Can I get a same-day appointment if my pet has an urgent issue?

In at least two recent cases, owners calling with urgent concerns were told no availability existed for 2+ days. Consider calling early or contacting an ER facility if same-day care is critical.

What should I confirm before my appointment?

Ask staff directly what materials (e.g., stool samples) are needed. One owner received incorrect phone guidance and had to return for a follow-up visit.

Do they help with travel health documents?

Yes; one owner successfully obtained health certificates for traveling to Costa Rica with their pets.

Lakewood Veterinary Hospital

Updated 2026-07-07 · 1,215 reviewed · 182 listed · Scored from 788 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.7(788) 85 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified

General Veterinary CareVeterinary SurgeryEmergency & Urgent CareLow-Cost / Affordable Vet CareExotic & Avian VetVeterinary DentistryLarge Animal / Equine Vet

Services: General Veterinary Care, Veterinary Surgery, Emergency & Urgent Care
Reviews: 788

What recent reviews say

Lakewood Vet earns strong praise for attentive staff and skilled doctors who handle animals with genuine care. Patients repeatedly highlight thorough exams, follow-up calls, and a team genuinely invested in their pets. However, a handful report frustration: emergency access was denied when needed urgently, one owner felt talked down to after receiving incorrect appointment guidance, and a second opinion contradicted a vet's recommendations. The hospital serves established clients well but shows gaps when urgent support is needed most.

Staff and veterinarians consistently demonstrate competence and kindness across routine care. Scheduling coordinator Brian is named for going above and beyond. Dr. Arcuri draws both strong praise for professionalism and criticism for misguided next-steps advice; Dr. Andrew receives credit for easing anxious dogs. Travel health certificates, allergy management, and routine preventive care are mentioned as handled competently. Wait times and accessibility remain a sticking point.

Praised for

attentive, caring staff
skilled, thorough vets
professional service
compassionate animal handling

Watch-outs

poor access in emergencies
miscommunication about appointment needs
inconsistent professionalism between vets

compassionate-staffskilled-vetsknowledgeable-staffcaring-follow-upfriendly-front-deskhard-to-get-appointmentemergency-availabilitypoor-communication

Best for: Owners of established pets needing routine, preventive, and surgical care in a compassionate setting.

Think twice if: Emergency access was denied in two recent cases; calling ahead to confirm appointment logistics and required materials is wise.

Strengths

experienced team with decades of history
vets and techs noted for genuine care
follow-up contact after treatment
named scheduler handles complex booking

Worth knowing

Dr. Arcuri praised for thoroughness, criticized for misguided post-care guidance
Dr. Andrew noted for calming anxious dogs
Brian (scheduling) recognized for accommodating complex bookings
follow-up calls documented after treatment
travel health certificates issued for international pet transport

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care: Routine exams and allergy management praised; communication gaps in appointment prep
Veterinary Surgery: Surgical care trusted by long-term clients; procedures handled competently
Emergency & Urgent Care: Emergency slots unavailable when owners called with urgent post-vaccine concerns
Veterinary Dentistry: No direct review evidence
Exotic & Avian Vet: No direct review evidence
Low-Cost / Affordable Vet Care: One reviewer mentioned reasonable pricing

How it compares

Rated 4.7 against a 4.6 average across the 126 veterinary surgery businesses listed here.
Has more Google reviews than 82% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method

Star rating 80

Review volume 100

Review recency 100

Review sentiment 64

Profile completeness 100

Verification 30

Rating breakdown

682

Common questions

Can I get a same-day appointment if my pet has an urgent issue?: In at least two recent cases, owners calling with urgent concerns were told no availability existed for 2+ days. Consider calling early or contacting an ER facility if same-day care is critical.
What should I confirm before my appointment?: Ask staff directly what materials (e.g., stool samples) are needed. One owner received incorrect phone guidance and had to return for a follow-up visit.
Do they help with travel health documents?: Yes; one owner successfully obtained health certificates for traveling to Costa Rica with their pets.

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