Santa Clara Valley Veterinary Clinic Ventura, California

Professional, adept and kind. Ask for free pet food samples...

I'm glad it's closed. If I could give negative stars I would. Dr. Payne dismissed my concerns about my senior cat who I raised from birth with a bottle and she nearly died as a result. He refused to do x-rays to find the source of her pain stating that it "was impossible to get a clear x-ray on a cat that isn't sedated" which I knew was bull considering I worked as a vet tech in that very same building when Dr. Wilson was there. He also told me there were no good pain management options for cats either which I knew was flat out lie. He did blood work almost two years apart from each other and in both her CPK was insanely high, in the second her thyroid was slightly elevated. He put her on methimazole, which she had a severe reaction to, and I was told by the emergency vet to stop the medicine immediately. Her only option was diet. Due to my health radioactive iodine isn't an option for us. She wouldn't eat the food. She was vomiting daily, sometimes several times a day and several times in a row. She was losing so much weight I was afraid she'd die in her sleep being so frail. I took her back and asked him to do more blood work. He shouted at me "I can tell by looking at her that her thyroid will be elevated! What do you want me to do? She's hyperthyroid, she's going to be sick!" I'm already stressed out about her, my health is very bad, I immediately started trying to fight back tears. He said "if you can't run her down to Los Angeles for radioactive iodine, she's going to die" as if it's so easy for a terminally ill person to drive their cat sixty miles for radiation treatments that will make her radioactive for weeks afterwards. I couldn't answer him, I was still fighting back tears. He said "well I have other patients to see, you make a decision." and just walked out of the room. He had always been abrupt with me from day one, like when I said I wanted to try CBD oil for her arthritis because it's natural he cut me off and almost shouted "I hate when people use that term. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's good, a lily is natural and a lily almost killed her didn't it?!" and I was taken aback, I was speeches. I couldn't believe how rude he was bringing up an incident from when she was just a tiny kitten staying with my mom for a few days while I had surgery and she got ahold of a lily leaf and did almost die on me. It was extremely traumatic for me and to have him throw it in my face like that felt like a slap. I should have taken her to a different vet right then and there. I knew in my heart something wasn't right. Whether it was me or him or maybe he just doesn't like cats, I don't know but I did not like him as a person. I didn't think that automatically made him a bad vet. After he yelled at me and walked out, I picked up Alice and left telling them on the way out that Dr. Payne would never touch one of my animals again. I called the next day to get her paperwork because I found the vet I used to work for, Dr. Wilson, and she wasn't that far away. They had the nerve to send me her paperwork with a note saying they were terminating her care due to "lack of communication." I actually laughed out loud at that one. I asked him to do tests he wouldn't do, he walked out on me, not me on him, and when I did finally walk out, I fired him and you can't terminate someone who's fired you! I got Alice in with Dr. Wilson who gave her her first full exam in years. She went over her blood work, agreed the CPK was extremely concerning and we should run another test. She said her thyroid wasn't elevated enough to cause her symptoms which is exactly what I had told Dr. Payne. It was barely .4 above normal. It was not causing her nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite. Dr. Wilson manipulated her joints and found the source of her pain, found out she had IBD which turned into lymphoma and with treatment and pain meds, I have my baby girl back. Playing like a kitten again. Still terminally ill but happy and that's all I want for her. Dr. Payne should stay retired.

This place is wonderful! The staff were very kind when it came to my concerns about my kitty urinating blood and thinking the worst. They took him in right away, answered all my questions thoroughly, kept calm, and charged a very affordable amount considering I don't have insurance. Dr. Spells is amazing, would definitelu recommend anyone sending their 4 legged friends to her

I called to have a Vet see my ailing cat and the phone was answered by Precious . I gave her my cats symptoms and then she asked me ...What is wrong with the cat so i told her. Have you been here before ? I said when Dr. Law had this location... Then she asked is it a emergency ? I don't know but I said he hasn't eaten in 2 days so she tells me Im sorry we are not taking in new customers. It was one excuse after another. Your customer service skills are terrible and i will tell friends of mine my experience with this Vet hospital... and there front counter staff. Precious you are very rude

Great doctor, very caring and personable! Staff was excellent also! Highly recommend.

My family and I have been taking our dogs to Dr. Payne for nearly 20 years. He's knowledgeable, professional, responsive, compassionate, and pragmatic. I'll keep taking our dogs to Dr. Payne as long as he practices.

We take our animals there. Very caring staff. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for veterinary care for their four-legged family members.

Great Vetrinary clinic, knowledgeable Drs, reasonable price..

Took our very sick cat here on a Tuesday , we had a treatment plan in mind and was told by the doctor that it was just an infection treatment would be $450; said no then the doctor came back with a new treatment plan that didn't include over night stay and was $215. Seeing how we were told it was an infection and that this would work we went with the $215 plan. Labs were done and antibiotics were given and the doctor said she'd call with the test results, that we should see improvement by the next day. Never told us what to look for in terms of improvement, when your cat has stopped bleeding and is drinking water which was an improvement, we thought we were on the right track. Wednesday came and went no call from the doctor. Thursday came and went still no call. Friday mid morning we all the doctors office and was told the doctor is outhit the results came in on Wednesday but they can't give them to us. The doctor will call you tomorrow. Saturday came still no call, we had to call them, but it didn't matter what they told us because our cat died Friday evening. Once we did talk to the doctor, she refused or didn't want to give us the test results. To this day we have no test results, a dead cat and out $215 for treatment. I understand that doctors don't know all, but to be treated like this and not get what we paid for is dishonorable and shady business practice. A simple I'm sorry this happened, the symptoms presented as an infection but the labs results indicated (fill in with the real problem), we've done all that we can just love your cat til the end. No instead we got silence, shady business practices and avoidance, not a good way to practice! I would never take a pet to this place again, I'd think twice if I were you. I can't even find a valid business license or a certified veterinary license on file with the veterinary medical board!

I have brought my cats and guinea pigs to Dr. Payne, usually when there is an emergency. I have never had a problem getting a quick appointment, the staff is courteous and professional, and Dr. Payne has a great bedside manner with both pets and people. I highly recommend them.