Venetian Pet Hospital

My dog Diesel has been a patient here for a couple years now, and I've been pretty satisfied with Dr. Fox, but he was always booked a month out, and that part I didn't like at all. Dr. Fox recently retired, Dr. Pietro Catini was his new doctor. To my surprise I was able to get an appointment the very "next" day??? Some history: Diesel has been having trouble urinating the past couple years and could only manage to drip when urinating. Dr. Fox prescribed Prazosin and Carproven, and it has helped substantially. Although recently his condition has gotten worse, and he's back to just a drip while urinating. Diesel is being seen by a specialist for his condition at VCA veterinary hospital in Sacramento, he's had multiple ultrasounds, Xrays, blood work, urine cultures, an Endoscopy up his urethra, and also neutered, so far no one knows whats causing it? But I had to do something, I could see my dog struggling trying to urinate dozens of times throughout the day and night, to only pass a few ounces, and I know my dog is suffering, so I doubled his dosage which seemed the only logical solution and it has made a difference. But he's running out of his medicine, and now I need his prescription doubled to continue this treatment. Dr. Catini needs to approve of his new prescription. Appointment day: When I brought Diesel in to see Dr. Pietro Catini, I told him what has transpired in recent months and that I need him to ok the increase in meds with the pharmacy to help alleviate his urinating problem. Dr. Catini, refused and wanted to take him off his current meds because it was toxic to his liver, and instead use something similar to Omega 3 oils! Yes, this would be much less toxic to his liver but it would not help his urinating problem, which should be his main focus. I explained that this current level of medication is working, and that switching to something that is nowhere near as effective as pharmaceutical grade medication would put Diesel in a dangerous and more toxic condition, his bladder could actually burst! and he was adamant about his decision, and refused, then wished us good luck and walked out of the room. He never even approached Diesel and examined him, he never touched my dog at all, and I had to pay $60 for an examination that never happened! Update: I've found another doctor at Golden Valley Veterinary, this doctor was more understanding of my dogs condition, we kept Diesel on his current meds but lowered the dosage back down, and as I suspected his blood work came back normal. The fee was a lot less than $60, and he actually did the exam, plus even showed me how to "express" my dogs bladder in case of an emergency. Also, VCA in Sacramento prescribed 500mg of Amoxicillin for 14 days and that seemed to help Diesel tremendously.

posted: 09/13/2023

After Dr. Walford passed (west lane pet hospital by Alpine) I've had difficulty finding a vet similar to him. The next vet we found was Dr. Zimmerman and he was awesome- but he retired. After him, I tried Sierra Vet was disappointed with their customer service. My dog had a tumor and they did a biopsy. The tumor ended up getting infected from the biopsy and I expressed my concern and they wrote it off as "nothing can done." The VCA looked at her records and turns out they prescribed her thr wrong antibiotics. And because of that experience, I ended up at Venetian. Seeing Sandy (the front desk receptionist) was a sign to stay bc she was the receptionist for Dr. Walford- I felt like I came full circle. We've had the pleasure of having Dr. Fox and Dr. Do and they're amazing and great listeners. The staff are also patient and very friendly. My only gripe is that they've gotten pricey, but I feel it's like that every where.

posted: 08/21/2023

I took my dog in as an emergency appointment due to him breathing poorly. He was examined and diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia which required hospitalization of three days. The final day of hospitalization I had to transfer him to a different facility as this one wouldn't have staff available to care for him. I was to transfer him back to Venetian on the next day they were open but was told he could go home and to follow up in two weeks. My dog was still not doing well but I was unable to speak to the doctor because he was busy. So I took my dog back for the two week appointment. He was still very weak. The technician took Bear back for X-rays and then they told me we could go. I did not get to speak to the doctor. The next day the doctor called to say the x-ray shows my dog still has pneumonia so come back again in two weeks. I arrived at my appointment on time (which they rescheduled to 11:30). The office closes from 12-1 and I had to wait to be seen. The tech did take X-rays again. I said well I need to talk to the doctor about my dogs condition and I have some questions. The doctor came in and told me I don't have time to see all my patients every visit and left without answering any questions or examining my dog. A week later I received an X-ray report with no phone call or explanation of it's contents. My dog is still recovering and I will now have to take him elsewhere to get answers about his condition. I spent over $2,500 to receive treatment fir my very ill dog of I received horrible customer service. Everytime I went they pre charged me before I received services and then left me out to dry when the visit was over. Regardless of how much one spends, receiving care for our beloved pets should be done in a manner in which we feel cared for and supported and not like ATM machines that are not worthy of a ten minute conversation to help us understand our pet's medical condition. I do not recommend using this vet office an they have no compassion and don't have time to see their patients when they come for scheduled visits.

posted: 04/27/2023

It's good care, but you can hardly get your animal in if you don't call ahead three to five days for a Veterinarian appt. If you only need Vet Tech for injections or updates for vaccination, it's two to three days.

posted: 08/08/2023

Great people. Great service. Highly recommend. Saved my senior dogs life. Needed a tumor removed and an infection in her pelvic region. Take my cat in every month for a shot to manage Her feline asthma. Always helpful and accommodating and they staff truly cares for our fur babies.

posted: 02/19/2022