Wayfarer Veterinary Hospital

My 11 year old suffered from an ear infection and was healed within a week! Dr. Fernandez is one of the very few good vets out there… I wouldn’t be able to trust my dog with anyone else. The office also does grooming and have gotten better and better over the years with grooming. They’re extremely gentle and cautions with pets unlike most groomers!!!

I’ve been taking my cats to Dr. Fernandez for years. We have appreciated how good the staff has with been our nervous cats on routine appts. Dr. Fernandez has been straight to the point when we had questions. We have had good experiences, so we naturally took our puppy to Wayfarer to have her spayed. When we picked her up, she was pretty traumatized & smelled awful. We were told we couldn’t give her a bath b/​c she was given metal stitches. We found a way to dry shampoo her, but watched as each day the stitches seemed to be irritated despite her wearing a neck guard. For whatever reason the stitches are on the outside of her body. There are many tiny metal stitches sticking out. B/​c she often lays on her belly, the stitches started to catch on rugs and the floor. After a week, the stitches were red and started to become infected. We took her to another vet in the area. The new vet gave her an x-​ray and requested the surgery records (we’re told are customarily very detailed about the procedure). Our records for the surgery from Wayfarer only said. «Spayed.» With all that being said, if you have animals or cats that are generally very healthy, this isn’t a terrible office. They take last minute walk-​ins — which has been very helpful if you’re busy. Now that we have a dog, I think we’ll go to a different vet that we can be confident in.

I just had the absolute worst vet experience of my life at this place. My dog has an infected wound on his toe and I couldn’t get in to see my regular vet today. This place is right around the corner from my house so, out of desperation, I took him here. And it was SO HORRIBLE that my dog and I are genuinely traumatized. Here’s how it went down:
Unfriendly receptionist takes my info
Dr asks me to bring my dog down the hall to the exam room– never introduces herself!!! Her coat says ‘Dr Fernandez’
Doesn’t ask me ANY questions about the injury, my dog’s medical history– NOTHING.
My dog is huge, but exceptionally docile and friendly, I explain this to her expecting her to examine him on the floor, she does not.
She has the vet tech put a bleeping MUZZLE on him! Without my consent, without even asking me!!! And then has the tech LIFT my 90lb dog onto a bleeping TABLE for the exam.
My dog is quaking in fear by now and pleading at me with his eyes to leave.
She looks at the wound for 3 seconds and pronounces it’s excema.
Then she tells me she needs to run a test for MANGE! (Yes, seriously)
I ask her how much this test will cost because I’m not sure it’s necessary. She IGNORES me and keeps prepping the test!
When she finally engages with me about it she is super rude and condescending.
She says the remedy is just clean it and wrap it. I say «well, I can do THAT at home» and she condescendingly asks me if I ‘know how to do it’. Um, yes I do.
I say ‘thanks anyway, but I’ll just take him to my regular vet’ and she says ‘fine if you don’t trust me. I’m just doing the proper procedure. I’m not out for money’.
This entire «exam» takes less than 15 minutes.
As I’m rushing to get my terrified dog out of there the unfriendly receptionist stops me and says ‘that will be $ 40 for the Dr visit’!!! I shit you not. Not out for money my ASS. I paid it just to get the bleep out of there.
My dog and I both still shaking from this experience. For the love of God, go ANYWHERE else.
PS– Dr I’m not out for money’s BMW was parked right out front.

DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING YOU LOVE HERE!!! This is the worst experience I have ever had with a business. Not just a Vet but any business. I dropped off my pets (1 dog, 2 cats) to be boarded here over the holiday. We were not notified when the pets ran out of food. They are all on very specific diets, and our one cat that cannot eat dry food was fed Friskies for three days. Now there is blood in her stool. The dog had an open wound when we picked him up and they shaved his side. We were also never notified about that. And the truly worst part of all of this is the horrible «doctor» and witch of a secretary. They play this game where the secretary says «I don’t know anything I’m just the secretary», and the «doctor» says «I’m just here in case there’s a medical emergency». Nobody takes responsibility for anything. If I could give 0 stars I would. Just awful. We were yelled at by both women throughout the whole process. They were telling conflicting stories and blaming us. DO NOT GO HERE!!!

ABSOLUTE WORST BUSINESS/​ANIMAL CARE. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY.
We have been customers here for years and never got the best vibes but they did the absolute most basic job of boarding and for a reasonable price, but this last time was a horrible experience that in my opinion proves they should not be in business at all. The female doctor/​vet is impossible to deal with and or hold an intelligent conversation. She refused to take responsibility for the lack of organization and responsibility at her business. Between her and the receptionist and the poor caretakers it was a recipe for disaster.
Don’t you think you should notify the owners before shaving your dog? Or feeding strange food to your cats? We did too, they didn’t. We also got 10 different stories and timelines from three different people there, proving no one keeps track, knows or cares what’s going on. Our dog had a sore from his own doing (his nervous tick when he’s alone) but the vet tried to tell us it was a wart. Then she changed her story and said it was a sore, then she changed again and said she didn’t even know about it that the caretakers shaved it. It’s a disgrace and makes us so sad for our animals and how they must have been treated there. Our one cat actually has a strict diet and gets very sick if she eats food other than her specific food. When the cats ran out they fed them FRISKIES and without even telling us. This blew our mind but it didn’t even seem to phase the staff there.
Bottom line the receptionist who also told us many different stories ranging from «everything was fine, if anything was of note we would have told you» to explaining to us details about the whole situation back to «I’m just the secretary I don’t know anything and no one tells me anything». There was no way of communicating with the vet and after two days of a screaming match (on her end) she wouldn’t refund us at all and chose to loose customers and get terrible reviews. She simply didn’t care about customer service or her reputation, only about keeping our money.
I never want anyone else to have to go through this. We are truly sick over it all.

I came here because I had recently adopted a senior dog from the shelter. As part of the adoption package they give you a voucher that gives you a free vet exam at participating clinics. I called around, and Wayfarer’s receptionist told me they accept it.
This dog had very bad breath, and it was obvious he would need dental work. However, upon immediately seeing my dog, she barely examined him, said his breath was horrible (not in a kind way) and immediately began talking numbers. She also pressured me, too, saying that if I decided to do the procedure after that day that they would have to charge me the exam fee again. It just was not really a good vibe. The vet tech that was holding my dog also didn’t seem too experienced and was doing so in a way that made my dog uncomfortable.
I ultimately left and went to my regular vet at Parkview Pet Clinic even though they are more expensive because I felt that they have more genuine care for my pet. It’s possible that Wayfarer’s vet is extremely competent and does a great job on my dog, but I will never know because her bedside manner was just not good.

Dr. Fernandez is amazing! I have been bringing my dog here for 12 years and within those 12 years I got a little new puppy too but now hes 5 and let me say that my dogs have been through some really difficult moments and Dr. Fernandez is the absolute best. I will never ever switch to a different doctor because thanks to Dr. Fernandez my dogs are as healthy as they can get. !! Recommend everyone to her, her hands are magic.

I used to live in the neighborhood and brought my chihuahua puppy here for all of his shots and check-​ups. I think Dr. Fernandez is a good doctor and she is very practical. So many of these reviews are negative and I think that’s unfair. I thought she did a great job with my dog and was always very open and honest with me. It seems some people are just a bit too sensitive in my opinion. She’s not openly emotional but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t care about animals. I don’t think she would have pursued that career path if she really felt that way.
I took my pup here to get fixed and Dr. Fernandez suggested while he was under to also remove his cast. Killing two birds with one stone which was a plus for me financially.
I appreciate what she does and I like her assistant as well. He made my dog feel more comfortable. I think the receptionist is nice too, she’s not super outgoing but I always thought she was pleasant. Do not be afraid to take your pets here.

Really? You concerned are about my dog. First off «she» is a «he» got it! Went there Monday for a consult $ 40. Not too bad. Next day they say to come back for a medicated bath that will take «all day». Another $ 40! OK that is fair. I leave him at 9:30, and come get him around 4pm and he is worse then when I left him. They are clueless! I had to bring him back for skin graph, another bath, antibiotics, etc etc… can you say total rip off! $ 196 later! Then they say I need a cortisone but instead of the shot being $ 30…there is an additional $ 40 charge for an office visit? HUH? Now I am looking at my dog who is completely miserable! I am going to another vet that was recommended by my doggie daycare. DO NOT GO THERE!!!

Does not care about animals health is only making a buck off of venerable people.
Dr Fernandez had been seeing my dog for sometime and my dog recently had a 1200 dollar medical bill for removal of a sist. She told me to come back in two weeks and she would remove stitches. She actually charged me another doctors visit when I came back which I could not afford since I had spent everything I had the last visit. She would not wave the fee even though we have been going to her for years and have spent over 12,000 dollars at her office.
Recently I had to take my dog to the emergency room and Dr Fernandez refused to fax over my medical records and hung up on me even though I was very polite with her over the phone. She said she would not because I was seeing a vet besides her.
I would never recommend way fair to anyone. No Ethical principals and are only wanting to make a buck.

I just red on my friend’s facebook «Craig Blackburn» …he wrote: «I just tried to save a kitten who was run over on Hyperion. I took her to Wayfarer Animal Hospital. The first thing they asked was who’s paying. As I negotiated with the lady, It died in my hand. «
What a shame that a fine company like Wayfarer Animal Hospital of Los Angeles, did NOT try to save this kitten first, but they weres more worried about the bottom line… shame on you Wayfarer Animal Hospital of Los Angeles!!!
Do NOT GO THERE!!! SHAME SHAME SHAME!

Ive taken my dog in there a couple of times over the years, I live 500ft away. I would give them 3 stars for being clean, as in clinical. No one there is really friendly.
I saw a kitten get hit in front of the Café 2 doors down. It was still alive. I ran into the street and risked getting hit. I carried it immediately to the hospital. The first thing asked was «Who’s Paying». As i negotiated with the lady the kitten died in my hand. She let me leave it on the cold stainless steel table. She wouldn’t look at it but did call for the janitor to dispose of it.
I would never go there with an animal. I’ve never seen a more uncaring staff in a medical clinic in my life and we could use another Thai restaurant in the neighborhood.
If your in this for the money, don’t. You’re born to care or you’re not.

We’ve been taking our cats to Wayfarer for six years. Early on we didn’t have to take them often because they were fine and we left it at that. Occasionally our male cat had issues and we took him in. And we received excellent care, support, and advice.
For the person that says it doesn’t smell clean, every time I’ve been there it smells like a doctors office. Clean.
For the people that attack the receptionist… we have found she is pleasant and helpful. True, she’s not Betty White. Very few of us are. But the receptionist does her job and more so leave her alone.
Back to my cat. So a few months ago my male got real sick. And we took him to Wayfarer where they kept him over night. We went to visit and he was dying. It was terrible. We thought, this is it. But the Doctor said to give it another day so we did. And then we went back visit and he was improved. Two days more and he was much better. And now he is back home with us.
She saved his life and we are forever grateful. She may not be a people hugger, but she is a great doctor and cares very much about the animals. And that’s what counts.
Love,
Dave

DO NOT TAKE YOUR DOG TO THIS VET!!!
I spent $ 1,000.00 doing tests to find out NOTHING. She was unable to tell us anything about my 13 year old dogs ailments. She prescribed him Liquid Codeine and an all around anti-​biotic. And he died.
THe one good thing about the vet is the overnight stay with an IV bag. But that’s it.
Not to mention the receptionist is just AWFUL. She is unfriendly and doesn’t make you feel welcome.

I am a big fan of Dr. Fernandez and the staff at Wayfarer, they are awesome!
If you are looking for straightforward, no-​nonsense and fairly priced animal care, this is your place! Dr. Fernandez is a very professional and skilled veterinarian, but perhaps a doctor who is very blunt and to the point isn’t for everybody. If you are looking for a veterinarian who will anthropomorphize your pets and speak baby talk to them, then you might be let down by a doctor who focuses strictly on veterinary care instead of humanizing the animals she treats.
The staff is great, helping us with some extra paperwork several times, and are always polite and professional! Overall, they have taken great care of my cat, SpaceMonkey, who can be skittish and neurotic but always behaves perfectly at Wayfarer!

I don’t get why this place has such negative reviews. Every time I come there I’m in and out in under 30 min. There’s never a wait and Dr Fernandez is super straightforward and gets the job done. My dog actually likes it there — she’s always excited to go through the door.
It’s definitely not an animal spa, super utilitarian, so if you’re looking for someone who is going to coo over your cute pet or a fancy waiting area, this is not the place for you. But the price is right and my dog loves it there, so I will keep coming back!

I have been meaning to write this for quite some time. I was always underwhelmed each time I went here. The vet doesn’t seem to actually like animals. She medicates more than any other vet I have been to. At one point I was very concerned about my cat who was refusing to eat and losing weight. The vet’s response was that it was a good thing because he should lose weight anyway. (Yes he’s a large cat, but that doesn’t help if there is something really wrong!!!) I never went back.
the pros: inexpensive and not much of a wait.

I went to this place once for a travel cert. The receptionist is dour. The doctor is nice, but the place smells weird and isn’t very sterile. I wouldn’t personally feel comfortable getting treated there or recommending anyone to go there.
So, even though nothing went «wrong», I just wouldn’t feel right telling anyone to go there.
We live in a condo building nearby, and two fellow dog owners who also live in the building said not to go there, one said this rather adamantly.

I took my dog there for the first time. I am very happy with the care and attention my dog received.
Dr Hernandez saw right away what was wrong with him. My dog had a fox tail inside his ear for over a month and the previous lame vet (at West Valley Pet Clinic) I took him wasn’t able to figure out.
I liked the fact we can just walk in. Not like the typical office where we make a appointment and wait forever to be called in.
Her assistant was very nice and friendly too.
I will make that drive again in the future to take my dog to a good vet and that is not a rip off!

Dr. Fernandez is straight forward, honest, quick and affordable. This is a no-​frills vet, no appointments (walk-​in only). It’s clean and gets the job done. I’ve been coming here for over 5 years now for various treatments from vaccinations to a broken leg. Dr. Fernandez is super sweet. What I love most is that she’s really affordable and doesn’t charge for unnecessary tests or other excessive costs.
If you want a warm, wonderful, cozy feeling vet, this isn’t the place for you. It’s spare, minimal, with only the essentials. The receptionist is straight forward also.
If you buy Juicy Couture clothes for your dog, you will not like this place. It really isn’t that kind of place. But me and my dog don’t wear that so we’re fine with this place.