Companion Animal Hospital

I like the small family feel to the practice and it is close to other places I shop on Mission Street. I have owned multiple cats in the years I have gone to Dr. Horne. He always takes a genuine interest and does thorough and careful exams. I never feel rushed along like I have at other vets. I am very happy with companion animal hospital, with Dr. Horne and all the nice staff up front. more

Took my 2nd dog for tooth extraction and my cat for vaccine updates. Everything went wonderful, after the surgery, they even took my dog for a short walk! They all liked my pets and how calm and friends they were, and my pets liked how nice they were! Again very reasonable, I think I am done with Vet searching. more

my dog was having non-stop bloody diarrhea and my original vet was closed that day, so while i was looking for some vet, i found this one and they had first initial free visit. So, i decided to go, girls up front were very nice and friendly. After waiting for like 20 mins which i understand since i called like 10 mins before and very late at night, a tech came and asked qs. Then finally i met the Dr. I was amazed by the Dr. he went through everything so thoroughly and took his time and gave me options. Before doing any treatments, he brought me an estimate so i know how much it'll cost. So, i needed to get my dog treated, so we did some tests and Dr. gave me some meds to go home. Cost came around $100 bucks, including free exam, two lab tests, plus meds which was pretty reasonable. Then, Dr himself came outside and went over the meds with me thoroughly and i was very happy with the service that i received from the Dr. I was called the next day with test results and they asked me how my dog was doing. My dog was back to normal and jumping around in 2 days. I will definetely go back and i would suggest others to go and try this place. more

I have two dogs. Ruca and Penny. Ruca has been seen here for her knee. Which she must have twisted. The treatment plan was to give her the anti- inflammation medicine and keep her off it so it could heal. If that did not work then we would go for the x-rays to see how bad it was. And possible surgery. My point is tho that the vet could have swindled me and fed me a bunch of crap but she did not. She is an honest vet and gives you options on the treatment your animal may need. Same with my Penny. When she was seen and diagnosed. The vet explained in detail what it could be and gave me options. I am very pleased with this place. I feel its a great animal hospital. All the staff are very nice too. From the front desk staff, to the vets assistant to the vet, etc. They r all very kind and calming to you and your pet. In fact Ruca has a check up tomorrow. I love that I found Companion Animal Hospital and now that I have this is my vet for life. more

I have to completely disagree with the negative review on this site. First, a disclaimer -- I am an internist (for humans), so perhaps the treatment my dog received was unusually good because I knew the right questions to ask. I have an old basset hound who has a lot of medical problems. Dr. Bower was extremely thorough and gentle in his exam. He addressed all of her issues, gave recommendations about treatments and offered appropriate referrals. He also took my opinions into consideration. I have had another vet for my two dogs, and Dr. Bower is much more knowledgeable and comprehensive. Overall, I was very pleased with my dogs' care there. more

I have to TOTALLY disagree with Lichi and Chris. I have been bringing my cats there for just about 5 years. When no other vet could figure out what was wrong with my cats, or telling me they are dying, Dr. Bower saved their lives. I completely trust Dr. Bower. He explains everything in detail and answers all questions and never rushes to get you out of the office. As far as I am concerned, Dr. Bower has performed miracles on a couple of my cats, that otherwise would no longer be here with me. They survived and are healthier then ever. If I listened to the other vets, well, they would be in pine boxes on my mantle right now. As far as the staff is concerned, they are very friendly and professional.Perhaps it was your attitudes, Lichi and Chris, when you went in there that caused them to be unfriendly and defensive. Remember, you have to treat people the way YOU want to be treated. more

I'm a new dog owner and visited Companion based on a friend's referral. My puppy and I had a very good visit. The office area was very clean and organized, and the office staff was friendly. Additionally, I found Dr. Bower to be very knowledgeable, consultative and patient. He allowed me to ask several questions, volunteered some solid recommendations (with rationale) and provided a new puppy informational packet. We were in and out of the office within 45 minutes without any barking, yelping or tears! I think we're in very good hands. more

I happened upon these reviews in an attempt to google Companion's phone number. Dr. Bower and his associates took care of our very sick dog for almost three years- until she died several years ago. Dr. Bower is our hero. What was supposed to be six weeks became 3 years due to his extraordinary skills. Our dog's dire health made us search out a scientist vs a warm and fuzzy. This guy is an extraordinary clinician. Simultaneously I was personally undergoing treatment at UCSF and Stanford hospitals. I often said that I wished my doctors were as thorough, comprehensive and communicative as Dr. Bower. You tend to get detailed explanation filled with medical terms. He'll take the time to explain it all- you need to ask questions and indicate if it's going over your head. Our dog was so sick with an esoteric disease that there was no way to avoid a fairly dense explanation. If you need cutting edge veterinary care then Dr. Bower is your man. Yes, he's not a TV vet in terms of his personality, but he is an amazing doctor. A good friend back east is a vet and "consulted" with me through my dog's illness and commented several times that we were lucky in that Dr. Bower was obviously a master clinician. BTW, he IS a very nice guy. I now live over 100 miles away and our other dog is having a serious medical issue, which makes it time for a master clinician, i.e. a long drive to the best, Dr. Bower. more

Dr. Bower has cared for both my dog and my cat for the past 15 years. A few years ago I took my cat in to have her teeth cleaned which required anesthesia. While preparing my cat to go under anesthesia, Dr. Bower discovered an irregular hearbeat and recommended we do an x-ray which I agreed to. He discovered my cat had what turned out to be a benign tumor on her heart. If left unchecked she would have died shortly thereafter. Long story short: Dr Bower is a skillful and very knowledgeable vet. I've also found him to be patient and have appreciated the time he's spent answering questions and discussing treatment options for my now ancient cat. He comes highly recommended. more

After struggling for a few years in San Francisco trying to find a good vet, I was referred to Dr Bower. That was nearly 20 years ago...so what does that tell you. My cats are like my kids and I wouldn't consider taking them to anyone else. Dr Bower does an excellent job of keeping up with the latest research. He covers all sides of an issue before expressing his own opinion... and then encourages you to form your own decision without pressure. Appointments are not booked too close together...he answers all questions (things my OWN physician doesn't do). And a couple of years ago when I had to put my 17 year old cat down...I lingered in the exam room for nearly 3 hours. The staff followed up with a sympathy card with personal notes written by everyone there. Hands down, the best vet I've ever gone to. more

This is the best animal hospital we have ever been to and we come here from San Francisco. Staff is wonderful. Dr. Bower diagnosed one of my dogs so quickly, most people had to wait for months for their vets to send them to UC Davis to get finally diagnosed. The care our dogs received there has been consistently excellent for the past two years. more

This hospital just re-opened with all new doctors and staff, i brought my pet there to try them out and they were wonderful. Treated my dog very special and had great service all around. Had very resonable prices compared to other vets in this area. more

My dog is 11 years old and has suffered with chronic pain for years. I took him into Companion Animal Hospital because he was having a bad episode - barely able to walk and cowering in a corner with pain. I went in with the intention of doing the usual - getting some steroids to get him over the hump and get out. However, Dr. Salwan had a different idea. He highly recommended an x-ray so we could see any disc issues, but he also gave a better reason that no other vet had ever mentioned. My dog was not neutered, and Dr. Salwan suggested that sometimes pain problems can be related to prostate issues. So we got the x-ray and low and behold, my dog did have disc problems, but also the poor dog's prostate was the size of his bladder!!!!! So we got the old guy neutered. The surgery went off without a hitch, and now he acts like he is five years younger. He is not on any steroids and doing great! Thanks Doc! more

The vets and staff are genuinely concerned about my pet, knowledgeable and offer effective treatment at convenient hours for a reasonable price. They even offered a free first exam to get to know me and my pet without trying to sell me anything. My dog growls at Veterinarians and their staff and I need to muzzle him to make sure he does not make good on his threats. The Vet and the staff did not let that influence their kindness and genuine concern for his welfare. I took my dog, whose ears were fire red and swollen, to Dr. Raj Salwan after my regular vet did a culture, tried 3 topical drugs (total of $350) and the ears kept getting worse. The dog was shaking his head constantly and in great pain. My vet was ready to refer me to a Specialist which would have been very expensive and required me to take time off of a job I just started (due to their limited hours for appointments). The possibility of surgery was also mentioned. Dr. Salwan was able to see me in the evening after work which was so convenient. He stays up on the latest less known treatments for unusually difficult ear problems by sharing information with a large group of other vets from all over the country. They exchange regiments for treatments that have worked extremely well for their patients. I have spoken to 2 other vets who have told me how difficult chronic ear infections are to treat successfully because they return quickly. Dr. Salwan was able to treat my dog's ears in 3 evening visits at an unbelievably low cost compared to what I had been spending (with no results). The pain relief was almost immediate and the swelling and redness cleared up within a few days. Once he cleared the ears up completely, Dr. Salwan gave me a solution to clean the ears and treat them with on a regular basis. The entire course of treatment has been 100% successful. It was like a miracle and I recommend Dr. Salwan and Companion Animal hospital to everyone I meet. An ear infection does not sound like much but the pain was destroying the quality of my dog more

I've been a client of Companion Animal Hospital for a little more than a year now, and when I saw all these negative reviews I just had to sign up and post mine. I really have to disagree with all the 1 star reviews. Maybe they've been unlucky, but I have nothing but good things to say about this hospital. I've taken my two dogs here for all their shots, one spay, and one dental. They've done a fantastic job all around. The receptionists and technicians are all really friendly and seem like they enjoy what they do. I've gotten the chance to meet all the doctors and they are VERY informative. They go over the medical stuff really well, and at the end of the appointments I learn something cool every time. On top of that, they're pretty darn cheap. My one dog's dental was only about $260 and that included a couple tooth extractions. I think those one star reviews are just over exaggerating, plus most of them seem to be crazy cat ladies. I'm glad I'm a client here and plan to keep it that way for a while! more

Our cat, Spud, was bitten by another animal (probably a cat) and the bite became infected. We brought her to this hospital altho' it has changed hands since we had been there before. One review here made us hesitant but we decided to try it but to be careful and clear regarding any charges. Spud needed surgery to clean out the wound. Everything was explained clearly and we were able to OK each procedure and its charge. We declined an x-ray as it did not seem necessary to us. Spud stayed overnight. When we picked her up, she had a plastic cone around her neck so she could not touch the incision and we were supplied with antibiotic pills, pain meds, and a solution to clean the small tube left in the site. Spud had 2 checkups, the cone, drainage tube,and the stitches were removed. She is just fine now. The charges were exactly what we had agreed upon and the doctors and staff were very caring and helpful. more

Had my baby spayed on Sunday, since then they will call everyday and ask for updates and give me tips about how to take care of her. WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! more

You guys are the best pet clinic in the area--really! more

I don't know how recently management (or is it ownership?) changed over, but after reading all the previous reviews I can only image that it must have been very recent because I couldn't find a single complaint about my experience with this facility after a visit last night. I was actually recommended by a co-worker who had taken her kitten here a month or two ago. We adopted a cat from the SPCA back in September and yesterday afternoon I noticed he had a tiny parasite escaping his bum. I WAS MORTIFIED! lol So I called Companion and was very happy to know they offered evening appointments, so I scheduled him for a visit later that evening. The location is convenient with a private parking lot. Upon entering I noticed the facility to be clean and the receptionist greeted us. We had printed out our new pet registration forms online and brought them in filled out along with his records from the SPCA and she took them to make copies. We were about a half hour early for the appointment but they took us in early anyway. The vet assistant was friendly and asked all pertinent information regarding his condition. She was patient with him as he was timid coming out of his carrier. She weighed him & took his temperature. The vet, Dr. Kiran was very nice and professional. She did a full exam, checked his teeth... he has gingivitis! oh no! :o{ Listened to his heart and lungs, checked his ears for mites, and admired his beautiful healthy coat. I imagine parasites being a fairly routine and non-eventful condition to treat so she advised us on the medication to give him along with directions. She also recommended putting him on a special RX type food that reduces the tartar build up on his teeth (however I need to research this before doing so). Anyway, being a first time visitor they offered us the initial exam complementary as a promotion. Regularly the visit would have been $45. We purchased the parasite medication from the office at $33 for 4 pills. Maybe I could've found it cheaper elsewhere. more

Wow! Just came across these reviews by accident. I'm shocked. Unless the staff is completely different than it was three years ago, I find it hard to believe that they were rude to anyone! I used to take my dog there (he had cancer - which Dr. Bower discovered, by the way, when at least five other vets couldn't figure out what was wrong with him). While I realize that Dr. Bower may not be the "warm and fuzzy" type, he was never rude, nor was his staff. They were very sympathetic and patient with me - saw them a lot because I decided to go with chemo to treat my dog's cancer. I think Dr. Bower is amazing and the vet to see if you are having problems diagnosing a problem with your pet. more