Austin Vet Care

I brought my dog in here last week for a senior wellness visit. I was extremely pleased at how they took care of my baby and me. Everybody was helpful and kind. I'm glad to know that I have a 24 hour clinic that I can count on anytime I need medical care for my baby.

Posted 11/05/09 | Report Abuse

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I took my cat to Austin Vet Care on Metric when she started having breathing problems. They sent me on a wild goose chase to various doctors that eventually landed me down at A&M for thousands of dollars in testing when I could have gotten the same service from a local specialist at a fraction of the cost and time. They weren't associated with the local specialist. One of them is a professor at A&M, though.

Posted 08/28/09 | Report Abuse

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I have to agree with all these comments. Austin Vet Care are professional UPSELLERS! The best part of that hospital is Nancy Callaway. She is the best doctor I have encountered. I just hate how greedy the hospital can be. Beware if going there. They will try to sell you the anything and everything they've got. Decline. Keep it simple. Treat only what you know needs treating. Save the huge vet bills for an emergency.

Posted 07/21/09 | Report Abuse

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That's EXACTLY what you should expect when you enter this place. They only see your animals as profit, and they will do everything in their power to make their clients vulnerable and persuade them to take tests that AREN'T EVEN NEEDED!

Not only did they MISDIAGNOSE my dog's symptoms, but they kept pushing me to sign up for their STUPID CREDIT CARDS so they can have a reason to JACK YOUR MONEY.

Hardly compassionate.

Posted 03/09/09 | Report Abuse

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I think this place is great!!!! I have to admit though, my story is a bit embarrassing due to the fact that I took on a puppy and dont really have the financial means to take care of him when he gets sick. I should have thought of this before I took him on.

My puppy of only 3 months became very sick with vomiting and diarrhea, I called this hospital and it was recommended that I bring him in for an exam with the vet. I told the lady on the phone that I was a little worried about the amount of money this could cost She said that the doctor would give my pup an exam and then I would be given an estimate before anything was done. I was fine with this and asked for directions and came in that night. When I got there I was checked into an exam room where a tech came in asked me many questions, I was a bit annoyed because I knew I was going to answer all the same questions when the doctor came in, but I understood. The tech also gave me material to read on parvo, which was what they thought my puppy had. After about 20 minutes the doctor came in and examined my puppy and told me that she thought he might have parvo. She explained in more detail what my puppy was facing with this illness and what I would be facing cost wise. Shortly after her stepping out of the exam room a tech came in with an estimate for a parvo test I said yes and with-in 10 minutes I was told that it was positive. My heart sank, because I knew I was not going to have the money to treat him. I was given an estimate for about 3 or 4 days of care and it was about $1500 -2000, I asked the tech if there was anything else I could do, because I did not have money for this. They tried the best they could to work with me, but I just did not have the money to treat my puppy. The tech did explain several different options to me and one of them was home treatment, which I still did not have the money for. So I told them that I was going to have to take him home and call some family to help me if possible. So to help me and my puppy out they gave him fluid under his skin which would only help for a little while if at all and gave him a couple of other injections and did not even charge me for them WOW! I was so grateful, because they did not have to help me at all especially since I was a little rude to the tech at the beginning of our visit and they didnt even hold it against me.
I later came back with very little money, which did not cover the entire cost of the take home treatment. I asked them if they could give me just half of what they wanted to send me with, but my money still did not cover it, but the tech came into the exam room and told me that they were going to send me with everything I needed and to not worry about the rest and said the $100 I had was fine. I started to cry I was so grateful to them for helping me and my puppy when they didnt have too. It has been three weeks now and he is doing great, it was very scary for several days, I was not sure that he was going to make it. I came back in for a check-up and got him started on his vaccinations which were only $10; if I had only done this in the first place he may not have gotten sick to begin with. You live and learnhopefully

As I got on this site to write a review, I have to admit I did read the other reviews, some are good and some are not so good, but the way I see it is THERE IS ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO VERY STORY and if they helped me and my puppy the way they did, I find it hard to believe that, the not so good reviews are really even a 50% true, but again THERE IS ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY. All I know is that I will forever be grateful, they will be my vet, and I will tell as many people as I can of their great efforts!

Posted 01/08/09 | Report Abuse

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Long story short: I paid $254 for a vet to tell me that a cat peed itself.
I volunteer to TNR (Trap and release) feral cats. After trapping, I take cats the to Austin Humane Society (AHS), they spay/neuter, vet, test & 'tag' the cat, then I release it back to the colony after it has recovered.
I picked up 15 cats last week (5x more than usual due to the urgency of the conditions of the cats combined with freezing weather).
One of the cats, which was being held for care/recovery by another volunteer was not doing well, so was taken to this vet (which is procedure per the program). The caretaker thought the cat was injured due to being spayed.
The vet's initial exam 'confirmed' what the caretaker thought, that the surgery at AHS, punctured an internal organ. Due to this, they called me to authorize payment SPECIFICALLY for the repair surgery 'required'. I talked to the Dr. and told her, "I am 40 miles away, but thought that the cat just peed itself under stress." The Dr. countered that no, corrective surgery is required asap.
Fortunately, before surgery they realized the cat only peed itself, but stuck me with the cost of the errant surgery prep of the cat.
My point, is that the initial exam, $46 on the bill is legitimate, the rest of the bill, surgery prep was not required. I understand mistakes will happen, but OWE up to them, especially if you are a professional, they charged me for their mistake and refuse to return my phone calls. DONOT trust your pets health to these crooks.

Posted 12/16/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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On a Sunday morning, our regular vet was closed, we realized we couldn't see our 17 year old kitty suffer any more. We took him to Austin Vet Care and they were so understanding and could not have been more compassionate. We wanted to bury him at home and they gave us a box and towel. A difficult process was made much easier. Thank you.

Posted 02/17/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Honestly, since the nice and peaceful smell I perceived when we got there was already good but the receptionists and Dr were then great persons that really cared for the pain that me and my little kitten were going through.

I don't think I can ever find a place that is really interest of making us feel so good when having health problems with a beloved one. I think is a neat place with good prices and the 24 hrs open is just what makes me feel secure and backed up. I totally recommend this practice and its services.

Posted 09/29/07 | Report Abuse

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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When my dogs collapsed at home, this is the place I took him to. Everyone was very attentive and passionate. I was able to ask a lot of questions and get answers that satisfied me. Some may think this place is expensive, but the care that my animal, I had no problem with price. Besides, money is replaceable, best friends aren't.

As for my dog, he's 100% better. They are pretty positive he had an allergic reaction to something. But, since I don't know what he got into, it could be anything. But, the fact is he's a lot better and I have this place to thank.

Posted 08/10/07 | Report Abuse

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Austin Vet Care--- They care about your money, not your pet

Looking for a new vet? I was. Im new to town and I needed a local vet for my 3 year old dog. I chose Austin Vet Care at Central Park because a rescue group referred them to me and it was conveniently located at 41st@ N. Lamar. I was a little surprised at the $46 new client exam fee and fecal sample request that I was quoted and asked to bring in over the phone. I called both of my previous vets in different cities a few days in advance and asked them to fax my records to Austin Vet Care at Central Park. My previous vets said they sent them over, but when I got there, the records were not there. The girls at the front desk suggested I proceed with my exam and they would watch for the records to come through. The vet, Dr. Nancy Callaway was very nice and friendly as she weighed my dog, petted her, and chatted with me for about 2-3 minutes. Dr. Callaway said she could not proceed with the exam until she received the records. I waited in the front waiting room for nearly 30 minutes while the girls tried to get the fax machine to accept my incoming records. Finally I had to leave to go back to work.

I asked to reschedule when they actually had all of my dogs records on file, but they said I would need to pay the $46 again, even if the appointment was just a few days later. Remember: Im a new client and I am just here because I am trying to be responsible and find a vet before I actually need one. My dog just went to the vet a few months ago and was in great health and does not need any shots. One of the girls at the front desk checked with her manager and she verified that it would now cost me $93 to become a new client. ($46 for this visit and $46 to reschedule it) Thats outrageous. I guess they dont want new or repeat business.

Additionally, I think that the front desk girls are paid commission on clients bills. They seem to be trained like used car salesmen or sly waiters who persuade people in to services that they dont actually need or realize they are paying for. For example, in my phone call to schedule the appointment, the receptionist asked me to bring in a fecal sample because the vet needed it for my first exam. Once I was there, the vet asked me why I brought it in. She said that that is not normal for a new client exam and that it was an extra fee, but since I already had it in she could go ahead and test it. I asked the vet how much and she said she could not talk about fees with me. I declined. My dog recently had a fecal exam at the last vet.

Also, since the records that 2 different vets were faxing in throughout the previous days, still could not be received, one of the front desk girls actually suggested that I just get all new tests done on my dog! At my expense, of course. I again, declined this fee.

One of the front desk girls called me about 4 hours after my appointment and said that the faxes finally came through. She said she would talk to the office manager, Gordi, and see if I could reschedule my appointment since the vet didnt really do anything. The girl did not return my call, so I called back the next day and asked when I could come back in. To my surprise, and also to the nice girl on the phone, Gordi was just concerned with making money off of me! Gordi refused to refund my credit card or to let me reschedule because the vet saw my dog. Literally, the vet looked at and petted her and weighed her. Thats it! I was billed for an Examination but the vet didnt examine anything. And the only reason my dog saw the vet was because the girls upfront told me to do so while they waited for my records.

In hindsight, I appreciate Gordi at Austin Vet Care for giving me such an unpleasant first experience. Now that I see that the animal hospital Gordi runs is primarily concerned with making extra money off of its clients, I wont be back. This experience likely saved me a lot of future tests, procedures, products, etc. that their vets sales people would just be persuading me into so they can make money off of me.

I was referred to Austin Vet Care of Central Park (located at 41th@ N. Lamar) by a local rescue group. Maybe they give rescue groups a good deal, but they seem to make up the money by charging very expensive fees for their services to the rest of their clients.

Posted 08/08/07 | Report Abuse

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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$5 for one pair of disposal gloves, almost $50 for 30 ml of antibiotic, a pain patch the drove the cat crazy for $43.79, 2 injections (didn't say what for) $74, lance and drain 1 abscess $100, what a deal!! Took the cat the her regular Vet after this emergency and they told me how Animal Emergency Hospital was known for their ridiculously expensive charges. I can attest to this personally, NEVER AGAIN!

PROS: can't think of any
CONS: basic gouge'em prices

Posted 09/23/06 | Report Abuse

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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The vets here (I can't remember which one I had, she was a female with long-ish brown hair) saved my cat's life. She stayed over the weekend and they let me come visit her and give her special food. I would go there again.

PROS: nice, caring, knowledgable
CONS: none

Posted 09/18/06 | Report Abuse

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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