Animal Hospital of Desert, Palm Desert CA

In November 2023, my dog Bingo, and best friend for the past 12 years, was diagnosed with lymphoma at the VCA emergency clinic. I was told to follow up with a veterinarian and upon some initial research, found Animal Hospital of Desert and Dr. Deol. I made an appointment and have had 3 appointments in the past month. The purpose for my most recent visit was to have Bingo's blood glucose level checked because the treatment for the lymphoma caused him to have diabetes which he was prescribed insulin (very expensive) for during my last visit.

My initial visit with Dr. Deol (a female, and not the man on their website) was difficult as I discussed Bingo's prognosis but I found the doctor to be straight forward yet compassionate. The clinic was clean and the staff very friendly. Well, after 3 visits and nearly $2000, I fear that they may be more concerned about making money than the actual well being of the animals that they care for. Each time I went, I was told about all kinds of expensive tests that were recommended and charged exorbitant amounts of money for routine procedures and medications. For example, I was charged for an exam and then charged for the venipuncture, the glucometer, the syringes and even a biohazard fee. Shouldn't some or all of this be included an an exam? If not, the exam amounts to nothing more than a visual analysis. But each time I paid out of desperation for my dog.

I felt that I was being "nicked and dimed" but wanted to believe the best until my last visit. While I was waiting to check Bingo in for his appointment I began talking with a woman who was there getting her two new puppies vaccinated. When they brought her puppies back to her after the vaccinations, she noticed that one of the puppies wasn't moving. She became alarmed and said she was scared he was not breathing. The woman's husband came in to the room and said the same thing. They immediately called for help and were concerned that the puppy was having a reaction to the vaccination and asked for the doctor to look at him.

As the receptionist took the puppy into a room, another receptionist came out and told the couple that they would have to pay $61 for an exam fee. The couple told her that they had just paid that as well as for the vaccinations that he puppy may have been having a reaction to. They just wanted to be sure everything was okay before they left. The receptionist insisted that they pay the fee before the doctor would be able to "examine" the puppy again. It was then that I spoke up and said that when humans get a vaccine they are made to wait 15 minutes after to ensure that they would not have a reaction. That is standard practice. So why shouldn't the same apply to our pets? Why should this couple be charged an additional exam, fee during the same visit, if they fear their puppy was having a reaction to a vaccine the doctor had given him just moments before? I was shocked.

When I went to check Bingo in I was given another list of recommendations each with a hefty price attached. Not only did I have to pay another exam fee and for the glucose test (which should be considered follow up to prescribing insulin), I would also be charged $300 for bloodwork and several other associated fees (e.g, biohazard, etc.).

Our pets are our family for whom we do anything necessary and pay any price to ensure their health and well being. It saddens me to think that this sentiment is exploited during these vulnerable times of crisis, all in the name of the "almighty dollar".

They got me in same day which I very much appreciated since my baby got sick on Christmas. They were up front about pricing and kind about the breakdown of costs. They didn't try and push loads onto us or make us feel guilty for what we couldn't afford. I don't know what's going to show up on my kitties bloodwork but the receptionist and doctor made me feel welcome and were attentive and kind. I do feel he's in good hands here and I appreciate the kindness while we navigate what could be wrong with my baby.

If I could choose -100 stars, I would. Unprofessional, rude, impolite, nasty, discourteous, and that is before my dogs were seen. I walked out! DO NOT take your dogs to this establishment if you love them.

AVOID THIS VET AT ALL COSTS! I wish I had read all of the awful reviews before I stupidly brought my cat here. This animal hospital was beyond incompetent and extremely unethical. They have zero bedside manner, to say the least.

Starting with the phone call, it took me over an hour just to get ahold of somebody at the office. After an hour of failed phone call attempts because they simply were not answering their phones, an older Indian sounding lady finally answered in the rudest tone. Making the appointment was the most unpleasant experience as the manager would aggressively talk over me and had the worse energy and zero social skills. She sounded insufferable over the phone. I should’ve seen that red flag as a huge warning off the bat.

They ended up taking me in the following day which is strange because every other hospital in the desert is booked up for weeks. They seem to have a lot of availability AKA not a lot of business.

I ultimately brought my cat in to get a wound treated on his face. I assumed the vet would clean the wound and send him home with some antibiotics.

Firstly, the vet techs are the most ghetto 18 year old girls fresh out of high school with zero experience working in any kind of medical field. These girls are who I was communicating and interacting with the most which was an awful experience in itself. Apparently, these are the only employees this awful manager could find to work for her.

I was put in a room with my cat for nearly 4 hours without water during a heat wave. The appointment ran incredibly slow, nothing was really explained to me and it took 3 hours just to get the actual vet into the room.

The actual vet was a bait and switch scam. On their website, they advertise a male vet. The vet that finally arrived was really young, female, and seemed straight out of vet school with zero experience. She was not even featured on their website and I had no idea who this was. She didn’t even introduce me with her name, I had to ask her twice just to know who she even was. The vet herself has zero social skills and performed a half a** 5 minute exam.

The 18 year old vet tech then negotiated the rates with me. The vet ended up quoting over $700 including hardcore pain medication that I wouldn’t even take as a human. There’s no way a superficial cut on my cats face would require all of that. It was a total bait and switch up-sell scam tactic. The 18 year old vet tech herself told me she wouldn’t go along with and pay what the doctor was recommending. AWFUL! The actual vet tech employee was basically telling me the doctor was ripping me off. Even the employees could see that.

They went ahead and charged my card for services that haven’t been provided yet. They were really aggressive with demanding payment before any services were performed which I thought was very unethical.

After enduring over 3 hours of this, I ended up cancelling the appointment and asked for a refund so I could take my baby somewhere else. I couldn’t believe how they handled the entire appointment and how they are even in business.

To top it off, after they offered me a full refund because they knew how awful their service was…they still ran my cards and now I’m fighting claims with my bank. I will get this money back, however, this process with this vet has been nothing short of a nightmare.

The manager/owner is an insufferable woman that clearly hates her job, hates the clients and hates these pets. Their hatred for animal care and overall laziness was very evident. Save your time and money and RUN AWAY FROM THIS PLACE, SERIOUSLY!

I had to take my oldest cat to this vet office. The staff that worked with me and my kitty were nice. They are still expensive but slightly better than most.

Dr Deol at Animal hospital of desert has been my veterinarian in Palm desert for over 5 years. This is a family owned clinic with a strong passion for animals. They’ve provided amazing care for my dogs and rabbits. Whether my appointment is for vaccines or a more serious issue I am never disappointed by the care my animals receive! Thank you Dr Deol and family for caring about my animals!

Took very good care of our very sick pup. A bit pricy but what vet in the desert isn't? At least we got emergency appt abd they took good care of our pup. Grateful to not be stuck with going g to indio vca in an emergency

Had to wait a long time to start the paperwork, after told would be right out.
Kinda pricey, when online said they were open. Had to pay emergency extra fee. Xrays a bit hight, oxytocin a lot but the crown on this bill was $5.99 for needle disposal. But we had 3 puppies on Xrays & she delivered 3 babies without c-section