Vet On Wheels

Edit Below… OMG! I did not think this ‘Vet’ was still in service until I saw the Vet on Wheels Van last week in San Francisco. The memories of the death of my miniature schnauzer Georgia in 1993! came rushing back… Back then, I was an Administrator for a large 450 unit condominium ass’n in the heart of SF. I brought Georgia to work with me and she interacted enthusiastically with everybody she encountered. And it was a very active office area with people coming and going. At a time in the fall of 1993, I had noticed Georgi suddenly wasn’t eating her food completely and had become lethargic or way too laid back for her personality. One of the condo owners had recommended Dr. Bolivar, ‘Vet on Wheels’ as a convenient source of treatment since Georgi was coming into the office with me. Although I had a regular Vet, I scheduled an appointment with Vet on Wheels to come to the office to check on my girl. «Nothing more serious than a gastro upset» after he examined her and palpitated the abdomen area. I was given a bottle of white pills to administer to her. After a couple of days, I called Vet on Wheels telling him that Georgi was much worse. Throwing up even when she drank water. This time, Dr. Bolivar came to my home and took blood from her neck area. When the lab work came back, he told me in an apologetic manner that it was pancreatitus! I will never forget that conversation! This ASSHOLE so-​called veterinarian had WASTED 8 days of NOT GETTING THE CORRECT TREATMENT FOR MY GEORGIA. I rushed her to my vet screaming and crying to save her. It was too late. She died 6 days later. Even sudden onset «pancreatitus» IS NOT necessarily a death sentence if treated appropriately and ‘aggressively’. If you love your pet, DO NOT LOVE YOUR PET TO DEATH by allowing this vet to MIS-​DIAGNOSE your precious family member!
EDIT: I’ve just read ALL of the reviews and it’s apparent that the majority of the 4 – 5 star reviews for VET ON WHEELS is for EUTHANASIA, and NOT for treating animal ILLNESS! I view him as an animal quack… that is my opinion! As far as euthanasia is concerned, I’m sure a kindly vet ‘tech’, i.e., employee of a vet who possesses a loving and thoughtful demeanor could also come to your home to provide that service for a substantially lower cost than $ 300. I have no idea what VET ON WHEELS is charging now for in home euthanasia? Lastly why would Vet on Wheels tell a customer whose pet needed tests, to take the pet to a vet clinic in Daly City? READ THE REVIEWS!

The more I think about this «Dr», the more upset I become! He obviously isn’t qualified to do small animal surgeries, however had no problem whatsoevever charging me double the quoted price to do them anyway! He killed my little Clara-​bell and severely botched duane’s stitches! It’s a miracle he didn’t need to be redone. They popped but it still healed with plenty of aloe vera applied to it. At least he didnt kill both of my babies, since thats what he specializes in. Look at the reviews. Almost ALL of them are for him killing pets, not saving them. BAD DOCTOR!!!

Dr Bolivar was a God-​send. His incredible kindness, compassion and reliability helped us give our beloved cat a merciful and quick transition. He was even kind enough to reschedule a regular vet visit because our kitty needed him to relieve her pain. I just wish three things could have been different: one, that he wouldn’t wear cologne. (Death shouldn’t leave a lingering chemical smell.) Two, that he would have warned us that the first shot would be painful to her. Three, that he had reminded us not to be freaked out and rush, but to each take one last moment alone with her to say a proper, loving goodbye. In the moment it’s impossible to have your wits about you. This is the worst experience a pet owner can have, but knowing that a true being of love – who also owns and loves animals – is helping your loved one find relief makes it much, much more peaceful and blessed. End-​of-​life care is one of the most honorable and difficult professions. We’re very grateful to Dr Bolivar, and to Pet’s Rest, who returned her ashes to us in a lovely carved wooden box.

So very dissapointed, upset and angry. Dr. Bolivar never showed up for our appointment. No call. We called ans. service at least 3 times to try and find out where he was and when he would arrive. They could not even get in touch with the Dr. My cat suffered needlessly waiting and waiting. We finally took our cat to 24 Hour San Carlos Pet Hospital and they were wonderful although our cat was in such bad shape. Such a horrible experience to experience when it was bad enough that you have to put your beloved pet to rest. We did not need that stress and torture watching our cat suffer — had he only let us know we would have not waited so long. I will never go through that again or let my pets. They deserve much better.
I don’t even want to put 1 star but you have to.

We have a very very touchy cat that we cannot get in a carrier. We thought nobody could ever treat this kitty until Julio came over. It was pretty amazing the way he got kitty to cooperate. And I am supposed to know something having been a shelter cat volunteer but this was kitty whisperer stuff. He has a great demeanor and our cat calls him grampa Julio.

Dr Bolivar has been our vet for around 20 years. We have had our share of pets and have gotten to know him pretty well.
He has been there through the good times and has helped us through the bad times always with great sensitivity. We couldn’t recommend him any higher. And he makes it really easy by coming to your house to do almost anything your pet could need! Call Dr Bolivar you won’t regret it!

Escribo en espanol para todos los que hablan el idioma y no comprenden bien el ingles:
Estoy muy pero muy contenta con el Dr. Julio Bolivar. Despues de haber pasado ingratos momentos con una clinica veterinaria la cual solo le importaba lo que podian ganar y no la cura del paciente.
Lleve cuatro veces en emergencia a mi perrita y las cuatro veces los Drs. le mandaban antibioticos y hacer las mismas pruebas y nada. Hasta que por fin la pudo ver su propio medico y lo unico que necesitaba era que le pusiera AGUA en su comida, despues de haber gastado cerca de $ 3,000.00 dollares.
Perdi la confianza en esa veterinaria y para el proximo problema que tuvo mi perrita decidi llamar al Dr. Bolivar. Vino al dia siguiente que lo llame y la cura fue como el dijo a los 5 dias estara muy bien, no te peocupes.
Estoy muy feliz y sobre todo tengo en quien confiar con la salud de mis adorables hijos perrunos.
Sara & Manuel Tchakalian

Dr Bolivar euthanized our cat a few years ago. He was too carsick for me to drive to the vet’s. He was so patient & kind. I appreciated his housecall. When my dog was elderly & uncomfortable, I was so distraught I couldn’t remember the vet’s name. The dog has passed on but I later researched to be sure he was still in business. I highly recommend Dr. Bolivar for making a very difficult time easier.

Dr. Bolivar-​Dillion came on short notice to euthanize my parents dog, Molly. He called back in a timely fashion and came the next day. I am not a religious person, but I thought it was kind that he prayed for Molly when he gave her the fist shot, and again when she had died. My parents thought he was kind and caring and I agree.

I am so grateful for Dr. Bolivar and his helping us through the painful experience of saying goodbye to our beloved dog, Cooper. We learned that Cooper’s liver had failed from a vet who did not offer home euthanasia services, and they provided a list of vets who will come to your home. I contacted Dr. Bolivar and let his assistant know that we needed help yet that day, as Cooper’s health was declining very rapidly.
Dr. Bolivar called me and rearranged his afternoon schedule to accommodate us. He came within the time window he specified, and was sensitive, compassionate and reassuring. He helped us understand what would happen, and calmly performed the procedure and gave us time to spend with Cooper. He was a gentle presence and we are most grateful for his help during this very difficult time.

Dr. Bolivar has demonstrated so many times what a terrific vet he is. Most recently
he made an emergency house call for me on a Sunday because my cat was
suddenly deathly ill from an upper respiratory infection that he contracted while on a «routine» visit to the vet hospital! Needless to say, I didn’t want to take him back to the place where he picked up the virus. Dr. Bolivar not only got there quickly, he made
a sound assessment and administered the correct medications and brought my cat back from the brink. All this done with such a gentle demeanor and calming affect on both me and the cat. I recommend him highly.

Words cannot fully express my gratitude for Dr. Bolivar’s service when the time came to end my precious kitty’s battle with a very aggressive bone cancer. Dr. Bolivar returned my call promptly when I had left a message to book the appointment. He was kind, caring, compassionate, and professional on the phone and in person. The last gift I could give to my cat was to allow him to die peacefully at home. Dr. Bolivar was patient and carefully explained every step of the process so that I would know what to expect. I will be forever thankful for his support through this difficult experience.

Dr. Bolivar is extremely knowledgeable, and most importantly, an honest veterinarian.
My dog had gotten his penis injured, leaping through a barbed wire fence. I had consulted with two other vets, one vet surgeon (From VCA) who had recommended a very costly and debilitating, full penile amputation. I had asked if there were other options and was given only this. Thanks to one of my awesome friends, I was recommended to Dr. Bolivar, who looked at it, and recommended we try a strong oral antibiotic and surgical cleanser for the cut for 10 days. Sure enough, it began to heal and regenerate flesh within 3 days with no further complications.
I’m very grateful for his knowledge. He saved me a very substantial amount of money, explained the science behind his recommendation to me and helped my dog heal.

This review is only based on my efforts to schedule an appointment with the vet. It doesn’t apply to how he is as a vet because I never made it that far.
I called twice and spoke with a live person both times. The first time I called, a male answered the phone. I told him I wanted to make an appointment for my pet. He took down my name and phone number and told me that he would tell the vet to call me back. He didn’t check the vet’s schedule or anything like that. He didn’t schedule an appointment for me. He simply told me that he would tell the vet to call me back. Um, ok. I waited about 2 days before deciding to call back. I didn’t want to be pushy and I understand that perhaps the vet was busy or something. So, 2 days later with still no call back from the vet, I decided to call again. This time, a female answered the phone. It sounded like she was in a warehouse. There was a lot of background noise with horrible acoustics. We were screaming at each other because we couldn’t hear each other. I told her that I wanted to make an appointment. I also mentioned that I called a couple of days ago and didn’t get a call back. She told me she would page the vet and that I should expect a call back soon. Like the first guy I spoke to, she didn’t schedule an appointment. She simply took down my name and number. That was it. Hello, it has been over a week now and still no call from this vet. That’s fine because I already found a vet nearby that’s wonderful and, most of all, professional.
I don’t know who these people are who take his calls because they are pretty useless. In both instances, I mentioned why my pet needed medical attention, but they both simply took my name and phone number and told me the vet would call me back. They are simply messengers, I guess.
Again, this review is solely based on my efforts to book an appointment. Maybe he’s a great vet who’s good at his craft. Who knows. I certainly don’t because I wasn’t even given a chance. So, thank you so much for nothing! Cheers!

My son, Teddy has several other names: Spoiled Brat, Fong Pae (fart in Cantonese), and Cockblocker.
Teddy is a handful. He’s also a finicky eater (like his mom), whines in the middle of the night so I can carry him onto my bed (he’s old and can’t jump anymore), and will excessively bark at any guy who comes near me. Unless you come armed with jerky of course, he’ll tolerate you for ohh about 5 minutes until the jerky is all gone, then he’ll start barking at you again.
Yah, so my 10 year-​old Pomeranian is a neurotic child but I love him to pieces. He’s loyal, boosts my mood, and is the best cockblocker I can ask for. Mr. NSS thinks otherwise but that’s a whole different story.
Bringing him to the vet is not only incredibly daunting but anxiety-​ridden for the both of us. He panics on the car ride there, at the waiting room, and then will get snippy at anyone that touches him. It came to the point that I avoided vet visits because of this. It doesn’t help that Pets Unlimited (our usual vet) totally sucks. The front desk staff have a stick up their asses, always keeps us waiting, and some of the vets there just rush through everything.
However, I couldn’t put off for Teddy to see a vet much longer as I found a small clear bubble on his neck last week. I freaked out and immediately started looking for vets who does house calls. Surprisingly, as one of this most pet-​friendly cities, SF only had three vets in SF that does house calls.
After thoroughly Unilocaling, I found Dr. Bolivar and Vet on Wheels. His rates were competitive and he took house calls on the weekends so I made a Saturday appointment with him.
RATES:
*$ 175 for a house call and exam ($ 100 for the house call and $ 75 for the exam)
*$ 75 for an exam for each additional pet in your household
*$ 35 and up for vaccinations and meds
I know $ 175 seems like a lot but when you factor in not having to take time off work, the convenience of not having to leave your home, and having the vet examine your dog in the comfort of his/​her surroundings, it’s really worth every penny. Cash, credit cards and personal checks are accepted.
For comparison basis, I called another vet who does house calls. Their rate was $ 195 and they didn’t take house calls on the weekends. Uhh that kind of defeats the purpose of paying a house call convenience fee when most people work Monday to Fridays doesn’t it?
Dr. Bolivar is a one man show and uses an answering service when you call but returned both my calls within 30 minutes. Considering that he takes house calls throughout the SF Bay Area, he gives you a one hour window for your appointment time. Keep in mind, that he may have an appointment across the city and/​or an emergency appointment involving euthanasia so that one hour window is reasonable. Imagine having to put your beloved pet down and then for the vet to say, «Peace out!» and rush out of your house. Not cool. So kindly be mindful of this.
Teddy’s appointment was at 11:30 am — 12:30 pm. Dr. Boliver arrived at 12:35 pm and it wasn’t a big deal since I was consumed with watching my cheesy Lifetime movies.
Dr. Boliver was professional, honest, and caring. He answered a million of our questions; we literally kept firing questions at him and he thoroughly answered each one of them. He took his time with us unlike other vets that I’ve encountered which was greatly appreciated. I can’t comment enough about how awesome Dr. Bolivar is so I highly recommend him to all pet owners.
Luckily, Teddy’s bubble was nothing to be concerned about. It had popped the day before our Saturday appointment but the excess skin was still showing which Dr. Bolivar confirmed as a harmless cyst. He didn’t try to upsell us and said that the extra skin was merely a cosmetic issue and can be taken care of in the future if Teddy happens to be sedated for a teeth cleaning.
Phew, my Spoiled Brat, Fong Pae, and Cockblocker is just fine. A million thanks to Dr. Bolivar!

I cannot express enough my gratitude to Dr. Bolivar for the grace and kindness he possesses in tough situations. After 15.5 years, it was time to put our lovely little kitten to rest. We knew that her situation was terminal and we didn’t want to her to suffer so we scheduled an at home euthanasia a week in advance.
Dr. Bolivar arrived promptly in the scheduled time window on a Saturday (1 hour window; nothing crazy) and immediately I knew we made the right choice. He is a humble man; very gentle and calm. He checked our kitty and agreed that we were making the correct choice. She laid between my husband and myself while he administered two shots; she went to sleep peacefully. Paperwork was taken care of, and we wanted her ashes returned to us (this is an option – not a pushy up sell) so we had a couple of documents to fill out.
10 days later a card arrived in the mail saying we had done the kindest thing in the world, by not letting our «child» suffer. The next day the ashes arrived in the most lovely rosewood carved box. We miss our little girl very much, but consider ourselves very lucky that her last breath was with us at home.
Dr. Bolivar, thank you for making one of the most difficult days in our lives a good memory instead of a sterile one.

Dr. Bolivar seemed more interested in opportunities to charge you for services than caring for my pet cat. He gave an initial diagnosis, which was incorrect so her condition worsened. She ended up in the clinic that Bolivar has privileges at. After three days on IV and tests, he diagnosed her as having liver failure. He sent home with meds and didn’t sound encouraging about her life expectancy.
The major problem was she was not eating and needed to take the liver meds. I went on youtube to learn how to force feed, water, and medicate her. All he had to tell me that she needed to be forced fed and offered simple instructions. I never heard back from him to check her. Fortunately the tender love care, boosted her liver. I had to call Bolivar to renew the liver med prescription. He did not return my phone until the third call, but it did call the pet store with the prescription. We got there and no prescription was available. Finally the vet office at the pet store called him and he responded (Could he not called me to make money off the order?).
I decided to take her to that vet next to the pet store and she was quickly diagnosed as mildly diabetic and my pet is back to normal with a change diet and does not take any meds. The new vet’s office called to several times to check on my pet. If you want a vet that is savvy and more concerned about your pet than her or his wallet, stay away from this one.

First of all, I think all people come into our lives for a reason. My dog Blue was a super sweet old Golden. He was 13.5 years old and after Christmas we saw him decline quickly. I prayed that I could find a sweet loving mobile vet to help us say goodbye in our home.
My kids are now 19 and 16 and the dog had been with us since they were 3 and 5. He came to our house yesterday and was so gentle and kind. Our dog reached out to him with his paw and Dr. Bolivar got teary eyed. He was the kindest most gentle soul and definitely cares for these guys. I highly reccomend him. In fact I’ll be using him from now on for general care for my other dog.
I can’t thank him enough for all he did. He was WONDEFUL and that is an understatement. We were all sad and stressed and he took time to explain everything in detail so the kids and I could prepare.
So much compassion and love for animals. THANK YOU SO MUCH Dr. Bolivar!!!

The big draw to Vet on Wheels is of course that he’s mobile and will see your pet at your house. He (Dr. Bolivar) will see multiple pets in a single visit if you have them. He comes across like an country vet who is fairly seasoned and confident. He has done a total of three surgeries on two of our animals, two in his van and one at a hospital.
I will say I appreciate the printed discharge summaries you get from other vets much better now. You’ll just get a receipt from Dr. Bolivar. You have to listen and write down everything, and make sure you take the time to get in all of your questions. And question *every* med and write down details for all of them.

Dr. Bolivar was very compassionate and professional with our dog as well as us during a very hard time and extremely hard decision. We sadly had to put down our very loved dog of 12 years, Ebony. She will be missed greatly and we thank Dr. Bolivar for making sure she was able to cross over to doggie heaven in the comfort of the place she has called home most of her short life.
Dr. Bolivar walked us through each step and asked our permission before administering a shot to lay Ebony to rest. He took his time and went at whatever pace we was comfortable for us. When his job was done my wife went to write him a check and he told her we have other things to deal with today and not to worry about the payment, he said we can mail it when we have time. I would not separate from my baby girls body and he walked over an rubbed my back and said he was very sorry for my loss and to take care of myself.
You can tell as he prepares for the process, he does not get any enjoyment out of having to put animals down and he truly is an animal lover. I cannot say enough good about Dr. Bolivar and his Vet on Wheels service, he will be our Vet of choice for any companions we have in the future.
R.I.P baby girl Ebony, we love today, tomorrow and always.

Daffy Katt can be, well, «cranky» with the vet. She is so «cranky» that many vets want her sedated before they even touch her.
At one vet, they demand I give Daffy kitty valium 2 hours before I bring her in (the joke’s on them, even while heavily sedated she still tried to kill everyone). Another vet just takes her in her carrier to the back and gases her until she is unconscious.
Since I don’t want Daffy sedated and am MORTIFIED by her behavior, I end up trying different vets. Needless to say, going to vet to vet to vet like a drug addict is getting time consuming and exhausting.
After asking around, I was referred to Dr. Boliver. Dr. Bolivar made a home visit and was able to handle Daffy and Ernie professionally and calmly. Dr. Bolivar checked both cats thoroughly, administered shots (quickly, to the relief of us all) and explained how they were doing (Great!) and what they might need. It was totally worth paying for a home visit, especially considering am forced to spend additional $ in sedating Daffy. 5 stars!