Bluebonnet Animal Hospital

We started taking our dog there when we got him, about a year ago. I had never had a pet so I didn't know what to expect when going to the Vet. For a long time it was a enjoyable experience. Dr. Van Trease and his staff were very friendly and seemed to have a thorough knowledge about our pet and a general love for animals. I liked how he explained everything: What they were going to do to our dog on that visit, why it was going to be done, and even advice on how to care for his specific personality. Our dog liked him too he?d always wag his tail whenever he came into the room. That was the case until last week when we met with the other Vet, I forget Her name. Our dog had gotten attacked by this huge dog, he wasn?t badly injured but he did get a bite. Right from the beginning both She and the Tech seemed to think it was our fault. Then, they took our dog in the back for about 10 minutes (They didn?t even tell us what they were going to do to him!). When our dog came back he hid under the bench. He has never done that before! They spent less than 2 minutes talking with us then left. The bill was astounding and I?m still not sure what they did exactly. Now my dog is freaked out about going to the Vet. I?m never going to let Her see my dog again! Pros: Dr. Van Trease Cons: The Woman more

There will never be another Dr. Taylor. But I have found Dr.'s Van Trease and Lundenberg to be great vets as well. I've taken my own pets to SLAH for over 20 years and have never been disappointed. I've also been active in the Austin rescue community for ten years, so I have plenty of vets to compare them to. Dr. Van Trease is always thorough. And, in respect for the number of pets we have (7 dogs/6 cats - rescue can come at a large price! ) and the fact that we are in the process of purchasing a new home, he worked very hard recently to shave down a large vet bill for me. So anyone accusing him of being money-hungry will have to debate me - and never argue with a woman with an 80-lb German Shepherd! :) Pros: Great, thorough Veterinarians more

I'v been taking my critters to this vet for years and loved Dr. Taylor. I was sad (and jealous) to see him retire but the new guy is a jack ___. I'm not sure where he came from but I'm sure they don't want him back!! However, the last time I brought my girl in she saw Dr. Lundenberg. She was GREAT. The girl had to have emergency surgery and Dr. Lundenberg was so caring and professional. She had her in surgery and out in no time. I had a back injury at the time and the Doc even helped my load her into my truck. Best advice about this clinic is to not let you dog make eye contact with the new guy, dogs can since evil. See Dr. Lundenburg she's a great vet. Pros: good hours Cons: Dr. Van Tress more

Though sometimes i feel like i'm a lot lighter on cash when i leave there (but i've always felt that way about vet clinics), i really appreciate the attention and time i get when i take my pets here. I dealt with Dr. Taylor at first and he was perfectly fine. Since he's been gone, I've been working with Dr. Van Trease and he is always very thorough and spends as much time with me as i need to understand why i should/should not do something for one of my pets. I also feel like he really does the research before he suggests something to you. Take for example my dogs' teeth: i have 2 chihuahuas and they both have HORRIBLE teeth/breath. They must have them cleaned once a year. So, at our last appointment, i asked Dr. VT if there was anything i could be doing for them between cleanings. Besides brushing, of course, he said that he'd been researching it for a while, and he would now suggest giving them a booster shot twice a year that helps to fight off a large portion of the bacteria that builds up in their mouth. He'd actually been watching the results for a while now and that was the treatment that he had his own dogs on. i agree, he can seem to be a little aloof sometimes, but i think that's just his eccentricity. Not to mention, i always feel like the staff there really takes good care of my babies. They're always loving/hugging on them when i come to pick them up... very sweet... and that makes me feel good about leaving them there. more

Wow, I can't believe that last reviewer is talking about the same doctor. I've been using Dr. Buck since he came to S. Lamar Animal hospital and always find him to be competant, caring and honest. I have no issues with him or his staff and will continue to bring our four pets there even after we move. more

Dr. Buck had the nerve to pass a printed message on to my Mother that read, in part : ""The only purpose for these glands in your dog is to help a veterinarian make a living."" If that doesn't give you a good idea of how Dr. Buck feels about his chosen vocation, pethaps you deserve to have your beloved pet (mis)treated by the money-loving Dr. Buck. This man is a callous, inconsiderate demon. His focus is on your MONEY, not your pet. Read these reviews, people: how could so many people come to the same conclusion? Disregard the very obviously phoney reviews here giving praise to this monster and save your pet and your pocketbook. STAY AWAY from SOUTH LAMAR ANIMAL HOSPITAL. It's only a matter of time before the Texas authorities revoke his license and shut the place down forever. Pros: Once a caring Doctor named Mike Taylor ran this office Cons: Then he sold it to the vile Dr. Buck Van Trease more

I started going to SLAH back when Dr. Mike was still around and we were so sad when he left. But Dr. Buck VanTrease has been just as wonderful. He takes the best care of animals, but also the pet owners. He always takes the time to explain the why behind everything (if you get a diagram, frame it) and it's obvious that he truly cares about the pets he treats. We have both cats and dogs and he has ALWAYS given equal and compassionate care to both. And as a bonus, the clinic is affordable. Pros: ample parking, little wait time, friendly staff more

I love Dr. Van Trease and his staff. I've worked with vets and animals all of my life and he is great with animals and has great prices. When my dog ate Tylenol South Lamar veterinary got me in immediately and were very compassionate. I also enjoy going in because the staff does talk with me and don't expect me to sit there in complete silence. Anybody who has anything negative to say about Dr. Van Trease and his staff must have a personal agenda. Pros: everything Cons: nothing more

I called South Lamar Animal Hospital to inquire about a mobile vet to come to my home to put my 18-year old cat to sleep, and I was so glad to hear that Dr. Van Trease would make the house call. He arrived at my home and could not have been more respectful of our grief, more gently with my cat, Sybil, or more supportive of my decision. He waited with us afterwards until we were all comfortable that it was over before he left. When I'm able, I will get another cat, and Dr. Van Trease will be the only vet I use. more

This morning I had to put my 14 year old ""Girl Kitty"" to sleep. When I looked up their telephone number on Citysearch, the reviews caught my eye. I was sad to read of some of the experiences. Dr. V has been treating both of my cats for years and I have to say their care was always wonderful. Never was there a procedure that was recommended that was not needed and the pricing always seemed fair. He and his staff always treated them as if they were little people. In 14 years both of my cats have had multiple surgery's in multiple States for varying aliments. South Lamar is by far the best overall pre and post operative center my cat's have had. When I adopt another animal Dr. Van Trease and staff is who I will look to love and care for my animal. There are a lot of resourses to educate yourself on animal behavior and health related issues, and Dr. V always welcomed my knowledge, and questions. Today is a sad day for me, but I look forward to seeing Van Trease again with my new family member. Pros: South Lamar was always there for Bijoux and Neica. Cons: That he couldn't cure cancer or kitty strokes! more

My family & I have been clients @ South Lamar for over a decade & have taken all our pets here. Dr. Taylor is as good as they come!!!!! He is unbelievably compassionate & truly loves animals. He is very knowledgeable & understands how expensive pet care can be. He always explains your options & advises you of all the necessary treatments as well as the not so necessary but precautionary treatments. He is very understanding if you don't want or can't afford to spend $ on the extra treatments. And that never seemed to be an issue with me b/c his prices were always the best in town. Dr. Taylor was always in this business for the love of the animals...NOT to get rich! Unfortunately, the time came when Dr. Taylor chose to retire & he brought in Dr. Van Trease. I don't know where this guy got his license because he is the most ignorant, insensitive, rude, uncaring, money hungry salesman I have ever come across in my life. I don't trust him for a second with my dogs & it only took about 5 mins for me to figure that out. For the last year, Dr. Taylor was semi-retired & working there part time. I would specifically request Dr. Taylor & if he wasn't available, I would wait however long it took, just to NOTsee Dr. Van Trease. Now, Dr. Taylor is completely retired & South Lamar Animal Hosp. is going down the toilet thanks to Dr. Van Trease. The prices have gone thru the roof compared to what they were, he got rid of all of Dr. Taylor's staff who were wonderful and brought in a bunch of people like him. It is so sad to see that Dr. Taylor spent his career building such a wonderful place, & in no time at all everything has been destroyed by the guy who calls himself a vet & pet lover. I am in the process of trying to find a new vet & if I'm lucky I will find one who is half as great as Dr. Taylor was. I hope Dr. Taylor enjoys his retirement, but he will be greatly missed. DO NOT TRUST DR. VAN TREASE, ALL HE WANTS IS YOUR MONEY. HE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOUR PETS!!! Cons: Dr. Van Trease and his staff more

Short and sweet: Dr. Van Trease is great, but rushed. He seems pre occupied every time I go in for Lucy's shots. Yes his office visit is cheep. His front desk staff is incredibly rude, and shows a lack of maturity and caring. I was appalled by the way they were talking while I was waiting for a room. In the end, the front desk staff can make the place appear trashy, but the Dr. is pretty good. Too bad for him, there would probably be more business for him if he knew what was going on in the front. Pros: Inexpensive office visit, Dr. seems knowledgeable Cons: Immaturity of staff, dirty floors, seems like a lack of caring more

When we first starting taking our first puppy to S. Lamar Animal Hospital, we saw Dr. Taylor. Taylor was caring, relaxed, spent time to discuss issues, and was very reasonable in helping us care for our dog on a budget. When Taylor retired and we started seeing Van Trease, I was hesitant at first because he is a bit different than Taylor. He seemed to push unnecessary treatments at times, and other times did not. Sometimes he can take the time and is a good listener, other times he is rushed. My experience with the front desk staff has been excellent (with one exception, but I haven't seen her in a while so she may not be there anymore). Pros: Van Trease Loves Your Animal Cons: Can't turn anyone away, so he gets busy and can give an impression of carelessness. more

My Family has used South Lamar Animal Hopsital for two decades. Each of the owners throughout this time have always been professional and very skilled. They and their staff have always been courteous. Approximately two years ago our pitbull was extremely sick. An after hours Vet told us that he had cancer and their was no hope. I called Dr Taylor, and was referred to Dr Van Trease, his new associate. I promptly received a return call. Upon explaining the problem, Dr Van Trease said he would meet us at the clinic. He was kind and caring and told us not to give up. He referred us to an excellent after hour hospital. Emergency surgery saved his life. It was not cancer, but was life threating. Dr Van Trease left a family function on a Saturday night during one of the worst hail storms we have had to meet us. Thanks to him, we still have our dog. He is now treating my other dog for heartworms, one of the worst illness to strike your animal. He has made the right decisions and always been there for me. He is without doubt the best Vet I have seen. There have been alot of comments regarding price, but his fees are very reasonable. My sister now takes all four of her dogs to him for treatment, in addition to my extended Family. He and his staff are the best. I have other stories of his great treatment, but there is limited space. If you're looking for an excellent Vet who understands your love for your pet and cares, make an appointment. more

I been a very, very long time client of this practice, 28 years to be exact. Last month my dog of 14 years passed away. I was blessed that Dr. VanTrease came over to the house to allow his final moments to be with our family in a peaceful and familiar surrounding. Furthermore, my new neighbor took their dog to South Lamar Animal Hospital after hearing about this. His dog was found to have a rare skin disorder that Dr. VanTrease diagnosed quickly and did followup research, and found medication in Canada to help with this. The dog is doing amazingly well thanks to Dr. VanTrease's knowledge and the great staff they have. I would recommend this practice to everyone I meet. Pros: Dr. 's skill and knowledge impressed me / excellent staff / more

I have been taking my Rottweiler Tyson to Dr. Van Trease for several years. Dr. Van Trease always takes the time to answer any of my questions in detail. I know if I ever have something come up and I need to talk to the doctor they will put him on the phone. Other Doctors will return your call several days later or make you talk to an unqualified front desk worker. Most vet clinics only care about the money, Dr. Van Trease and his staff care about the well being of your pet. I have been to several other doctors in Austin but they did not come close to the servise I recieve at South Lamar Animal Hospital. If you truly love your pets you will do them a favor by visiting Dr. Van Trease. Pros: Knowlegeable staff, Great hours, always there for you, friendly and trusting more

Dr. Van Trease, and Dr. Ragland are the nicest, most caring vets I have come across in a LONG time! I've been there a lot, and every time I go they take the time to ask questions and do thorough run throughs of what might be wrong with my pets. Some people see this as trying to take money from customers, but I see it as making sure nothing is over looked. I was even allowed to go in the back and visit with my dog who was being kept overnight for treatment. The office visit was under $40 as well, which is almost unheard of in the medical field! Their staff seems to be very busy all the time, but somehow keeps a smile on their faces. They are always very friendly. In every job people have their bad days, but even though some people see this as uncaring..I just see it as busy. I HIGHLY recommend South Lamar Animal Hospital. Pros: Caring Vets, friendly staff, reasonable price. Cons: waiting for a room more

I'll make this short, Dr. VanTrease is very careless when it comes to animals. Money on the other hand is what hes all about. He is very disrespectful to his staff and to the animals. I wish he was half the vet that Dr. Taylor was. I deffinately do NOT recommend taking your animal to Dr. Van Trease. He does not have compassion for animals, only for the money thats in your wallet. Pros: Nice Staff Cons: Dr. Van Trease, Careless more

I have been breeding and showing cats for 25 years. Over the years I have dealt with many veterinarians and even Texas A&M vet hospital with one most notable case. In these years I feel I have been able to size up vets. I never met the Dr. Taylor that's mentioned in other reviews but he sounds like a great person. I did deal with Dr. VanTrease. Let me say I read some of the other ""vents"". That's what I call them. One of my cats needed a routine annual exam and vaccinations and the other had a significant medical issue. Dr. VanTrease was very caring and explained everything in complete detail. He really knew his stuff. There was plenty of options presented. He came across as knowledgable (I've seen some not so), and most definitely had my cat's care in mind as we worked through the problem. We have been coming here for 2 years and have had the best medical attention I've seen in my many years of veterinary needs. I hope a few bad reviews don't spoil your thoughts about going to South Lamar Animal Hospital. Take it from someone who seen alot. If they didn't have my pet's best interest in mind, I would have been able to figure that one out. I have also met Dr. Ragland and find her equally caring and knowledgable. more

What a quack. Pros: desk staff and technicians are friendly. Great location Cons: doctor VanTrease seems inattentive, uncaring more