I would not receommand lort smith ever not even to my worst enemy the staff are extremely rude the nurse who took my dogs details was worried about something completely diffrent so here it is i have a staffy we rescued from staffy rescure and he had suffed a hell of a lot his owners let him get dermdex mite and poloups in his ears so he had his ear carnals removed yes both canals anyways on sunday his face started to swell so i took him to my vet they suggested he needed a ct scan so we took him to lort smith worst decision i ever made as we waited 3 hours in the waiting room while people come in went through we were still waiting while my dogs face swelled and swelled i asked reception how long they told me in gos by priority which i undrrstand but the animals going in and out looked fine then when we saw the vet he was more worried about his skin which mind you i have under control but wasnt as concerned about the swelling of the face then when we wanted to discarge him they wanted to know why. [Redacted alternate business]

Approximate cost: $400

I was a foster carer for this animal hospital, and I was very impressed. They have a program in which, whilst they are looking for a forever home for their dogs in shelter, people can sign up to be assessed as fosterers. They supply everything the dog needs and you supply the dog the love and care it needs while it's waiting. They care about animals. They save lives.

My dog was very sick, after a x-ray at RSPCA we were told my dog had swallowed a bone and would need surgery. This was in the late afternoon on a Sunday. With RSPCA this surgery was going to cost $1000, however RSPCA was closing so told us to go to Lort Smith right away. As soon as we got to Lort Smith we were told that the price of surgery was over $2000 that was before my dog was even looked at. I was in such a state as my dog was very ill and I also knew that was a lot of money. I was told the only way to safe my dog was to surrender him and they would do the operation for free. I was not allowed to take my dog home to get to another vet. I was gutted as I left my little dog so sick and never to see again. I had begged, pleaded and cried my eyes out with the nurse to please help me keep my dog, I was just met with a coldness from her. My daughter was with me during this ordeal and wrote a lovely letter (I had no idea she was doing this but she new I devastated I was to loose my little friend) she wrote to the CEO of Lort Smith but never received a message back. My doctor wrote to them at lort smith as my dog was a help to me after a tragic loss this was ignored even my boss phoned them to try to get through to them my unique situation this was met with the same coldness. Every day I phoned to see how my little fella was going, I was treated like a pest. I could not eat or sleep and I cried so much. After my husband could see that I was not coping at all without my little friend and that I needed my little dog. He organized a payment plan with Lort Smith and by this time the bill was close to $3000, I had to pay $1000 up front to pick up my little fella. My little dog came of a wreck he pooped all over him and was shaking as much as I was. When I picked him up I vowed never ever to go back to Lort Smith ever again as they do not care about the bond between pet and owner as we offered to pay $1500 upfront but they said no that they would rather give my dog for free to someone else if I was not able to pay the full amount

Approximate cost: $3000

Would not recommend. Different vet everytime, they don't bother reading history ( my dog has extensive history including stroke, vestibular syndrome, corneal ulcer... ) Vets are usually young with little or no practical experience. Not shy about geting you to come back again and again - and charged each time - even as a follow up visit to check progress. Won't release test results to owners that have already been paid for as 'it's not their policy'. Do yourself a favour and avoid this place. Take your pet to a local vet - you may pay a bit more, but you're paying for experience, common sense and a vet that develops a relationship with your pet. Young front desk staff are all bleeding hearts that parrot off garbage they confuse with service. What a disappointment! Basically this is just a vet teaching hospital for vets just out of school. BEWARE!!!!

Worst vetcare ever received. I took my dog in as an emergency patient, as my regular vet was closed. This was by far the worst decision I have ever made regarding my pet. The vet had no idea what she was talking about, and took my dog off her medication without telling me why or how it would help. Kept my dog overnight for observation, and wouldn't let me see her the following day. The nurses were not helpful over the phone, and would not give me updates on her condition.

The Vet also constantly referred to my female dog as he for the entire consult. When I finally did get on to staff members (after being on hold for long periods of time) each staff member would tell me a different story, ranging from 'She's fine, come and pick her up tomorrow' to 'there's nothing to do for her, she'll never walk again'. Either the staff members were looking at the wrong patient profile, and telling me the wrong thing, or they do not communicate with each other at all.

I eventually took my dog to Advanced Vetcare, and received far better service. (They also promptly put her back onto her medication, and couldn't understand why the vet at Lort Smith took her off it). I would recommend spending the extra money and going to Advanced Vetcare, as they actually know what they are doing.

If you actually care about the welfare of your pets AVOID Lort Smith at all costs!

This vet/hospital has emergency department as well as your normal vets. It was opened after a kind widow left money to the care of animals. Her hope was that every animal, not discriminating on the owners worth could have a cost effective vet to see. The place can offer you several payment options including a payment plan. The staff seem to all adore animals and there is also a rescue centre where you can purchase a pet and keep them from death row. All treatments are at least 30 - 50 % cheaper than a traditional vet clinic.

I dropped off my dog at 9:00am on a Sunday morning with a bad gash on his neck and was told he would be top priority given his level of wound by the vet I saw. Then told by the vet that I could ring at 2pm to see his progression. When I rang at 2pm the receptionist was extremely rude. Telling me that the vet had no right to tell me to ring at 2 as she wouldn't know when he would be available. I was then given a rant on the politics of the place and why these problems occur. Still not knowing what was happening with my dog I turned the conversation to where was my dog and what was happening with him. The receptionist said she had no idea and no vet was available to speak with me as they were all in surgery. I asked if she could find out more information, she abruptly put me on hold then said that he was left on a drip probably into the night or the next day at this stage. I explained that I needed more answers as to what to expect that I had bought him in on a Sunday to be assisted as soon as possible, then she proceeded to tell me there were plenty of other vets in the area that could take care of him. I was shocked and angered. At both her attitude and blatant lack of care or respect. I was then cut off mid conversation and put on hold again and told a vet would ring me. So after over an hour I was called back and told my dog who was referred to as she, who is a male, was on a drip with no definite of when he would be worked on with an open wound. That more demanding procedures were taking precedence.
After I explained that this was not mentioned to me in the drop off or I wouldn't of left him there , the vet nurse told me that legally that wouldn't of been the case. So I said ok so its about passing the butt. Realising I was getting nowhere I went and picked him up immediately and asked for medication for any inflammations or pain relief and I would take him else where. When I saw the nurse in person I explained the previous conversation with the receptionist and the miscommunication with the vet. The nurse told me they deal with people with a lot of people mental illnesses and sometimes as a result it makes it hard on the staff. Mind you, while in the waiting room I saw there was a young lass rocking a small dog with a nappy on it saying no she's not in season its just in case she dose a wee wee. Either way not really my problem. I'm a client my dogs a patient, we needed service help, care etc.... Also while in the waiting room a man came in holding a dog loudly complaining how the pin had been put in his dogs leg wrong and it was sticking out , that they had stuffed it up and he wanted it fixed right away. The nurses rushed about and scurried him into the back room. I was so disappointed and as a result of this all going on my poor dog who needed immediate attention was left in the back room on a drip. I was left with my taxi waiting for 15 mins while they bandaged up my dog. I understand that you cant get what you want when you want it in life. However for a so called professional establishment it was nothing but miscommunication, attitude and lack of personal care and zero professionalism. I would never ever take my dog or any animal there ever again. And most definitely do not recommend it at all as a reportable establishment .

Approximate cost: $330.00

After previously having good experiences here, I was so disappointed with the way they managed our recent emergency. Our cat was in the ICU for 5 days, we were told he could possibly die but it was a struggle to get anyone to contact us regarding his condition over the next several days. Didn't hear from a vet for nearly 48 hours despite calling many times. When I called, the nurse told me he was 'fine', he was on Hills CD diet (which is for the other cat, not him, they couldn't even look at the right patient records!) and that his belly was not distended (why would it be? that was never an issue or relevant to his condition!). But when I finally spoke with the vet, she said we may need to put him down as he was dying. Then got a call last night at 6pm and were told by another vet that he was ready to go home and was 'fine'. However, he couldn't until the next day since they didn't have the time or staff to discharge him at it was too late in the day. Which meant I would be charged another nights fees for the ICU (even though he apparently didn't need to be there!), they just didn't get around to calling me until it was too late. When I did pick him up, no vet to discuss anything, I asked about further tests, they told me they didn't do them because I "insisted" on picking him up.

The vets contradicted each other, staff were rude and condescending, and no one seemed to care that we were worried about our pet. After 5 days at around $300 a day, with no answers and contradictory advice, we are going to a new vet. Either understaffed or just lacking compassion, I would not recommend taking your animal there in an emergency.

Approximate cost: $+$1500

I have taken my vet to Lort smith for two different emergency type situations, one she needed stitches and the other she was on her death bed after being hit by a car, I am extremely pleased with the great service and excellent care she received during all of her visits, the price is also very affordable and they can arrange for payment to be made in installments which is fantastic in an emergency or otherwise when vet bills can be quite expensive, the Lort Smith also offers concession rates to pensioners and unemployed, in fact I'd be surprised if they ever really turned animals away. After a few visits and a few months in a cage being confined Fluffy did recover, if I need a vet again I will go to Lort Smith.

Approximate cost: $-

just got my kittens first and second needles and the nurse was fabulous with him he didnt flinch.He is now booked in to be desexed as i feel comfy in knowing hes at ease with them. Lovely staff and looks great since being renovated.