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October 2024 by Tyrion Frey
The veterinarian is okay, but the administrative staff often seems impatient and unkind, which negatively affects the experience. Because of this, I won't be returning.
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September 2024 by Steve Miro
great place, small, professional and personable
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September 2024 by Katie Rooney
We take all of our animals here and have for a very long time. The front office staff are absolute sweethearts and we love them. The doctors have been absolutely great and have been compassionate and understanding through all of our experiences.
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September 2024 by Paul Kennedy
They applied an unnecessary treatment I repeatedly declined the moment my cat left my sight!
Price was outrageous. $230 for an appointment for deworming one cat. On top of that the entire appointment was treated as a sales opportunity for flea treatment and some home cleaning service (which was brought up THREE times after I declined), my cat was treated as a distant third priority after sales pitches and ceaseless attempts to ingratiate themselves including two full 180s on random topics the "vet" brought up when I didn't react to the pointless chit chat.
After I declined their flea treatment they went ahead and put it on anyway, against my wishes, and billed me for it. This was on top of the one I'd started the day before and had pointed out. There's no way that was legal or good for the cat.
I also wanted them to look at a little case of cutaneous claw to see if there was some underlying issue I was missing, but of course when they went to "examine" the feet they were chatting at me and not looking at the cat at all. The topic was dropped and I never got an answer.
I'd give them zero stars if I could, I've never seen a worse quality service provided at such a ridiculous price.
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August 2024 by G G.
Pretty disgusted by complete lack of response from Animal Doctors at a critical time for my cat. I've been taking my cat to the Animal Doctors for a few years, and had positive experiences with the previous vets (who have since moved on/retired). Since being taken over, things changed. Getting an appointment was difficult. Some other little things as well, but nothing concrete enough to justify a poor review here. However, when my cat needed to be seen urgently, they had no availability (no surprise), referred me to an emergency clinic (makes sense), BUT when I followed up with the Animal Doctors no fewer than five times (both by phone and email), they would not get back to me to discuss the findings and options. Again, they had referred me to the emergency vet, and other vets have always closed the loop and followed up with phone call in similar circumstances. When I was able to speak with someone at AD they said I'd have to bring my cat in if I wanted to discuss anything. I explained I didn't want to subject my sick cat to more traumatic car rides for no clear reason, and even offered to pay for an appointment in order to just have a conversation. No response. AND--my always-indoor-only cat came up positive for feline leukemia at the emergency vet (they did two tests to verify, as she had never been outside or had contact with any outside cat). Literally the ONLY place outside the house she went was to the Animal Doctors. Furthermore, she had tested negative for leukemia just a few months prior (at the Animal Doctors), and before they did three rounds of blood tests on her. VERY weird she would then come up positive for leukemia a few months later. Obviously, I can't know or prove that she was exposed at the Animal Doctors, so consider this portion of the review with a grain of salt. I don't want to think something that egregious could happen at a vet, but that's the only place outside the house she had been.
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July 2024 by Albert Ha
Wonderful doctors and bedside manner
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July 2024 by K R
I brought my Belgian malinois here today, and we had a great experience. My dog was very nervous and reactive at our previous vet, but somehow mostly calm here at The Animal Doctors. The staff are really sweet, and the vet was gentle with my boy.
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July 2024 by Vlogsoryx
My experience there was decidedly "meh," leaving me with mixed feelings about the quality of care. From the moment I walked into the clinic, the atmosphere struck me as functional but lacking warmth. The reception area, while clean and well-maintained, had a sterile feel. The décor was minimalistic, perhaps an attempt to keep the focus on medical care rather than aesthetics, but it contributed to an overall sense of detachment. The reception staff, although polite, did not exude the friendliness or enthusiasm that can make a visit to the vet less stressful. A simple smile or a few kind words can go a long way in setting a positive tone, but these were noticeably absent. After checking in, I found myself waiting for an unexpectedly long period. Despite having scheduled an appointment well in advance, I had to wait over thirty minutes before being called in. This wait was particularly challenging because my pet, already anxious about the visit, became increasingly restless. In a city as bustling as Palo Alto, time is a precious commodity, and long wait times can be a significant inconvenience. The waiting area was sparsely populated with outdated magazines and a small television playing a muted, generic pet care video – hardly engaging or comforting for either pets or their owners.
When we were finally ushered into the examination room, hurried efficiency continued. The veterinarian, although undoubtedly knowledgeable, seemed rushed. The consultation felt perfunctory, with the vet quickly moving through a checklist of questions and examinations without engaging meaningfully with me or my pet. This lack of personalized attention could have been better. Pets, like humans, have unique needs and personalities, and a one-size-fits-all approach to veterinary care can leave important nuances unaddressed. During the examination, the veterinarian's demeanor was professional but distant. There was little effort to build rapport with me or my pet. While veterinarians often face pressure to see many patients, a little empathy and personal connection can significantly impact the overall experience. Instead, the interaction felt transactional, more focused on getting through the appointment than providing holistic care. One of the primary reasons I had chosen Animal Doctors was their advertised range of services and advanced medical capabilities. However, the consultation and subsequent treatments did not meet these expectations. The explanations for my pet's condition were brief and technical, without much effort to ensure I fully understood the situation. When I asked for clarification, the responses were short to the point of being blunt, leaving me feeling uninformed and somewhat uneasy about the prescribed treatment plan. The pricing at Animal Doctors is another aspect that warrants discussion. Much like everything else in the area, Veterinary care in Palo Alto tends to be expensive. However, given the "meh" quality of service I experienced, the high cost felt unjustified. While I am willing to pay a premium for exceptional care, the services rendered did not match the steep prices charged. There was a distinct lack of value for money, and I had paid more for the location and convenience than the quality of care. After the visit, I received follow-up communication from the clinic, but even this aspect was handled with a certain detachment. The follow-up call was a brief check-in to confirm that I had administered the prescribed treatment, devoid of genuine concern for my pet's progress or well-being. It felt like an obligatory task rather than a meaningful effort to ensure ongoing care.
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July 2024 by Van V.
I have been to many Veterinarian clinics for the last 20 years. This Animal Doctor Clinics is the WORST on two fronts 1) Integrity and unreliable veterinary practice: Why do I need to bring Jio back for more repeat blood panels, when Dr. Bogatsky already informed me the blood diagnostic result? On Jul. 1st, my dog, Jio is well and just has a general annual checkup appointment: two types of blood works (comprehensive panel and phenobarbital monitor panel) on that day. Dr. Bogatsky examined Jio and suggested a teeth cleaning, due a fracture tooth. When we got home, an hour later, they called us for a repeat blood draw on Jio. I postponed. However, the next day, Jul 2nd, Dr. Bogatsky left a message on diagnostic blood result, and suggested an ultra-sound procedure, due to low albumin protein. I called them, and asked why. The front-desk informed me to ignore Dr. Bogatsky's message, because of invalid blood works. They repeatedly asked us to bring Jio back for blood drawing again on three different phone calls. So, we can't trust whether the blood work result is valid or Dr. Bogatsky's diagnostics accuracy. We went to a different Veterinarian for second opinion on reading the blood work results (from Dr. Bogatsky's office). There is no need for ultra-sound procedure. And Jio's teeth cleaning procedure doesn't show any fracture tooth, as Dr. Bogatsky's examination! The question now: Can we still trust the given blood work results from the Animal Doctor clinics? 2) Rip-off big time! Please don't buy any products at the Animal Doctor office. It costs twice as much compare to buying online at Chewy.com. And no return once the product leaves the office, even though, unused, and un-open boxes. Another un-pleasant surprise: 3.5% surcharge fee on Visa card. I would give zero star, if Yelp allows.
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June 2024 by Riley Muse
An excellent vet service in a cute little building. The team was very friendly and took great care of my cat.
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June 2024 by Susanna Borohovski
I’ve been taking my pets here since 2020 and love them.
Pros:
- I really like the vets and staff here! Everyone is kind, helpful and knowledgeable. They are so good with my animals. My dog does not seem stressed, even when he knows he’s at the vet. lol
- They do a great job explaining my options to me, and do as little as possible at a time. For example, instead of running all the tests possible, they will suggest plan A, plan B & plan C. Adding tests as needed to diagnose and treat the problem. This feels financially respectful.
- They stay on schedule!
Cons:
- I don’t think they are currently accepting new clients (unless you are already a client, in which case you can add an additional pet). It’s worth asking about.
- They schedule weeks out! They will do their best to squeeze in an emergency case, but there’s no guarantee.
- Don’t be late! They respect appointment times. If you are 10 minutes late, they will reschedule your appointment (that’s actually a pro for me! But I can see how frustrating that would be for someone who got stuck in traffic).
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May 2024 by Rafy Andy
I don't think it's the best place to take your pet, being 10 minutes late for your appointment, they cancel it and with great arrogance they want you to reshedule... when you stop working to take your pet and they come out with that... not even that. It was the only place with such arrogant abilities... No more!!
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May 2024 by Lamija H
We have been patients of Animal Doctors clinic for over 2 years (ever since we moved to Bay Area). Wait time for appointments is usually long, and if your dogs is ill and needs same day treatment, they will usually refuse to accept you and send you to urgent care. But we were happy with Dr. Bogatsky and continued to be their patients.
In June last year, airline I booked travel for us and our dog with asked me to make sure I have rabies certificate filled in on a CDC form. It basically looks same as regular rabies certificate we already had, but it has a CDC letterhead.
I called the clinic and, at first, they kept convincing me I need a full health certificate for this travel. I said I do not need this, as my pet has EU passport, and I only need the rabies report filled in on the CDC form which I sent to them over the email and asked if they could fill it in.
Long story short: they asked us to come in, they performed physical exam (which is okay) and then they charged us over $400 for filling in this form with same info that already existed in Bonnie's regular rabies certificate.
On the itemized invoice it was stated that they charged us for "travel health certificate" - which we never received. After I complained about this, they said that Dr. Bogatsky decided on this cost and there is nothing they can do about it. After that, I decided to post a detailed Google review and explain the situation. Shortly after that, I received a call where they apologize and say they will refund us most of the charged amount (they still charged us for physical exam and about $40 for filling in the form - which I think is completely reasonable), and after that I believed it was fair to delete the Google review.
We kept bringing Bonnie to Animal Doctors, but I noticed we are not being seen by Dr. Bogatsky anymore - which is okay, I had equal trust in other vets here as well. Today, I received notes from our last visit and I realized that notes from last June say: "Technician Notes - Per Dr. Bogatsky he will no longer see this client as per her bad Google review. She may see one of the other doctors or go somewhere else. TS (Tammy Steely)"
Since it looks like veterinarian oath at this place doesn't go beyond Google reviews, we will no longer take our business to Animal Doctors Palo Alto.
To Dr. Bogatsky:
It's sad to see that you thought it was reasonable to charge someone over $400 for copy pasting information from one form to another, and to decide not to take this client anymore after they raised their voice about it. I don't think people like this actually care about animals, they only care about money - which is why I can't trust you any longer.
Answer to the reply provided by the clinic:
Saying that I opted to use social media before consulting you is an absolute LIE. I called you FIRST and asked why you charged my husband over $400 and itemized this as International health certificate (which you did NOT provide us with), while it is just a rabies certificate on a CDC form. You then told me that there is absolutely nothing you can do about it as this pricing was Dr. Bogatsky's decision. I said OK, kindly asked you to send us over Bonnie's medical records as we will be taking him to another clinic going forward. You sent it, and THEN I posted a Google review.
THEN, your manager called me multiple times apologizing and saying you decided to provide a refund. I then thought it might have been a honest mistake or internal misunderstanding on your end and decided to delete the review. This is all very visible and documented in your records. I still have your voicemails and I attached the CDC form that needed to be filled in and that you charged $400 for.
If your front desk notoriously lies about administrative issues, I can't imagine how anyone could trust y
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May 2024 by Lamija Hadzic H.
We have been patients of Animal Doctors clinic for over 2 years (ever since we moved to Bay Area). Wait time for appointments is usually long, and if your dogs is ill and needs same day treatment, they will usually refuse to accept you and send you to urgent care. But we were happy with Dr. Bogatsky and continued to be their patients. In June last year, airline I booked travel for us and our dog with asked me to make sure I have rabies certificate filled in on a CDC form. It basically looks same as regular rabies certificate we already had, but it has a CDC letterhead. I called the clinic and, at first, they kept convincing me I need a full health certificate for this travel. I said I do not need this, as my pet has EU passport, and I only need the rabies report filled in on the CDC form which I sent to them over the email and asked if they could fill it in. Long story short: they asked us to come in, they performed physical exam (which is okay) and then they charged us over $400 for filling in this form with same info that already existed in Bonnie's regular rabies certificate. On the itemized invoice it was stated that they charged us for "travel health certificate" - which we never received. After I complained about this, they said that Dr. Bogatsky decided on this cost and there is nothing they can do about it. After that, I decided to post a detailed Google review and explain the situation. Shortly after that, I received a call where they apologize and say they will refund us most of the charged amount (they still charged us for physical exam and about $40 for filling in the form - which I think is completely reasonable), and after that I believed it was fair to delete the Google review. We kept bringing Bonnie to Animal Doctors, but I noticed we are not being seen by Dr. Bogatsky anymore - which is okay, I had equal trust in other vets here as well. Today, I received notes from our last visit and I realized that notes from last June say: "Technician Notes - Per Dr. Bogatsky he will no longer see this client as per her bad Google review. She may see one of the other doctors or go somewhere else. TS (Tammy Steely)" Since it looks like veterinarian oath at this place doesn't go beyond Google reviews, we will no longer take our business to Animal Doctors Palo Alto. To Dr. Bogatsky: It's sad to see that you thought it was reasonable to charge someone over $400 for copy pasting information from one form to another, and to decide not to take this client anymore after they raised their voice about it. I don't think people like this actually care about animals, they only care about money - which is why I can't trust you any longer.
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April 2024 by Cris Li
When attempting to purchase my prescription online, the online store exclusively offers generic medication and is facing challenges in obtaining proper approval from Dr. Armor directly. They called me to inform that my order has been rejected. Upon contacting the Animal Doctors' office, there was a communication issue between us (they hung up on me and I persisted with calls after that, haha) until manager Tammy answered. She clarified that the doctor was currently involved in emergency surgery. Tammy assured me that she would ensure my updated prescription would be prepared promptly.
Update: Tammy returned the call and confirmed the approval of the online store's request.
