I am not the kind to write negative reviews. I actually think this might be my first ever.
I chose to take my senior cat with allergies to chase river vet because I had only heard good things about it... Read More
I am not the kind to write negative reviews. I actually think this might be my first ever.
I chose to take my senior cat with allergies to chase river vet because I had only heard good things about it. Months later, I am extremely disappointed. My roommate and I adopted our cat Spooky from the SPCA last October. He was 11 years old at the time and we were informed about his allergies. When he had his first allergic reaction, we went to chase river and they were very nice and we saw a wonderful vet who gave us all we needed to clear his skin and ear infection. Then he had a really bad reaction in August, so back to the vet we went. Now, up until the last two visits, they never scheduled us with the same vet twice. Each time we brought Spooky in, we saw someone who wasn't familiar with him, and one of the vets actually recommended us food that Spooky was allergic to!
My poor cat has had a cone on for 3 months. He is still sick. He has now had two different rounds of steroids (neither of which worked. Even when we told the vet they didn't work the first time she said we should still do it), Three different rounds of antibiotics, and we switched his food to an extremely expensive food that they recommended, which had ingredients he is allergic to.
My roommate and I are both full time students and do not have a lot of extra expendable income, but we will ALWAYS put our cat first and bring him to the vet whenever needed. Chase river however seemed insensitive to that fact. Finally they suggested a skin biopsy, and also a blood test to test for feline HIV and feline Leukemia. They quoted me at $610 for the biopsy, and $200 for the blood test. They also suggested that we go see a veterinary dermatologist where just the consultation was going to be $150.
I knew that is something that we had to do so my roommate and I decided we should start saving up for the $800 worth of tests.
Then after his last round of antibiotics left him with an extremely upset stomach and STILL didn't get rid of his infection and scabs, I decided to take him to Petroglyph. By this time, spooky had been puking almost every day for two weeks from the antibiotics. Petroglyph gave me more information and help in ONE vet visit then chase river did in almost a year. At our visit there, we did the biopsy. When I asked about the blood test, she said that it was unnecessary as the biopsy would also test for feline HIV and Leukimia. At the end of the visit, it was almost $400 less than Chase river quoted me. When I picked up Spooky, I cried because I was so so so relieved that something was FINALLY being done for my wonderful, kind, loving cat. If I had known it didn't have to be $800, then I would have gotten the biopsy done a month ago as I had the money then, and we would already have answers.
The staff at chase river were very friendly, and two of the vets that we saw were kind, but I cannot forgive the agony that they let my cat be in over the past few months.
How is it that the vet at Petroglyph gave me so many answers and solutions after one visit, and chase river seemed like they just guessed at every time, and always came up short?
Why, for the exact same procedure did they quote me so much more money then Petroglyph? Why did they want to perform an apparently useless blood test with the biopsy? All to make money, or so it seems.
We are all human and we all make mistakes, but how could they let my cat go so hurt for so long?
There are a lot of rave reviews for this place and i'm very happy for all the animals and their owners that had a positive experience here. Maybe we were the one mistake that they made and they let us fall through the cracks. At the end of the day, they were supposed to help my amazing cat who can't speak for himself, and they didn't.
I hope Chase River, that you can grow from this and not let any more people and their animals fall through the cracks.
I'm sure Spooky will forgive you as he is the kindest cat I have ever had the pleasure to know, but i'm just not sure that I can. Read Less