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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

Updated 2026-07-09 · 1,245 reviewed · 181 listed · Scored from 1,517 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.2(1517) 71 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
Emergency & Urgent CareGeneral Veterinary CareSurgery & Specialty CareHouse Call & Mobile VetDental CareExotic & Avian CareLarge Animal & Equine
VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital
Services
Emergency & Urgent Care, General Veterinary Care, Surgery & Specialty Care
Reviews
1517

What recent reviews say

VRCC receives consistently high marks for staff warmth during routine emergency visits and specialist consultations, with named technicians earning praise for calm handling of anxious pets. However, a significant subset of reviews reveal critical gaps: failures to communicate surgical availability before crisis transfers, post-emergency silence on follow-up questions, and escalating costs that some families experience as coercive once committed. When the team connects well, owners feel truly supported; when communication breaks down during life-or-death situations, trust collapses entirely.

The facility claims 24/7 emergency care and board-certified specialists across cardiology, oncology, and surgery, yet multiple reviews indicate unavailable surgeons at night despite advertising on-site surgical capability. Pricing complaints centre on diagnostic bundles (around $1,200) followed by treatment estimates exceeding $5,000–$7,000, with medication markups versus retail creating frustration. Staff inconsistency is notable: some reviews cite remarkable patience and transparency; others describe rudeness, phone-slamming, and dismissal once money changes hands.

Recent shift: No clear shift in sentiment over the review timeline; mix of 5-star and 1-star reviews consistent across the six-week span. Poor communication and cost complaints appear persistent, not newly emerging.

Praised for
  • compassionate, knowledgeable staff
  • quick emergency stabilization and triage
  • specialist expertise (cardiology, surgery referral)
  • clear communication and care coordination when it works
Watch-outs
  • poor communication during critical emergencies
  • high costs and aggressive upselling of expensive procedures
  • inconsistent availability of advertised surgical services overnight
  • rudeness and dismissal after payment collected
  • lack of follow-up despite repeated requests
compassionate-stafflong-wait-timesexpensiveknowledgeable-vetspoor-communicationcaring-bedside-mannershort-staffedclean-facilitygood-with-anxious-pets
Best for: Owners needing emergency triage and specialist second opinions, especially for cardiology or internal medicine consults.
Think twice if: You expect overnight surgical services to be immediately available, want predictable costs, or need consistent post-visit follow-up communication.

Strengths

  • Board-certified specialists in multiple disciplines
  • 24/7 emergency availability
  • On-site diagnostic imaging and lab
  • Experienced at urgent stabilization and triage

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Creevey named in cardiology; vet techs Brian, Ali, Lexi, Keri individually praised for compassion
  • Typical emergency diagnostics around $900 (cast and X-rays); full diagnosis visit approximately $1,200; treatment plans quoted at $5,000–$7,000+ for surgery
  • Medication markup complaint: prescription medicine $200 in-house, $47 on Chewy
  • Transfers to CVSG when surgeon unavailable overnight; coordinates with primary vets
  • One case of phone-slamming by technician during critical patient discussion; instances of staff rudeness after cost estimates rejected

What reviews say by service

Emergency & Urgent Care
Praised for rapid triage and stabilization; criticized for poor communication on overnight surgical availability and slow/absent follow-up
Surgery & Specialty Care
Advertises emergency surgery but often transfers cases overnight when surgeon unavailable; when available, staff compassion noted but access questioned
General Veterinary Care
Routine consultations and diagnostics receive warmth; cost expectations and medication pricing generate friction
Dental Care
No review evidence
Exotic & Avian Care
No review evidence
Large Animal & Equine
No review evidence

How it compares

  • Rated 4.2 against a 4.59 average across the 49 emergency & urgent care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 97% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method
Star rating 47
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 45
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
1097
4
110
3
36
2
41
1
233

Common questions

Are emergency surgeons available overnight?
Reviews indicate overnight surgeons are often unavailable; the hospital has transferred patients to CVSG for emergency overnight surgery despite advertising on-site surgical services.
What do emergency visits typically cost?
Diagnostics (cast, X-rays) around $900; initial consultation roughly $1,200. Treatment plans quoted between $5,000–$20,000 depending on case. Medications are significantly marked up compared to retail (e.g., $200 in-house vs. $47 online).
Will the hospital follow up after my emergency visit?
Inconsistent. Some reviews cite excellent coordination with primary vets and care planning; others report being ignored for months after paying and asking follow-up questions multiple times.

Similar veterinarian nearby

VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Cardiology)
77

VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Cardiology)

4.4(42)✓ Verified

Owners consistently describe exceptional care across emergency, surgical, and cardiac cases, with named vets like Dr. Creevey, Dr. Martin, and Dr. Lee earning praise for rearranging schedules, sending photo updates, and staying calm during difficult decisions. The hospital shines in communication, follow-up, and staff warmth, though two reviews flag billing surprises and one past misdiagnosis.

General Veterinary CareSurgery & Specialty CareEmergency & Urgent Care
Donald S. Westfall, DVM
26 low data

Donald S. Westfall, DVM

No rating yet

No review text is available; this profile draws only from the business's stated service offerings and credentials. The practice claims board-certified specialists and advanced diagnostics.

Large Animal & EquineDental CareGeneral Veterinary Care
VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Medical Oncology)
44 low data

VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Medical Oncology)

2.0(1)✓ Verified

Review evidence is very limited: only 1 Google review at 2 stars. The business lists board-certified veterinary oncologists and specialized cancer services including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery through their website. No detail is available to assess specific strengths or recurring complaints.

Surgery & Specialty CareGeneral Veterinary Care

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Last updated 2026-07-09