Black Mountain Animal Hospital - Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego Veterinarian — Local services in San Diego

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE IF YOU LOVE YOUR PETS

Wish I could give them ZERO stars... The reason is, Monique and a couple of others that are front office staff are awesome. I have had a female unspayed cat for 3 years who has never shown any signs of aggression. Until one day, 2 weeks ago when she pretty viciously attacked me. She was then taken to the humane society and they spayed her and returned her to me. After keeping her home for a week, I attempted to take her to the vet. The front office staff had been talking me through the whole thing and it was very encouraging and helpful that I would be able to work through this problem with my beloved animal who had gotten me through some really hard times. However, when I got there, they took my cat and did not let me inside due to covid. I waited outside and then eventually went to the window to ask how things were, one of the front office staff came out and told me that she had attacked the vet assistant, I asked if the person was okay and she said yes. I then waited a while longer because they were going to go back in the room with my cat. Next, the vet came out and it was a blonde woman and she didn’t have her mask on and told me not to worry about wearing mine (if they aren’t going to let owners in with their animals then they should all be wearing masks). The vet said, “are you with Shenzi?” And I said Yes. She then shook her head and said, “She’s crazy” and I said “Is She?” (Hoping for some actual medical explanation). She then proceeded to ask me if leaving her or returning her to the humane society was an option for me. She said it could be a hormonal thing or she could just have something wrong up here and pointed to her own head. Her face had no expression of empathy and she was very cold. I told her I had found a new home for her as a last resort and that I would try to make it a quick transition since I don’t feel equipped to handle this kind of situation because I am a single mother of a small child. She then asked, “Where did you find something to take her?” I said, “Craigslist” and she said, “What did the add say, ‘CRAZY CAT?!’” As I was sitting there bawling because I was losing my fur baby of years. How unnerving and cruel that someone responsible for caring for and treating sick animals is not capable of managing a small cat and on top of that shows no empathy towards owners who are losing their animals due to medical or behavioral reasons. Was not a good experience and that woman’s negativity instilled so much fear in me that I felt I had to urgently rehome my cat when there may have been a more reasonable option. But my cat is safe and thankfully because I didn’t listen to this vet, she won’t be euthanized at the humane society.

Response to the owners response: I did not call daily I called a total of 4 times over the course of 15 days BUT NICE TRY. Also, a behaviorist was NEVER directly mentioned to me and I did not seek any medical solutions to a behavioral problem. My cat had a drastic character change in a short period of time which is usually because of a medical problem. She also just had surgery and needed a prescription from a VET! The way the vet spoke to me about my SWEET LOVING SMALL 5 POUND CAT, Was alarming and I am very concerned for any animal that comes to your facility because that vet had no emotional connection to me sitting there in tears or my cat that had gone through a lot of trauma recently. She smiled and called my cat crazy and was extremely offensive. I did rehome her to ensure that she is safe and so is my child (thanks for your half-hearted and delayed concern). It is not your job to worry about me or my child it is your job to take care of animals that are patients at your office and you clearly fail at that since you cannot even control a 5 pound cat as “professionals”. Pretty pathetic and I hope your office gets shut down. I will be filing a formal complaint.

Have a good done!...

I never write reviews unless something is extraordinarily great or the opposite. In this case this was a horrible experience. My 18 year dog that I have had since he was six months old injured his hip and already has hip dysplasia but normally walks fine. He could not walk at all and was crying. I took him to Black Mountain Animal Hospital and the front desk was great however the vet would not listen to me and thought because of his age I would be putting him down in a few days but I knew better. MY dog has made many miraculous recoveries, and this was just an injury that needed a few days to heal. The few days were horrible as the dr prescribed 4x's the amount of prednisone that my dog should have had and my dog suffered greatly because of it. Instead of resting his hip like was needed, he would walk and spin in circles until exhaustion and he would finally go to sleep each night after some sedation but would whimper, and cry while I help him and pet him it was horrible. While at the vet I had told him how my dog had hip dysplasia and how I had thought before that my dog had dementia however, we quickly realized he was just in a lot of hip pain and the pain meds that his regular vet gave him took care of this and the problem went away. Instead of listening to my story he told me my dog had a brain bleed...I kept telling him that he did not and that the problem with confusion went away once he got on regular pain medicine. Dr vet continued with the brain bleed statements until I left. No test were done to check for a brain bleed nor were any needed. It was bizarre. He did not listen to me and could easily have given my dog a stroke with the strength of steroids mis prescribed especially due to my dogs delicate condition and age. It was awful watching my dog suffer. My dog is very old and this could have put him over the edge. Thank goodness his regular vet told me how to quickly tapper him off. He is fine now. He is playing in the yard does his dance of excitement when I get home from anywhere and loves his treats. I thank God every day that I have my best friend still and that he recovered just fine. It was awful seeing him in the excruciating state of steroids that were much too strong. Your response below to my review is completely untrue. I have the bottle I have the prescription with your instructions. His real vet had to help me work him away from what you caused by prescribing 4 x's the amount. You did say he had a brain bleed. His condition was NOT life threatening at all he had an injury that needed a few days to heal! There was nothing wrong with his brain. He hurt a hip. You did not willingly work with me. Thank goodness I did not waste any further money as HE JUST HAD A HIP INJURY that healed. Your account below is grossly inaccurate and I would never send anyone to your vet. You should aplogize for what you put my dog through. It was horrible. You did not do anything special for me willingly. I told you what I was ok ordering and you ordered it. Where exactly did you go out of your way? You did not correct his dosage. I told you that my vet let me know that you gave my dog too much and you agreed. She is who corrected it not you. You simply agreed that it also should have been 5mg not 20mg. I brought it to your attention and the correction I suppose is that you refunded the wrong prescription charge....my dog suffering was...

Brought my cat here a few years ago for a dental and he died a few days later. Preface: My cat was having issues already so idk how much of what happened was due to the procedure or not. I made the appointment and was early. I ended up waiting for over an hour for the doctor to even show up to the office (did she sleep through her alarm clock?=unprofessional). She was nice. Did the initial exam and said she wasn’t sure if the dental was the right thing to do for the problem (cat sneezing blood and puffed up eye). I had taken him to vsh where they told me he needed a $2k Ct scan of his face but I had just gotten hit by a truck and couldn’t afford that due to having to pay my own medical bills. Because he had dental disease, I thought perhaps that was the cause. He needed a dental anyways because of gingivitis etc. I went ahead with it. My mistake. During the procedure the dr called and said that the dental was done and was not the cause of my cat sneezing blood. The puffed up place under his eye was still there and she suggested aspirating/opening it up to see what it was. I said yes, mistake 2-was this just to get money? Idk. There was nothing there once cut open. I got my cat back and he looked like the scarecrow stitched together (poor quality on the stitching-I’m a vet tech). He was so drunk on the pain pills that he couldn’t walk which I get. I called the office three times before I actually got someone on the phone who would help instead of just relaying back and forth and back and forth between dr and receptionist over two days. I lowered his dose like the dr office suggested but then he’d just lay down and yell. He would lay on the ground laboring for breath and i didn’t know what to do. I called them back and got no help. I’m crying even now...years later. His paws started to get cold and his gums started to turn blue. He was dying in my arms. This little buddy of mine who helped me after the first few months of being bed ridden (broken from being hit by that truck) and he helped me get through very dark times and he was now in so much pain and I couldn’t do anything to help or to preserve his life. I brought him to Dr. Boord at animal dermatology clinic, where I was just fired from not being able to work due to being hit by that truck (awkwardly saying ‘hi’ to the people who just helped ruin me as I limped by carrying my dying cat) and she helped me put my cat down. During this he fought it, he started to push away like he didn’t want to go and I am still struggling to this day about it. In fact currently sobbing. Dr. Boord said I did what I could and beyond for him but the guilt still looms. I went to the Humane Society for their pet loss group which was nice. The “maybes” creep in- maybe if I had continued to give him the pain meds, he’d feel okay enough to breathe? or maybe if I wouldn’t have done the dental at all (ended up being over 1k after everything anyways)? or or or...the end result was my cat dying and the hospital didn’t give me any portion of the money back (shouldn’t expect it but damn.). I know he would’ve still been sneezing blood (probably cancer). I had a dream about him last night. Him and my other cat reunited and hugged and played and snuggled. I woke up in tears. Now my other cat needs a dental and I’m so afraid. Idk where to take...