VCA Abbott Animal Hospital

The vet who saw our kitty was nice, but the few times we’ve been in there, the front end staff has been very cold and rude. We stand at the counter to check in while everyone is running around behind the counter and nobody can be bothered to say «Hi someone will be right with you» and it seems that whatever it is we need, it’s a hassle. We just don’t feel welcome there and the only reason we even go there anymore is because the flea/​tick/​heartworm medicine we give our kitty can only be purchased at a vet office

I have brought my dog here two times. The first time was just a checkup, everyone seemed pleasant and things were ok. Brought my dog back for a vaccine for the second visit. Everything was fine, but I found if I asked questions about my dog with things such as parasite control medication the Vet seemed kind of condescending. Sorry, this is my first dog and I am asking you questions? The last experience I had with these people was over the phone. I am getting my dog spayed through a program with an ‘adoption, pet wellness and education center’ in the area. So far there hasn’t been a set surgery date, I have inquired about getting her checked out at the center before any surgery is to be scheduled, to make sure she is not in heat/​close to her time of the cycle (believe it or not it’s hard to tell with a small dog) and very dangerous to do the surgery around or on the time of heat. I wasn’t told anything regarding a blood test by the staff at the center, maybe the woman I spoke to was going to mention it when I brought my dog in for the exam or maybe she forgot, but I took this as they weren’t going to conduct a blood test here, so why not be prepared and schedule a blood test elsewhere so I can bring the results (if need be) to the surgery? I explained to the staff at VCA this situation and she rudely interrupted me and shortly said how I desperately needed to get blood work done, she spoke as if I was stupid and how dare I own a pet, kind of like she was appalled I didn’t know… so I told her, no I know this, hence why I am calling you inquiring to schedule one! She then asked ‘Well, has she been here before?” Mind you, on upon her answering the phone I stated ‘Hello, I was in last month with my dog…’. It seemed like she just tuned into to my conversation later on? Rude. I’m calling about a serious inquiry here, I care about my dog like a child, and I’d expect and appreciate some common courtesy and not condescending, rude, and apathetic behavior here. If you are working with animals and their owners all day, shouldn’t it be easier to show respect?
Also, it’s pretty expensive for a clinic that doesn’t even keep your animal with the same vet, just shuffled around like another number. Didn’t like it here, will definitely not be back. Save your money and go to a vet who will stay the same throughout your animal’s life so they can really get to know him/​her and maybe also staff that seems pleasant and happy to be working /​helping animals all day.

This place is expensive — but every place is. I thought my elderly dog was having a stroke: vomiting, falling down, whole side of his face fallen. Thought this was it and we would have to put him down. Dr. Halpert diagnosed him as potentally having Idiopathic «Old Dog» Vestibular Disease. Could be cured with antibiotics for deep inner ear infection. We took him home with meds and within a few days he was better. Within 2 weeks, he’s back to his happy self. She nailed it perfectly, and gave us more time with our little guy.

Yup, it’s expensive like they say. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the problem, cause our old vet in RI was similarly priced.
Our first visit was «free», but they made up for it by giving our dog a shot that he just got five months ago and didn’t need. Luckily, when we reviewed the papers and brought it to their attention, they said he’d be OK. A refund on the unnecessary duplicate shot would have been a better response.
The vet also cringed and tried to get out of squeezing his overactive anal glands by suggesting a groomer do it.
Our dog is also usually pretty chill at the vet, he likes going cause he likes to see all the other dogs. When he needs shots, they usually just distract him, give him a treat and give the shots. This time, they needed a few people to hold him. Not sure what the energy difference is between our old vet and this new one, but he wasn’t a fan. Somebody should have taught them the treat distraction trick.
Overall, I’m glad we’re moving back to RI in a few months and can resume a vet he likes.

Wow. I am shocked about the other reviews here.
I did not like one particular doctor and refused to have see my dog but she has not been there in over a year. The only reason I did not like her was because she insisted I was doing wrong by feeding my pet human food. I was feeding him chicken and rice when she was sick.
Every vet has encouraged this (and baby food). Since I made the switch the primary doctors has been dr. Pelligrini. Wonderful bedside manner and very knowable. Always pleasant, polite and answers all questions.
The staff has always been pleasant. They are always slow on check out, but that could be because the dogs want out now.
I had dr. Wang today. First time with her. Very polite and knowable. Answered all my questions.
I have always used a VCA location so I have comment on the pricing. I do love to use the care credit card. No interest financing for set months based on the amount owed. VCA Shrewsbury (no longer in existence) told me about it. Allows me to pay there bill in 3 – 5 months with no interest. Worth getting.

I have had mixed experiences of this place. I brought my rescue kitten here because it was where she had been spayed through WARL and WARL recommended them as the one they use. The first visit was very positive and I was very pleased with how we were treated. On the second visit, I had to wait 10 minutes at reception while the receptionist talked to her co-​worker about personal business unrelated to work. When she came to the desk she asked me to fill out paperwork since I hadn’t been there before (we had). She then asked what breed my cat was. I said, I wasn’t sure but lifted the cage — she said [seriously, not joking] ‘she looks like the devil’. Which I didn’t appreciate. [The kitten is chocolate brown with amber eyes and a real sweetie at home, but I will be up front that the kitten is a bit wiggly, but then they all are and I’ve never had issues with other kittens at other vets in this way.] The vet on this visit was different than the first. I’ve owned pets (mostly cats) for 35 years and this vet seemed out of her depth. I don’t mind new vets, it’s just this one seemed lacking in self confidence. She and her assistant seemed unable to handle the kitten so that it was controlled — she seemed afraid of the kitten. So much so that they allowed her to fall off the examining table. I had asked for them to assist with shaving her hair on her hind quarters around her bum, and they brought in clippers that were running out of charge — making the process very difficult. This coupled with the inability for them to calm the cat made this a very stressful event for me and the kitten. The kitten didn’t really get shaved except for a huge chunk of fur cut out of her leg which happened as she fell off the table and looks very odd. They fed her while this was happening (never seen this before) and when she landed on the floor, the food landed on top of her. I had to rescue her from the corner off the office as she trembled cowering under a chair. I also asked for the nails to be clipped. The vet took a millimeter off each tip — that same day the nails were still sharp, so her effort was a waste. Two injections were given, the first was done well, the second seemed very awkwardly executed and painful to the kitten. Then upon leaving I had to wait 5 minutes for the same receptionist to finish a call to her car mechanic and then another 5 minutes while she told her colleague all about it.
It was an extremely poor visit and based on the quality of the nail clipping and coat clipping in relation to the price charged, I am very displeased. Maybe I caught the place on a bad day with the wrong staff (the first visit was without fault, but all the staff were different). But at the end of the day the kitten was extremely distressed on the ride home due to her ordeal, which distressed me — and we just shouldn’t be leaving a vet in that state after spending $ 100.

We’ve used Abbott for several years, but I think we’re done with them for a couple of reasons:
The first is price. They are quite expensive, and I completely understand that vets go through lots of training and need to be adequately compensated for their services. I get that and support that. However, Abbott’s prices are more than what other area vets are. I wouldn’t mind paying, if it weren’t for the second reason.
The second reason is the much, much more serious one. My 10 year old, otherwise healthy, happy neutered cat, has diabetes. His spayed sister is on the tipping point. I used Purina cat food with them when they were little because that’s what I used growing up. It’s made in the US, so there’s less risk of poison in the food. However, my girl cat started getting regular, seasonal UTIs. Abbott, after several visits totaling several hundred dollars, told me it was the food. Well, to be honest, that makes sense. Why not? Junk food = illness. So I started paying about $ 30/​month for their Hill’s Prescription Diet brand cat food. It’s widely available, but only by prescription. You CANNOT purchase it without one. That and its strong recommendation by the vet must mean it’s good, right? It’s actually approved by someone, somewhere, who knows more than me!
Well, it DID clear up the seasonal UTIs, probably owing (as I now know) to a lower ash content than what’s in the supermarket food. However, its high corn content caused diabetes. Diabetes, as it turns out, is not a naturally occurring disease in cats or dogs. Rates of pet diabetes are skyrocketing in this country because we are stuffing corn down the mouths of carnivores. My male cat went from 17 pounds to 20, then dropped to 11.6 and has been peeing rivers. I now have to give him insulin injections twice a day. It’s been fun researching where I can go in Worcester to drop off a box of sharps and how to give injections. No, really.
I trusted Abbott to take care of my pets, and they didn’t. The only good news here is that my new vet clearly knows more than Abbott’s, and often, switching to healthy, species-​appropriate food can cure a cat to where they don’t need the insulin anymore. Which would be good, because that’s going to be about $ 200-​$ 300 a year. Ironically, the non-​prescription, biologically-​appropriate food made by a small family company is $ 3.60 a pound and the mass-​produced, much-​hyped Hill’s is $ 3.75 a pound, but that’s mostly ’cause vets get a huge kickback for every bag they sell. I haven’t called Abbott yet to tell them why I won’t be back. Between work, the new vet appointment yesterday and running around today trying to get all this stuff, they haven’t been open when I’ve had a free moment. I can’t imagine they’d admit to knowing that their recommended food isn’t healthy, though. Who would?

I made an appointment for my cat after finding this place online. After I made the appt. I noticed (at the bottom of their online ad) that the first visit was free. Assuming the girl I spoke with wasn’t aware of this, I called back and said“I just noticed…” she finished with «the 1^st appt. is free?». When I got there I explained that my budget was so tight that I could only do (at this visit) the most important things, like ONE vaccine, or LIMITED lab work, and that I would come back in 2 weeks for the rest-​as they have NO payment plans. They proceeded to try to charge me for every thing at once, including things my cat didn’t even need (they assumed I knew nothing about animal care… wrongly), INCLUDING the first visit! They want your money so badly, that they’re borderline decietful about it! As an added bonus, my brother recently told me about a vet. who was supposed to do a teeth-​cleaning on HIS dog, and instead PULLED 2 teeth (without his knowledge or concent) and then CHARGED him for it! Guess who it was??? You guessed it! VCA Abbott!

Abbott has been my vet/​kennel for my dog for about 5 years now. I love the people here. The front desk people are always happy, friendly and very helpful. The docs have always been sweet to my doggie and every time he is kenneled there he gets to stay in the front office as the pet of the day (if he’s been a good boy)!
The two things that stood out to me was:
1) when Ozzie needed a kennel cough before being boarded, he was throwing a fit because it’s a spray that goes up his nose and he didn’t want anything to do with that. So instead of tying him down and traumatizing the poor thing, they opted to give him the shot instead. They normally don’t like to give the shot as the spray is easier to give.
And 2) another time I needed to board him, I was waiting with him out in the waiting area and one of the assistants came out and immediately said Ozzie! how are you boy? and one of the doctors came out of another room and called him by name as she walked by… I think that impressed me sooo much that I mentioned it to the receptionist how nice it is that they know their patients by name.
The prices are slightly higher I think than most animal hospitals but I love that they are 2 blocks away and I love that they know my doggie that well. Kudos to Abbott!!!