Pet Specialists of Austin

Making an oncology appointment for your cat is not something any pet owner wishes for, and I looked toward our appointment here with a lot of anxiety. But the moment my kitty Bruiser and I went into Pet Specialists of Austin, everyone was super welcoming. The front desk was wonderful and attentive even while managing phone calls and other clients. We first met with Melissa, who was so detailed in her initial assessment and run through of Bruiser's notes. She was thorough, friendly, and did a great job of laying out what to expect from our consult appointment. Then we met with Dr. Sabina Sheppard, and oh my gosh. I don't think I've ever met a medical professional (for animals or humans!) so informative, kind, and warm. She explained Bruiser's potential diagnoses and what to expect from each, writing out notes on a white board in the room as she went to help explain everything. When she asked if I had any questions, I got teary eyed, not from anxiety or sadness, but from gratitude. I felt so knowledgeable leaving that appointment, with such a solid understanding of potential outcomes and next steps. (She also gave us some great tips for pilling our finicky cat, and they totally worked!) We were even able to schedule a biopsy for the next day. At his biopsy appointment, once again, everyone was so friendly at both drop-off and pick up. The tech who talked us through the estimate for Bruiser's biopsy and each line item was a ray of sunshine, and she helped identify two line items that we ended up not needing, which I SO appreciated. His biopsy went great, communication was timely and thorough, and once again, everyone was extremely warm. I didn't get the feeling that Bruiser was just one of many pets that day -- everyone seemed to genuinely care about him as his own kitty! (They even gave him the nickname Snow Leopard, which is maybe the cutest thing I've ever experienced at a vet.) The emails they send you before and after visits are also SUPER thorough, with all the details laid out in a clear and easy to understand way. (This is also super helpful for pet insurance claims!) If you like me are facing the scary potential of a pet with cancer, I can't recommend Pet Specialists of Austin enough. Dr. Sheppard in particular is the kind of human you know is special the moment you meet her. Thank you to everyone on the team for taking such wonderful care of Bruiser and taking the anxiety out of such an inherently stressful experience!

posted: 07/02/2024

I was referred here by another emergency vet as this place offers MRIs. I brought my dog in for acute paralysis and we were immediately taken in around 10:30 pm. They could not do the MRI until the morning so my dog stayed overnight. They let me see my dog before I left as I did not know yet if he was to have surgery or not. At first I was told they were not sure if the MRI could be done the next day and may have to wait until Wednesday, due to current backlog. But Dr. Passmore called me right at 8 am and gave me her assessment and was able to get my dog an MRI that very morning. I received a phone call around 11:30 am with the results. Dr. Passmore was very thorough with her analysis of the MRI and took time to provide instruction for recovery and even helped us to our car. She is a saint and excellent at what she does as a vet specialist.

posted: 05/23/2024

I took my dog to the ER for the first time a few weekends ago. The team at Pet Specialists made the experience immensely better than I expected it to be. The staff member who answered my initial call provided perfect advice about whether to bring Tyson in. We spent far less time in the waiting area than I thought we would. And I especially want to highlight Dr. Passmore. She made the right diagnosis without extensive testing and clearly communicated a treatment plan that worked. Her competence, confidence and energy left no doubt that Tyson was in good hands.

posted: 07/03/2024

Fast, Friendly Care at Pet Specialists of Austin ER My five-year-old Beagle "Pixie" suddenly lost mobility in her rear legs, and I rushed her to Pet Specialists of Austin Emergency Room. Thankfully, the experience was positive despite the scary situation. We received prompt and professional service. Ms. Sara, the vet tech, was kind and calming, which helped ease my anxiety. Dr. Wendy Brooks thoroughly explained my dog's unexpected health issue and all the treatment options available to restore her well-being. The medication prescribed by Dr. Brooks made a noticeable difference in my dog's comfort level. Additionally, the clinic's payment options were affordable, and they accepted credit cards. I highly recommend Pet Specialists of Austin ER. Both Ms. Sara and Dr. Brooks were fantastic. Thank you for taking such good care of my furry baby "Pixie". 🙏🐶🐾🐾❤️

posted: 07/05/2024

Dr. Sabina Sheppard was so informative about options for my dog. She really explained everything and all her recommended options. We first met with Melissa and she had already reviewed what she had and was ready for any missing information. It showed they really wanted a full picture to help make the best plan for my dog. They are extremely knowledgeable and definitely care. I am a little shocked by the low reviews as I know someone else who had great oncology care for her dog as well. The front staff was attentive and made the check in and out process easy.

posted: 05/16/2024