VCA Venice Boulevard Animal Hospital

They take great care of my pet. From the front reception desk to the back, they are friendly to my pet and me. The Vet will «highly» recommend a procedure (like Dental work) but will not push and offer at home options, if they can. I am the one who only comes in for the yearly check-​ups/​shots and the Vet still remembers what we talked about (regarding the pet) from a year ago.
They offer coffee, water and tea while you wait. And, of course, treats for your pet. And, love that they first ask «Mom» or «Dad» if they can give your pet a treat.

love the staff and docs :) right next to dog bakery!

I did not check Unilocal before coming to this facility because I am old school, which means I don’t necessarily care what other people say about a business. I am on Unilocal now because I loved this place. My dog was having some problems with her eye. My wife found VCA and set up the appointment. Dr. Farrar took care of my dog and satisfied my concerns with Vets in general. My experience with my previous Vet was explained to her and her staff and I give them ‘5’ stars. You need to set expectations with any business that you use or get services from. Special Kudo’s to David and Faith at the front desk for making me feel welcomed. Christy was also very caring and professional. I highly recommend taking you pet to this clinic.
I don’t write a lot of Unilocal reviews but this review was my pleasure to write.
Thank you to the staff and Dr. Farrar.

I first came here about 3 years ago when I first moved down to LA. I couldn’t say enough good things about the vets here. My dog was about 13 when I brought her in for a routine check up, Dr. Farrar and Dr. Kitchen have always done a great job since then. They are very thorough, caring, patient, and make sure they take the time to explain everything. They always called to check up on my dog, answer questions, and talk about any additional concerns. Having an elderly dog, I’ve made quite a few trips VCA in the last few years and have never been disappointed. My old girl wasn’t the fastest dog around after 16 years and the staff was always so patient and kind with her. Thank you so much to the VCA Venice for everything!

If we could give more than five stars we would. Dr. Evans saw both of our dogs Bella and Katy just now. She was so kind and loving. She talked about each of the dogs health and possible treatments we may want or need in the future. No hard sell that is sometimes commonplace in a vet’s office because you feel so guilty if you don’t say yes to everything. She took her time with the girls to make them comfortable with her. The front staff was equally as nice. VCA is a chain clinic but it felt like a mom and pop place. Thank you Dr. Evans

We’ve consistently had good experiences here, but today –our first time seeing Dr. Farrar– was definitely the best. We brought in both our cats, who have very different personalities, and she dealt with both of them perfectly. Our bigger boy, Winston, got feisty, and she got down on the floor with him to pet him and make him feel comfortable.
Also, the front desk staff is always very friendly and welcoming. They said it was nice meeting our «babies!» Perfect

I got a 12-​year-​old cat at the Santa Animal Animal Shelter and was given a certificate for a first exam at VCA. The vets, front desk staff and vet assistants are all very kind, caring and professional. He was quite sick when I got him and VCA was very patient and compassionate — Dr. Farrar took a lot of time explaining everything to me so that I understood all the options and her recommendations. And after six weeks he was finally healed of an upper respiratory infection that he had been dealing with for many months.
While he was still a bit sick, I had to go out of town for two nights and boarded him here since he was still on medication. I was worried it would be a bit traumatizing as he’d been in the shelter for months, but they let him stay in the treatment area in a dog condo so that he had activity and people around and more space than he would have had in the cat boarding area. They encouraged me to call as many times as I wanted to check in on him and when I picked him up he was happy as could be.

A great place to bring your pets.
People are very friendly.
Very good doctors. Especially Doctor Au.
She saved my Beagle Sugar Rays life, and did her teeth cleaning.
They take Care Credit Card. This is a credit card for pets, dental, cosmetics. Etc.
they take senior discount.
The VCA hospital in West Los Angeles, has everything you need for surgery, exists on the premises, exams. Is a very huge facility.
They are also, very gentle
Our Sugar Ray is a rescue from Cheyenne, Wyoming
We have had her since 2004.
We have been going to VCA since we have her.

Dr. Farrar has taken very good care of my two dogs since they joined us from the rescue. The staff is so kind and professional at all times.

I can’t say enough bad things about this vet. One star is too many. I’ll start with the worst. My cat was sick so I brought her in. First, the vet took one look at my baby and asked if I wanted to do tests or euthanize. OF COURSE I wanted to do tests. However, long story short, she was much sicker than I knew, and needed to be put to sleep. I was hysterical, and the vet asked me «why didn’t you notice her symptoms sooner?». SERIOUSLY? They were invisible symptoms. Also, you’re going to shame me at my lowest, while I’m losing my baby? Unbelievable. It’s been almost a month and I’m just now calm enough to even write this review. $ 750 and nothing but pain later, I’ll never deal with these horrible vets again.
But honestly, I should have known not to bring my baby here. My husband and I brought our other cat here a year ago. He was listless, not eating, and just generally acting odd. They did over $ 1,000 in tests and then told us nothing was wrong except IBD and a minor heart murmur. They also sold us $ 250 in meds. His new vet looked at his results from the visit and told us that both diagnoses were WRONG! He was purring, not a heart murmur, and the IBD test was inconclusive. Turns out he had kidney problems that they somehow missed. How can multiple vets at the same office be so bad across the board?
The only reason we went back was that they are open when no other regular vet is. However, we recently found out that the local ²⁴⁄₇ emergency vet down Sepulveda is about half as expensive and a million times kinder and more competent.
Never bring your pet here.
I will say that the front desk staff is very nice, as are the techs. However, don’t let that convince you that this office is any good.

I have taken my pets here for 10 years. Generally the service is good but recently I think they have restructured their approach, like my in the medical field, to focus on profitable procedures and more pushy practices. I can’t afford a $ 500 check up on two animals with nothing much wrong other than a couple of shots. They pushed hard for me to buy pet insurance from them and billed me incorrectly as well, adding to the already large bill. I won’t go back. The services at another vet were easily 10−20% cheaper. It really says something that there are so many only 5 star reviews. That looks like nonsense to me.

The absolute worse VCA there is. The positive reviews are completely deceptive. This business is more concerned about making an extra buck than the health of your beloved pets. This is certainly the case when we took our dog here for a check up. They like to use fear mongering to sell their services. My dog happens to be perfectly fine, but when he had a tummy ache they wanted to do two scans and a blood test. We all suspected he was just having a thanksgiving belly ache but of course that doesn’t = $ for them. We took him to another VCA and the vet just honestly told us that he would be fine and gave him a shot for nausea.
They also have their own «insurance package» they push on you to insure that your pet gets 5 check ups covered and if you don’t go with it they make you feel like a second class citizen.
If you call for anything the front house staff is super short and rude and condescending. Have a question to ask? They rather you book an appt and pay the $$$. Have a prescription for flea medication transferred from another VCA? This location doesn’t accept it, you will need to reschedule a check up and pay $$$.
Do not support businesses that value the dollar more than lives. These kinds of business ruin humanity.

Dr. Goldman is an exceptional care provider. A dear friend recommended him to us, and I am so very glad we followed her advice. He is professional, knowledgeable, empathetic, and perhaps most important to me: KIND. Dr. Goldman has a wonderfully gentle, nurturing mien. We regard our 2 cats as our (furry) children, and so it is really important to us to work with a veterinarian who treats our cats with respect and kindness. Dr. Goldman has a quiet, attentive manner; he was never brusque or rushed. He answered my questions patiently — he truly seems to enjoy helping people learn about pet health, using language and terms I could understand. These characteristics are so very important, especially when you are feeling vulnerable and scared about your pets!
And I should note that my favorite part of the visit was as follows… The purpose of the visit was to have our one cat, Boots, evaluated as part of her follow-​up care to a recent emergency room visit. I took both of our cats to the appointment today (our cats don’t like to be separated). He examined Boots and we finished discussing her care plan. Dr. Goldman then came over to meet Boots’ sister. He talked to her and pet her. That he took the time to meet our other cat, even though there was no medical indication to do so, meant a lot to me. He understands that recognizing, acknowledging, validating, appreciating ALL pets is important, that each pet counts and that it is important to treat our pets with respect. In so doing, he honors the animals who give us so much.
Dr. Goldman gets it. He practices love and kindness. He is a healer, and he is really really nice. We are so glad we found him.

I absolutely LOVE the VCA in Venice. I moved from Atlanta, GA about a year ago and used to take my dog to VCA back home. I was really happy to find out VCA’s are everywhere out here. However, anyone who owns a pet knows it can be a journey to find a vet that you and your pet are fond of. The minute I walked into this location with my dog, I immediately had a sense of good vibes. The entire staff is incredibly nice. Maria took such great care of my dog and was very sweet, gentle and caring. My dog is extremely friendly but rarely fond of the actual veterinarians she meets. When Dr. Goldman entered the room, my dog instantly took to him and felt very comfortable. She was still very nervous but Dr. Goldman was so good with her and I knew my dog was in great hands.
I was certain this was the vet for us. From the moment we walked in, to the moment we left, we were treated with upmost care and respect and I could tell that the employees at this VCA location truly care about what they do and the animals they meet.
I will be taking my dog to this location from now on and would highly recommend this VCA to anyone else who is looking to switch their vet or may be on a hunt for a good one.
Special thanks Maria and Dr. Goldman! My dog and I appreciate you very much :)

This is a negative review about VCA Venice’s rescue adoption policies. Our family lost a beloved kitty a month ago. Our son, who has profound autism, told us he wanted a blue kitten.
A friend sent us to VCA Venice where she had seen a Russian Blue rescue kitty in a cage by the door. My wife and son came by, spoke with staff, and spent a half hour in an examination room bonding with the kitten. My wife filled out a lengthy, invasive application. The next day, I went by and spent three-​quarters of an hour with the kitten. I sent pictures of the kitten to my son who was overjoyed. Staff told me a doctor would review the application the very next day.
The next day, we were told for the first time that several other people were interested in the kitten and a decision would be made over the weekend. I told the vet how, not being told anything about a bidding war, my son’s expectations had been raised and, due to his disability, not getting the kitten would hurt him deeply. My concerns were coldly met with, «Your berating me is not helping your chances.»
Chances. My son’s expectations and trust are not a lottery. If we had known there was a competition, we would never have led him to believe we would be bringing the kitty home. The coldness toward his disability was nothing short of cruel. I would not want this vet to take care of my animals.

Dr. Goldman is a sweet and kind person. He is very easy to speak to regarding Scrappy’s health concerns. I appreciate the love he offers to my baby boy. Bertha is the best at her position in the hospital and they are very lucky to have her on their team. Gloria is the best at reception, her knowledge and compassion for animals and people make the visit a happy one.

I have officially gone to VCA for the last time.
A few years ago I got mad b/​c one of the doctors after hearing about my cats one day of puking and slight variance in blood work left a VOICE MAIL that had the word «cancer» in it 15+ times… scared me into over $ 2500 worth of tests… cat was fine. was never an issue. every test they run leads to «yup it’s confirmed that he needs more tests»
Today (7÷31÷15) I took my cat in… diarrhea and throwing up a few times this week. I specifically TOLD Dr. Goldman that he had had some dairy so it was likely lactose intolerance (which you can find as an obvious side effect everywhere on the web). instead of saying — yes, let’s monitor for a few days and if he’s better, it’s no big deal… NO they did not even ask follow up questions.
they used the old stand by «well, i’m going to recommend what I would do for MY cat» as if only vets are good pet owners… classic effing guilt trip. «you know if you love your cat you will do these tests’
they came back in with a list of recommended tests that totaled OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
three shots, 2 x rays, 5 blood tests, urine test, stool sample, professional opinion fee.
YOU GUYS SUCK!!! I“M NEVER COMING BACK.

I had to bring my small terrier mix here after an unfortunate incident with a large dog’s mouth and my little guy’s head. It is a Sunday, and my normal vet is not open. I thought for sure the stitches that I thought he was going to need we’re going to cost an arm and a leg. I explained to the very nice lady (Sam) at the front desk that I would like to keep costs as low as possible and they did just that. The recommended staples instead of stitches to keep costs down and sent us home with Antibiotics for a total of 70 bucks.
Thanks for taking such good care of my little guy

Our first visit went well. the vet and all the girls at the desk were really nice and seemed to have a genuine care for the well being of the animals they treated. I had inherited a 3 year old dog and needed to take him in for a check up and to begin the process of getting him registered. Later in the day, I received an email thanking me for bringing him in and informing me that the tests they ran showed no signs of ill health.
Fast-​forward to one month later, I found myself back at the vet after noticing blood in my pups urine. He was noticeably in pain and was dripping blood in both the waiting room and doctors office. After x-​rays revealed a major blockage due to an abundance of bladder stones, I was told that there were more tests to be done, but I didn’t have the funds available so I was given anti inflammatory medication and made plans to secure the funds and schedule another appointment for three days later and was told we should be fine until then. I had also requested for him to have his anal glands cleared, but was told that since I didn’t have enough to perform all the tests, they decided not to. Which seemed a bit rude to me as my dog was in pain and any relief would’ve been welcomed.
The day before our follow up appointment, I had to leave work early after my roommate found my dog shaking and disoriented. We ended up taking him to a 24-​hour care center where after doing their own x-​ray showing the same blockage, the doctor there said that surgery needed to be done ASAP. No further tests needed, he knew exactly what needed to be done and just how urgent the situation was. After a small procedure was done to stabilize his condition, I was given a list of hospitals who could perform the surgery the next morning. I called the VCA and left them a message explaining what had happened and that we would not be able to make it to our next appointment. No one from the office ever returned my call or attempted to contact me in any way.
Thankfully, I found a vet in echo park who was able to perform the surgery and save my dogs life. All payments were required up front and was taken care of via credit card, which is exactly what would have happened to begin with if I had been properly informed of my dogs condition a few days earlier and not rushed out of the office because I didn’t have money for tests that weren’t even needed.
I was recommended to the VCA by a friend who took her dog there before she left the area, but I cannot make that same recommendation to anyone else, and I hope this review helps all pet owners considering bringing their loved ones in for treatment.

We have been coming to VCA Venice Boulevard Animal Hospital for 3 years. Everyone is helpful and kind here. But today we met DR. ROBERT GOLDMAN for the first time. We had brought our 11 year old Amstaff in for some pretty serious behavior issues. We were super concerned and nervous about what our options were.
Dr. Goldman is amazing, he listens and is super compassionate and gentle. I like his approach and feel he is with us on this journey with our senior dog. He is a good man and a wonderful Doctor.