Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine
North Haven, Connecticut
General Info
24 hour Full Service Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center
Reviews
Jill Durkin
19 Apr 2021
REPORT
My dog Riley just had eye surgery not even a week ago, and already his vision has improved greatly.He was completely blind, walking into walls ,bumping into things, and it was breaking my heart and ma...
My dog Riley just had eye surgery not even a week ago, and already his vision has improved greatly.He was completely blind, walking into walls ,bumping into things, and it was breaking my heart and making me cry on a daily basis. Dr. Dorbandt and his staff showed me nothing but compassion and understood how very important Riley is to me! I don’t have the words to say thank you enough for what they’ve done! I would highly recommend them to anyone who’s animal is having trouble with their vision. It takes special people to do what they do so very very well! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart
Kl Massoni
27 Mar 2021
REPORT
They are a money making scam, with no medical personal just some dumb asses in scrubs who tell you lies when you call for an update on your pet after an hour.
They prey on people who are visibly distr...
They are a money making scam, with no medical personal just some dumb asses in scrubs who tell you lies when you call for an update on your pet after an hour.
They prey on people who are visibly distraught. So they came running out to my car appx 8 minutes after I left him, to sign a form that essentially read, should he need emergency services do I want to speak to the vet prior to any life saving measures or do I prefer they do what is necessary to save his life. ie: Are you willing to pay whatever it costs to save your pet? I was assured my dog would be fine and it was just standard procedure.
In 3 hours, that I was parked in front of their door, no employee ever came out to anyone elses car with a form.
I did check off the box indicating I would want him to receive immediate care. As soon as she left I had an uneasy feeling about signing that paper.
My first call after 70 minutes to inquire of his current condition. I could tell she had no clue who, why, or where he was. It was clear she had nothing in the computer about him or even why he was there. Meaning noone saw him yet. Yet, assured me he was stable and resting comfortably. Ok, now what? She said to observe him and other "doctor stuff". I knew she was lying and I informed her I found the phrase doctor stuff condescending and disrespectful as I am a nurse and not stupid.
My daughter called them from home asking about him and explain I was upset that I am.not being told about his present condition by a medical professional and that he had been sitting in a cage for the last 90 minutes. She informed my daughter she was downstairs with the dogs. My daughter said the "nurse" would call me and that he drank water and is not in a cage, they are all out. Really? Then the "nurse" called and told me my dog is doing well and he ate and drank. Really, what do you feed a dog that was brought in with an airway obstruction? Especially when you never asked what he eats, what is he allergic to, if he is up to date on his rabies, or who his regular vet is. The truth is my dog was sitting in a cage for 3 hours, clearly he coughed up the food on his own or swallowed it by now. So hes ready to go. No he still needs to be seen by the vet. They didnt even know why he was there. Just keeping him while they figured out how to turn his uneventful visit into a medical emergency so they could charge for life saving measures like xrays, anesthsia, bloodwork, IVs,, oxygen medications, maybe an overnight stay for "observation" etc. After 3 hours with no medical attention for an obstructed airway, he either got it out himself or was dead in his cell. I made my second call after 3 hours, asking for my dog. She stalled and came back and said he is being seen next. No, I don't want anyone touching him. I just want my dog. She started saying something again. Yes, I scream at her. I WANT MY F*#^÷_g DOG NOW!! She hung up on me and I had to call 911 to get someone there before they did anyhing to him. Why? Because they had nothing to bill me for. No care was ever provided, in fact the dog could have easily sat in the car with me until it was his turn. But then they couldn't lie about what happens to your pet unseen. These people are beyond shady.
I am thankful to God that my beloved Maxwell was NEVER seen by a veterinarian or anyone else. In fact I never met a vet, talked to a vet, never recieved a call from a vet and I never saw a veterinarian once inside or out the entire time I was there.
After all the continuous lies about my dog's condition, I am relieved to have gotten him out of there before he was "seen" by anyone. However, it did require an emergency call to police and signing some ridiculous AMA form, while an unprofessional, ignorant person with questionable hygiene stood less than 2 feet behind me, during a pandemic, while I signed it. They keep you from your pet in an attempt to bill you for services not rendered. I am sure I was not charged because we both knew they did nothing for him.
Really? Against what Medical Advice? So now what, his insurance company isn't going to pay for his visit? Ridiculous! I was never given any advice by anyone. Those desk attendants dressed in scrubs are not vetinary techs or certified in any way to care for sick animals.
RUN DONT WALK AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS SNAKE OIL SHOW
The officer who came out, automatically assumed I called over a bill, because apparently they are called there frequently for upcharging .
Oh AND Yes, I specifically downloaded this app for NO other reason than to warn other pet owners do not take your pet here.
Like many I gave this place a 1 so I could post a review or I would have given them what they gave my dog, ZERO.
I will copy and post this review on every review site within 100 miles.
Oh ya and have a nice evening.
Sean Coyle
19 Mar 2021
REPORT
BEWARE. I CAUTION you to NOT bring your pets to this place if you love them. See the below letter for our miserable experience:
To Central Hospital For Veterinary Medicine,
Now that my wife and I ha...
BEWARE. I CAUTION you to NOT bring your pets to this place if you love them. See the below letter for our miserable experience:
To Central Hospital For Veterinary Medicine,
Now that my wife and I have had a few days to cool down, we wanted to reach out to you and express our sincere disgust with your hospital, the careless nature in which you treat your clients and the immense emotional toll it took on us.
This past weekend, my wife and I brought our bird to your hospital given a recent change in her behavior. It turns out she was very sick and needed to be put down. This bird was a family member to us — we loved her deeply — and given how unexpected it was, my wife and I were both shocked and devastated.
The demeanor of your staff and the way we were treated was reprehensible. Upon initially walking into the lobby with our sick bird, none of the staff at your receptionist area lifted their heads. They seemingly couldn’t care less. When a doctor finally emerged, you took our bird and shuffled us around like cattle with the most monotone and unsympathetic tones possible, given the situation, on one of the worst days of my wife and my life.
As we waited in the car for a call from the doctor, the phone rang and we got the terrible news. Before there was any ‘I’m sorry’ (and when that did come, it was incredibly insincere and, as mentioned, monotone) you immediately asked us to pull out our credit card and cough up 300 bucks, as we’re sitting in the car crying. On top of that, you tried to push us on a 200 dollar cremation option as my mind was spinning. It was all about the money for your staff. Literally, seconds after we were recommended to put our bird down, you wanted your money.
And let me stress, money wasn’t the issue here. We had no problem paying, but the way your staff went about it was cruel and, quite honestly, pathetic. But it didn’t end there.
At that point, we walked in to the lobby and told the receptionist that we wanted to see our bird for the last time. As we were standing there holding our bird, in tears, saying goodbye, a staff member was hovering over us looking for a credit card.
As mentioned, we were going to pay. We understand the nature of the business, but your staff could not have been more unsympathetic and uncourteous, which, in your line of work, in these situations, should be required character traits.
I want you to know that we are going to do everything in our power to spread the word and recommend that no one who loves their pets use your hospital. We will not leave any box unchecked in that regard. I promise. You made a nightmare even darker and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Gary Luciani
13 Apr 2020
REPORT
I was so grateful that I was referred to Dr. Olmsted at Central Hospital after my beloved cat received her cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Olmsted was caring, compassionate and knowledgeable. She patiently exp...
I was so grateful that I was referred to Dr. Olmsted at Central Hospital after my beloved cat received her cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Olmsted was caring, compassionate and knowledgeable. She patiently explained the diagnosis and the treatment options, answered all my questions, and gave me the information and peace of mind I required to settle on a best course of treatment for my cat.
I appreciated both her empathy and her candor; I came away with the impression that she truly cared for my cat and was committed to pursuing the “best” treatment options.
Dr. Olmsted is a very special doctor (oncologist); I would highly recommend to anyone.
In addition, Dr. Olmsted’s assistants and the staff at Central Hospital were very friendly, caring and professional. Their warmth and compassion during the process was much appreciated.
Diarmid K.
11 Jul 2019
REPORT
Central Hospital Radiology - Dave/tech - Prompt response for scheduling; professional, knowledgeable, compassionate care for both of my pets. Answering questions and informing us of the procedure, pr...
Central Hospital Radiology - Dave/tech - Prompt response for scheduling; professional, knowledgeable, compassionate care for both of my pets. Answering questions and informing us of the procedure, protocols, and follow up. I think they are top veterinary emergency facility in CT.
Gina Magnetti
4 Jul 2019
REPORT
Could not express more appreciation for the professionalism, expertise and compassion displayed by Dr. Taylor, Jason, on call vets and the nursing, tech and reception staff at this facility. They wer...
Could not express more appreciation for the professionalism, expertise and compassion displayed by Dr. Taylor, Jason, on call vets and the nursing, tech and reception staff at this facility. They were responsive in every way to the emergency we were dealing with and we could not ask for more in terms of communication and investment in our dogs recovery from a traumatic injury.
Cece W.
27 Jun 2019
REPORT
We noticed that our brand new puppy was breaking out in hives and having excessive accidents one after another in the house. We felt so terrible and didn't know what was going on, so we went to Centra...
We noticed that our brand new puppy was breaking out in hives and having excessive accidents one after another in the house. We felt so terrible and didn't know what was going on, so we went to Central Hospital for emergency assistance. The wait was only about an hour on a busy Saturday afternoon but everyone working there was extremely nice and communicative. When our boy finally made his way in, they did an extensive evaluation of him and acted immediately to give him an antihistamine IV to help him out. His hives almost immediately subsided and he was back to normal in a flash. We were grateful for the help and for the opportunity to call back for further assistance should his health waiver throughout the night. Usually places are just in and out and about getting their money. This place is all about doing what is right for the animal. Very happy with our experience and would 100% return! Our boy seems to be just as happy as we were!
Cheryl P.
24 Jun 2019
REPORT
Awesome facility. I have never had any issues with this hospital.When it comes to heart or eyes specialist they are awesome.I like the idea of when checking out they give you a detailed write up on wh...
Awesome facility. I have never had any issues with this hospital.When it comes to heart or eyes specialist they are awesome.I like the idea of when checking out they give you a detailed write up on what was done and any future advice on additional test or medication if needed.
Holly C.
22 Jun 2019
REPORT
We took our beautiful black lab to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine for a simple outpatient procedure. Our beautiful girl died less than 24 hours later. We had called the hospital a few hours ...
We took our beautiful black lab to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine for a simple outpatient procedure. Our beautiful girl died less than 24 hours later. We had called the hospital a few hours after her surgery because we were concerned that she was listless and weak. We were told that it was a side effect of the anesthesia and not to be concerned. We will never know if had we brought her back to the hospital if she would still be with us. When we called them to let them know what happened it took them several WEEKS to return our call and we were told that she only had local anesthesia and this in no way could have contributed to her death. When we brought up that we had called about her condition on the day of her surgery we were told that the response to the call we made with our concerns was answered by a receptionist reading from a script and they do not pass patient concerns along to a doctor. No one ever looked at her chart to see that she did not have general anesthesia. They were not concerned that we had lost a a family member that was very loved. Be very careful when choosing this facility for your pet.
Phoebe T.
19 Jun 2019
REPORT
Fear & dread were replaced by direct,clear, professional staff, from reception,vet tech, docs, they saved my special needs boys life, and consistently kept me in the loop every step, I was even there ...
Fear & dread were replaced by direct,clear, professional staff, from reception,vet tech, docs, they saved my special needs boys life, and consistently kept me in the loop every step, I was even there post op, for my own reassurance, but i know my boy knew I was there & that made all the difference. Their knowledge and communication were invaluable as surgery was done as soon as prompt examination, pre op testing, confirmed diagnosis. Continously updating me for 3days, & post surg appointment, luckily gave us best possible results. CHVM should be on every pet emergency list, as it is with my family
Ashwin S.
7 Jun 2019
REPORT
I am more than glad I came to Central for my pets surgery. My 6.5 yo American cocker was in a lot of pain with his ear infection. I was recommended to Dr. Pond and I am very happy after I met Dr. Pond...
I am more than glad I came to Central for my pets surgery. My 6.5 yo American cocker was in a lot of pain with his ear infection. I was recommended to Dr. Pond and I am very happy after I met Dr. Pond and after the surgery. The staff here are so friendly and attentive and they take such good care of your pets. We had to leave our pet overnight after the surgery and every time i called to get an update on how he was doing, the staff was humble and nice and cared to give me the progress update and let me know he is safe and fine. This gave me a sigh of relief and I am happy that I came here. The hospital is clean and maintained well. Definitely one of the hospitals where you can feel safe leaving you fur baby and not being extorted.
Rita C.
27 May 2019
REPORT
We love Stephanie and Dr deMadron, that's it!ok yelp said had to write moreMy kitty loves Stephanie and Dr deMadronThey were part of team that saved her life Best cardiac team in the state.
Celie C.
25 May 2019
REPORT
Unless your animal has been squashed flat by a garbage truck...take the time to get to a regular vet. Average cost for ER visit here approaches $1000. If you suspect an illness don't go crazy if a vet...
Unless your animal has been squashed flat by a garbage truck...take the time to get to a regular vet. Average cost for ER visit here approaches $1000. If you suspect an illness don't go crazy if a vet can't see you for a day. Wait and save yourself some $$$. Very posh, staff all over the place and believe me you're paying for it. I don't think we would have received any less care at the local vet but because the pet belongs to a disabled person who lives alone she was very distraught. Her vet could not get her in and recommended Central. NEVER again! I will bide my time and wait for an appt.
Louis M.
22 May 2019
REPORT
I brought my dog to Central on Saturday May 18th at 1:00 pm. The dog was in distress and had labored breathing, severe diarrhea, crying in pain and listless. An intake sheet was completed at the fr...
I brought my dog to Central on Saturday May 18th at 1:00 pm. The dog was in distress and had labored breathing, severe diarrhea, crying in pain and listless. An intake sheet was completed at the front desk when I walked in which accompanies the animal as they are taken downstairs to be treated. They took the dog from me and I didn't get an update on the condition of the dog until 2 & 1/2 hours later. I requested an update from the front desk every 15 minutes and each time I was told they would be with me shortly. When I finally received the 1st update from a technician they had stated that the dog was flat and was undergoing an ultrasound. I then stated what do you mean? I wasn't even given an update nor did I authorize any procedures. The technician then became nasty with me which was totally unacceptable. They ended up moving me into an exam room since I was quite upset. When the doctor finally came into the room the 1st question I was asked was; What brings you in today? The dog was downstairs for almost 2 & 1/2 hours being treated but you don't know why they were brought in? Unacceptable once again. Unfortunately in an emergency you go to the nearest facility to be treated. I called the facility to speak to the director who had someone else discuss my concerns who had an attitude from the beginning of the conversation and made excuses for the facility and how busy they may have been on Saturday. I asked if she could provide an update after she investigated my concerns with the staff and it seemed that my request was not even taken seriously. If you want to pay top $ for poor service and no respect then Central is the facility for you . I would suggest another facility-Beware!!!
Mary Beth S.
14 Mar 2019
REPORT
So far I have done a FB review, a google review and now a yelp. Don't think there are any other places I can review but I shout your praises to all my clients at Bark Avenue Pethouse. Just thank you ...
So far I have done a FB review, a google review and now a yelp. Don't think there are any other places I can review but I shout your praises to all my clients at Bark Avenue Pethouse. Just thank you and ALL the staff. You guys rock.
Bill R.
22 Feb 2019
REPORT
do not bring your animal to this place!! they sliced off every single one of my dogs nipples for an ultra soundno one will answer me on why this was done and they put me on hold and then send me to vo...
do not bring your animal to this place!! they sliced off every single one of my dogs nipples for an ultra soundno one will answer me on why this was done and they put me on hold and then send me to voice mail with no ones name on it. they should be closed down
Andrew B.
28 Jan 2019
REPORT
It's hard to write a review of a place where I had one if the worst experiences of my life, but the kind people at Central Hospital deserve some recognition.My wife and I lost our beloved Bernese Moun...
It's hard to write a review of a place where I had one if the worst experiences of my life, but the kind people at Central Hospital deserve some recognition.My wife and I lost our beloved Bernese Mountain Dog last week. In order to explain our experience with Central, I need to summarize what we went through.On Monday night Lou was clearly not feeling well. His gums were white, which we now know us a warning sign for internal bleeding, so we rushed him to the emergency vet at 10:30pm. Our initial experience at Central was not great. The intake doctor/nurse lacked any real bedside manner and spent way too long telling us about various levels in Lou's blood before giving us a diagnosis. She had an impossible task trying to explain to two nervous owners that their dog was seriously ill, so I don't want to be too harsh, but she made a stressful situation worse for us. Also, everyone we met after that interaction was so great that it put that first conversation in stark contrast.Lou's spleen had ruptured and he needed emergency surgery to remove it. He was only 4 years old and a day earlier had been in perfect health, so he had decent odds that the rupture wasn't related to cancer. And if that was the case, we'd take him home in a day or two. The surgery was a success, but within a few hours he was having uncommon complications we later learned were due to a rare form of cancer that causes the body's white blood cells to attack red blood cells. It is not treatable.But it took three days to get that diagnosis because the cancer is so rare and is largely diagnosed symptomatically. Over those three days we visited Lou in the ICU 5 times. His condition improved and deteriorated several times. We briefly thought we could take him home, only to get a call hours later telling us he had taken a serious turn for the worse. We had to let him go on Thursday night.We interacted most with Dr. Brodeur, Brittany, Kira, and Dr. Smith (I'm sorry if I have forgotten someone). They were all so kind and accommodating to us. But Dr. Brodeur was especially wonderful. She monitored the status of Lou's biopsy on her day off (I only know that only because I overheard the nurses talking in the ICU), she called us with updates, and she stayed several hours after her shift ended on Thursday to help us navigate the miserable decision to put Lou down. She even stayed to perform the euthanasia. Her continued presence that night was a huge comfort.I obviously don't have fond memories of Central Hospital and I hope to never requires their services again. But my wife and I are incredibly grateful for the kind people here who made this tragedy slightly less miserable than it might otherwise have been.
Marika G.
26 Jan 2019
REPORT
Absolutely wonderful staff. They are very friendly and helpful. I brought in my bloodhound that was a puppy and was severely sick. She was brought to our vet earlier that day who said she would be fin...
Absolutely wonderful staff. They are very friendly and helpful. I brought in my bloodhound that was a puppy and was severely sick. She was brought to our vet earlier that day who said she would be fine and to just wait a few days. Later that same night we had to rush her to Central where she needed emergency surgery the next day and have a VERY LOW chance of making it. My puppy made it and did better than anyone expected thanks to this staff. If you ever need to get help for your pet imminently, go here. It is pricy but you get what you pay for. The absolute best!
Kit A.
26 Dec 2018
REPORT
A few days ago my naughty puppy ate 2 straight pins. I rushed her directly to the hospital and we received kind, helpful, compassionate care. She was hospitalized for two nights and carefully monito...
A few days ago my naughty puppy ate 2 straight pins. I rushed her directly to the hospital and we received kind, helpful, compassionate care. She was hospitalized for two nights and carefully monitored, and now she's home and pin free. The staff was hugely kind to me while I freaked out and panicked about my dog being in so much danger. They helped me understand the risks and benefits of all actions and we came up with a course of care. They also helped me with billing my pet health insurance company and helped to explain how billing would work and what I needed to do. The night I went in was the Saturday before Christmas so it was very busy and it was clear they were doing the best they could with minimal staff and a huge case load. But they found the time to be kind and supportive and to get my dog the best care possible.
Henry V.
8 Nov 2018
REPORT
This is one of the best places I have ever been in for my Boxer. A special thank you goes out to Dr. Julia Treseder of Cardiologists for taking special care of my boxer.I feel that I am getting the be...
This is one of the best places I have ever been in for my Boxer. A special thank you goes out to Dr. Julia Treseder of Cardiologists for taking special care of my boxer.I feel that I am getting the best care from Dr. Treseder and Central Hospital staff has to offer anywhere! So if you what to feel you are getting the best help possible for your special pet. Don't hesitate to put your trust in this Hospital!
John B.
1 Sep 2018
REPORT
Best place I've ever brought my dog to. They were calm and knew how to handle a dog with anxiety. They even called to check up on him after we arrived home.
Mike
14 Jul 2018
REPORT
Really mixed reviews on this place. So I had a rabbit who was having some trouble so I bring him in and pay the emergency $130. Everything is going well, although I'm kinda frustrated I'm paying that ...
Really mixed reviews on this place. So I had a rabbit who was having some trouble so I bring him in and pay the emergency $130. Everything is going well, although I'm kinda frustrated I'm paying that much. So my rabbit is taken and they take his vitals. Also at this time I'm put into a room and told to wait for a doctor. So the doctor comes in, asks what's going on, etc. and all is going fine. She then tells me she'll come back in a few minutes and tell me what's going on, what tests need to be run, if he'll need shots and whatnot. This is where I get annoyed. I wait in the room for 2 hours without anyone speaking to me, and as soon as I want to complain, I see the doctor and she tells me she'll be with me in a bit. 20 minutes later, she tells me they have diagnosed my animal and he needs a shot, medicine, etc. and she says someone will come in 5 minutes and show me hot to administer the medicine. Someone finally comes in, after 20 minutes, and I'm shown how to administer the medicine. Then when I'm checking out, I get charged over $100 for the medicine on top of the $130 for the visit. In the end, I'm not really mad about the price, but the fact that I was at the vet for over 3 hours for something that shouldn't of takes that long.
Shannon R.
5 Jun 2018
REPORT
While the veterinarians and staff are nice and experienced at this location, nothing makes up for the ridiculously high prices that they charge. You are basically being charged what a human would be i...
While the veterinarians and staff are nice and experienced at this location, nothing makes up for the ridiculously high prices that they charge. You are basically being charged what a human would be if they were taken to the emergency room. For blood panels and for my cat to stay overnight was $1600.00. That's ridiculous! If you want to find out what your pet has (it's $130 right off the bat for that), and it is not something life threatening and that can wait for you to schedule with your regular vet (unfortunately it was a Sunday in my case when my vet is closed), just pay the $130 and leave. I kick myself because I could have given my cat a quick shot of glucose and could have taken him to my vet the next day with a bill of maybe $100. Even the staff I talked to at the place said that the prices were extremely high and they have pamphlets all around the waiting room for credit cards and loans you can take out. They know their prices are ridiculous and KNOW that you can't pay them.
Courtney Breezy
11 May 2018
REPORT
The staff here is very friendly and nice. But here's where they fall short. My pup was coughing and i rushed her to this ER twice two nights in a row panicked that she wasn't okay. They told me i need...
The staff here is very friendly and nice. But here's where they fall short. My pup was coughing and i rushed her to this ER twice two nights in a row panicked that she wasn't okay. They told me i needed to get xrays and i paid 300$ for them. They said nothing was wrong and sent her off with benadryl. One-two weeks later she wasn't getting any better so I proceeded to take her to Yalesville animal hospital where they also took xrays, bloodwork, urine etc. They said the xrays revealed a partially collapsed trachea and bronchitis and also pancreatitis. The ER told me her trachea looked fine and if I actually took their word for it she would've kept suffering and possibly gotten chronically worse. Thankfully for Yalesville animal hospital she's now on the proper medication. Really disappointed such a kind staff would misdiagnose her and send her off saying there was nothing wrong
Emily Grindrod
29 Apr 2018
REPORT
Although expensive (like any emergency medical help will be, especially for pets) the staff made what was already a very stressful night, as comfortable as it could have been. Everyone from the front ...
Although expensive (like any emergency medical help will be, especially for pets) the staff made what was already a very stressful night, as comfortable as it could have been. Everyone from the front desk to the doctor was exceptional with me and my dog. They made sure to be thorough without adding on unnecessary exams and spoke with me every step of the way. I felt involved in the plan of care and that my dog was taken care of when they kept him over night. Very good experience.
K Lee
28 Apr 2018
REPORT
Very clean, professional friendly staff who always listen. They explain everything to you. I had a great experience and would highly recommend this hospital for your animal.
Michelle C.
23 Apr 2018
REPORT
We were sent to this hospital when my dog (Fezzik) got sick last September (2017). I live in Simsbury, so it's a couple hours' drive down to North Haven, but my regular vet didn't have the capabilitie...
We were sent to this hospital when my dog (Fezzik) got sick last September (2017). I live in Simsbury, so it's a couple hours' drive down to North Haven, but my regular vet didn't have the capabilities to care for our dog. Turned out he has an autoimmune disease (IMHA), and Central Hospital was the clinic our vet took her own dog to when they came down with the same disease.Fezzik was taken in and taken care of better than I could have ever expected. His case was hard - as IMHA comes about very quickly, and can kill your dog just as fast unless you do something about it. He was there for about a week, getting blood transfusions, and we did almost lose him because his body was rejecting everything. But the staff and doctors here knew what they were doing, and kept us appraised at everything that was happening every step of the way. We knew how much it would cost (they gave us an estimate range at the beginning, and in the end, the actual cost we paid came out within that range, but not at the high end - even when they had to get human immunoglobulins, which was what eventually saved his life - and all I can say is "thank goodness we have pet insurance". Fezzik has better health insurance than I do - and cheaper, too!), we knew exactly what was happening, and we knew what his chances were (not good).Through the last several months, the whole team of doctors has kept in touch with his regular vet to keep appraised of how he's doing, and how to keep his medication going. I'm happy to say because of the terrific care we got here, Fezzik is weaning off his last bout of medications right now, and is back to his normal self. I would not hesitate to return here (and due to the nature of his disease, I will probably have to, but keeping my fingers crossed) if we ever needed to.
cecelia abedi
22 Jan 2018
REPORT
I have to take a moment and thank all the wonderful vets and staff at Central. Dr. Harley, thank you for always being there, understanding the true need, responding to my emails, being honest with the...
I have to take a moment and thank all the wonderful vets and staff at Central. Dr. Harley, thank you for always being there, understanding the true need, responding to my emails, being honest with the health of my dog and costs. You truly care and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you.
Today, I became even closer to Central when I spoke to Dr. MacDonald. I didn't have to explain anything about my Frenchie and his issues. She understood everything because her French/English has the exact same problems with kidney's. The understanding and compassion of knowing what you're going through with a sick dog, couldn't of been anymore genuine today. As we discussed both of our bulldogs health, we both began to cry and I found myself giving her a hug. Although it is so sad to see our babies go through suffering, she made a great point today. She told me that the life span could be 4 years or 9 years but the quality of life is what matters most. I couldn't agree more.
Thank you so much for everything and for understanding. My heart goes out to all of you and may you all be blessed. My experience at Central gets better every time I go.
Thumbs up to you all!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Robmar85
15 Jan 2018
REPORT
We took our dog there when he was having seizures due to low blood sugar. After a full examination, they discussed the cost of his treatment plan. I know many people don't like this, but sadly it's pa...
We took our dog there when he was having seizures due to low blood sugar. After a full examination, they discussed the cost of his treatment plan. I know many people don't like this, but sadly it's part of emergency vet medicine. We agreed to the plan, paid what we needed and our dog was admitted and treated. We were kept up to date on his progress, allowed to visit and our every call was answered by a friendly voice ready to assist us. This was a much better experience than we had a Shoreline years ago when our dog was attacked by another dog. They wouldn't even touch him until they had a $3000 deposit despite his serious injuries (deep lacerations and puncture wounds). I highly recommend Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine...it's run like a human hospital with efficiency, professionalism and kindness.
Amr A.
9 Jan 2018
REPORT
You and you pets are in the hands of earth angels at Central Vet! Yes it's pricey but well worth it. If you saw the interworkings you would be quite impressed. Be assured they have your best interest ...
You and you pets are in the hands of earth angels at Central Vet! Yes it's pricey but well worth it. If you saw the interworkings you would be quite impressed. Be assured they have your best interest at heart. Good people here!
David W.
27 Oct 2017
REPORT
I've been here 2 or 3 times with two different cats. As other reviewers note THIS PLACE IS ALL ABOUT $$$. The staff is rude, and, instead of giving you an exact figure that you'll pay for a surgery, y...
I've been here 2 or 3 times with two different cats. As other reviewers note THIS PLACE IS ALL ABOUT $$$. The staff is rude, and, instead of giving you an exact figure that you'll pay for a surgery, you get an estimate. The estimate includes low and high figures. The final bill is always more than the estimate. Furthermore, hidden costs not on the estimate miraculously appear. Imagine that.Also, on my most recent visit, the staff didn't know if my cat was supposed to be given meds even though the discharge papers clearly stated that my cat is supposed to get meds. I waited for 30 minutes while they tried to figure out what--if anything--my cat was supposed to be taking. After figuring out that my cat was supposed to be given pain meds, I had to wait for them to prepare the syringes. O and there was an additional charge for the meds.Finally, on my most recent visit, the techs didn't put the e-collar on my cat. They just handed it to me and said I would have to do it myself. After being charged $2000 for an exploratory surgery, you would think a tech could put an e-collar on your cat. After all, it's just a piece of plastic.I called my vet and complained. We'll see what happens. He too admitted Central really needs to work on its compassion.The bottom line is this: Central isn't in it for your pet; they're in it for $$$
Jess L.
26 Oct 2017
REPORT
No one wants to go to a pet hospital, but sometimes life throws you curve balls. I visited Central a handful of times over the course of a month during my late cat's sudden illness. The vast majority ...
No one wants to go to a pet hospital, but sometimes life throws you curve balls. I visited Central a handful of times over the course of a month during my late cat's sudden illness. The vast majority of doctors, technicians, and professionals whom we interacted with during this difficult time were excellent and responsive. Dr. Olmsted, the oncologist on staff, did a lot of background work on my cat's cancer and was very good at describing various approaches and things to consider. The oncology nurse, Allyson, was a great partner with Dr. Olmsted and complimented Dr. Olmsted with her clarity and sensitivity. We also really appreciated the care of Dr. Harvey, who was also very responsive, helpful, and caring. Unfortunately, our first interaction at Central, while during the beginning of this difficult period, was not greeted with the most reassuring moments. While I'm sure she meant well, Dr. Weston was a bit too blunt for us, talked very quickly over scary details, and wasn't as sensitive to our needs. Nonetheless, I am glad we stuck with the team at Central through this ordeal. The only other thing that was difficult for us was how challenging it was to get an oncology appointment, even after we got a diagnosis. It seems like there's a bit more need than availability for this specialty.
Lindsay C.
28 Jun 2017
REPORT
I am very upset at how my cat was discharged today after her dental. A technician assistant hands me my cat in her carrier, and I think I smell her urine. I get to my car, and sure enough my cat is si...
I am very upset at how my cat was discharged today after her dental. A technician assistant hands me my cat in her carrier, and I think I smell her urine. I get to my car, and sure enough my cat is sitting in her own urine, which was pooled around her due to her carrier being plastic. I bring her back in and tell the girl at the front desk that she has peed in her carrier, and asked if it could please be cleaned before our drive home to New Haven. She takes the carrier from me. I wait in the lobby. About five minutes later, she returns with my cat in the lobby and says "I'm sorry, your cat is too dangerous for us to handle right now, and we do not want to injure our staff." My cat is still sitting in a pool of urine. I respond, "My cat came in as a 'major caution', and your staff handled her to give her her dental today. Now you are telling me because I already paid you will not handle her anymore?" I was then motioned into a room with my cat still sitting in her urine, where I was made to wait for ten minutes for a supervisor or manager. Mel comes in and tells me that she doesn't want to stress my cat out or injure the staff, and asks me if I want some waterless shampoo to clean my cat myself. Ashley and Dr. Harley come in, and Mel is still asking me if I would like to restrain my own cat and clean her myself. I told them that is not my job. It is not protocol to ask clients to restrain their own animals. This is not how animals are supposed to be discharged. It their job to handle animals regardless if they are a caution or not, and frankly my cat still seemed very out of it from her surgery. It seemed like because she was already paid for and discharged, that they did not wish to deal with her anymore. I had to get upset and demand that they bring her downstairs to clean her and her carrier, which was horrifying and ridiculous. When she was returned to me, I told Mel I was going to tell Kathy how she broke protocol by asking me to restrain my own cat, and she said, "You don't have to do that, I did not say that..." and then "it was nice seeing you too" which I replied, "Sarcasm. Very professional." I am truly appalled at my experience today.
Ashley B
2 Jun 2017
REPORT
Brought my dog in today because he could barely walk out of no where. Started bowling my eyes out talking to the girls at the desk because I just moved here and it's only me and my dog and I could not...
Brought my dog in today because he could barely walk out of no where. Started bowling my eyes out talking to the girls at the desk because I just moved here and it's only me and my dog and I could not lose him!!! They handed me tissues and were so sweet and understanding (even when my dog pooed on their floor!) I told them I believed he had Lyme disease and they listened to everything I had to say and had him tested quick quickly for it by one of the male workers possibly a tech? He was also so understanding and helpful! He brought my dog back quick and a little more waiting and the vet came out and she was very informative and got straight to the point that he intact had Lyme disease and told me how we were going to treat him and what my options were for that. Everything was my choice and I didn't feel pressured at all! The tech then went outside with me and my dog to collect a urine sample and soon after that I was receiving my dogs medication with a very thorough education on what they are and how to use them. I couldn't thank the girls at the front desk enough. This was such a terrible scare for my dog and they helped me so much. Highly recommended!! Also, everyone else that came in there also seemed very pleased with their services as well!
Anya A.
20 May 2017
REPORT
Our usually healthy, energetic young cat was sneezing, lethargic, and threw up multiple times over the course of one night, so we brought her here after a referral from our regular vet (New Haven Vete...
Our usually healthy, energetic young cat was sneezing, lethargic, and threw up multiple times over the course of one night, so we brought her here after a referral from our regular vet (New Haven Veterinary Associates on State St). We were kept waiting for several hours without the opportunity to speak to the vet or see our cat. They x rayed our cat, but wouldn't tell us what was wrong (just that it was "serious") and continued to recommend further procedures without giving us pertinent info, just price quotes. The whole atmosphere, and the demeanor of the people we interacted with, were cold and impersonal, and we were worried sick.Eventually we got to speak to the vet, who was at least cordial and communicative, but she wasn't particularly helpful. She said our cat's symptoms could effectively be due to any reason at all--allergies, upset stomach--but that we would need even more intensive and expensive procedures to rule out serious causes like cancer. The vet drew up a lengthy list of recommendations that included an ultrasound and keeping our cat at the ER for up to two nights on an IV drip. The projected cost ran into the thousands! My husband and I are students and we simply couldn't afford it, so we took our cat home. We were worried sick, already $500 poorer, still had no answers, and were thoroughly guilt-tripped into believing we were irreparably harming our cat by not handing over $2500+ to Central Hospital.As soon as we could, we made an appointment with a different vet (Mt Carmel Veterinary Hospital in Hamden). The vet we saw was kind and empathetic, and quickly diagnosed our cat: she had a cold and was prescribed antibiotics. He said the vomiting was probably due to a recent dietary change (apparently a lot of cats are sensitive to Fancy Feast, which we had introduced just before the vomiting started) and that we shouldn't worry unless it recurred. The process was efficient and cost us under $100. Lo and behold, after about a week on antibiotics, our cat is doing just fine--her cold has cleared up, she's no longer vomiting, and she's back to her playful, energetic self.We are shocked by the fact that Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine jumped to the absolute worst-case scenarios and pushed exorbitantly priced recommendations on us, instead of coming to a simple, common-sense, low-cost diagnosis first. Honestly, the whole process at Central Hospital felt designed to stoke our fears and fleece us of as much money as possible with little regard for our cat's best interest and well-being. We are also disappointed in New Haven Veterinary Associates, the vet that made the referral. We would not be surprised if there's a conflict of interest here; they said that they are affiliated with Central Hospital, and it seems like they had little incentive to help our cat before making a referral to such an alarmist and expensive establishment. Both Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine and New Haven Veterinary Associates have permanently lost our business. Whether our cats have mild or serious symptoms in the future, we are going to a vet that demonstrably prioritizes the well-being of animals and provides honest, transparent, compassionate, and efficient care--not a place that tries to maximize their bottom line with ethically suspect scare tactics.
Lisa S.
16 Apr 2017
REPORT
We've unfortunately had to use the services of this hospital on 3 separate occasions in the same year. The receptionists/front desk staff, are extremely friendly & helpful & the ER vets/techs that we'...
We've unfortunately had to use the services of this hospital on 3 separate occasions in the same year. The receptionists/front desk staff, are extremely friendly & helpful & the ER vets/techs that we've seen, have all been great. YES the prices are higher than a regular vet and YES they ask for payment up front, but so do most hospitals for humans! Unless you're shot & bleeding out they want to know how you're paying & who your insurance carrier is. Unfortunately it's the nature of the beast! If you want emergency care, you pay emergency prices. I don't think this hospital (which is both CLEAN & friendly), deserves bad ratings because of prices...if you don't want to pay higher prices, don't take your pet to an EMERGENCY clinic.
Connor Griffin
5 Mar 2017
REPORT
This place is a joke. I had called there because it was the closest place to me that takes exotic animals. I called to get some advice from a VET. When someone at the desk picked up I kindly asked to ...
This place is a joke. I had called there because it was the closest place to me that takes exotic animals. I called to get some advice from a VET. When someone at the desk picked up I kindly asked to speak to any available vet that sees exotic reptiles. They put me through with the X-ray tech who is NOT a vet but he was fluent in attitude. I asked about five times to speak to a vet and each time he kept giving me more and more attitude I hung up the phone and called Wilton animal hospital. I will not go here for anything ever your phone service is a joke so I didn't even want to see how they treated animals. If you can go to Wilton animal hospital they are cheaper and care more about the animal then the paycheck. The staff are very friendly and very educated.
Crystal Rose Cathcart
24 Feb 2017
REPORT
I have had the most wonderful experiences with the emergency and ophthalmology teams at Central. They are so caring and have the best bedside manner. Having taken two of my cats there for emergencies ...
I have had the most wonderful experiences with the emergency and ophthalmology teams at Central. They are so caring and have the best bedside manner. Having taken two of my cats there for emergencies and one for specialist care, I would recommend them to anyone in need of advanced pet care.
Kathleen Joyce
20 Feb 2017
REPORT
Phenomenal Cardiac Care of my Cat. After 30 years in the field I discovered MY kitty had a horrible heart condition. He had difficulty breathing, his heart beats sounded awful. Dr. de Madron was wond...
Phenomenal Cardiac Care of my Cat. After 30 years in the field I discovered MY kitty had a horrible heart condition. He had difficulty breathing, his heart beats sounded awful. Dr. de Madron was wonderful. He tapped his chest (to get rid of the excess fluid) and diagnosed him & prescribed 5 different medications Lucky for me Restrictive Cardiomyopathy sometimes responds well to treatment. He has been home for a month and is doing AMAZINGLY well. I did not realize he slowed down so much until he became his good old annoying self. Picking on the other cat, nagging me INCESSANTLY for his food and begging for my food. Thank you for superlative care Central Pet Vet and Dr. de Madron!
Alyssa Guglietti
18 Feb 2017
REPORT
This is my second time bringing my dog here, and the staff are always great! They are a bit expensive, but they have helped us time and time again. Will always come back if there's another problem.
Melissa Hawks
12 Feb 2017
REPORT
Dr Eric de Maron was amazing in caring for an operating on our dog, Sophie, a King Charles Cavalier with a rapidly declining heart. She was sure to die. Amazing!
Joseph Hezinger
20 Jan 2017
REPORT
It is a Terrible place , There suck you dry when you are the most venerable
My vet sent me there to remove a needle from my labs throat. The scopicle removal would be $ 2300.. If there can't do...
It is a Terrible place , There suck you dry when you are the most venerable
My vet sent me there to remove a needle from my labs throat. The scopicle removal would be $ 2300.. If there can't do scopes the surgery will be a other $ 4000.00. Of course they couldn't remove it Scopic. But there charged the full $ 2300.00. There don't give my dog back until I come up with the $2300.00.
Plus a couple hundred dollar consultation fee what is included in the price already.
Do not go there. Unless you have thousands of dollars to Waste.
Daria Far Nettleton
17 Jan 2017
REPORT
We were so fortunate to find out that Central had an Exotic animal specialty. After brining our Guinea Pig Piper to 2 other hospitals we were referred to Central in an emergency and found they had the...
We were so fortunate to find out that Central had an Exotic animal specialty. After brining our Guinea Pig Piper to 2 other hospitals we were referred to Central in an emergency and found they had the skilled professionals and facilities to help us. Piper the Guinea Pig is now Day 5 post major surgery and she's doing GREAT! Piper had a major tumor in her abdomen that was skillfully removed by Dr. Shakeri assisted by PJ. Can't thank Dr. Shakeri and PJ enough for their care and kindness! Piper is a perfect patient & healing nicely and I'm still so grateful for the care and talent shared by both of them! I would not hesitate to refer to them in the future, all the staff at Central was kind and caring. On a side note- I did witness emergencies that came in to the facility. There is a lot of emotion that comes with this profession. I really feel for the clients as well as the staff at these types of hospitals. People enter this profession because you care for pets, dealing with grieving, emotional clients comes with the territory. That can be so difficult to navigate. I really appreciate everyone that helped up find the right outcome for Piper. A special thank you to all the professionals at Central too!
Stephanie D'Adamo
15 Jan 2017
REPORT
Dr. Kennedy & the team of techs (Vicki, Monica, Linda, Kizzy) in the ER were beyond amazing. You can tell they truly love their job & the patients they care for. I can not even express how grateful I ...
Dr. Kennedy & the team of techs (Vicki, Monica, Linda, Kizzy) in the ER were beyond amazing. You can tell they truly love their job & the patients they care for. I can not even express how grateful I am to have had such a great group of people surrounding my cat with such care and love. Thank you to everyone who was involved who I may not have had the privilege of meeting as well.
Michelle Marino
1 Dec 2016
REPORT
DISGUSTING. They should be ashamed of themselves. My coworker brought his dog in, hysterical, because she was having a difficult time in labor and one puppy had died in the birth canal, which obviousl...
DISGUSTING. They should be ashamed of themselves. My coworker brought his dog in, hysterical, because she was having a difficult time in labor and one puppy had died in the birth canal, which obviously blocked the path for the others. She had a few puppies still moving in her belly. Well, now that this disgrace of a vet hospital turned him away, all of the puppies are no longer living and the dog now has an infection/toxicity and will not make it through the night. They would not take her in for surgery without $4k up front and told him good luck. Insane. Who could look at a small dog struggling through labor and turn her away? They wouldn't even take a portion of any payment and work out any sort of payment option for the other half. Just as greedy and corrupt as the doctors and hospitals that we need to visit and spend years in debt trying to pay for. Find a vet who went to school and got their career because they truly love animals. Not these money hungry excuses for vets.
Eileen Gullo
8 Nov 2016
REPORT
We brought our dog Howie in last Wed and very unexpectedly had to say goodbye ,5 hours later.Dr.Wells and all the staff were amazing.They made a very difficult situation as comfortable as it could be....
We brought our dog Howie in last Wed and very unexpectedly had to say goodbye ,5 hours later.Dr.Wells and all the staff were amazing.They made a very difficult situation as comfortable as it could be.Our family was very impressed.We thank you so much for your kindness and empathy.
Lisa Festa Aceto
29 Oct 2016
REPORT
I had to take my dog to Central today for a walk in emergency. What a wonderful place. The staff, Frank and Dr. Kennedy, were great. Very compassionate and helpful. I would definitely recommend Centra...
I had to take my dog to Central today for a walk in emergency. What a wonderful place. The staff, Frank and Dr. Kennedy, were great. Very compassionate and helpful. I would definitely recommend Central. I'm glad I choose to go to Central today.
Cheryl Lynn
25 Oct 2016
REPORT
We recently had to utilize the emergency services here and I found everyone there super helpful, caring and compassionate, Sara at the desk was a sweetheart, Dr. Welles was very informative, even ...
We recently had to utilize the emergency services here and I found everyone there super helpful, caring and compassionate, Sara at the desk was a sweetheart, Dr. Welles was very informative, even with having 3 other emergencies there at the same time, we were still taken care of properly. Prices were very reasonable and yes we did wait, but it's an ER, human or otherwise you wait as the critical are taken in first. I would highly recommend them!
Sara Dombroski
15 Sep 2016
REPORT
Central Hospital is a busy place, to say the least, the attention to detail and compassion in every case from everyone depicted in their faces and actions is nothing short of astounding. Thank you all...
Central Hospital is a busy place, to say the least, the attention to detail and compassion in every case from everyone depicted in their faces and actions is nothing short of astounding. Thank you all for the great job you do for the love of animals!
Resa M.
11 Jul 2016
REPORT
Central Hospital is a comprehensive veterinary specialty hospital with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced treatment options, dedicated doctors, and attentive vet technicians and staff. You will cer...
Central Hospital is a comprehensive veterinary specialty hospital with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced treatment options, dedicated doctors, and attentive vet technicians and staff. You will certainly be satisfied with the treatment of your pet here. Highly recommended!
Jackie Nuzzo
5 Jun 2016
REPORT
I have to say in reading the reviews I would like everyone to form their own opinion based on experience before writing off this hospital! We brought in a kitty that was thrown into the highway the ot...
I have to say in reading the reviews I would like everyone to form their own opinion based on experience before writing off this hospital! We brought in a kitty that was thrown into the highway the other day! We Unfort had to let her cross over and not only was the staff more than patient with us changing our minds, they were loving heartfelt and while we did get charged the emergency fee which I would expect to be charged anyways, due to the circumstances they waived the few to put LT DAN to sleep and for the cremation!! This was the first experience I had with them and I was satisfied !!! I honestly believe if they were like what the not so nice reviews said, at one point like any other dr they would have been investigated and shut down!! They have been in business for over 40 years, there's a reason!!! And just like every other procedure or dr visit these dr's are LIKE god but they are NOT God. Nor or they fortune tellers they cannot predict the future they can only tell you their medical opinion and pray for the best!! Me and my aunt are more than satisfied with our experience
Crystal G.
2 Jun 2016
REPORT
We had an emergency recently & when I ran into the office the front desk clerk took our cat to a doctor right away. Dr Mcdonald & the staff there worked quickly to help our cat who was suffering and u...
We had an emergency recently & when I ran into the office the front desk clerk took our cat to a doctor right away. Dr Mcdonald & the staff there worked quickly to help our cat who was suffering and unfortunately we chose to euthanize him due to his condition. On one of the worst days of our life the staff there were kind & compassionate & did all they could to ease his suffering & comfort us during our time there. We are not regular clients but I would absolutely recommend this hospital & if I did not love our vet we would absolutely switch to here.
Mary Beth Stark
12 Mar 2016
REPORT
Yet another wonderful experience at Central. Last month one of my rescues was having some terrible health issues. When I heard about it from her adopters I decided to take her to one of my vets. Poor...
Yet another wonderful experience at Central. Last month one of my rescues was having some terrible health issues. When I heard about it from her adopters I decided to take her to one of my vets. Poor Layla was dying from IMHA. My vet told me to rush her to an emergency hosp. Of course I chose Central. Layla had a temp of 93 and a 3% red blood cell count. Dr Celeste Wells was the attending doctor. I cannot thank her and the staff enough. They take into account the costs and do what they can to keep costs down. Veterinary medicine is expensive but Dr Wells did what she could to keep up to date on Layla's progress and keep track of costs. IMHA is a disease that can rear its head again but at this time Layla is doing well and her red blood cell count is normal. I would never go to another ER hospital for my pets.
Pam G.
8 Mar 2016
REPORT
If you've been to the New Haven location you'll be pleased with the new location in North Haven. It's a little hidden behind a lot of other places - just look for the Crossroad shopping plaza by Yale...
If you've been to the New Haven location you'll be pleased with the new location in North Haven. It's a little hidden behind a lot of other places - just look for the Crossroad shopping plaza by Yale/Smillow and follow the signs.The staff is very friendly, patient and kind. Most likely you're not here for a great reason, it's a hospital after all, so it's great to have a staff that empathizes with your situation and is understanding of the stressful owner they may have to engage with when you are there.
KRISTINA Kerry
7 Mar 2016
REPORT
I took my sweet 17 yr old cat to Central Vet yesterday due to labored breathing. They immediately made him comfortable, did an exam and we discussed options. We had to put him to sleep and all my wish...
I took my sweet 17 yr old cat to Central Vet yesterday due to labored breathing. They immediately made him comfortable, did an exam and we discussed options. We had to put him to sleep and all my wishes were honored by the vet and her staff. I was sad to have to make this choice but thankful that he had a gentle passing. Thank you for taking all my concerns and desires for his passing into account and making it happen exactly as I requested.
Beth Merkin
5 Jan 2016
REPORT
My elderly dog had an acute intestinal problem which I believe may have been life-threatening, and he was admitted on a weekend. Dr. Wells was careful, thoughtful and detailed in her explanation as t...
My elderly dog had an acute intestinal problem which I believe may have been life-threatening, and he was admitted on a weekend. Dr. Wells was careful, thoughtful and detailed in her explanation as to what was going on and she gave me clear information about his treatment plan and prognosis. She and others handled my emotional response to whatever risks he faced in a compassionate manner--which made me feel confidence and comfort about his treatment. The staff were helpful and responsive every time that I called to check in on him. When I went to pick him up, the staff were clearly connected to the needs of my dog, and they were helpful in explaining his follow up treatment plan.
I know that the cost of pet hospitalization can be prohibitive and hard for many people to afford, but my experience at Central Hospital was wonderful and seemed to make the cost easily worthwhile. I am grateful and appreciative of the care and professionalism that they showed from admission to discharge. I highly recommend Central Hospital for any emergency care or specialized treatment.
Lisa Wildman
15 Oct 2015
REPORT
I was surprised at some of the reviews when I looked the hospital up on the web. Our Pug has gotten nothing but the best of care from the Doctors and staff at this hospital over the last year when he...
I was surprised at some of the reviews when I looked the hospital up on the web. Our Pug has gotten nothing but the best of care from the Doctors and staff at this hospital over the last year when he fell ill with heart problems. Costs are high for all medical care, for human and for pets. Unfortunately, most of us do not have insurance for our pets and we do feel the brunt of the full cost for these services but that is not the fault of the hospital Drs and staff nor a reflection on the exceptional love and care the folks at Central Hospital have provided to our dog. I drive 40 mins to get to this hospital so it also has nothing to do with convenience, it is knowing he will get the attention he deserves as an important member of our family.
Delaney J.
1 Oct 2015
REPORT
I have grown up with dogs but as a first time dog owner of my own pup I was nervous bringing her in for her spay. My dog received pre surgery blood work to make sure everything would be okay and I re...
I have grown up with dogs but as a first time dog owner of my own pup I was nervous bringing her in for her spay. My dog received pre surgery blood work to make sure everything would be okay and I received a call right when she was out of surgery. Dr. Crocker did her surgery and she was awesome. I also received a follow up call the next day just to check up on her and see how she was doing. They had kept my dog overnight and I had called a couple times over the two days to check in on her and I was always directed quickly to a nurse who was happy to give me an update. I have no problem paying for veterinary care that is as great as this place! Thank you!
Edward Maturo
1 Oct 2015
REPORT
Care was excellent once they had their $6,100.00. My shepard turned his stomach on labor day around 7pm.we went to the hospital annd the low side was 6100, high of 8500, and money up front. We were to...
Care was excellent once they had their $6,100.00. My shepard turned his stomach on labor day around 7pm.we went to the hospital annd the low side was 6100, high of 8500, and money up front. We were told because it was a holiday, after hours the costs double.!.why, if my guilford vet is closed and you are a hospital offering 24hr emergency care why the double charge? If i went to Yale in sunday they don't charge double???? I've been a customer of the hospital since 1980, a customer of guilford veteran clinic since 1980, doesn't that count for anything? Apparently not. Care was exceptional, thats not my complaints. I'm complaining of funds upfront before any care is done otherwise leave. AND PERIOD of affiliation counts for nothing.
Brian S.
19 Aug 2015
REPORT
I am writing this just 24 hours since we had to put to sleep our beautiful 12 y.o. lab retriever, Marley, after a long battle with cancer and kidney failure. On such a gut wrenching evening, the care ...
I am writing this just 24 hours since we had to put to sleep our beautiful 12 y.o. lab retriever, Marley, after a long battle with cancer and kidney failure. On such a gut wrenching evening, the care Marley received from everyone as well as the support my wife and I received in helping us make the decision to let Marley go was excellent. My wife and I just moved here within the last month from NC with our 2 dogs. Marley has been battling cancer, kidney failure and a host of other medical issues. We realized when she took a turn for the worse in the last day that the poor girl didn't deserve to suffer. Not knowing where to go since we're so new to the area my wife found that Central Hospital had a 24-hour ER. We called after 6p and spoke with, Jo Ann, who was very nice and said bring her over. That they even had a gurney to meet me at the car since Marley could no longer stand let alone walk. Mary Ann met us at the desk and was very professional, calming and helped us through the process. She got a gurney and met me at the car so I didn't have to carry Marley in making her more uncomfortable.Even with multiple emergency cases that came in the staff checked in on us and then brought Marley to be with us while the veterinarian, Dr. Celeste Wells, did her exam and talked us through the options. She helped to put us both at ease with what we were doing, all the care Marley had received up to this point with surgery and so much else. We both knew this but hearing it from Dr. Wells helped us ultimately make the decision to let Marley go. I will never forget how Dr. Wells helped us in such an important time of need. She prepared us for the procedure and then confirmed that Marley was gone. We were able to stay with her as long as we wanted and the entire team was so supportive and comforting. Mary Jo whom we had spoken to on the phone initially even stopped by and introduced herself and said how sorry she was. While we are crushed to have lost Marley we know she did not suffer and was able to depart this world in such capable hands.
Laila E.
13 Aug 2015
REPORT
Called late night after my dog ran into a skunk. The woman who answered was so helpful and friendly. My dog went to bed smelling clean again :) thank you!
Lola V.
2 Jul 2015
REPORT
Caring, compassionate and loving to our three dogs! Thank you to the entire team at Central!
Hilary R.
5 May 2015
REPORT
An emergency veterinary hospital is the last place a pet owner wants to be. I certainly never thought I would be at one, until my beloved dog was brutally attacked by an off-leash pit bull. The abso...
An emergency veterinary hospital is the last place a pet owner wants to be. I certainly never thought I would be at one, until my beloved dog was brutally attacked by an off-leash pit bull. The absolute worst thing I have ever witnessed is my innocent dog howling in pain as he was terrorized by another canine. I arrived at the Central Hospital in tears and with a badly wounded pet and they immediately rushed outside to safely get my dog on a gurney and into their facility. I was advised to take care of my own minor injuries, as they quickly worked to clean up and stabilize my dog. He was eventually admitted for the night and ended up needing to stay for a total of 4 nights in their ICU. I received daily phone calls and was able to interact with the staff on a face to face basis during my daily visits, some of which lasted for two hours. My dog was in a small pen/corral for the duration of his stay, closely monitored and surrounded by the staff. I was able to lay with him and sit quietly while they continued with their work and encouraged me to spend time with him in order to help him recover. I never felt I was a burden by visiting, even late in the evening and all of my concerns and questions were addressed professionally and honestly. I had contact with many of their techs, nurses' and doctors over the course of 5 days and all were compassionate and professional. The staff saved my dogs' life. A few days into his care, he was pretty weak and lethargic and I almost thought he wasn't going to make it. He miraculously made a turn for the better and I believe it is because of the wonderful care he received. Yes, it is expensive. But when it comes to saving your pets' life, it doesn't matter what the cost is.
Jackie B.
18 Apr 2015
REPORT
I was so pleased with the care my dog received here! We brought our pitbull here on a Sunday morning because he was having loose bloody stools, they did not pressure us at all into any additional test...
I was so pleased with the care my dog received here! We brought our pitbull here on a Sunday morning because he was having loose bloody stools, they did not pressure us at all into any additional testing than what they felt was necessary. We ended up leaving with him the same day and some medication for colitis.We have been to other emergency vets before that have thrown a 2300 bill infront of us for similar symptoms. The people here seemed to really care about our dog and let us stay with him until the doctor could see us. The bill came out to $208, way better than $2300!! We will definitely be back should we need vet services on a weekend!
Crystal C.
5 Jan 2015
REPORT
I took my cat in for an emergency abscess which appeared overnight. It was so bad that it looked like a marble jammed into my cats jaw and I was worried he might be at risk for losing a tooth or two ...
I took my cat in for an emergency abscess which appeared overnight. It was so bad that it looked like a marble jammed into my cats jaw and I was worried he might be at risk for losing a tooth or two if it got worse.. The doctor did a great job of draining out the infection and making Bandit feel like his old self again really fast. Now he is on antibiotics and doing great. Luckily the cost was far less than I had expected and that was probably because he didnt need to be knocked out for surgery. The only thing I didnt like was that I wasnt able to be with my cat for any part of the exam or treatment. They took him right away and then returned him once he was done. I think I would have liked to be there to hear the initial observations but since this is a hospital it probably helps move things along this way.
Jessica D.
23 Dec 2014
REPORT
When I brought my healthy 9 year old dog into this animal hospital last week, I had no idea it would be the last day I got to spend with him. He woke up with labored breathing and he deteriorated ver...
When I brought my healthy 9 year old dog into this animal hospital last week, I had no idea it would be the last day I got to spend with him. He woke up with labored breathing and he deteriorated very soon after. As heartbreaking and devastating as this loss was the people in this animal hospital were wonderful. They gave us every single option we had and had incredible bed side manner. Dr. MacDonald is truly an angel here on earth. She did everything she could to make sure our little guy was comfortable during his final moments here on earth. She also comforted me and my mom through the painful experience of putting our baby to sleep. I am forever grateful for the kind hearted people who work here. You can tell they really love animals and care about their patients.Of course it's expensive- Any medical treatment is. Pet owners should consider pet insurance as an option to keep cost down when emergencies do occur.I was fully aware at any given time what was going on with my pet and what treatment he was receiving. They did not do anything without my consent.Thank you, simply is not enough sometimes.
Dot M.
16 Sep 2014
REPORT
I just came back from having my mother-in-law's 18 year old cat euthanized, and I was beyond impressed with the quality and care.My MIL had taken her cat to a previous vet, and this morning, when it w...
I just came back from having my mother-in-law's 18 year old cat euthanized, and I was beyond impressed with the quality and care.My MIL had taken her cat to a previous vet, and this morning, when it was obvious that his body had just given up, she called them to have him put to sleep. They said they could possibly squeeze him in this afternoon, which seemed unacceptable. Why make him suffer any longer?She then called Central, where she had brought Pollux a few days ago for some hyperthyroid tests, and they said he could be brought in immediately. We were brought immediately into a room, Pollux was taken outside and a catheter was inserted (rather than doing it in the room and making my MIL more anxious and distraught than she already was), and within a short period of time, Pollux was back in my MIL's arms, waiting for the vet to administer the meds. We were instructed on the process by Dr. Wells, who saw Pollux earlier and concluded by his labs that it was most likely intestinal lymphoma, and that this was the right decision. Both Pollux and my MIL were treated with professionalism and, above all, kindness, as the drugs were administered and he quickly passed away in her arms.Given that this was an emergency euthanasia, the price was surprisingly low (it would have been easily $200 more at another vet), and we were handled with complete respect, as we said goodbye to our friend. My two cats have been at a previous vet, but I will definitely bring them to Central when they need check ups!
Zonnebloem G.
22 Mar 2014
REPORT
This place charges you $$$ just to walk in the door! What a rip-off. You don't have a choice when it's an emergency but Central is purely a business. Proven by the slick new facility. Every single mov...
This place charges you $$$ just to walk in the door! What a rip-off. You don't have a choice when it's an emergency but Central is purely a business. Proven by the slick new facility. Every single move they make on behalf of your animal is the sound of the cashier drawer opening.
Jesse S.
28 Nov 2013
REPORT
I brought my dog here on the night before Thanksgiving because he was sick and needed to be seen right away. I called ahead and asked how long of a wait there would be and was told that there was nobo...
I brought my dog here on the night before Thanksgiving because he was sick and needed to be seen right away. I called ahead and asked how long of a wait there would be and was told that there was nobody ahead of me. It took me around 15 minutes to get here (10 of which were spend driving around in circles trying to figure out where their building is located since it's very hard to find).They took my dog from me and told me he would be taken to a "triage area" to get vitals taken and would be brought back afterwards. I asked why I can't go with my dog and was told that their policy is not to allow pet owners into the triage area. BTW I have two dogs and have been to many vets in different locations for different reasons and have never EVER been told that I can't be in the room with them unless they're undergoing a surgical procedure.After 30 minutes, I asked for a status update and was told that the vet is examining the dog. I asked why I'm not being allowed to be with my dog since they told me he would be returned to me after his vitals were taken and was given the same non-answer.After an hour, I told them to give me my dog back and I'd go somewhere else. They called down to the vet and the vet said my dog would be ready in a few minutes, so I said I'd stay if I had him back in a few minutes. Finally he was returned to me and I was told to wait in the waiting room for the vet to come up.After 10 minutes of more waiting, I was taken into an exam room and told again to wait for the vet. After 20 more minutes of waiting, I started calling around other vets to see if anyone else could take me without a long wait. As I was getting up to leave, the vet suddenly came in.I came to know that the vet performed a diagnostic procedure on my dog without my knowledge or permission and they had started running lab tests, again without my permission. Never, NEVER have I brought my dog to a vet and had them do ANYTHING without my permission, emergency or not. Very very unprofessional and probably illegal. The final bill was really high (almost $300). When I called they said it would be $125 for the exam which I agreed to but they billed me for all those procedures they did without my permission.They sold me some (expensive) medicines to take home but I really wish I had gone someplace else. I strongly advise anyone not to go here unless they are the only possible place to take their dog and it's a true life or death medical emergency.
Jon L.
2 Nov 2013
REPORT
New Haven Central Hospital really came through for us in the middle of the night when Miss Meaty had what we would learn was an episode of congestive heart failure. We popped her in the cat carrier an...
New Haven Central Hospital really came through for us in the middle of the night when Miss Meaty had what we would learn was an episode of congestive heart failure. We popped her in the cat carrier and within minutes she was in an oxygen tank and hooked up to an IV. Over the next couple of days, Dr. Pesillo-Crosby, Dr. Grau, Dr. Rozear, and their lovely staff did a great job of keeping us informed of our patient's status, fielding our phone calls and visits, and communicating with Miss Meaty's regular vet.They figured out the right cocktail of drugs to keep Miss Meaty's little heart pumping, and within a few days she was on the road back to being her charming old self. I'm bummed that New Haven Central is moving to North Haven since they are currently just a couple of blocks away from our house and the emergency animal hospital is someplace to which you'd prefer to live as close as possible. But the current facility is showing its age and new digs seem appropriate. At least it will be right off the highway. I just hope they bring the awesome mural in the lobby with them.
Amy S.
16 Aug 2013
REPORT
THANK GOD FOR DR KIM MACDONALD!They saw me immediately, were kind, clear, amazing. They couldnt do the procedure needed for my very sick dog, because the technician for that procedure wasnt there that...
THANK GOD FOR DR KIM MACDONALD!They saw me immediately, were kind, clear, amazing. They couldnt do the procedure needed for my very sick dog, because the technician for that procedure wasnt there that day, but Dr Macdonald arranged it for me to get to Norwalk, the next town down 95 and to see Dr Kittrell there, (basically the best vet in the world) and saved his life.And kind of saved mine as well, since I was so distraught.She really went the extra mile. I couldnt be more grateful.
squishy s.
3 Apr 2013
REPORT
First things first: it's expensive. But if you love your pet and have an emergency situation, expense is probably not the first thing on your mind. We go elsewhere for routine care, and I'd advise oth...
First things first: it's expensive. But if you love your pet and have an emergency situation, expense is probably not the first thing on your mind. We go elsewhere for routine care, and I'd advise other people to do the same. The doctors here are great. Our dog has seen Dr. Harley (the internal medicine specialist), a radiologist, two emergency medicine vets, and countless staff members. In our presence, everyone is warm and loving to our dog, and we know they're nice to him elsewhere because he actually seems to enjoy heading downstairs for treatment with them. Just as importantly, they are great with humans: they've helped us understand the cause of our dog's problems, presented us with a range of treatments, helped us evaluate which treatments make the best sense financially and for our pet, and answered all of our silly questions after the appointment by email or phone.Dr. Harley in particular deserves praise. She has been spot-on in her diagnoses and always explains our treatment options clearly and logically. We've had a lot of trouble with other vets misdiagnosing our dog and sometimes prescribing treatments that made him sicker. Dr. Harley hasn't necessarily always figured out the solution to our dog's problems immediately, but she believes us when we say something is not working, helps us figure out Plan B or Plan C, and eventually gets to the root of the matter. This has given us a lot of confidence in her judgment, and we trust her completely. We've been seeing her for almost a year now, and we're very happy she works so close to where we live.
Eric H.
19 Jan 2012
REPORT
First, it's expensive. I've seen a number of the docs and staff who work there and they are all very nice. But sometime they give conflicting information. One problem is that even though we gave them ...
First, it's expensive. I've seen a number of the docs and staff who work there and they are all very nice. But sometime they give conflicting information. One problem is that even though we gave them our whole stack of records when we brought it our new rescue dog, they had not recorded several vaccinations that were in his charts and even had his age significantly wrong. However, their emergency services cannot be topped. But again, it comes with a price tag.
Cherokee1
31 Aug 2011
REPORT
I brought my Manx Cat in the joint. On an early Monday morning. She had megacolon, a constipation problem. We were given 2 options, one spend a thousand or so, and have the feces manually removed. 2 ...
I brought my Manx Cat in the joint. On an early Monday morning. She had megacolon, a constipation problem. We were given 2 options, one spend a thousand or so, and have the feces manually removed. 2 or give my cat an enema, bring here home and see what happens the next day. We were never told it was life threatening. We chose the 2nd option. Home, later that morning, she was really, really, BAD. Hardly breathing. We rushed her back. They finally took X-Rays and found out how backed up our cat was. Also, she had fluid in her stomache. The DOC did not know what that was from. The Doctor said our Cat was dying, and even if we spent thousands there was no promise of recovery, She told us if it were,Her cat she would put her to sleep. SO, WE DID!!!!! I checked info on the web, a few days later, the sympypms our cat had were pretty much curable. If the 1st Doc took the time to do it right the 1st time. OUR GIRL IS DEAD!!!!!!!! I WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE ONE STAR I COULD. WE are heart broken.
mal1109
4 Apr 2011
REPORT
I witnessed first-hand how unethical, greedy and inhumane central animal hospital is. A four month old Pekingese/poodle cross was recommended for x-rays after aspirating herself after she vomited. At ...
I witnessed first-hand how unethical, greedy and inhumane central animal hospital is. A four month old Pekingese/poodle cross was recommended for x-rays after aspirating herself after she vomited. At 7:00pm, we walked through the door and they immediately began manipulating this dog?s owner into believing this dog will not survive unless admitted for overnight care. The vet stated how aspirated pneumonia kills many puppies and that she couldn?t guarantee the pup?s life even with days of intensive care. She stated ?if this were my dog, I would keep her overnight? and when asked what she would rate her on a 1-10 scale she replied, ?I can?t say, I?ll just give her a chance?. The office had quoted a bill for one night at bare minimum for over $1600.00 low end, $2500.00 high. I asked what medicines the dog would be receiving considering the bill listed five meds costing over $400.00. Only after being questioned did the receptionist eliminate some of the ?necessities?. After the dog?s owner and I agreed to take the dog home and care for her ourselves, the entire game plan changed. Originally the vet had said she needed oxygen and nebulizer treatments all night as well as constant fluids. After our decision, the vet then told us she would simply give her a 24 hour antibiotic vaccine and some fluids and that she should be fine until the morning. This option was never mentioned until we said the dog was leaving. Two days later and the puppy?s in perfect condition; running around, eating, drinking and acting like a normal pup. A dog so critical that is expected to die overnight does not make a full recovery within 48 hours. If I had not convinced her owner she would be okay under our care, she would have incurred a $2000.00 bill for a perfect pup the next morning. Obviously lives are unpredictable, but not once did they insinuate they cared for the dog or her comfort. Alternative options were never offered, which is extremely deceiving. Central Animal Hospital?s over night vets work at an hourly rate as well as commission. Your bill is their paycheck.
gooddogcaredeserved
24 Nov 2008
REPORT
Definitely would not recommend the service here. Be careful of what they charge you, considering the treatment that you and your pet get in return. This place feels like one that preys on your emoti...
Definitely would not recommend the service here. Be careful of what they charge you, considering the treatment that you and your pet get in return. This place feels like one that preys on your emotional attachment to your pet. You will feel scammed, just like at a car dealership. I thought I was bringing my pet in for a simple Bordetella vaccination, and I walked out with a $90 bill! I tried to inquire about the excessive fees, and was brushed off (""We always charge an office visit of $50 EACH time you come in."") Within two months (2 visits in less than 8 weeks) they tried to charge me the $50 ""annual comprehensive exam"" during each visit...last time I checked ""annual"" meant ONCE A YEAR. After having to call their customer relations several times, they only offered a $10 credit back. I called around for other hospitals in the New Haven area, and they all said they either wouldn't charge for a soon-after follow on visit for a simple vaccination, or at most would charge $25 if there's a mini-exam involved. Plus, the ""customer relations"" person at the New Haven Central Hospital was simply non-apologetic for overcharging and for their mistake. The worst part is that the service wasn't even worth the high price tag! I had to wait over 20 minutes for my ""scheduled"" appointment. The assistant mis-weighed my dog, and couldn't get the vaccination records straight. We had already been in less than month before, for an ear infection...shouldn't their records reflect all the information I provided? Overall, it was very impersonal service. And the doctor just kept talking about what other treatments and vaccinations was up the next time. I could practically hear the ""ka-ching"" and see the dollar signs in her eyes. I am not one to hold back on paying for good and reasonable care for my pet. But this place is definitely not one that offers such care.
Photo Gallery
Book an Appointment
Online booking unavailable
Please call
(203) 865-0878
Business Hours
Monday
Mon
08:00AM-18:00PM
Tuesday
Tue
08:00AM-18:00PM
Wednesday
Wed
08:00AM-18:00PM
Thursday
Thu
08:00AM-18:00PM
Friday
Fri
08:00AM-18:00PM
Popular Hours
6a
12p
6p
12a
{{getPopularHourTime(item.time)}}
No data for {{popularHourDay.text}}
Closed on {{popularHourDay.text}}
Is this your business?
CLAIM IT HEREIncorrect information? Let us know
Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine
North Haven, Connecticut
General Info
24 hour Full Service Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center
Business Hours
Monday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Tuesday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Wednesday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Thursday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Friday
08:00AM-18:00PM
Popular Hours
6a
12p
6p
12a
{{getPopularHourTime(item.time)}}
No data for {{popularHourDay.text}}
Closed on {{popularHourDay.text}}
Reviews
Jill Durkin
19 Apr 2021
My dog Riley just had eye surgery not even a week ago, and already his vision has improved greatly.He was completely blind, walking into walls ,bumping into things, and it was breaking my heart and ma...
My dog Riley just had eye surgery not even a week ago, and already his vision has improved greatly.He was completely blind, walking into walls ,bumping into things, and it was breaking my heart and making me cry on a daily basis. Dr. Dorbandt and his staff showed me nothing but compassion and understood how very important Riley is to me! I don’t have the words to say thank you enough for what they’ve done! I would highly recommend them to anyone who’s animal is having trouble with their vision. It takes special people to do what they do so very very well! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart
Kl Massoni
27 Mar 2021
They are a money making scam, with no medical personal just some dumb asses in scrubs who tell you lies when you call for an update on your pet after an hour.
They prey on people who are visibly distr...
They are a money making scam, with no medical personal just some dumb asses in scrubs who tell you lies when you call for an update on your pet after an hour.
They prey on people who are visibly distraught. So they came running out to my car appx 8 minutes after I left him, to sign a form that essentially read, should he need emergency services do I want to speak to the vet prior to any life saving measures or do I prefer they do what is necessary to save his life. ie: Are you willing to pay whatever it costs to save your pet? I was assured my dog would be fine and it was just standard procedure.
In 3 hours, that I was parked in front of their door, no employee ever came out to anyone elses car with a form.
I did check off the box indicating I would want him to receive immediate care. As soon as she left I had an uneasy feeling about signing that paper.
My first call after 70 minutes to inquire of his current condition. I could tell she had no clue who, why, or where he was. It was clear she had nothing in the computer about him or even why he was there. Meaning noone saw him yet. Yet, assured me he was stable and resting comfortably. Ok, now what? She said to observe him and other "doctor stuff". I knew she was lying and I informed her I found the phrase doctor stuff condescending and disrespectful as I am a nurse and not stupid.
My daughter called them from home asking about him and explain I was upset that I am.not being told about his present condition by a medical professional and that he had been sitting in a cage for the last 90 minutes. She informed my daughter she was downstairs with the dogs. My daughter said the "nurse" would call me and that he drank water and is not in a cage, they are all out. Really? Then the "nurse" called and told me my dog is doing well and he ate and drank. Really, what do you feed a dog that was brought in with an airway obstruction? Especially when you never asked what he eats, what is he allergic to, if he is up to date on his rabies, or who his regular vet is. The truth is my dog was sitting in a cage for 3 hours, clearly he coughed up the food on his own or swallowed it by now. So hes ready to go. No he still needs to be seen by the vet. They didnt even know why he was there. Just keeping him while they figured out how to turn his uneventful visit into a medical emergency so they could charge for life saving measures like xrays, anesthsia, bloodwork, IVs,, oxygen medications, maybe an overnight stay for "observation" etc. After 3 hours with no medical attention for an obstructed airway, he either got it out himself or was dead in his cell. I made my second call after 3 hours, asking for my dog. She stalled and came back and said he is being seen next. No, I don't want anyone touching him. I just want my dog. She started saying something again. Yes, I scream at her. I WANT MY F*#^÷_g DOG NOW!! She hung up on me and I had to call 911 to get someone there before they did anyhing to him. Why? Because they had nothing to bill me for. No care was ever provided, in fact the dog could have easily sat in the car with me until it was his turn. But then they couldn't lie about what happens to your pet unseen. These people are beyond shady.
I am thankful to God that my beloved Maxwell was NEVER seen by a veterinarian or anyone else. In fact I never met a vet, talked to a vet, never recieved a call from a vet and I never saw a veterinarian once inside or out the entire time I was there.
After all the continuous lies about my dog's condition, I am relieved to have gotten him out of there before he was "seen" by anyone. However, it did require an emergency call to police and signing some ridiculous AMA form, while an unprofessional, ignorant person with questionable hygiene stood less than 2 feet behind me, during a pandemic, while I signed it. They keep you from your pet in an attempt to bill you for services not rendered. I am sure I was not charged because we both knew they did nothing for him.
Really? Against what Medical Advice? So now what, his insurance company isn't going to pay for his visit? Ridiculous! I was never given any advice by anyone. Those desk attendants dressed in scrubs are not vetinary techs or certified in any way to care for sick animals.
RUN DONT WALK AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS SNAKE OIL SHOW
The officer who came out, automatically assumed I called over a bill, because apparently they are called there frequently for upcharging .
Oh AND Yes, I specifically downloaded this app for NO other reason than to warn other pet owners do not take your pet here.
Like many I gave this place a 1 so I could post a review or I would have given them what they gave my dog, ZERO.
I will copy and post this review on every review site within 100 miles.
Oh ya and have a nice evening.
Sean Coyle
19 Mar 2021
BEWARE. I CAUTION you to NOT bring your pets to this place if you love them. See the below letter for our miserable experience:
To Central Hospital For Veterinary Medicine,
Now that my wife and I ha...
BEWARE. I CAUTION you to NOT bring your pets to this place if you love them. See the below letter for our miserable experience:
To Central Hospital For Veterinary Medicine,
Now that my wife and I have had a few days to cool down, we wanted to reach out to you and express our sincere disgust with your hospital, the careless nature in which you treat your clients and the immense emotional toll it took on us.
This past weekend, my wife and I brought our bird to your hospital given a recent change in her behavior. It turns out she was very sick and needed to be put down. This bird was a family member to us — we loved her deeply — and given how unexpected it was, my wife and I were both shocked and devastated.
The demeanor of your staff and the way we were treated was reprehensible. Upon initially walking into the lobby with our sick bird, none of the staff at your receptionist area lifted their heads. They seemingly couldn’t care less. When a doctor finally emerged, you took our bird and shuffled us around like cattle with the most monotone and unsympathetic tones possible, given the situation, on one of the worst days of my wife and my life.
As we waited in the car for a call from the doctor, the phone rang and we got the terrible news. Before there was any ‘I’m sorry’ (and when that did come, it was incredibly insincere and, as mentioned, monotone) you immediately asked us to pull out our credit card and cough up 300 bucks, as we’re sitting in the car crying. On top of that, you tried to push us on a 200 dollar cremation option as my mind was spinning. It was all about the money for your staff. Literally, seconds after we were recommended to put our bird down, you wanted your money.
And let me stress, money wasn’t the issue here. We had no problem paying, but the way your staff went about it was cruel and, quite honestly, pathetic. But it didn’t end there.
At that point, we walked in to the lobby and told the receptionist that we wanted to see our bird for the last time. As we were standing there holding our bird, in tears, saying goodbye, a staff member was hovering over us looking for a credit card.
As mentioned, we were going to pay. We understand the nature of the business, but your staff could not have been more unsympathetic and uncourteous, which, in your line of work, in these situations, should be required character traits.
I want you to know that we are going to do everything in our power to spread the word and recommend that no one who loves their pets use your hospital. We will not leave any box unchecked in that regard. I promise. You made a nightmare even darker and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Gary Luciani
13 Apr 2020
I was so grateful that I was referred to Dr. Olmsted at Central Hospital after my beloved cat received her cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Olmsted was caring, compassionate and knowledgeable. She patiently exp...
I was so grateful that I was referred to Dr. Olmsted at Central Hospital after my beloved cat received her cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Olmsted was caring, compassionate and knowledgeable. She patiently explained the diagnosis and the treatment options, answered all my questions, and gave me the information and peace of mind I required to settle on a best course of treatment for my cat.
I appreciated both her empathy and her candor; I came away with the impression that she truly cared for my cat and was committed to pursuing the “best” treatment options.
Dr. Olmsted is a very special doctor (oncologist); I would highly recommend to anyone.
In addition, Dr. Olmsted’s assistants and the staff at Central Hospital were very friendly, caring and professional. Their warmth and compassion during the process was much appreciated.
Diarmid K.
11 Jul 2019
Central Hospital Radiology - Dave/tech - Prompt response for scheduling; professional, knowledgeable, compassionate care for both of my pets. Answering questions and informing us of the procedure, pr...
Central Hospital Radiology - Dave/tech - Prompt response for scheduling; professional, knowledgeable, compassionate care for both of my pets. Answering questions and informing us of the procedure, protocols, and follow up. I think they are top veterinary emergency facility in CT.
Gina Magnetti
4 Jul 2019
Could not express more appreciation for the professionalism, expertise and compassion displayed by Dr. Taylor, Jason, on call vets and the nursing, tech and reception staff at this facility. They wer...
Could not express more appreciation for the professionalism, expertise and compassion displayed by Dr. Taylor, Jason, on call vets and the nursing, tech and reception staff at this facility. They were responsive in every way to the emergency we were dealing with and we could not ask for more in terms of communication and investment in our dogs recovery from a traumatic injury.
Cece W.
27 Jun 2019
We noticed that our brand new puppy was breaking out in hives and having excessive accidents one after another in the house. We felt so terrible and didn't know what was going on, so we went to Centra...
We noticed that our brand new puppy was breaking out in hives and having excessive accidents one after another in the house. We felt so terrible and didn't know what was going on, so we went to Central Hospital for emergency assistance. The wait was only about an hour on a busy Saturday afternoon but everyone working there was extremely nice and communicative. When our boy finally made his way in, they did an extensive evaluation of him and acted immediately to give him an antihistamine IV to help him out. His hives almost immediately subsided and he was back to normal in a flash. We were grateful for the help and for the opportunity to call back for further assistance should his health waiver throughout the night. Usually places are just in and out and about getting their money. This place is all about doing what is right for the animal. Very happy with our experience and would 100% return! Our boy seems to be just as happy as we were!
Cheryl P.
24 Jun 2019
Awesome facility. I have never had any issues with this hospital.When it comes to heart or eyes specialist they are awesome.I like the idea of when checking out they give you a detailed write up on wh...
Awesome facility. I have never had any issues with this hospital.When it comes to heart or eyes specialist they are awesome.I like the idea of when checking out they give you a detailed write up on what was done and any future advice on additional test or medication if needed.
Holly C.
22 Jun 2019
We took our beautiful black lab to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine for a simple outpatient procedure. Our beautiful girl died less than 24 hours later. We had called the hospital a few hours ...
We took our beautiful black lab to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine for a simple outpatient procedure. Our beautiful girl died less than 24 hours later. We had called the hospital a few hours after her surgery because we were concerned that she was listless and weak. We were told that it was a side effect of the anesthesia and not to be concerned. We will never know if had we brought her back to the hospital if she would still be with us. When we called them to let them know what happened it took them several WEEKS to return our call and we were told that she only had local anesthesia and this in no way could have contributed to her death. When we brought up that we had called about her condition on the day of her surgery we were told that the response to the call we made with our concerns was answered by a receptionist reading from a script and they do not pass patient concerns along to a doctor. No one ever looked at her chart to see that she did not have general anesthesia. They were not concerned that we had lost a a family member that was very loved. Be very careful when choosing this facility for your pet.
Phoebe T.
19 Jun 2019
Fear & dread were replaced by direct,clear, professional staff, from reception,vet tech, docs, they saved my special needs boys life, and consistently kept me in the loop every step, I was even there ...
Fear & dread were replaced by direct,clear, professional staff, from reception,vet tech, docs, they saved my special needs boys life, and consistently kept me in the loop every step, I was even there post op, for my own reassurance, but i know my boy knew I was there & that made all the difference. Their knowledge and communication were invaluable as surgery was done as soon as prompt examination, pre op testing, confirmed diagnosis. Continously updating me for 3days, & post surg appointment, luckily gave us best possible results. CHVM should be on every pet emergency list, as it is with my family
Ashwin S.
7 Jun 2019
I am more than glad I came to Central for my pets surgery. My 6.5 yo American cocker was in a lot of pain with his ear infection. I was recommended to Dr. Pond and I am very happy after I met Dr. Pond...
I am more than glad I came to Central for my pets surgery. My 6.5 yo American cocker was in a lot of pain with his ear infection. I was recommended to Dr. Pond and I am very happy after I met Dr. Pond and after the surgery. The staff here are so friendly and attentive and they take such good care of your pets. We had to leave our pet overnight after the surgery and every time i called to get an update on how he was doing, the staff was humble and nice and cared to give me the progress update and let me know he is safe and fine. This gave me a sigh of relief and I am happy that I came here. The hospital is clean and maintained well. Definitely one of the hospitals where you can feel safe leaving you fur baby and not being extorted.
Rita C.
27 May 2019
We love Stephanie and Dr deMadron, that's it!ok yelp said had to write moreMy kitty loves Stephanie and Dr deMadronThey were part of team that saved her life Best cardiac team in the state.
Celie C.
25 May 2019
Unless your animal has been squashed flat by a garbage truck...take the time to get to a regular vet. Average cost for ER visit here approaches $1000. If you suspect an illness don't go crazy if a vet...
Unless your animal has been squashed flat by a garbage truck...take the time to get to a regular vet. Average cost for ER visit here approaches $1000. If you suspect an illness don't go crazy if a vet can't see you for a day. Wait and save yourself some $$$. Very posh, staff all over the place and believe me you're paying for it. I don't think we would have received any less care at the local vet but because the pet belongs to a disabled person who lives alone she was very distraught. Her vet could not get her in and recommended Central. NEVER again! I will bide my time and wait for an appt.
Louis M.
22 May 2019
I brought my dog to Central on Saturday May 18th at 1:00 pm. The dog was in distress and had labored breathing, severe diarrhea, crying in pain and listless. An intake sheet was completed at the fr...
I brought my dog to Central on Saturday May 18th at 1:00 pm. The dog was in distress and had labored breathing, severe diarrhea, crying in pain and listless. An intake sheet was completed at the front desk when I walked in which accompanies the animal as they are taken downstairs to be treated. They took the dog from me and I didn't get an update on the condition of the dog until 2 & 1/2 hours later. I requested an update from the front desk every 15 minutes and each time I was told they would be with me shortly. When I finally received the 1st update from a technician they had stated that the dog was flat and was undergoing an ultrasound. I then stated what do you mean? I wasn't even given an update nor did I authorize any procedures. The technician then became nasty with me which was totally unacceptable. They ended up moving me into an exam room since I was quite upset. When the doctor finally came into the room the 1st question I was asked was; What brings you in today? The dog was downstairs for almost 2 & 1/2 hours being treated but you don't know why they were brought in? Unacceptable once again. Unfortunately in an emergency you go to the nearest facility to be treated. I called the facility to speak to the director who had someone else discuss my concerns who had an attitude from the beginning of the conversation and made excuses for the facility and how busy they may have been on Saturday. I asked if she could provide an update after she investigated my concerns with the staff and it seemed that my request was not even taken seriously. If you want to pay top $ for poor service and no respect then Central is the facility for you . I would suggest another facility-Beware!!!
Mary Beth S.
14 Mar 2019
So far I have done a FB review, a google review and now a yelp. Don't think there are any other places I can review but I shout your praises to all my clients at Bark Avenue Pethouse. Just thank you ...
So far I have done a FB review, a google review and now a yelp. Don't think there are any other places I can review but I shout your praises to all my clients at Bark Avenue Pethouse. Just thank you and ALL the staff. You guys rock.
Bill R.
22 Feb 2019
do not bring your animal to this place!! they sliced off every single one of my dogs nipples for an ultra soundno one will answer me on why this was done and they put me on hold and then send me to vo...
do not bring your animal to this place!! they sliced off every single one of my dogs nipples for an ultra soundno one will answer me on why this was done and they put me on hold and then send me to voice mail with no ones name on it. they should be closed down
Andrew B.
28 Jan 2019
It's hard to write a review of a place where I had one if the worst experiences of my life, but the kind people at Central Hospital deserve some recognition.My wife and I lost our beloved Bernese Moun...
It's hard to write a review of a place where I had one if the worst experiences of my life, but the kind people at Central Hospital deserve some recognition.My wife and I lost our beloved Bernese Mountain Dog last week. In order to explain our experience with Central, I need to summarize what we went through.On Monday night Lou was clearly not feeling well. His gums were white, which we now know us a warning sign for internal bleeding, so we rushed him to the emergency vet at 10:30pm. Our initial experience at Central was not great. The intake doctor/nurse lacked any real bedside manner and spent way too long telling us about various levels in Lou's blood before giving us a diagnosis. She had an impossible task trying to explain to two nervous owners that their dog was seriously ill, so I don't want to be too harsh, but she made a stressful situation worse for us. Also, everyone we met after that interaction was so great that it put that first conversation in stark contrast.Lou's spleen had ruptured and he needed emergency surgery to remove it. He was only 4 years old and a day earlier had been in perfect health, so he had decent odds that the rupture wasn't related to cancer. And if that was the case, we'd take him home in a day or two. The surgery was a success, but within a few hours he was having uncommon complications we later learned were due to a rare form of cancer that causes the body's white blood cells to attack red blood cells. It is not treatable.But it took three days to get that diagnosis because the cancer is so rare and is largely diagnosed symptomatically. Over those three days we visited Lou in the ICU 5 times. His condition improved and deteriorated several times. We briefly thought we could take him home, only to get a call hours later telling us he had taken a serious turn for the worse. We had to let him go on Thursday night.We interacted most with Dr. Brodeur, Brittany, Kira, and Dr. Smith (I'm sorry if I have forgotten someone). They were all so kind and accommodating to us. But Dr. Brodeur was especially wonderful. She monitored the status of Lou's biopsy on her day off (I only know that only because I overheard the nurses talking in the ICU), she called us with updates, and she stayed several hours after her shift ended on Thursday to help us navigate the miserable decision to put Lou down. She even stayed to perform the euthanasia. Her continued presence that night was a huge comfort.I obviously don't have fond memories of Central Hospital and I hope to never requires their services again. But my wife and I are incredibly grateful for the kind people here who made this tragedy slightly less miserable than it might otherwise have been.
Marika G.
26 Jan 2019
Absolutely wonderful staff. They are very friendly and helpful. I brought in my bloodhound that was a puppy and was severely sick. She was brought to our vet earlier that day who said she would be fin...
Absolutely wonderful staff. They are very friendly and helpful. I brought in my bloodhound that was a puppy and was severely sick. She was brought to our vet earlier that day who said she would be fine and to just wait a few days. Later that same night we had to rush her to Central where she needed emergency surgery the next day and have a VERY LOW chance of making it. My puppy made it and did better than anyone expected thanks to this staff. If you ever need to get help for your pet imminently, go here. It is pricy but you get what you pay for. The absolute best!
Kit A.
26 Dec 2018
A few days ago my naughty puppy ate 2 straight pins. I rushed her directly to the hospital and we received kind, helpful, compassionate care. She was hospitalized for two nights and carefully monito...
A few days ago my naughty puppy ate 2 straight pins. I rushed her directly to the hospital and we received kind, helpful, compassionate care. She was hospitalized for two nights and carefully monitored, and now she's home and pin free. The staff was hugely kind to me while I freaked out and panicked about my dog being in so much danger. They helped me understand the risks and benefits of all actions and we came up with a course of care. They also helped me with billing my pet health insurance company and helped to explain how billing would work and what I needed to do. The night I went in was the Saturday before Christmas so it was very busy and it was clear they were doing the best they could with minimal staff and a huge case load. But they found the time to be kind and supportive and to get my dog the best care possible.
Henry V.
8 Nov 2018
This is one of the best places I have ever been in for my Boxer. A special thank you goes out to Dr. Julia Treseder of Cardiologists for taking special care of my boxer.I feel that I am getting the be...
This is one of the best places I have ever been in for my Boxer. A special thank you goes out to Dr. Julia Treseder of Cardiologists for taking special care of my boxer.I feel that I am getting the best care from Dr. Treseder and Central Hospital staff has to offer anywhere! So if you what to feel you are getting the best help possible for your special pet. Don't hesitate to put your trust in this Hospital!
John B.
1 Sep 2018
Best place I've ever brought my dog to. They were calm and knew how to handle a dog with anxiety. They even called to check up on him after we arrived home.
Mike
14 Jul 2018
Really mixed reviews on this place. So I had a rabbit who was having some trouble so I bring him in and pay the emergency $130. Everything is going well, although I'm kinda frustrated I'm paying that ...
Really mixed reviews on this place. So I had a rabbit who was having some trouble so I bring him in and pay the emergency $130. Everything is going well, although I'm kinda frustrated I'm paying that much. So my rabbit is taken and they take his vitals. Also at this time I'm put into a room and told to wait for a doctor. So the doctor comes in, asks what's going on, etc. and all is going fine. She then tells me she'll come back in a few minutes and tell me what's going on, what tests need to be run, if he'll need shots and whatnot. This is where I get annoyed. I wait in the room for 2 hours without anyone speaking to me, and as soon as I want to complain, I see the doctor and she tells me she'll be with me in a bit. 20 minutes later, she tells me they have diagnosed my animal and he needs a shot, medicine, etc. and she says someone will come in 5 minutes and show me hot to administer the medicine. Someone finally comes in, after 20 minutes, and I'm shown how to administer the medicine. Then when I'm checking out, I get charged over $100 for the medicine on top of the $130 for the visit. In the end, I'm not really mad about the price, but the fact that I was at the vet for over 3 hours for something that shouldn't of takes that long.
Shannon R.
5 Jun 2018
While the veterinarians and staff are nice and experienced at this location, nothing makes up for the ridiculously high prices that they charge. You are basically being charged what a human would be i...
While the veterinarians and staff are nice and experienced at this location, nothing makes up for the ridiculously high prices that they charge. You are basically being charged what a human would be if they were taken to the emergency room. For blood panels and for my cat to stay overnight was $1600.00. That's ridiculous! If you want to find out what your pet has (it's $130 right off the bat for that), and it is not something life threatening and that can wait for you to schedule with your regular vet (unfortunately it was a Sunday in my case when my vet is closed), just pay the $130 and leave. I kick myself because I could have given my cat a quick shot of glucose and could have taken him to my vet the next day with a bill of maybe $100. Even the staff I talked to at the place said that the prices were extremely high and they have pamphlets all around the waiting room for credit cards and loans you can take out. They know their prices are ridiculous and KNOW that you can't pay them.
Courtney Breezy
11 May 2018
The staff here is very friendly and nice. But here's where they fall short. My pup was coughing and i rushed her to this ER twice two nights in a row panicked that she wasn't okay. They told me i need...
The staff here is very friendly and nice. But here's where they fall short. My pup was coughing and i rushed her to this ER twice two nights in a row panicked that she wasn't okay. They told me i needed to get xrays and i paid 300$ for them. They said nothing was wrong and sent her off with benadryl. One-two weeks later she wasn't getting any better so I proceeded to take her to Yalesville animal hospital where they also took xrays, bloodwork, urine etc. They said the xrays revealed a partially collapsed trachea and bronchitis and also pancreatitis. The ER told me her trachea looked fine and if I actually took their word for it she would've kept suffering and possibly gotten chronically worse. Thankfully for Yalesville animal hospital she's now on the proper medication. Really disappointed such a kind staff would misdiagnose her and send her off saying there was nothing wrong
Emily Grindrod
29 Apr 2018
Although expensive (like any emergency medical help will be, especially for pets) the staff made what was already a very stressful night, as comfortable as it could have been. Everyone from the front ...
Although expensive (like any emergency medical help will be, especially for pets) the staff made what was already a very stressful night, as comfortable as it could have been. Everyone from the front desk to the doctor was exceptional with me and my dog. They made sure to be thorough without adding on unnecessary exams and spoke with me every step of the way. I felt involved in the plan of care and that my dog was taken care of when they kept him over night. Very good experience.
K Lee
28 Apr 2018
Very clean, professional friendly staff who always listen. They explain everything to you. I had a great experience and would highly recommend this hospital for your animal.
Michelle C.
23 Apr 2018
We were sent to this hospital when my dog (Fezzik) got sick last September (2017). I live in Simsbury, so it's a couple hours' drive down to North Haven, but my regular vet didn't have the capabilitie...
We were sent to this hospital when my dog (Fezzik) got sick last September (2017). I live in Simsbury, so it's a couple hours' drive down to North Haven, but my regular vet didn't have the capabilities to care for our dog. Turned out he has an autoimmune disease (IMHA), and Central Hospital was the clinic our vet took her own dog to when they came down with the same disease.Fezzik was taken in and taken care of better than I could have ever expected. His case was hard - as IMHA comes about very quickly, and can kill your dog just as fast unless you do something about it. He was there for about a week, getting blood transfusions, and we did almost lose him because his body was rejecting everything. But the staff and doctors here knew what they were doing, and kept us appraised at everything that was happening every step of the way. We knew how much it would cost (they gave us an estimate range at the beginning, and in the end, the actual cost we paid came out within that range, but not at the high end - even when they had to get human immunoglobulins, which was what eventually saved his life - and all I can say is "thank goodness we have pet insurance". Fezzik has better health insurance than I do - and cheaper, too!), we knew exactly what was happening, and we knew what his chances were (not good).Through the last several months, the whole team of doctors has kept in touch with his regular vet to keep appraised of how he's doing, and how to keep his medication going. I'm happy to say because of the terrific care we got here, Fezzik is weaning off his last bout of medications right now, and is back to his normal self. I would not hesitate to return here (and due to the nature of his disease, I will probably have to, but keeping my fingers crossed) if we ever needed to.
cecelia abedi
22 Jan 2018
I have to take a moment and thank all the wonderful vets and staff at Central. Dr. Harley, thank you for always being there, understanding the true need, responding to my emails, being honest with the...
I have to take a moment and thank all the wonderful vets and staff at Central. Dr. Harley, thank you for always being there, understanding the true need, responding to my emails, being honest with the health of my dog and costs. You truly care and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you.
Today, I became even closer to Central when I spoke to Dr. MacDonald. I didn't have to explain anything about my Frenchie and his issues. She understood everything because her French/English has the exact same problems with kidney's. The understanding and compassion of knowing what you're going through with a sick dog, couldn't of been anymore genuine today. As we discussed both of our bulldogs health, we both began to cry and I found myself giving her a hug. Although it is so sad to see our babies go through suffering, she made a great point today. She told me that the life span could be 4 years or 9 years but the quality of life is what matters most. I couldn't agree more.
Thank you so much for everything and for understanding. My heart goes out to all of you and may you all be blessed. My experience at Central gets better every time I go.
Thumbs up to you all!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Robmar85
15 Jan 2018
We took our dog there when he was having seizures due to low blood sugar. After a full examination, they discussed the cost of his treatment plan. I know many people don't like this, but sadly it's pa...
We took our dog there when he was having seizures due to low blood sugar. After a full examination, they discussed the cost of his treatment plan. I know many people don't like this, but sadly it's part of emergency vet medicine. We agreed to the plan, paid what we needed and our dog was admitted and treated. We were kept up to date on his progress, allowed to visit and our every call was answered by a friendly voice ready to assist us. This was a much better experience than we had a Shoreline years ago when our dog was attacked by another dog. They wouldn't even touch him until they had a $3000 deposit despite his serious injuries (deep lacerations and puncture wounds). I highly recommend Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine...it's run like a human hospital with efficiency, professionalism and kindness.
Amr A.
9 Jan 2018
You and you pets are in the hands of earth angels at Central Vet! Yes it's pricey but well worth it. If you saw the interworkings you would be quite impressed. Be assured they have your best interest ...
You and you pets are in the hands of earth angels at Central Vet! Yes it's pricey but well worth it. If you saw the interworkings you would be quite impressed. Be assured they have your best interest at heart. Good people here!
David W.
27 Oct 2017
I've been here 2 or 3 times with two different cats. As other reviewers note THIS PLACE IS ALL ABOUT $$$. The staff is rude, and, instead of giving you an exact figure that you'll pay for a surgery, y...
I've been here 2 or 3 times with two different cats. As other reviewers note THIS PLACE IS ALL ABOUT $$$. The staff is rude, and, instead of giving you an exact figure that you'll pay for a surgery, you get an estimate. The estimate includes low and high figures. The final bill is always more than the estimate. Furthermore, hidden costs not on the estimate miraculously appear. Imagine that.Also, on my most recent visit, the staff didn't know if my cat was supposed to be given meds even though the discharge papers clearly stated that my cat is supposed to get meds. I waited for 30 minutes while they tried to figure out what--if anything--my cat was supposed to be taking. After figuring out that my cat was supposed to be given pain meds, I had to wait for them to prepare the syringes. O and there was an additional charge for the meds.Finally, on my most recent visit, the techs didn't put the e-collar on my cat. They just handed it to me and said I would have to do it myself. After being charged $2000 for an exploratory surgery, you would think a tech could put an e-collar on your cat. After all, it's just a piece of plastic.I called my vet and complained. We'll see what happens. He too admitted Central really needs to work on its compassion.The bottom line is this: Central isn't in it for your pet; they're in it for $$$
Jess L.
26 Oct 2017
No one wants to go to a pet hospital, but sometimes life throws you curve balls. I visited Central a handful of times over the course of a month during my late cat's sudden illness. The vast majority ...
No one wants to go to a pet hospital, but sometimes life throws you curve balls. I visited Central a handful of times over the course of a month during my late cat's sudden illness. The vast majority of doctors, technicians, and professionals whom we interacted with during this difficult time were excellent and responsive. Dr. Olmsted, the oncologist on staff, did a lot of background work on my cat's cancer and was very good at describing various approaches and things to consider. The oncology nurse, Allyson, was a great partner with Dr. Olmsted and complimented Dr. Olmsted with her clarity and sensitivity. We also really appreciated the care of Dr. Harvey, who was also very responsive, helpful, and caring. Unfortunately, our first interaction at Central, while during the beginning of this difficult period, was not greeted with the most reassuring moments. While I'm sure she meant well, Dr. Weston was a bit too blunt for us, talked very quickly over scary details, and wasn't as sensitive to our needs. Nonetheless, I am glad we stuck with the team at Central through this ordeal. The only other thing that was difficult for us was how challenging it was to get an oncology appointment, even after we got a diagnosis. It seems like there's a bit more need than availability for this specialty.
Lindsay C.
28 Jun 2017
I am very upset at how my cat was discharged today after her dental. A technician assistant hands me my cat in her carrier, and I think I smell her urine. I get to my car, and sure enough my cat is si...
I am very upset at how my cat was discharged today after her dental. A technician assistant hands me my cat in her carrier, and I think I smell her urine. I get to my car, and sure enough my cat is sitting in her own urine, which was pooled around her due to her carrier being plastic. I bring her back in and tell the girl at the front desk that she has peed in her carrier, and asked if it could please be cleaned before our drive home to New Haven. She takes the carrier from me. I wait in the lobby. About five minutes later, she returns with my cat in the lobby and says "I'm sorry, your cat is too dangerous for us to handle right now, and we do not want to injure our staff." My cat is still sitting in a pool of urine. I respond, "My cat came in as a 'major caution', and your staff handled her to give her her dental today. Now you are telling me because I already paid you will not handle her anymore?" I was then motioned into a room with my cat still sitting in her urine, where I was made to wait for ten minutes for a supervisor or manager. Mel comes in and tells me that she doesn't want to stress my cat out or injure the staff, and asks me if I want some waterless shampoo to clean my cat myself. Ashley and Dr. Harley come in, and Mel is still asking me if I would like to restrain my own cat and clean her myself. I told them that is not my job. It is not protocol to ask clients to restrain their own animals. This is not how animals are supposed to be discharged. It their job to handle animals regardless if they are a caution or not, and frankly my cat still seemed very out of it from her surgery. It seemed like because she was already paid for and discharged, that they did not wish to deal with her anymore. I had to get upset and demand that they bring her downstairs to clean her and her carrier, which was horrifying and ridiculous. When she was returned to me, I told Mel I was going to tell Kathy how she broke protocol by asking me to restrain my own cat, and she said, "You don't have to do that, I did not say that..." and then "it was nice seeing you too" which I replied, "Sarcasm. Very professional." I am truly appalled at my experience today.
Ashley B
2 Jun 2017
Brought my dog in today because he could barely walk out of no where. Started bowling my eyes out talking to the girls at the desk because I just moved here and it's only me and my dog and I could not...
Brought my dog in today because he could barely walk out of no where. Started bowling my eyes out talking to the girls at the desk because I just moved here and it's only me and my dog and I could not lose him!!! They handed me tissues and were so sweet and understanding (even when my dog pooed on their floor!) I told them I believed he had Lyme disease and they listened to everything I had to say and had him tested quick quickly for it by one of the male workers possibly a tech? He was also so understanding and helpful! He brought my dog back quick and a little more waiting and the vet came out and she was very informative and got straight to the point that he intact had Lyme disease and told me how we were going to treat him and what my options were for that. Everything was my choice and I didn't feel pressured at all! The tech then went outside with me and my dog to collect a urine sample and soon after that I was receiving my dogs medication with a very thorough education on what they are and how to use them. I couldn't thank the girls at the front desk enough. This was such a terrible scare for my dog and they helped me so much. Highly recommended!! Also, everyone else that came in there also seemed very pleased with their services as well!
Anya A.
20 May 2017
Our usually healthy, energetic young cat was sneezing, lethargic, and threw up multiple times over the course of one night, so we brought her here after a referral from our regular vet (New Haven Vete...
Our usually healthy, energetic young cat was sneezing, lethargic, and threw up multiple times over the course of one night, so we brought her here after a referral from our regular vet (New Haven Veterinary Associates on State St). We were kept waiting for several hours without the opportunity to speak to the vet or see our cat. They x rayed our cat, but wouldn't tell us what was wrong (just that it was "serious") and continued to recommend further procedures without giving us pertinent info, just price quotes. The whole atmosphere, and the demeanor of the people we interacted with, were cold and impersonal, and we were worried sick.Eventually we got to speak to the vet, who was at least cordial and communicative, but she wasn't particularly helpful. She said our cat's symptoms could effectively be due to any reason at all--allergies, upset stomach--but that we would need even more intensive and expensive procedures to rule out serious causes like cancer. The vet drew up a lengthy list of recommendations that included an ultrasound and keeping our cat at the ER for up to two nights on an IV drip. The projected cost ran into the thousands! My husband and I are students and we simply couldn't afford it, so we took our cat home. We were worried sick, already $500 poorer, still had no answers, and were thoroughly guilt-tripped into believing we were irreparably harming our cat by not handing over $2500+ to Central Hospital.As soon as we could, we made an appointment with a different vet (Mt Carmel Veterinary Hospital in Hamden). The vet we saw was kind and empathetic, and quickly diagnosed our cat: she had a cold and was prescribed antibiotics. He said the vomiting was probably due to a recent dietary change (apparently a lot of cats are sensitive to Fancy Feast, which we had introduced just before the vomiting started) and that we shouldn't worry unless it recurred. The process was efficient and cost us under $100. Lo and behold, after about a week on antibiotics, our cat is doing just fine--her cold has cleared up, she's no longer vomiting, and she's back to her playful, energetic self.We are shocked by the fact that Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine jumped to the absolute worst-case scenarios and pushed exorbitantly priced recommendations on us, instead of coming to a simple, common-sense, low-cost diagnosis first. Honestly, the whole process at Central Hospital felt designed to stoke our fears and fleece us of as much money as possible with little regard for our cat's best interest and well-being. We are also disappointed in New Haven Veterinary Associates, the vet that made the referral. We would not be surprised if there's a conflict of interest here; they said that they are affiliated with Central Hospital, and it seems like they had little incentive to help our cat before making a referral to such an alarmist and expensive establishment. Both Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine and New Haven Veterinary Associates have permanently lost our business. Whether our cats have mild or serious symptoms in the future, we are going to a vet that demonstrably prioritizes the well-being of animals and provides honest, transparent, compassionate, and efficient care--not a place that tries to maximize their bottom line with ethically suspect scare tactics.
Lisa S.
16 Apr 2017
We've unfortunately had to use the services of this hospital on 3 separate occasions in the same year. The receptionists/front desk staff, are extremely friendly & helpful & the ER vets/techs that we'...
We've unfortunately had to use the services of this hospital on 3 separate occasions in the same year. The receptionists/front desk staff, are extremely friendly & helpful & the ER vets/techs that we've seen, have all been great. YES the prices are higher than a regular vet and YES they ask for payment up front, but so do most hospitals for humans! Unless you're shot & bleeding out they want to know how you're paying & who your insurance carrier is. Unfortunately it's the nature of the beast! If you want emergency care, you pay emergency prices. I don't think this hospital (which is both CLEAN & friendly), deserves bad ratings because of prices...if you don't want to pay higher prices, don't take your pet to an EMERGENCY clinic.
Connor Griffin
5 Mar 2017
This place is a joke. I had called there because it was the closest place to me that takes exotic animals. I called to get some advice from a VET. When someone at the desk picked up I kindly asked to ...
This place is a joke. I had called there because it was the closest place to me that takes exotic animals. I called to get some advice from a VET. When someone at the desk picked up I kindly asked to speak to any available vet that sees exotic reptiles. They put me through with the X-ray tech who is NOT a vet but he was fluent in attitude. I asked about five times to speak to a vet and each time he kept giving me more and more attitude I hung up the phone and called Wilton animal hospital. I will not go here for anything ever your phone service is a joke so I didn't even want to see how they treated animals. If you can go to Wilton animal hospital they are cheaper and care more about the animal then the paycheck. The staff are very friendly and very educated.
Crystal Rose Cathcart
24 Feb 2017
I have had the most wonderful experiences with the emergency and ophthalmology teams at Central. They are so caring and have the best bedside manner. Having taken two of my cats there for emergencies ...
I have had the most wonderful experiences with the emergency and ophthalmology teams at Central. They are so caring and have the best bedside manner. Having taken two of my cats there for emergencies and one for specialist care, I would recommend them to anyone in need of advanced pet care.
Kathleen Joyce
20 Feb 2017
Phenomenal Cardiac Care of my Cat. After 30 years in the field I discovered MY kitty had a horrible heart condition. He had difficulty breathing, his heart beats sounded awful. Dr. de Madron was wond...
Phenomenal Cardiac Care of my Cat. After 30 years in the field I discovered MY kitty had a horrible heart condition. He had difficulty breathing, his heart beats sounded awful. Dr. de Madron was wonderful. He tapped his chest (to get rid of the excess fluid) and diagnosed him & prescribed 5 different medications Lucky for me Restrictive Cardiomyopathy sometimes responds well to treatment. He has been home for a month and is doing AMAZINGLY well. I did not realize he slowed down so much until he became his good old annoying self. Picking on the other cat, nagging me INCESSANTLY for his food and begging for my food. Thank you for superlative care Central Pet Vet and Dr. de Madron!
Alyssa Guglietti
18 Feb 2017
This is my second time bringing my dog here, and the staff are always great! They are a bit expensive, but they have helped us time and time again. Will always come back if there's another problem.
Melissa Hawks
12 Feb 2017
Dr Eric de Maron was amazing in caring for an operating on our dog, Sophie, a King Charles Cavalier with a rapidly declining heart. She was sure to die. Amazing!
Joseph Hezinger
20 Jan 2017
It is a Terrible place , There suck you dry when you are the most venerable
My vet sent me there to remove a needle from my labs throat. The scopicle removal would be $ 2300.. If there can't do...
It is a Terrible place , There suck you dry when you are the most venerable
My vet sent me there to remove a needle from my labs throat. The scopicle removal would be $ 2300.. If there can't do scopes the surgery will be a other $ 4000.00. Of course they couldn't remove it Scopic. But there charged the full $ 2300.00. There don't give my dog back until I come up with the $2300.00.
Plus a couple hundred dollar consultation fee what is included in the price already.
Do not go there. Unless you have thousands of dollars to Waste.
Daria Far Nettleton
17 Jan 2017
We were so fortunate to find out that Central had an Exotic animal specialty. After brining our Guinea Pig Piper to 2 other hospitals we were referred to Central in an emergency and found they had the...
We were so fortunate to find out that Central had an Exotic animal specialty. After brining our Guinea Pig Piper to 2 other hospitals we were referred to Central in an emergency and found they had the skilled professionals and facilities to help us. Piper the Guinea Pig is now Day 5 post major surgery and she's doing GREAT! Piper had a major tumor in her abdomen that was skillfully removed by Dr. Shakeri assisted by PJ. Can't thank Dr. Shakeri and PJ enough for their care and kindness! Piper is a perfect patient & healing nicely and I'm still so grateful for the care and talent shared by both of them! I would not hesitate to refer to them in the future, all the staff at Central was kind and caring. On a side note- I did witness emergencies that came in to the facility. There is a lot of emotion that comes with this profession. I really feel for the clients as well as the staff at these types of hospitals. People enter this profession because you care for pets, dealing with grieving, emotional clients comes with the territory. That can be so difficult to navigate. I really appreciate everyone that helped up find the right outcome for Piper. A special thank you to all the professionals at Central too!
Stephanie D'Adamo
15 Jan 2017
Dr. Kennedy & the team of techs (Vicki, Monica, Linda, Kizzy) in the ER were beyond amazing. You can tell they truly love their job & the patients they care for. I can not even express how grateful I ...
Dr. Kennedy & the team of techs (Vicki, Monica, Linda, Kizzy) in the ER were beyond amazing. You can tell they truly love their job & the patients they care for. I can not even express how grateful I am to have had such a great group of people surrounding my cat with such care and love. Thank you to everyone who was involved who I may not have had the privilege of meeting as well.
Michelle Marino
1 Dec 2016
DISGUSTING. They should be ashamed of themselves. My coworker brought his dog in, hysterical, because she was having a difficult time in labor and one puppy had died in the birth canal, which obviousl...
DISGUSTING. They should be ashamed of themselves. My coworker brought his dog in, hysterical, because she was having a difficult time in labor and one puppy had died in the birth canal, which obviously blocked the path for the others. She had a few puppies still moving in her belly. Well, now that this disgrace of a vet hospital turned him away, all of the puppies are no longer living and the dog now has an infection/toxicity and will not make it through the night. They would not take her in for surgery without $4k up front and told him good luck. Insane. Who could look at a small dog struggling through labor and turn her away? They wouldn't even take a portion of any payment and work out any sort of payment option for the other half. Just as greedy and corrupt as the doctors and hospitals that we need to visit and spend years in debt trying to pay for. Find a vet who went to school and got their career because they truly love animals. Not these money hungry excuses for vets.
Eileen Gullo
8 Nov 2016
We brought our dog Howie in last Wed and very unexpectedly had to say goodbye ,5 hours later.Dr.Wells and all the staff were amazing.They made a very difficult situation as comfortable as it could be....
We brought our dog Howie in last Wed and very unexpectedly had to say goodbye ,5 hours later.Dr.Wells and all the staff were amazing.They made a very difficult situation as comfortable as it could be.Our family was very impressed.We thank you so much for your kindness and empathy.
Lisa Festa Aceto
29 Oct 2016
I had to take my dog to Central today for a walk in emergency. What a wonderful place. The staff, Frank and Dr. Kennedy, were great. Very compassionate and helpful. I would definitely recommend Centra...
I had to take my dog to Central today for a walk in emergency. What a wonderful place. The staff, Frank and Dr. Kennedy, were great. Very compassionate and helpful. I would definitely recommend Central. I'm glad I choose to go to Central today.
Cheryl Lynn
25 Oct 2016
We recently had to utilize the emergency services here and I found everyone there super helpful, caring and compassionate, Sara at the desk was a sweetheart, Dr. Welles was very informative, even ...
We recently had to utilize the emergency services here and I found everyone there super helpful, caring and compassionate, Sara at the desk was a sweetheart, Dr. Welles was very informative, even with having 3 other emergencies there at the same time, we were still taken care of properly. Prices were very reasonable and yes we did wait, but it's an ER, human or otherwise you wait as the critical are taken in first. I would highly recommend them!
Sara Dombroski
15 Sep 2016
Central Hospital is a busy place, to say the least, the attention to detail and compassion in every case from everyone depicted in their faces and actions is nothing short of astounding. Thank you all...
Central Hospital is a busy place, to say the least, the attention to detail and compassion in every case from everyone depicted in their faces and actions is nothing short of astounding. Thank you all for the great job you do for the love of animals!
Resa M.
11 Jul 2016
Central Hospital is a comprehensive veterinary specialty hospital with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced treatment options, dedicated doctors, and attentive vet technicians and staff. You will cer...
Central Hospital is a comprehensive veterinary specialty hospital with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced treatment options, dedicated doctors, and attentive vet technicians and staff. You will certainly be satisfied with the treatment of your pet here. Highly recommended!
Jackie Nuzzo
5 Jun 2016
I have to say in reading the reviews I would like everyone to form their own opinion based on experience before writing off this hospital! We brought in a kitty that was thrown into the highway the ot...
I have to say in reading the reviews I would like everyone to form their own opinion based on experience before writing off this hospital! We brought in a kitty that was thrown into the highway the other day! We Unfort had to let her cross over and not only was the staff more than patient with us changing our minds, they were loving heartfelt and while we did get charged the emergency fee which I would expect to be charged anyways, due to the circumstances they waived the few to put LT DAN to sleep and for the cremation!! This was the first experience I had with them and I was satisfied !!! I honestly believe if they were like what the not so nice reviews said, at one point like any other dr they would have been investigated and shut down!! They have been in business for over 40 years, there's a reason!!! And just like every other procedure or dr visit these dr's are LIKE god but they are NOT God. Nor or they fortune tellers they cannot predict the future they can only tell you their medical opinion and pray for the best!! Me and my aunt are more than satisfied with our experience
Crystal G.
2 Jun 2016
We had an emergency recently & when I ran into the office the front desk clerk took our cat to a doctor right away. Dr Mcdonald & the staff there worked quickly to help our cat who was suffering and u...
We had an emergency recently & when I ran into the office the front desk clerk took our cat to a doctor right away. Dr Mcdonald & the staff there worked quickly to help our cat who was suffering and unfortunately we chose to euthanize him due to his condition. On one of the worst days of our life the staff there were kind & compassionate & did all they could to ease his suffering & comfort us during our time there. We are not regular clients but I would absolutely recommend this hospital & if I did not love our vet we would absolutely switch to here.
Mary Beth Stark
12 Mar 2016
Yet another wonderful experience at Central. Last month one of my rescues was having some terrible health issues. When I heard about it from her adopters I decided to take her to one of my vets. Poor...
Yet another wonderful experience at Central. Last month one of my rescues was having some terrible health issues. When I heard about it from her adopters I decided to take her to one of my vets. Poor Layla was dying from IMHA. My vet told me to rush her to an emergency hosp. Of course I chose Central. Layla had a temp of 93 and a 3% red blood cell count. Dr Celeste Wells was the attending doctor. I cannot thank her and the staff enough. They take into account the costs and do what they can to keep costs down. Veterinary medicine is expensive but Dr Wells did what she could to keep up to date on Layla's progress and keep track of costs. IMHA is a disease that can rear its head again but at this time Layla is doing well and her red blood cell count is normal. I would never go to another ER hospital for my pets.
Pam G.
8 Mar 2016
If you've been to the New Haven location you'll be pleased with the new location in North Haven. It's a little hidden behind a lot of other places - just look for the Crossroad shopping plaza by Yale...
If you've been to the New Haven location you'll be pleased with the new location in North Haven. It's a little hidden behind a lot of other places - just look for the Crossroad shopping plaza by Yale/Smillow and follow the signs.The staff is very friendly, patient and kind. Most likely you're not here for a great reason, it's a hospital after all, so it's great to have a staff that empathizes with your situation and is understanding of the stressful owner they may have to engage with when you are there.
KRISTINA Kerry
7 Mar 2016
I took my sweet 17 yr old cat to Central Vet yesterday due to labored breathing. They immediately made him comfortable, did an exam and we discussed options. We had to put him to sleep and all my wish...
I took my sweet 17 yr old cat to Central Vet yesterday due to labored breathing. They immediately made him comfortable, did an exam and we discussed options. We had to put him to sleep and all my wishes were honored by the vet and her staff. I was sad to have to make this choice but thankful that he had a gentle passing. Thank you for taking all my concerns and desires for his passing into account and making it happen exactly as I requested.
Beth Merkin
5 Jan 2016
My elderly dog had an acute intestinal problem which I believe may have been life-threatening, and he was admitted on a weekend. Dr. Wells was careful, thoughtful and detailed in her explanation as t...
My elderly dog had an acute intestinal problem which I believe may have been life-threatening, and he was admitted on a weekend. Dr. Wells was careful, thoughtful and detailed in her explanation as to what was going on and she gave me clear information about his treatment plan and prognosis. She and others handled my emotional response to whatever risks he faced in a compassionate manner--which made me feel confidence and comfort about his treatment. The staff were helpful and responsive every time that I called to check in on him. When I went to pick him up, the staff were clearly connected to the needs of my dog, and they were helpful in explaining his follow up treatment plan.
I know that the cost of pet hospitalization can be prohibitive and hard for many people to afford, but my experience at Central Hospital was wonderful and seemed to make the cost easily worthwhile. I am grateful and appreciative of the care and professionalism that they showed from admission to discharge. I highly recommend Central Hospital for any emergency care or specialized treatment.
Lisa Wildman
15 Oct 2015
I was surprised at some of the reviews when I looked the hospital up on the web. Our Pug has gotten nothing but the best of care from the Doctors and staff at this hospital over the last year when he...
I was surprised at some of the reviews when I looked the hospital up on the web. Our Pug has gotten nothing but the best of care from the Doctors and staff at this hospital over the last year when he fell ill with heart problems. Costs are high for all medical care, for human and for pets. Unfortunately, most of us do not have insurance for our pets and we do feel the brunt of the full cost for these services but that is not the fault of the hospital Drs and staff nor a reflection on the exceptional love and care the folks at Central Hospital have provided to our dog. I drive 40 mins to get to this hospital so it also has nothing to do with convenience, it is knowing he will get the attention he deserves as an important member of our family.
Delaney J.
1 Oct 2015
I have grown up with dogs but as a first time dog owner of my own pup I was nervous bringing her in for her spay. My dog received pre surgery blood work to make sure everything would be okay and I re...
I have grown up with dogs but as a first time dog owner of my own pup I was nervous bringing her in for her spay. My dog received pre surgery blood work to make sure everything would be okay and I received a call right when she was out of surgery. Dr. Crocker did her surgery and she was awesome. I also received a follow up call the next day just to check up on her and see how she was doing. They had kept my dog overnight and I had called a couple times over the two days to check in on her and I was always directed quickly to a nurse who was happy to give me an update. I have no problem paying for veterinary care that is as great as this place! Thank you!
Edward Maturo
1 Oct 2015
Care was excellent once they had their $6,100.00. My shepard turned his stomach on labor day around 7pm.we went to the hospital annd the low side was 6100, high of 8500, and money up front. We were to...
Care was excellent once they had their $6,100.00. My shepard turned his stomach on labor day around 7pm.we went to the hospital annd the low side was 6100, high of 8500, and money up front. We were told because it was a holiday, after hours the costs double.!.why, if my guilford vet is closed and you are a hospital offering 24hr emergency care why the double charge? If i went to Yale in sunday they don't charge double???? I've been a customer of the hospital since 1980, a customer of guilford veteran clinic since 1980, doesn't that count for anything? Apparently not. Care was exceptional, thats not my complaints. I'm complaining of funds upfront before any care is done otherwise leave. AND PERIOD of affiliation counts for nothing.
Brian S.
19 Aug 2015
I am writing this just 24 hours since we had to put to sleep our beautiful 12 y.o. lab retriever, Marley, after a long battle with cancer and kidney failure. On such a gut wrenching evening, the care ...
I am writing this just 24 hours since we had to put to sleep our beautiful 12 y.o. lab retriever, Marley, after a long battle with cancer and kidney failure. On such a gut wrenching evening, the care Marley received from everyone as well as the support my wife and I received in helping us make the decision to let Marley go was excellent. My wife and I just moved here within the last month from NC with our 2 dogs. Marley has been battling cancer, kidney failure and a host of other medical issues. We realized when she took a turn for the worse in the last day that the poor girl didn't deserve to suffer. Not knowing where to go since we're so new to the area my wife found that Central Hospital had a 24-hour ER. We called after 6p and spoke with, Jo Ann, who was very nice and said bring her over. That they even had a gurney to meet me at the car since Marley could no longer stand let alone walk. Mary Ann met us at the desk and was very professional, calming and helped us through the process. She got a gurney and met me at the car so I didn't have to carry Marley in making her more uncomfortable.Even with multiple emergency cases that came in the staff checked in on us and then brought Marley to be with us while the veterinarian, Dr. Celeste Wells, did her exam and talked us through the options. She helped to put us both at ease with what we were doing, all the care Marley had received up to this point with surgery and so much else. We both knew this but hearing it from Dr. Wells helped us ultimately make the decision to let Marley go. I will never forget how Dr. Wells helped us in such an important time of need. She prepared us for the procedure and then confirmed that Marley was gone. We were able to stay with her as long as we wanted and the entire team was so supportive and comforting. Mary Jo whom we had spoken to on the phone initially even stopped by and introduced herself and said how sorry she was. While we are crushed to have lost Marley we know she did not suffer and was able to depart this world in such capable hands.
Laila E.
13 Aug 2015
Called late night after my dog ran into a skunk. The woman who answered was so helpful and friendly. My dog went to bed smelling clean again :) thank you!
Lola V.
2 Jul 2015
Caring, compassionate and loving to our three dogs! Thank you to the entire team at Central!
Hilary R.
5 May 2015
An emergency veterinary hospital is the last place a pet owner wants to be. I certainly never thought I would be at one, until my beloved dog was brutally attacked by an off-leash pit bull. The abso...
An emergency veterinary hospital is the last place a pet owner wants to be. I certainly never thought I would be at one, until my beloved dog was brutally attacked by an off-leash pit bull. The absolute worst thing I have ever witnessed is my innocent dog howling in pain as he was terrorized by another canine. I arrived at the Central Hospital in tears and with a badly wounded pet and they immediately rushed outside to safely get my dog on a gurney and into their facility. I was advised to take care of my own minor injuries, as they quickly worked to clean up and stabilize my dog. He was eventually admitted for the night and ended up needing to stay for a total of 4 nights in their ICU. I received daily phone calls and was able to interact with the staff on a face to face basis during my daily visits, some of which lasted for two hours. My dog was in a small pen/corral for the duration of his stay, closely monitored and surrounded by the staff. I was able to lay with him and sit quietly while they continued with their work and encouraged me to spend time with him in order to help him recover. I never felt I was a burden by visiting, even late in the evening and all of my concerns and questions were addressed professionally and honestly. I had contact with many of their techs, nurses' and doctors over the course of 5 days and all were compassionate and professional. The staff saved my dogs' life. A few days into his care, he was pretty weak and lethargic and I almost thought he wasn't going to make it. He miraculously made a turn for the better and I believe it is because of the wonderful care he received. Yes, it is expensive. But when it comes to saving your pets' life, it doesn't matter what the cost is.
Jackie B.
18 Apr 2015
I was so pleased with the care my dog received here! We brought our pitbull here on a Sunday morning because he was having loose bloody stools, they did not pressure us at all into any additional test...
I was so pleased with the care my dog received here! We brought our pitbull here on a Sunday morning because he was having loose bloody stools, they did not pressure us at all into any additional testing than what they felt was necessary. We ended up leaving with him the same day and some medication for colitis.We have been to other emergency vets before that have thrown a 2300 bill infront of us for similar symptoms. The people here seemed to really care about our dog and let us stay with him until the doctor could see us. The bill came out to $208, way better than $2300!! We will definitely be back should we need vet services on a weekend!
Crystal C.
5 Jan 2015
I took my cat in for an emergency abscess which appeared overnight. It was so bad that it looked like a marble jammed into my cats jaw and I was worried he might be at risk for losing a tooth or two ...
I took my cat in for an emergency abscess which appeared overnight. It was so bad that it looked like a marble jammed into my cats jaw and I was worried he might be at risk for losing a tooth or two if it got worse.. The doctor did a great job of draining out the infection and making Bandit feel like his old self again really fast. Now he is on antibiotics and doing great. Luckily the cost was far less than I had expected and that was probably because he didnt need to be knocked out for surgery. The only thing I didnt like was that I wasnt able to be with my cat for any part of the exam or treatment. They took him right away and then returned him once he was done. I think I would have liked to be there to hear the initial observations but since this is a hospital it probably helps move things along this way.
Jessica D.
23 Dec 2014
When I brought my healthy 9 year old dog into this animal hospital last week, I had no idea it would be the last day I got to spend with him. He woke up with labored breathing and he deteriorated ver...
When I brought my healthy 9 year old dog into this animal hospital last week, I had no idea it would be the last day I got to spend with him. He woke up with labored breathing and he deteriorated very soon after. As heartbreaking and devastating as this loss was the people in this animal hospital were wonderful. They gave us every single option we had and had incredible bed side manner. Dr. MacDonald is truly an angel here on earth. She did everything she could to make sure our little guy was comfortable during his final moments here on earth. She also comforted me and my mom through the painful experience of putting our baby to sleep. I am forever grateful for the kind hearted people who work here. You can tell they really love animals and care about their patients.Of course it's expensive- Any medical treatment is. Pet owners should consider pet insurance as an option to keep cost down when emergencies do occur.I was fully aware at any given time what was going on with my pet and what treatment he was receiving. They did not do anything without my consent.Thank you, simply is not enough sometimes.
Dot M.
16 Sep 2014
I just came back from having my mother-in-law's 18 year old cat euthanized, and I was beyond impressed with the quality and care.My MIL had taken her cat to a previous vet, and this morning, when it w...
I just came back from having my mother-in-law's 18 year old cat euthanized, and I was beyond impressed with the quality and care.My MIL had taken her cat to a previous vet, and this morning, when it was obvious that his body had just given up, she called them to have him put to sleep. They said they could possibly squeeze him in this afternoon, which seemed unacceptable. Why make him suffer any longer?She then called Central, where she had brought Pollux a few days ago for some hyperthyroid tests, and they said he could be brought in immediately. We were brought immediately into a room, Pollux was taken outside and a catheter was inserted (rather than doing it in the room and making my MIL more anxious and distraught than she already was), and within a short period of time, Pollux was back in my MIL's arms, waiting for the vet to administer the meds. We were instructed on the process by Dr. Wells, who saw Pollux earlier and concluded by his labs that it was most likely intestinal lymphoma, and that this was the right decision. Both Pollux and my MIL were treated with professionalism and, above all, kindness, as the drugs were administered and he quickly passed away in her arms.Given that this was an emergency euthanasia, the price was surprisingly low (it would have been easily $200 more at another vet), and we were handled with complete respect, as we said goodbye to our friend. My two cats have been at a previous vet, but I will definitely bring them to Central when they need check ups!
Zonnebloem G.
22 Mar 2014
This place charges you $$$ just to walk in the door! What a rip-off. You don't have a choice when it's an emergency but Central is purely a business. Proven by the slick new facility. Every single mov...
This place charges you $$$ just to walk in the door! What a rip-off. You don't have a choice when it's an emergency but Central is purely a business. Proven by the slick new facility. Every single move they make on behalf of your animal is the sound of the cashier drawer opening.
Jesse S.
28 Nov 2013
I brought my dog here on the night before Thanksgiving because he was sick and needed to be seen right away. I called ahead and asked how long of a wait there would be and was told that there was nobo...
I brought my dog here on the night before Thanksgiving because he was sick and needed to be seen right away. I called ahead and asked how long of a wait there would be and was told that there was nobody ahead of me. It took me around 15 minutes to get here (10 of which were spend driving around in circles trying to figure out where their building is located since it's very hard to find).They took my dog from me and told me he would be taken to a "triage area" to get vitals taken and would be brought back afterwards. I asked why I can't go with my dog and was told that their policy is not to allow pet owners into the triage area. BTW I have two dogs and have been to many vets in different locations for different reasons and have never EVER been told that I can't be in the room with them unless they're undergoing a surgical procedure.After 30 minutes, I asked for a status update and was told that the vet is examining the dog. I asked why I'm not being allowed to be with my dog since they told me he would be returned to me after his vitals were taken and was given the same non-answer.After an hour, I told them to give me my dog back and I'd go somewhere else. They called down to the vet and the vet said my dog would be ready in a few minutes, so I said I'd stay if I had him back in a few minutes. Finally he was returned to me and I was told to wait in the waiting room for the vet to come up.After 10 minutes of more waiting, I was taken into an exam room and told again to wait for the vet. After 20 more minutes of waiting, I started calling around other vets to see if anyone else could take me without a long wait. As I was getting up to leave, the vet suddenly came in.I came to know that the vet performed a diagnostic procedure on my dog without my knowledge or permission and they had started running lab tests, again without my permission. Never, NEVER have I brought my dog to a vet and had them do ANYTHING without my permission, emergency or not. Very very unprofessional and probably illegal. The final bill was really high (almost $300). When I called they said it would be $125 for the exam which I agreed to but they billed me for all those procedures they did without my permission.They sold me some (expensive) medicines to take home but I really wish I had gone someplace else. I strongly advise anyone not to go here unless they are the only possible place to take their dog and it's a true life or death medical emergency.
Jon L.
2 Nov 2013
New Haven Central Hospital really came through for us in the middle of the night when Miss Meaty had what we would learn was an episode of congestive heart failure. We popped her in the cat carrier an...
New Haven Central Hospital really came through for us in the middle of the night when Miss Meaty had what we would learn was an episode of congestive heart failure. We popped her in the cat carrier and within minutes she was in an oxygen tank and hooked up to an IV. Over the next couple of days, Dr. Pesillo-Crosby, Dr. Grau, Dr. Rozear, and their lovely staff did a great job of keeping us informed of our patient's status, fielding our phone calls and visits, and communicating with Miss Meaty's regular vet.They figured out the right cocktail of drugs to keep Miss Meaty's little heart pumping, and within a few days she was on the road back to being her charming old self. I'm bummed that New Haven Central is moving to North Haven since they are currently just a couple of blocks away from our house and the emergency animal hospital is someplace to which you'd prefer to live as close as possible. But the current facility is showing its age and new digs seem appropriate. At least it will be right off the highway. I just hope they bring the awesome mural in the lobby with them.
Amy S.
16 Aug 2013
THANK GOD FOR DR KIM MACDONALD!They saw me immediately, were kind, clear, amazing. They couldnt do the procedure needed for my very sick dog, because the technician for that procedure wasnt there that...
THANK GOD FOR DR KIM MACDONALD!They saw me immediately, were kind, clear, amazing. They couldnt do the procedure needed for my very sick dog, because the technician for that procedure wasnt there that day, but Dr Macdonald arranged it for me to get to Norwalk, the next town down 95 and to see Dr Kittrell there, (basically the best vet in the world) and saved his life.And kind of saved mine as well, since I was so distraught.She really went the extra mile. I couldnt be more grateful.
squishy s.
3 Apr 2013
First things first: it's expensive. But if you love your pet and have an emergency situation, expense is probably not the first thing on your mind. We go elsewhere for routine care, and I'd advise oth...
First things first: it's expensive. But if you love your pet and have an emergency situation, expense is probably not the first thing on your mind. We go elsewhere for routine care, and I'd advise other people to do the same. The doctors here are great. Our dog has seen Dr. Harley (the internal medicine specialist), a radiologist, two emergency medicine vets, and countless staff members. In our presence, everyone is warm and loving to our dog, and we know they're nice to him elsewhere because he actually seems to enjoy heading downstairs for treatment with them. Just as importantly, they are great with humans: they've helped us understand the cause of our dog's problems, presented us with a range of treatments, helped us evaluate which treatments make the best sense financially and for our pet, and answered all of our silly questions after the appointment by email or phone.Dr. Harley in particular deserves praise. She has been spot-on in her diagnoses and always explains our treatment options clearly and logically. We've had a lot of trouble with other vets misdiagnosing our dog and sometimes prescribing treatments that made him sicker. Dr. Harley hasn't necessarily always figured out the solution to our dog's problems immediately, but she believes us when we say something is not working, helps us figure out Plan B or Plan C, and eventually gets to the root of the matter. This has given us a lot of confidence in her judgment, and we trust her completely. We've been seeing her for almost a year now, and we're very happy she works so close to where we live.
Eric H.
19 Jan 2012
First, it's expensive. I've seen a number of the docs and staff who work there and they are all very nice. But sometime they give conflicting information. One problem is that even though we gave them ...
First, it's expensive. I've seen a number of the docs and staff who work there and they are all very nice. But sometime they give conflicting information. One problem is that even though we gave them our whole stack of records when we brought it our new rescue dog, they had not recorded several vaccinations that were in his charts and even had his age significantly wrong. However, their emergency services cannot be topped. But again, it comes with a price tag.
Cherokee1
31 Aug 2011
I brought my Manx Cat in the joint. On an early Monday morning. She had megacolon, a constipation problem. We were given 2 options, one spend a thousand or so, and have the feces manually removed. 2 ...
I brought my Manx Cat in the joint. On an early Monday morning. She had megacolon, a constipation problem. We were given 2 options, one spend a thousand or so, and have the feces manually removed. 2 or give my cat an enema, bring here home and see what happens the next day. We were never told it was life threatening. We chose the 2nd option. Home, later that morning, she was really, really, BAD. Hardly breathing. We rushed her back. They finally took X-Rays and found out how backed up our cat was. Also, she had fluid in her stomache. The DOC did not know what that was from. The Doctor said our Cat was dying, and even if we spent thousands there was no promise of recovery, She told us if it were,Her cat she would put her to sleep. SO, WE DID!!!!! I checked info on the web, a few days later, the sympypms our cat had were pretty much curable. If the 1st Doc took the time to do it right the 1st time. OUR GIRL IS DEAD!!!!!!!! I WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE ONE STAR I COULD. WE are heart broken.
mal1109
4 Apr 2011
I witnessed first-hand how unethical, greedy and inhumane central animal hospital is. A four month old Pekingese/poodle cross was recommended for x-rays after aspirating herself after she vomited. At ...
I witnessed first-hand how unethical, greedy and inhumane central animal hospital is. A four month old Pekingese/poodle cross was recommended for x-rays after aspirating herself after she vomited. At 7:00pm, we walked through the door and they immediately began manipulating this dog?s owner into believing this dog will not survive unless admitted for overnight care. The vet stated how aspirated pneumonia kills many puppies and that she couldn?t guarantee the pup?s life even with days of intensive care. She stated ?if this were my dog, I would keep her overnight? and when asked what she would rate her on a 1-10 scale she replied, ?I can?t say, I?ll just give her a chance?. The office had quoted a bill for one night at bare minimum for over $1600.00 low end, $2500.00 high. I asked what medicines the dog would be receiving considering the bill listed five meds costing over $400.00. Only after being questioned did the receptionist eliminate some of the ?necessities?. After the dog?s owner and I agreed to take the dog home and care for her ourselves, the entire game plan changed. Originally the vet had said she needed oxygen and nebulizer treatments all night as well as constant fluids. After our decision, the vet then told us she would simply give her a 24 hour antibiotic vaccine and some fluids and that she should be fine until the morning. This option was never mentioned until we said the dog was leaving. Two days later and the puppy?s in perfect condition; running around, eating, drinking and acting like a normal pup. A dog so critical that is expected to die overnight does not make a full recovery within 48 hours. If I had not convinced her owner she would be okay under our care, she would have incurred a $2000.00 bill for a perfect pup the next morning. Obviously lives are unpredictable, but not once did they insinuate they cared for the dog or her comfort. Alternative options were never offered, which is extremely deceiving. Central Animal Hospital?s over night vets work at an hourly rate as well as commission. Your bill is their paycheck.
gooddogcaredeserved
24 Nov 2008
Definitely would not recommend the service here. Be careful of what they charge you, considering the treatment that you and your pet get in return. This place feels like one that preys on your emoti...
Definitely would not recommend the service here. Be careful of what they charge you, considering the treatment that you and your pet get in return. This place feels like one that preys on your emotional attachment to your pet. You will feel scammed, just like at a car dealership. I thought I was bringing my pet in for a simple Bordetella vaccination, and I walked out with a $90 bill! I tried to inquire about the excessive fees, and was brushed off (""We always charge an office visit of $50 EACH time you come in."") Within two months (2 visits in less than 8 weeks) they tried to charge me the $50 ""annual comprehensive exam"" during each visit...last time I checked ""annual"" meant ONCE A YEAR. After having to call their customer relations several times, they only offered a $10 credit back. I called around for other hospitals in the New Haven area, and they all said they either wouldn't charge for a soon-after follow on visit for a simple vaccination, or at most would charge $25 if there's a mini-exam involved. Plus, the ""customer relations"" person at the New Haven Central Hospital was simply non-apologetic for overcharging and for their mistake. The worst part is that the service wasn't even worth the high price tag! I had to wait over 20 minutes for my ""scheduled"" appointment. The assistant mis-weighed my dog, and couldn't get the vaccination records straight. We had already been in less than month before, for an ear infection...shouldn't their records reflect all the information I provided? Overall, it was very impersonal service. And the doctor just kept talking about what other treatments and vaccinations was up the next time. I could practically hear the ""ka-ching"" and see the dollar signs in her eyes. I am not one to hold back on paying for good and reasonable care for my pet. But this place is definitely not one that offers such care.
Photo Gallery
Map
Is this your business?
CLAIM IT HEREIncorrect information? Let us know