VCA Colonial Animal Hospital Ithaca, Pennsylvania

Blatant push for unneeded costly services at the expense of our pet. My wife was called a monster for refusing to put our beloved pet to sleep right there and there They like to repeat "cancer" to extort $$$$$, laugh at your face for suggestions, and put you through hell. Another vet was horrified by their prognosis. This place was awesome before it was bought out.

I was called a monster for not putting my pet to sleep right then and there. I went elsewhere and I was treated with dignity and respect, no name calling. My pet did not need to be killed. They like to use the C word ( cancer) to scare pet owners into agreeing to their service, mention life threatening situations, will laugh at your suggestions (in your face) , not give you all of the info once they get the lab work. Another vet was shocked at their prognosis. Look around elsewhere, anywhere because they do NOT CARE about you or your pet. Your $$$$$ is what they seek. After the place was bought out, it lost its care.

We took our cat here on New Years Day because our veterinary office was closed. He had an abscess on his tail and they got him right in. Dr. Tripp and the vet tech Nicole were amazing. They were so friendly and took there time with us. We were so impressed and will be going back here for any emergency care that comes up in the future. Thank you!!!!

I called on Monday 12/21 about my dog who was throwing up and couldn’t get her to stop. I called VCA to see if they could get her in to figure out what was wrong. The receptionist over the phone told me that I could not bring her in because (even though shes fully vaccinated against it) she was a parvo risk and they didn’t have the staff to take care of her. Well, I did get her to another vet, and she had an intestinal blockage that would have killed her in 24 more hours. You will never get my service, and I will be warning all my fellow pet parents to not consider you.

Do not bring your animals here. I was quoted over 6k for my suffering cat. The vet didn't even touch my cat and it is extremely clear all they care about is money. I had my cats leg completely fixed for 3k. Where as they wanted to amputate it because I couldn't afford 6k. Disgusting and a disgrace to animal medicine.

Thank you Dr Shaffer and staff for your knowledge, efficiency and compassion. You treated Molly like she was part of your family. We're forever grateful. As far as the reviews regarding finance. They gave me a quote when I called to schedule our emergency visit and quotes for each plan after. There were no hidden charges. From the ladies that answered the phone, to the visit and the ladies checking us out I give you 5+ stars.THANK YOU!!

Dr Tripp and Dr Socha, the dynamic duo, have done it again. Our boxer, Ella May, needed some dental work done on Wednesday. She needed a good cleaning and an extraction done. Being the graceful character she is, she tweaked her bad knee while prepping for the dental surgery. Dr. Socha took excellent care of her to make sure she hadn't torn the acl. Dr. Tripp was extremely thorough with the dental care. She found a couple issues we were unaware of and corrected them. Our little jack-o-lantern is home and resting comfortably. A special shout out to Dr. Pollock for taking care of Junior a few weeks ago with his embarrassing and undignified issue. We appreciate the kindness and compassion everyone gave our pets over the years. Thank you.

RUN AWAY!!!!! Don't be fooled, VCA Colonial Animal Hospital cares only about getting PAID. These vultures recommended amputation, chemotherapy, and carving up a sick animal who's cancer had already moved past the point of responding positively to interventions, and did so knowing her prognosis was terminal. An honest and caring Vet who was concerned with dog's pain and quality of life, would have never suggested such treatments, but that kind of honesty doesn't ring the register. Putting our sick dog down was the only thing to truly consider, and never once was it mentioned by the "caring" folks at VCA. You've been warned.

Dr. Tripp is an amazing veterinarian! She is personable, knowledgeable, and demonstrates her love of animals by thinking outside the box to solve complicated medical problems. Our springer spaniel had a serious split in his nose that previous vets didn’t spend time looking for the cause - they just wrote out prescriptions that just didn’t work. Many years and countless dollars wasted and our dog’s nose was still a mess. So, we traveled to Ithaca to see Dr Tripp and she took the time to really research the problem. Through her hard work and diligence she developed a course of action we followed that led to a healthy, happy nose on a very happy dog! We travel an hour just so our dogs can have her take care of their medical needs. She’s truly one-in-a-million!

We have been taking our Max here for the last 13 months. The treatment by the entire staff and their communication has been fantastic. I have texted them at all hours of the day, and have received replies and guidance within a reasonable amount of time. Dr. Cortright, Dr. Licitra, Retta, they are absolute assets to the organization. With the help of Dr's Licitra and Cortright, they have allowed us another year with Max who just turned 15. The care that Max has received has been superb. Our interactions with the entire team at VCA Colonial has been 100% solid. Just today, I texted about a prescription that needed to be renewed, and within minutes they responded, and shortly thereafter, an email from the pharmacy indicating receipt. Thank you!

Excellent veterinarians they are so kind and thoughtful. Such a saving grace on memorial weekend. I would recommend for anyone.

The staff seems like they genuinely care, and I'm sure the vets are excellent, however communication is nearly impossible and every single piece of information that I've attempted to convey to them or that they have conveyed to me has turned out to be garbled and inaccurate with cricial details being lost along some unbelievable version of a game of telephone among dozens of staff members via a myriad of communication methods. Between phone calls, emails from their no reply email address, text messages from their office, and in person conversations... I can't say I'm surprised at how this has turned out. I'm sure somebody thought their system was a brilliantly efficient time saving and cost-cutting idea... But practically everything I asked for was misinterpreted or outright forgotten... For example I requested a urinalysis when I dropped her off with a vet tech for an anaesthesia procedure, then askied about it after she was coming out of sedation, and the doctor was surprised that I wanted it and basically lectured me that it was preferable to do it while the dog was sedated (seriously! That's exactly why i explicitly asked for it BEFORE!). Also, their clearly written communications to me turned out to be wrong, such as to fast my dog before the appointment, which turned out to be a mistake, or a treatment plan I signed off on that included full dental radiographs, which they didn't follow and instead only did one tooth... I could go on with additional examples, but it's been an incredibly frustrating experience where I basically end up feeling gaslighted and extorted. Again - it seems like the people there do care, and the vets seem great, but the way things are handled procedurally and communicated between clients and staff is a horrible mess.

Crazy expensive, definitely preying on those who can least afford it. $690 to remove porcupine quills from a little dog.

Dr Ross and his team are amazing. My Ellie Mae had 2 surgeries within 3 months. They took very good care of her. I would recommend them any time

My rescue pup had multiple seizures and his primary couldn't fit him in that day but I felt it was an emergency since I have never seen a dog convulse. We went to colonial for treatment and the doctors took care of him right away. Since our initial visit we've made colonial our primary vet. They genuinely care about their patients. If I have even the smallest question I can call or text them for an answer. I am by no means rich, and this place can be expensive but for the level of care they provide it's worth every penny.

Nicest people here. We had an emergency with our 2 yr old pit/rott and they got him right in and he felt 100% better in a few hours after being seen. They also take the time to know the pet coming in, they send informational emails that are very helpful, and have no issue answering all one million questions that I had. Very kind staff and Ruger loved all of them. Will be taking our puppy here. We live an hour away but it’s worth it.

I love this place! From the check in staff, to the techs, to the doctors, everyone whom I have dealt with have been fantastic. Even in difficult times the staff has been willing to take the time to talk with me and make sure I am making the right decisions. I don't mind paying a little higher price if I know my animals care is going to be top notch, and it is every single time. I always refer my friends and family to them, and will continue to do so in the future.

Place was ok, they love animals. Mostly everyone was friendly and nice to my cat. My biggest complaint is with a staff member named Nora.. She was very rude and unprofessional. Acted a bit ditzy, and pretended like she knew everything but was wrong about a lot. I really think she needs to be in a different field because this one is not for her.

Skilled caring doctors and assistants. Dr. Ross is also an amazing surgeon. Caring staff. They pay attention to what you say and need. Our Boots needed major surgery and all went well because of their very timely care. I've seen comments about 'expensive' so must say Colonial is no more expensive than other practices that offer all of the resources they do. We recommend Colonial to everyone.

Updated * ** We absolutely love Dr . Cartwright !She has been so kind , understanding and informative while carrying for our dog's kidney issues . We wish we lived closer so could use this veterinarian's office fulltime ! Also they've been great dealing with Covid-19 guidelines. *** I was worried to go here for the first time because of the mix reviews. We did not have any rude people or unnecessary testing. We didn't have to wait a long time to see the tech or the vet. The in house testing didn't even take that long. The place it clean too. The Vet even saved us some money at least for now by doing some less expensive testing that will give more information before more extensive and expensive test which may not be needed. I thought the vet was very kind and compassionate. She was considerate of our concerns. I appreciate that she gave us an itemized list of potential costs moving forward, before starting. She took her time explaining our dogs current state and what could come next. She was patient with our questions and concerns as well. We did have a minor scheduling issue which was their mistake it made our morning a bit more chaotic but things turned out alright. For people more local it probably would not have been an issue. I would recommend them .

We visited VCA during the pandemic, with the 'contactless' drive-in visit protocol. Everything went incredibly smoothly. We were out-of-towners with a pet emergency, and they treated us like family. The veterinarian was very professional on the phone, the treatment was just what Alfie needed, and the take-home instructions were clear. Thank you all!

They went above and beyond for my dog who wasn’t even a patient of theirs. Excellent service, went out of their way to help me. WONDERFUL PLACE!!!

We took our dog to Colonial after being referred to them by our regular bet to have an ultra sound done. They got us in on a Saturday. During the appointment they informed us that the ultrasound tech was not available to come in that day, but that they would need to examine the dog first anyway. They muzzled our dog when he showed no signs of aggression (he is a big baby and has never hurt or even growled at anyone, he is a great dane). After the exam they told us they wanted to do an xray because they suspected it was an autoimmune diesease he had. They also wanted to hospitalize him and give him anti naseau meds (which he was already one, prescribed from our regular vet). My dad said yes to the xray (hoping it may give us an answer) but no to hospitalization. They did the Xray and the vet told us that it appeared he had a foreign object or cancer in his esophagus or lungs but that he would need a CT to confirm. She wanted us to go to Syracuse, telling us Cornell wouldnt be interested in the case. She also wanted to keep him overnight since he was sedated for the xray (after my dad was clear that he was not letting the dog stay overnight), and that the radiologist would read the xray the next day and get back to us. A phone call was made to them sunday asking about the radiologist report. They said we would get a call back, we didnt receive one. After calling twice in Monday, they finally emailed the report, they didnt have the decency to give the results to us over the phone. They also forwarded the report to our regular vet. According to our vet, nowhere in the report does it mention anything about finding a spot in the lungs or esophagus. Colonial had considered our dog to be an emergency. If he was truly an emergency why would they wait over 48 hours before a radiologist would get back to us????? We see our regular vet tomorrow, but he is already saying the CT they recommended is unnecessary based on their report. We will NEVER use Colonial again. Very expensive, all they cared about was a way to get more money, and they were unresponsive after tests were done and paid for. Also, why on earth would they need to do an exam when our dog was there on a referral from his regular vet who knows him, knows the history ans has been treating and seeing him regularly, again, a huge waste of money! If we could give a negetive star, we would!

They were courteous enough to squeeze me in on New Year's Eve when no one else would see my cat, who was having breathing difficulties. The vet gave him the best of everything he could have, ranging from tests to attention and care. The place is immaculate looking. They have top notch equipment. They actually have a triage like a hospital. This doesn't come cheap obviously and it doesn't take long before the bill is approaching several hundreds of dollars, if not a thousand. The staff was friendly, helpful and polite. Although I was frustrated at the wait (it was several hours), they were the ones who fit ME in during my cat's time of need. They didn't have to. They're very busy and it seems for good reason. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to my cat. They did their best, but being 15 and diabetic is a difficult combination to overcome. He was treated with dignity and respect all the way to the end. Thank you very much for seeing us. The outcome was not what anyone wanted, but knowing everyone did the best they could brings some relief.

Horrible people no passion all the want is money they need to shut this place down . They rather your pet die then help you..

Just as everyone else states. Not very professional, crowded the room with unnecessary people while they looked at my dogs eyes making her very uncomfortable. Won't be returning. (Yes I have been there. There located right across from the …

I had to say goodbye to my cat of 15 years.. and the staff was so patient and kind with me while I could hardly even form a sentence from sobbing. They answered all my questions and gave me time to think. They explained my options and I felt no pressure to go in any specific direction other than what I wanted for my cat. The vet gave her honest opinion only when I asked about my cats potential survival or suffering which I felt was very genuine and ultimately helped me pick the best thing for my cat.. which meant saying goodbye. All this while closing time came and went- their care never faltered. Biggest thank you

A little embarrassing. Me: Hey I can’t afford all this bill can I pay part of it tomorrow reception desk says no multiple times then after 20 minutes they pull out a form a promissory note doing the exact thing I asked them to do in the first place. I have to fill out the form at the desk after I asked to speak with them privately about it not wanting everyone to hear my financial problems. Embarrassing, unprofessional, Colonial we want your money now!!

This veterinary hospital is beyond amazing! Dr.Mcarty and her staff go above and beyond for their patients. Our 10 week old puppy was diagnosed with Parvo on Sunday and they got him in at the 1st available appointment and then provided him with the life saving treatment and care we needed. I called multiple times a day for updates and the techs even talked to my 8 year old daughter and answered all of her questions. They dealt with our billing nightmares and were always so helpful.

I just took my very shy rescue dog for an Ultrasound exam because my regular Vet that we adore wasn’t able to do the test. My dog may have had an intestinal blockage which would be considered critical and could require emergency surgery. I arrived on time for our appointment and was sitting in a room for 2 hours before we ever saw a Vet. During that time we were waiting nobody came back to tell us what the wait was about and at one point they Turned the Lights Off in our room ! When I finally walked up front to see what was taking so long, I noticed that ALL of the other dogs who had been in the waiting area were gone. The receptionist said, they must have “ forgotten us”! A Vet finally came in after about another 15 -20minutes but only to say they had NO Ultrasound Technician on duty. They had to call someone to come in “ After hours now( extra charge)” keep in mind , I originally arrived at 1:30. I was given the option of either leaving my dog there until they got in touch with the Ultrasound Tech an could do the test and determine what was necessary OR take my dog home an maybe go to CORNELL. I said I’d go to do a couple of errands nearby rather than leaving and wait to see IF they heard back from the Ultrasound Tech. About 45 min later I tuned and was told, the Tech was there BUT their ULTRASOUND machine was Broken, but they were “ trying to fix it”. Long story short: I left again and approximately 90 min later they called to tell me they saw “ some material” in my dog’s stomach but no intestinal blockage. I cold come and get her. My bill was $753 . OUTRAGEOUS . I think why I’m so offended is because of all the time I wasted sitting there, being ignored, then being told your machine was broken and I’d be charged extra now for an “ after hours service”. And then told I had an option to go to Cornell. Certainly I would have gone there if I’d known this. I will not go to Colonial again. I used to go there when Dr Collins owned the Practice some years ago.