VCA Oak Hills Animal Hospital

We took our newly adopted puppy, Alabaster, in to have his anal glands and GI tract checked. The night before we’d noticed some blood around his anus and were very concerned. Our vet was unavailable for another week, and there is an ad buzzing around that says your first visit to VCA is free– so first thing in the morning we brought him in for a walk-​in appointment. Dr. Jena Benavente was the vet available. We proceeded to tell her how we were very worried about the blood all around his anus and the foul oder (even after we had his anal glands expressed by a groomer). She told us, «Doggie colons bleed at every little thing.» Not once did she pick up his tail to look, take a temperature, and blamed the smell on full anal glands. We had brought in a small stool sample, but Benavente did not think a fecal check was necessary and threw it away. Due to a grain allergy, Alabaster had a few patches of fur that were growing back. We had already discussed with our vet about switching his food to grain-​free and purchased a cream to help with the itchiness. Benavente charged us for a skin scrape test for mange, «just in case.» We knew it was due to the grain-​in food the shelter fed and it was no surprise when it turned up negative. She scoffed at our vet’s suggestions of more natural remedies, like oatmeal baths instead of expensive medicated shampoo. At the end, we got charged for the medical exam ($ 56) and the unneeded skin scrape ($ 54). The free exam is only for appointments. $ 110 later, I was told that the blood should go away as he gets used to the food we switched him to 2 weeks ago. I paid a Benjamin to be told that he is fine, and for an exam that had nothing to do with the reasons we brought him in. I asked if they could make an exception, because we didn’t think to make an appointment for an emergency such as blood coming out of where it shouldn’t. The receptionist left and the story changed; the free exam is only free if it’s not an emergency. I will stick with my holistic vet. Benavente is not receptive to what you are trying to tell her. I would be happy to pay for an exam if I’d actually received one.

This is the best vet I have ever been to. I took my miniature dachshund here last year to get spayed. They made me feel so comfortable leaving my puppy with them. Sharon at the front desk even loved and kissed on Penny while she was inputting her information! I just took Penny back yesterday for her annual shots and everyone was super nice again. All of the front desk staff are so nice! Penny absolutely loved the technician too. Dr Benavente is always very helpful and makes sure my dog gets just what she needs. Highly recommend!

I have to say I had a great experience at this vet office. I came home for lunch to find my poor cat unable to walk on his hind leg. I was nervous about not finding a place to take him so short notice they told me not to worry and bring him in even though the office was about to close in 45 min! Got in and the staff and Vet were great with my baby. Gave me options a couple of treatment options so I didn’t have to spend an arm and a leg! This place will be his new permanent vet. :)

I saw that they were having a special on teeth cleaning for dog’s so I brought my dog in for a free consultation. Everyone was extremely friendly and I was seen very quickly. They ended up telling me to hold off on the cleaning for now and I really appreciated that they didn’t push me to do it just so that they could make money! I will definitely take my dog back here for other medical care.

You can be sure you’re getting great care here. The prices are high in my opinion (being from a small Midwestern town where an exam is $ 25) but seems to be just about average here for San Antonio. You can tell the vet techs care about your pets and the veterinarians always answer all of my questions. The front desk girls are all super nice and have been there for a long time, so you can trust they know what they’re doing. I like that they email my appointment confirmations and receipts, and they even call the next morning to see how your pet is if they’re sick. They’re also very understanding when you have a very nervous, borderline psychotic, dog like mine, and if you have cats they’ll do house calls. (I don’t but it seems like good info if you’re looking for a new vet.)

Today was my first visit to VCA Oak Hills Animal Hospital with my four-​legged son, Amigo. From beginning to end, I felt very comfortable with the staff at the office. They thoroughly explained everything that was going on and why they recommended certain things. A previous reviewer mentioned that they tried to «ram every medication» at them. I had the opposite experience. Dr. Benavente was so kind and considerate, she only dispensed what she thought was necessary. She knew Amigo was already on a heartworm preventative so she simply suggested a flea/​tick topical preventative until I run out of Heartgard, then we can look at combo treatments. I’ll definitely return to this practice and I’m happy to call VCA Oak Hills Animal Hospital Amigo’s primary care provider!

I adopted my wonderful cat from the Humane Society. The VCA Hospital on Southpoint offers a free checkup with Humane Society adoptions. I am impressed with the staff’s good rapport with my cat and their willingness to take the time to explain things and answer my questions.
I planned for my cat to be an «indoors only» pet, and the doctor said there were a couple of shots that I could omit if she lived indoors, reducing the cost of her shots. When I discovered my cat really wanted to spend some time outdoors, I was able to get back in quickly for the necessary shots. My cat does not get upset when she goes to the doctor, she seems to think she is visiting friends.

Love this vet! Everyone is so nice and they always seem to care about the animals. I brought in a stray cat today that my husband found and they helped get the kitten fixed up and are even trying to help me find it a home. Great people! This will officially be our family vet from now on.

It is over. .. and the caring hospice care Wicki received from the VCA Oak Hills staff gave her several additional months of reasonable quality of life, for which we will be forever grateful. She died a week ago, naturally in our arms, and because of the good information we’d been getting, we felt comfortable that she was not in pain (not that dying is easy). Then, a couple of days after we called to let them know that Wicki wouldn’t be coming in any more, we received a beautiful card, hand signed by the whole staff. .. and giving us little notes of condolence. .. plus that a gift had been made to a charity in Wicki’s name.
Friends and fellow Unilocalers — it doesn’t get any better than this! If you’re looking for a vet, read my reviews and give this place a chance. We feel blessed that we did.

i absolutley love this vet hospital everyone is so nice although the receptionists ignore me sometimes and the techs and the vets are so fun to talk to they always share all this neat info and have always such nice things to say the Drs. as well i have had all three doctors and each of them has there three different views of my puppy but all very helpful indeed!!!

The place was ok. Dr. Benavente (sp?) was nice… The sales pitch to ram every pet med in the building down all 3 of my animals throats was quite annoying… Not sure yet if I’ll be back. jury’s still out.

I absolutely love this place! The vets Dr Benavente and Dr Harwood are very friendly and took great care of Rogue during her first vet visit.
Dr Harwood explained her schedule for puppy vaccinations and told me they have a puppy package that helps discount the shots/​exams when completed together. He also told me that if she had worms to come back in and they would give her tapeworm dewormer as part of the free exam they do for pets adopted via the humane society.
A few days later I made an appointment because I saw segments in Rogue’s stool. It was for Thursday at noon. Well apparently I went in on Wednesday (my memory is terrible lately) and instead of turning me away, Dr Benavente exams Rogue and ran a fecal test on her. She gave her dewormer just in case and answered a plethora of questions I had about her swollen abdomen. Thanks for being patient!
Anyway so Dr Benavente called me back the next day to tell me that Rogue had roundworms (which came out in her stool last night… Yuck!) and another parasite, cicidia. So all I had to do was come back and pick up the meds from the front desk. It was easy and the best couple of visits I have had at a vet clinic!
Area is close to medical center and not far from SeaWorld area. All the staff there are very friendly and seem to be happy to work there. If you have a pet, definitely go see them! I’m sure my baby will be going here until I move :)

VCA Oak Hills has been taking care of my 9yr old Bull Mastiff since he was born & been my family’s vet for over 20yrs.
They are fast, friendly and always taken care of us.

I have continued to go to VCA over the year since I wrote this and find nothing but the highest level of quality and care by the Techs and the doctors.

I used to LOVE LOVE this VCA… Dr. Schierheart is truly a top notch veterinarian. He’s compassionate, resourceful and helpful.
My issues, and my two star rating, comes from my most recent visit. This really didn’t factor in to my opinion but the front desk people were really rude and sarcastic. The true reason for my rating is their ridiculous shot protocol.
It is common practice and standard for vets to offer three in one or five in one combos with vaccinations *to prevent multiple pokes and reduce costs*. This VCA said they don’t have those and charged between 21 – 28.50 per vacc. This infuriated me as I walked out spending more than $ 100 in vaccinations. Also, be vary of when they offer you a flu vaccination. It is two shots at 27.50 EACH. That’s literally bs.
I know most vet clinics are going through hard times but refusing to pass on cheaper options to clients and more comfortable options to pets *one stick vs five* seems like a no brainer. Paired with the blood work, which came back normal, my bill for five shots and a basic blood panel was $ 237. That’s not right.
The VCA on the South Side does combo vaccinations at a fraction of the price. I don’t know if I’ll be back. i love Dr. S but their prices are extremely high and the service, aside from the vet, isn’t that great.
Makes me sad to say but I could easily go to the mobile vaccination clinic or low cost vacc and receive combo shots– it’s sad this VCA is so desperate. They should lower costs to remain competitive and at least put off the perception they care about the comfort of your pets by offering combo shots.