Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty

Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty is an emergency & critical care practice in Natick, MA, led by a DACVS-credentialed surgeon. Procedures include Laparoscopy, Endoscopy, Joint Replacement, and Emergency Care.

Get Directions View on Maps ↗ Call (508) 319-2117 Book Consultation

About

Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty is a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital established in 2011, providing care for dogs and cats. The hospital offers advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options including CT, digital radiography, ultrasound (abdominal, cardiac, thoracic, musculoskeletal), and video scoping (cystoscopy, endoscopy, rhinoscopy). Specialized surgical services include minimally invasive surgery (arthroscopy, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy), joint replacement, and orthopedic surgical services. The facility also features an in-hospital laboratory, an isolation ward, and an ICU.

Serving the Metro West Area, Boston West operates 24/7, 365 days a year. The hospital functions as a referral center, treating dogs and cats referred by their family veterinarians specifically for the condition for which they were referred. Routine procedures like vaccinations or heartworm testing are not performed on referral or emergency patients. The team maintains communication with pet owners and referring veterinarians to ensure comprehensive care and follow-up.

Surgical team

Carl F. Agnello

DVM
Alane Kosanovich Cahalane

DVM, DACVS-SA
Eve Cohen

DVM
Alanna Ferguson

DVM
Natalie Langer

BVSc, DACVIM
Rebecca Schwartz

DVM
Ivan Sosa-Samper

DVM, DACVIM
Julie White

DVM
Rosa Yip

DVM

Procedures

Laparoscopy
Endoscopy
Joint Replacement
Emergency Care
Cystoscopy
Transfusion Medicine
Arthroscopy
Comprehensive Emergency Medical Exam
Rhinoscopy
Thoracoscopy
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Orthopedic Surgical Services
Surgical Services through Emergency/Critical Care

Equipment

CT
Digital Radiography
Ultrasound
In-hospital laboratory

Photos

Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty

Photos via Google · Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty, Jeannine Jackle, Sierra, Jennifer Gallagher, Kathleen Lang

Frequently asked questions

What advanced imaging and diagnostic options are available at Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty?: Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty offers a range of advanced diagnostic options. These include CT scans, digital radiography, and ultrasound for abdominal, cardiac, thoracic, and musculoskeletal imaging. The hospital also provides video scoping services, which encompass cystoscopy, endoscopy, and rhinoscopy, to aid in thorough diagnostics.
What surgical services are offered at Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty?: The hospital provides various surgical services, including minimally invasive surgery such as arthroscopy, laparoscopy, and thoracoscopy. Additionally, Boston West offers joint replacement and orthopedic surgical services. Surgical services are also available through their Emergency/Critical Care department, addressing a range of treatable conditions.
What types of animals does Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty treat?: Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty is dedicated to providing compassionate medical care specifically to dogs and cats. The hospital focuses its emergency and specialty services on these two species, ensuring specialized attention for the pets entrusted to their care.
Does Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty perform routine veterinary procedures?: Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty operates as a referral and emergency hospital. Dogs and cats referred by a veterinarian are treated only for the specific condition for which they were referred. Routine procedures, such as vaccinations or heartworm testing, are not performed on any referral or emergency patient at this facility.
What should a pet owner do if they suspect their pet has ingested something toxic?: If a pet owner suspects their pet has eaten something toxic, they should gather any packaging or remains of the ingested item. This step is crucial as it helps speed up the diagnosis and treatment process. Pet owners are encouraged to be honest with the team about what was consumed to ensure the best possible care.

Contact & hours

Address

5 Strathmore Rd
Natick

Phone

(508) 319-2117

Website

bostonwestvet.com

4.5 · 563 Google reviews

Recent reviews

2 months ago

Christina Granahan, LICSW, PCC

We've had many, many occasions to experience Boston West both for inpatient and outpatient care for two different dogs for surgery, critical care, and management of chronic illness. We have never walked away feeling anything but cared for by all staff from the person who answers the phone to the physician caring for our pet. The staff understands the big picture and the vulnerability required of the owner when a pet is sick and can hold it with compassion, kindness, and competence. Currently, our dog is being cared for by Dr. Langer, who has always brought these qualities to all aspects of her work. 10/10. Highly recommend.
7 months ago

Caspar

The doctors and nurses here are kind and professional, and I truly appreciate their efforts. That's where the two stars from. But I also hope this hospital can find more flexibility and compassion when working with sensitive cats like mine. My cat Henry suddenly developed a lump on his chest last Thursday night, and we rushed him to Boston West ER. At the beginning of the visit, Henry was still friendly and curious, and interacting with nurse and doctor well. I explained to the doctor and nurse that Henry reacts very strongly to needles and carriers, and asked for extra care. An ultrasound suggested an abscess pocket, so sedation and drainage were recommended, and we agreed. From visual observation, it looked most likely to have started from a nail puncture during a fight with my other cat, which then caused the abscess and inflammation — explaining why the lump grew so suddenly. After two hours, however, we were told Henry had become too agitated to sedate. When we came to pick him up, the nurse explained he had struggled violently, even defecated from fear, and they were trying to force him back into the carrier before discharge. I was shocked — Henry has never been this terrified at a hospital before. Knowing he spent three hours in that state was heartbreaking. I had explained at the very start that Henry panics with carriers, and asked if he could be brought out directly or if I could hold him, but was told “no” for safety reasons. Hearing staff describe it as “some cats just don’t tolerate” felt dismissive, as if it was only the cat’s fault, rather than a moment where different handling might have helped. That night at home, Henry could barely stand, and would not even let us clean him. We were told the abscess needed care by the weekend, so despite our hesitation we returned Friday morning with gabapentin on board. A different doctor saw him, and felt sedation and drainage were not necessary, recommending medication instead. I don’t know whether this decision was purely medical, or partly because Henry was so difficult to handle at that moment, but it left us uncertain and worried. Henry received a long-acting antibiotic injection (Convenia) and his first oral dose of meloxicam. Unfortunately, after the second visit Henry completely shut down — he refused all food and water, was weak, could barely open his eyes or walk. This was devastating to witness. Just 24 hours earlier he had been an energetic, happy cat with only mild discomfort from the lump. After two visits, and effectively just one injection and one oral dose of medication, he was in a life-threatening state from the combined effects of stress, lack of intake, and inflammation. By Sunday, after syringe-feeding and rehydrating him at home, he slowly began eating wet food again. Today, three days after the visit, the lump is slightly larger, and Henry is fragile but improving. Looking back, I regret the initial decision to bring him here — it feels like the experience caused more harm than help. I share this not in anger, but in sadness, and in the hope that Boston West may reflect on how rigid protocols can sometimes unintentionally harm sensitive patients. Cats like Henry need not only medical treatment, but also flexibility, gentleness, and compassion in handling.
2 months ago

Kathy Schreiber

The staff at Boston West was great. I brought my 80 pound dog Eli - (who is a lab, shepherd, bulldog, sharpei mix from down south) to the clinic because his rear legs were all of a sudden quite weak. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done…. The staff person was so caring and kind. So he’ll be euthanized this afternoon by a wonderful vet who did that for my previous dog, a wonderful Munsterlander, named River. I wish our dogs could live with us forever.

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3 months ago

Julia Franchko

The staff, Dr. Schwartz, and Dr. Cohen were professional, kind, and very responsive from start to finish, and I’m truly grateful for the care my dog received. During our first visit, my dog was diagnosed with HGE. Unfortunately, we had to return for a second visit because his condition worsened very quickly and by then it had progressed to AHDS. It was unexpected and really scary. Both doctors were very patient and helpful throughout the process. I really appreciated that no one pressured me into making any decisions. The doctor took a step by step approach and first recommended bloodwork to understand what was going on. We had the results within about 20 minutes. After that, they clearly explained our options. We could either give more subcutaneous fluids and monitor her at home or admit her for 24 hour hospitalization. I chose hospitalization because I honestly don’t think we would have made it through the night otherwise. Thankfully, my dog started to improve. The team was always available by phone, and they even called the day after discharge to check on how my dog was doing, which I truly appreciated.
7 months ago

Elle Wittneben

I was there with my cat for 6 hours on a Saturday. The receptionist, Emma, was so sweet and checked in on us to see if there was anything we needed. The facility is very thoughtful in providing different items you may need while you wait. My cat had an accident on the chair and when I asked for supplies to clean it up they said “don’t worry about it we’ll just shampoo the chairs after you leave”! They also provided me with supplies to clean up the inside of my cat carrier. While we weren’t able to get a final diagnosis, they took great care of Lacey and I wouldn’t hesitate returning (though hopefully I’ll never have to!). The cost for the emergency exam, a fluid bolus, and medication was $377 which I find to be an appropriate cost for emergency vet care in this area.

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