They took great care of my cat! They were able to pinpoint exactly what was wrong with him. Staff was very nice and the doctor explaind everythin completely! And the reason they have the brochures out is because they don't want you to write your pet off because of funds. They want to help you and give you the option of payments.

Very unprofessional. I did not like the atmosphere or the emphasis on money over all. First off I find it offensive that brochures for "payment plans" are displayed very visibly. I also resent that the doctor I spoke with (on a referral from Alameda Pet Hospital who are super) insulted my intelligence and basically lied and fed me misinformation. She insisted on referring to my dog's tumor as "the cancer". She did this over and over again even after I pointed out the misuse of terminology. To clarify a benign tumor is just a tumor. Growth or polyp are often used terminology. A malignant tumor which spreads or metastasizes is a cancer. Such as lung cancer, breast cancer, etc. At this point in my dogs treatment, the prior vet's opinion was that it has not spread and is not cancer, but a large benign tumor that is beyond his ability to surgically remove. Xrays confirmed this. The VCA people wanted to do sonograms then surgery then chemotherapy "just in case there is any cancer we cant see". I paid $150 for the privilege of being talked to like I am an idiot. I have several family members that I saw through to the endstages of their cancer illness. I also have had several pets that have gone through the same. So I know of what I speak. They may act like they care about your animal, but all they care about is your money. Go anyplace else. This place will milk you for whatever you are worth than offer a payment plan (credit approval required of course). There is a special place in hell for those that profit from misery and prey on sympathy. I would like to point out that had I know I was being referred to a VCA franchise I would never have followed through with an appointment. I have had prior negatve experiences with VCA in other locations. They are all profit driven and merciless. Former employees have told me shocking stories. I think it is telling that they call themselves Bay Area Veterinary Specialists and de-emphasize the VCA part of their name now. They are well aware of the bad rep they have.

There are two sides to BAVS. One side of the practice deals with Internal Medicine issues, the other Oncology. My experience with each was very different. First of all, the vets I dealt with, on both sides, were kind and competent. The staff on the Internal Medicine side were not so warm and forthcoming as the staff on the Oncology side who were absolutely wonderful and supportive. My biggest beef though is with the Internal Medicine side. When you bring your pet in for the initial consult, a staff member comes up to you and asks you to wait in an examining room and then takes your pet away. Now, if you are coming here it means that you have already either exhausted your personal vet's expertise, or it's an emergency. Either way you and your pet are stressed out. It's not unusual for your pet to be taken off to be weighed, but then, at least in my experience, they are returned to you very quickly and the pet is examined, in your presence, by the vet. Not here. Here they just take him/her away and you don't see them again for at least 15 to 20 minutes. When your pet is returned to you it has already been examined out of your sight by the vet, whom you meet for the very first time, and they come in to discuss their findings with you. THIS IS HORRIBLE! Imagine if you went into a specialist pediatrician's office with your sick child and they did this to you! You would scream bloody murder! If we care enough to bring our pets to a specialist to begin with it means that we love them very much. They are like treasured family members and they are whisked out of our sight at a time of real stress! My precious little dog was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was recommended that I have a consult with an oncology specialist. There was no way I was bringing my dog back into this place to be taken away from me again! I did come in to consult with an oncologist and she couldn't have been nicer. When she asked why I didn't bring my pet in I explained to her that I didn't want him to go through that again. She was truly shocked. She explained that this was not how they handled things on the oncology side of the practice. She was not aware that this was the procedure on the other side of the clinic. She did ask me to fill out a comment card to explain how this practice made me feel. I did comply, but I don't imagine it will make much difference. At any rate, we have concluded that my regular vet can take care of any of my pet's needs until his demise. She and the oncologist will consult with each other and that will be all. I hope never to need the services of a specialist again, but if I do, I will consider other options than BAVS if I have to go through the Internal Medicine side of the practice.

This facility is first rate!!! I was so impressed with the service and professionalism, at 2:00 am, I am seriously considering switching my vet care to this facility!!! My cat less than 24 hours post visit, seems to be getting some of his personality and activities back! Everyone from the receptionist (sorry forgot to get his name), to Amanda, vet tech and Dr, Wentworth were wonderful!!! Also, the roster of the vets at this facility were very impressive. Thank you so much for taking such good care of us!!! Also, I was expecting a much larger fee for their care, but found it quite reasonable.

It has taken me 2 years to finally be able to write this, so traumatized was I by my horrible experience at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists. First, I dropped $11,000-- yes, that's right: ELEVEN THOUSAND dollars -- at this place in one month, and the ice-cold staff members could not even find the decency to talk to me on the phone in my time of intense emotional trauma when I called with a simple question. One stone-hearted receptionist actually told me if I wanted to speak to a doctor, I had to schedule an appointment for three days later. What?!?!!?! My dog had ONE week to live, I had just dropped $11,000 at this place, and no doctor could find the grace or decency to call me back? NO! That is not acceptable. Second, this place has so many vets swarming around that you will never get the same one that you got last time, which means that every time you go in, the new vet does not know you or your dog or understand your emotional/ financial situation. One jerkface veterinarian (and believe me, that's a charitable description) actually had the nerve to WALK OUT ON ME in a fit of anger after I burst into tears during an appointment. He never returned--- and they still charged me for the appointment, for which they did absolutely nothing!!! One month, $11,000, and endless hurtful insults and uncaring interactions later, my dog died. I don't blame them for her death, but I do blame them for bilking me out of my entire life savings and treating me and my cherished dog like garbage. Now, two years later, my other dog has cancer. Guess what? I'm NOT going to BAVS. We're going to an excellent oncologist at Santa Cruz Vet Hospital who has 30+ years of experience, is reasonably priced and treats me and my ailing dog like we are the most important clients on Earth. The staff ooohs and ahhhs over my dog and acts like he's the most cherished creature alive. Not only that, but my dog's cancer is now in remission! This has taught me that even in a time a crisis, it's worth it to take a few extra minutes and read the reviews and get recommendations first, for the sake of both yourself and your pet. I should have written a letter of complaint to the Calif. Veterinary Board about the terrible people at BAVS, but I was too traumatized at the time to do so. If I could give this place negative stars, I would give them a -20. Final word: Stay away from BAVS San Leandro at all costs-- unless you want to get bankrupted and treated like the scum of the Earth. I am so sorry to my poor deceased dog that she had to spend her final days here, and I will never forgive myself for putting her in the hands of these cruel, heartless shells of human beings.