VCA Encina Veterinary Medical Center

Reviews

• TS

  Tamara Shulim

  Dec 25, 2025
  1.0
  I’m writing this as a close family member of someone who entrusted her beloved fur baby to Dr. Da Bin Lee at VCA Encina. What I witnessed was heartbreaking and infuriating. I knew her dog very well. She was deeply loved, carefully cared for, and treated as family in every sense of the word. Watching what she and the person I love went through after trusting VCA Encina was devastating. This was not a routine visit. It involved specialized care and a procedure for a serious condition, and instead of improving, her condition worsened afterward. I was closely involved during her recovery and decline and witnessed much of this firsthand. Over the months that followed, I watched a once happy, vibrant soul decline in ways that were shocking and painful. Despite relentless efforts to advocate for her and seek answers, the underlying issue was never resolved. Given the seriousness of her condition and the significant cost of care, it was deeply troubling that appropriate diagnostic testing and further investigation were not pursued. For the amount charged, a thorough exploration of the root cause should have been expected, but that never happened. After months of suffering and decline, she passed. The emotional toll was enormous. My loved one did everything possible to help her baby and placed deep trust in the professionals providing care, trust that was not met. What followed only deepened the harm. After the failure to resolve the issue and the decision to send her elsewhere, responsibility was deflected rather than acknowledged. This experience was traumatic not only for those closest to her, but for everyone who loved her baby and had to witness her suffering and eventual loss. I would strongly caution anyone considering VCA Encina for complex or specialized care to think very carefully. Some losses change you forever. Watching this unfold is something I will never forget!
• PR

  Paige Rieboldt

  Dec 22, 2025
  5.0
  The whole staff were very kind & helpful when we had to say goodbye to our boy. They were so empathetic & kind, I’m so glad this was where we ended up. I feel like they truly took the weight of figuring out what to do next off of our shoulders, like they had the rest of it handled, we just needed to be with him. I’ll never forget the kindness of the women there that day. ♥️
• SV

  Sepi Vafaeenia

  Dec 16, 2025
  1.0
  I do not write negative reviews lightly, but what my fur baby and I experienced at VCA Encina Veterinary Medical Center was so devastating that I feel morally obligated to warn others. We brought my dog to VCA Encina in July 2025 specifically for a parotid salivary duct obstruction. She could not eat because her parotid duct visibly swelled every time she put anything in her mouth. This was not a routine dental visit. It was a complex, painful condition requiring specialized care, which is why we chose a board-certified veterinary oral specialist rather than our regular veterinarian. We spent nearly $5,500 trusting Dr. Lee and this hospital to identify and resolve the root cause of her suffering. That never happened. Despite extensive communication beforehand, including emails, records, labs, photos, and detailed descriptions of symptoms, the primary issue was never resolved. Stones were removed, but no sialogram or marsupialization was performed, despite these being standard diagnostic and treatment options for suspected parotid duct obstruction. A radiologist noted the salivary gland itself appeared normal, strongly suggesting an ongoing duct obstruction or scar tissue, yet this was never fully explored. After the procedure, Dr. Lee ultimately told me she could not help and referred us to UC Davis, forcing us to start over after spending nearly $5,500. By that point, she had significantly declined. She developed severe gastrointestinal issues, extreme weakness, and anorexia from months of being unable to eat. She went in overweight and rapidly became dangerously underweight. Eventually, her back legs could no longer support her, making another invasive procedure no longer feasible. I want to acknowledge that Dr. Lee was kind and responsive during our visits. However, kindness does not replace the need for thorough investigation, follow-up, and accountability when a patient continues to suffer. After the procedure, my fur baby declined immediately and never recovered. She developed severe gastrointestinal issues after being placed on medications, particularly meloxicam, which I had already expressed concerns about. She began vomiting daily, something she never experienced prior. While under VCA Encina’s care, she bit and tore her tongue badly enough to require suturing and another round of anesthesia. This should never have been allowed to happen. She should have been closely monitored. She also developed jaw misalignment, could no longer yawn normally, and began grinding and squeaking her jaw. For over four months, she had to be syringe-fed because eating caused obvious pain. Her parotid duct continued to swell with every attempt to eat or drink. She became extremely underweight and had no quality of life. Four months later, my fur baby died. When I contacted management seeking accountability, my emails were ignored. When I finally spoke with the manager, Francesca, she was dismissive and insisted nothing was done wrong, despite the documented timeline. There was no compassion, no ownership, and no accountability. Additionally, the front desk staff were consistently careless, repeatedly entering my baby’s date of birth incorrectly despite multiple corrections. This experience was traumatic. VCA Encina failed to resolve the issue we came in for, caused additional complications, and sent us away with no answers while my soul companion suffered until her death. If you are considering VCA Encina for anything beyond basic care, especially for complex oral or salivary duct issues, please think very carefully. Trusting them with my fur baby is something I will regret for the rest of my life. Final note: This review reflects my personal, firsthand experience. I stand by what I have written here and can substantiate it with medical records and documentation. Any response attempting to minimize or reframe this experience does not change what my fur baby and I went through.
• SS

  shelby

  Dec 10, 2025
  5.0
  Always friendly, communicative, and good at their jobs!! ☺️
• SC

  Sonya Crocker

  Dec 10, 2025
  5.0
  My senior kitty needed emergency dental treatment after being injured at her usual veterinarian. While there are no dental specialists in the bay area on the weekend, they were able to get her in and have a consultation and surgery within 3 days of her first visit. Before they could get her into surgery, they did what they could to adjust her tooth and provide pain management. At each appointment the techs and Dr were all very kind and explained everything thoroughly, repeatedly asking if I had any questions and that I could call at any hour if I had questions. Of course the cost is what you'd expect for urgent specialist surgery, no dentist is cheap, but they explained the expected itemized cost range before and after surgery and completed it without issue. After she went home they sent a picture of her after the surgery and checked in to see how she was doing the following day. This is her second ER visit at Encina within the past few years and both times have been just as satisfactory.

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