Southern Oaks Animal Hospital

My family has been going to this vet for years and have had a few family pets put down here as well. Our family cat passed away after 20 long years and we waited over a week to pick up their ashes. Finally we got the call to bring our baby home. The staff placed her ashes in a cardboard box with nothing else included. This is not only heartbreaking, but totally unacceptable on how we wanted to receive our beloved pet. The staff should be re trained on how to handle and care for ashes when they are being given back to the family. If I could put zero stars I would.

I originally visited yesterday and, unfortunately, a scheduling issue required me to return today. However, I was very impressed with how they handled the situation. I received a call from a kind and professional staff member (forgot her name, I think the office manager) who was extremely helpful in correcting the issue. She even asked for my opinion and suggestions regarding the new scheduling system they are using and working to improve. I appreciated that—it showed she was genuinely concerned about resolving the situation and preventing it from happening again. Things do not always go perfectly, but what really matters is how a business handles an issue—and they handled it exceptionally well. Based on my experience, this is easily the best animal hospital around. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a place where their pets are genuinely cared for and treated with kindness. ❤️🐾💖

I took my pups here twice, once for an elective surgery and once for a specialty exam. I went there because it was affordable in comparison to other places. That was my mistake. This place is horrible when it comes to communication. I never once met or heard from any of the vets involved in the care of my pups. They never checked in on how my pup was doing after surgery. I never get to go back with my pups to meet the vet, ask questions, stay with them during the exam, etc. I will not be using southern oaks in the future. I would much rather pay more money for veterinarian care that allows me to stay with my pet (when appropriate), the vet actually communicates directly with me, and they call to check in on my pup after major procedures. If I had known they were not doing the major procedure laparoscopically, I would’ve gone elsewhere. My fault for not asking that. At the same time, I wasn’t given much of a chance to ask such questions. If you want decent vet care where they do not communicate well with the owner, feel free to go here. My pups are my fur babies. You wouldn’t send your kid all alone back to the doctor’s office and just wait until the nurse told you anything about how your kid was doing. I won’t do that with my pups either. Update: experienced complications with the surgical procedure and my regular vet recommended I go back to Southern Oaks to have Dr. Dean repair the problem. I was pleased when I got there that they brought me back to an exam room with my pup. However, it did not go well from there. Dr. Dean fairly quickly launched into asking me why the problem occurred, did I use an e collar, keep her from messing with the suture, etc. Then he proceeds to tell me that he read the above review and did not think it was fair for a variety of reasons, which he expounded on. Then he tells me he’ll do the repair surgery for free and asked that I take down this review. Yes, they care deeply for the animals in their care. I also did not lie in my review. My biggest problem with them was the complete lack of veterinarian-to-owner communication—my inability to make an informed decision about the procedure because of the lack or communication, the failure to follow up with me after the procedure, not allowing me to stay with me pet during nonsurgical procedures. Dr. Dean, sir, this is my fourth Great Dane. This is not the first time I’ve ever had these special procedures (including four different ways they can be done) or specialty exams completed on a Great Dane. Far from it. I have moved a good amount, so every one of these past procedures/exams has been with a different veterinarian. I have never in the life of my four Great Danes been treated like that by a veterinarian. Furthermore, as someone who specializes in working with difficult people and having to address disgruntled and emotional people, I can tell you that how you handled the situation was the most ineffective route to take if you want someone to change their view of you and your practice. I hold no ill will. We clearly are not a great fit. I would rather pay for vet care elsewhere and wish you the best in your ongoing practice.