VCA High Peaks Animal Hospital

Reviews

• LW

  Laurie Walsh

  Sep 5, 2026
  1.0
  I rarely right a negative review but I have had enough. I have a pug. She has gone to this facility since I got her. She is now 5 and in December will be 6. She has allergies which she seems to be allergic to a lot of things. I find a new one here or there over the years. That is not the issue I will write about. Like I said, she loved going there. About a year ago, I noticed that when we would go for nail trims she hid under a chair. I wasn't concerned. The next visit seemed even more terrifying for her. She hid behind me shaking. The next visit was even more terrifying for her. The tech came for her and she literally hid under my legs wrapping the leash tightly around my legs. I had to pick her up and hand her to the tech. I said well maybe I should go with her. They said no. I stayed in the lobby area. About a year or so ago they suggested trzadone to calm her. She took one dose hidden in lunch meat. Second dose no way. I crushed them and hid them in baby food. No way! She wouldn't take any pills after, period! She then would sniff every treat or hand held cheese, apple etc. I had to eat the apple and then give her a bite for her to eat it knowing there was nothing in it. As her visits became more terrifying for her, they suggested liquid trazadone and gabapentin. I thought well maybe that would work. $140 later she took a bit of the gabapentin but refused all doses after that. Hiding it in her frosty paws ice cream or anything she liked was not successful. I also would like to point out she is overweight. I know this is not good for her. I did away with the pupperoni treats,cut back her food and give her milk bone minis. So she has a nail appointment on 9/3. We get there 15 minutes early as I want the chance to weigh her and to try to soothe her. The older receptionist says that her appointment is at 2 and I am there early. I said I know and don't mind waiting. At 2 we are put in the examine room. The vet on duty comes in and immediately says she is fat. I told her yes that I started about a week and a half ago trying to get that under control. She then started trying to get me to do calorie counting. If I knew her exact food etc. I told her blue buffalo salmon because of her allergies. She asked me for the specific blue buffalo. I was confused but declined the calorie counting as I have a lot on my plate looking after my 85 year old father and all that comes with that. I am all ready taken a back by her coldness when she came in the room. No warm greeting but some people are like that. So onto the nail trim. The vet grabs the trimmer. I hold her. My pug is nipping at me. I tell her softly we don't bite and to be a good girl. The vet takes a cut and pulls away. She slaps the trimmers on the table and then says she got bit. I asked if she was OK. She said she was and that she is frustrated with my pug. She opens the door to get a tech thinking my dog is more familiar with. She shows the tech and is acting like her finger was cut off or seriously bleeding. The tech told me the vet was OK when I asked her. My pug hadn't drawn blood thankfully. The techs take over. My pug is in terrified aggression and the tech cut her kwik three times. We got them trimmed. When I go to pay, I now have the older receptionist on me about sedation. I told her I have tried everything. I said too bad it didn't come in a shot form as I could administer that as I worked on a farm. The vet comes out and tells me my pug is hard to work on and is very aggressive! I also forgot to mention she had ear medication for her ears as she gets yeast infections. I finish dealing with the receptionist and leave. Fighting back tears, we go home. My pug starts rubbing the side of her face on the floor, potty pads, even outside in the grass. I figure she has done that before must be the feeling of them in her ears. She does this until bed time. The next morning, she is sleeping on her potty pads she has all balled up. Her face swollen and eyes. So red they were bordering on purple. She has a limp from the botched nail trims. Self nail trims! New vet!
• AE

  Anthony C. Elliott

  Aug 13, 2020
  5.0
  Absolutely fantastic, best vet ever. We will be regulars.
• SH

  Sarah Holvik

  Feb 10, 2020
  5.0
  Excellent care
• HS

  Harris Semegram

  Mar 8, 2018
  5.0
  Excellent, caring team.

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