Claremont Veterinary Hospital

An update after two years of coming to Claremont Veterinary Hospital:
1. See my original review for an overview, and please note that we now call Dr. Borland «our peace of mind» … she’s just all that, for our family. We’ve never experienced the staff to be anything less than professional, kind, warmly human, and so very well informed. I am no longer surprised at some of the bad Unilocal remarks after reading the posters’ other reviews employing similar tone and language … do take a look for yourselves when evaluating the reliability of reviews.
2. You will do yourself and your beloved pet/​s a big favor to try this place and see first-​hand. It is not a service station with a take-​out window, and the staff do not have magic wands; it is, however, a highly functioning medical office that has saved countless number of lives, soothed the worries and the budgets of its clients, and provided exceptional veterinary care.

I’ve been here recently and felt uneasy the first time we left and terrible the second time we left. I won’t be going back. I can reiterate what many folks have said here already:
–Reception is rude. You’re just a number to them.
–Dr.s are also unprofessional in that: my first visit they kept leaving the back door open to the other dogs rooms, and another dog almost came into our room. The second visit I came for vaccines for both of my dogs and she just began examining one of my dogs — I had no idea that meant they’d be charging me for another annual exam, even though we had already been there for exams a few months before.
–they are swindlers. When the bill was much higher than I thought and explained that it wasn’t my fault the vet did an exam without my knowing, and that I specified on the phone that I was hear for vaccines only, they would not budge on the price at all. The doctor wouldn’t come speak with me either. Only the rude younger gal at reception dealt with me.
–Having read all the other reviews, I wish I had read them first and never went there. DO NOT take your pets here and don’t be deceived by the local neighborhood charm that you might think this vet would be.

Absolutely awful experience. We only brought our cat here twice before switching to another clinic. They were running 20 – 30 mins late both times without communication about lateness.
Meanwhile you sit in a waiting room listening to the front desk staff cackle and chat loudly/​inanely/​incessantly.
The misdiagnosis of our cat’s condition (hyperthyroidism, which he does not have) via his blood test very nearly cost him his life last week. Our new doctor read the same blood test very differently and was able to order more tests that eventually had us take him to emergency a week after we went to Claremont. Claremont told us to retest in a month. If we’d followed that advice our cat would certainly be dead — not resting on the carpet. I don’t think his physical exams were thorough enough either.
We were lucky to find wonderful, competent care elsewhere. I do not recommend this clinic and will never be back.

We have been very happy with the veterinary care provided to our pet at the clinic. Dr. Fein is professional, provides options and keeps good notes to help with future visits.
The only reason I would not give them five stars is due to their kennel. The last two times we have brought our pet in for weekend kenneling, he has come home with fleas. He went in flea free and came back crawling with them. They say that it’s not possible for a pet to get fleas in their kennel, but I’m confident that’s not true.

Still loving these folks. They are super-​kind. I really can’t say enough good things about Dr. Borland and everyone at Claremont Veterinary Hospital. They even think our weirdo, half-​hairless dog is as cute as we think she is!

I have been taking my beloved babies to Claremont Vet for 18 years now and I love them.

They killed my cat. Be careful.

I have recently had to bring in my aging, ill cat multiple times. Dr. Frizzell took wonderful care of my dying cat, and it was evident she trusted him. However, she did not improve so I did have to put my cat down.
The euthanasia experience was awful. With the exception of one staff member, everyone was loud, apathetic and unprofessional. There was chatty noise the whole time.
The vet who put my girl down had zero bedside manner. She was rough with my clearly very ill cat, knicking her veins with dull razors while a tech held her weak body down — she lost 3 lbs in 2 weeks — she was barely 6 lbs. She didn’t need the force. She didn’t listen to me, didn’t give any sympathy to my cat aside from some seemingly canned phrases. It was unecessary and disrespectful.
I know I made the right choice for my companion and friend, as she would not have lived long enough to make it for Rainbow Bridge to come. I do, however, regret having her euthanized at Claremont and having her sent off in such an insensitive, heartless way.

Just hung up the phone with the receptionist and can confirm what many other reviewers have already said. The receptionist sounded like she was straining herself to be civil with me. She only answered my questions when pressed, and when I asked what times were available she said the whole day was open. When I asked for a 1:30 appt. she then said they’re closed from 12−2pm daily. That’s fine, no big deal. But for all you sensitive people out there (of whom I am one) expect to feel a little bit verbally attacked for no reason when you call.

It’s been really hard to find a good vet in the bay area and I’m still looking for the perfect one. So far my experience with them has been good. At least this one doesn’t rip you off without resolving the problem like other vets I’ve been to.
My dog got bit by another dog, has been breaking out in hives, and has been limping after hikes (she’s had two knee surgeries when she was younger, she is 12 now). I only got charged for the vet visit and was offered home advice for trying to figure out what her hives are for now. Aspirin for limping no need for more surgery, it’s just old age and arthritis. And no need for the antibiotics since her wounds looked like they were healing nicely on their own. Simple nothing over the top but friendly and helpful.

I very much like that they don’t charge you for last minute vet visits. The doctors are pretty nice, and don’t seem to push procedures at you.

Altho my previous dog’s care was at Claremont and a fatal diagnosis was possibly missed in the blood work, I stayed for my next dog, a young adult male. The castration hasn’t gone well. Post surgery, so much blood and bruising alarmed me – and the surgery record made no mention. I returned the next day but the vet agreed the dog was acting normal. I hear Grand Lake Vet just reopened and is getting high praise. For at-​home treatment, call DVM Brent Martin — he’s wonderful.

This group of caring individuals are truly amazing. They are honest and they truly care about your pet. I have had nothing but great experiences coming here. We found this hospital when we moved to Oakland in 2008. I had taken in a feral cat off the street and he had gotten in a fight and was feverish, sickly and needed stitches. I took him to the SPCA and it cost me nearly 2k to get him back on his feet. I realized I needed another more affordable option… then I found Claremont and their wonderfully kind staff. The next time my little fight had a rumble and needed stitches, a cast, a tooth filed, shots, antibiotics, the cone… you name it. My bill was a few hundred dollars. They are honest in their pricing and I feel confident in their care. Thank you so much for caring more about the animals and their families than your pocket books! You are a fantastic group of healers!

My experience with Claremont Veterinary Hospital has not been positive. I took a dog I’m fostering there to get treatment for his diarrhea. He has a sensitive stomach and had taken him to another vet a month prior. The difference between the two experiences was great. The examination of my dog was brief and cursory. The vet did listen to me. But at the end of the appointment, I had to ask a lot of basic questions because she didn’t explain much about what she suspected or what I was supposed to do. She needed a recent stool sample (and didn’t even give me a container to put it in) so the next day I got one and took it there. I got there at 1:30 to find that the office is closed every weekday from 12 – 2. The hours listed on Unilocal are 8 – 6. It’s difficult for me to get over there so I decided to leave the sample at the front door, fully labeled and sealed in three bags. When I called at 2:00, I was told that no one had seen the sample and that they discourage leaving samples there. So I would have to bring in another one. I find it difficult to believe that they didn’t receive the sample. Also, with such limited hours, why not have a drop box? Or at least tell people about their hours. Meanwhile, no treatment can begin for my dog until the stool sample gets tested.
Overall, I am very dissatisfied with the service and the treatment I received at Claremont Veterinary Hospital. My experience a month prior at the other vet was so much better.

We had a good first experience but a bad second experience. At our initial puppy visit, no one explained that we would not need to make an appointment to come back for our puppy’s 4-​month vaccinations. The receptionist didn’t explain this on the phone, either, when I called to make the (unnecessary) vaccination appointment (and I even said it was for vaccinations)! So I didn’t appreciate being made to feel like a total moron when I showed up for the appointment with my dog. But I was. I was so flustered by being outright scolded by the doctor (who was also frustrated that I didn’t know what kind of flea prevention I wanted — um, YOU’RE the doctor!) that I didn’t even get a chance to ask the important questions on my mind — like how long to wait for the vaccines to take before it’s safe to expose my dog to other dogs. Thanks, Claremont Veterinary Hospital.

I have been taking my cats to Claremont Vet for over 25 years. My first cat lived to be over 22 years old, so we must have done something right. However, I now have two older cats who have unbelievably been hit with liver tumors in the last two months. In both cases Claremont Vet performed ultrasounds and we were given very grim prognosis («multiple tumors, very large, probably have spread to other organs, it’s bad»). Dr. Feinn and Dr. Borland are both good doctors, but they don’t have the best bedside manner. However, this is not what I have an issue with.
If they are going to be giving diagnosis, they need to have better equipment and the skill to assess the results. Only one of the doctors on staff, Dr. Frizzell, can actually give the ultrasound and the image is so small and hard to read that you are really left with little information other than «there is something wrong there.»
If they cannot afford better equipment and training, then by god please tell us to seek out a second opinion, with a place that has state of the art equipment and oncologists. Even better, don’t take my money for a crappy ultrasound and instead refer me to a place like Sage Centers who can provide me with a much clearer picture of my pet’s condition for just as much money.
Although I have been a longtime client, I now question using Claremont at all now. After experiencing such excellent care at Sage, I see Claremont as stuck in the dark ages both in terms of personality (the receptionists have been working there too long and are so, so grumpy) and technology (re: ultrasound).
Long story short — ALWAYS SEEK A SECOND OPINION!!!

The staff at this hospital are amazingly sweet and kind. They very much care about the animals that are brought there. Their prices are decent, and they also offer temporary «housing» if you need to take a trip. I do find the doctors to be a little bit strange, but I’m all for the uniqueness of the human spirit. My cat recently had a major life-​saving surgery from this hospital, with his problems beginning on Halloween. To give you a sense of how much people care about these vets, while I was there on Halloween people came just to thank the vets and cheer up their day. While the facility is small, it’s perfectly placed on College Avenue, and even has three dedicated parking places. If you’re in north Oakland, don’t bother going anywhere else!

All around, this is a great place. There may be vets around with specialties in acupuncture or pet body work, but I wouldn’t know because I like taking my animals here. A couple of scratchy personalities aside, this is a happy place and everyone is a pleasure to deal with.
They have a small parking lot that always, magically, has a spot for you. You never have to wait too long. I love their front desk staff, their vet techs, the terrazzo floor, the animal art. Also, there is no better value around. Maintenance visits are very affordable. Meds are affordable. Blood work and x-​rays are reasonably priced so that they don’t clean out the bank account. Even some pretty gnarly surgeries on a big dog were doable, and we are not tech millionaires.
Dr. Feinn is a large breed dog expert. Dr. Eger is my go-​to cat doctor. She takes cat matters very seriously where others seem to say to themselves, eh, just a cat. We had an old, marvelous rescue cat with a terrible, chronic ear mite infection. She took him in and with a stern-​handed, no messing around approach, completely cleaned out his ears and set him on the road to wellness. It was the beginning of his personal turnaround.
If you’re new to town, this is a great place for Snowball’s first vet visit.

BEWARE OF VET
My poor cat had been healthy most of his life, but began to have a drooling issue, which I didn’t think much of especially when a co-​worker said that cats do this when they’ve been taken from their mothers too early. In any event, I brought my cat to a vet for this and was told that he needed to have his teeth cleaned. I brought him to Claremont vet for a second opinion and was told that he had a hyperthyroid condition, which the blood test confirmed. I was told that the normal course of treatment was the medication… and that he should be stabilized on the medication before considering the radioiodine treatment.
I started him on the medication, not realizing and not having been informed of the risks involved, i.e., that a hyperthyroid can mask a cat’s kidney problems. Unfortunately, because of other exigencies going on in my life at the time I didn’t pay adequate attention to my cat, who continued to take the medication (2x a day) but was beginning to eat less because of the medication which I put in his food.
He stopped eating about the same time that I underwent scheduled surgery. By the time I was able to get him to the vet he was deathly ill. I paid a lot of money for tests, but it was clear to all in the end that it was caused by the medication.
I feel I should have been informed of the risks involved with this medication, and also consider not doing anything, as my cat was already almost 14 years old. After 5 nights at Claremont Vet he started to eat a little on his own again, but was not well. To make matters worse, my cat, who never had fleas before came home with a very bad case of fleas he got while being boarded there. I should have told them to de-​flea him before I took him home but was too emotionally drained to deal with that at the time.
His condition rapidly deteriorated when I bought him home and he had to be put down. By the way, another vet came on his bike to do it, as it was have been inhumane to do it at Claremont Vet where it is very noisy and crass in the waiting room, which is usually mostly occupied by dogs and their owners.
I also agree with some of the reviews about a lack of compassion there; however, the staff and vets are competent. Therefore, I left two stars.

Interesting reading reviews of Claremont Vet Hospital — We have been going there for many years — starting with our cal Oliver in 1989! Two cats and two dogs have all lived long happy lives with these doctors taking care of them. I picked up Charlie’s ashes today and in time — when we have done some healing — we will show up again with something that has fur. Personally, I would never consider going anywhere else for vet care.
I am pretty much astounded by the comments on the front desk — these ladies are very busy and as a result don’t have a lot of time to chat — that might be taken as «shortness» — but remember that it is tough dealing with all the emotions and demands that can occur when people have pets they are worried about.
I have worked with, at one time or another, each of the doctors mentioned in these reviews — They have been professional, competent, reasonable, compassionate and patient. This last visit with Charlie was very difficult for us, they took care of everything, the entire staff was so compassionate and sweet — I got a wonderful note from them a couple of days later.
The facility is always clean, and frankly I have no idea how they do that! Pets are messy! Keeping on top of housekeeping is amazing!
When you make an appointment they see you on time! I have rarely spent as much as 10 minutes in the waiting room — something I greatly appreciate!
Lastly, their prices are so reasonable! They have always explained what the options are and helped me decide what is best for my pet, and my budget! I have never been pressured to spend more, get more procedures, or run a lot of tests my animal!
So to the staff and owners of Claremont Vet Hospital — keep up the good work — you can’t please all the people all the time and I appreciate all you have done for us and our fuzzy family members.