I am beyond thankful for the staff and doctors here. Β Over the weekend, I noticed my 7 year-old Newfoundland mix had a small amount of swelling on her back leg. Because of her size and age, the fact t... Read More
I am beyond thankful for the staff and doctors here. Β Over the weekend, I noticed my 7 year-old Newfoundland mix had a small amount of swelling on her back leg. Because of her size and age, the fact that we have laminate floors (which sometimes lead to burn-outs when she takes off through the house), we wrapped it, iced it and tried to keep her comfortable; this has happened to her before, but we decided if the swelling was still there by Monday, we would take her in to the vet. We just moved back to the area, and we hadn't yet found "our vet", so we called around looking for someone willing to see our 100lb girl, Lucy. Because of the holiday, many offices told us they didn't have availability until Wednesday. Not seeing Affordable Pet Vet Clinic on Google, we accepted that as our best option.The swelling continued to worsen over the holiday: her hip began to turn out and harden, and her foot was beginning to curl under and go limp; she refused to eat for almost a week, and would only take water. We gave her Benadryl, kept the house cold, plus icepacks and a fan on her, but nothing helped. On Wednesday morning, we were called by the office we had originally talked to, an hour before our appointment, and were told they were overbooked and couldn't see her until Friday.On Wednesday at work, a client overheard me telling a coworker about my situation, and they recommended Affordable Pet Vet Clinic. She testified to the level of care she received, as well as let me know that they treat most of the local rescue dogs, and every pet owner she knows goes there too. Immediately, we called. The staff got Lucy in that night at 8pm.They examined her, drew fluid from her hip, and determined there was a severe infection, likely from a spider bite. Not once did they make us feel like we were bad pet owners. They were empathetic, compassionate, and understanding of our situation; they even let us know we did the best job we could. Like every vet, if you don't have the money, they cannot provide services. But, when scrambling to come up with the cash, we weren't rushed, or made to feel like they wanted us out; I never once felt like they just wanted my money. When provided the estimate, we were given a straight-forward, necessary treatment plan, no "optional" services were added. My Lucy is still there now, after having her leg drained last night, she is being observed, post-surgery. They understand that pets are family members, and everyone there is so kind and understanding. Before her surgery, they allowed our other dog to come in the office and say goodnight to Lucy (she thinks Lucy is her mama). They allowed us to visit with Lucy before leaving her for the night, and they even allowed us to visit with her after her surgery the following day. One of the true testaments of the ethic in this clinic, is that they DO NOT CHARGE FOR OVER-NIGHT STAYS. It is PART of the treatment. They WANT your pet to get better, and they want to make sure nothing goes wrong. At this point, we do not fully know what will happen with her leg. She may be able to keep it, but she may have to have it amputated at the hip. The doctor was realistic with us, and let us know both the good and bad of "what could happen". Β Although I am sad I cannot take her home today, I am beyond thankful to have such a kind, knowledgeable group of people caring for my baby. Read Less