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VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital

Updated 2026-07-09 · 1,245 reviewed · 181 listed · Scored from 945 Google reviews · How we rank ›

3.3(945) 59 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
General Veterinary CareSurgery & Specialty CareHouse Call & Mobile VetLarge Animal & EquineDental CareEmergency & Urgent CareExotic & Avian Care
VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital
Services
General Veterinary Care, Surgery & Specialty Care, House Call & Mobile Vet
Reviews
945

What recent reviews say

Specialist vets here earn consistent praise for careful diagnosis, complex case management, and genuine compassion, especially in emergency settings. However, a pattern of aggressive billing, long waits in the ER, and pressure to commit to expensive procedures before considering alternatives have eroded trust. The care from named doctors like Mason, Malishkin, and Emch stands out; the business model and billing department do not.

Recent shift: No clear trend; the rating (3.3 out of ~945 reviews) reflects a persistent split between 5-star praise for specialist care and 1-star complaints about billing, waits, and pressure selling across the entire review period.

Praised for
  • knowledgeable, thorough vets
  • compassionate emergency care
  • good with anxious pets
  • detailed record-keeping
  • complex case expertise
Watch-outs
  • aggressive billing and upselling
  • extremely long wait times
  • poor communication on pricing
  • rude or dismissive staff
  • payment plan disputes
compassionate-staffknowledgeable-vetslong-wait-timesexpensivegood-with-anxious-petspushy-upsellingpoor-communicationcaring-bedside-manner
Best for: Owners of dogs with complex or chronic conditions needing specialist input and advanced imaging.
Think twice if: Budget-conscious owners or those seeking transparent, itemized pricing; high emergency-room wait times and pushy upselling are recurring complaints.

Strengths

  • specialist vets with research-backed approach
  • advanced diagnostic equipment (CT, MRI, endoscopy)
  • emergency care available 7 days
  • complex internal medicine and neurology

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Mason (Internal Medicine): praised for deep record review and evidence-based treatment planning
  • Dr. Malishkin (Emergency/ER): noted for thorough documentation and composure
  • Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Raj: described as exceptionally compassionate by long-term clients
  • Dr. Emch: praised for collaboration with local physical therapy
  • Dr. Oliver: credited with declining unnecessary tests to avoid inflating bills
  • ICU room climate issues reported in one complaint
  • Emergency wait times: reviewers reported 1-3 hours or longer; one reviewer waited from 9am to 2:30pm and was forgotten multiple times

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care
Thorough primary care praised; billing and payment-plan disputes undermine trust.
Emergency & Urgent Care
Compassionate, knowledgeable doctors; severe ER wait times (1-3+ hours) and staff indifference to delays are major complaints.
Surgery & Specialty Care
Advanced surgical options and complex case management praised; aggressive recommendation of high-cost procedures and pressure to commit without exploring alternatives cited.
Dental Care
No clear review evidence specific to dental procedures.
Exotic & Avian Care
No clear review evidence specific to exotic or avian care.
Large Animal & Equine
No clear review evidence specific to large animal or equine care.

How it compares

  • Rated 3.3 against a 4.59 average across the 167 general veterinary care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 91% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method
Star rating 0
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 48
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
487
4
30
3
26
2
55
1
347

Common questions

What should I expect if I go to the ER here?
Wait times are often 1 to 3+ hours. Staff have been described as both compassionate and indifferent depending on the visit. Vets are typically knowledgeable, but reviewers report pressure to commit to expensive treatments before exploring cheaper alternatives.
Are they transparent about costs upfront?
No. Multiple reviewers reported being given high quotes ($1700-$1800 for procedures other vets performed for $550-$1000), pressure to decide on expensive surgery before diagnostics like ultrasound were done, and disputes over payment plans and refunds.
Do they avoid unnecessary testing?
It depends on the vet. Some (Dr. Oliver, Dr. Mason) are noted for declining unnecessary tests; others have been criticized for recommending expensive diagnostic batteries to inflate bills.
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Last updated 2026-07-09