Carter Animal Hospital

Hilary Wagner

2024-02

I’m so very grateful to have found this veterinary practice here in the desert, where finding a vet accepting new patients is a challenge. The people that own, run and manage this clinic are top of line, high caliber, well educated helpful individuals creating a practice of healing and benovolence for our animals.It’s well managed; from phone calls ahead of time to confirm appointments to how well they treat you when you walk in the door.It’s clean, easy to find and centrally located in the Coachella Valley making it easy to navigate from La Quinta or Palm Springs.It’s also fairly priced, and it feels like they really care about you and your animal.My dog has had the best care from Dr Homec, I’ll be eternally grateful to his expertise and guidance for my dog Harry who was diagnosed with a mast cell tumour last year, and still here doing fantastic.We had come from another vet who surgically removed the initial tumour and he was in bad shape pain wise and wound wise. Within three weeks of twice weekly wound changes and pain management, Harry was and still is cheerful and happy again. Doctor also had some magic injections he put around Harry’s wound so they’d heal better. Pretty graphic wound-doc said it was a really bad one. Knarly in fact.

Rob Lowe

2024-02

Had appointment for my cats as we just moved here. We arrived on time, but sat waiting in the lobby for 45 minutes. When rhey finally took Lizzie and Gulliver in they took them to separate rooms from me. Never had that at any vet. Vet came back and said they were fine, but they couldn't assess Gulliver as he hissed at them and wouldn't come out. He has never hissed at ANYONE in his three years. Either the doctor or his assistant must have mishandled him. I easily got Gulliver out. The assistant forcefully grabbed his neck and the vet gave him a vaccination. There was no assessment at all. I don't even know what they did for Lizzie as I wasn't there. These people were so afraid of a gentle cat that it was shocking. They didn't weigh him or touch him, yet i was charged for a wellness and health exam.I will never go to this assembly line veterinary place again. It's all about money. They didn't care about my cats at all.

soox so

2024-03

This used to be a decent neighborhood vet. Now they refuse to pick up the phone and when you do get an appointment they call it an emergency and add an extra 125$ to your bill. The last two times they have asked me to just leave my dog and when I come to pick up I have a 500$ bill. They never call for authorization on tests or anything. Seems like they are just trying to generate income these days.

Sarah

2024-02

I can't warn strongly enough to avoid this place until they hire new, more organized and compassionate office staff. Why? A lot went wrong here.My dog was brought in over a year ago after I discovered a tumor growing swiftly on her head. She also had been recently diagnosed with Cushing's disease and some kind folks in a Cushing's group advised I should get a second opinion on her dosage. After a few weeks, my appointment date arrived and the woman at the front said they never received a file packet from her other vet. Turns out they did get the email and never opened or downloaded the file to have ready for the vet to review. I had to plead with her to look in spam folders etc.Next, she is seen by the vet and all that goes well. Vet seems appropriately concerned about the tumor that doesn't look good and getting proper dose for managing her disease and says they will urgently contact me back after reviewing new and old data provided by the previous vet. All these tests and this appointment cost several hundred.I received the new dosage information in an email but NEVER did they address the tumor any further even after I made a few more calls over a period of months to see what step to take following their tests.I just wound up returning my girl to the previous vet and once her Cushing's was stable, they operated to remove and biopsy. It was cancer.So, no I didn't return to Carter vet after that because the cancer could have metastasized from the negligence, but because they were the vet who recently prescribed the dose of medicine she is taking successfully for her Cushing's disease, I list them as the contact when I order it. They declined my order two weeks ago and when I tried again this week. So, I called their office and they said I need to wait for two weeks to come in (at the extra urgent care price of $125) and NO they will not even allow her to get approved for a temporary 2 week supply of the medication she needs to take twice a day to keep her from going into adrenal shock until then.When I suggested that seems needlessly cruel, they said it's not life threatening. If it's not a big deal, why have I been paying $200 a month for this medicine? Come on. I have heard of dogs in the group going blind, having seizures, becoming incontinent, and losing use of their back legs. Some of these irreversible damage.Also, then she tried to say I waited last minute. No ma'am, I have been trying to order with no reason provided for why the order didn't go through. Jeanie says they talked to me several times that she was due an annual exam in December, but this is completely false. When I asked her to take my number down, she said she had it. I asked "what number do you have?" She proceeded to tell me my phone number, they actually have a typo and it's wrong. Jeanie is unorganized, rude, and if you let her know you must write a review because this is unacceptable to be this extreme level of disorganized, unapologetic putting the animals at risk, she will accuse you of making threats and then hang up on you.

Robert Schuppert-McDonald

2019-06

Very pleasent staff and nice facility. The Dr. always provides the blood work and also a invoice draft showing break down of pricing of services to decide what I wanted taken care of first for either my dogs or cat.

JDN

2020-06

I've been going to Carter animal hospital for about the last 2 years. The front desk staff is very nice and helpful, with a large waiting room that's always clean and well-stocked.My veterinarian is Dr. Homec , who is very compassionate, professional, and always caring, taking care of my cat , "KittyGirl ", always looking out for her best interests. He explains everything very thoroughly, and you can tell he has a genuine love for animals doing what's best for them. If you're looking for a great DVM, choose Dr. Homec, and Carter Animal Hospital for all your pet's best care !!!

juan Chingas

2023-06

I been calling for 3 days and no one answers the phone. I decided to stop by and make an appointment yesterday at 4:30 pm and this clinic was closed., when it closes at 5:00 pm. The posted sign on the door indicated they do close at five but it looked like an abandoned clinic. I finally stopped this morning and even with a live person it was a struggle to get some help. My pet is updated with all the shots but the individual insisted she need one. I presented my pets historical shots and still insisted on giving a shot to my pet. PETCO now has a veterinarian and that’s where we are head now. The doctor was great when we took our pet for the first time. He was caring and informative with me. But the receptionists were no help. Good luck if you decide to take your best friend here.

Lisa Stewart

2023-06

*** Updating to Zero Stars - Janine hung up on me twice. Then got her again and she said, ooooh, sorry thought the conversation was over. 😳 Someone in management needs to address this person. ***Dr Carter is amazing. Great service and fast. There’s a front desk woman that is lovely and I think her name is Lori, the other one, Janine, should be fired. I overheard her on the phone when checking in with Lori…and I was appalled at how rude she was. Thought thank goodness I didn’t get her. Even murmuring negative things out loud after the call ended. Tried to give her the benefit of the doubt thinking that it was the caller being rude and she was just reacting (which is still not ok).Since visiting there in person, I’ve called the vet 3 separate times and have had the unfortunate luck of getting her for every call. She’s AWFUL, rude, snarky and very sincerely should be fired. The worst front desk experience person there could be (a High School kid would be a better hire!). If you keep her on staff, do your clients a favor and move her out of customer contact!! She’s the reason I can’t give 5 stars. She makes me want to leave 0 stars.

b K

2024-01

Absolutely love and trust this hospital and staff. They are affordable and caring and down right wonderful

Crystal Farrow

2023-07

Women at the front desk aren't very friendly. 1st visit went okay, tried to call back 3 times, leaving two messages about my sick puppy and never received a return response. Not very happy with the customer service here, lacks a whole lot.

Dragonfly

2023-12

Gave my dog shots without my consent or knowledge. How would I know they actually performed it?Automatic $200. Wouldn't recommend this place.

Chuklezzz

2019-06

We took Gilbert the cat to get a shave and we're very happy with dr. Gary.Gilbert got a clean bill of health and it got his all his shots updated.

joseph, johnna castello

2021-06

Hands down, best veterinary care we’ve ever had! Dr. Carter is so compassionate towards our animals’ needs and truly goes above and beyond for them. When we moved here from the east coast, our cat was stressed out and not eating or drinking. Dr. Carter fixed him right up and nursed him back to good health- even kept him an extra night at no cost just to make sure he was well hydrated. Our dog has had several surgeries for a stubborn sarcoma that keeps coming back. Dr. Carter has done a wonderful job in caring for him and you can tell how sincere he is when speaking to us about their condition and care. We will always recommend Carter Animal Hospital to anyone- this is the only place we trust in caring for our furry babies. We live an hour away now, but we don’t even think twice about going anywhere else. Thank you Dr. Carter and team!!!

Julia Quirke

2023-06

Dr. Homec and his staff are the best! I moved to the area and was very nervous about selecting a new vet for my senior, diabetic Minpin, Isaiah. Friends in the area recommended Dr. Homec and I couldn’t be happier! He is excellent and so caring and empathetic! I feel the level of care is far and above what we were receiving at VCA and I can relax, knowing we are in the best hands possible! Thank you Dr. Homec! So glad to have found you!

Jim Miller

2022-06

Carter AH more concerned on profit over puppy's health. $486 bill for "wellness" check and blood test. That was $85 for visit and an additional $250 for the wellness check. Tech called me the next day informing me results were good. I asked for a copy. Extremely high white blood cell count along with six other results outside the normal range. Took puppy to a different vet. He prescribed antibiotics immediately. Say goodbye to a worthless $486.

Pam Johnson

2019-06

Can’t say enough good things about the entire staff here. From the moment you step into the clinic, you get a feeling that the pets come first. Every person ,we have met there, are so reassuring and caring of your pet. We have had to have a few surgeries and several “sick” and wellness appointments and I always felt that my puppy was treated well and no push sales. If she had to stay for treatment, she never came out of there looking like she was panicking the whole time. Great Clinic!

Jim Westlake

2019-06

I have been bringing my dogs here for many years. They have grown from a small office on Perez to a huge facility on Date Palm. Never disappointed with their service. Always conpassionate, friendly, and prompt. My one and only complaint is the rather large price increase when they moved. With that said, they are very convenient to where I live. Guess I am paying for the convenience!

Nina Scott

2020-06

Dr. Brown and Dr. Reedy are the best I love them both. They always take good care of my babies which both have ongoing issues. One of my pups has life threatening medical issues and Dr. Brown has been diligently working on a solution to save his life which I cannot tell you how grateful I am to him for what he’s been doing, just the extra care he’s put in makes my heart a little less heavy from what my boy is going through. It’s really great when you finally find that vet or vets that you trust ❤️

Shauna Ward

2019-06

So thankful for the staff at Carter Animal Hospital. We had to say goodbye to our dog and they made the process a little easier. It's never an easy decision but they were supportive and helpful along the way. The cremation came with a beautiful urn, paw print, and tuft of hair. I highly recommend this business.

Kay

2022-06

Was told my dog could DIE from this mark on her. And she should have surgery IMMEDIATELY. $1500 later, the mark is still there and some lady tells me. "Idk why that doctor told you that. I've never heard of that". Cool. My dog got cut open in two different spots and you took my money. Nice to know you scare people to make your money. I'll NEVER take my dogs here again. You shouldnt either! BEWARE OF THIS PLACE. Liars . Really bums me out

tim johnson

2015-06

Have been going here for almost three years but this last time did me in. For one thing I don't like the fact that Dr. Carter seems to make himself scarce as much as possible. Dr. Reedy is OK and she diagnosed my standard poodle recently with chronic kidney failure. When the dog went down hill further, I opted for a second visit on a Saturday as the dog had quit eating and was going down hill fast; my partner and I went in for the appointment but several people came and went ahead of us. We waited; when we questioned the situation, we were told by Lori that we were 'walk ins' and second in priority with our dying dog!!! We were overcharged for a subcutaneous solution and a blood test and sent home. We opted for a specialist in San Diego; when we returned, we inquired at Carter via email about euthanization. A week gone by now and they never answered our email!! Very unprofessional and downright mean! On the second visit Lori at the front desk acted like she was doing me a favor and as I wrote the check, looked at me like: 'Are the funds really there'? Very cold treatment on our second visit with a dying dog. I probably will never return here. Tim Johnson, Palm Springs.

Morning Star

2018-06

I really like this facility, they don't over charge and the doctors really care about your pets. My dog had to have surgery for a broken arm and she stayed there for a couple days. They called me every day to let me know how she was doing. I had another dog who I had to put down due to kidney failure and they gave her an IV the first day hoping it would help but when it came down to it they were honest and gave me time to say goodbye. I got her cremated and they gave us a handprint to remember her.

Chris K

2022-06

Even though I had an appt for my dog, entire room emptied out before they called us. When I complained, both receptionists were rude. My dog came out worse after surgery to remove a mass. Would not recommend. Not compassionate at all.

Brad Rebman

2018-06

Very disappointed in the initial contact. I went in with my dog as an emergency situation. It was early afternoon and one of the girls at the desk tried to turn me away because I didn't have an appointment. Yes there is a sign on the desk that says appointment required but you never know when you will have an emergency. Fortunately it was nothing serious. The other girl at the desk went and got someone to help. The original girl was still trying to get me out the door. Apparently they only had 1 doctor on duty, who by the way was very nice went over everything with me. There were 5 doctors listed but only 1 doctor working. My fur baby is ok but if you have the words "animal hospital" on your door you need to expect emergencies to come in your door. You operate a hospital. Again I did have a good experience with the doctor that saw my dog, but you need to make sure you have more than 1 on duty, especially during the week and during the open hours.

Barbara Harrison

2018-06

I'm treated like a queen. They take into account nervous parents, explain everything and every cost and my dogs are truly smiling when they come back in the room from any procedure. I'm extremely confident in their high level of skilled care and have a comfortable level of rapport with the Drs. Pappas and Brown whom have taken care of my dogs beautifully. I love Carter and tell everyone that it's THE PLACE to go.

Susan Lassiter-Lyons

2022-06

Not sure what happened to this place but it's clear that no one is steering the ship. We waited two weeks to get our dog in for severe pain. Once seen she was diagnosed with IVDD and a heart murmur. The vet said that the IVDD couldn't be treated surgically, only medically. We got steroids and pain meds and booked a 2-week follow up. We've had our girl 12 years and this was the first we'd ever heard anything about a heart murmur.After 3 days it was clear she was going downhill fast and was literally screaming in pain. I was afraid she was dying. I called and texted the office multiple times over a 2 day period and NEVER received a response.I finally took her to VCA Valley Med Ctr in Indio and waited 4 hours to be seen on an emergency walk-in basis. She had to have x-rays again because Carter wouldn't respond to a request to send them over. Was told she needed surgery ASAP and that she didn't have any sign of heart murmur.We called Veterinary Neurology Center in Tustin at 8am the next morning, got an 11am appt, and she had surgery at 3pm.It's been 5 days and she's a different dog already. She's energetic, seemingly no pain, and in excellent spirits.To say that I'm disappointed in Carter is a huge understatement. We will never trust our dogs' care to them ever again. They are completely disorganized, zero customer service, poor care, and have seemingly devolved into nothing more than a heartworm vendor.

Danny Ramos

2021-06

My wife has been going here for years and they are very good with the animals. The whole staff is very nice and friendly. With what's going on they come out to the car and pickup and return your pet. Thanks Dr Carter

Bobbie Steelman

2020-06

Dr. Reedy is an angel and has helped "put my dogs back together" after brutal attacks that I was told was not possible by others. By the way, that is her specialty and she is extremely good at it! I highly recommend her and Carter's Animal Hospital. She treats your animal like it is hers. Even though my animals have had traumatic experiences, they still love her and trust her. I would trust her with my own life in a tragic experience. She definitely deserves her wings. Love you and thank you with all my heart Dr. Rachel Reedy!💕

Shelley K

2021-06

This animal hospital is top notch! I hate taking my pets anywhere else and will only do that in an emergency. Carter is fair with their pricing and conservative with treatment plans meaning they won't go over the top with expenses unless they need to. Everyone is so nice and friendly and I am so thankful I have found them!

Deb McGrath

2017-06

I was a customer of VCA Desert Animal Hospital for more than 10 years when I brought in our beloved Chihuahua with a nasty mouth infection - it was clear she needed some teeth extracted. This wasn't my first visit for this type of issue with a dog and I knew what I was in for. The staff is attentive, the facility is a well organized machine - but it's always plus, plus, plus, on my bill.But $500 later - after 2 visits, expensive tests, and a referral to a specialist my pup still had not had her mouth properly examined. Ultimately, they declined to perform the tooth extraction until after my dog had her heart checked by a doggy Cardiologist in Palm Desert. This was more than what I bargained for and I was fed up.My friend referred to me Carter Animal Hospital and feeling like I needed a second opinion, I called them. THEY ANSWERED THE PHONE and I had an appointment the next day. My dog was seen by Dr. Carter himself who is a wonderful, no nonsense, professional. I explained my dilemma and the concerns with the other Vets, he properly examined my dog's infected mouth. He reviewed my test results from that other facility and said he had no problem extracting the tooth. He said it needed to come out immediately and he offered to do it that day. I was provided with a fair estimate that was $200-400 LESS than what I paid at that other facility for my other dog (with the same teeth issues) the year before.I am so grateful we found Carter Animal Hospital. The staff are friendly, attentive and experienced (I hear a lot of them are former VCA staff). This facility is clean and organized. But mostly I appreciated Dr. Carter and his direct involvement in the care of my dog. I didn't feel totally ripped off, like I always did when I walked out of that other facility.