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Highlands Animal Clinic

Updated 2026-07-06 · 1,309 reviewed · 191 listed · Scored from 525 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.6(525) 78 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
General Veterinary CareSurgery & Specialty CareVeterinary Dental CareLow-Cost & Affordable Care
Highlands Animal Clinic
Services
General Veterinary Care, Surgery & Specialty Care, Veterinary Dental Care
Reviews
525

What recent reviews say

Long-time clients consistently praise Dr. Drake and the clinical staff for attentive, caring treatment; many say their pets now eagerly return. However, newer and recent experiences reveal a pattern of dropped follow-ups (missed fecal results, no medication alerts), rushed consultations that miss senior screening opportunities, and distant, sometimes dismissive front-desk interactions that have deterred some from returning.

Review texts show the clinic excels with anxious or timid dogs and answers questions thoroughly when time allows, yet cost-conscious owners report being nudged toward expensive diagnostics or surgery without clear justification. Several long-standing clients have departed since an ownership transition, citing a shift from family-like care to corporate detachment.

Recent shift: Marked decline in service quality and client satisfaction correlates with ownership transition. Multiple established, loyal clients explicitly state the clinic has "gone downhill since the previous owner left." Long-time vets like Dr. Lostoski have departed; newer clients and phone inquiries face inconsistent, sometimes dismissive interactions. Late 2024–early 2025 reviews from new clients report systemic gaps (missed diagnostics, no follow-up), contrasting sharply with earlier 5-star reviews praising continuity and care.

Praised for
  • compassionate, attentive vets (especially Dr. Drake and Dr. Anderson)
  • calm, welcoming environment for anxious pets
  • clear communication and thorough explanations
  • patient, friendly front-desk and clinical staff
  • long-term client loyalty and personal care relationships
Watch-outs
  • inconsistent follow-up on test results and medication readiness
  • rushed visits, especially end-of-day appointments
  • alleged unnecessary procedures (surgery recommendations, excessive testing)
  • front-desk rudeness to new or phone-inquiry clients
  • reduced quality and compassion after ownership change
compassionate-staffskilled-vetsresponsive-emergency-carecaring-bedside-mannerclean-facilityrushed-appointmentspoor-communicationhard-to-get-appointmentknowledgeable-vetsfriendly-front-deskpushy-upselling
Best for: Owners of anxious or timid dogs and long-term clients already established with the clinic, especially those valuing a calming environment.
Think twice if: Senior or brachycephalic dogs without confirmed follow-up on bloodwork and parasite screening; phone inquiries may encounter discouraging front-desk responses; recent ownership has triggered attrition among cost-conscious or efficiency-focused clients.

Strengths

  • Dr. Drake noted repeatedly for genuine compassion, especially with senior and anxious pets
  • calm, at-home atmosphere that puts nervous dogs at ease
  • nine-plus-year relationships and deep client trust for established patients

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Drake: widely praised for compassion, attentiveness, and follow-up care including sympathy notes to grieving clients
  • Dr. Anderson: friendly, thorough, and informative with first-time visitors
  • Dr. Lostoski: mentioned as the best vet, now departed
  • No senior bloodwork offered or discussed at wellness visit in one case; fecal sample submitted but never analyzed or reported
  • Medication refills require full appointments and fees, even for ongoing prescriptions
  • End-of-day visits reported as rushed; one client waited too long on a follow-up phone call before a pet's critical decline

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care
Established clients receive thorough, compassionate wellness care; new clients report gaps in senior screening (bloodwork, parasite tracking) and rushed visits.
Surgery & Specialty Care
Multiple clients question necessity of surgery recommendations; one case questioned post-operative readiness after x-ray misinterpretation.
Veterinary Dental Care
Listed as a service; one major surgical case (tumor removal) had excellent scar outcome, but no other dental-specific reviews.
Low-Cost & Affordable Care
Clients describe clinic as overpriced; one noted location on 32nd rather than quality justifies fees; medication refills charged as appointments despite no clinical visit.

How it compares

  • Rated 4.6 against a 4.58 average across the 174 general veterinary care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 76% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Ranking Method
Star rating 73
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 48
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
455
4
19
3
8
2
7
1
36

Common questions

Do I need an appointment to refill my pet's medication?
Yes, reviewers report the clinic requires a full appointment and charges a fee to refill existing prescriptions, even for chronic medications on senior pets.
What should I ask about before my senior dog's wellness visit?
One reviewer advises explicitly requesting senior bloodwork (CBC, chemistry panel) and confirming follow-up policy on parasite screening, as these were omitted in their case and critical results were missed.
How should I expect the staff to respond when I call with a quick question?
Reviewers report mixed experiences. Established clients receive patient, thorough answers; newer clients report front-desk staff dismissing concerns or saying a paid appointment is required even for advice.
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Last updated 2026-07-06