty sick for a while. At some point during that treatment, when I called to make an appointment, I was told he was gone. One week he was there, the next I heard he went to Irving.
Not a word or note to me. I guess he picked the clients he liked and moved on. Luckily, Dr. Gillian took over my dog's care and she is fine now. I just thought it was pretty unprofessional how Dr. Fong left us hanging in the middle of her treatment.
All that said, he seemed like a good vet and to really care about the animals.
Truly execrable.
I transferred my dog's care to this veterinary service after my previous beloved vet moved. The first annual checkup went OK, although it was staggeringly expensive since, according to Checkbook Magazine, this is the MOST EXPENSIVE vet in the city.
A year later, it was time for another check-up. Since I gave up my car, I have to take taxis. This vet is about five minutes by car from my house. However, since I had already waited twenty-five minutes for a cab, and my appointment was in ten minutes, I gave them a call to tell them I might be running late. Their response was, "If you are more than five minutes late, you will have to reschedule." Stunned, I asked that the telephone contact repeat her statement. She did. I told her to cancel my appointment as I would be looking for another vet. I did. Park Veterinary Hospital around the corner on 9th Avenue is superior in every respect. Not to mention MUCH less expensive.
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I've had Baxter, my Boston Terrier, since his entire body could fit in the palm of my hand, and he has never been to any other veterinary clinic. He just turned 10 in May 2007, so we've been coming here for a decade. And it's not the most convenient location to my new Pacific Heights digs, but I wouldn't ever consider changing vets. I think my loyalty speaks volumes about the staff and services provided throughout my history with Irving Street. They've seen us through a couple of scares, and my boy is still a vibrant, energetic puppy at heart. Sure, much of that is due to responsible pet ownership, but that's easy to provide when your back is covered by excellent caregivers.
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I've passed by this place so many times and never took my pet in until my puppy was moping around one day. Then they fixed her up quick and she was playing ball with me in no time. Thanks!
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I gave this place a chance - I really did. Not anymore.
The others who have given Irving poor reviews hit on the key issues: unprofessional staff, poor customer service, and pricing.
I'll start with pricing. I don't think this hospital is overpriced; I think they are overpriced for what they offer. I have worked in the veterinary industry, and pricing is a major issue. Most vet hospitals undercharge because many people are reluctant to pay premium prices for their pet care, and because vets get into the business because they love animals and want to see them get better. Got it. I am willing to pay a premium price (e.g., a price that reflects what a service costs the vet, plus markup for overhead, etc.) IF I am getting premium service. That is the part IPH doesn't seem to understand. They are like a strip mall massage parlor charging 5-star hotel spa prices. It's all about atmosphere and amenities when it comes to pricing.
Which brings me to ... unprofessional staff and poor customer service. I took my cat into IPH last night for her third visit there, and my experience perfectly illustrates the level of service you can expect at IPH. Here are the highlights:
1. I'm told to bring my cat in for follow-up blood work because the first sample they captured was inconclusive. I'm told to come in "anytime" and given the impression that collecting the new sample will not be a big deal and will likely be cheap or free.
2. I arrive and am told it will be just a few minutes.
3. One HOUR later my cat is taken back.
4. TWENTY MINUTES later my cat is returned to me and I'm told it will be $115 because they have to send her blood out for additional tests.
5. I tell the cringing desk staff (who look frightened and have nothing to say for themselves) that I want to give them some feedback. They pass me on to the hospital manager, who is very professional and helpful.
6. The doctor comes out to talk to me, and rather than apologizing profusely for the poor communication, long wait, etc., proceeds to assume that I am disputing the charge and launches into a lecture about why blood work costs money. My point that it's the communication, not the cost, that I'm complaining about, seems lost on him. I should have communicated in analogies, I guess. "Imagine that you took your car in to be looked at and the mechanic fixed the problem without telling you about it first, and slapped you with a $500 bill." -- The cost is different, but the principle is the same. You *ask* people whether they want a costly service before you give it to them. The $115 was more than I paid for the complete blood workup I had done a month ago, so while the amount is insignificant in the grand scheme, it's pretty significant in context.
P.S. The magazines in the waiting room are craptastic. Better Homes and Gardens? Seriously? If you're going to make someone wait an hour and half for a simple blood draw, you better have better mags.
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I've taken my cats here for 3 years and never received anything but the most professional and courteous service. Dr. Borut is a kind and attentive vet who always has a friendly word. They don't push anything on you as far as services or extras. When I inquired about Advantage flea control they told me it was cheaper to order it from Pet Meds than from them.
Our cats have had all their shots at Irving as well as some pretty extensive dental care for a geriatric cat and both Dr. Borut and Dr. Lowe have been amazing. Dr. Lowe pulled three of the older cat's teeth and she even called the evening after the operation to make sure he was doing fine - that's what I call excellent service. Unfortunately I kinda hate that cat and was hoping such extensive dental surgery would spell the end of him - but Irving did such a great job it's like he's got a whole new lease on life, meaning I'm stuck with him for another couple of years - AT LEAST!!! But I digress.
Irving Pet Hospital isn't the cheapest but they are the best, and when you're talking about medical care for your pet it's better to have the best than the least expensive.
Plus their vet tech with all the tats is kinda sexy too :-)
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Not many Pet Hospitals see Rabbits, but they do at Irving Pet Hospital. It was a great experience! The receptionists are friendly, and Dr. Lowe was so caring and informative.
They even called to check up on my little Hammy to make sure he was doing ok.
I would recommend this place to everyone.
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When I got my first cat, i had no idea who to go to for vet stuff. I asked a friend of a friend who was the only person with a cat that I knew for a recommendation, and that's how I ended up here.
And it's worked out real well. I think we get a different doctor each time, but they all seem to keep copious notes and know what is going on. I think one of our cats is more scared of the carrier than the vet (the other likes the carrier and the vet. Yes cats are strange).
We have two vegan cats, and the vets here give us all the info and help we needed to make sure our cats stay healthy despite our personal ethics. They're very current on animal health issues and have good answers to all the questions I have (and I'm a biologist so I can think up some good ones).
The only issue is that parking can be a chore, so make sure to leave plenty of time for that when you make an appointment.
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I brought my cat into this vet clinic for an annual physical. Not far from me, it had received a number of good reviews on various websites (this was before I discovered Yelp of course). My cat has some "issues" as regards going to the vet, but I thought with all the great reviews, the staff here were sure to be pros at handling nervous cats. Ok, so he might be a bit more than nervous at times; maybe resistant is a better word to describe his behavior.
Anyhoo, they have me take him back into one of the exam rooms where I wait. He is getting more and more nervous. The vet comes in and starts asking me questions and fiddling with my cat and doing whatever they do. He seemed a little harsh to me, but I guess that's just my biased view. I mean, you want to protect your pet right? So the cat starts getting crabby and irritable with the handling etc. Wouldn't you get crabby and irritable if a guy started fondling your twig and berries, or whatever genitalia you may have, in a harsh and insensitive manner? (Well, ok, I admit that's a loaded question.)
So, to deal with my cat's escalating nerves, the vet goes and gets this ominous-looking bruiser of a nurse who's like their enforcer or something, and some kind of special sack to restrain troublesome felines, and tells me to please take a seat in the waiting room. Soon, I hear these blood-curdling screams coming from the little exam room.
A minute or two later the vet and enforcer emerge...
The enforcer brings me the cat, who's already in his carrier and panting wildly. The vet goes behind the counter and writes something on my cat's "chart". Then he comes over to me and tells me that the cat went ballistic when he saw the sack and the enforcer and they could only get the vaccinations done and nothing else. I got a copy of the chart, and across it were etched the words:
"WARNING: FRACTIOUS"
in big, bold caps! Fractious!
So when I got home, I looked up the word "fractious" and found the following definitions:
"stubbornly resistant to authority; easily irritated or annoyed; ill-natured, having an unpleasant disposition; unpredictably difficult; likely to be troublesome."
Well, I had never been so offended. Ill-natured!?! My cat is nothing if not good-natured and friendly (***please view picture of cat attached to this business listing). Interesting...maybe it was the use of the enforcer, or the friggin' torture bag perhaps?! Seeing as how they still charged me full price for the 2 minute exam which they didn't even finish, I was damn proud of my *fractious* lil' bastard!
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If you are a rabbit owner considering taking your bun to get spayed/neutered here, I definitely don't recommend it. I brought my rabbit in for a check up and consult about getting her spayed. I had specifically asked for someone who had done the operation when I made the appointment, but they gave me whoever was available when I came in.
When I asked about this, they told me I'd have to come in (and pay for) *another* check up in order for the right doctor to be able to operate on the bunny. While I was definitely upset that this happened, I asked to speak with the doctor instead, to see if he was qualified enough for the task before I came back and paid for another check up. (I was following advice from the House Rabbit Society to ask lots of questions before the operation and make sure it was the right place to bring my rabbit).
I spoke with Dr. Shuman. He said he would make no guarantees about whether or not the rabbbit would live through the operation. Whaddya mean "no guarantees"? As in, you'd kill her?
Me: How many times have you spayed a rabbit?
Dr. Make No Promises: Two.
Me: Um, okay, well, what was your success rate? (i.e., did they live?)
Dr. Make No Promises: I can't say.
This is about the moment when I turned right around and walked out. I won't be going back.
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I love Irving Pet Hospital and highly recommend taking your fuzzy/scaly/balding animal friends here!
This place (I think most do?) gives newly adopted friends a free check up to make sure all the nuts and bolts are in working order. I took my newly adopted kitten little to see Dr. Borat who spent an entire 30 mins with us checking her out. He gave me helpful advice on how to help her become more confident and insight on what her past might have included before her shelter days by looking at her clipped ears. I was impressed by his knowledge, attention to detail and that he didn't rush us out of there for our free visit. I also forgot our paperwork proving that she was recently adopted and they didn't bat an eye, didn't charge us, just wished us the best of luck. Outstanding!
Turns out she needed eye goo and she's been back once for a stomach mishap. She really wasn't very sick and we still didn't get a hard time!
As you can probably tell, I am anal about my cat's health, the fact that she goes here is proof that they are a great group of professionals.
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Although I admire any hospital that deals with rodent health, i have to say I was extremely disappointed with this Vet. Anyone that reminds their patient that their pet will only live up to 2 to 3 years more than once deserves a negative rating! Don't you think I know how long rats live???
Not the best for customer service or ambiance, but the new doctor, Dr. Lowe is a gem. She has a really great way with animals and is really nice and knowledgeable. We only see her now. Highly recommended Veterinary GP.
I just love this place! After having experienced a traumatic event with my Dog Tyson, I found out that Dr. Joe Fong purchased Irving Pet Hospital so I switched from Skyline Pet Hospital. Dr. Fong was an associate at Skyline who treated Tyson for an UTI, he was so nice, professional and so compassionate. I made the switch solely because of him. Upon my first visit to his new location, I was so impressed by his staff. They are amazing. They truly are animal people. Ever since Tyson had the accident and went to the Emergency Pet Hospital, he hasn't been the same with office visits and check-ups. but every time I go to Irving Pet Hospital, the staff gladly sits on the floor allowing Tyson to sniff them, bends over backwards to make him feel content and secure, they also go out of their way looking for treats to give him (he's picky). I have never had anything but a positive experience from this establishment. They are very friendly, outgoing, professional and completely competent. I always recommend other pet owners to go see them. They are the best by far! If only I had more luck finding the same care for my newborn daughter.
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Three years ago, my partner's cat had undergone surgery which required anesthesia at Irving Pet Hospital. During the procedure, the device that monitors and regulates the animal's body temperature malfunctioned, leaving the cat with severe burns that were not noticeable until numerous days later when her skin began to scab severely. The burns were deep, and they extended along the full length of the cat's back. Although this was admittedly an accident, the manner in which the Irving Street Hospital staff handled the situation was reprehensible.
The clinic denied any and all responsibility for the burns incurred during the surgical procedure (even though the cat was clearly under their care!). The office manager (a young lady whose name, I believe, is Deb) instead referred us to the manufacturer of the body temperature monitoring device! She insisted that it was not the clinic's fault that the device burned our cat. We were thrown and disgusted at their lack of humanity. The clinic's primary concern was to cover their ass! They even had the audacity to refuse paying the costs required to rehabilitate the cat, as well as refunding our money for the botched surgery.
With much strong-arming on our part -- including the threat of going to the media, as well as litigation (both avenues that we would have seriously pursued) -- the clinic reluctantly paid for the skin grafting and numerous other procedures needed to rehabilitate the cat. All of the procedures needed to fix the cat was performed under the skillful care of Dr. Phillip Watt at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists. I will never trust Irving Pet Hospital again.
My partner and I since have separated, and I am uncertain whether he ever pursued legal recourse against the hospital. The cat, Zoe, endured excruciating pain and discomfort over the course of many weeks. We suspected that other animals were harmed similarly, although the clinic claimed that the device only malfunctioned with our pet and no others.
If you are willing to entrust your beloved animal with an organization that values business over morality, good luck to you. Do yourself a favor though and ask Dr. Adam Borut (at IPH) if he recalls the case. And judge his reaction for yourself.
Update: One Star Removed - $20 for applying Frontline??? My dedication is wavering . . . .
11/3/07: Went today because I had a flea and a worm :( They took good care of me, and Dr. Fong was real nice, but I was worried about my new friend Max. They wouldn't send Katy home with meds for him nor would they make time to see him today. Now he has to be sick until Monday. Katy cleaned the house real good today and I am feeling much better. Wish I could say the same for Max. $86 total = 2 worm pills, $50 exam fee and a flea treatment.
Meow! When Katy Katt thought I had cancer, she RUSHED me here, the only vet that would prod at me last minute. They called every day to monitor the lumps and got the test results back very speedily. Thank goodness it was only a spider bite! Not bad for $230. I killed the spider afterward and left it by Katy's bed. Ha ha. Glad I am not sick though. This is my favorite vet in San Francisco so far.
This place is great. When my dog was diagnosed with cancer, I moved over to a specialist, but Dr. Jensen would still just randomly call to check on my dog and me. She rocks.
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Ow ow. prices are high, but I knew that going in. I wish this vet hospital wasn't all the way across the city, but that's hardly their fault!
I went in with my bunny, knowing the prices were high, specifically because I wanted to show support for the vet(s?) here that volunteer their time and services with the House Rabbit Society folk. No matter where you go, it's more expensive than you'd think to get a rabbit neutered, since it's not a dog or cat, and therefore, an "exotic companion animal". ;)
This only makes me appreciate more the donated checkups and neuterings, which would otherwise cost the House Rabbit Society people enormous sums... the funds saved by a donated vet service can help save several more bunnies whose time in a shelter has almost run out....
The only thing I'd suggest would be some instructions and suggestions for all pet-owners about late-night or emergency care locations/numbers or backup vets...?
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I've had dogs live with me all my life so I've been to more Vets offices than doctors. I know Vets and the one's at Irving St. are extremely gentle with their animals and knowledgeable about what they do. I saw Dr. Borat and he also communicates well and answers all your questions. This is different from other places where you see a Tech who might be new and the Vet just signs off on what the Tech does.
And it's a 1000 times better than Banfield.. where I've seen the Tech diagnosis my pet via a computer program. I love it here and will be taking my two dogs back for a long time to come.
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ok, i've only been there twice, once for food, once to do the paperwork to have my dear puppagirl put down. They were all very nice both times.
The reason that they get perfect from me boils down to two words: Dr. Joe Fong. (ok, whatever, three). Pookie saw him a few times when he was at Park Animal Hospital (also good, for the most part), and she loved him and so did we. He took the time with her, he answered all of our questions, he talked about his own dogs (which, I really think should be mandatory.... really, it should be) and on a day when we were there to see another vet, he even stopped by while we were waiting to say hello and see how she was doing.
The next time we saw him, he came out to our house to put pookie down, he was amazingly compassionate and made the experience easier than I think it would have been. the man's a fricken saint and any future fuzzy family members who befriend me will have him as their doc.
I have nothing but great things to say about Irving St Vet (ISV). Over the years we have had Hamsters, Rabbits, Rats, Cats, Dogs, Chinchillas & more who have all been 'clients' of ISV. The service we get is amazing. They are knowledgeable and friendly. We couldn't ask for anything more.
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