VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center

VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center is a veterinary hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, located at 123 W Cedar St, Norwalk, CT 06854. It treats dogs and cats and offers primary care alongside referral-level specialty services. The hospital also provides emergency and critical care.

Services

•Primary care, including check-ups and routine care
•Specialty care, including oncology, surgery, and specialty consultations
•Emergency care and critical care
•Urgent care (same- or next-day appointments at urgent care locations)
•Vaccinations
•Diagnostic testing (examples listed include fecal tests; some plans include blood work, x-rays, and blood pressure checks)
•Microchipping
•Spay/neuter (listed as an optional add-on in wellness plans)
•Dental cleanings (listed as an optional add-on in wellness plans)
•Parasite prevention guidance
•Prescription refills and online pharmacy fulfillment
•Preventive care plans (CareClub wellness plans)
•Boarding care (at select facilities)

Pricing

No published pricing is listed; one recent reviewer reported a quote over $7,000 for urinary blockage catheterization and described the cost as above average.

People

Named staff and leaders mentioned include Dr. Goodwin (cardiology), Dr. Palmisano (surgery), Patty Wu, Aaron Belville, Dr. Julia Georgesen, Renee, Dr. M, Thalia, Whitney, and Steven.

Reviews

Google reviews show a 3.7/5 rating from 211 reviews. Recent comments include strong praise for cardiology and surgical care, with mentions of skilled doctors, successful surgery outcomes, and kind front-desk staff who help with nervous pets. Critical feedback includes concerns about high emergency costs, feeling pressured during difficult treatment decisions, and dissatisfaction with customer service and not receiving requested paperwork for diagnostics; one reviewer also noted minimal wait times for emergencies despite an overall disappointing visit.

Reviews for VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center

Note: Showing the 5 most recent Google reviews out of 211 we track in total. Recent reviews may not be representative of overall sentiment.

Lia Short

Today

My cat Storm had a urinary blockage that required catheterization. I was quoted over $7000 for the procedure and one day of hospital and it was made clear to me that he would require additional days in the hospital to successfully treat him. I was there on a Sunday. The price (which would have climbed even higher) was not tenable for me and the only other option presented to me was to euthanize him. My husband (Thank God) suggested we bring him home for the night and spend time with him and bring him to our vet the next morning if that was to be the ultimate outcome. When I communicated this to the Doctors, I felt pressured that I was making the wrong decision removing him against medical advice and that he could die overnight. I received an email Sunday night from my vet (Dr. Fleming at Highway Animal Hospital) after she got the records from VCA, that they could attempt treatment. I brought him in to Dr. Fleming on Monday where he has had the procedure at a fraction of the cost of what the same treatment would have cost me there. Storm is doing very well and I almost succumbed to the pressure to PUT HIM TO SLEEP prematurely. I understand with the emergency nature of the care that the prices are higher, but this was really excessive, and the guilt I was made to feel when leaving with him just added to a terrible moment in time. I have used VCA many times in the past and the staff is always kind, and the wait times very minimal for emergencies, but this was just an overall extremely disappointing experience.

Kevin Kocovic

3 days ago

Alison Hoenig

1 week ago

Dr. Goodwin for cardiology is excellent. He listens, cares for the dog and has a wonderful demeanor. Dr. Palmisano has performed two surgeries on my dog and is also excellent and very skilled. Thalia, Whitney, Steven and the ladies at the front desk are very kind and accommodating for nervous pets.

Allie Fuller

2 weeks ago

The doctors and vet techs at VCA have gone above and beyond for all 3 of our pups! We successfully had life saving surgery on one of them, and have treated other complications smoothly. Renee, Dr. M, and the rest of the team have excellent communication and answer any questions without hesitation. Thank you so much for all you do for our fur babies!

Lynn Ciecierski

1 month ago

Someone referred me to this veterinary clinic, but I should have listened to my gut and taken heed from the very unhappy-looking staff photos on their website. My partner and I interacted with these 2 staff members and their inability to deliver basic customer service was shocking (not even a "hi, my name is.." for the first consult). The doctor didn't make eye contact when discussing my dog with me, which is often a red flag for dealing with any service provider. They never gave me or my partner any paperwork about the bloodwork or xrays that were performed, after I asked more than once for the paperwork. The only thing we received was an application for the VCA's care club payment plan. A sick family member is stressful enough without having to feel like you can't trust the care provider. Very very disappointed.