If you're taking your pet here... if you're seeing a male veterinarian... grab your animal, run for the door, and find another vet before it's too late.Check your gut feeling. What is it telling you?... Read More
If you're taking your pet here... if you're seeing a male veterinarian... grab your animal, run for the door, and find another vet before it's too late.Check your gut feeling. What is it telling you? Is your pet really receiving good care? Does the vet "drag" your animal to the scale or to the back room? Where is blood being drawn from, the jugular vein? Is this really proper procedure?? Really? Does the vet provide proper pain medication after surgery? The front office girls are often a reflection of what is going on in the back room. Are you begining to understand? One of our neighbors had also heard of some negative experiences here. I wish we had listened and taken action.For your pets sake and your happiness, find another vet!==============================================================================9-15-2013I am going to add some detail to my review, as others have offered more specifics below. This review posted in memory of a little black schnauzer named Rolfe:Just over 4 years ago we took our 7 year old dog (normal lifespan is 13-15 years) to the male vet at Countryside Animal Hospital after a late evening visit to the emergency animal clinic the night before. The emergency vet recommended hospitalization for our dog for pancreatitis. Although Dr. R at Countryside Animal Hospital received a treatment report from the emergency vet which recommended hospitalization, and had it in hand as we met, he did not hospitalize our pet, nor did he offer a single treatment, pill, or recommendation (he was like a deer blinded by headlights, incompetent, or just plain didn't care). Dr. R knew how much WE cared about this dog, and he knew we would do just about anything to provide proper care to him, with little consideration to the expense. (We aren't rich, we just loved our dog)The next morning I brought our baby back in, he was not doing well, and again no admit, no medication, no recommendation, duh. Had we known then of a better alternative, we would have been there. It's my understanding that pancreatitis is a very painful condition, and this fool would not provide any medication?? I am not the veterinarian Dr. R; you have to provide the medical care!The 3rd morning our little guy was far worse, and the staff said the doctor was really busy, but they would try to work us in (how exceptionally kind and caring of them). We were met by pretty much the same response to which we said to Dr. R that the dog is going to die if he doesn't get help now. "What do we do with him?"He finally, AFTER 3 DAYS AND 3 VISITS, did his job and recommended someone who could help our dog. We rushed over to Tampa, admitted him, put a big deposit on a credit card and came home to shower and go to work, when we received a call that our beloved baby had just passed away. THANK YOU COUNTRYSIDE ANIMAL HOSPITAL! I want to thank the vet who did nothing for three days straight. I want to thank the normally rude staff who knew this sick dog was there 3 days straight and wasn't volunteering or clearing the way for any special treatment, or even providing helpful information. Oh, but we did get attitude from one of the vet techs for being such pests about pursuing treatment for our dog.You know what else? No one ever bothered to say "I'm sorry". Not even "I'm sorry for your loss". I guess that's too much to expect from the place we entrusted to care for our 2 dogs for 7 years.If you want good care for your pets, don't take them here. You'll find many good places in Pinellas. Two that I would recommend, so you DON'T have to go through what we did, are:Westlake Animal Hospital in Tarpon Springs - they have wonderful doctors (five or more) and a staff that really cares. And most of all they provide excellent, competent care, and are up to date with new technology. And if you get in a bind and don't know where to go for a 2nd opinion or need some very good advanced care use Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Care Center on Belcher in Largo (although you'll probably need a vet referral to get in to the clinic).When we had our dogs neutered at Countryside Animal Hospital, they were sent home the same day. The pups were provided nothing for pain and they appeared to be in significant discomfort. Contrast that experience with the care our new pup got at Westlake Animal Hospital where they offered a laser procedure involving less tissue trauma to the pet, held him over one night for observation and care, and sent him home WITH pain medication the next day.Gee, were we ever stupid for trusting Countryside Animal Hospital. Well we're older and wiser now; but soooo much sadder too.True story. Read Less