Santa Clara Valley Veterinary Clinic

My pets have been patients since 2004: three stray dogs and two stray cats. Only one survives (he’s 15) and the others left us in advanced age. Dr Payne has cared for all of us with professionalism and kindness. His staff is equally kind and professional. I credit excellent veterinary care including dental and appropriate, judicious medication for my little mutt’s good health and happiness. Highly recommended.

I picked one star because you have to pick at least one to proceed. You assume vets love animals and that’s why they do what they do. It’s shocking when you find they just want your money and prescribe based on what cheap items they have in stock as opposed to what is best for your pet. This is what I disappointedly found out about Santa Clara Valley Vet. I will be filing a complaint with the Veterinary board. Two negative events occurred. The first one was that after having to take my dog to an emergency vet and then a neurologist from there I went to Santa Clara Vet, my local vet, for a hydrocodone scrip for my dog who has a persistent and chronic cough and is in distress, secondary to neurological issues. Prior I had driven from Ventura to Tustin to see the neurologist who couldn’t complete the work up due to his chronic cough. She gave him prednisone to temporarily manage his herniated discs and cyst in his brain and said she would call in the hydrocodone to stop his cough to my local pharmacy where I could pick it up when back in Ventura. She called me back when I was just reaching Ventura that they were unable to call it in and per the new laws it has to be written on a prescription form and hand delivered so to get it from my local vet. That’s how I ended up at my local vet the next day to see Dr Spells. He coughed all night and continued as we walked into santa clara valley vet. I specifically told the office staff we were at the neurologist the day prior and were told to go to our local vet for hydrocodone to stop his coughing. I then saw the vet for this specific purpose. She said they don’t «recommend» hydrocodone. I said but the neurologist said he specifically needs this. She then agreed to fill it but to call it in. I said I went through this yesterday with the neurologist and it has to be written out. I was told to wait in the waiting room as she has to see other patients but will write it out. The front desk charged me out for the office visit, then proceeded to say they will call it in. I again explained it has to be written out. The office manager sternly repeated that they were calling it in. I called the neurologist in front of her and asked again if it has to be written out as opposed to called in. The office manager was furious with me but still insisted she was calling it in when the pharmacies opened in a half hour. I said I would wait and let’s see what happens. A few minutes later she goes back to talk to the vet and hands me a prescription for the hydrocodone. When I get to the pharmacy they tell me it’s a phony prescription and they can’t fill it. They said the vets should know better. I called the vet while at the pharmacy and explained and asked for a refund of the visit as now I needed to find a new vet who is authorized to write the prescription as the purpose of my visit was not fulfilled and my dog is still coughing with no relief from them. She refused to refund the visit and made up some ridiculous reason to justify the charge. She actually said if I had made an appointment as opposed to walking in that they would have told me they weren’t authorized to write up the prescription, but since I was a walk in they were charging. I found another vet the next day who is now my new vet who actually helped my dog butters by prescribing meds to help ease his discomfort, although he had to suffer for another day and night because of Santa Clara Vet. It then gets worse. My dog had been on a flea and heart worm prevention pill taken monthly at a prior vet before I moved to Ventura and needed a vet in my new area. At Santa Clara Vet when I had asked for a refill they said they don’t recommend it as it’s like poisoning your pet on a monthly basis and heart worm is not a concern in this area. They recommended frontline or advantage and they had either of those in stock at the time. I switched him to advantage. At this new vet I said Dr. Payne didn’t recommend the monthly pill but I wanted to get my dog back on it, as now I question their recommendations. My dog was given the heart worm blood test and it came back positive. If you don’t understand heart worm when you google it and read about it, it’s horrifying. It’s basically a death sentence for your dog, especially if they’re older and not in the best health, as is my dog. With no treatment they will die and the treatment can also kill them. I’m just cherishing each day with my dog while he still has some comfort as in time he may soon pass away. I’ll have to put him down before he feels the pain as dying from heart worms is a horrible death. It’s said holistic measures don’t work but I’m going to try some supplements to try to save him and then he’s retested in a month in the hopes it was a false positive or that the herbal supplements cured him in the meantime. If you love your pet keep them far away from Santa Clara Valley Vet and warn others.

I found this place by taking my patients dog here and I liked the vibe so I decided to take my kitty here and establish it as her vet. Very clean nice and made her feel so comfy and happy. Definitely love this place good caring animal people and good prices too. They don’t force anything on you to make more money

My furbaby was throwing up and we are from out of town… All the other vets I called wanted me to make an appt for later. This vet told me to just bring her in. He checked her out and discussed it with me. No extra expensive tests, no trying to sell me meds she doesn’t need. She had swallowed a wire as it turns out. We ended up following up with him a week later, and she’s doing fine now. Some vets probably would have pushed for surgery. I appreciate he was trying not to put her thru more than she needed. And he was right the wire passed right thru, nothing extra needed.

I should probably give this place 4 stars because of how unorganized the front desk staff is, but their great attitudes and our vet doctor REALLY make up for it!
CONS:
1) Front Desk staff will call to schedule appointments you’ve already attended.
2) Front Desk staff won’t keep proper track of all vaccinations, etc. (We keep our receipts, so I wasn’t too upset.)
PROS:
1) DR SPELLS!!! She is ABSOLUTELY amazing! Knowledgable, caring, kind, gentle, and most importantly UNDERSTANDABLE. She took the time to bring us a model of a dog’s knee to explain to us the problem but DIDNT talk down to us (which is often what we get from other places.)
2) The ENTIRE staff (including the front desk people) are EXTREMELY loving and personal with our animals. They give them treats each and every time and will ALWAYS ask about the dog we didn’t bring in that day. The last time we went, our dog was being a weirdo rubbing his body on his first treat so a man kindly brought out some jerky for him to try and said, «Maybe he will like this one better?» SO KIND!
3) We never have to wait that long to be seen. They are VERY prompt!
4) It doesn’t smell of pee or anything weird. They keep it very clean :)
5) I don’t feel like they over-​diagnose or «sell» me on anything here. There were plenty of instances where I had asked concerning questions of possible diseases that I should be cautious of and even though she could have sold me medication after medication, she was extremely honest with us and was like, «I wouldn’t worry about it. Pets are very good about letting you know when something is wrong with them.»
6) DR. SPELLS!!! We can’t say enough about her. We are moving to Illinois and are upset about the fact that we will have to search for another Vet. We will be pleased to find someone HALF as good as her.

Great experience! Took both my cat and dog for a check ups flea control and shots. Staff is helpful and facility is clean.

I found this clinic a couple of years back when we found a dog with a broken leg which I still have. I always have remembered how nice and helpful I was treated. Today I took in my 2 dogs and tomorrow I will take in my other one, I am so pleased with the excellent service and all the valuable information I was given. Thank You this is definitely the best Veterinary in the area. I am so glad I found it.

Drs. Payne and Spells are awesome. Best vets in Ventura County. I have been taking my many pets to the clinic for well over 15 years. I wouldn’t trust my furry babies with anyone else.

Very good vet. Won’t try to bankrupt you with expensive tests that you don’t need — they are very fair with their charges. Another vet told me my dog had a heart murmur and needed a sonogram. When I took my dog there, they told me that he did not have one. Wow!

the best vet in vc :-)

My 19yo cat always received her care from SCV… And when the time came for her to be put down from a terminal illness, Dr. Payne & staff were very caring. I even received a hand made remembrance card from this wonderful clinic.