I brought my cat in 4 a $200 consult. He is in critical condition, can't move, cant eat & if 1 did not know that his symptoms could B cured, U would euthanize.
Dr. Was compassionate & was referred by my vet of 15 yrs who worked with R rescue. I was told I could come in next day 4 bloodwork (I am fundraising) so I did. Staff said I'd have 2 wait 5 days 4 next appt but I said check with Dr., they did, he said come in, so I did. I was told by the girl who took him in, I could do an in-house 4 $50 more than sending it to IDEXX which would B right away or IDEXX would B 1 more day. She said the vet would call me that night if the results came in that night or the next day & 2 watch 4 a blocked # call.
Since I got no call, I called in Only 2 B told in this emergency, at this emergency clinic, I'd have 2 wait 4 the vet 2 come back on, which would B 6 days from the day of the blood draw 2 get the results.
This is an emergency & he needs 2 B operated on if the test results say hes good. If not, then he needs 2 B euthanized, & not wait & suffer. He cannot eat. The ear infection has frozen his jaw. He cant move. All this goes away with surgery so there is a reason 2 do the surgery.
I told staff i would not have done bloodwork there if i was not lied 2 & told the truth about the wait.
Staff had no solution but 2 wait 4 the vet 2 come in & 4 my cat 2 wait 6 days.
I said he will not make that wait & I didn't even get an i'm sorry. When I call in they don't even have 2 look him up on the computer. Maybe they don't have enough customers, but they immediately say I have 2 wait 4 the results 2 be read by the vet when they hear his name, loverboy.
I could never recommend anybody going there.
NOTE: condensed description for character limit for reviews.
My dog had a mast cell tumor removed at PacVet. The surgeon reported clear margins, and preliminary tests from the primary vet showed no evidence of spread. Despite this, PacVet’s oncologist recommended chemotherapy without explaining why or suggesting repeat diagnostics. Trusting their advice, I agreed.
The first four chemotherapy sessions went without reported issues. PacVet knew my dog was highly anxious, and I acquired a sedative (Gabapentin) before the next visit. The medication barely worked; he was still panicked and trembling. When he was returned to me, I asked the vet tech how it went and they mentioned they had “restrained” him, demonstrating with a full-body hugging motion. Physically restraining a terrified dog—without notifying or involving me—was alarming and, in my view, irresponsible. Safer alternatives, including different sedatives or allowing me to be present, were never proposed to me.
Hours later, my dog developed extreme chest pain to the touch. Soon after, fluid began accumulating under the skin in the same area, causing visible drooping, discomfort, and difficulty resting. The pain lasted about four days. The swelling persisted and then rapidly hardened into a mass roughly the size of a small Altoids tin.
I had noticed my dog had no leg wrap after his fifth treatment. At the next, I asked how the chemotherapy had been administered. The vet tech answered, “We don’t know,” adding that injections were sometimes given in the leg and “sometimes in another place,” gesturing around the abdomen. This was deeply troubling, as vinblastine is an IV chemotherapy drug that can cause severe tissue damage if improperly administered. California law suggests documenting the **route of administration**, yet PacVet repeatedly stated they had no record of where the drug was injected.
At that same appointment, Dr. “K” returned my dog and said they had performed an ultrasound—again without asking me—to check the mass. He said it might be an injection reaction and might or might not resolve, but he also stated "we don't know" where the previous dose had been administered.
Within a week, the mass ruptured, forming a ~1cm opening that leaked foul-smelling fluid. My dog was clearly uncomfortable and avoiding normal resting positions. My primary veterinarian examined him, prescribed antibiotics.
At my dog’s sixth PacVet visit, after paying for the appointment, a staff member informed me the surgeon “wanted to speak with me” about the mass. Afterward, PacVet phoned claiming I needed to pay a consult fee—despite the visit being completely unsolicited. I refused as I was not told in advance it was a billable consultation.
I had a trusted doctor/surgeon remove the mass (not PacVet).
At the seventh appointment, I again asked how the chemotherapy was administered. The tech said Dr. 'J' could show me “exactly” and indicated the the abdominal are and stated it was the ["intraperitoneal area"]—the same location where the painful mass had formed. I had never been informed that chemotherapy might be injected there, nor warned of the risks. Every answer was vague and noncommittal.
On 12/02/2025, I received an email from the Administrative Services Manager stating I owed money for the consultation and that PacVet would not administer my dog’s final chemotherapy treatment unless I paid. There was no acknowledgment that the consult was initiated by them, not me, and no attempt at compromise or concern for my dog’s ongoing care. Only payment demands. Notably, the ultrasound I also did not request was never billed.
Throughout this process, my dog endured significant pain, anxiety, and a serious complication—possibly linked to improper drug administration—while PacVet provided inconsistent information, failed to document critical medical details, and placed billing above patient welfare. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend PacVet for oncology services or any care requiring reliable communication, proper record-keeping, or compassionate handling of any animal.
