I am so disgusted with the outcome of my cat!!! My cat had obvious signs of a UTI infection and they did stuff all for my cat and gave me hardly any information all they did was give her a quick scan and on her abdominal area and said that there’s nothing wrong with her and then proceeded to tell me they could see her uterus was inflamed a little ( so obviously there’s something wrong their ) and I was charged $237 just for a standard consultation! I would not go here they only care about money not the care for your beloved family members it’s truly disgusting! I wish I had of walked out and not paid honestly that’s ridiculous! I was sent off to collect her urine and wait 2 days to see my local vet and they said to just keep the urine in the fridge. Yet when I took her to my local vet they said the urine needs to be collected and then given to them within 6 hours but this veterinary referral hospital didn’t disclose that, they clearly know nothing and don’t know what they are doing here I would never trust them!!! The veterinary lady also said to me “the owners know their pet best” which is true within very circumstances as to why I bought her to the vet as I knew something was wrong by her symptoms but the vet should know more then us as to what’s going on 100% and fix the problem. They could have at least given antibiotics or anti inflammatory!! My girl got absolutely no help and had to suffer for 2 days for my local vet ( my local vet were amazing! They gave her an anti inflammatory injection straight away and anti inflammatory medication which made her feel so much better and she’s already feeling amazing! ) Never go here! It was such a simple problem that could have been fixed easily but they knew absolutely nothing! They even tried to offer me a blood test that would cost $450 but not even get a definitive answer just maybe a “direction” are you kidding me!!! I would like at least half of my money back as she didn’t get the help she needed and deserved for seriously such a simple problem!

INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED with my experience with VRH! The initial visit was attentive, but the aftercare and lack of communication outweighed any positive feedback I have. - We were charged $1000 more than the signed amount advised by the doctor. - We had to chase our MRI scanned results as they were not provided on the day we were advised they’d be ready. - Secondary measures to identify and pinpoint the main cause of infection were deemed “unlikely to fit in 1 operation” and would need to pay for a second operation (extortion). - Our results came back, were held, and then were sent back to the lab for further testing without communicating the outcome to us, prolonging the verdict. - When asking for an update about these “further tests” we were told no further updates were available, leaving us unsure of what’s happening and incredibly frustrated! - The official diagnosis of our pup was not professionally delivered, in fact we were questioned why we weren’t advised “oh, did no one tell you your puppy has meningitis?” we were only given an “educated guess” in the first consultation. - Due to the failure to communicate, we were constantly calling daily for updates and were given second-hand information through the reception girls from the doctor, instead of directly speaking to the right person! - Follow-up appointments were discussed but weren’t fulfilled. - Follow-up treatments were not advised. - I took my pup to our regular vet yesterday who called VRH for more information regarding on-going treatments & medication (as we didn’t hear back for 2 weeks) and they blatantly lied about “trying to contact us”, which is infuriating after spending $7000 here! I don’t discredit the medical service they provided, or the kindness they showed my sick pup but I reject any form of insincere, recycled apology. My dissatisfaction with incumbent staff has passed the point of “basic expectation” and I refuse to return or recommend this Vet “Hospital” again.

I am one of those people who loves their dog more than life itself. Had her 13 years she’s been very healthy but suddenly she became seriously ill and needed a specialist. I ended up here simply because of the shortest waiting list. I was so worried taking her to a new vet that was so so far away from me. I love our local vets so much I was anxious and wary about the kind of care she would receive. Having been seeing the specialist here for nearly two months now I can’t speak more highly of this place especially their internal medicine team with Matt but everyone from the front desk and nurses and interns is lovely, attentive and thorough. I had all my options laid out for me with not just the costs but also the pros and cons of doing or doing not certain tests so I could make informed decisions. I was listened to when I reported significant changes in her personality that only I could notice. When she was in the hospital they cared so much about not just getting her healthy but getting her home to recover both to save me costs and to get her into a more relaxing environment. When she was home and I called with questions everyone I spoke to was very patient and thorough and gave great advice about what did and didn’t need follow up. Even when she was stabilised I still chose to drive the over two hour round trip to do all her follow ups here despite that being available at closer animal hospitals because they are so great. Truly could not be more grateful to the staff here they saved my baby and healed her to give her a great quality of life to live out her retirement years with lots of energy. I know if you’re looking at coming here you must be stressed and sad with your ill pet but please please be kind to these people, they care so much they work so hard and in my experience do everything they can to help you and your pet. Thank you so much VRH from me and my dog Kitty!

Every day, vets are meeting people just like us at one of the worst moments of our lives. We run to them in a panic, so confused and sick with worry that we may be about to lose our beloved pet. There is a lovely speech I once heard about doctors and their patients that said: “Their lives were normal before they met you. They were fine before they met you. Then their loved one got sick and they met you. In an instant, you become a part of their life. No matter what the outcome, they will remember your words, your face and how you made them feel for the rest of their life.” I cannot speak highly enough about how every single person at VRC, from the magic man that is Sam Long, to the emergency overnight team to the ladies at reception, made us feel from the moment we began the healing journey of our beautiful boy Rusty. The care, respect, understanding and compassion was above and beyond anything we had ever experienced before, and after 11 nightmare days of a lot of tests from other vets without a firm diagnosis, we finally saw a happy ending to our horror story the very moment we made the decision to travel an hour from our home to come here. The ‘little things’ were everything. The neurologist getting on the floor with us to comfort our paralysed dog. The always welcomed updates at all hours of the night when he was in hospital. The patience when we asked dumb questions or repeated ourselves because we were in a state of grief. The personal phone calls. The constant reassurance. Even the way the potential cost for treatment was discussed – again with compassion, sensitivity and understanding. Thankfully, our little boy is now on his way to a full recovery, and we will “remember their words, their faces and how they made us feel for the rest of our life.”

Had to rush our 6 month old kitten in recently after being attacked by a dog. She had obvious injuries to her eye and nose and head. The team at VRH vet were absolutely wonderful. They took her in right away, stabilised and assessed her then explained to me the extent of her injuries, what they were currently doing to help her and what would likely be needed going forward. They let me know that it would be somewhat expensive moving forward as xrays, ct scans and surgery would be needed to fully assess the injuries and treat them. They asked before running any costly tests and kept her comfortable and pain free until she was stable enough to undergo the tests and have surgery. She spent 3 nights hospitalised there receiving round the clock care. Every time I rang up for an update or just to know that she was okay I was promptly put through to a vet or vet nurse who not only gave me an update on her medical condition but also how she was doing behaviour wise as well. Letting me know if she seemed stressed or happy, how she was tolerating feeds, if she was managing to use her litterbox and just her general, overall wellness. They also allowed me to come in at 12:30pm every night when I finished work and spend some time with her and after she was disconnected from the IV’s, tubes and monitors, they gave me an exam room to sit in and be with her for as long as I liked. When she was due to come home the vets and vet nurses went through the process of tube feeding and giving her medication from start to finish and made sure we were comfortable with all aspects of her home care. They also do not charge for any follow up visits. The whole team was just so wonderful, it made such a traumatic experience so much easier to cope with.

If I could give 0 stars to this hospital I would. Avoid at all costs. Let me start of by saying that I have been contacted by multiple people that had the exact same experience as me, and I believe some of them have actually taken this place to the court for horrible mistreatment of animals. Let that sink in. Now, first off that night they brought out SOMEBODY ELSES DOG and charged me for another persons dog instead of mine after my dog spent 12 hrs with them and after they have seen him twice in a single week. They charge any amount that they please, starting from admission fees to prescription fees. They do not call when they say they will, promises all around no proper action taken. They DO NOT discuss what is going to be done to your dog, they do what they please and then end up charging you for something that they didn't even discuss with you whether you wanted that to be done to your pet or not. Absolutely rude staff, who will go ahead and tell you that THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR PET because they have to attend to other patients. So they leave you with no explanation as to what has actually been done and what the charges on the bill are all for. They will charge you for prescriptions but you will never receive the prescriptions that you need to take care of your pet. AVOID. THIS. PLACE. AT. ALL. COSTS. My heart aches for all the lives that have been lost due to their lack of empathy and compassion. My pup died day after they saw him the second time. He started suddenly bleeding, which wasn't even the reason we took him to the emergency in the first place. They absolutely destroyed him and I will never ever forgive them for that.

My 7 month old lab pup started limping pretty bad and has been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis recently. For those who dont know, this is an auto-immune disease that has no cure and will require lifelong medication. I have a daughter who has type 1 diabetes who requires constant meds/care and my household has ageing parents to be cared for. Hence, we had to make a heartbreaking decision of giving our pup to the breeder who is kindly caring for him. The hospital experience at the beginning was great and I felt confident that my pup is in good care. The medicine doses have to be adjusted and some questions and concerns I had about managing the condition, were not clarified 100% as the vet literature had some grey areas. This made me extremely anxious and I felt it was best to make sure the pup gets the best care (and I am not the right person to do so due to my circumstances at home). On the day of discharge, we were told that all we have to do is give him medicine 3 times a day. The risks and the uncertainty of the meds working and what everyday life would be were told to us WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT IT. The saddest part was the judgemental behaviour by one of the receptionist and also from the person who we were dealing with. The receptionist flatly refused to put us on a payment plan (something they advertise) and gave no option for a gap payment. The tone of the intern nuerologist and the demeanour changed when we voiced our decision about not being able to care for him. We have never felt so judged. Staff need to respect peoples choices and personal struggles before making them feel like s$%t.

At this current point I am due to take my dog into this hospital today for surgery. I decided to opt for some medication before the surgery to help him reduce inflammation going in as advised by the Vet. I collected the medication and was charged $71.80. I was not informed that I could purchase it elsewhere either by the Vet I discussed this with or the nurses on reception. After having paid for it, later that night I decided to google the medication to see what it was. Chemist warehouse came up and sold the exact same compound in the same mg for 7.99. I then checked a pet retailer online and found it sold for 14.95 for 30! I rang their reception to raise my concerns as I feel like a complete fool. I've basically been taken for a mug, she complained that they have higher overheads as 24hr VET. But so what?!! I was already booked to have a $3000+ procedure! Why do you need to inflate this trivial medication price so much? It just destroys my trust, what else am I being taken for? Unbelievable. Im going to speak to the Vet but I'm highly unlikely to go through with this now. Disgusted. EDIT: I have cancelled the appointment and will not speak with the Vet as I just cannot trust them in my mind at all. Consider this next time you decide to charge a markup like that, you risk the trust of your customers if they just do a little research themselves. If I had of been informed that I could save $60 by simply getting it filled at chemist warehouse of course I would have. In not being upfront about this you have created a bad taste in my mouth and I've decided to go elsewhere.

We've been visiting VRH vet after being referred to Dr Claire Cannon when my dog Ace was diagnosed with aggressive mast cell cancer. Ace was a very anxious vet goer, and they gave him the most positive of experiences during his 5 months of treatment and genuinely cared that he has the best experience possible. We were never rushed and Claire would answer every single one of my questions or concerns in great detail not only in person but also over the phone regularly. The treatment and care that he received was top notch and thorough. The support provided to my partner and I was remarkable, support on deciding the best treatment path for his unique situation without ever pressuring us into any treatment option and really focusing on quality of life and to keep him happy and healthy for as long as we could. A special shoutout to Emma and the rest of the team, they were so amazing to deal with and always so friendly and accommodating. It's an awful experience having your beloved dog diagnosed with cancer and if you're reading this and am in the same situation as we were I highly encourage you to visit Claire at VRH she is extremely knowledgeable, professional, compassionate and you will be in the best hands possible. We were granted what I consider to be extra time with our boy that we wouldn't have had otherwise, and that's because of the treatment at VRH. We will treasure those extra months forever. thank you again to the whole team

I feel absolutely financially violated by VRH, at a time we were needing help. Thursday afternoon our dog was run over and we were directed to the hospital by our vet. My husband was told she needed surgery and that it would cost $4 to $6thousand dollars. And we absolutely said yes to this. Only after surgery and by another vet we were told later that night that she wasn't in a good way and may not survive the following 12hrs. She also said that the bill was already over $10thousand and that we were actually looking at over $20thousand and still things didn't look good. Ultimately leading to us making the decision to let her go that night. We were told to wait to the morning to make that decision would be another $2.5thousand, so in the middle of the night my husband went there, so we could let her go and bring her home. Although it would have been great to know about the real condition and projected costs earlier, I just paid the bill next day (Friday) to focus on our grief. This is the bit that really stings and why I am writing this...Today (Sat...so within 2 days) we received a call demanding payment. Absolutely disgusting action on their part to be chasing money from people in their time of greif, especially when payment has already been made and well before the payment terms, even if we hadnt paid. They need to look at their policies , systems and treat people with more respect. Especially when people are already hurting.

This is the hospital that just recently killed a young female rottweiler and refuses to respond to anyone seeking basic information on the incident. They're actively trying to silence and harass the owner and have removed any trace of the animal ever being taken to their hospital. How individuals like this are allowed to stay in business is absolutely horrendous. Having been confirmed by other pet owners in Melbourne they have done this to a handful of other people and their pets. The rottweiler was taken in for something non life threatening, left within the hospitals care and within the next 24 hours was left in critical condition. The hospital refuses to give details how how the animals health had declined so drastically and ultimately left the animal laying on the floor in it's owners arms while refusing to give her any form of life saving treatment. All while the owner begged and pleaded for hours. The hospital ruled that the cause of death was by the owners choice to euthanize which is completely false and later disposed of the animals body without asking the owner first hand on how she'd like to proceed. This is appalling and for the sake of other pets and owners people like this should not be in business or any practice that includes the protection and treatment of people's beloved pets. They're actively breaking the law, covering up their crimes and have absolute disregard for people and their animals.

It will be 3 weeks tomorrow that we lost our Beautiful Baby Girl Mildred. Our hearts are still broken! The photos show Mildred after her operation for cancer tumor removal and then on the beach months later during her chemo treatment - happy and enjoying the beach. She was our gorgeous fur baby and we would do anything to have her here with us BUT that was not to be. We had 12 joyous years with Mildred and cherish every moment we had with her. To put our Baby in the hands of a Dr and hospital was always going to be very hard but we had to do just that. She was in the care of Dr Claire, Nurse Emma and all the other beautiful staff at VRH. What can I say about those people who cared for Mildred when she was so sick - they are the most professional, caring, knowledgeable and compassionate people Mildred could have in her corner. She was given an extra 6 months of great quality of life by Claire (and the staff at VRH) that we wouldn't have had if Mildred was not cared for by the team. Every visit Mildred was cared for like she was part of their family _ from the ladies who were on the front desk giving her a cuddle to the treatment for her cancer. THANK YOU does not seem enough when our baby was at her most vulnerable but treated so perfectly and compassionately! But THANK YOU is all I can say and THANK YOU from Mildred. We will never forget the care you gave her. Ann-Marie, Lauren and especially Mildred,

I would say this is the best Vet Eme with the best service we’ve ever been to! [experiences]My dog Milk Tea has passed away this avo 2 days ago my mum was there for the first time been for an eme service. Due to my mum having an English understanding issue, all the nurses and vets were so patient and slowly explained to her. 2nd day head to this eme service, Vet Ash fully explained all the details of what was happened and what will be happening very patiently to me and my mum. 3rd day which is today Vet SoYang was also very patient to explain what we will be facing and the best way we could do. So we decided to put him down. Vet SoYoung and the nurse were also very understandable, kindly, friendly, nice, pleasantly and felicitously let us spend some time with our dog. [cost wise] I have to say we are not a rich family, due to we have been searching the prices of different clinics to put our dog to euthanasia. After when we have to make the payment, my mom was so surprised that it’s only cost us half or more than half we’ve been searched for. (ps: they don't normally easily put down anyone unless have to! Cos we were really want to save him) Overall I have to say thank you to the team for all the hard work to cheer up with my dog, all the explaining and the patience. Last I am sorry if we caused any trouble or dragged at other patient’s time.

I cant speak highly enough of the staff here. We are regulars at another local Vet but it was after hours and our 12 and a half year old Lab had gotten suddenly quite ill. Two triage nurses assisted me to bring our dog inside because he couldn't walk, he was seen promptly and even though they knew we would follow up at our usual Vet we were treated like priority customers. We discussed the dogs history and how this event likely came to be, we talked through all the options and discussed in a logical manner how to proceed and what steps were available. We sadly agreed that the only option was to keep him comfortable overnight till we could get to our regular Vet. Sadly our dear boy went to sleep one last time the following morning. I felt it important to leave a review here because whilst I was waiting I read some of the reviews that were left for this clinic. When we lose a pet its a highly emotional time and the human that comes with the pet is incredibly vulnerable. They did not attempt to convince me to run expensive scans or try expensive tests, they were options but we agreed that the tests are likely to inform us what surgery would be required, and we were never going to submit a dog of his age to surgery. I would gladly return here, in my experience the staff are caring, professional , practical and pet focussed.

If your thinking about taking you beloved pet here. Please think again. My experience was very traumatic and I never want anyone to feel the way I was made to feel. I put my trust in this vet to take care of my beautiful Staffy who I lost the night I took him to the vet. There was nothing they could do for him and I understood that. It’s what happened afterwards that has been burnt into my mind forever. They threw his collar away even though I specifically advised them to keep his collar on him as I wanted him cremated with his collar. They lost his bed and I specifically advised them that he was to be cremated in his bed. It took months of me trying to get some answers and finally I was offered a small compensation of $152.00. Such a small amount for such a large trauma I have endured. To date I have not been given any monetary compensation and the person who offered me the compensation (Cate Davis) has ignored my emails. I feel this vet is all about getting paid and not interested in the care, support and empathy required to deal with our beloved pets. Your pet will just be a number. Please do not get involved with them, it will cause you more pain and trauma. My heart is broken thinking about what they did to my boy behind closed doors. If I could give zero stars I certainly would!!

I am a highly patient and calm person. But I lost it all with VRH. They are highly irresponsible. I drove 1 hour to show my severely challenged kitten to the neurological department. They took blood samples and told me the report would take a week or a little more. I kept waiting week after week thinking that the team will surely contact me when the reports are ready and maybe there is some delay in the process. After a month wait, I decided to call and doctor tells me one of the blood samples were misplaced and if I could back again. I refused and they offered me to refund the blood test fees. I keep waiting again and for 2 weeks I don’t see any refund in my account. My questions to VRH is - Are you not suppose to keep track of reports being sent to the patients on time, irrespective of whether you have them or lost them? Is it the responsibility of patients to chase you for reports and refunds? Highly disappointed! I never thought that I will ever write a bad review for a animal clinic because I love animals and the doctors who help keep animals safe and happy.

Dr Kylie Grant Neurologist is the best on the planet She got me back my River boy who had shaker Dog Syndrome She is on Point with Diagnosis Kind, Empathic, and most of all wants to get your Dog back to normal, I wish I knew about her before paying our local Vet $1000s of dollars to guess or should say rule out what was not wrong with him, had I taken him here i Would not have had to fork out $7500 prior to getting to see Dr Grant Long story short I will never go else where I will find Dr Grant where ever she works in Victoria If you find things are abnormal with your dog take your dog through their emergency dept you don't need a referral its worth the money Better than your normal vet doing tests to rule out issues that were not there in the first place and charging you enormous amounts of money To Dr Kylie Thank you from River Snowy and us, for being an amazing Dr and a good human God Bless Jenny

We want to leave a review because the staff at Dandenong vet referral hospital are just amazing. Thank you so much to the team. Special thanks goes out to Dr Kylie Grant and Dr Salih Eminaga for helping our baby boy Drake. They found out the issue with him overnight when another previous vet could not and started him as soon as possible on the meds required. Unfortunately he didn’t make it through but we are so greatful for the care and time they took with him. These are the vets you want your pets to go to. The care and compassion they showed Drake in his final days was just something we could never thank them enough for. Knowing our boy was in good hands made us happy. They sent a card for us after our loss and words can’t even say how much it was appreciated. Thank you so much and we will be recommending this vet to absolutely everybody.

We can’t thank VRH enough for the care and compassion they have shown us over the last 24 hours in helping to get our little Bowie back to being his bright and bouncy self. They were professional, understanding, kind and kept up great lines of communication while Bowie was in their care. We also really appreciated their honesty and transparency in only providing the services that they felt were most appropriate and not trying to add on things they didn’t feel were necessary. They gave us multiple options for treatment plans and gave insightful advice on what they believed the best course of action would be. It was so nice to hear that they were taking such good care of our pup and giving him lots of pats. We can’t rate them highly enough and are so grateful that they were able to get our little puppy back on track. Thank you VRH!

Have attended Veterinary Referral Hospital (VRH) on three occasions with my staffy & I have 100% faith in their professional care. The first 2 visits were for patella corrective surgeries, which were completed successfully. The current visit is in relation to gastro intestinal issues. She’s having more tests next week & I know that she is in the best hands. My girl practically drags me along to enter the clinic & her tail wags the whole time! My girl loves it at VRH, so that speaks volumes in itself. The medicine vet Dr Bovens is informative, friendly & easy to talk to. The nurses shower my girl with cuddles & this puts my mind at ease, leaving her in their care. Staff are professional, knowledgeable, compassionate & they have my full trust. A big thank you to the team at VRH, for all of your awesome care and work that you do :)

The vet surgeon Cameron helped us with our little cat who was hit by a car. In the end we needed to put him to sleep, but the surgeon was very nice and tried everything and explained everything. I also liked how he helped us make the decision by giving us an understanding of the costs, the treatments and the prospective outcome which he said wouldn't be good so we knew that it wasn't worth it for our boys quality of life. That is the type of advice that experience lets you provide as other vets haven't demonstrated this understanding on counselling owners on what is the right thing. It is expensive to have imaging and anaesthetic (into the thousands) so please insure your pets and keep them safe. We miss our boy very badly but are very happy with how good VRH and the surgeon was in trying to save him.

I took a stray kitten in, with his left eye infected and popping out. They took the kitten, saying it was not mine and I had nothing to do with it. Checking back later, they said it was doing good. Calling back next day, they said the kitten was given to a carer? 15 mins later, head nurse called, saying I could have the kitten, picked it up after overnight stay, and the eye was still popped out, they said the operation was$1500to $2000 !!! They did nothing to the poor kitten in 2 days, made it suffer. I took it to the vet in Belgrave hallam rd, who were excellent, they did the surgery, which I paid for. AND the cheek of VRH sent the RSPCA to my house, AFTER they kept the poor kitten in that twiddle state overnight, from 12 noon we'd to Thursday. If i had not insisted, they would have put it down.

They have excellent doctors here who were able to bring my cat who was in a diabetic coma back to health. However, after my cat was discharged after 7 days in this hospital, I decided to take him to our local vet for ongoing care/monitoring as my cat no longer needed that specialist care. Our local vet had some questions to ask them and was unable to get in touch with them or get answers, they responded to him saying that we should make an appointment with them (and therefore spend upwards of $300) if we wanted help. Our local vet was chasing them up for a week and eventually had to seek help from another specialist not from this hospital. This is incredibly disappointing considering we spent over $16,000 already at this hospital, I feel like we should be treated a bit better than that.

This would've been a 5 star review. My lovely dog simon was put to sleep here and the vets that night were so understanding and compassionate, and I am thankful for that. I've called today asking when I'll receive the card with his pawprint, they say it's been sent yet 2 weeks later and I haven't received it. Then they tell me they're waiting for me to pay, but when we asked that night they said there was no cost at all. They said they still have his body and to choose an urn online, so I did that. I called back, and to be told that unfortunately he has been sent away already is just heartbreaking. I know I should've called sooner but I wasn't ready. The miscommunication is unbelievable, please be better. Our dogs mean the world to us. I'm still waiting for my card

What an absolutely appalling centre. Our elderly dog with heart & kidney failure was taken here after being flat for a couple of days. Without taking basic blood tests or having a proper assessment, we were prescribed antibiotics for a tooth infection & he was sent home. We were also told we should be putting him under for a procedure despite two of his organs failing, which would put a huge strain on his body. The next day another centre found him to be in worsening kidney failure & he was immediately admitted for drip fluids. Sadly we had to put him to sleep not long after, & we're so saddened that his suffering wasn't picked up earlier We would not recommend this centre to anybody who expects their pets to be treated with care or compassion.

Im not doubting the quality of care or ability of this place, i am questioning the costing of a invoice. My 82 YO parents took their dog to this hospital with a ( severe gastrointestinal disease ). The dog was sick but my elderly parents i feel were taken advantage of. NO SURGERY and $14,122 after a 6 night stay. . . . . . my parents would have sold their car to save this dog as they are home bound have very little in their lives and i think VRH have been unreasonable and inflated the pricing regarding this invoice. I wish i had the space here to list the charges / costs on this invoice so the best i can do & say is BEWARE. . . . average of $2,350 per night for a dog that didnt require ANAESTHETIC OR SURGERY . . . so please BEWARE !!

Thank you to Dr Sam at VRH, he performed spinal surgery on our pet bobby and I cannot express enough how skilled, experienced and wonderful he is at saving a pet. Thank you to the nurses and client services, although I only did catch the name of Helen who kept a calm head during a period of great stress for our family. To the nurses, vets and other support staff who cared for bobby when he was scared and away from home, if he could speak he would be grateful for the kindness you all have shown him. It can be a very hard thing to put your trust in those that are unfamiliar to you however if you are looking for a great team of experienced professionals during a time of need for your pets, VRH is a great place to visit.

VRH Dandenong staff have been wonderful to deal with. Our local vet found a large mass in our 11 year old pup Ebony's chest, we live a 4 hour drive from Dandenong and were able to see a vet at VRH the next day. Scans, blood tests and xrays were done. The worst news, Cancer. So we needed to see the Oncologist Claire Cannon. Claire and her nurse Emma have been so caring and supportive toward us and our Ebony. Ebony has had several rounds of chemo over the last few months. Claire and Emma have been great, they are easy to talk to (our emotional state was considered) and Ebony has been happy to see them. We have been able to ring and email to talk and ask questions with a prompt response. Thankyou Claire and Emma and VRH

The VRH were Professional , caring , compassionate, in an extremely difficult time for my family when my fur child Storm was diagnosed with cancer . I felt my girl was treated like she really mattered and was important , despite this being a very very busy emergency centre. The staff went above and beyond to explain the medical issues and to devise a plan of action going forward . Surgery nurse Shannel Downey was extremely reassuring and empathetic and answered all my concerns and Dr Cristina Horton was an angel for all the above reasons and in addition, going out of her way to give my family support - even in her own time . I never felt rushed and felt fully supported through out our experience .

Our beloved pooch is experiencing a sudden onset of seizures. We were referred to VRH for more specialised care, but had reason to visit the emergency department today. We were treated with so much care! We were met with calm, polite and professional reception staff, followed by a bubbly, empathetic triage nurse and then had a caring, reassuring and thorough consult with the vet. Prior to this, I’ve had one on one contact with the neurology nurse who has been so helpful and caring, and has gone above and beyond to ensure our boy is safe and that I feel comfortable and reassured. I feel SO reassured that our beautiful boy is in amazing hands at VRH! I’m beyond pleased with the entire experience!

We want to thank the kind staff of VRH Dandenong during our recent visit with our precious boy Snowy. We want to thank especially Dr Tiffany in helping us make the difficult decision of alleviating the suffering of our precious boy. Dr Tiffany has been a constant in treating Snowy and always so kind with her words. We also want to thank VRH for going the extra mile of helping us remember Snowy with a special card, even though we were not in the right frame of mind to request one during that night. Our experience at VRH was special and memorable because of the care and understanding they put in to help us through our most difficult time. Thank you. Alan & Yvonne

Here at VRH, you're in the best of hands. It's a highly skilled and professional medical practice, the staff here are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful in all facets of taking care of your loved one. They certainly understand how important pets are to people and do their best to ensure their good health and recovery. The surgeons will explain all steps thoroughly and will clearly explain to you what can happen going forward, you are never left in the dark and I couldn't have left more confident that my pet was in the best of care. I highly recommend this practice to anyone who has the unfortunate circumstance of their pet requiring surgery. Thank you so much!

The receptionists we came into contact with Nicole, Helen and Marnie were all so lovely and helpful and compassionate during the several visits and stays our Labrador Arnie had over the period of 4 weeks. Sadly we lost him which was totally unexpected, and I can’t tell you how kind and genuinely caring everyone was. Our thanks to Dr Jana , who although wasn’t there on the day we had to make a very difficult decision was very kind and empathetic . Everyone’s help and kindness made an exceptionally tragic time was very much appreciated, particularly with our last moments with Arnie and the cremation arrangements. He has left a massive gaping hole in our hearts.

Worst vet clinic ever. My cat had his eyes bulging and was lethargic they quoted $600 for bloods and said he was sick and needed anti nausea medication and can send him home when I went to pay they charged $1,150k which is outrageous his been home now for 15 hours and is worse drooling tongue hanging out won’t eat or drink at all. To top it all off they took his collar off and when I called this morning to get it back they said they can’t find it. Most pathetic clinic ever vet was young and didn’t have a clue what she was doing. Now going to my normal vet who will treat my cat properly and not charge a fortune. Do not recommend at all worst experience ever.

Thank you so much to Dr Jana and the wonderful team at VRH - our 6mo Yorkie baby suffered a very nasty broken leg and within a week of his surgery, he is bouncing around like his old bubbly self (despite our attempts to keep him still!). What was a very traumatic experience was made so much easier by the excellent service from these awesome people; they went above and beyond to keep us informed and even sent photos while our boy was awaiting surgery so we'd know he was OK. His little leg is healing beautifully and he doesn't even mind going back for check ups :P you can tell he was clearly well looked after by the vets and nurses.

Very upset that my dog had to suffer for days from a significant brain tumour not picked up by the vets at this hospital. Presented twice and was told my dog could walk fine and it was hip dysplasia. They even kept him overnight and said nothing else was wrong when he was face planting constantly at home. Sent home with extra panadol. Then Mornington Vet hospital discovered not even two days later the huge brain tumour. Lodged a complaint nearly 2 weeks ago and still no response. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to our dog 14/6/23 as the tumour was inoperable and he was in so much pain.

Can’t thank the staff at VRH enough, we came into emergency through what was quite a traumatising experience our old girl was on her last string and seizuring. Unfortunately we had to do what was needed. Dr.Christina Horton and vet nurse Natalie were so empathetic and caring, they really took care of us through the process. They gave us all the time in the world to spend our final moments and were more then happy to wait for other family members to come in (2hrs). To keep it short I’m glad we came to VRH the facilities, staff and ambience alongside great care for pets and owners is 10/10.

We bought our border collie Earle to this hospital to see the surgeon Carmeron for a cancer issue. He displayed knowledge and empathy and after tests we were referred to oncology. Selvi was lovely and showed care and compassion at all times. We decided to go no further with our treatment but we were never made to feel bad about our decision and encouraged to consult at any time with concerns. The reception staff and nurses could not have been nicer. It’s been a very traumatic time for us with Earle but we will always appreciate how kind everyone from the hospital have been. Thank you.

I am so grateful for the compassion and love that I received during my recent visit here. I brought my kitty in to organise her cremation, and the staff were so patient and kind, they took time to explain everything gently to me as I was an absolute mess. We had come home to find our beautiful girl deceased for unknown reasons, I was in shock and devastated, and the love and empathy I felt from the staff really made me feel so much more comfortable to hand her over. I've attached pictures of our Angel, as I'd like to staff to get the chance to see how sweet she was. Rachel Hearps

After my cat had surgery elsewhere, we took him home and realised we had an issue with getting his e-collar on properly (an awkwardly positioned drainage valve in his cheek/neck). Our regular vet was closing up, so we took him to the Veterinary Referral Hospital and was seen by a lovely nurse (Sarah, if i recall correctly). The whole experience was wonderful. After paying over $1000 for two surgeries (again, elsewhere) within a fortnight, it was a surprise and a relief to only be charged $7 for the cone. This my first Google Review. I couldn't recommend them more.

I really don’t like being spoken down to. I understand you’re the professionals, but so am I and when I call telling you clearly what is wrong and attempting to decide weather I wanted to self treat at home for the night or pop in for some IV fluids, I would expect that you at least have the decency to speak with an ounce of respect. I chose to take the risk and administer the fluids myself before attending our regular vet today. Best decision I could have made. After hours fees aren’t my issue, but when I pay a premium price I expect a decent standard.

I just want to say a massive THANK YOU to these beautiful people at this clinic. I have nothing but gratitude for all you have done for my Bub but also helping us in so many ways as well. I have never been through something so traumatic in my life but the fact they cared enough about my girl to do anything to help us save her life I am forever grateful. To all the receptionist and nurses who helped. To the vets who kept me well informed. To the surgeon who worked her magic to put my darling back together. May god bless you all

My poor baby girl had a severe allergic reaction after getting vaccinated and was nearly at deaths door. The amazing people of VRH in Dandenong bought her back from the brink and she is now happy and safe back home. These people should be given sainthood for the miracle they performed on Harley the kitten. She effects everyone she meets and so many nurses and vets were so pleased to see her make a full recovery. Yes it was a test on the bank account but it was definitely worth to save a very important member of my family.

Our little angel dog Chloe passed away a week ago after 16 wonderful years with us. I highly recommend this emergency hospital and we will be forever grateful for the compassionate care you all gave to our girl and to us with her passing. From reception to the vet that day, thank you so much. We recently received from this hospital a wonderful sympathy card with our Chloe's nose and paw print, thank you again, this will be forever treasured. We are grateful to have such a top class emergency vet hospital near us.

Fantastic staff and really great veterinary service. My little 4 month old puppy needed an MRI and spinal tap, I couldn't have asked for a more caring team. I was very anxious handing her over at such a young age but they did a wonderful job and kept in touch thought the day. Dr Salih Eminaga was fantastic and very knowledgeable which put me at ease. I've also used VRH for an emergency, which required induced vomiting, again, they were fantastic and caring with my dog. Great team and would definitely recommend.

Just wanting to publicly thank VRH. My very anxious, very big German shepherd needed his bum looked at and I was worried at how they would handle him. Vet Matt and Nurse Sam went above and beyond to keep my dog calm, they showed incredible patience and care and were able to examine him with minimal fuss. I really appreciate the extra time we were given and they way they answered all my questions. What could have been a really stressful day was made easy by the fantastic staff. Would recommend 100%

The absolutely best place to see a specialist for your pet. My Beagle Percy underwent massive neurosurgery here, performed by Dr Sam Long. Five and a half hours in theatre, and my baby went from being completely paralysed, to walking and running again! It is a miracle! I am beyond grateful to this magnificent Hospital for pets. We travelled all the way from Werribee, and I won’t go anywhere else for specialist care ever again. Much more thorough and empathic than advanced vet care Kensington!

Thank you to Catherine Bovens and the rest of the team at VRH for looking after Teddy I can’t say anything bad about VRH as I would ring 6 plus times a day to ask a update on teddy (and that was ok) I even would ring in the night- I was kept in the loop at all times, and they always gave me every result of Teddy. They would also send me lots of pictures of Teddy when she had to stay in for over 3 weeks Yea, I really can’t fault them Catherine is amazing I wish I could give her 10 stars ⭐️

We can’t thank Claire Coonan and Emma enough for their wonderful support and attention of our beautiful Willow. Their genuine care and consideration during her treatment and her final weeks made Willow’s final journey as comfortable as possible and a time that we could all enjoy our last months with her. While she is now playing with others at the Rainbow Bridge I know she would be joining us to extend her appreciation for their kind and considerate care. With sincere thanks

We cannot thank you enough for saving our beautiful Ruby's life, she came in with bloat and I was so scared she wasn't going to make it, you all did the most amazing job. Dr Aaron, Dr Katrina and all your nurses were just amazing and so caring. I cannot express how much it means to us all the care you took with our girl. You are all the most amazing people we have ever dealt with in a pet emergency and we all thank you so much. Thank you from Marika, Allan and Ruby :)

We took our dog to this clinic as he was very unwell. During the time our dog was at the hospital, we found the reception staff and vets to be kind, helpful and professional to deal with. Sadly our precious boy didn't make it. The staff did what they could to help him but it wasn't mean to be. Our regular vet would not have been able to care for our dog in the way that VRH did. Staff were respectful and compassionate during the ending and our dog passed peacefully.

My cat was attacked and killed by a dog and I was very distraught. I bought her dead little body into this vet and they were truly lovely! They made things so easy for me in such an awful situation! A week later they even sent me lovely card saying sorry for my loss and it had a little paw print they had taken the time to make for me of my baby girl. I was so happy to have her little paw print! It ment the world to me. I highly recommend this vet!

The vets and nurses are fantastic! If it wasn't for them i don't know if my little girl would have made it. They cared for her until she was able to eat on her own again and they were very informative and were happy to take the time out to speak to me on the phone about my dogs progress while she was in hospital. These people are truly heroes and i cannot thank them enough for helping my dog when she was seriously ill. I will be forever grateful!

The VRH and AEC looked after my little puppy when he had an unfortunate accident of breaking his paw in four places at 14 weeks old. The staff were absolutely amazing. Very compassionate and gave us the best possible advice to ensure he would not have issues for rest of his life. Yes it was costly, but the work involved surgery from a specialist and after care. Our little puppy has made a full recovery and we can now enjoy long walks with him.

I cannot express enough gratitude for the care and compassion that each of the members of VRH showed to us during the passing of our beloved cat, Basil. The effort that the staff went to on the day of and in the follow up was above and beyond and we are so appreciative of everyone who made our experience more bearable. We will forever miss our little one and are so glad that we have beautiful things to remember him by thanks to all of you.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! VRH with Claire Cannon and Oncology team have done wonders for our Alaskan Malamute - Bobby. They have gone above and beyond to make sure that our boy is back to his normal condition. It was a long road to recovery but VRH have done remarkable job and we are so grateful and thankful for all your efforts. Bobby is also extremely happy and Im sure he enjoyed all the attention he got while in treatment. Thank you all!!!

Last week we had a completely unexpected and heartbreaking experience. Our nearly 8 year old pug Quigley was diagnosed with lymphoma and unfortunately did not make it thru. Dr Lucia was calm and thorough with the testing and diagnosis. She was so understanding with all the tears shed through out this process. We would like to send an enormous Thank you to her for the beautiful card we received and the paw prints we will hold dear forever.

Our pup Hazel was brought in a very sick girl, and the care that she received was top level. Dr Leah and Dr Cristina reassured us that she was in good hands, providing us with daily morning and afternoon updates. The team also provided photos of her progress as we live 3 hours away and weren't able to visit every day. Without their treatment, well our little pup wouldn't be here today. She's getting back to being her cheeky self again!

Dr Salih Eminaga is just amazing. My 4.5 year old cavoodle has been having seizures frequently, after my first consult he was super thorough and then after most subsequent seizures I have emailed Dr Salih and he promptly replies with a solution. It has been a very stressful time seeing my poor girl in trouble, but I feel supported and reassured that Maisey is in good hands. Thank you so much. It is a relief I am in such good hands.

I’m so pleased with the help I received today. The care the vet took with my pup was above and beyond. They listened to my concerns on surgery and suggested / went down another path to achieve the outcome needed. I can not express how grateful I am to the staff at veterinary referral hospital for looking after my little ridgeback, forest. He’s currently snoozing on the couch like nothing ever happened.

Dr Leah Wignett is absolutely phenomenal. Her compassion, kindness and level of knowledge was extremely reassuring when I had to take my dog in who was experiencing pain in his spine. I couldn’t recommend her enough!! She really helped put my mind at ease with the matter and shared her knowledge with his injury and on the next steps to help my dog recover from his injury. Dr Leah you are amazing!!!

Last Sunday night at 8.00pm, we took our very ill Kelpie X Tilly to VRH, we were met by Emma and Dr Ben, who were just fabulous and very caring towards Tilly. The service and attention that Tilly received was amazing. Tuesday, Tilly spent the day at Noble Park Animal Hospital. We are very happy to report Tilly is back to her healthy self. Many thanks to these Amazing People. Sandra from Mulgrave

Our fur baby Angus decided Christmas came early and ate 8 mini chocolates from an advent calendar! Dr. Sam and Nurse Lisa did an amazing job looking after Angus! Nothing was to difficult to make us both feel like everything was going to be ok.(cleaning up his induced vomit was no big deal). Thanks ladies your amazing at your jobs and grateful that you took care of Angus with love. Thanks.

Andrew, you are a beautiful vet, full of heartfelt compassion. Your gentle way of communicating what needed to be said was clear, in a way that my emotional and muddled head could understand. Thank you for giving me the time and space to say goodbye to our beloved dog. Thank you for guiding me through the process. Thank you for allowing him to go so peacefully. He isn't suffering anymore.

The staff were absolutely terrific for my emergency visit. I have nothing but praise for them. Not so much for the call I made 2 days later when I needed some advice regarding after effects of that first visit . Not at all helpful. I felt I was brushed off. I had to seek advice from a vet friend. So 2 very different experiences. One fantastic, the other rather appalling.

Brought our cat in late last night in a bit of a panic. The staff were very empathetic and patient, and took great care of our fur baby. The cost was very reasonable, as far as 24 hour emergency places go. It’s a relief knowing we have some place good to turn next time we need out of hours vet help. It was a long night but Basil definitely seems to be on the mend today!

This facility is an amazing place. The staff and technology here are first rate. Dr Sam Long is the most professional, caring and hard working man we have dealt with. We cannot thank him and the rest of the staff enough for all they did for our girl and for how wonderful they were with us as our girl crossed the rainbow bridge. Please keep up your amazing work team.

Staff here are incredibly compassionate and understanding, they supported my sister and I when we had to take our little kitty Angel in to be cremated. They allowed us all the time we needed to mourn and say goodbye before they collected her. Free of charge they provided us with her nose print and her toe beans . We cannot thank the staff enough for their love.

I just want to say a big thank you to The lady at the front desk tonight I came in with my 8yr old son to hand in a long neck turtle we saved that my son had grown Attach to You really helped him understand why it was the right thing to do to make sure turtle was okay and safe Even with tears coming out of his eyes you are amazing woman really grateful

They refuse to offer some basic advice over the phone. while i waited for my current vet to open. they are useless! all they want is money and you to go in. How dare you be so rude and unhelpful when an animal is sick and i need simple advice Awful people. cash money hungry. they care ZERO about animal care and wellbeing Complete C*NTS! DO not go near them.!!!!

I couldn’t thank the team and Dr Jana enough. My kitten received a broken leg and after less than favourable recommendations from my previous vet the team took him in and made the whole process easy. I was able to visit him after his operation, the advice and support was amazing. My kitten and I couldn’t thank Jana and the hospital enough Thank you a million

Kind, calm, knowledgeable staff from reception through the emergency medical team, our dog was so well cared for. The communication during hospitalisation was excellent. The facility is bright and clean. And they sent our dog home with a sweet "Pawesome Patient" bandana. Wonderful to know there is such a fantastic facility in case of another emergency.

Have no complaints about the service but would like to comment on the fact that this clinic is consistently 20 to 50 percent more expensive than others. They are professional and the clinic is very well presented. Just not sure why a clinic in Dandenong charges 30 percent more than one in Mornington and double the fee of a clinic in South Melbourne

My local vet recommended here for my pups luxating patella surgery and 12 weeks ago he had his first leg done and this week he had his second. I can’t recommend VRH enough, my baby was looked after amazingly. We received updates through out the whole process and felt at ease knowing he was in good hands! Thank you so much to the whole team!

I just came here today due to my dog eating dark chocolate. The nurse and vet was very attentive and kind towards my dog who gets scared of new people especially vets. I was surprised how calm he was around them compared to my usual vet. They helped my dog. Thanks a lot Dr Samantha Stewart and your nurse. This was during curfew as well.

As the owner rescued greyhounds Dr Arthur House is the only specialist I will travel 6 hours to get a consult. Dr House & staff are very caring both to the greyhounds and my self which is terrific in times of illness and unsurety. Carrie the receptionist always make you feel welcome and never forgets the friendly smile. Willy J. Shaw.

My dog has had several medical and emergency treatments here for a congenital heart condition. The doctors in the hospital are skilled and well equipped. Although my dog passed away because of illness, I would like to thank the doctors and nurses for their love. （Picture of my dog in the hospital oxygen chamber in January）

I had to bring my cat into VRH on the weekend as she was attacked by a dog. The staff at VRH are just amazing people. They where very compassionate, thoughtful, professional and efficient in their service. I would definitely recommend them for any emergencies. I am very greatly for the care they provided my fur baby. ❤️

Thank you so much for taking care of our Sadie in her final moments. Your compassion and care for her was second to none. Seeing your card today ,with her nose and paw print brought us to tears. We are so grateful to have had her in our lives for as long as we did. We cannot thank you enough for all that you do

The team at VRH are amazing, Sam and the neurology team and Sarah and the medicine team have looked after our dog so well, cared and supported her and us. She has such complex issues and the care and support with answers to our every concern are brilliant. We are thankful for your caring approach and wonderful team.

Brilliant nurses and vets. They calmed our fears down, did not rush to admitting our boy nor running unnecessary tests, and were so helpful. We are being put in touch with the neurology team to help get a plan of attack for our old boy, Spencer, and we are very grateful. Fantastic services and amazing facilities.

Hi there! Not normally one to write reviews. However I was so happy and impressed with they're service! Especially all the nurses, and Dr Richard :) Being a VERY nervous owner, i was so comfortable leaving my fur baby Zenah (the staffy) with the team at VRH. Thank you again for looking after my darling overnight!

Was told over the phone to come in straight away as my pet was suffering severely, waited over 8 hours to be seen by a vet. Despite my pet being clearly unwell; panting, drooling, lameness, they suggested I go home and come back in 2 weeks. Ignorant and lazy staff, and worst "care" provided. Avoid at all costs.

Katherine at the referral hospital has been helping our king charles cav for the past 6 months. She has been absolutely amazing and I have felt so comfortable leaving our loved doggy in her care. Our dog had a very rare lung disease and she diagnosed it and has helped him to recover. Can’t thank her enough!!!

Staff was great. Took good care of our little maltese shih tzu. Very understanding and explained everything. Downside pricing for medication. $380 for a bottle of 100 tabs, normally $62. Was told it was for the upkeep of the hospital. I feel I was totally ripped off .perfect example of price gouging.

Can't thank the staff enough for their outstanding triaging and efficiency. The vet was wonderful! We are so grateful for her empathy and sensitivity during the passing of our darling little Sophie. Our eternal gratitude to all the staff for helping us during a very, very difficult time.

Very disappointed in service, the vet forgot to send off blood test to lab for my sick dog and took them 5 days to figure that they hadn't sent it after me calling every day for the results. A month has gone by & I'm still waiting for my money refund for services unrendered. Not happy.

Very caring ,very professional very supportive In one day we lost two dogs from a snake bite We rushed the third dog to the emergency From the minute we arrived we new that he will come back home alive Today he came home and he is with his family Thank you for saving Orions life

Leah is a godsend. It’s was so nice to have someone who truely cared about my pup, Leah put my mind at ease, spoke to me and my husband in terms we understand and did whatever she could to help my baby Peanut. She is such an amazing vet & we are very lucky to have met her.

Took my dog here after he suffered a large laceration to his paw that required surgery and stitches. The team members were amazing with him, being very patient and caring. The quality of care and support available is above what I expect. Thank you so much for what you do.

I just wanted to take the time to share that my husband and I were beyond impressed with Dr.Cristina yesterday. Her professionalism, knowledge, kind energy and care for our pooch was quite remarkable. VRH are certainly lucky to have you Cristina. Grainne & Simon

The most comprehensive and well equipped vet hospital in Victoria with incredibly talented and compassionate staff who go the extra mile for your pet. I couldn’t rate them highly enough having been through the system and several other hospitals during my dogs illness.

The worst emergency clinic ever only care about money and not about the pets at all, we rushed to the emergency and the waiting was more than two hours while I was watching my cat suffer and cry in pain, they didn’t even treat her well, not recommend at all.

Thumbs up to the friendly helpful staff here on Saturday night when I had a emergency with my dog . They were extremely prompt on assisting straight away and throughout the visit.. very happy with the service provided . Thanks again Matthew & Molly …

People there are nice and patient. We lost our dog and called tried to register our dog information. They told me my dog is there safe and healthy. We get there and they smile to us and calm us down. Very good support to lost dogs. Thank you very much!

I can't thank Ashleigh and the team enough for tonight we rushed our beautiful Erika girl (guinea pig) in there tonight/this morning she was very unwell and we had to say goodbye Ashley and the team were so sweet and caring and are Absolutely amazing

The vet was so thorough, compassionate and knowledgeable in what was a traumatic few days. To walk out knowing my dog was going to be ok after other vets couldn’t help was something only a pet owner will know the feeling of. I am forever grateful

The staff at VRH Dandenong were fantastic with my Labrador puppy. My puppy ate a large sock that was not going to pass on its own. We were seen to immediately and the sock was retrieved the same way it went in - so we avoided an invasive surgery.

My carer took my cockatiel on a Public Holiday today as no one was open. She, my cockatiel, was bleeding from feathers. Thanks for giving advice and patching up Kirby so she can come home, then tomorrow off to another usual Vetirnary. …

So Young was brilliant, calm and compassion. Late last night our dog Henry had an issue with his abscess and he was given great treatment and was well taken care of. He is slowly on the road to recovery. Thanks for your assistance.