Seemingly-emotionless veterinarian puts monetary procurement above patient satisfaction/full understanding of costs. "Decent" prices* come with an undisclosed * until time of payment.$183 per rabbit f... Read More
Seemingly-emotionless veterinarian puts monetary procurement above patient satisfaction/full understanding of costs. "Decent" prices* come with an undisclosed * until time of payment.$183 per rabbit for spaying costs brought me here, as it's one of the lowest prices in the area along with great reviews of the facility itself. If you bring more than one pet (I have two) you qualify for a 10% discount.. I booked two surgeries after speaking to a very well-informed, kind receptionist who took the time to calculate my estimated final costs before finalizing an appointment. She did mention that the final cost ($183 x 2 with 10% off = ~$330 before tax) did not include any medications that may be prescribed after surgery, so I was prepared for a final cost above the estimated $330. When I dropped my rabbits off in the morning, they had me sign a form stating that postoperative pain medications may cost anywhere between $25-$45 per pet, but the receptionist assured me that it'd be towards the $25 range. I want to note that this particular receptionist was very nice-- she went as far as to give me a call once they were finished and awake just to give me a status update.Fast forward a couple of hours: I came to pick up my pets and pay a bill of no more than ~$385 when I was put on the spot for $411. The higher number wasn't too big of a problem knowing that both rabbit were safe after successful surgeries, but I wanted to be fully informed of the charges I was paying! The receptionist (different one than from this morning, yet still very nice) struggled to give me a clear answer as to why the price differed so from the estimate I was given, and we both calculated it multiple times only to end up with a total around the $385 I had expected in the first place. After some back and forth (she was just as confused as I), she brought the vet himself out to explain the charges. Turns out he tacked on an additional $15 per pet as part of a "post-operative pain medication" that had been administered immediately following the surgery, which, again, is not that big a deal, but I was taken aback at his nonchalant attitude as he stated that it was what it was and he had no intention of adjusting it since I had signed the pain medication form that morning. Let me be clear: the point I'm trying to make isn't that I'm upset over an extra $30. I'm upset that the veterinarian added additional charges to my bill without explaining what they were or why they were added, and even his receptionists weren't aware of the reasoning behind the elevated price tag! I'm annoyed with his behavior and his use of my signature on the form as a means to make it seem like I was FULLY aware of what changes could be made to my bill, and him acting as if he was completely in the right. IMO, if the person paying the bill isn't fully aware of the reasons behind the price(s) they're paying, that's not right. I wouldn't have had an issue had it just been even briefly mentioned in the first place, but instead I got a disinterested vet using a technicality to justify his hidden fees. I believe that you should be able to trust the person who's caring for your beloved pets, in both that they will take care of them and that they will not mislead you. This vet did not fulfill the latter. The fact that my pets made it safely out of the surgery & that the receptionists I encountered were fully accommodating and kind are what makes this review a two star rather than less. It's obvious that this vet is not a good match for me or my pets, so we will not be returning. That being said, I'm sure that there are others who've had much better experiences than I. Overall, I don't find this vet a poor practitioner, I find him lacking in people skills. I'm disappointed that this facility didn't work out for my/my pets' needs, as I found it satisfactory in every place except the most important, the doctor himself. Read Less