Alberta Veterinary Care

Always a great experience with my dog Gidget, who I’ve been taking to Alberta Vet since December 2013. I recently adopted a new puppy, who is sure to be treated with same amount of care and respect!

This place is great. Dr. Cates has always been caring and professional. But most of my interaction has been with Dr. Corbett. My dog was recently very ill. Dr. Corbett stepped in and took his health very seriously. She was sensitive to our needs as well as the dog’s. She communicated constantly, sent out lab reports late at night, and even helped coordinate the transfer of my dog to Dove Lewis for intensive 24hr care. On top of that, she really seems to know her stuff. It was very reassuring to have a vet like this on my side during a challenging time.

This clinic is legit. Granted, I’ve only had a couple of interactions with their staff and doctors, but if first impressions mean anything, I’m confident that I made the right choice.
First things first, Dr Cates seems to really care about animals and has a gentle disposition that won over my sometimes anxious pup. I was put at ease myself, as choosing a new vet is a big decision, and within moments I was confident that my dog was in good hands. The vet was thorough in his exam, but gave me a variety of treatment options, explaining the range of price and also practicality. Sure, we could do a number of spendy tests, but they probably aren’t necessary. I ended up with a well-​cared for dog and a reasonable bill.
Regarding the office itself, it’s clean, modern and quite comfortable. The support staff is professional and friendly. You can make appointment requests online, and as a paperless office, all of your pets’ records are sent via email. It’s super efficient.
I’ll update more as I have more experience with this clinic, but so far everything has been 5 stars!

Gentle and smart! We’re just getting started with our puppy — but so far, so good. We love that we can walk here!

I left this doctor a bad review because, based on his actions, I feel he is about the money, not the care.
I’d lost my other cat (of 13 years) two weeks before, so I may have been particularly anxious about the health of my surviving cat. Especially since this vet had seen him shortly before. That’s normal.
These lies in an attempt to discredit my bad review and personally humiliate me, are not.

I have been taking my dogs to Dr. Cates since 2003, there is absolutely no other Veterinarian that I want to care for my dogs. When Dr. Cates moved, I tried another vet because his clinic is pretty far away from my house (over an hour in afternoon traffic) but I quickly learned that he cannot be replaced by convenience… he is well worth the travel time!
Dr. Cates is very thorough, he genuinely cares about the animals and their owners, he is a class act and always has my pets best interest in mind. He does not over charge and he does not try to push additional services on you that are unnecessary. He explains in great detail every issue he finds, you leave well informed… then usually within an hour or two of getting home from your appointment, he sends you an email giving you a recap with any instructions necessary!
I recently had to have my most precious dog euthanized, it was honestly one of the hardest choices I have ever had to make in my life… Dr. Cates came over to my house to make the process easier for me and my dog, his entire staff were so compassionate, understanding, and patient with me, they made the excruciatingly painful time as bearable as possible. Alberta Veterinary Care is amazing, I can go on and on about how great they are!

Just switched vets to Alberta Veterinary Care and couldn’t be happier. The staff is very nice and welcoming, and Dr. Cates is great. They were very thorough with my dog’s exam and providing solutions to any issues I brought up. I didn’t feel like it was a money game at all with them (like it can be with a lot of vets), I felt like they truly cared about finding the right solutions for my dog’s treatments and gave me options to choose from based on treatment and pricing ranges. After the exam, I received a 4 page review of everything we had discussed in the visit– both the issues my dog was having as well as multiple treatment plans and steps on how we were going to alleviate his problems.
Very pleased with the vet overall– the doctor and his staff were excellent and I’m very happy I made the switch.

Great place, with very nice, caring staff. A bit spendy though.

I’m so thankful i found Dr Cates. Had an issue today with my pupper this morning and emailed. They called me right away & got him right in. Picked him up just now & he was so calm & happy which has NEVER happened with him at any other vet.
Love that I get a visit summary in my email as soon as the Dr sees them. I’d rather save paper and it’s somewhere I can always find it.
They are just about as awesome as any vet could ever be.

Just celebrated another year with my Lucy Bear, despite being told by a different vet, that I never would. I believe with all of my heart that LOVE has helped slow the progression of my little girl’s condition. Clearly the medication is doing what it was intended to do as well. I will be forever grateful for additional time that I’ve gotten. I have 2 other dogs that are receiving care at Alberta Vet and they are doing quite well also. THANK YOU to Dr. Cates, Jessica, Mike, Jodee, Briana, Dominique, Kerri and anyone else that I missed.
Oh, and I recently ruptured my Achilles and it’s very difficult for me to be mobile. These guys have gone out of their way to accommodate my «condition».

Can I give ten stars?!
After our recent move we added a second dog to our family, and were looking for a vet in our new neighborhood. Our first dog (who’s ten) is already established with his vet in NW Portland, but we wanted our new one to see someone closer to home. AVC was recommended to me and I couldn’t be happier to find this gem!
First, I love the ease of communication. You can schedule appointments online, access your pet’s health history through their Pet Portal, and you’ll always receive an email full of information after your visit. I LOVE that email! It’s full of detailed yet accessible information including your pet’s vital stats from the day as well as explanations of health conditions, medication, prognosis, and next steps. I’ve never been to a clinic that provides such extensive follow-​up info; it’s great to refer to especially if your pet has complicated needs or multiple medications to keep track of.
Second, ease of check-​out. This might seem like a small thing, but why don’t more clinics have a setup where you can swipe your card and pay right in the exam room, instead of having to juggle dog leashes, purses, pens, and wallets in the entry way? AVC’s the only place I’ve been that offers this, and it makes everything less stressful.
Finally (and most importantly), the staff is excellent. Our new dog is a seven-​year-​old rescue from a small coastal shelter, and she came to us with some complicated skin, ear, and allergy issues. Plus, she was very nervous on her first visit! Our vet tech Jodee was awesome, as was Dr. Corbet: they kept her as calm as possible, and both explained everything to me in lots of detail. We were there for over an hour, and I never felt like they were rushing or had anything more important to do. (Also, they give you the initial office visit for free if you’ve adopted a shelter dog.)
AVC’s also accommodating. With a new (and senior) dog comes multiple discoveries of various health issues, so I called last night, dropped her off today, and Dr. Cates was able to work her into his schedule. I didn’t have a chance to meet him in person, but Mike met with me for the pickup and explained everything clearly (plus I already had the great post-​exam email in hand!). He even called after I left to add one more detail to the follow-​up, just to be sure I had all the information I needed.
While my dog might not yet love going to the vet, I do! If you’re looking for a place with a caring and knowledgeable staff who’ll keep you fully and clearly informed, check out AVC!

I’ve had a great experience so far with AVC. I adopted a shelter dog and came here for our first visit. Upon arrival we were told that our exam was free of charge because I had recently adopted from a shelter!
Turns out my pup was full of all kinds of worms (yuck) and they’ve been great about testing him, treating him and answering all my questions with super timely/​lengthy/​detailed emails. If you gotta find out that yr dog is practically made of worms, at least the veterinary experience was a breeze!

I found out that my vet of 10 years was moving to Seattle, and I needed to find a new vet for my little senior dog. A couple of friends recommended Alberta Veterinary and I’ve been exceptionally pleased with their care.
My dog had a jaw problem and needed a general senior check-​up. The office is very calm, and they handle everything in the exam rooms, including payment. That’s a definite bonus when wanting to keep your dog calm and safe.
Dr. Corbet and her vet tech Jodee were great. They took plenty of time with us and answered all of my questions. After the appointment, Dr. Corbet followed up with detailed documentation of the appointment via email, some general lifestyle suggestions to keep him healthy, and when I could expect test results.
When Dr. Corbet sent the test results, she did a wonderful job summarizing them, and noting an area of concern. Along with the concern, she outlined a potential treatment plan (including pricing), and steps that we would want to consider to figure out what was going on. As a worried pet parent, her communication is thorough, clear, and much appreciated.
I am 100% impressed by the level of care that my dog has received in the few short days since becoming a new patient of this clinic.

We switched to Alberta Vet after our previous vet (Irvington) constantly told us we needed superfluous tests for our dog for minor things (It ended up always costing a lot, and being over-​the-​top). We are SO happy with the switch!
Dr. Cates is warm, friendly, great with our dog, and honest about what he does and does not need. He, of course, cares about giving our dog the best care, but clearly doesn’t feel the need to push us into things that are unnecessary just to make our bill higher. We will always suggest him to our friends!

I chose this vet based on Unilocal reviews, but was disappointed. My dog had suddenly developed a number of fairly major issues (severely drooping eye; incontinence; major hind end weakness), so I was very concerned. The vet seemed to disregard the fairly major symptoms, and focused instead on her waxy ear and a slightly irritated paw. Aside from two prescriptions, he had no advice, suggestions or explanations for lifestyle changes or treatments for her sudden onset issues.
More importantly, during the entire visit, he never said one kind or gentle thing to her. He didn’t pet her, and barely looked at her apart from the cursory exam. I felt his attitude mirrored the physical environment of the office: our tiny, windowless exam room had a concrete floor and not a single welcoming touch. No reading material, no soft surfaces.
I hope our experience is the exception, but based on that visit, I would not recommend this physical office, or this vet.

I took my 2 yr old cat here last week. It was a follow up appointment after taking my cat to the emergency clinic a week before. My cat had become extremely lethargic and lost his appetite. I had found blood in his stool so took him to Alberta for an exam.
They were very friendly and able to get me in right away. You do need to be on guard because they are more sales driven than anything else. I wasn’t able to get answers to why my cat was lethargic or what was causing blood in his stool. Instead, I was presented with a list or menu of tests and their pricing. I had to determine what was, «in my budget.»
The clinic failed to ask any question about diet or previous behavior. After a quick ($ 50) exam they jumped right into testing options and prescriptions.
I found more information online after returning home. If you are in a non emergency situation, I would avoid this clinic. The assistant that followed the veterinarians exam was much easier to talk with and much more helpful.

My cat was in need of a regular veterinary clinic that was closer to home. I’m so glad I decided to give Alberta Veterinary Care a try.
Dr. Cates and all the staff members have been so incredibly helpful and they truly care about you and your pet.
Unfortunately my kitty, Jezebel was diagnosed with kidney failure, (Heartbreaking). Not only did Dr. Cates call me to talk at length about the different options, he also sent quite a few email articles my way.
The staff helped me to get Jezebel’s food changed and to learn how to give her intravenous fluids to help with hydration and making her more comfortable. It’s nice because I can purchase more of the special cat food or fluid bags right from their office.
I’d definitely recommend Alberta Veterinary Care to anyone who is in need of a regular vet clinic. The whole stag is passionate about their jobs and caring for animals and it shows.

Charming staff!
Took our newest munchkin, Hank, in to see Dr Cates and I couldn’t be happier. We were treated well, promptly, and it didn’t hurt that it seems they like my new pet as much as I do. I’ll definitely be bringing our older and more «discerning» feline here for her future visits.
Thank guys!

Absolutely love Dr. Cates and his staff!
My two kittens have not always had the best health to start with but they’ve gotten many great treatments here, including getting spayed.
Dr. Cates and his staff have given me excellent email/​phone follow-​ups, which I appreciate.
I can always count on receiving friendly service on every visit!

I don’t typically write reviews for establishments that aren’t restaurants but I’ve never had a vet visit go so well. In the past, when I call to make an appointment for, my cat, Yumi… it elicits the response «Oh, HER».
I am a bad pet mama. I haven’t brought Yumi in for a wellness in six years because she is so feisty and we used to live in Benton County where I could get a cat wellness check up for $ 17. After doing some research on Unilocal,I decided between two options and I decided to make an appointment at Alberta Veterinary Care after inquiring about prices. About $ 48 for a cat wellness check – that’s reasonable considering every where else charges $ 60 – 100 to tell you that your cat is healthy.
I had arrived with Yumi half an hour earlier to our 1pm appointment. I didn’t want to bother them on their lunch break so we sat outside the office and waited. An assistant saw us as he walked by and offered to put us in a room because it would be more comfortable. Once they had us in an exam room, I let Yumi out of her carrier and she just explored. Typically, when we go to the vet, she would sit in my lap and bury her head in my arm. When Dr. Cates came in and did his case history, she just sat next to me so patiently then decided to go lie in her carrier. I never grab my cat by the nape (the scruff of the neck) so she hissed at him when he took her out of the carrier for her exam. Other than that incident, she was oddly calm through her examination. She received two shots, no attempt to bite them or even a peep from her. They must have the room laced with some kind of cat drug or sedative… that’s the only explanation, haha.
The result of Yumi’s examination was presented in an articulate way – I didn’t feel that Dr. Cates attempted to dumb it down or was too technical. He addressed all of my chief complaints and was very thorough. The suggestions he made to improve my cat’s health and quality of life didn’t feel pushy. He gave me an estimate of cost of treatment plans, emailed me some information, and left it up to me. His staff was efficient and helpful. I will definitely be back for any future visits and highly recommend Alberta Veterinary Clinic for your pet care needs.