**This review has also been posted to Nebel Street Animal Hospital on yelp.**I'm so disappointed that at a time when I needed a professional to utilize their knowledge and years of training beyond the... Read More
**This review has also been posted to Nebel Street Animal Hospital on yelp.**I'm so disappointed that at a time when I needed a professional to utilize their knowledge and years of training beyond the routine vaccinations and wellness exam, I was severely failed. Thankfully, no further damage has occurred as a result, but I will not be returning to the Nebel Street Animal Hospital or Dr. Hambright. I feel that this would have been a very obvious diagnosis to a semi-conscious veterinarian. I can't afford to leave my animals in the care of one so complacent.Sept 1st 2015, I took my 10 year old Mini Dachshund in for vaccinations and to address the strange behavior of random yelping and guarding as if he had an injury by being very cautious about movement near him. I also explained that I noticed the dog had a lameness in his right hind leg (I thought it was a possible symptom of Lyme's from a tick bite. Snap test was negative.) and seemed to be socially withdrawn. Dr. Hambright performed the most basic assessment of flexing the dogs neck from side to side and up (up only), but noted no reaction or pain from these manipulations, and said his yelping must be a behavioral issue. Noticing no changes or improvements in his strange behavior, attempting to entrust Dr. Hambright's assessment, I allowed another month to go on until I decided to take my dog to a cardiologist for a persistent cough (possibly associated with a newly diagnosed murmur). Perhaps this may explain his other strange behaviors as well. The cardiologist did a standard (yet more indepth than Dr. Hambright's) neurological test, putting the dogs snout down instead of up (dog immediately yelped) and turning the feet over to show signs of "knuckling" (something I had noticed twice the month before, but didn't know it was a sign of neuro-deficit. I'm not a veterinarian!). The dog had no reaction and did not try to correct the placement of his paws. That same day, I took him to a neurologist who had concluded (without even needing XRays or MRIs) that my dog has a painful cervical disc rupture. Treatment options being strict cage restriction for 6-8 weeks with medications or MRI & surgery.I feel that being presented with a TEN year old mini DACHSHUND (the poster dog for spinal issues) who is said to be YELPING and behaving as if he is GUARDING AN INJURY, should have been enough for Dr. Hambright to pay more attention than to sum it up as a "behavioral issue". I have seen 5 other veterinarians (cardiologist, neurologist, 2 generals and an internist/acupuncturist) who have all done these basic standard assessments and have found it obvious that the dog had a spinal injury & is in pain. I see the look on their faces followed by the shaking of their heads in disapproval when I say "My dog has been behaving this way since late August, was seen by his regular vet in September and I was told nothing was wrong with him." I feel that, because the dog wasn't in excruciating pain presenting with blatant paralysis, Dr. Hambright did the minimal observation. I am a nurse, I am trained to observe, and understand medical lingo. My education in humans does not translate well to veterinary observations, but I am well informed and detailed. I have been to Dr. Hambright 3 times and 2 of those 3 visits I have felt that he was not truly interested in my concerns and was merely brushing off as a neurotic pet mom. Dr. Hambright may not have been able to do much more than refer me to the neurologist, but that could have saved my pet another month of pain and could have decreased a now prolonged recovery time. As an owner, we are our dog's advocate. We know their tendencies and behaviors. It is crucial that a veterinarian use your words as puzzle pieces to make a proper diagnosis. I need a veterinarian with a willingness to listen and the motivation to investigate the problems the owners are vocalizing. Read Less