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December 2023 by Pinot N.
I drove my neighbor to take her cockatiel to For the Birds. I am the second 'Mom' to him and we were both nervous about what they would tell us about his health issues. Firstly let me state this very clearly: Dr. Van Sant is AMAZING! She is knowledgeable and just an incredible source of information. Who knew so many products on the market today and the historical instructions on how to care for a bird are wrong and can cause health issues? We both thought Dr. Van Sant was wonderful! She is direct but not rude. We both thought she was brilliant!! It was eye opening and so informational! The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable as well! Which makes all the difference when going to an office. Thank you Dr Van Sant and to all the staff! On the drive back home there was a big relief that the little guy is on a better path.
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November 2023 by Sandy A.
Amazing!! Small space so leave your bird and come back. Only wish a waiting room to wait with your bird. BUT I will never go anywhere else!! Amazing Vets, food, safe toys, boarding that is unconditionally mind resting just knowing your bird will be safe, fed well and engaged. Highly recommend!!!
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October 2023 by Cheeto Drury
This place is our GO-TO with everything for our Budgies. The care they receive is unmatched and the love they give every client bird is so refreshing.
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May 2023 by Bert T.
Echoing what many others have said - steer clear of this place and Dr. Van Sant, in particular. There are many better, honest providers who actually have the credentials to claim an avian specialization and who actually care about your bird.
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April 2023 by Susan R.
I just want to say thank you to Dr. Van Sant and her team for caring for my budgie Splash this weekend. I am glad that I went and the care was excellent. Dr. Van Sant absolutely knows her stuff and really gave Splash a thorough exam and recommendations for his care and re-cooperation. Because this was an emergency visit it was quite expensive, but she did do some additional services for free which was very much appreciated. Splash is home and on the mend now and I am very grateful for her help today. I would highly recommend this clinic - caring people, excellent service, and a knowledgeable doctor. Thank you For the Birds - we will be back!
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October 2022 by Rachel Santos
Foster fails aka adopted our 2 senior birds. The only trustworthy place to go.
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October 2022 by Susan P.
Ok, I read all of these reviews. I will begin with bad before good. Does the Dr have poor bed side manor-yes. I've learned to deal/communicate with her. Is bringing your bird here expensive-yes. Do they do many tests, yes but birds are not like other animals and die easily. So I can't say there unnecessary tests. She also checks for underlying bird health issues beyond what you brought them there for. Also, if you can't afford care of a pet, maybe you should not have one (sorry for that! You chose to be a pet parent, they did not chose you.) Do you sometimes wait a long time after appt time-yes. But she is the only avain vet in the area, most other vets are "exotic" or "general" vets, not bird experts. While you wait, she's saving someone elses baby because yours may not be as critical. Does she make you feel like a birdie parent failure-yes. But that may be because she wants them under optimum care - humans be dammed! Now for the good. I do find her staff to be kind and helpful. For me, I don't care about her communication skills. I only care if she is a good vet. She really knows her stuff, she has your birds best health in mind. She lives and breaths bird health! I did have a bird die on me here but the bird was to sick when she got her and I do feel she did her best! I took my bird from a general vet to her, maybe to late. Maybe the illness was of a critical nature, she cannot perform miracles. Humans need to understand that birds are small and from the point they show signs of illness, they could be close to death. Humans need to understand that birds can bond to much with their owners causing either bad behaviors or physical illness due to being in a constant state of amorousness. My female birds are like that, it's a constant balance act keeping them healthy. She has guided me in this area. My Summary: She is the best vet in the bay area money can buy. I've learned to deal with her but that's because she knows her stuff and I trust that when in her care she will do what ever is needed to make them better. (FYI: She has softened and learned to communicate better with humans) Most importantly, I trust her more than I've ever trusted a vet with my birds before. For illness or injury, I would never go anywhere else. My question to review readers is: do you care if she's a people person or the best? Screw me, she's worth my patience. I'm not the most patient person to deal with either!
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July 2022 by Travis Wise
Very friendly and knowledgeable, they are my source for parrot food.
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June 2022 by Sanchia Hendrix
Wonderful vets and staff. Patient with my constant questions and concerns. Educated me on how to properly care for my birds. When one of my birds became a special needs bird they went above and beyond to give her a chance to heal but when it was clear she would need to have a different set up now they taught me to modify her cage. They are amazing and love birds here.
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May 2022 by W L
Don't go to there unless you want to your bird dead quickly. Expensive, wast time and no effective treatment for my parrot!
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February 2022 by Michael W.
If you have a pet bird, please do not spend your money for care here. If you are a broke person who cannot afford veterinary for birds then it's best you steer clear away from this place. I once met Dr. Van Sant and the attitude she had was downright disgusting. Cmon, I am in an emotional panic because my former old bird was not feeling well. I was desperate for answers not hear someone be mean and unwilling to help. Van Sant is not only terrible but really power hungry. She is honest but doesn't really have the ability to show it. Way to toss your veterinary degree out the window. It seems like people at this bird hospital don't really know what they are doing. The operating hours for this place are terrible, with the lack of pet ERs that take birds it makes them a lot worse.
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November 2021 by Michael Nowakowski
This place is an absolute racket. Proving once again health care for any living body is reserved for the rich. Multiple visits have resulted in little to no action to actually help my pets but this place has no issue charging you hundreds of dollars to just walk in the door.Need simple antibiotics? You can expect over $200 for that visit.The bird needs to spend the night because it’s having difficulty laying an egg? That’ll be $1000Your bird got injured and needs a suture? That’ll be $700.It’s a shame that so much suffering needs to occur because of the greed running rampant in this Bay Area. Euthanasia is by far the cheapest and most effective “treatment” these people will provide, obviously with the mental toll it takes to make a decision like that. I guess I’ll be taking my pet home and hope for the best as I watch them suffer because no body is willing to help for a reasonable rate.At this point I am purchasing my medicine through the internet and learning to DIY these procedures because that’s the only option left to receive any kind of health care I can afford in this country.
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October 2021 by Sydney Forman
The nurse person was lovely and wonderful. The vet can go f-k herself. Ive never seen more rude and horrible customer service from a vet. Try telling me what needs fixing instead of making it sound like my bird is going to die tomorrow unless i change his habits. I need to do a diagnostics test but believe me I will not be coming back here to do so.
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July 2021 by Kelly E.
Dr. VanSant and her caring staff took wonderful care for my beloved African Grey, Shelley, in her last days. I found Dr. Van Sant to be honest, extremely knowledgeable and experienced in avian medicine and both my partner and I could tell that she and her staff genuinely cared for their patients. If you need an avian veterinary, For the Birds is the best around. Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart!
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July 2021 by Esmeralda Lopez
I called Friday morning to express my pet parakeet was wheezing. I wanted to bring in my parakeet as soon as possible. I was told there was nothing available until Tuesday! I then asked if there was anything I could do from now until then and they would not suggest anything. So unprofessional and inhumane. My sons parakeet ended up dying yesterday!! Could have possibly be saved.
