Veterinary Emergency Group, Tampa FL

It started with the urgent call we made when our dog chewed up our pet tortoise’s shell, punctured it to the bone & was bleeding. Altho, the reptile specialist was not available on a weekend, Dr. Sparks and staff were very caring, accommodating and made us feel at ease. They took good care of our tortoise, he’s on the road to recovery! This was one of the best veterinary experience's we have ever had. This office will definitely be our go to for any emergency vet needs for all of our pets. Thanks again!

Go to the one on Bearss Ave it's better and more equipped - we encountered a rude worker here who did not offer compassion. (not the doctor)

Every time I’ve had to go to VEG, everyone was great and kind and helpful. I highly recommend them in your emergency situations.

They were extremely accommodating to our wants and needs and some of the most compassionate individuals helping to save our pup!

A very scary thing when you don’t know what is wrong with your pet. They are more than just a dog or cat, they are our family
Members gave my little girl (Cookie) the best care and what may have been the end is now a new beginning
Thank you all

I am a Vet Tech and stand with this emergency clinic. I highly recommend this emergency if your baby is need of help. They will take great care of them. My current pet recently had to go and they were amazing. The team is very caring and helpful. They have great communication. You can always visit your baby frequently if wanted.

I would highly recommend this group of amazing professionals to care for your dog or cat. They were so professional, kind and empathetic and most of all great at what they do! I was very lucky they were there for my sweet dog in a time of crisis.

I can’t express the gratitude I have for Dr. Merritt and Dr. Thomas as their independent evaluation actually found the cause our fur babies acute illness. They promptly received her symptoms so that a plan of care could be established as she was in need for a procedure. If it wasn’t for this place we may have had a completely different outcome. Any future emergency needs for any of my fur babies will be here.

I found an injured stray kitten late at night and didn't know what to do. They allowed me to surrender him and got him the help he needed instantly. Taking him to them was the best possible option for the animal.

I really wish Dr. Barrick listened to our concerns. Her first thought was the dog ingested THC when myself and partner REPEATEDLY told her that we do not use THC, CBD or Delta nor does the breeder in which the incident occurred. Yet the doctor built a treatment plan around it and diagnosed as such. I’m unsure if it was we’re African American that this assumption came about or the simple fact of not listening and considering other options. Pesticides, toxins from other environmental things, maybe some internal issues but yet she wouldn’t let up on TCH. It’s offensive and I wish during this visit I requested a different opinion from a different veterinarian.

What do you recommend about VEG? Absolutely EVERYthing! I have visited VEG to pick up injured wildlife treated by VEG for rescue in the past. But last night our own dog had to make an unexpected visit to VEG South Tampa following a heated scuffle with our other dog. We can say that ANYone who can handle Max the way they did gets our highest recommendation. He is not the most agreeable patient and even less so when traumatized. From the front desk to everyone in the back, we cannot express how appreciative we are for their concern, compassion, kindness, professionalism - and staying way past shift to help Max. Dr. Merritt and your entire staff, we send big thanks and also include our very best wishes for a bright and prosperous New Year!

My husband brought our dog in yesterday and he had to be admitted for a some time. He received SUCH good care here! They told us we could call as much as we needed while he was admitted to for updates or visit whenever we wanted. The techs were so sweet and gentle with our elderly chihuahua and it put our anxious minds at ease knowing he was loved while receiving such great care. Thank you so much to the Vets, the techs and the receptionist that helped us through all of this. Definitely recommend!

Tell people about price before w we walk in. START A PAYMENT PLAN! I have to pay rent, car, phone, and groceries on top of my dogs bills and other monthly payments. When asked if I could do a payment plan I was told that it was not an option and I can start a line of credit through them and apply for a credit card. I ended up paying over 200 dollars just to walk out with a plastic cone. Very very very unsatisfied. I will recommend people NOT to go there if they aren’t trying to break the bank. Now I have to wait another 24 hours because it’s Christmas to take my poor puppy to the vet while he is in excruciating pain. Don’t get me wrong, I was willing to drop some money but when I said I didn’t have enough they told me I couldn’t do a payment plan. If id had known that I was going to be that much I would have waited for my primary vet to open and I probably woulda saved a NICE chunk of change

VEG in South Tampa is worth the drive from Valrico. They were so incredibly kind, caring, gentle, and efficient in an emergency situation with our 15.5 year old, 70lb dog that ingested many things she should’t have. They took the time to explain everything they were doing and gave us options about her care. They gave us different estimates as well as pros and cons for keeping her overnight as well as taking her home. We chose to keep our dog there because we could see they were going to make her comfortable and give her better care there than we could give her at home. Although I had to pay up front for the higher estimate, Dr. Sparks called first thing in the morning just as she said she would, to let us know how well our dog was doing and that she could go home as soon as we could get out there to pick her up. They refunded us quite a bit of what I had already paid because she was ready sooner than they had estimated. That was almost as big of a relief as our dog being almost back to herself. Our visit at VEG could not have gone any better. They were wonderful! They are also far cheaper than other ER vets I have been to and we would love it if they would open a location in Eastern Hillsborough County.

This is the second VEG we’ve had to visit and they are absolutely wonderful. There was a clear plan of action and all information was emailed within minutes.

Plus there are treats for the pets AND owners!

I took my 6 month old lab here at the advice of my vet because he had ingested a wire hanger from a Christmas ornament. Imaging showed it was in his stomach. After several more images and radiological review, the doctors were pushing exploratory surgery to remove the wire and ‘see’ if there was a blockage in his intestines. After declining their recommendation for surgery and hospitalization, I waited a few more hours in their lobby while my dog was on IV fluids. Did more imaging at midnight and the ‘apparent blockage’ had moved along through his intestines. I took him home and two days later he threw up the wire and was back to his normal self! It is a shame that less invasive options were not even considered. I feel their primary objective was to cut and charge exorbitant amounts of money.

If you love your pet as family, I cannot recommend VEG. Their disclaimer, you can be read in other posts and questions, is they will not give advice. One of my two cats was put to sleep there 6 months ago. This past week we went to VEG with our second, very sick cat. I noted in this second experience that most of the dialog seems scripted. I received conflicting information from two or more vets there in that I was be told one thing and 15 minutes later would be told the opposite. They conveyed that our cat was too sick and we needed to consider quality of life issues which means put her to sleep. Once we made our decision, they pushed in the opposite direction and back into the terror. Hours later my son and I could not stand another minute of the incessant agony we felt and all the giggling and laughing in the background. One of the vets spoke at me loudly each time like I was deaf or daft. I asked questions but got evasive responses, then loudly asked if I have anymore questions. The same vet cold not keep the sex and age of our 15 year old female straight. None of this seems right. Our cat is carrying on almost normally at home now but it is obvious the end is near. They told us she could pass at any time. She received no real treatment or relief, besides a glucose injection. She gets all the treats she wants now and we will be with her when she passes. I've lost faith in veterinary medicine. Seems like a racket to me.

Great team of doctors and technicians. Providing thorough, personable n professional care n service.