VCA Santa Monica Dog and Cat Hospital

I had an amazing experience today with Dr. Abalos. She not only looked over Bandit she took her time and explained to me in lay mans terms (so I could understand) what was going on with him. My dogs are so important to me. It is always nice to know you can come to a veterinarian that number one cares for your animals as much as you do. Secondly will take into consideration what procedures cost and give you every last option so you can make a well informed decision. She is the most thorough and loving vet I have ever had for my pups. I hope she stays in practice as long as I have dogs. In my opinion she is the only choice. Thank you for your continued support with my extended family Dr. Abalos!

I have been searching for a great groomer who will listen to my concerns I have with our dog’s grooming needs. We take our cockapoo and maltipoo to VCA Santa Monica and found Keith right in the vet’s office. Go see Keith! Wow what a great job. He spent time with me to make sure he understood how I wanted our dog to look. It only took a few hours but you can pick your pet up as late as 6pm. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

Maybe the best grooming Sadie has ever had. Prices are competitive. Better then outstanding care taken by Keith the grooming expert. He is loving, caring, and an artist with the shears!
I have taken Sadie to many other groomers and no one can compare to Keith! I recommend Keith at VCA and know you will be very happy with the results.

Amazing vet and groomer. They are incredibly friendly and helpful. The groomer was impressive. He even hand scissored the hair on our long haired chihuahuas face! Prior to our first visit there our puppy had fleas even after his regular treatment. They gave us a new medicine that was effective right out of the gate.
They also went above and beyond when we brought in a lost cat that we had found. After scanning and locating a chip they went through a LOT of effort to help us locate the owner, which was a success.

Keith for grooming is amazing!!! Our puppy, George, is a golden doodle and we brought him to 3 different groomers and were never thrilled with his cut, until we found Keith! He actually listens to what you request and is the loveliest. Our pup LOVES him too which is always reassuring. Great grooming and great service!!!

Just moved to Santa Monica and finding a cat groomer seemed impossible. Everyone does just Dogs? I called VCA and got an appointment right away. Not only did they give a free check up before hand, right after Jeff did an amazing job at my himalayan’s incredibly long hair. Jeff listened to exactly what I wanted her to look like and now lily has the CUTEST LION CUT EVER! with my little custom fav’s of course! Very happy to find my vet and groomer forever!

This used to be a well-​run practice. Not anymore, evidently. Among a number of other red flags, I was given conflicting information by the vet and staff, and then they seemed unable to straighten it out. This is a bad sign for a veterinary practice. I would suggest steering clear of them and going with one of the many alternatives in the area.

Our little girl really needed to pass. VCA Helped us and money wasn’t even brought up until we were almost out the door. The fee wasn’t even something to complain about. The staff were very courteous and Dr. Weiss was very good with us and our little girl.

I never thought the day would come where I would lose my silly boy… a day where I would have to say good bye to my sweet furry friend… a day where I would pet Duffy’s silky fur one last time. I mean; I knew the day would come eventually; I just didn’t know it would be this soon. Cancer however has no boundaries. It kills the ones we love and has no mercy. My little Duffy couldn’t stand strong against the evil cancer either. It took his loving soul and his carefree spirit and made him suffer until he wasn’t living, but was just getting by to exist.
Cancer took his eyesight; his ability to play with his toys; to breathe without suffocating; to go for walks (which before getting sick was his favorite thing in the world). For over a week I watched my dog lay in the same position, unable to see; shaking; looking scared. I knew I had to do the right thing; to let him go; not continue to have him suffer… but it’s so hard to do the right thing sometimes; so hard to let go.
I finally made the decision to ease my Duffy’s suffering and made the appointment at VCA to put my baby to deep sleep. I imagined him finally being calm and peaceful; and perhaps that dog heaven people talk about really does exist. I imagined Duffy being healed and healthy and chasing a squirrel which was his favorite thing to do during his walks. If that doesn’t exist than be it; but that thought eased my pain and I felt automatically this was the right thing for Duffy.
I feel weird giving a place that essentially took my dogs life 5 stars; but as I stated my baby wasn’t living any more he was existing; and instead of Duffy dying in agonizing pain covered in his own poop; he died peacefully all while dreaming of chasing that squirrel he could never catch.
Dr. Weiss is an amazing man. I bawled the entire time; and he made me feel so comforted and at ease. He kept saying he was sorry; and that I was making the right choice. I shook his hand in the end; but I wish I could hug him instead because he made an awful day just a little better. If I ever get another dog Dr. Weiss will my vet for life. I am glad people like him still exist in this world that show true compassion and that truly care. I kept thinking how this isn’t the first time he has put someone’s adored pet to sleep; yet he still isn’t numb with his feelings; he truly feels our pain and how hard it is to lose someone you raised and loved. A million thanks Dr Weiss, I will never forget your compassion and putting my dog out of his suffering.

I can’t thank the Doctors and their staff enough for helping my sweet dog! During a late afternoon walk my dog stepped on something, she immediately started to limp and the bottom of her foot started to bleed. I panicked because her vet is in Calabasas and they couldn’t see her until the following day. I proceeded to call several vets in our area but they wouldn’t see her because it was too late in the day. I finally called this place and the woman who I spoke with was so kind and said come right in. The doctor on staff knew right away that she stepped on a foxtail. After performing an emergency surgery, the doctor found the foxtail! They were so gentle with her and extremely knowledgable and kind. We have been looking for a local Vet and I’m so thankful to have found them!

The Doctors and entire staff are wonderful. Dr. Weiss saved my cats life with his personal attention, concern and medical opinion. He recommended treatment first to see if we could avoid surgery. It worked. I left my cat for 3 days and was encouraged to pay visits hoping it would hasten his recovery. After the second day my cat would go to Dr. Weiss and purr while Dr Weiss petted him and explained in detail how his treatment was progressing. After taking my cat home the Staff and both Dr. Weiss and Dr. Bradshawe followed up with me with phone calls and emails. I highly recommend this very fine veterinary clinic.

The absolute best. Can’t say enough great things about the team here — from the ladies at the front to all the docs, they always make me, and my babies feel relaxed and well take care of. It’s a small place with all the benefits that come with that — feels like home.

I’ve been going to VCA Santa Monica for 4 years. They’ve treated my cat well and resolved any problems she’s ever had. I saw both Dr. Nelson Weiss and Dr. Bagshaw. About a year ago, Dr. Nelson Weiss discovered a sudden heart murmur during my cats annual check up. We did a bunch of tests and turns out she was in the early stages of cardiomyopathy. Luckily since Dr. Weiss caught it so soon, 6 months later my cats heart has been able to reverse some of the effects of the disease with medicine. Thanks to his early detection, he bought my cat extra years of life and hopefully she’ll live a full happy life like any other cat. I will forever be thankful to him for that! I’m moving and will definitely miss having Dr. Weiss and Dr. Bagshaw as the team to be taking care of my cat!

Went here for the first time for a friend’s senior kitty. It was pretty frustrating, because they had pamphlets advertising a senior care package for $ 349, but insisted that they couldn’t honor that rate and would charge $ 414. We decided to just get the necessary tests, and they didn’t charge for the exam fee, so it was going to be $ 317 I think for blood and urine test. Then they come out and say they couldn’t get any urine, so come back later BUT they need the blood and urine to be at the same time, so may have to do the kidney blood panel AGAIN. If you need them together, logic dictates that you do the URINE FIRST– bc that is the one you might not get, right? So now kitty gets stuck twice, wallet gets hit twice, and we are no closer to answers after an hour and a half at this place. Maybe the vets are top notch, but hard to put your faith in a place that seems to be after $$

Dr. Weiss has been my Vet for over 3 years, looking out for my dog’s health interests and helping me make informed choices for my animal. He has always looked out for my dog’s needs, and never tried to up-​sell me any services or medication. My dog loves Dr. Weiss and the tech Manny. They have taken care of my dog since he was a puppy, and I have never considered looking for another DVM.
The facility is clean, in a great location, and always has parking. The receptionists are very nice, and you can normally always get in the same day.
HOWEVER…
Dr. Bagshaw is the WORST!!! Please, PLEASE beware of this woman! She is seriously crooked and will try to tell you ridiculous things to sell you additional services/​medications. When my dog was a few months old I brought him in for what I thought was an eye-​infection (actually ended up just being dog-​park dirt irritation) but she tried to tell me he had a terrible overbite/​crooked tooth that would require the use of a custom made tennis ball fit for his teeth. These were new teeth coming in and he was still growing into them. She tried to refer me to her Dog orthodontist friend in Beverly Hills; even tried to make the appt for me that day… really pushy and strange?!
A few months later I took my pup in for his next round of shots and Manny, who does all the dental work confirmed my dog’s teeth were perfectly normal and in great shape. When I told him about Dr. Bagshaw’s prognosis he and Dr. Weiss had a good laugh.
After the first awkward interaction I have always avoided her services, and have had to get her to sign off on flea meds if Dr. Weiss isn’t in that day. But again, she always tries to sell you something, or tell you your dog needs something and wants to charge you for an office visit, some tests or whatever meds she can tack on.
Today, my dog had diarrhea and was sick so my husband ended up taking the dog in for an emergency check. Dr. Weiss was out, and it never occurred to me to warn him about her. Hundreds of dollars later, he tells me they charged him for all sorts of testing, special GI dog food, probiotics, probiotic supplements, shots of antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and scheduled a follow up next week. I asked him what the Dr. thought was wrong and he said they suspected food poisoning?!
When I got home I looked over all the dog meds and saw her name on the prescription bottle, and knew exactly what happened. She totally took advantage of my husband, and charged him for everything but the kitchen sink.
I have no probably paying for my dog’s health care, and always take him to the vet for the littlest things just to be safe. Dr. Weiss has always reassured me that I worry too much, and that the dog’s immune system will take care of almost everything, medication is the last alternative if the dog isn’t able to truly fight the infection (if there even is an infection). Dr. Bagshaw is the direct opposite, and her philosophy is to medicate your animal before really finding out what’s causing the symptoms.
5 stars for Dr. Weiss, Manny, and the office staff… 0 – 1 star for Bagshaw. I will be requesting that she never be allowed to examine/​care for my animal. I’d rather wait for Dr. Weiss or find another emergency clinic.

Horrible.
These people are crooks. They will fabricate an «Emergency» so they can charge you a crazy emergency fee.
I brought my cat in to see Dr Weiss and he tried this crap. Luckily I caught on and got my cay out of there.
We went to another vet who ended up retaking the xrays, cause the ($ 188) one Dr Weiss took were worthless. The other vet — the one who didn’t create a fake emergency — charged $ 250 to diagnose and treat my cat. Good thing I didn’t give Dr Weiss the $ 700 he wanted… to start with.
If you love your pet, AVOID THIS PLACE

We are very happy here. Dr. Weiss & Dr. Bagshaw are great at what they do and our furry babies are great to be in their hands. Big thank you.

We like this place. The front staff and the tech staff are the friendliest and we love Dr. Bagshaw!
I normally select small independent shops and service providers over large chains but we tried other vets in our area for our two cats but we got such better care and attention here, it felt more like an independently run office. We wouldn’t think of taking our cats anywhere else. Dr. Bagshaw always calls after a medical visit to check up on them. I think she loves our pets as much as we do.
Also, Dr, B. is very contentious about our vet bills being high and will recommend the most prudent treatment when possible. We are really happy with their care.

We have very high standards with medical care for dogs and horses, as well as proper communication. Dr. Nelson Weiss and his team are excellent care providers. From the professional staff (Monique) to the Vet Techs (Manny), this is a solid operation. We had to transfer records from our last vet hospital to VCA Santa Monica and to our insurance provider. Monique and Nicole at the front desk were really on it and dealt with it efficiently and professionally. Manny the Vet Tech had to deal with one of our more timid dogs and did a great job. We needed teeth extractions and Monique even sent us pictures from their iPhone to ensure us during our work day that the dogs had recovered well from anesthesia. Fantastic care.
Dr. Nelson Weiss has an excellent bedside manner and always takes his time to explain everything very clearly, including great knowledge of the care plans available and billing options, and helped us fill out the insurance forms, which we have never experienced before. He even had a billing specialist come in to the room so we could plan the best options between the wellness plans and insurance.
We were at a vet in West Hollywood and every visit was about $ 150. These guys provide a higher level of care and attention with cost savings on a limited house budget. We receive every appointment and invoice by email, which is great for our records at home, to keep track of everything in a busy household.
We are super grateful to the guys at VCA Santa Monica and, as someone very picky about our animal care, I would highly recommend these guys.

I encourage all to read this letter I sent to Dr. Carrie Bagshaw after my dog suddenly died last week. This is NOT a place I would ever recommend for many of the reasons stated on these reviews about price/​service issues however that takes a second seat to the fact that competence, compassion and honesty are expected when trusting a vet or any professional.
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7÷16÷13
Dr. Carrie Bagshaw
VCA Dog and Cat Hospital
2010 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90 404
Dear Dr. Bagshaw,
I am writing this letter to you because I am extremely distraught by the events surrounding the death of my dog. I was shocked last week when Bertha was suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer and died the same day, an occurrence I believe to be in part a result of your negligence.
You have treated Bertha for many years. Not once did you ever indicate to me that cancer was a possibility for her problems, even when you knew that she had sores that wouldn’t heal and after I mentioned repeatedly over the past few months that she was not eating.
Six months ago I brought her to you in crisis when she was in a state of shock. The expensive tests and diagnostics you conducted were inconclusive; in fact, you admitted that you had no idea what was wrong with her and guessed that it might be a heart condition. You prescribed expensive medication even though you did not know the cause of her illness. (For all I know, this medication actually made her worse.)
Last week, when Bertha was presenting in nearly the identical way, I took her to an emergency veterinary hospital. Within 15 minutes a vet who had never before seen Bertha determined via ultrasound that she had a massive tumor on her spleen. I cannot help but wonder what might have happened if you had performed a similar ultrasound six months ago and diagnosed Bertha properly. Perhaps she could have been treated had this been caught sooner. I believe this was a massive failure on your part.
To add insult to injury, after years of bringing my dog to your clinic I did not receive even a condolence letter. Every vet I saw on Bertha’s last day – none of whom had met her before – sent a nice, heartfelt note. How much money did I spend with you and how many times have I been at your clinic? This coldness and callousness is not acceptable in a healthcare provider. I feel duped by you, both professionally and personally.
I am not writing this letter as a threat, and I do not have a lawsuit planned. I am writing this because I will take it upon myself to warn other pet owners to be aware of your level of care. I am going to commit myself to documenting online what happened to Bertha to try to save someone else from having to deal with such incompetence and the heartache that came as its result.
I spent a small fortune to ensure there would be no surprises with Bertha’s health. While I don’t expect miracles, I do expect competence and honesty. I received neither.
Sincerely,
M Dorman