Malibu Coast Animal Hospital
“Review is specifically for Dr. Chris - I brought my little 3lb yorkie in for severe colitis recently. I was scared and the visuals of what was happening (which I'll spare everyone from describing) were intense to say the least. We travel a lot throughout the year so my dog sees a rotation of different vets, as needed. I have become so accustomed to every vet appointment recommending a new treatment or medication, or another 'diagnosis' that later turns out to be nothing. It's led to less implicit trust in vets/doctors.
Point being, this was a situation where a lot of interventions (whether necessary or not) could have been recommended, yet I felt that Dr. Chris was very tempered throughout the whole process. He didn't push a bunch of tests and medications and even explained to me why he was reluctant to use a certain antibiotic that I once thought was standard in these situations. Among other things, I truly appreciated that he listened carefully to the nuances of my dog's health history or reactions to certain things and I felt he considered them seriously in both his diagnostic and treatment approach.
All the interventions we did for my dog (fluids, clay for absorbing diarrhea) were at my behest rather than pushed on me. Dr. Chris balanced the judgment of a skilled medical authority with the humility to work alongside me as a true partner in my dog's healing. Additionally, he was very available to us throughout the illness, making time to see us same day when needed and returning phone calls promptly. He followed up and I felt he genuinely cared. Lastly, his calm approach helped me stay calm and make thoughtful choices about my dog's health, both during the acute illness and long-term.”
