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Highlands Animal Clinic

Updated 2026-07-10 · 1,287 reviewed · 184 listed · Scored from 528 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.6(528) 78 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
Veterinary Dental CareGeneral Veterinary CareLow-Cost & Vaccine ClinicsVeterinary PharmacySurgery & Specialty Care
Highlands Animal Clinic
Services
Veterinary Dental Care, General Veterinary Care, Low-Cost & Vaccine Clinics
Reviews
528

What recent reviews say

Long-time clients praise Dr. Drake and other vets for genuine care, patience with nervous animals, and a warm, at-home feel. Newer reviews reveal significant rifts: rushed diagnostics at initial visits, failure to complete or report bloodwork and fecal results, and front-desk rudeness that turned away potential clients before they entered.

Since an ownership change, the clinic has split into two camps. Senior pet owners value thorough attention and follow-up calls. But recent accounts describe missed diagnoses, unnecessary surgery recommendations, and medication refill obstacles that required new appointments. One reviewer lost a senior dog to pulmonary hypertension after the clinic failed to order bloodwork at a wellness visit, then misread x-rays at the ER visit that followed.

Praised for
  • caring-vets-with-patients
  • friendly-relaxed-atmosphere
  • patient-with-anxious-pets
  • good-follow-up-calls
Watch-outs
  • poor-follow-up-on-medications-and-results
  • rushed-appointments-and-decisions
  • rude-front-desk-interactions
  • declined-after-ownership-change
compassionate-staffskilled-vetsgentle-with-animalscaring-bedside-mannerrushed-appointmentspoor-follow-uphelpful-front-deskhard-to-get-appointment
Best for: Long-term clients with senior pets or anxious dogs seeking continuity under Dr. Drake
Think twice if: Bringing a senior pet for a first visit. Recent reviews describe incomplete bloodwork, unanalyzed fecal samples, and no follow-up, which have had serious consequences.

Strengths

  • Dr. Drake and select vets earn strong loyalty
  • warm, at-home clinic atmosphere
  • willing to discuss care options with senior-pet owners

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Drake known for thorough care, thoughtfulness, and sending flowers to grieving clients
  • Dr. Anderson praised by newer clients as kind and informative
  • Dr. Dredla skilled at tumor removal with minimal scarring
  • Ownership transition noted as turning point in service quality
  • One reviewer's senior dog with respiratory issues received only heartworm test at wellness visit, no senior bloodwork or fecal analysis despite age and breed risks
  • Fecal sample dropped off was never analyzed and not followed up on
  • Medication refills require new appointments and fees even for chronic prescriptions

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care
Warmly praised by long-term clients; newer reviews flag incomplete initial exams, missed diagnoses, and inadequate follow-up
Veterinary Dental Care
Dr. Dredla noted for high-quality tumor removal with barely visible scarring
Surgery & Specialty Care
Two recent reviewers report unnecessary surgery recommendations without sufficient diagnostics first
Veterinary Pharmacy
Medication refills require costly new appointments despite established prescriptions

How it compares

  • Rated 4.6 against a 4.57 average across the 110 veterinary dental care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 75% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

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

Rating breakdown

5
458
4
19
3
8
2
7
1
36

Common questions

Will they call to check on my pet after a visit?
Long-term clients report follow-up calls as standard. Newer clients and those post-ownership change describe no follow-up calls on medication readiness, fecal results, or diagnostics.
Can I refill my pet's medication without an appointment?
Recent reviews indicate the clinic requires a new appointment and charges a fee even for refills of chronic medications.
What should I expect at a senior pet wellness visit?
One recent client's senior dog received only a heartworm test at a wellness exam, despite age and breed risk factors. That client noted no senior bloodwork panel or chemistry panel was offered or discussed.
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GoodVets Highlands
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GoodVets Highlands

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Staff earn consistent praise for calm care with nervous pets and same-day emergency slots. Vets explain treatment options without pressure and follow up by phone. One cat owner felt her explicit instructions about nail care were ignored; another reviewer experienced a three-minute exam after a long wait and thought the heartworm test charge was steep. Most pets arrive anxious and leave calm. Dental care, vaccinations, and wellness checks form the bulk of visits. Dr. Devin is named for thorough health summaries. Techs including Lizz are called out for kindness. Fair pricing is mentioned in one review; a few flag costs as high relative to the broader market. Same-day access for sick or injured animals stands out.

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Sploot Veterinary Care - Highlands
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Sploot Veterinary Care - Highlands

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Sploot delivers warm, attentive care across urgent and routine visits, with surgeons and staff who spend time explaining treatment and follow up by text or phone. Staff names like Dr. Steine, Dr. Nicholls, and Allison appear consistently praised for patience with anxious or difficult pets. Fear Free certified and open seven days, the clinic serves West Highland and surrounding areas. The main friction point is cost: routine care prices run high, and some reviewers report feeling steered toward more expensive visits than medically necessary to boost revenue.

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Berkeley Animal Hospital
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Owners consistently report feeling treated as individuals rather than transaction numbers. Staff ease nervous pets through exams with patience, vets explain findings in detail, and pricing is transparent upfront. The practice manages routine wellness alongside end-of-life care with equal thoughtfulness.

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Last updated 2026-07-10