VCA Orange County Veterinary Specialists - Tustin, California

Brenda O.

I strongly regret bringing my pet to this urgent care. From the moment we walked in, it was clear they cared more about money than the well-being of our pet, who was in dire need of immediate care. Instead of prioritizing urgency, they focused on payment first. To make matters worse, they charged us for tests and an IV that were never even administered.

The worst mistake of my life was trusting this place with my pet’s care. Had I gone elsewhere, he might still be with us today. If you truly love your pet, I urge you to go somewhere else—a place that actually values life over profit.

Wenxiong H.

Worst vet ever. A simple fasting blood test took over 8 hours. We were told to wait in the lobby and no one gave us any updates. Asked the front desk and nurses multiple times — all we got was “we don’t know.” Completely unacceptable and unprofessional.

Grace L.

I'm very greatful to this place, my pug had his first cold/flu during December and just when I thought he was beating it, we woke up Christmas morning to him vomitting and violently shaking. My usual vet and other emergency vets were closed for Christmas so I was so so happy to find out they were open. Our pug was seen right away and after confirming no blockages and nothing wrong with his cold, we got him anti-nausea meds and he went back to normal the next day. I see a lot of complaints on costs but it was within expected ranges for an emergency vet and my pet insurance covered 90% of it anyways. The xrays and additional exams they did gave me peace of mind in the end. They did give me a good estimate of costs before starting any treatments as well.

Depsite that they had to work on a holiday, staff were very friendly and the vet as well, spent a lot of time with us going over his xray films and reassuring us. Ngl we were probably more anxious than our dog 😅

Jennifer S.

If you are looking for an Internal Medicine Specialist for your fur kid in the OC, look no further. Dr. Andrea McDooling is a superstar. I am beyond impressed by the time and care she has given to our pooch and to me. It is clear that not only does she have a passion for pets, but she is passionate about giving them the best care.

Dr. McDooling will not rush you through an appointment nor will she make you feel like you are one of many. She gives you her undivided attention and she spends whatever time is necessary to explain everything. She has superlative bedside manner.

I am also impressed with the front desk staff and the techs at the VCA Orange County Veterinary Specialists. From my experience, they have all been friendly, understanding and attentive. They even answer the phone with a live person rather than a recording.

I am delighted to see that this formidable level of pet care exists in the OC. I used to live in Los Angeles, and to say that the level of veterinary care has gone downhill there is an understatement.

You may have to wait a bit for your initial appointment, however, the wait will be worth it.

There is a valid reason as to why Dr. McDooling is in high demand. I would absolutely refer her to anyone who has a need for Internal Medicine Specialist for their fur-kid.

chris G.

VCA of Orange county did an amazing job helping us with our extremely sick dog. We were lucky enough to get close to 5 months longer with our pup, than we would of had if we had not taken her to them. Dr McDooling was amazing, very thorough and walked us through everything that we needed to do, with no guarantee, but she gave us the tools to help our sweet Cannoli to try and beat this terrible disease. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. We are very thankful for the services we received and would go back 100% if any of our other pets needed it. If you dog has an emergency or needs a specialist, I highly recommend Dr McDooling and her team.

Phoebe Z.

The kitten didn’t survive but I don’t really blame the doctors and technicians - it’s just ER and they are probably at least better than the other VCA in Tustin. However, the receptionists were making face to me when I’ve waited for too long to check out and get him home. One of receptionists was so happy with another patient’s owner and laughing so loud, while being not helpful or supportive at all for my request - I just need to check out so I can pay and leave! I was trying to be very patient and collaborative but her attitude is unacceptable.

RailRat

Heartfelt Thanks to VCA Orange County Veterinary Specialists

We cannot say enough good things about the exceptional care our granddog Juniper (affectionately known as Junie) received at VCA Orange County Veterinary Specialists in Tustin. Junie was referred to Dr. McDooling and the team by her regular vet, Dr. Dennison at VCA Yorba Linda, after a sudden and severe onset of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that left her fighting for her life. Her symptoms progressed rapidly—she went from being seemingly healthy to losing a significant amount of weight and energy in a very short time. In addition to IBD, Junie faced challenges with her kidneys, low blood albumen, and proteinuria.

Dr. McDooling was incredible throughout Junie’s treatment journey. Her straightforward and compassionate approach made a world of difference during such a stressful time. She clearly explained the treatment options and potential outcomes, ensuring that we could make informed decisions about Junie’s care. The team’s expertise, combined with their genuine concern for Junie’s well-being, gave us hope during an incredibly difficult time.

After about six months of diligent treatment, including medications (Chlorambucil and Prednisolone for IBD, Telmisartan for her kidneys, and others), prescription Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein food, and lots of love and attention, Junie is now back to her happy, healthy self. She’s regained all the weight she lost (and more!) and is enjoying life again. While we know that a relapse is possible, we are so grateful for this recovery and credit Dr. McDooling and the amazing staff at VCAOC with saving her life.

Junie’s happiness during her visits to VCAOC speaks volumes about the team. She has always been a nervous pup when it comes to vet visits, but at VCAOC, she was excited to see her “friends.” She would tug on the leash to get inside the clinic and was thrilled to see her special friends, Holly and Giselle. It’s heartwarming to see how much she loved them.

Specialty veterinary care is undeniably expensive, and VCAOC’s prices are consistent with other providers in the field. From our experience, they were more reasonably priced than the boutique provider we visited on the first night of Junie’s crisis. Dr. McDooling was mindful of costs and gave honest recommendations about whether certain treatments were worth pursuing, which we greatly appreciated.

We were fortunate that Junie’s owner, our daughter, had excellent pet insurance through Healthy Paws. The total cost of Junie’s treatment exceeded $30,000, but with insurance, our out-of-pocket costs were about 20% of that, split between us and our daughter. This made the financial burden manageable and highlighted the value of having good pet insurance from the start. We highly recommend Healthy Paws based on our experience and urge pet owners to consider investing in insurance early in their pet’s life.

To Dr. McDooling, Holly, Giselle, and the entire VCA Orange County Veterinary Specialists team: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You not only saved Junie’s life but also gave her back her joy—and for that, we will always be grateful. If you’re considering specialty care for your pet, we wholeheartedly recommend VCAOC. They truly are the best.

Shelby G.

My vet referred us to VCA because my dog was in liver failure and the vet's lab machines could not get a reading on her numbers because they were so far off the charts. The Doctor told me is didn't look good and that VCA was our best option. I was so sad when the Doctor and finally figured out that it was sago palm poinsoning. It's a deadly tree that is all around. She offered a treatment plan but basically did not get my hopes up as most dogs and cats die within 24-48 hours. We were on day 4 since the poinsoning and so we decided to move forward with a short term treatment plan and then reevaluate. All of the staff was so loving and kind. It was when covid started so I could not go visit my dog and the staff was kind enough to facetime with me and text me pictures which gave me a lot of comfort. My dog beat the odds and recovered!! It was all due to the amazing knowledge and care my pitty princess received.
I have since moved to Lake Arrowhead and my dog has a possible mass on her spleen. I am driving back to this location because I have so much trust in their expertise.
On a side note, her treatment would not have been possible to afford if I didn't have pet insurance. I didn't have to check my bank account to make a treatment decision because it was covered at 90%. Please buy a policy so you can save your fur babies life AND your pocketbook.