Insider Pages Reviews for Sunset Cliffs Animal Clinic

5 Stars: As good as a vet can be (by Mark L.)

Mark L. — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:01:00 GMT

First of all I would like to say that I do not have any affiliation with sunset cliffs animal hospital and am writing this review on my own accord. Some of the previous reviews I have read are most definately skewed and are most likely from people who are just hard to please. My wife and I have been taking our dog to Sunset Cliffs Animal Clinic for about 2 years and we couldn't be happier. We have an english bulldog and there are numerous vets close by where we live. But we are glad to drive further for this caliber of care. We have been mostly seeing Dr. Berg who is a superb vet with a fabulous personality and extreme passion for what she does. Anyone who doesn't see this has their eyes shut. We have also seen Dr. Acosta and he is also a great vet with excellent bedside manners as well. The staff is as upbeat and positive as can be and we always feel welcome upon arrival all the way to paying the bill. The flow of getting into the appointment to seeing the vet to checking out is extremely smooth and professional. Also, they just moved into a beautiful new facility over the past week. They have tons of clients. It's for a good reason. They care and are dedicated professionals. With as busy as they are we never feel rushed or that our dog is overlooked in any way. Their prices are extremely reasonable and we have never felt taken advantage of or gouged in any way. For this I am most appreciative to have found our dogs vet for life . . .

1 Stars: Cold hearted money hungry vets (by Jen M.)

Jen M. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:39:00 GMT

Don't waste your time here. Had a very bad experience after being a loyal patient for over a year. Was given a quote for a tooth procedure then after a week of waiting to get in we finally dropped our dog off today. About an hour later we received a call saying they made a mistake on the quote, which was already $350! and that the new quote is now $556!?! We were obviously frustrated, and asked them to at least meet us half way here since it was their mistake and our dog is now there for the procedure. Instead they were rude saying no and that we should just go somewhere else! Their vet tech said fine we can do it for $350, but your dog won't be sedated!! Very smart comment to make when clearly we are already frustrated. I asked so you are willing to lose two patients essentially over $100? Dr. Berg had no answer and said that maybe we should just go elsewhere and to come pick up my dog and hung up on me.... Clearly they are in this for money and not the well being of animals. Your pet deserves better than this, go some where else.

4 Stars: Perfect for those "little" visits (by Katharine B.)

Katharine B. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:40:00 GMT

I visited the Sunset Cliffs Animal Clinic for the first time this past year and found my experience to be a pleasant one. They were professional, nice staff that showed genuine interest in my two cats. I have not been going there long or for anything major, but their services seemed to be reasonable. One of my cats is very skittish and doesn't like people, yet they were able to handle her and keep her calm. The payment of services provided is due before you leave the office, which I guess is a good thing because then they can't charge you more than quoted. I would recommend this facility for anyone who lives in the area. It is small and cramped but perfect for those "little" visits.

5 Stars: Great care even till the end for my dog Bear (by john l.)

john l. — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:13:00 GMT

I'm writing this a bit misty eyed as today was the last day for my old boy, a big shepherd/lab mix named Bear. Sunset Cliffs Animal Hospital has seen him numerous times in his life and I found their service top notch, and very reasonable. Desk staff was always professional and accomodating, even with instances of tardiness they were gracious. Today after a very thorough examination by Dr. Annette Behrman, and carefully weighing the options she presented, we decided to let him pass to a more restful place. I know his last minutes were peaceful in the hands of their kind staff.
Over the last three or so years we visited regularly for checkups and I cannot recall any time when I didn't feel my dog wasn't in good hands, and never did I get the feeling that a bill was being "run up" like I've heard about some veterinary hospitals. I highly recommend them for your pet too.

5 Stars: First rate vets! (by karin m.)

karin m. — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:33:00 GMT

Both of my dogs have been patients of Dr. Berg's for about four years. I live most of the year up in the Bay Area. I actually drive my dogs down to San Diego to see Dr. Berg - she's that good. I've found her to be extremely knowledgeable on recent developments and studies in veterinary care, and an all around fabulous vet. Both of my dogs are neurotic: she deals with them wonderfully: i trust her care and medical advice completely and can not say enough good things about her, as well as the rest of the office.
They have also been reasonable in their charges and they are honest in their assessments and recommendations.

1 Stars: Not Good (by Dogcat L.)

Dogcat L. — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:40:00 GMT

I have taken my pets to this clinic over the past 3 years. They are rude and non-caring to the point of my deciding to go elsewhere. I only went there because the woman who I got my dog from said I should. One of their common questions when you call is "have you been here before?" They should ask what are pets names are or ask for your name - not treat you like you need to belong to their club. They don't want to be bothered most of the time. I have met with both owners, Christy Berg and her husband, and I find them to be officious, judgemental and trendy. It's basically a small town popularity game, and all they want is kudos (hence their "look how great we are that I'm in Balboa Park" newsletter. I work at the SDNHM. Big deal. They've also given me VERY bad advice in the past in regards to both my dogs, completely misdiagnosing the core problem. After much research on my own, and calling up a friend of mine overseas who is an agricultural vet, I was able to treat both my dogs successfully myself. They treat our cats in the same manner or try to force us to go to an ER vet when I know darn well they can handle it there. I grew up on a farm overseas, and people there would laugh at these two wannabes, and I don't care what qualifications they have. Update: After being told they wouldn't look at my kitten and told me to go to ER, I cleaned him up (he's a week old) and gave him formula and he's doing better. I've also brought a hamster back to life by slowly giving her eyedroplets of Bush baked bean water and rubbing it's chest area. She was completely cold and unresponsive and then lived for 2 more years after that. I've also lanced my cat's abcesses in the past.
PROS: Nearby, supplies
CONS: They are con artists

5 Stars: Better for my pets :) (by Ken E.)

Ken E. — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:00:00 GMT

Sunset Cliffs Animal Hospital is a great veterinary office! After taking my dogs to several other offices I have finally found a responsible and friendly vet.

1 Stars: We now go to a vet 20 min away cuz we dont want to go here (by Mason L.)

Mason L. — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:00 GMT

The 2 vets are also the owners. We have been taking all of our animals there for many years. We used to be satisfied because of the prices and I used to like their personalities. Although my dog Daisy was almost paralyzed because they didn't give us complete information. They also let us extend payment a week (because we've spent $7,000 in vet bills this year) but they didn't tell their staff and the staff told us that was impossible and there was no way the vets would let us and refused to ask them about it until an hour later after I had been insisting that they do. I see them being friendly with a lot of other people but they have ignored us and our pets everytime we go in since that day. The past year the people at the front desk have been more and more rude to the point of being offensive on several occasions. It became so uncomfortable for us to visit them that I talked to the vet about it and he dismissed our concerns and basically told me good luck w a new vet even though he had previosly acted friendly. I guess they can manage to be friendly if you only see them for check-ups and the occasional problem but if you go in often enough you can count on being offened. Or maybe they just don't like us and thus feel that the lives of our pets aren't important. I guess you shouldn't care enough about your pets to make sure they are treated well because if you do then you will start being shunned. Not to mention the many times we had to go to another vet because they didn't have time to see us or they were closed- since they close at 5.

PROS: Location, better than the only other vet nearby
CONS: rude,

3 Stars: Vets are good-staff is just OK (by Christine P.)

Christine P. — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:11:00 GMT

Christy Berg and her husband vet are great vets.
It's a busy office, not much room to sit.
The front staff is kinda slow.
I'd still recommend this vet even though my experience with them was not as positive as others. They are well liked in this community.

PROS: Knowledgeable Veterinarians
CONS: Staff talks too much, is slow

4 Stars: Happy Pets=Happy owner (by Kathleen E.)

Kathleen E. — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 21:29:00 GMT

GREAT staff. Friendly bubbly ladies are bustling around taking care of you and your pet. While the office is most convenient for ob-tians... it would be worth the trip for anyone.