Manchaca Village Veterinary Care, Troy D. Smith DVM

Feb 2024

It's taken me about four months to decide to leave a review after this veterinary office almost had me euthanize my senior cat before it was necessary. In April of 2023, routine bloodwork brought back what this vet described as markers for chronic kidney disease in our 14 yr old senior cat. They recommended a course of treatment and dietary changes. Over the six months that followed, and numerous additional visits, it became clear that the cat's condition was worsening and the suggested course of therapy was not working. She was lethargic, sickly, at times incontinent, and underweight. The suggestion of euthanasia came thousands of dollars later, in September 2023. Something in me decided that I needed a second opinion, so we returned to our old vet in North Austin, Dr Farmer. He was immediately able to tell via bloodwork that the cat had a UTI, perhaps all along, that had been untreated due to the incorrect diagnosis of CKD. Not only did he say that her bloodwork otherwise looked like that of a young cat's, but that euthanasia was completely off the table and should have never been recommended. Additionally, he said that the IV fluids that the old vet had been recommending routinely had been overloading the bladder and kidneys, worsening the UTI and potentially causing the horrible symptoms. A one week course of antibiotics and appetite stimulant, and a diet change back to non-CKD food, and she was back to herself in about a month. She gained back 20% of her weight, and four months later is back to playing + energy level she had as a young cat. She'll be 15 in a month. Every visit we had at this vet was pretty timely and felt pretty thorough, the folks were nice enough, but I can never recommend them and will never be back after they almost let my cat die due to poor diagnosis and treatment. The decision to get a second opinion saved my cat's life. Thank goodness we had the time, resources, and the funds to figure it out. I would never wish the experience this place put us through on anyone.

Nov 2023

Im kind of kicking myself for selecting this place off the google reviews, they're a lot higher than they are on here. On google it looks like this place is one of the best vet care centers in Austin. Maybe for some that's true. For me it wasn't. I brought our little puppy in for her first exam and noticed everyone spoke really fast. I mean really fast, was hard to get a word in. Everyone was very pushy with vaccines, explaining that pretty much everything outside is dangerous for dogs, possum urine, parasites, the fear mongering was off the charts. I asked the vet about new evidence that has come out over the past few years saying to wait to spay and neuter dogs until 1-2 years old so that their joints can finish developing. Vets don't like this because it delays the surgery and doesn't pay them out as fast. That's the truth. The real truth is that neutering isn't necessary and all those organ problems they tell you will happen later is just exaggerated fear. Most people will not take to this review, but if you view your dog more than jut an animal that serves you in your household, and actually declare them a family member on the same level as you, this type of care isn't going to cut it. Just like human medications, big pharma owns the vet industry as well and pushes all sorts of unnecessary vaccines, surgeries, and pills for your dog to take, which they don't need. Does a wolf in the woods need a vaccine? How about a heart worm pill? News flash, we all have parasites. ALL. they're not that bad obviously since we are still functioning on this earth. I'm giving 3 stars out of compassion, but I don't feel the visit was worth that. Doctors need to be able to critically think about the things they are recommending, go beyond the text book. Ask yourself, does this really makes sense? Would you remove the reproductive organs from your children? Why are we editing animals in whatever way we please just to serve us? Why do we treat them like humans when they are a completely different make-up? Start asking these questions and you will see what is wrong with the medical industry. As someone who had a last visit to a doctor and dentist in 2012, my teeth are perfect, my health is perfect, and I have saved 10s of thousands on unnecessary medical bills. A little research goes a long way. Services are offensively expensive and do not back the cost. If you want the truth, here it is. See ya MVVC

Sep 2023

I called to make an 1st ever appointment for my new Dachshund puppy. The receptionist was unfriendly, argumentative and then insisted on a $100 deposit before I could make an appointment.