Veterinary Specialist of South Florida

Took my dog here to be seen for his wrinkles, very professional atmosphere and kind employees

I will never bring my pet to this place again. They did not allow us to be present during the examination of our pet. 300% markup on medicine. Nobody seems to have any compassion for either pets or owners. We sat in a freezing examination room without our pet for over an hour without anybody even looking in at us. In the mean time we had no idea where our pet is or what is being done to her. At the end we got a vague diagnosis and an estimate of possible future treatment/​tests. Will not be back.

I’ll never take my dog anywhere else. They take their time with each patient and follow up when they say they will while your dog is hospitalized to ease your mind. This was my second visit in one day after the Pembroke Pines vet misdiagnosed her. They are the best!

I am extremely satisfied with the service that was provided to our little Toy Pomeranian. He was very sick vomiting, and bloody stool for two days. We bought him into the hospital and the next day he improved dramatically. The vets and receptionists all showed so much care and updated me all day on how my dog was doing. He stayed for two days and is now all back to normal! I am so happy and thankful that I have a vet that I can now trust. I totally would recommend this hospital to anyone who loves their pets and wants the best care possible. Thank you!!! :)

The staff at VSSP were caring, concerned and compassionate from the moment I walked in the door. My puppy wasn’t doing very well for unknown reasons and they immediately took him in to see the doctor. Simple tests and examinations didn’t give an accurate diagnosis so they recommended keeping him for the weekend. They were definitely expensive but then again, every doctor is pricey. Although their costs were on the high end, they took the time to explain all options and pricing. They were never pushy or demanding and they never made me feel as though I was obligated to choose the more expensive options. They simply gave me the facts. I left my little Prince over the weekend but when I stopped in to visit, they gave me a private room and blankets to spend time with him. He was doing much better and was obviously in good hands! You get what you pay for and here I got excellent service and a knowledgeable team!

This staff is unbelievable –in a good way. We had to say goodbye to our little Jasper and the staff handled every detail with kindness and love. We felt very comforted by how we were treated in a very difficult situation. After all was done, we received a beautiful condolences card in the mail. We really appreciated being taken care of in this situation.

Very Extremely Expensive !!! The last Friday my dog went to the emergency room and they determine that my dog has a pyometra, thanks for the services, but the price for the surgery was $ 3500. This is tooooooo much. So I take my dog and the next day I paid $ 776 in Shenandoah Hospital and my dog is fine and happy !

Veterinary Specialist of South Florida is a great animal hospital. The clerical staff is very friendly and organize. The facility is clean and well kept. Dr. Horgan was professional, empathetic, and did a magnificent job taking care of our Sheltie. I highly recommend this facility for any animal care.

For a place called animal emergency I sure hope your pet doesn’t have an actual emergency needing treatment. Brought my pet in and its been almost 3 hours with no update and he hasn’t even been seen yet… wouldn’t have come here if I had any other options and I’ll be sure to research options now that my pet is okay so that way I won’t have to go to this second rate dump ever again. Their response: «we can’t control what animals get brought in or the wait»… Jesus Christ learn some people skills.

Excellent care by amazing knowledgeable staff.
Dr. Kersey saved my little dog from what could have been a fatal condition. Forever grateful for there attention and empathy during that really difficult time.

My 11 year old Maltese was diagnosed with grade 2 soft tissue sarcoma in August. Her vet suggested seeing an oncology specialist — that is when I met Dr Ratterree and his staff at VSSF. I couldn’t have hoped for better customer service and treatment. My Lyla underwent 19 rounds of radiation therapy, and even though it wasn’t an easy path to choose she made it and she is now a cancer survivor. No matter if and when her cancer will come back I will be forever grateful to this clinic and its brilliant staff.

My dog was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a few months ago and we were referred to Dr. Ratterree. He has been wonderful, as has the entire staff. The treatment has cost me a fortune, but their prices are basically in line with the area’s other veterinary oncology practice. I can’t speak for any other area of their practice, but I am very pleased with how they have handled my pet.

WARNING… This is your final warning to save your pet!!! I was just at this clinic, and take my advice, you DO NOT want to bring them here! I was forced to leave a star, I feel they are a NEGATIVE 0!!! This was the most HORRIFYING experience of my entire life! My eyes are swollen half shut from what I witnessed and experienced tonight. It was the coldest thing in the world I have ever experienced! Not only was I driving 15 miles in the pouring rain to get to this clinic with my lethargic cat who was at a 12 hct blood count, I was delirious from seeing my poor kitty in this condition. I am traumatized as it is, because He has seen 4 vets and no one knows whats wrong with him, he has received a vaccine in August on the 18^th for rabies, and it changed him forever. He was healthy as an ox. Ban-​field in Aventura (Dr. Da Vila) Did this to my angel. :’((I am already dealing with enough pain as it is, and then I come to VSSF, and receive more pain! These woman BEVERLY and a blonde with English accent were like two evil spirits with no regard for my concerns or pet! They mentioned the Doctor refused to see us because my mother insisted on me seeing my kitty before we left him there and went looking for him after they denied us that right! ALSO, they make you sign away your life, stating if your pet were to stop breathing, would you approve them to administer compressions and CPR? I said, why are you asking that, isn’t that what you should do naturally?! They said… we need your consent, and IT’S AN EXTRA CHARGE. WHAT!!! WHY WOULD IT BE EXTRA??? This place simply THRIVES on the pain and trauma of a pet and their owner. I left with my heart and sick pet in my hands… back in the rain, now to try and race him to another emergency clinic. I am literally in my nightmare! Only God can take this memory from the core of my being. and KARMA is very real!
They will someday know what this feels like. The tables always turn.

Absolutely horrible.
I was a patient of Dr Schroeder, a Veterinary Cardiologist.
His Vet Techs are completely awful, rude, and refuse to provide even basic services. I paid more than $ 700 for visits, procedures, and medications.
The doctor put my dog on heart medication that he is required to take for the rest of his life. EVERY time I called to get the prescription renewed — because they would not put refills on it — it would be 3 – 5 days to get the prescription. First he only works 3.5 days a week, second the vet techs will only call you back at 5:30PM, even if you call at 8AM. Then they will happily leave you a message that you they don’t have the phone number for a specific pharmacy that is available both in the phone book and on an internet search, and leave for the day so that when you call back two minutes later, there is no one to talk to. This happened over and over again.
The last time I called I specifically asked the receptionist to speak to Dr Schroeder, and told them that I did NOT want to talk to a vet tech. The receptionist then had me leave a message on his voicemail — over my objections — where I specifically asked the Dr. to call me back. I received a call from the vet tech at 5:50 PM from the vet tech, who left a message. When I called back 5 minutes later, there were «not available». I told the receptionist that I called in the morning and requested to speak to the doctor not the vet tech and was then transferred to the Diana (the vet tech) who proceeded to tell me the doctor was out the whole week — even though the receptionist told me he was there today — and then proceeded to argue with me, until I finally hung up.
Now my dog has two days of medication he needs to stay alive, they refused to write a prescription when I ordered one from a pharmacy, and I have no way of getting my dog this medication.
I will never take any animal to that clinic ever again, even for an emergency.

I took my 155lb mastiff here when he wasn’t eating or drinking anything for a couple of days. They charged me nearly $ 800 dollars for a freaken xray that didn’t tell us crap. We waiting for hours and finally they just gave him fluids and sent us home?! I was so upset and called the next day and spoke to regular vet and he said, there was nothing in the xray and he didn’t have a blockage. Really? you couldn’t tell me this last night? i told him you have lousy emergency vets, they didn’t answer questions, they were insensitive and rude. I will never EVER go back and i do not recommend it. Don’t bother taking your pets there.

My mother’s cat was severely injured, and the cat needed to be treated right away. I called my mother’s regular veterinarian, but they were closed. Their voice message recommended Veterinary Specialists of South Florida (VSSF) for emergent situations, so I called and learned that it was a ²⁴⁄₇ emergency critical care animal hospital.
VSSF was very easy for my brother and me to find. One of the front office staff took the cat to the back immediately after we arrived.
After filling out paper work where I listed the cat as under both my mother’s and my custody, I was brought to one of the back examination rooms where a veterinary nurse took the cat’s history of present illness.
I then met the veterinarian, Kathleen Kersey, DVM, DACVECC, who confirmed the cat’s history. After she did a full examination, Dr. Kersey came back with her assessment and plan and estimate of costs.
The cat needed blood work, laceration repair under general anesthesia, pain medication and antibiotics. Surgery was done same day, and the cat was able to go home same day after recovering from anesthesia. Dr. Kersey gave me a discharge note that included a case summary, medication list with administration instructions and general home care instructions.
The cat’s follow-​up two weeks later for suture removal did not cost extra.
The emergency examination cost $ 94. From what I overheard in the reception area, the cost may differ if you are already one of their general practice clients or if you unaffiliated with a veterinarian. Their emergency examination pricing is not transparent.
From what I understand, once you agree to having your pet seen in an emergent situation, you agree to pay the emergency examination fee and whatever is required to stabilize your pet e.g. pain medication.
You have to pay at least half of the estimated cost in order for them to proceed e.g. surgical procedure, and payment needs to be made in full in order to receive your pet back.
Be forewarned that if you are referred from another veterinarian, you (yourself, not your pet) will not be taken as a general practice client unless your current veterinarian ends his or her practice. You may only go to VSSF for emergency critical care or specialty services after a referral.
Since we were referred, my mother and I are pretty much barred from being general practice clients for any other pets we may (ever) own because I’m pretty sure that my mother’s current veterinarian’s practice will outlive any of our current and/​or future pets.
That’s right, folks, it doesn’t even matter that I don’t use my mother’s veterinarian for my own pets. My name is on record as being referred.
They say this non-​competition clause is in the paperwork I completed and signed, but I honestly don’t recall reading it. I only recall the staff repeatedly asking me whether I was already being seen by their general practitioner or whether I was referred.
All in all, I would not hesitate to bring any pets to Dr. Kersey. Not only was she thorough, efficient and competent, she was friendly, caring and sympathetic. I cannot vouch for any other veterinarian at VSSF, though.
Despite being happy with and impressed by Dr. Kersey, I am only giving ⁴⁄₅ stars because I feel that the front office staff could be more proficient.

Came with a dog with minor pain. After they gave a shot with Pain medication we came back. Waited for 30 minutes with the dog almost dying they refused to see the dog even after we called 911.
The dog was sitting inside and chatting. We saw her when they opened the door.

Dr. Schroeder is a phenomenal vet and his staff is professional and helpful. My dog had CHF and Dr. Schroeder helped him live a happy, comfortable, long life by being very accessible and knowledgeable. I would recommend him to anyone – your pets are in good hands.

Came here on Christmas Day because my poor pup seemed to have some type of tummy bug. Deduct points right away though for the not very friendly receptionist. I understand, she probably wasn’t too happy about working on Xmas, but that’s no reason to be super rude. The doctor came in right away to see my pup, however, I have no idea what her name was. She too was not very happy to be working that day. She didn’t introduce herself and pretty much wanted me out of there the moment she laid eyes on me. I give 2 stars because my pup seems to be getting better as the days go by. I would never return to this place though and would look elsewhere should the situation arise.

Used this place a while back for my cat’s routine cardio appt.
Dr. Schroeder was GREAT. And I mean AMAZING.
Well priced, for cardiology.
Clean, nice facility.
That’s all, folks.