VCA Regional Institute for Vet Emergencies and Referrals Chattanooga, Tennessee

Our dog passed at 4am on New Years. We took him to River to hold his body until Pet Haven could pick him up. They normally require a hold fee if it’s over 24 hours, but they did not charge us that even though our dog was never even seen by them. I’m so grateful that they were so caring and compassionate in our time of need instead of just out to make a buck! Hopefully none of our dogs have to go to an animal hospital, but if they do, we will absolutely take them to River!

I brought my dog in on vet referral because she was bleeding under the skin after receiving Proheart 12 at her annual checkup 2 days prior. After talking to the person at reception, who checked with the vet, I was told they were too busy with a surgery to even look at my dog. They did at least offer to give me the number of another emergency vet. Lesson learned: Always call ahead or you might have a wasted trip. They don’t operate under the same creed a human ER does.

After the death of our 16 year old Rat terrier Festus. I called VCA on Amnicola to check into cremation services. I was a crying mess but the girl that answerd the phone was so compassionate & helpful. Then when we arrived to the clinic the guy that came out to help us with paperwork & take our dog was great. Even the call that we could come pick up his remains was professional & warm. I wish I had gotten their names so I could thank them. But thank you VCA staff.

My 5 yr. old dog Max’s had a severe bacterial UTI, cleared with antibiotics. Yet there’s blood in his urine. My Veterinarian wanted a urine sample in 2 weeks. On Wednesday I noticed the color of Max urine isn’t better. I asked his Vet for a referral for an ultrasound. He gave me 3 choices. I chose RIVER. In January 2017 Dr. Bohling at RIVER performed TPLO surgery on Max’s left hind leg. Max received several therapy sessions at RIVER and made a good recovery. Today Max and I arrived at RIVER at 8:50 am for a 9:00 am ultrasound, with Becke Bogue, DVM. Max was the first patient. A little after 9:00 am, a tech came for Max. Awhile later Becke Bogue DVM came asked ‘What’s going on’. She said Max’s records had been sent, but she hadn’t reviewed them. The tech left several pages with me to complete, asking many of the same questions. She explained the procedure and asked if she could aspirate to collect cells from anything she saw that might be of concern. I asked if Max would be fully anesthetized, or would he have a ‘twilight’ sedative (conscious, but sedated). She said twilight. After a few minutes of trying to get her to clarify why she may need to aspirate (to no avail), I finally asked if the purpose was to determine if cancer was present. She said it was, but they could determine this in other ways. She said I could have his regular Vet do the aspiration, but it was better to do it while Max was sedated. I gave her permission to aspirate, but only if she found something that would deem it necessary. I asked if it would take longer than 1.5 hours. She said it would, that I should do some errands. The tech came back with an estimate of $195 for the doctor consult, $394 for the Ultrasound, $55 for Sedation, $80.15 for the Needle Aspiration, $192.20 for Cytology. I agreed to a $645.2O credit card charge for everything but the Aspirate procedure and the Cytology, as it they may not be necessary, Even so the estimate came back $917.55 (if the Aspiration/Cytology was performed) to $1,146.94. No explanation for the extra $229.39 on the estimate. I left the facility around 10:00 am. Jen, called from the RIVER facility at 11:16 am, asking for permission to resuscitate if Max heart stopped during the procedure. WHAT?? An ultrasound could be life threatening? I had marked a line through “emergency and life threatening treatments if they exceed the estimate”. I explained nothing about an ultrasound should be life threatening. He wouldn’t be put to sleep. Only a mild sedative (that he’s taken before) would be given. I agreed to pay for CPR if Max’s heart stopped for any reason. But for anything else, they should call me. I then asked for a status on Max. I was told he hadn’t had the procedure yet, but would very soon. I called again at 1:00 pm. Still Max had not had the ultrasound, or any preparation for it. This was 5 hours after arriving on time for the appointment, and a procedure that I was told shouldn’t take more than 1.5 hours when I made the appointment. By this time, Max had not eaten or drank anything for more than 18 hours. Not critical, but not advisable for a dog with urinary tract issues. After learning that Max (the first patient of the day) had waited for five hours and not even been prepared for the procedure, It became crystal clear what Becke Bogue DVM is about. In a word Dr. Bogue is all about money. She had much more to say about needing to do an Aspiration, than the ultrasound procedure. Certainly not professional medical care, I’ve come to know with East Ridge Animal Hospital. RIVER merging with VCA seems to have changed it’s medical care culture for the worst. I picked Max up at 1:30 pm and got a partial $450 refund credit from the $645 charge. I will contest the $195 consultation fee, as nothing was done to ‘consult’ about. In all fairness, Becke Bogue DVM should reimburse me for wasting 6 hours of my time. Max will have his ultrasound elsewhere. *Note owners standard response to ask for an email, while taking zero responsibility for their actions..

They saved my dog. What more can I say. My dog started having seizures unexpectedly and my local vet literally turned me away at the door with my dog in my arms because it was the weekend and they "couldn't do anything. This was the only place open and so I took her there and prayed for the best. They saved her. I do believe that without their care my dog would have died. We spent another wonderful five seizure free years together. I am eternally grateful to the staff and vets at this hospital. Really wonderful caring people.

Wonderful experience! We were driving from CO to FL and our dog got a serious eye infection (on Sunday of course). They were pretty busy but we told them we still have a 10 hour drive ahead of us so they got our little dog in and out in less than an hour! Amazing team and the vet was very informative, helpful and listened.

Mary was so kind and helpful at one of the worst times in my life. It is people like her as well as the doctors that really make a difference when faced with tough decisions.

This has been one of the best Vet's I have taken my dog to. They are always so sweet and HELPFUL! Whether it's an emergency or just a phone call needing records, they are on point!

My sister's 17 year old dog Maxie is a Border Collie mix. She was attacked by a Pit bull on May 26, 2021. Thankfully, her injuries were only to her ear and a limp leg. The staff did a great job with her surgery. However, we did have trouble trying to get Maxie to eat and/or take her medications. The next day I called and spoke to Miranda. She said if we could bring Maxie back to the hospital she would show us different techniques on how to feed and administer her much needed medications at no extra charge. Miranda was amazing and professional. She gave Maxie her medicine. Then, she gave my sister 2 syringes one for food and the other for the medicine. Miranda made some good suggestions about what types of food we could try because Maxie needed to be on a bland diet. Baby food (turkey, beef, and chicken) never entered my mind. We are very grateful to Miranda and everyone involved with Maxie's care.

They are very rude and feel like all they want is money wouldn't recommend anybody to go there unless you bring your check book

* updated* The hospital manager called my fiance and wanted to look into and discuss the case and what possibly happened with the staff on duty. She said it would take approximately a week to get back and it has now been over two weeks and no word. I still stand behind my review but hope to eventually be able to forget this negative and traumatic event . I wouldn't even leave 1 star for this "emergency" veterinary hospital. Absolutely horrible. Their service, consideration, professionalism and medical abilities are highly questionable. Once I am able to coherently describe our horrible experience in depth so others will reconsider before they choose this place to care for a part of their family, this will have to do. I would strongly urge anyone that is considering this place for the care of their beloved pets , please look into other facilities before you go here.

I brought my dog here for an emergency visit because he was swollen from head to toe. They did test, and he was heartworm positive. They sent him home some medicine & long story short, I was overdosing him on heart medication because they did not put the right pills in the bottle!! He should have been taking a water pill for the swelling! 2 days of giving my elderly dog double heart meds before I realized. I had to drive 45 minutes back over there to get the pills, near midnight. Unacceptable coming from a place so highly rated and expensive. We will NOT be returning.

It's been a few years, but I'm still haunted by my experience at this vet when I took my elderly cat in one night. The vet on duty was a young man, and he was very patient and kind as he explained that my cat most likely had a brain tumor given her seizures. I agreed that her time had come, and he let me have a few minutes with her. She seem unconscious at this point. When he returned though, he gave her one injection (I don't know if he gave her two), and then picked her up and without a word to me, rushed out of the room. I followed out into the hallway behind the examination rooms, but didn't see him. That was very hard knowing that I'd never see my girl again. The receptionist said that he had a surgery he had to go into right then, but still, it should have been handled better.

They're so nice and caring. Even when busy they will answer questions.

These ppl are heartless brought our dog in for someone poising him and they didn’t do anything and wanted $1200!!!! And the Dr talked so unprofessional and was rude af!!!! When we get here to pick him up they wanted more money before they’d release him!!! I would NOT recommend this vet!!!!!!

VCA River took my recently adopted, 2 year old chocolate lab “Timber” in that was suffering from “inflammatory response syndrome” after being treated for heart worms. She was on the brink of passing away and we rushed her down to VCA around 7PM. Timber stayed with them for three nights. VCA pumped her full of steroids and antibiotics and finally got her settled down and on a positive route to being happy and healthy. After the third night she finally could come home on an oxygen machine that we only used for two nights and now she is in BETTER condition than when she was adopted. The doctor Cheryl Braswell took such good care of Timber along with the rest of her team. We are so gracious of VCA River and we hope we never have to come back unless it’s for a check up! Thank you so much!

We brought our dog, Tavi, into VCA about a month ago - he got under our house into a closed closet and ate about a half gallon of carpenter ant bait. VCA was incredible the entire time - they were responsive, easy to talk to, compassionate and they clearly really loved our dog. When Tavi came home, we were prepared for a long recovery, but he was already springing back, which was wonderful because we had planned a three week trip to our national parks and we had thought we might need to postpone because of his health. Thanks so much to the team at VCA for their expert care.

BEWARE!!!! Their negligence in not properly securing a cage caused my neighbors to lose their cat.

I'm very unhappy with my emergency visit! I went in with my dog, he was acting like he has stomach pain. Ok inside the exam room nurse tells us cost pushes us to get an x-ray with the understanding that if there was something serious like …

There are two choices for an animal hospital in Chattanooga. This is the right one. On top of great medical care the staff is caring and thoughtful of the human parents. We recieved regular texts and pics of how are baby was doing while there. They were always ready to answer questions. First class all the way!

This vet, has gone above and beyond both times I have been there they are friendly patient and kind I recently had to have my dog cali put to sleep after 15 years it broke my heart the staff took extra good care of me, give me a card with cali.s paw prints and then a pleasant hand written sympathy card was mailed to my house I would recommend this vet to care for your pets, thanks to all the staff here you guys made the best of a bad day

They saved my jack russell and we're wonderful to deal with

This past Saturday night we had to bring Princes my husbands service dog also our family member. They were very compassionate and explained the situation about Princess. We thought it was just a something simple but it was worse. We decided to have her euthanized. It would nothave been fair to let her suffer. The Doctor and all other staff were very compassionate and understanding. Thank you all for taking care of our baby.

Took my 4 month old puppy there with a high fever, the doctor called me and said my pup had parvovirus he said I either needed to put him down or they could admit him in their hospital for treatment but the price would be between 3500 and 5000 dollars I told them I could not afford it so he gave me meds and a bag of iv fluids for 500 dollars and told me to treat him at home. I took my pup home and called an animal hospital in Cleveland that admitted him for 3 days and only charged me 210 dollars for a 3 day hospitalization. This is the animal hospital for the overly wealthy Shop around, there are much cheaper places and in my opinion the quality is better.

Excellent experience, wonderful caring staff. My cat cheezburger, was in extreme pain and was suffering from urinary blockage, the staff immediately took him back and began lifesaving treatment. The vet was through with treatment options and extremely kind.

Our sweet pup Smokey ended up with a herniated disc. We drove 3 hours to come to VCA. They answered all of our questions, were kind, very compassionate, and treated our boy SO good. Thanks to VCA, we will have our rambunctious boy back in no time! If I ever have a serious issue with a pet again, the drive will be well worth it.

My poor experiences at River over the years with multiple pets are too long to post. Suffice it to say that I found the focus to be money-driven and very low on professionalism and competence. Shop around, because there are much better options in Chattanooga. I wish the one I’ve used since my last bad experience at River had been available three years ago.

On Saturday October 31st our sweet precious 5 year old golden retriever Shelby, passed away due to cancer although we knew she had it and was sick, it was still very unexpected. The turn of events of that night were just awful. We were going to have to put Shelby to sleep, but as they picked her up to put her on the gurney, she took her last breath. Although we werent right beside her, we know Dr. Jones and his staff were and that comforts our hearts. They were extremely compassionate and that made it much more bearable. Our hearts are broken, but we thank you and your staff for taking such good care of our precious girl.

If I could give them 10 stars, I would !!! The staff is incredibly kind and compassionate. Dr. Mays truly cares for your animal. They were efficient, sweet, and willing to talk to me about everything that happened. I wish this could be my general vet!!

I will never take another one of my fur babies back here. I feel like this place and the people there besides the young man doctor only cared about the money and not my dog. After we had to put him down they gave us zero sympathy I’m only giving this place one star because I have to