Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists

We have had 3 dogs at GCVS. Dakota was seen by Dr. Longshore(Neurology) great doc. Sabre who was with Dr. Amber Mc Alister(Critical Care) outstanding doctor. And the last one Joey who is now being seen by Dr Janet Carreras(Oncologist)another great doc. If your dogs/cats means the world to you and you feel like you can't live without them this is the place to take them if they need special care. Gulf Coast has doctors that are extremely educated in everything there is to know about your animal. Each one of these doctors have taken the time to sit down and explain step by step what is going on with your pet. They tell you step by step what they can do for your pet and how much it cost. They are expensive but it is well worth the money. They show such love and compassion for the caring of your pet. I tell everybody that I meet who has pets all about Gulf Coast and what a wonderful place it is. I would highly recommend this place. I give it 10 stars. It's the best place out there for your sick pets. One of the doctors even sent flowers to me after I had to put my dog Sabre down. I don't know too many doctors that do that. They treat your pets as if they were their own pets.
Very compassionate and caring people with huge hearts.
Sherry Hardoin
Magnolia,Texas

Posted 12/10/09 | Report Abuse

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The emergency staff perform unnecessary testing to run up the costs. They play on your emotion and your love for your pet. My advice is to use another emergency care group until your regular vet can take over. I'm not even sure there is a doctor in the emergency room. Lots of "Animal Techs" which is not what I want in a critical emergency and certainly not what they charge you for. They literally will unhook an IV if you are unable to pay their fees immediately. By the way in the State of Texas they cannot hold your pet until you pay them. Write your complaints to the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. I have had the same experience with Gulf Coast with 3 different animals. The specialists upstairs are qualified. The ER downstairs is a sad excuse of animal care.

Posted 12/08/09 | Report Abuse

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My German Shepherd dog, Ike, has a very bad case of hip dysplasia. One hip was all the way loose from the socket and the other hip is only in partially in the socket. The dog was diagnosed at about 7 months of age and went to see GCVS at about 15 months. Dr. Liska performed a total hip replacement surgery on the hip that was all the way out and my dog was walking on it the very next day. He is 3 weeks post op now and although he has about 7 more weeks of recovery ahead of him, he is feeling so good that I have to work hard to keep him down. He wants to run and play and doesn't understand that he can't - that's when the crate is a very handy "safe" place for him. I will/have recommended GCVS to anyone with a pet needing a specialist for major problems. All the people I have met there are very caring, compassionate people. They care about the pet as well as the person's peace of mind. They called me as soon as Ike was out of surgery to give me an update and the next morning to let me know he had a good night. Some say the are expensive but my dog's surgery wasn't any more there than at other places that I checked. My dog will have to have surgery again on the other hip sometime in the not so far future but I can rest at ease that when the time comes, he will be getting the best of care and treated with love and compassion. Thanks GCVS for the wonderful services you perform and the superb job that you do!

Posted 12/06/09 | Report Abuse

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GCVS is simply the absolute best surgical care center anywhere. Dr. Hottinger is warm and caring and such a skilled surgeon I would let her operate on me. I have had 3 cats treated there (2 for cancer) and I would never take my seriously ill pets anywhere else. For orthopedic injuries, Dr. Liska is the best. I know people whose pets have been in the Oncology dept and they were treated with the utmost kindness and respect. Dr. Fabiani did the radiation therapy on my cat with hyperthyroidism and I couldn't have asked for better care. The vets there know how much pets mean to those of us who go there. If you want cheap care go somewhere else...want state of the art care? Only GCVS offers that and yes, you pay for their skills. The difference between a medical center trauma hospital and a neighborhood clinic...no comparison.

Posted 07/30/09 | Report Abuse

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The female neurologist there is not worthy of being a vet, perhaps a masochist. In today's world you just don't know who you are dealing with from the doctor to the business and staff itself. She was rather rude during our first and last consult... she was twisting my geriatric dog around like a pretzel, at which I told her to stop at which she would then only pull harder on my dog. Since the visit my dog has not ate (2 days), nor went bathroom (#2) and she is barely moving around as if she is in major pain.With today's economy anything is possible and tactics may be many. Stare clear of these businesses; Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists especially. Find a smaller vet who cares about the well-being of the dog versus profits and money making schemes

Posted 02/24/09 | Report Abuse

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First, you must separate the GC Emergency Clinic from the GC Veterinary Specialists. They are NOT one and the same.
Simply stated, the Gulf Coast Animal Hospital vets saved my cat - twice. He was struck by a car, which resulted in a shattered rear leg. I was able to get him in the same day that our vet referred him, and surgery was performed that afternoon - a rather complicated surgery that our vet was unable to perform, requiring metal rods. A few days later, he developed swelling in his abdomen, above the leg. Our animal ER facility said it was a hernia, and so the next day we took him back to GC. They quickly diagnosed it as a life-threatening situation - fatty necrosis caused by the accident. He was put on antibiotics immediately, and we all cried - even the vet had tears in her eyes. He pulled through, and I can only give credit and deep gratitude to the doctors at Gulf Coast Animal Hospital. Through it all, they were available at all hours, compassionate, and just the very best!

Posted 01/17/09 | Report Abuse

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I was vey disapointed with the care my pet received at Gulf Coast Emergecy Clinic. The clerks to the Dr were very push for money up front and not very sympathetic. Then when I went to get my pet the next day it was obvious he had not been taken out to urinate. he pulled me outside and urinated for several minutes. The other sections of Gulf Coat are top notch and not associated with the emergency clinic on bottom floor. please take your pet to the 24 hr care facility at I-10 Bingle south side of Iten. then to Gulf Coast.

Posted 01/02/09 | Report Abuse

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This is a great place-- they took amazing care of my dog after he went to the ER and was diagnosed with pancreatitis. They did a great job looking after him-- and there were some scary moments-- but they did an even better job looking after me! We were really scared, but they kept us constantly informed and understanding of what was going on. I highly recommend!

Posted 12/08/08 | Report Abuse

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Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists are wonderful. I took my basset hound with cancer in his jaw and they treated him with kindness, compassion and great expertise. They are expensive but it is well worth the money to have my child for a few more good years without pain and suffering Dr. KIng and Gumpel are the best! .

Posted 12/06/08 | Report Abuse

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The oncology docs at GCVS were attentive, caring, sympathetic and (most of all) extremely knowledgable in their care of our Lab. She kept having problems that our regular vet could not pinpoint the cause of. He referred us to GCVS. Within an hour of having arrived, they pinpointed the issue. They knew who our dog was as we walked in the door - how much of a personalized service is that!?

Though there was nothing we could do because the cancer was in her heart (CANCER SUCKS), they afforded us the opportunity to make the right decision for her and keep her from suffering unnecessarily. We are ever grateful for GCVS for their care and compassion.

Posted 07/10/08 | Report Abuse

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I flew my Diet controlled diabetic cat all the way from VA to TX Gulf Coast Vet for a Hyper-Thyroid Scan and they fed Dry kibble food against my orders making him have to go back on insulin.

I gave them food to feed my boy... but they fed only 1 can in almost 3 days. For over 5 months I had him in remission and in 2 1/2 days they undid all of my efforts. If this was a human hospital and they fed ring-dings and crispy-cremes to a diabetic, it would be malpractice!! Dr. Fabiani had an unsympathetic and condescending attitude about the mistake. Never called back to even check on him.

I DO NOT recommend the Diagnostic Imaging Practice of Gulf Coast Vet. If they can't follow simply feeding requirements for a diabetic...what other harm might they cause?

I am hopeful with the help of YourDiabeticCat.com, that I will get him off insulin into remission again.

Posted 02/18/08 | Report Abuse

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We took our cat to see one of the oncologists here, and they were kind and compassionate. They helped us with palliative care for our cat. We called and bugged them a lot but they were very patient with us which was nice during our difficult time. It must be hard being a veterinary oncologist, but they do a great job and I'm very thankful for them.

Posted 02/05/08 | Report Abuse

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Gulf Coast is an emergency pet hospital open 24 hours. Their specialists are knowledgeable and treat the pets with love. Whether you go after hours or your vet refers you to them, your pet will receive state of the art medical treatment.

Cons: Expensive
Pros: Your pet is worth it!

Posted 12/23/07 | Report Abuse

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This facility is a specialist veterinary clinic that handles everything from pet surgery to neurology. They do everything major that your vet can't. My vet referred me here when my overactive puppy broke his leg. By no means is the care inexpensive but you are working with the top specialists out there. Also, they let you know how much you'll pay BEFORE treatment. My pet recovered in no time and I am simply amazed what they've done.

It's a little hard to get too but worth the trouble if you need their help. Hopefully, you won't but it's nice to know they are there.

Posted 10/05/05 | Report Abuse

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