Alameda Pet Hospital

My first visit was with a dog screaming in pain. They helped him, then over time figured out a lot of his minor ailments as well the major ones. Rags lived many more healthy, happy years. I would recommend then with absolute faith. They have helped with a wide variety odd of pet health problems, and never hesitate to refer to a specialist when that is appropriate. What do I like best? They really care about pets, and help the owners find what is best for the pet's quality of life, even when it is a hard decision. I moved out of state, and have actually called for advice when I was feeling lost with a new pet health problem!

This happened 3 years ago.

I gave my dog two pork shoulder blade bones (I thought they're safe). Afterwards, the dog bagan to show discomfort, stopp feeding, lose energy. 3 days later she began to bleed internally and pooping blood. I took her to Alameda Pet Hospital, the vet perscribed some medicine and special canned dog food. The dog still did not eat, and barely one day after the hospital visit the dog was dead.

I certainly blame myself for causing this whole chain of events, but I'm unhappy the hospital could not recognize the seriousness of the situation.

My husband and I were using this Vet office for a few year for routine medical exams and vaccines for our 2 cats and 2 dogs. I have to say they are for the most part friendly doctors/ staff. Again for routine things. As we all know our loved animals do get sick from time to time. This is where this review gets really bad. I don't believe this office is equipped to deal with sick animals. My dog for example has allergies established for years now- a new vet in the office wants to start testing and changing my dogs diet/ life to re-discover what has already been established. This is frustrating to the owner cause its costs us lots of money and my dog to get more symptoms rather then just giving him the medicine he needs to live comfortable. In addition we brought out cat in for a frequent urinary tract infection- it took 3 weeks and a new vet for my cat to start to get treatment and medicine. This was the straw that broke the camels back for us. Some times re discovery isn't the best for on-going problems- holistic medicine and diet change are good but to let a cat suffer for 3 week pee-ing blood and very uncomfortable isn't right nor fair. I went to a new vet and have never looked back. FYI alameda doesn't do their own surgeries either they call in specialists. So keep these fun facts in mind when looking for a new vet. Also be prepared too once they have examined you pet if you have left him or her they do not talk to you in privet they tell you the results good or bad including treatment in the lobby in front of all other patients and they have no shame either. They hand off your animal and move on to the next dollar they can collect. Sometimes nice-ness doesn't account for good quality. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE ENCINA VETERINARY HOSPITAL!
They are a full hospital and they are fully equipped and fully staffed every day of the week. Plus they are affordable and highly knowledgeable too. Make the switch do some research.

The Alameda Pet Hospital is an excellent place to bring your pets for vaccinations or other medical care. They are a full service pet hospital and even have boarding facilities for cats and dogs. Dr. Buchinger is an excellent vet and loves animals. She is highly skilled at her job and is also great with the owners.

If your animal has a special need, I can't speak highly enough about this clinic. The pricing is reasonable. Apointments are easy to get & flexible hours.

PROS: Open Saturday mornings, good parking, always clean
CONS: Once in a great while emergency contacts are slow

If you have cats and you are in or near Alameda, you should be
taking them here. I've always had vets that were top-notch in both
skills and bedside manner. They consider alternate medicine, and
are willing to discuss that. When we had to put our cat down
because she had become wild, lunging and biting, they helped
us do so in a way that was kind, caring, professional, and yet
deeply understood how difficult it was for us to do what we knew
we had to do. At times, I've waited for the bill to arrive, expecting
it to be expensive -- but it has never been so. These people love
animals, and it really shows.

PROS: Caring, professional, moderately priced -- they love animals
CONS:

The year my two oldest cats and one of the younger ones died, these were my vets.

I appreciate it a LOT when a vet responds to one of my standard terminal-cat questions ("What would YOU do, if this were YOUR cat?") and gives me an answer from his heart, even if it's not the most hopeful answer, the most expensive answer, or the cheapest answer.

As long as the cat was willing to fight, these vets did their best to keep treatment affordable, and I have the feeling they might have eaten some of the cost, because the bills didn't seem to grow as much as I expected, as the situation and treatment got worse.

And a few months later, when I had left my lifemate, was a month away from the street myself, and took a bus over there with a feral cat who had lost a fight with a possum, and was covered with infected wounds, the doc and I wept together as we gave that "unwanted" cat the only kindness that would do any good. I hadn't given a lot of poormouth, but this was a no-charge visit....

(Goodbye, Maximus, I'm sorry you were so afraid of people you wouldn't let me touch you till there was nothing to do but hire you killed.... He was five.)

But this is supposed to be a review, not whining about the sad life of the throwaway cat, so let me summarize: competence and technical ability combine with a love of the creatures they treat to make this as comfortable a vet as I've encountered.

The only thing I hate about 'em was that they were two blocks from the busstop, which was not good when every step, smooth as I could make it, jounced that feral's battered boxy.

Lots of parking, which was nice when I had wheels. If I were on that side of the bay, they'd be my vets today.

PROS: Good vets, good people
CONS: