Veterinary Referral and Critical Care Center Reviews

A wonderful place, fantastic staff! Understanding and caring!! After horrible experience on Cary st this is my emergency vet!!

Had one of the surgeons screw up a surgery on my dogs broken leg back in May. The leg now has to be amputated.

Stay away if you care for your pet.

One Word- ANGELS (ALL of them @ VRCC)! We started our relationship w/ Dr Edward Fallin and his wife, Dr Olga Van-Beek over 15 yrs ago when our 1 1/2 yr old Bulldog, Sampson Vallee had a "botched" palette surgery and was way past death's door when we arrived. This caused him to have a life long battle w/ seizures from the oxygen loss so we had a LONG and frequent relationship w/ VRCC and their entire team (Dr Jodie ? who has left but we LOVED her, she knew us SO well and was just WONDERFUL, I wish she was still around RVA). Dr Harpold, an internist, we met when Sammie had a Christmas bleeding, would NOT clot episode and his liver was failing for an unknown reason. All I can say is--- Dr Harpold is simply... TRULY AMAZING! She's SO down to earth and SO intelligent, she TRULY changed Sammie's life 1st w/ starting him on K Bromide instead of stuffing a ton of phenobarb down him like everyone else had, it gave him a quality of life back instead of him living like a zombie on phenobarb and then 2ndly, when he had the liver failure-bleeding episode, she recommended holistic nutrients/vitamins that supplement & support the liver and OMG, we were AMAZED... she LITERALLY regenerated his partly dead liver (with biopsy & scan, his liver LITERALLY regenerated and came back to life) Dr Harpold gave us another 3 yrs w/ him to which we will NEVER be able to thank her enough! We have had other emergent needs & issues w/ other babies and have ALWAYS taken them to VRCC. When a joint surgery was recommended by our vet for our WhiteyBoy (Sammie's Grandson), Dr Timothy Schneider met him, withdrew fluid, looked at it under scope and said, "no, this just can be drawn off w/ a needle, he doesn't need surgery if we can get it all off" and... he did it! Whitey's not had a bit of problems since (knock on wood)! I just can NOT and could NEVER say enough great things about the Veterinarians and assistants there, even the office and desk staff are SO sweet, understanding, compassionate and overly helpful! Everytime we have had one of our babies in their ICU, we are overwhelmed by the care and sheer love they receive from the staff at VRCC. I know they can't make miracles happen all the time for everyone BUT... IF ANYONE CAN MAKE A MIRACLE HAPPEN FOR YOUR LITTLE FUR BABY, IT IS VRCC!! WE WILL NEVER TRUST OUR BABIES TO ANYONE ELSE, I TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE GOD'S VERY HEALING HANDS ON EARTH FOR OUR FUR BABIES! GOD BLESS DR'S FALLIN & VAN-BEEK FOR OPENING THIS SPECIAL, ONE-OF-A-KIND, AMAZING SANCTUARY FOR ALL OUR SICK BABIES!

My cat got pretty sick over a weekend and I needed to take him in for care. He'd never been sick in this manner before and I wasn't sure what to do for him. The staff was very kind from the first phone I made, to the clinic visit, and even afterward they called to check on him. The Dr. listened to my concerns and answered my questions thoroughly and even made sure I had enough medication to get by the weekend since the weather was predicted to be bad.

While I was there at the clinic I obviously saw other families arrive with their sick or injured pets and the entire staff was very compassionate and courteous.

Thanks so much for great, qualified, compassionate care!!

Thank you to The staff at VRCC the night of December 28 2019. Even though we lost our yorkie that night the love and care they showed me was comforting. For the future. I will never go to another emergency clinic as I did that night again. If I would have rushed my dog to VRCC the chances of her living could have been better.

This facility is truly top notch and I am so glad my veterinarian recommended them in my cat's time of need. The front desk staff are efficient, friendly and patience. The emergency doctors are helpful, communicative and empathetic. Their resources are amazing and everyone on staff is professional. I cannot thank them enough for everything they did for my Toona cat. I would recommend them in a heartbeat to any pet owner who needs specialty or emergency services for their furry friend.

So caring! I called them to ask if I should bring my puppy in or if it could wait until Monday when his vet opened. The lady on the phone (I wish I had caught her name) talked through everything with me and even asked a doctor about some of his symptoms. She called me back after the doctor looked at the pictures she had me email and told me that it was something that was able to wait a couple days for his vet to open. I love that she was looking out for the best interest of me and my pup. She saved me a emergency vet bill but still made sure he was okay. If he does ever need an er, this is where I will go!

VRCC is really well respected, and I ve seen them do some amazing work. They are also very compassionate, and have never failed me when I needed them.

I was referred by my vet to VRCC for surgery for my dog. I have a wonderful vet clinic in my area, so I assumed this place would be the same. First impressions are important and the office ladies were dreadful. They made me feel stupid for asking questions regarding prices and surgery procedures. I finally had to ask to talk to a vet technician. She was helpful but STILL didn t give me a correct price. By the time I talked to the surgeon, the price had gone from 2,800, to 3,500, then to 3,500 plus 4,000 for surgery. Then I was told that my dog would possibly still need to be on medication after the fact. This place likes to take advantage of pet owners who love their pets. Do not waste your time taking them there. The consultation fee alone was $200 for the surgeon to tell me what my vet had told me all along. Do not go unless you want to be treated as an inconvenience and ripped off. So very disappointed.

If you are looking for somewhere to take your pet in an emergency this is it. They are super proffesional and they helped my GSP puppy avoid a major issue. Im hoping I won't have to use an emergency service again but if I do it will be here.

CEOs care only about the money, kept my Baby Girl alive for a month , put her threw so much torture know what she had could not be cured, after $10,000 dollars they agreed to let me care for her at home only if I agreed to bring her back to only them instead of a vet closer, Vrcc was a two drive for me, if they truly cared about my pet and I , they would have never ask me to do that...............after bringing her home they never once called to see how she was doing, needless to say my baby died in my arms and took much of my heart with her .
To this day I do not regret the money I spent on my puppy, I only regret letting Vrcc convince me she stood chance, I believe they would have kept her alive anyway they could till they pull every last dollar out of me. There is a special place in hell for vets like these

Dr. Charlebois and the entire team at VR & CC did a great job for me and my beloved Springer Spaniel, Coco Chanel. Coco has been suffering from eye ulcers and when one perforated on a Saturday night, I rushed her to the doggy emergency room. Dr. Charlebois did a great job managing her pain and keeping her stable until the surgeon could operate. The cost estimate was about 95% accurate. Thank you!

Update :-) See photo...Coco Chanel 2-3 weeks post emergency. Eyes wide open, healing, doing well.

We brought our dog here because he was having strange aggression issues. He had been such a sweet dog since we adopted him, but out of the blue he was temperamental and aggressive with other animals. We assumed it was an underlying physical issue (also taking into account that he had a swollen snout) that was hurting him and therefore effecting his temperament. After getting no answers from our primary vet, we decided to just have every test run that we could because the behavior was so random. We had a ct scan and mri done along with other tests to make sure it wasn t a physical issue. After getting the results , the doctors called and assured us that he was a perfectly healthy, 3 year old dog. We then sent him to a 3-week aggression training to handle the issue, since we were told nothing was physically wrong. Yesterday we received a call from the trainer that he had died in his crate. Died. A perfectly healthy 3 year old angel. He had a nose bleed, so we believe it was a blood clot. Clearly fatal. If these doctors can t catch a FATAL blood clot after an mri and a cat scan, what will they miss on your fur friend? Do not trust these people because they are either not properly trained, or they are lazy. Long story short, we took every precaution to make sure he was healthy, and then we sent him away for training he didn t need. We didn t even get to see him for the last week of his life because these people said he was healthy and just needed training. Thanks for nothing. Rip Bear.

The care that my dog received was good! The vets and vet technicians seemed extremely knowledgeable and willing to help. My dog had to stay overnight, and I felt extremely comfortable leaving him in VRCC's care. My one complaint with the care my dog received is that the emergency vet I saw recommended several costly things that my dog did not need for his treatment. For example, my dog was very well hydrated, yet IV fluids were recommended throughout the course of his overnight stay. When I questioned this recommendation, the vet did say that he thought it wasn't necessary. However, this makes me question why it was even recommended in the first place if the vet did not believe it to be necessary?

Further, the front desk staff is a hit or miss - some are very kind, helpful, and empathetic, while others are short and act put out when you call. Further, I have yet to actually have someone call me back when I leave a message and/or they say that they will. Very frustrating communication practices with long periods of holding. I know that this practice is reputable in the community and very good at what they do, but their client communication needs some serious work.

Our first visit to VRCC was in 2009 when Victor, our miniature schnauzer, began getting large cysts all over his body. When he didn't respond to antibiotics, our vet referred us to VRCC. The specialist at VRCC quickly diagnosed sterile paniculitis as the cause of the cysts, and treated with steroids, with follow-up for the next two years.

Following a recent bout of recurrent colitis this summer (2015), we were again referred to VRCC, and the internal medicine specialist, who saw him for his paniculitis, is treating him again.

We have always been impressed the professionalism of all the staff at VRCC, from the front desk to the doctors, their expertise in diagnostics, and their concern for treating Victor. We are grateful that VRCC is available to us 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Our dog had a very concerning cough after being intubated yesterday during an MRI. I might add that she is a pug and already has breathing issues. I have to say, after I read the reviews on here, I asked my husband to turn around and go to another facility. He was already there and being attended to! The Doctor said the doggie had an irritated trachea and prescribed a cough suppressant for her. The whole process was no more than 1/2 hour and at a very reasonable price. Thank you for making our girl comfortable and being so fast seeing her. Highly recommend!

Dr. Lynn Harpold has consistently helped my dog Oliver. Dr. Harpold could have ceased all correspondence with me when I left VRCC. HOWEVER, out of the goodness of her heart she has worked with my vet in New Kent to make sure Oliver is undergoing the correct treatment to prolong his life. Dr. Harpold is rational and I respect that. As much as pet owners don't want to hear the bad and ugly.... we need to. Science and statistics will save our little babies. I appreciate all she does as a doctor and care provider for our fur babies. xo

Worst experience in my life. Other than one vet, there was very little compassion or communication. More worried about the money than the care. Owner did a test and didnt even bother to write a report until our home vet wanted it and we pressured them for it. Misdiagnosed my dog as well as lost some crucial bloodwork. If we hadn't left, my dog would probably be dead. We were from out of town so we brought her home for palliative care and the dog is fine now.

They were so kind and compassionate when he had to put our dog down today. It really did make it so much easier to have to put my best friend dow . I want to say especially thank you to doctor beek and the nurse Becca. They were so compassionate and kind and understanding of what was going on. They explained what they were doing. Thank you so much for making it so much easier

If you are reading this listen to the other reviews and go elsewhere. While my animal was not actually seen here, I have three puppies battling Parvo. They are being treated as outpatients and were given a specific food that has kept them alive the past day and a half. We are almost out of the critical care food & I called my regular vet and they didn t have any.. they called every vet in the Charlottesville area trying to get it for us. After calling VRCC and willing to drive almost two hours for this nutrition I found it at VRCC. My vet told me if I found it they would call- according to EXTREMELY RUDE AND NON COMPASSIONATE receptionist. legally they can not give it to me without paying their visit fee and bringing the puppies in. Called my vet and they said it s not a legal issue and they will call and get it squared away. My vet informed me that they said it is their policy and refused to let me purchase this food from them. I ve called Charlottesville, Richmond, Culpeper, Harrisonburg and DC looking for this food as I only have enough to last me until roughly 8pm as we didn t expect them to make it in the first place.. but they have and this food has kept them alive. After reading reviews it seems that COMPASSION is severely lacking in this place. They just want your money so please spend it wiser elsewhere!! Dear owners: I hope you sleep well tonight knowing my three puppies can not get the nutrition they need all because of your selfish & greedy policy.

*Edited to add: I looked up the so call law and it pertains to controlled substances in the state of Virginia. It s literally life saving food that my puppies are going without until our order comes in and they were doing much better and have since declined over night. I also called several other Vets who said it was not a law on food and if they had it they would be willing to help us. This practice just wants money!

I found the veterinarians that I interacted with to be professional, compassionate and very knowledgeable. However I found the front desk to be cold, impersonal, too busy to deal with you and present an overall negative impression of the organization. They definitely need some training in how to interact professionally as well as compassionately (considering the business they are in) with their all-important clients.

Our experience with this office was top notch. From check in to check out we were treated kindly and compassionately. The doctors and staff communicated well and kept us in the loop the entire time. I truly feel like they cared about our sweet Zeus and the rest of our family as well. They saved Zeus's life and gave us a diagnosis and treatment plan. I am so very thankful for VRCC.

Hello ,My name is Allie Anastasio, my first visit to VRCC was when my sugar was very high and I was in critical condition. The treatment I received was outstanding!!! They took really great care of me. They got me better. I was able to go home on Vetsulun. I go for regular appointments to make sure I am doing ok. I see doctor Rayos. Every time I go the staff is so happy to see me and gives me lots of love hugs and kisses. I love going the are part of my family!

Brought my dog in because he has a chunk out of his ear while playing with his brother and this was the only 24 hr emergency vet I could find. After charging me 600 to patch up his ear I brought him back for his follow up and his rebandaging which I was told was all included from the surgery and they charged me another 35 dollars. He was breathing heavy and rapid after this visit so I brought him back and they offered a 2800 dollar surgery for a breathing obstruction issue. My dog sees his vet regularly and has never had breathing problems. His normal vet has never made any mention or concern of any breathing or respiratory problems from all the visits and all the test. Tgis vet is out to manufacture issues and subject your pet to uneccessary procedures and test just to charge you more money. I would strongly recommend keeping any animal away from this vet unless you want them put through rediculous test they don't need and want your bank account drained.

Update: after being told by Dr Jordan that I was lucky they didn't charge me an additional 90 dollars for breathing issues they caused I took my dog to his normal vet who did a full physical and said he is perfectly healthy has no respiratory problems and thought recommending surgery to forcibly open his airway was reckless and dangerous to his health. Again horrible vets and continuously try to lie to cover their ass and charge you more money for unnecessary procedures and treatments.

My dog's regular vet diagnosed him with a stomach blockage that needed to be surgically removed right away. On the weekends, only VRCC was available, and they got him into surgery the same day! The surgeon, Dr Trevor, was so helpful and gave us updates and lots of information. He also took follow up calls when we were a little concerned about recovery. Our dog is doing much better and recovered extremely well right after the surgery. It sure was pricey, but you can't put a pricetag on your beloved pet. I feel that VRCC treated him very well and gave excellent customer service. If we need emergency vet service we will definitely return! Thank you Dr Trevor for saving our dog!

I have to say they saved my dog s life. She had a bad pancreatic attack and almost died. Dr Rios and all the staff worked very hard on my Roxie and she spent almost 3 weeks in ICU. They never gave up on her. Worth every penny spent to have my dog still with me. Many thanks.

Several years ago we took our border collie there after she was diagnosed with cancer. During the 6 months of chemo, the doctors and staff were compassionate, patient with my many questions, and very flexible with us. In our dogs last days, we stayed in her run with her as much as we could. After she passed, we wanted to come say good-by and the vet assistants had her in a room, on a table with wildflowers around her. We were allowed to spend the time we needed to grieve our loss. It is a moment we still cherish.
So last month our next border collie was found with a mass on her spleen. We did not hesitate to ask for a referral for VRCC for her surgery as we know they treat the whole family, not just the pet. We were allowed to sit with her in her run, well past visiting hours ended, as the staff knew that having her curled up sleeping next to me was healing for all. Although the mass was diagnosed a malignant, we appreciate all VRCC did for us. Since she is an older dog, we have opted for palliative care this time and the doctors there were very supportive of our decision.

Great place! Had to make an emergency visit at 2am. I called ahead and then drove in. The staff there was helpful, responsive and compassionate throughout my experience. Very efficient and took great care of our cat. Keep up the outstanding customer service! Thanks again!!!

I'd like to thank Dr. Fallin, Dr. Jones, Dr. van Beek and the entire VRCC staff for the loving care they gave to our dog Tess. This was are 2nd visit with Tess to VRCC in the past three weeks and both times she was treated with compassion and we were given a very thorough diagnosis and estimate. Tess was in a lot of pain last night and Dr. Jones and team fixed the issue in a relatively short time. After she spent about 24 hours at VRCC we took her home and she appears to be feeling a lot better. Thank you VRCC team.

My husband and I have been very loyal to VRCC for years. However, this morning I called about my sick cat and spoke with Barbara. She was curt and incompassionate right from the start. We were very worried about our fur child and she clearly had little concern. We chose not to bring him there. I hope that if we decide to come back, we will receive better customer service than what Barbara demonstrated this morning.

VRCC is an excellent veterinary emergency and specialized care facility. The Richmond region is very lucky to have such sophisticated animal care available. The staff is excellent and the facility is very well-equipped. Dr. Trevor is an excellent orthopedic specialist.

These folks are top notch! From Amanda at the front desk to the vet techs and the docs, my dog is always a priority, YOUR dog is always a priority...There have been some truly sorrowful endings over the years, but ensuring my puppers get the best care brings me back every time!

I love this place. The two times I have needed to visit they have been AMAZING. They were so accommodating and kind-vet was super helpful and reassuring. NOT TO MENTION the owner is a rockstar who does a ton of work in our community with underprivileged kids and soccer. Best place in town for an urgent pet issue. Told me to call 24/7 to check on sweet Boomer.

My mom and I took my dog in for surgery on her jaw yesterday. We met with Dr. Trevor, who seemed nice and competent. He explained everything very well and seemed to care about my dog. The rest of the staff were very rude. The receptionist acted like we had just spilled coffee all over her. She was annoyed and angry the entire time we were there. We went back today to pick my dog up, and the receptionists were just as rude as before. We were told to go to an exam. room after waiting for 15 minutes. They told us they would bring my dog out soon. We waited for another 10 minutes before a lady, who didn't have my dog, came in to explain the aftercare instructions. She just read off a paper we were already given with an angry look on her face. She sounded so irritated. The staff acted like we ruined their day by just being there. They glared at us every time they had to talk to us. I don't recommend going there if you have a choice.

I can't say enough good things about VRCC - they saved my dogs life. After weird behavior we took Nellie to VRCC and they didn't stop until they could figure out what was going on - ended up with a 2 week stay and multiple surgeries for her to get better.

Each time I called I was met with compassion, genuine care, and given detailed updates. During my visits with Nellie vets and techs frequently came by to tell me how much they loved my dog or blew her kisses through the glass window. Dr. van Beek is a true angel, I can't thank everyone at VRCC enough.

Last night was the 2nd time I had to bring my pet to them d/t emergency. This time my dog was hit by a car, they were so fast getting her back and compassionate. My dog made it!!! I highly recommend them!!!

Awful experience. Everyone was very nice but we were there for 4.5 hours, spent $400, and got an incorrect diagnosis of esophagitis. I had to call my sister who is a vet tech multiple times and she told me that there is no reason they should have been doing the things they were/taking as long as they were. But they only had 1 vet on; it's just not right to have 1 ER vet on duty on a Sunday because they don't want to pay a second vet, resulting in people waiting for unnecessary amounts of time. They had our kitty back there to take an xray for over an hour!!! An xray should NEVER take that long. And all of that would be fine, but we wasted $400 for absolutely nothing. I just looked up the symptoms of esophagitis and he only had one, maaaaybe 2 of them. When the vet was telling us about her diagnosis, she obviously didn't sound very sure of it. She said it was her "best guess." Best guess?? I'm sorry but 4.5 hours and $400 should result in more than a best guess...which was clearly wrong...the internet has given me better information than that vet.

EDIT: It was a hairball. $400 and 4.5 hours later for a hairball that we fixed at home with some $10 hairball gel from Petco..

My dog was evaluated very quickly. Treatment was fast, efficient, and people and pet friendly. I hope we don't need them again, but glad they are open after hours if we do.

Ashley was the most rude receptionist I've ever dealt with. I was returning a call from Dr. Jones regarding my cat's X-Ray from last night. She had asked I call back as described in my voicemail. Ashley sounded as though I was an inconvenience to her and condescendingly asked me who she was supposed to transfer me to because Dr. Jones had left at 8am. This is was beyond rude, especially considering I just spent $700 bringing my cat to this establishment. After reading several other reviews, it appears I'm not the only customer who feels this way. It's a shame, the people that took care of me last night were really nice. But one person treating you poorly can ruin an entire experience.

I would leave 2,000 stars if I could. Yesterday our elderly dog, who has been struggling for a while, fell for the last time and was unable to get up. We brought her in for emergency care because it was a Sunday and our vet was not available. They brought her in right away when we got there, wheeling her in on a gurney since she was unable to walk. It was clear she would need to be put to sleep. EVERY person we interacted with was immeasurably caring and compassionate. We were able to spend as much time with her as we needed, and they gave us an imprint of her pawprint to keep. They made us feel like we were the most important visitors there even though they were clearly busy with others as well. Everyone was so understanding of what we were going through. Losing our dog was heartbreaking, but the care and attention she got made it a little more bearable. We definitely recommend this vet!

We had to make an emergency stop at RVRCC on our way headed west this last Saturday. Our dog had a cyst burst that has been on his hip for years..... the staff was very friendly and professional... the vet on staff that day took time to talk with me and explain everything.... to confirm what/why/how etc. of what was going on and our options.... our Jake is healing very well... thanks for a job well done! and all this was done while running on generator power from the storm knocking out the power the day before...

This past Sunday our dog, Coach needed immediate care. Our normal Veterinarian was not open and we had to find a clinic that could see Coach. River Run Veterinarian Hospital graciously made time to fit him Sunday before they closed. After they took x-rays and saw that Coach needed emergency care, they referred us to VRCC hospital. VRCC took care of our Coach in ICU over night and mitigated the need for surgery. We had our Coach home the next evening thanks to the wonderful staff of VRCC. We highly recommend VRCC to anyone seeking emergency care for their pet.

Amazing. They are knowledgeable, compassionate, & hard working. They truly care for your pets as if their own.

This is an EXCEPTIONAL hospital! They helped us when no one else would treat our pet chicken. Thank you VRCC!

Five stars hands down. We had to put our beloved family member Ebby down. This was a excrutating decision for us. The staff cried with us and helped us through this horrible gut wrenching experience. The doctor that put Ebby to sleep was also very compassionate. My little black angel will always be in our hearts and in our minds. Thank you.

The veterinarians are great but the front desk staff are very rude and unfriendly.

Staff and vets are wise, knowledgeable and compassionate. We are fortunate to have this facility available.

First was a phone conversation with a woman who was not overly pleasant and provided our rescue with an inflated estimate of care (3 days of ICU) and demanded a deposit of 50% of that estimate charged to our credit card when the dog was checked in. The ultimate result- the dog was released from treatment in LESS than 24 hours yet they managed to justify keeping 85% of our 50% deposit on a 3 day ICU estimate. Plus, they offer no discount to rescue groups. I had them send me all the records. ( It's especially interesting that in one page of evaluation, they listed our dog as a Chinese Crested. It's a West Highland White Terrier.) Our rescue dog was cared for appropriately for the one urgent issue at hand, however in doing business with this VRCC I was overwhelmingly reminded too much from too many on the staff that at the heart of it all- it's just business and $$$$.

VRCC helped us twice in 2020 when we desperately needed it. In March they helped us say goodbye to our girl, and in late December their quick diagnosis saved our puppy. Everyone there was courteous, knowledgeable, and took the time to answer our questions. Our boy is now at home and on the road to recovery.

Brought my 2 YO Cat in for excessive breathing 120 bresthes per minute vs 40-60 avg. He was making a choking sound, and the first thing the vet said it was probably from the car ride... Yeah, that's why I brought him in, because the car ride he wasn't in before was causing excess breathing, dur... She acted like a salesperson with the x-rays and blood tests which my mother ate up, said the vlcat probably had asthma, which in my entire life and 6 cats later never heard of before, but she insists is "common" lucky for them that's $170 to check! Left with no diagnoses and told I would hear about blood tests in the morning. It's been 3 days... If my Cat died if something that could've been diagnosed early and treated (which today he's gotten worse, but we've been waiting on that call). They'll be hearing from my lawyer so fast their "tails" will spin.

Read the reviews, front desk is totally incompetent, believe that. Had an appointment originally scheduled for 10/19, could not make, so called on 10/17 to reschedule. Asked for first available and that was for today, 10/29 at 9:00AM with Dr. Fallin and that was booked. Loaded up the pup and drove an hour to get there only to find that they had neglected to book the appointment. Totally incompetent front desk staff, just like every other negative review states. What a bunch of morons, starting at the Administrator level with Brenda Marrs. Smart mouth, limited brain.

Trust me here......

As a veterinary professional, I have referred my patients to this practice, and owners have spoke of their experience with nothing but positive feedback. I recently experienced this hospital from an owner s perspective. Our 10 year old dog had a urinary obstruction and needed to have an ultrasound and emergency surgery. Dr Ditzler was knowledgeable and compassionate and gave frequent updates throughout her care. She was outstanding. I can t say enough about her technician Lisa. who was comforting to my son and I. She was attentive to every aspect of that experience from patient care of our dog Buggy to explaining the financial component. We got through this emotional time with Lisa s help and kindness. Dr Trevor has always been an exceptional veterinary surgeon so I knew Buggy was in good hands. The bottom line is this team really cares about both owners and pets, and we were blessed to have them care for our dog. Thanks so much!

A big thank you to Dr. Howland and staff for taking care of Faith on an emergency visit two weeks ago. The staff I was in contact with were very professional, knowledgeable and compassionate about what they do. Dr. Howland called me with updates on my dog and advised me of my options and costs upfront. Faith has been home recovering and she says everyone at Veterinary Referral & Critical Care were all very nice to her!

just a couple of days ago i took my 11 year old cat into her vet for irregular breathing. shortly after being seen, we were sent to VRCC for suspected heart disease. in just 5 short hours, i said goodbye to my sweet baby. The compassion that Dr. Fallin and the other doctor and nurses showed her was unparalleled. Dr. Fallin treated my girl so well and did everything he could for her. he was so kind to both her and myself as we put her to sleep laying in my lap and let me know i was doing the right thing. her death was very unexpected and rapid and i can't thank the people at VRCC enough for their kindness to me during our time there. i will never forget them and everything they did for us. Dr. Fallin is a true animal lover and so thoughtful and kind. they are lucky to have him.

One of my dogs was critically ill, GI bleed and diarrhea. I called my regular vet b/c it was during business hours, and because I live near VRCC and not near him, he told me to talk her to VRCC. I called to tell them I was on my way. The receptionist rudely interrupted me and told me that because it was business hours I would have to wait to see the internal medicine doctor, and the minimum was over $200 (I was upset and don't remember the exact amount. I hung up and called my friend who works with FLAG and she recommended Dr. Bayer over on Patterson Ave right by Rt. 288. Dr. Bayer saved my dog's life! He took care of her right away, and while she did have to spend one night in ICU (Cary Street), she is completely recovered. She had hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, which is treatable with fluids, anti-emetics, and antibiotics. I thought this was what the VRCC was for. Guess I was wrong. If you want to be treated rudely and gauged because you love your pets, definitely go there.

Awesome staff! Very friendly! Took great care of my Min Pin Caesar after he had two seizures! Thank you!

These guys are beyond amazing, especially Dr. Harpold and Amy. They have been treating one of my cats for over a year now and I have never had anything but wonderful customer service up front, a doctor who is not only compassionate to us humans but the patients as well. I am also very forgetful on some things and often am last minute making appointments or asking for refills and they are always as accommodating as they can possibly be. Whether you need to visit with an appointment or on an emergency basis, I would recommend them over any other emergency vets in the area if you want wonderful compassionate service.

I can't say enough about the care my dog received from Dr. Clarke who is a veterinary neurologist. He did a thorough physical exam of my dog and explained what he thought the problem was, but said that to be certain an MRI was necessary. He carefully explained the options depending on the results of the MRI. I chose to have Dr. Clarke perform surgery directly following the MRI. My dog's recovery was a slow process and Dr. Clarke's follow-up care was great. I really appreciated the fact that he always took the time to explain everything carefully and never rushed any of our visits. I highly recommend Dr. Clarke!

This is the best place to bring an you family pet for emergency and critical care. I highly recommend this place for critical care etc. The staff have always been pleasant. This is not your typical vet office. They care about their patients and their needs. They are going to do what is best for the baby we trust in their care. They will give recommendations to what they think your baby needs. They will ask what you want done and not done. They ask due to everyone's financial needs are not the same. I know these vets are not God, but they are helpers. They are human and do good and may not make the choice you would. They still have a heart as they are human. They have done right by all of my family and pets.

We took our kiitty to Vrcc on Feb 3. He ultimately had to be euthanized due to complications from heart disease. The staff members at front desk were very nice and sympathetic as we very obviously very upset, however the vets showed no feelings of compassion at all, especially the first male vet we saw. He wanted to euthanize our cat immediately before he really knew what was wrong. We insisted on testing to find out exactly what was wrong, and as the vet left the left the room to arrange the testing he basically told us we were wasting our time- not very nice. A cardiologist then saw our kitty and did explain situation, showed a little more compassion but not a lot. I just hope we did the right thing because our lives have not been the same since. I am not sure we did do the right thing and have wondered ever since if we should taken him elsewhere. I don't think I could go to Vrcc again as we have since heard of cats surviving the episode Sammy had at a similar age.

VRCC has been great. While no one wants to take their pet to an emergency vet / specialist it is nice to know that option is available. Doctor Wan has been terrific diagnosing and treating our 2 year old labradoodle. She has been methodical, communicative and conservative with his treatments / procedures. I would recommend the VRCC to any pet owner that needs emergency care or a specialist.

Excellent experience with two different dogs including one experience at 1AM at night. The staff are friendly and they are very straightforward with their tests and costs giving you a high and low amount so there are no surprises.

I came in with my little elderly chihuahua with many issues knowing already that she would most likely need to be put down. I had taken her to a different hospital 2 weeks prior and the experience was awful. Spent almost 8 hours in the parking lot with little updates. When I came here it was easy and I felt like I was being listened to. Whithin 30 minutes I was already talking to a vet. She told me all my options and unfortunately putting my best friend down was the best option. All the staff was very friendly and kind to me. The vet walked me through the process of putting her down and gave me plenty of time to spend with her before and after her death. Although I wish I could have my baby I am very happy that I could say goodbye in an amazing veterinary hospital that made me feel comfortable and most importantly my baby comfortable as she passed

I cannot describe the trauma that we all experienced when Lucy was attacked just two days before Christmas 2013.
She is now 14 1/2 years old, and a front leg amputee. She s a very happy girl.
The fabulous staff and board certified surgeon, Dr. Anna Aman at Veterinary Referral & Critical Care saved her life and encouraged us to be there for her as much as possible. We are so happy to have her at home and well.

I had to put my beloved dog (Shadow) of 20+ years to sleep yesterday. As you may know it was one of the most painful decisions I ve had to make. I was very limited financially and I couldn t get my vet to do it that day so I found veterinary Referral & critical care Hospital and they we so very friendly and helpful so that s where we went. I was very upset and everyone I dealt with were so very kind and understanding and very patient. We were given the pricing and realized we didn t have enough money to have the type of services we wanted. The amazing staff came to us and told us the girls in the back said they would pay the difference so that I would be able have a private cremation and get to take her ashes home. I couldn t believe how wonderful these people were. I didn t get all of their names but I want to say once again Thank you very much to Becca, Tina, Pierre (the doctor) and all of the amazing staff. As it turned out the doctor was able to adjust the fees so the bill would be within my price range. I was able to be with my Shadow, along with my daughter and granddaughter outside on a beautiful day and the vet came out to us when we were ready so I could hold her one last time as she passed peacefully. I will miss her always and feel grateful to the vet hospital.

Wanted to give 4 stars as they appear to have addressed their receptionist/compassionate care issues, but really this is more a 3-star review. My major take away is that they seem fine for acute injury but not so good at more complicated pathology.

Ended up making two trips in nearly 12 hours over the weekend, was not surprised it took a few hours due to bloodwork during the busy day shift, but had to go back around midnight and still ended up staying around three hours when there was no one else there after about 12:30/1:00 AM. My primary goal was to make sure my dog was stable until I could get her to our regular vet, and they did that.

However, their diagnosis was VERY wrong. Given my dog's recent medical history I advised of my concern, and some how they went down a path of what seemed to be what they expected (despite repeatedly saying it didn't make sense). At first we generally agreed to watchful waiting, which I was okay with, but during the second trip the recommendation was essentially to double-down (actually more like quadruple-down) on the wrong diagnosis (again, provided history of last 36 hours and informed of my concerns about the earlier diagnosis) and almost recommended a very expensive and unnecessary (even if they were right, according to our family's vet, who previously was an er vet) treatment plan. Again we agreed to watchful waiting with some wound care; however, the bandage they did was a little too thorough, my dog was crying in pain all night long (and running around fine after replaced with some gauze and a little vetrap 12 hours later).

The next morning I got into my normal vet, who indeed confirmed my hypothesis. I am not going to assume they recommended a costly treatment for the money, like some people do.
As a healthcare provider myself, this was a good reminder to consider what the patient might suspect is the issue.

We came here after our 6 year old Pekingese, Sasha, had a sudden and unexpected seizure. We were terrified about what could be wrong with her and feared the worse. After a bad experience with Virginia Veterinary Center in Carytown where they essentially killed our dog 5 years ago over our lack of ability to pay 500 extra dollars right away (after having already paid 1500 dollars up front), we knew we were not about to bring her to VVC to suffer the same fate as our late beloved Pekingese who died at only 3 years old because of their lack of care. We came to VRCC after a neighbor recommendation and because it was close by. They were absolutely fantastic. The doctor on duty (I didn t catch her name but she had brown hair pulled back in a pony tail and was super enthusiastic despite how late it was) explained in clear details what can cause a seizure and how they could diagnose the problem and treat it. They told us they could do the whole 9 yards including a CT scan, but that she didn t like to charge 2500 dollars right out the gate especially since our Sasha didn t have anymore seizures after the one and was acting completely normal soon after plus Pekingese can be prone to seizures due to their snout. This right here proves that they do no care about the money, but simply ensuring our baby was well taken care of and our fears eased. She took blood work and did a few other checks and everything came back normal. Told us that she believed it was just a one time freak accident due to her breed, but to bring her in right away if she begins to act abnormal or has another one. We asked if this meant we d have to be prepared to pay 2500 dollars coming back a second time, and she shook her head and assured us that they would try anti-seizure medication before going down the 2500 dollar route. If this had been been VVC they would have charged as much as possible and would have hid behind their title as an emergency vet on the reason why the bill was so outrageous. Thank you Veterinary Referral and Critical Care for taking such good care of Sasha and not gouging us for a quick buck! We definitely recommend these guys if an emergency happens on a weekend and you don t know where to go! Only a little over 400 dollars and we came home with a happy and healthy dog and our minds at ease!

I have taken many of our pets to the VRCC over the last 15 years for one emergency or another and have found everyone to be of the utmost in professionalism. We recently took our cat, Domino, there after suffering a stroke at home. Dr Schumacher was very kind, very loving to our cat and cried with us as we said our goodbyes. My pets are my life, so I want them to be treated with love, respect and always with their best health at the forefront. Thank you everyone at the VRCC for giving my animals all the things I believe every animal should have.

The staff at VRCC was so kind to us when we unexpectedly had to bring our lab in one evening this past December due to cardiac issues. They calmly and patiently walked us through the situation and what was happening. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to our lab that night. While, of course, we would have preferred to never have been at VRCC that night and for our lab to still be here. But if it had to happen, I'm glad we were there given how good they were to work with in a very sad situation.

VRCC has taken very good care of two of my dogs and the staff is great in person. Unfortunately, dealing with getting records transferred in a timely manner and getting the phone answered in a respectful manner is very much lacking this week...was hung up on twice and the young lady's communication was hasty and dismissive.

The vet techs are wonderful. The girls at the front desk however, need a lesson in customer service. They rolled their eyes at every person on the phone and huffed and puffed every time you asked them a question. Ridiculous

Based on our experience, If your animal needs emergency assistance we highly recommend getting here quickly. We found this place based on our veterinarian's automated phone system's referral...

We purchased a new to us home a few years ago, and moved in without a hitch. That next Christmas, the family got a Golden Retriever puppy from a very reputable breeder. His is 100% part of the family, but almost didn't make it.

At about 6 moths old, the hound was frolicking around in the driveway and garage with me while I was washing a car. Suddenly, i noticed that he had his head jammed under the HVAC system in the garage... and I called to him to come to me. He did, but he had something in his mouth.

That something was a small pouch of rat/mouse poison that the prior owner must have tossed under the HVAC system. Never knew it was there, but could see that the dog had chewed it open as the granular material was everywhere.

Called the vet - but it was the weekend and they were not open. Their voicemail message referred us to this critical care facility if we felt there was a real emergency.

We called this center, and they quickly explained the dire impact that this type of poison could have on a dog... and directed us on how to quickly try and get the dog to vomit and asked us to get there pronto.

We did all that while on the go, car seats and floors be darned, and made it to the clinic in record time. They took the remnants of the packet and then rushed the dog into their treatment room to flush and pump his stomach and do something with charcoal... not 100% sure of the entire process.

The staff was wonderful. Our kids were upset, as were we, but the staff's demeanor was great... though honest about the possibility of system shutdown. They kept the dog for two days and we picked him up on the third day, his bouncy, almost normal self. took a few more days for the charcoal to completely work through his system, but all was well thereafter.

A couple years have gone by now and we continue to be thankful for what they did. Great facility. Caring staff. effective treatment for our hound doggy. Can you put a price on that?

After leaving my home vet on a recheck on 6/26/19 & seeing that my dog had lost another 5 lbs in the past 2 weeks, which now he s lost 15 lbs due to a dermatitis breakout with a secondary infection I declined bloodwork thinking that if something else is wrong that my boy would get help right away!
Bloodwork came back normal & I had peace of mind for a minute;(
I was told that it s skin related & that the vet talked to the dermatologist & for me to call in the morning. In which I did to find out that the appointment is 4 weeks away with my boy losing 5 lbs in the past 2 weeks?!
I have been calling her many times to help me with meds or anything I can do in the meantime to NO AVAIL! As of today 1 week later!

So even know I was not able to bring my chinchilla here(most vets do not see chinchillas)I had read many of the reviews and I felt like the one thing that got them the few 1 stars were there receptionist.I decided I would go ahead and call and just ignore the attitudes however I had the pleasure of speaking with Wendy who was very professional sweet and helpful. So glad it seems they listened to the reviews and got someone way better

Took our dog there for an emergency because she was throwing up and couldn't keep anything down. They sat us in a room for 2 hours after I had asked them repeatedly to help our dog. When we finally got someone, they told us her vital signs were normal, even though nobody had taken vital signs at all. Theyll lie to your face, and will not take care of your animal. Do not recommend going at all!

I'm not able to single any one person out during my experience. All of the employees who helped me with my cat were absolutely amazazing!. From the first phone call, I was welcomed and cared for by everyone I came in contact with. Even though they had about 6 emergencies going on, they made me feel valued and that my cat was being well cared for. I was even surprised at how affordable my cat's emergency care was. I definitely recommend VRCC for emergency pet needs.

Took my dog in who was very sick. Waited hours before the vet came out to tell me they did not know what was wrong with him. They said they had to keep him overnight and went over the cost for him to stay one day and two days. $600 for one day, $1300.00 for two. They told me they would call me at 9:30 the next morning to let me know how my dog was doing. 9:30 came and went and no call. Finally at 10:30 I called them and they proceeded to tell me they had called and left me a message. NOPE. Not true. No one called me. They literally wanted to argue with me that they called. Really? Ok, whatever. So the vet was "unavailable" and would call me back. 20 minutes later they called to tell me basically they did not know what was wrong with my dog and they needed to keep him another day. ($$$$) My dog was very old and very sick and even if they did figure out what was wrong I was not going to have him operated on or enter into a long term treatment. He was unable to stand, eat or go to the bathroom. I asked them the cost to euthanize and how much was owed. They said the bill as of now (12 hours after I took him in was 1300.00 plus the euthanasia cost. WHAT? I said he has only been there a half a day, how is the cost quoted the 2 day cost? Oh, they said we had to do this and that extra and they charge by the half day? What does that mean. So here I am in an emotionally stressed situation, getting ready to put my dog down and they are charging me twice what was quoted. They made an awful experience even worse. Bad communication. Super slow service. Weak diagnostic care. Will never take another pet there. Stay away from this hospital.

Drs. Boyd and Schumacher at VRCC tended to our cat recently. All of the staff members whom we interacted with were courteous and knowledgeable. They took the time to explain answers to all of my questions. They gave our cat the best care, and now he is back to his old self! Many thanks to the kind, caring team at VRCC.

I have unfortunately had to bring my dogs here two times, but during a stressful time, I couldn't have been more pleased with staff response and service. Unfortunately I had to put one of my dogs, Coal down last year, but they handled the whole situation with compassion and dignity. In an emergency situation or if in need of diagnostic services your vet cannot provide, I would 100% recommend VRCC over any other emergency veterinarian.

They were very kind and there for us in a time of need.
The only drawback of any emergency vet is talking about the prices in order to do the work. But that s anywhere and at least they handled the matter with more of the focus on the animal s health.

Dr. Harpold and everyone else at the clinic has been great. Our mini schnauzer developed some very serious problems in a short period of time and the clinic worked us right in and started her on the road to recovery. Dr. Harpold has been very willing to work with our local vet and save us trips to the Richmond area whenever possible. I am thankful our vet sent us to them.

Been there multiple times over the past 5 years with several different pets, both sick and injured. No matter when we have been there, the staff have been very friendly, helpful and kind. Each time, we were given a detailed estimate of the probable costs of treatment, including a low and high amount based on what may need to be done. The estimate was explained completely and all questions answered.

There have been times that we had to wait awhile, but the staff kept us informed that there were critically ill and injured animals who needed immediate care. Our dogs have had scheduled surgeries, biopsies and other testing done. Each time, we were called with the results and given a complete explanation of what that meant for our pet.

This is certainly a place that you never want to use, but are so thankful it is there. We used a few other emergency vet facilities over the years but the caring staff as well as the more reasonable prices keep us coming back to VRCC!

I brought my 11 year old lab to VRCC to get an MRI to rule out back problems related to weak hind legs. The neurologist, Dr. Clark, wanted to do additional tests while he was sedated such as a spinal tap. During the test, my dog regurgitated into his esophagus(he had not eaten since the night before so must have been gastric juices). Dr. Clark stopped the tests and tried to drain my dog's esophagus. My dog's esophagus became enlarged and dysfunctional making it impossible for him to swallow and force food to his stomach- a condition called megaesophagus. He got strong enough for us to take him home but after 2 weeks of feeding him gruel in an upright position he stopped eating and became steadily weaker. We ended up taking him back to VRCC where we had him put to sleep.
Dr. Clark's desire to perform tests in excess of what we asked for required that he use more anesthesia for a longer period of time on an old dog. It is fairly well known that old sick dogs do not tolerate anesthesia very well.In my opinion, Dr. Clark did not consider that he was putting my dog at significant risk. I would advise anyone to think twice before allowing this vet to touch or test their dog.

My cat was at VRCC for 11 days. My husband and I spent a lot of time in the waiting area and in ICU. The staff is all wonderful. They were always caring and professional. I was amazed at how smoothly they run everything at the VRCC. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Took in a dog that had just had 6 puppies and the 7th was still inside.The hustle to make money off a c section from a female vet was overwhelming and appeared that money and surgery was the focus more than anything else.A dead puppy was extracted using her fingers after declining the c section more than once

Absolutely the slowest service ever! Not even busy to have sat for over 2 hours to have a slide checked. Then they wanted to charge 3 to 4 thousand for a surgery that would be 1500 normal places or 500 at low cost centers. It's absolutely crazy how they get away with that. I will say very nice people and I would probably trust their work just would get charged many times over what it should be. Plus they are super super slow.

Amazing, compassionate, professional, empathetic, and prompt are just a few words to describe this animal care hospital. My min-pin had a rough time with a leg fracture, to a new fracture after corrective surgery, then ultimately needing an amputation. Dr. Aman was amazing and attentive to all my questions and concerns during the decision making processes, and took her time to thoroughly discuss everything from diagnosis, procedure, and after care. Every call and visit was met with wonderful folks that weren't just there to "do a job". Amazing hospital and amazing people.

They lied about anti venom med for our dog that a snake bit, they don't have any but were charging $2500 for a phoney shot. Fraud, should be arrested.

They will get your dog better, but expect to wait around a really long time. I arrived at 4:35 to pick up my dog and over an hour later I'm still waiting.

My little dog got hit by an SUV late one night, and it almost tore her leg in two. These folks took her right away while I filled in paperwork, kept her three days, and then I brought her back every day for a week and then every week for 8 weeks for a bandage/cast change. My dog never showed hesitation going in that door. And twelve weeks later she was jumping around as if it had not happened. The price was reasonable, the people fantastically caring and friendly, and I am so grateful.

Recently same dog caught bordatella from a stay at a kennel, I brought her in early Sunday, they were extremely careful to keep her isolated to protect other animals, and again, very efficient, caring and wonderful, and quietly gave me advice of how to avoid this in the future.

We brought out miniature dachshund, Piper, in this week for back pain and we're incredibly impressed at how quickly she was seen and assessed. Dr. Jones and Dr. van Beek are true professionals - wonderful at listening to frantic owners and quick at suggesting multiple options for treatment. We would 100% recommend using VRCC.

VERY fast and accommodating. I was so impressed with the entire staff and care they displayed towards my kitten. Highly recommend!!!!!

Was told not to even bring my dog in because I'm disabled. Will NEVER try to go here EVER again. What awful discrimination.