We took our 5-year-old dog here because he was having trouble with his hip joint. At this stage, he was somewhat lame, but could still walk. The technician took him away from the examination room and ... Read More
We took our 5-year-old dog here because he was having trouble with his hip joint. At this stage, he was somewhat lame, but could still walk. The technician took him away from the examination room and a couple of minutes later we heard a blood-curdling scream. When they brought him back, they were carrying him because he could no longer walk. To make a long story short, we had to pay $3,000 for surgery on that joint and the dog was never the same again, never being able to walk more than a couple of blocks comfortably. He subsequently became obese and died of cancer at age 10.What happened that day? Did our dog's joint happen to give out just at the time they had him in their possession, out of sight of his owners? Certainly possible. Or was there some rough handling involved, resulting from carelessness and the fast pace of this busy clinic? Or, if there was rough handling, was there an intent of generating revenue from a now-crippled animal? This is a hideous thought, but one I can't quite put out of my mind.Several years later, against my better judgment, a family member took another dog here. She had a lump in her chest that could be felt through the skin. They were supposed to remove the lump and perform a biopsy. Somehow that didn't get done and she was no longer able to eat solid food afterwards, choking and gagging horribly whenever she tried. Apparently, she had cancer and it just happened to get worse at the time she visited this clinic. But then again... Well, your guess is as good as mine.Another point to note: Lots of luxury cars in the parking lot. I don't know about you, but it seems to me veterinary medicine should be a profession to make a living from, not to get rich from.I have to say in all fairness that some of the vets seem to be nothing but compassionate toward the animals they treat, but our overall experience at this clinic, needless to say, was far from good.A final note: The first dog mentioned had been neutered at the age of six months. Contrary to what almost every veterinarian will tell you, neutering and spaying are not entirely benign procedures. One well-known consequence is an increased incidence of orthopedic problems due to ligaments made weaker by the absence of the natural hormones. In addition to a slippery tile floor, our dog's neutering must have been a contributing factor to his condition. Read Less