Upstate Animal Medical Center

ZERO STARS!! STAY AWAY FROM THIS HORRIBLE PLACE! -- I've never been treated worse by a vet. I needed to get an ultrasound for my cat quickly. I called Upstate Medical Center on Maple Ave in Saratoga Springs, and they said they could get me in that Thursday morning. I had called everywhere, but everyone was booked out by weeks, so I accepted. I was of course nervous bringing my cat to a new place I was unfamiliar with but I had no other option. I was told to bring my cat ready to go, fasted and medicated, ready for the ultrasound. I had a consult with Dr. Tamas at 9 am, who actually put me a little more at ease. He took his time and asked all the right questions to really learn about what was going on and my cats history. I was feeling better about everything up until the last few minutes when he said, I hope we can squeeze him in today. I said, what do you mean? I'm scheduled for this ultrasound, he's fastest and medicated, all ready for it like you told me. He said, don't worry, we'll get him in. So he had me leave him. I got a phone call from the office manager about an hour and half later saying there was a mix up at the front desk and they were too booked to get him in today. I reiterated that he was fastest and medicated and she apologized and said that Dr. Lucas, the owner, has tomorrow off and she will come in special to do it. What could I really say but ok? They told me to wait to pick him up for 45 min in case they needed to do any tests. When I picked him up I asked what had actually been done today? She said, nothing, he hasn't even been out of his carrier. So he sat there 4 hours in his carrier? Yup. When I brought him home he had peed and pooped himself all that time stuck in the carrier. He's never done that in the 6 years of having him. They just parked him in the back for 4 hours and left him sitting there. I was told the owner would come in the next day at 10 am special for me and to have him fasted and medicated again, ready to go. I was mad but I had no faster option, and mistakes do happen so I agreed. Next day, he's ready to go and I decide to call just to double check after yesterday. I call and ask if Dr. Lucas is still on schedule for 10 am because he is medicated and fasted again. (It's 45 min before the appointment THEY scheduled) She says she has no idea, she wasn't there yesterday, just bring him in. I say, well he’s already medicated and I’d like to meet her and chat for a minute seeing how I don’t know her. She says, well she usually calls afterward, and she’s squeezing you in, if you know what I mean. I say, actually I don’t understand. You gave me an appointment at 10 am for a mistake YOUR office made. If she’s coming in just for me, at the time YOU picked, why can’t she meet me for a couple minutes first? She says, well let me call her and find out. She calls back and says... Dr Lucas said she’s very busy on her day off and doesn’t have time to meet you before hand. She’s busy watching dogs, running errands and watching a kid. She said drop him off and she’ll swing by at some point today as a favor to you. If his medication has worn off by then there is nothing we can do. If you don’t like it, you can bring him somewhere else. INFURIATED. Their office made the mistake. SHE offered to come in on her day off and SHE picked the time. So he was supposed to sit there all day after being fasted and medicated AGAIN, when she had no intention of coming in when she scheduled me. The lack of disregard and care for my cat was disgusting, not only by her as the owner, but her staff too. If she didn't want to come in on her day off I wish she wouldn't have offered to. Instead she wasted critical days for my cat which pushed him into the weekend where vet care is even more limited, even at the ER. He ended up passing away over the weekend because of this chain of events. They also wouldn't refund my $500 deposit on that Friday, I had to call the next week to get it back. KEEP YOUR BABIES AWAY FROM THESE HORRIBLE PEOPLE!!!

This place has really gone downhill since the pandemic. In spite of us being toward the end of the pandemic, this vet center continues to operate in covid crisis mode. You can't go into the building and you have to wait forever in your car in the parking lot while they get to you. On top of that, their phone system is extremely tedious to deal with.

My dog has been seeing them for half his lifetime, but now that he has seizures due to a brain abnormality, the way they operate here is bordering on negligent. Sometimes we will leave messages that go unanswered for days. I understand that businesses are shorthanded due to the lack of ready and willing employees, but other medical offices have gone back to operating in more efficient, pre-pandemic fashions regardless of said constraints.

By far the best veterinary experience I have ever had. The Doctor always takes as much time as needed to talk and answer any and all questions. I never feel guilty about bringing my dog to the vet anymore, even Ares is happy to see the staff.

Dr. Lucas is the best vet in the area for exotics especially parrots.

Always amazing. Every person I've ever dealt with is compassionate and treats the animals amazingly. I'd love to never have to go there again, but I like knowing I can if needed. Highly recommend.

Very happy with care given. Just sorry it is so far from me (2 hours). Never met the doctor because of covid restrictions, but spoke to her on the phone. She was very pleasant and answered all my questions.

My family and I have been using this vet for years as we love Dr. Joy. However, today was a much different experience and I only spoke with a receptionist! I called on March 4th, 2022 at 10:22AM to make an appointment for my cat who has ongoing bowel issues that she has been seen for before. The woman on the phone (I did not ask for a name unfortunately) told me my cat needed to go to the emergency hospital vet and tried giving me the number.

I explained both that I did not think it was required as my cat was not acting much different, but definitely on/off constipation, nor could I afford the emergency hospital as the last time her constipation acted up I immediately took her to the emergency and ended up with a $1,800 bill after being given an "estimate" of $400-$600 (where I was told at discharge to just add miralax to her diet.).

The woman said it probably would not be any cheaper with them, as they would need to keep her for an extended time so "someone can actually watch over her". I was completely taken aback, and told the woman that I am caring for my cat every single day but could not afford an emergency hospital and just started a job that I needed to work around. I was shamed and repeatedly told I needed to care better for my cat.

She said "Well it's already Friday so there isn't a guarantee she will even make it to Monday." At that point, I told the woman "I do not need to be shamed because I cannot afford an emergency vet- have a lovely day!" and hung up. I never thought I would have had to deal with that type of shaming from this office, especially with having multiple pets seen over the past 10 years.

I do understand vet emergencies, but I am not going to bill money I don't have for an ongoing constipation issue that has no indicator of a current emergency. I'm truly saddened and disgusted by that woman's behavior. I tried being transparent and vulnerable, and was just ridiculed. I got off the phone and just cried and have no desire to ever step foot in that building again. Dr. Joy- I hope you see this review and hold your staff accountable to treat people better.

I am truly disappointed. To insinuate my cat won't survive the weekend was just truly cruel, sickening and a complete exaggeration. Please hire and train staff on KINDNESS and COMPASSION. Thank you.

So great when they call. They tell you what your doing right, suggest Andy improvements and make suggestions for all budgets. They're also great with ferrets if your looking for someone!

I took my leopard gecko Draco there to be seen, and they briefly saw him, sent me home with meds and said if I had any health questions or concerns to call. I did the next day, so I did. (This was a Friday) I was told the Vet was on vacation and wouldn't return until the following Tuesday. So then I requested to speak to a vet tech or anyone that could give me advisement and the secretary became rude and said that no one could give me advisement other than the vet.

So I asked to have vet tech call back and she rudely refused, at which point I said if something happens to him in the meantime my attorney will be the next one calling and she hung up on me. I called back got someone else who refused to give me the first woman's name and claimed she didn't know who she was and then she rudely hung up on me. I called back a third time at which point I was rudely and coldly told if I'm genuinely concerned about his health that I should take him somewhere else to get him another exam. Money I didn't have to spend on another vet to go through it all again and put my gecko through it all again when all I need it was a couple questions answered.

Dr. Lucas is a pleasant and professional vet doctor. She is very honest with what is going with your pet. We saw this doctor because our fur baby needed surgery. Highly recommended. Office staff are sweet and always willing to lend a helping hand to assist. Vet prices are fair and inline with other vet offices nearby.

Very unprofessional vet, condescending and downright rude. Refused to give me my bearded dragons x-rays after 3 months of calling and waiting, had to threaten legal action before I actually received them. They ran 400$ worth of tests I DID NOT want done and sprung it on me last second. Didn't address any of the issues I brought my bearded dragon in for.