Schulman Alan J DVM

We take all three of our chihuahuas here exclusively, after trying another vet’s office down the block for about a year just for comparison.
I was initially sold on this place back in 2006 when I had to put my pitbull to sleep. It was the first time I’d ever been there and only chose them at that time because it was after normal business hours and most vets were closed already. I was curled up on the floor with my dog for a while before the procedure, and the vet on duty (not Dr. Schulman) got down on the floor with us until I was ready to go through with it. She didn’t rush me, and she was very respectful of what a difficult process that is. Big points scored that day.
I also love a lot of the vet techs, like Heather. I feel bad that I don’t know all of their names, but I’ve never had a single negative impression of any of them.
The reason I don’t give this place five stars is because they seem to have a lot of new vets or interns on rotation, maybe due to their 24-​hour business model. Some of these people (like the female vet I mentioned in the story about my pitbull) are FANTASTIC. I have had mostly good experiences. Mostly. Occasionally someone is on duty who I find to be unknowledgeable, to put it nicely. This is the exception, not the rule, but it is the truth. Dr. Schulman himself is definitely a seasoned pro and never feels like he’s trying to upsell me on anything or exaggerate what’s going on, like other vets have. But depending when you go in you won’t get Dr. Schulman so just know that ahead of time.

PLEASE do not deal with this facility. They appear to be harmful to animals and dishonest with their clients. The staff appears to be incompetent and this has seriously affected my dogs health.
Today I was told that NO RECORDS FOR ANY Animal will be released to another vet without direct approval of the last vet to see him at the facility. dr. SCHULMAN must PERSONALLY approved the records be sent. No other vet in the practice can release the records. No other staff can send them. According to the Vet Tech I just spoke to (and recorded) because Dr. SCHULMAN has been out all week these records could not be released. In spite of 8 calls from my vet and my self, over the course of a week, five assurances that the records had been emailed and failed to go through and one completed sent record, all without Dr. SCHULMAN releasing them he assured me that this was the policy and that the records could not be sent.
On Monday, I requested my dog’s medical records be sent to my primary vet, he was having problems from a Surgery last year with Dr SCHULMAN. They were not sent. When I got to my vet I had them call the office to, request them again. I also called. We were both told they were on the way. They were never sent. My dog was scheduled for surgery Sat. morning. 8 phone calls later, records were never sent. My dog went into surgery without previous medical records, x –rays, and other critical information due to the staffs lack of follow through.

Alright, it’s taken me exactly three months to write this testimonial. It’s been very hard to express my feelings since our family’s dear golden retriever passed. At just ten years old, she was gone much too soon. To be brief but honest, Dr. Alan Schulman certainly knows his stuff. He performed two surgeries on our girl, both successfully and without complication. However, his bizarre behavior, financially mercenary methods, and unflagging narcissism does tend to challenge one’s devotion/​appreciation. As she was dying from a cancerous tumor of her heart lining, her breathing was both labored and shallow. After having a cardiologist tap her pericardium, it allowed her to breathe a little easier and with less fear. This gave us just under a month more with her — which was as wonderful as it was sad. In looking back to the nascent of this most recent illness, we first presented our girl to the Animal Medical Center’s late night emergency clinic, which obviously was after hours for Dr. Schulman. Unfortunately, the vet on staff actually LAUGHED when describing our girl’s devastating predicament. I don’t know if he was on something or if it was some kind of social defect, but it left our family cold. While this was not Dr. Schulman’s issue, it is indicative of the type of strange attitude that seems to pervade in this odd carnival of animal care. For example, Dr. Schulman repeats himself almost interminably when you ask any kind of follow-​up question, be it on treatment, cost, timetable, end-​of-​life issues, etc. He gets angry and impatient easily if you don’t go all-​in with his financially exorbitant vision for treatment. This was so amazingly bizarre since he and the other vet clearly stated that our dog’s illness was imminently fatal. That said, we just wanted to spend some quality time with her in her last days, which we did, rendering us ever so grateful to Dr. Schulman and his outsourced cardiologist. Almost 4 thousand dollars later, there was no need to attempt any of the surgical Hail Mary’s (with estimates ranging close to 12 thousand plus dollars) Dr. Schulman kept trying to hammer home over the phone. His evident anger and lack of compassion went so far as for him to suggest, upon her passing, that we bury her in the ground on our property to save a few bucks. Hmmm. On her final day, when she was scared and weak and barely breathing, I called and spoke to Dr. Schulman, asking if there was anything I could get from him to help make her more comfortable in these final hours. He yelled angrily, «I’m not going to give her narcotics! It would kill her!!» (What the???) When I told him I wasn’t asking for this, just something to make her relax, he remained gruff and unsympathetic. He then gave me the name and phone # for a mobile vet who could help with her last moments. I called but she didn’t return the call until the next day. Within less than an hour from the time I last spoke to Dr. Schulman, our dear, sweet girl passed away in my arms, with my son petting her, surrounding her with love. As it turns out, that was the best medicine she ever could’ve received. I can only hope that, after all the animals Dr. Schulman has and will continue to treat, upon his gasping his last breath, that he somehow has come to terms with his many issues and has somehow garnered the kind of love and devotion we were able to give our sweet girl in her final moments. He is talented, but it comes at such a weird and hefty price. I suggest you try and find another, more intact surgeon.

Our beloved Jindo, Sienna, became ill very suddenly. Dr. Schulman is an extremely competent vet, but he even called in other specialists for additional opinions, trying everything he could to save our girl. Sadly, it was GME which is fatal. Although it did not end with Sienna getting well, I could not hesitate to recommend Alan to anyone looking for a vet that is skilled and compassionate. The office staff was lovely, even calling to see how everyone was doing. When we get another dog, which we hope to do someday, we would go right back to Dr. Schulman for his excellent care.

Dr. Schulman was referred to me when my Bengal had a tumor on his paw. It needed to be removed, and after my normal vet wasted time and money on fine needle aspirations and X-rays…well $ 700 later tells me it needs to be removed. They also said he needed to see a board certified surgeon and they referred me to some clinic with oncologists, who said the surgery would be between $ 2000-​$ 3000 and he may need radiation or to have his limb amputated to get the margins clear, or they may need to do a skin graft, or we may have to do another surgery if it turns out to be carrcinoma… blah blah blah $$$$$$…
So I call Dr. Schulman. The consult was $ 69 (the other place was $ 139) I already knew I needed it removed, so I had also scheduled the surgery. He came in, was extremely confident that there was plenty of skin and he could remove the mass, and stitch it up. He said the needle aspiration was a waste of time and $ since regardless the mass needs to be removed. He doesn’t waste time ordering unnecessary tests or procedures. And for this I am grateful.
They kept my kitty overnight. Tey removed the tumor, and the staff was awesome and very loving to my big buy (he weighs 17 lbs). They gave me a quote on the surgery which was about $ 1260 and that’s how much it cost. I would highly recommend him. So I have a hard time believing these other reviews. I hope your animal never needs surgery, but if so — see him first!

Im very impressed with Dr. Schulman. I spent $ 16,000.00 with VCA Allcare over the last year, running expensive and unnecessary testing, and then they misdiagnosed the problem. My first visit with Dr. Schulman and Dr. Anderson I was very impressed with the time spent and the thoroughness of the evaluation, their suspicions, and then the diagnosis.
FIRST time, out of the box I knew what were dealing with, and the potential treatment plans starting with the most conservative and options if she didn’t respond. They have done a wonderful job in managing her care. The clinic is not the most inexpensive, however I’m talking about a beloved member of my family, a wonderful rescued golden. It’s clear that Dr. Schulman loved animals, and sits on the floor with them as he talks.

We started taking our animals to Dr. Schulman over 20 years ago when we first arrived in LA on recommendation from our Boston vet. Over all these years he’s been a great vet and a friend to all of our animals. He has saved the lives of our pets more than once and walked us through difficult times with sick animals. I write this today having just heard news from him about a great prognosis for our golden retriever following surgery last week. His only fault is his deep hatred of the Boston Red Sox — but we can live with that.

I’m SHOCKED at these reviews! I’ve been taking my dogs and cats to Dr. Schulman for about 15 years, and he’s FANTASTIC! He’s always been very nice, and he really knows his stuff. In fact, he was recommended to my by another vet who couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my dog. Dr. Schulman nailed it right away, and my dog got the treatment she needed to save her life. He, and the other vets who work there are good and very compassionate! Their prices have always been fair and I probably save money because they get it right the first time so I don’t have to pay for visits over and over. The staff is always SUPER nice! They go out of their way to help and answer questions. They also work-​out last minute appointments for us. I trust their judgement 100%! I just don’t get those other reviews!

He Killed My Dog… Diesel French Bulldog, 5 years old. i took him for a check up, for a non cancer growth, that was the gum line… the check up price was $ 45… as we where about to leave. Schulman said: that he think Diesel have Pain on his back. Diesel walk fine always and that day (Thursday February 17 2011).he ask me to ok, giving Diesel some thing for pain (that raise the chart to $ 470). he gave Diesel 2 injection on his lower back. Diesel collapse. could not use is back legs. PARALYZED… OVER NIGHT SCHULMAN PREFORM A MYLOGRAM ON DIESEL… ONE HOUR AFTER. NO BODY WAS WATCHING DIESEL .HIS FEVER CLIMB UP TO 107.2…BRAIN DAMAGE, KIDNEY AND LIVER DAMAGE. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BLEEDING. DIESEL CUT HIS TONGUE FROM THE PAIN OF THE FEVER… EVEN AFTER THAT SCHULMAN CHARGE $ 7000!!! WITH ALL THAT MONEY NO ONE WAS WATCHING DIESEL. DIESEL DIE ON FEB 21. AFTER THAT 4 DIFRENT HOSPITAL, TRY TO REVERSE THE DAMAGE THAT SCHULMAN DID…2 ANIMAL RIGHT LAWYER ARE WORKING NOW ON DIESEL CASE. THIS COULD BE THE LAST DAY FOR YOUR LOVE ONE… DON’T GO

Alan Schulman is thorough. Prices are ridiculous!
He charged me $ 442.50 for euthanasia of my Dachshund. As if putting your baby to sleep isn’t tough enough. The price overshadowed the grief.
Six blocks up the street at the VCA …$ 170 AND they have a private room for it and send you a condolence card after. At Dr. Schulman’s it’s in an examining room with no amenities. 2 ½ TIMES MORE! That’s insulting as its a STANDARD PROCEDURE. NO JUDGMENT CALL HERE.
I wrote him a letter requesting an adjustment in my bill to reflect the going rate for the competitive rates of the area and received NO response and no adjustment. That’s it for them. To rake a pet owner over the coals at a time like that is unconscionable.