Institute of Veterinary Specialists

Great experience all in all. They took great care of my cat. We drove two hours to get services for my cats thyroid condition. They had reasonable availability, the price was comparable to other options and the customer service was great. They made the entire experience as easy as it could be. Definitely recommend them for your pets more complicated veterinary needs

posted: 06/14/2025

Called multiple times to be sure my sick cat would be helped with the vet having the ability to prescribe medicines because he was not looking good. The receptionist even spoke with a technician that now I know was misinformation. I was hopeful before arriving. The appointment was a waste of time and was told he was too sick to have a CT scan after arriving. I had a referral for a CT scan for possible polyps causing the sickness but the doctor refused to say a scan was even necessary when my vet and UF said there could definitely be a severe blockage. I was very upset and confused on why they even wanted me to go there in the first place knowing he’s sickly. This old guy just wanted to boast about his years of experience for 20 minutes and ignore my pleas. I was handed my cat back and was told “this cat is too sick and going to die”. Rudeness doctor I’ve ever talked to. Don’t wait precious days to go to this vet, go to the UF small animal hospital for imaging if your pet is also sick. I am happy I was not charged and the nurse was nice and I was able to get a sooner day to be seen but I could have stopped some suffering instead of putting off just going to the emergency vet. TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU WONT SERVICE SICK ANIMALS For about the same price, my cat is getting his images AND care. Avoid the neurology department here. Miscommunication everywhere.

posted: 03/03/2025

I would give 10 stars if I could. Dr Hoffman, Dr McKune, Dr Borde and their entire team are incredible experts in their respective fields but more importantly they really care about our senior pup. They take time to explain everything that’s going on and the procedures they’re recommending. They care for our dog as if she’s their dog. That’s truly remarkable. I highly recommend this hospital for your furry family members. Thank you to the whole team; my family and I really appreciate it.

posted: 02/18/2025

The veterinary technicians here are amazing (Mike especially) and my first visit went very well. My second visit I was told my dog would have 6 months to 2 years to live by Dr. Clemmons. Another vet proved this to be inaccurate and apologized for the mental strain placed on me. A year later I returned for a checkup where I was told that the disease he was diagnosed with magically cured itself and that this was not seen often (misdiagnosis). I understand that vets make mistakes but a terminal disease should be consulted with other veterinarians before telling someone that their loved pet is going to die. I was told “You need to know when to let go”. My second visit was considered a recheck where I was charged $75 and yet I return a year later for another recheck where the price is now $185 for my dog to be seen for 15 minutes. I questioned why the price was so high and I was told “A dog who is seen regularly has a recheck price of $75 and there is tiered pricing…” And I was not told this the first time I was seen or any subsequent visits. Mind you, this appointment was required for a prescription to be refilled and nothing was done besides a jog in the back. Overall I do not find the experience with Dr. Clemmons to be to the standards of today’s veterinarians and his pricing is not standard. Do yourself a favor and go to a different veterinary specialist. Preferably one that is not quick to jump to a terminal diagnosis and is upfront about pricing. I will not be returning here.

posted: 01/30/2025

I took my cat Beerus here yesterday and drove all the way from Jacksonville. The office is beautiful and calming. Their aquarium is amazing. Anyway. My cat came in for an MRI and a CT. We first met Mike who went over all of the intake with us. Then he brought in Dr. Clemmons. They refused to do an MRI because my cat had a Solensia shot, something no other veterinarian I’ve spoken to has known risks about. He opted for a CT because it would be much safer, as there was a possibility Beerus wouldn’t wake up from anesthesia. This knowledge most likely saved him from early death. Mike promised that he would be by his side during the CT and if at any second it was unsafe they would reverse and wake him up. I trusted Mike and the Dr and my cat woke up. He was diagnosed with lymphoma and another condition. Both Mike and Dr Clemmons were extremely knowledgeable and kind, and to the point. This facility truly cares about your animals wellbeing and not the dollar tag. Dr. Clemmons is truly a gift to this world as a very selfless caring man. Thank you for helping me to get answers for my cat while keeping his safety as a priority. I will happily drive 3 hours for their care again.

posted: 04/11/2025