Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment And Specialties

I brought my 15 year old mini dachshund Maxwell to tufts at about 3:30am on February 26th. He recently started having seizures due to what I'm  assuming was cancerous tumors. From the minute I walked in the door I was treated with respect and was reassured numerous times that my decision to put him down was the right thing to do. He had 3 seizures In about a 45 minute span that morning and I looked into his eyes and I knew he was begging me for peace. They took him and I payed for the services which included cremation. I thought it was reasonable. When I went in the grievance room a tech brought in my baby and told me he was given a sedative and placed him in my arms on the table. That's when I noticed the I.V which had a long catheter attached to it. It was the first time I saw his body relaxed and not shaking in a long time. I have been meaning to get his footprint for along time and was taking a picture of his feet when the dr came in. She told me that she would do it for me and put them with him when he came back to me. Then she told me to take all the time we needed to say goodbye. I could have stayed for hours and it would never have been enough time to say goodbye to my best friend but she never made me feel rushed. When I was ready she came back in and explained exactly what each syringe was and which one would be "the one" she was on the opposite side of the table so my boy was curled in my arms and I was able to talk to him and cuddle him until the very end. The long IV tubing was something I have never seen before. I was able to hold him close so he could just smell me and hear my voice. After she was done she let me stay with him again until I was ready to leave him. I wanted the blanket he came in with so she brought in another one so I could wrap him up with. I thought that was going above what she had to do. She treated my dog with respect.  Today I received his ashes which where in a beautifully made wooden Urn which is sealed but can open to insert a photo. Also his footprint was on index cards as promised. I teared up in tufts when I saw his title feet on top of the bag. Also included was a little packet of perennials a sympathy card a certificate with his name,date of cremation and a little reminder of how unselfish it is to let your beloved pet go to heaven.  Under the circumstances I am glad I brought him to Tufts in Walpole. They treated my dog and myself with dignity and respect and gave me such beautiful gifts that will allow me to cherish him forever. Read Less

This place does not deserve even 1 starI went to TUFTS VET ER at 11:00PM with a very sick 12 year old pup. That is when I met Katherine Gebbie.Katherine Gebbie is heartless with no compassion whatsoever.She raised her voice at me when I told her I would not put my pet down...she disagreed with that, Tried to use the quote of 6-8K+ care to convince/bully me to end my dear dog's life. Her decision to aggressively argue with me stole time from my pups care.Money was not the issue for me. I never questioned the quote..even though it was crazy expensive. Gebbie was very harsh using such phrases as the "end of the road" etcShe needs training in how to deal with grieving scared owners. She should not be interacting with pet owners.And to make the record straight...I read the notes from the situation and it stated that I consented to stopping treatment and that is absolutely inaccurate...I NEVER consented. Kelson Danielson came out of surgery and told me that my pup was gone...he did not tell me she was still breathing. FROM THE OUTSET...I TOLD GEBBIE THAT I WANTED TO BE WITH MY GIRL AT THE END AND SHE DENIED ME THAT RIGHT.Who was she to do that.Shame on her and on TUFTS VETS.Furthermore, as I am sitting in a room by myself, crying and overwhelmed with grief that my dear girl is in such grave condition...I didn't appreciate the cleaning person at 1:00 AM trying to talk to me about my boots and how he needed to buy a pair for his wife.I would never recommend this clinic to anyone...I have done the opposite...I have warned everyone I know that has a pet to AVOID this facility at all cost.They are heartless, lack compassion, provide questionable care, and are concerned more about getting their money than saving loved pets. In the end, I was charged 5K+ and went home WITHOUT my beautiful pup. I returned 4 days later and brought her home in a box. AVOID THIS PLACE! Read Less

This is a long review but worth the read for your loved one...... We were here for my dog's kidney stones a few years back which everything from the check up to the surgery was perfect. Now I don't know whether there are new doctors in there or what but we've had the absolute worst experience. We brought our dog in for stomach pain, she wasn't moving or eating for a whole day and they told us it was a gallbladder issue. $500 later they gave 4 different medications for us to give her at home and watch over her for the next couple of days. The next day comes and these antibiotics/sedation/pain pills weren't working. She was still in a lot of pain and not sleeping so we brought her in again for this vet tech to basically scare the shit out of us. First she says if the gallbladder bursts she will die and  they need to do an ultrasound to be definite about what is causing her this issue and in the same breath after she tells us she doesn't know what the problem is until the ultrasound is done she tells us they don't think they can cure her and we can consider euthanizing her which I told her is NOT an option. She then tried to get one of the two "on call" ultrasonographers which both of them denied to come in because they didn't deem her possible dying as an "emergency" so they tried to get us to pay $1200 for my dog to stay overnight for them to do the ultrasound in the morning at 8am and she will be the first dog seen since she is the sickest at the moment. We told her we're not comfortable with her staying in a cage by herself all night and she'll be more comfortable at home and we'll bring her in the morning ourselves. Next morning we bring her in at 8 and they tell us she won't be seen until 2. They finally do the ultrasound and we go to pick her up and they're telling us it's a tumor that ripped through her gallbladder wall and that if they try to remove the fluids she will die so for us to euthanize her. (she was moving better than the day before so if the tumor ripped through the wall she would've been in agonizing pain so I didn't believe that bs) We tell them were not euthanizing her without getting a second opinion and they got mad at us asking "well why don't you want to euthanize her?"... It seems like their top priority wasn't even to help but to want us to put our dog down. I do NOT recommend this place whatsoever. They gave us 4 different answers as to what the problem was. Nothing was ever a direct answer and almost $2000 later all they cared about was us putting her down. Read Less

Dr. Cavalido, Jenny, Becky, Dianne, and the entire team at Tufts Vets have been a godsend to our family. We came to Tufts after our 6 y/o boxer, Barkley, was diagnosed with cancer and didn't know where to turn, or what options were available. Dr. Cavalido and Jenny have expertly guided us through treatments, ensuring Barkley maintains an exceptional quality of life, and making a daunting time of our lives less stressful. Everyone at Tufts has shown our big baby nothing but love and compassion, and we are forever grateful for the care he's received. Read Less

Tufts puts profit before care. For the second time and the last I brought a dog to this place. As others have said they take your animal away from you. They allow limited access even when they know that the animal is close to death. We were told by 5 doctors that are animal was seriously ill, but not critical. We traveled 5000 miles and spent thousands of dollars to return to U.S. to spend time with our pet. We were limited time, given medical information that was totally wrong. (By 5 doctors). We asked ONLY that if the dog was going to die we could be present. Instead 3 hours after we were reassured that our dog's vital signs were strong. We received a call that he was dead. Oh, and by the way did we want a plaster impression of his foot for a souvenir. Perhaps a selfie of him lying on a cold steel table with tubes hanging out him would have been more appropriate!WHY DOES A HOSPITAL WAIT 4 DAYS TO DO A CSCAN?BECAUSE IT WAS A WEEKEND!!!IF YOU WANT TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY. TO HAVE YOUR ANIMAL TREATED WITH NO DIGNITY. Then go to Tufts. Read Less

We agree.  Tufts is a hit or miss practice.   Sometimes just getting past the front desk is a lengthy task, full of frustration.   They don't seem to know basic manners, like they get up out of their seat and run to the back for no apparent reason, with no request to be excused, and no reason.   Then try to get out in a timely manner.   The Vets follow suit, hit or miss.   And if you miss it is out of the Ball Park, could be seriously problematic for you animal and your wallet.  They will not accept responsibility but will cut you to the quick, be ruin and even call you names.  Some just have low communication skills, sometimes with patience they can be worked around.  Patient records are poor, very poor.  We found so many things missing and even more that we weren't told added.   The Vet said it didn't matter it was written.  It matters.O and we here you gossiping from the waiting area.   What is wrong with you we are not visiting for fun we have an ill animal.  Please stop this behavior.Tufts Grafton is so much more professional, we followed up there with a second opinion, night and day. Read Less

My cat was sick. There is something wrong with him.So I took it to the closest Emergency area. They Took him to the back and never told me anything. one hour goes by I asked what's happening they said oh we're waiting for the veterinarian. Another hour goes by I asked is there a list, can you tell me how far down i am.  Oh yeah your third down. I said  did you look at him at all.  No waiting for the veterinarian. Please give me my cat. That poor cat was sitting in a metal container by himself with no one even looking at it.4:00 am i took him to Tuff. Right away they took him in and assessed him. He had urinary track infection, an wasn't urinating. They said if I waited any longer his Kidneys would've given out. It's been five days. Every day the doctor calls me. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon too inform me what's happening. When I have time I go in for a visit him.  Everybody greets me and the get me to the back very quickly. OK it's expensive. But this is your loved one.  I had him as a kitten. He's part of my family.At the end money won I couldn't afford it. Surgery for kidney stone 3500. All together i could of pay 6 mouths of rent probably even more.Why can they make Insurance for pets. Read Less

I dont know where to even start with this review.....we took our cat there the other day to be checked we were getting desperate as he wasnt getting any better. Check in was fine that wasnt bothersome, what was bothersome is they didnt even check him or try doctor came in and said his skin was yellowing and option a-spend thousands of dollars and he probably wont even recover or b-put him down. It is heartbreaking and devistating to be told give us money and we pretty much are going to half ass this in the dark or just let us put the cat down dont try there is no point. We felt pressured to put him down all because we didnt have thousands to give them then and there. They gave us no options on what to check barely asked us anything. Never again will i even bring a cat or any pet there. We found a different vet hospital thats trying and giving us options. Terrible place!!!!! Read Less

My Yorkshire Terrier lived an additional eight years or so because of the doctors and technicians at Tufts Walpole. They are a full-fledged hospital with the most highly trained doctors. The technicians are always knowledgeable and helpful. The front desk people are very caring. The facilities are top notch. You cannot get any better than Tufts Vets. Read Less

I'm ratting this place opposite of how I normally rate. I had a pet emergency with my dog, he had Gastric-blockage and was very sick, not eating etc... So we had to bring him in. (9pm at night) The staff there is beyond committed to their jobs and seem to go above and beyond. For that and the fact they saved my dogs life, they get the 5* I would however had given them 1* based on the policy of the company about the fact that they know they have you against a wall with your pet. They know you love your pet and that you would almost do anything for them at almost any cost. My dog was going to need surgery if they could not get the blockage to pass, was quoted almost $5000.00 and had to put a deposit of 75% down for them to admit my dog. Obvious most people don't have that kind of money on hand, so I had to apply for their "CareServices" credit card. The interest rate is almost 30% on this card. I think they could offer a better "pay plan" for their customers. This is basically strong arm robbery. Back to the reason for the 5* is that the staff was excellent and took the time with my dog to avoid surgery all together (they could have just done it to make the money) but they did what was in the best interest of the dog and saw that he was making improvement and passing the sock he ate. Final words, if you need to go to an emergency pet facility, this is the place to go. I would just recommend bringing your own credit card with you. Read Less

I'm giving them 3 Stars because Dr. April saved our dog's life with her fast acting skills.However our dog was in there for 5 days and we had a different dr who actually was on the case most of the time she was in there - that was quite demeaning. If you asked her questions bc your own vet told you to ask, she would literally say "is this coming from your vet?" She would probably presume that because our vet would try to get progress updates and could never get in touch with the vet in charge of her case.In regards to if your pet needs to ever see their cardiologist- stay away. He's one of those types of individuals that think he's so smart that he will act condescending in the process. Don't dare ask him questions. He KNOWS all, you don't know your own pet at all. Only he knows everything.We brought our two that needed heart care to Angells and they are 100% better in that regards. Isn't the cleanest ER either. You'd think you would be brought into a room that didn't have hair and things that weren't even picked up yet off their tables. They'll tell you they're busy - but would you desire your animal on a dirty table? Don't let the "tufts" name fool you. Read Less

Unfortunately we had a canine crisis this morning at 6 am and our new 12 week old puppy had gotten himself banged up. He was obviously in distress and we took him to the Tufts Emergency Clinic.  We were greeted promptly and had Dr Regan looking at our puppy immediately. Her manner was quite reassuring; both professionally and caring we knew were in the right place. The patient is now doing quite well and I am sure will be back to doing all those puppy things they do. Many thanks to Tufts Emergency Clinic, Dr Regan, Marissa, and the young lady who first greeted us. Read Less

I brought my dog there for YEARS, seeing many different docs with many different specialties. Every doctor is fabulous! Caring and empathetic, When the docs walked into the exam room, Cosmo was actually calmed by their presence. I cannot say enough about how wonderful every member of the staff is! 10 STARS!!! Read Less

I know people have good and bad things about Vets.  There are a lot of emotions when dealing with your sick pet but I can only express my opinion from my many visits to Tufts and the experiences have been extremely positive.  My dog has had ACL surgery, ear surgery, a bad eye issue and heart issues.  Two Doctors that I recall and want to give a big thumbs up  to is Dr Bulmer (Cardiology) & Dr Maggio (Ophthalmology). Also you can leave a message any time with them and will get a call back.  Many times from Becky.  She is great.   They also have a 24/7 Emergency service which I have used for my dog. Read Less

I recently brought my cat here to be treated for crystals in his bladder preventing him from peeing. I’m grateful he pulled through but dissatisfied with how ragged he looked when I got him home. He was covered in litter dust, smelled like pee and looked like he was dipped in his own waste. Considering how expensive his stay cost me and the reputation of this hospital someone could have cleaned him before being discharged. I’d be reluctant leaving him or another pet overnight here again. Read Less

My cat was found in the bathtub acting extremely lethargic. We brought him toTufts (due to it being too late to go to our vet)and found he had diabetes. We were told we had two options. He would have to stay for at least a week and it would be thousands of dollars. She also HIGHLY recommended just putting him to sleep as the treatment would probably be futile. We brought him to our family vet the following an. We left within a couple of hours with insulin and some IV fluids. And a couple hundred dollars later with a much better prognosis. Tufts is quick to kill and money hungry. It just seems like their vets have little real world experience and aren't taking a holistic approach- taking the whole animal and family in to consideration. Read Less

Over the years these folks have helped us with two dogs and four cats, plus, at their large animal hospital in Grafton, three horses. I only wish I could get medical care this good for myself and my family. Superb. Read Less

I brought my dog here when my vet was closed and he was having trouble breathing. It was busy but he was seen immediately. He is a rescue and skittish but seemed comfortable with the staff. Everyone I interacted with was kind and helpful. He needed to stay overnight which was scary but they put me at ease and I knew he'd be okay. Toast seemed reasonable to me and he is now home doing much better. I don't know what I would have done without the wonderful and dedicated staff here. Read Less

My one year old puppy ate grapes which cause renal failure leading to death.  This happened on a Sunday morning so rushed to Tufts. Everyone was wonderful, from the ladies at the front desk to Dr Mahoney who was bright and full of knowledge. She kept me informed readily and took wonderful care of my puppy. I was shocked when I saw the bill for all that they did and an overnight stay with pickup in the afternoon the next day it was very very reasonable.  Thank you Tufts and Dr Mahoney, you are wonderful!!!! Read Less

First of all, when Odin got sick last year and went to this Tufts, I was dismayed at the way he was handled upon take in. The two female attendants were not even strong enough to lift my very sick 85lb boy out of the car, and when they finally did so in a very unprofessional manner, so much so he started pooping himself out of fear, they could barley lift him on the stretcher and as soon as they tried, the stretcher went rolling across the parking lot because they "forgot" to lock the stretcher, causing Odin further distress. Sadly, it turned out to be an end of life event for Odin there. A couple of weeks ago, I was referred to their cardiology department to examine a pup I'd just adopted. After an almost $500 visit, I was referred to another cardiologist at Tufts Grafton, as the doctor in Walpole, I was told after the fact, no longer does surgeries. I was assured they could use the ultrasound this doctor had taken. Not only that, this doctor informed me my pup could die at anytime from sudden death, due to his condition. Talk about unsettling things to hear. Upon having this pup seen in Grafton, where I was informed after his examination they did not feel he was at imminent risk for "sudden death" given what they'd seen in his exam, I was hit with another over $400 bill for the same services I'd received at Walpole, because the surgeons who were actually doing the surgery wanted to see for themselves what was really going on. I get that, but his surgery is going to cost almost $5,000. I think it's unconscionable and very unfair to hit someone with double charges, given the cost of the surgery. My last two experiences with Tufts Walpole have been less than stellar. VERY DISAPPOINTED. Read Less

Recently we took our puppy there for emergency treatment & unfortunately had to leave him in their care for 3 nights. Not only is our little boy feeling better but the service and kindness we received from the staff was unsurpassable. They called twice a day, were supportive & informative on each call and even let us bring our sick pup's brother to cheer each other up.While I do not wish anyone the pain of seeking an animal hospital, I do highly recommend Tufts in Walpole for keeping my dog healthy and for helping his dog parents through it too. Read Less

Over 25 yrs of pet ownership we have used vets in Sharon and  Halifax but Tufts in Walpole is the best. Pretty close drive, never overwhelmingly busy or too long a wait. Great diagnosis and explanations. Friendly staff, clean comfortable waiting rooms and exam rooms. Dr Brenda Solinardy repaired a tricep tendon tear perfectly a few yrs back on our 165 lb Malamute. Dificult operation but she was awesome. If this location is convenient your search is done. Read Less

My house is FILLED with thousands of  FLEAS because of Tufts. I brought my pet in there two days ago, the next morning I noticed the blanket in the carrier was covered in fleas. I will never come back to that vet it is sooo dirty!!! Read Less

Honestly, treat at Tufts Walpole at your own risk. Though I've read some outstanding reviews here, I'm inclined to write that it's hit or miss. Most recently, my experience is with an ER doctor who blatantly missed a critical evaluation indicator for my pet's health issue. The error has led to additional veterinary visits elsewhere (correctly diagnosed), additional expenses and MOST importantly, it's significantly delayed medically necessary treatment. Also, the staff here could be more empathetic, and improve their communication skills. Read Less

Your pet could not be in more caring, knowledgeable hands. The doctors, nurses, and staff treated us and our sweet dog with the utmost care and respect when it was time for emergency surgery, and when it was time to say goodbye...Cannot recommend this hospital enough!! Read Less

Please do not bring your pet here!! I did an he is gone my very best friend!! The sergeoun kelso danielson or Davidson he's ruthless he will yell at you while your best friend is on his table dying no compassion at all! I think he hates animals!! I am writing this review to save someone from the pain I have felt. I was overcharged on top of it. Read Less

I was referred to Tufts by my vet to get specialized treatment for my sick cat. My poor cat wasn't eating, had a temp of 104, and antibiotics were not helping. The lady who checked me in at Tufts was very kind. The vet tech who observed my cat in the waiting area was so rude and unprofessional that I asked for my paperwork back and went to a different hospital. I had to explain my situation TWICE to the vet tech, because he wasn't listening the first time. He acted like he didn't care for me or my cat. Then he roughly picked up the cat crate, looked inside, and yelled "What's up Creamcicle" to my already terrified cat (who is orange and white). The he asked me "what did you say his name was again?" then told me that a vet would eventually see him. My cat was already scared and I couldn't leave him with a tech who clearly didn't care about his well-being and treated him like a joke. My cat ended up needing overnight care and I am very glad I brought him to a different hospital where the staff treated him with respect. Read Less

My review is based on 10 YEARS in which they have treated THREE of our dogs for allergic reactions, an eye tumor which was a minor surgery, mast cell removal (ended up being a skin condition and not cancer), and heart failure. We've seen several specialists and most of the doctors and have been very happy with the results. Now we have a French Bulldog with allergy and digestion issues. We aren't the type of people who have a bottomless wallet for fancy dog therapy; however we feel we would rather pay Tufts to get a the right diagnosis and treatment options, rather than waste our time and our dogs time. Read Less

don't use their "Tufts at Tech" community program at Worcester Technical high school.  OK it is for income eligible, but when they won't give your dog a scrip for meds she has been on her entire life and argue with you to keep bringing them back for more appointments and more meds that don't work, I think they either need to get a REAL vet too look at your pet or redo the program. Read Less

I love, love, LOVE this place! Out of options locally, we had to travel quite a ways for their help, (in the early am hours mind you) and everyone there was so wonderful to our dog and us! I couldn't be more grateful to their staff for helping my sick little guy. 3 separate hospitals here (locally) who couldn't get it right and with my dog sicker than ever, they managed to get him back in good health in no time. Can't thank them or recommend them enough!Read Less

We has such an amazing experience at Tufts. Every staff member we encountered was kind and compassionate. My cockapoo Tucker was admitted over the weekend for Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, and the care he received was incredible. We unfortunately had to readmit Tucker for an additional 12 hours and during that time they ensured he was well hydrated and cared for. I received multiple updates from the doctors and when I would call for an update, the staff were always so kind and patient. I feel so fortunate to live close to such an amazing facility and Drs. Paul, Milligan and Hammond were so professional and caring. Read Less

Not pleased at all when a dog (ours) comes in presenting signs of Lyme- they tell you ok we did a blood test. "We'll call you with results in 24-48 hours".. ok sounds fair till you find out the $300.00 blood test didn't test for Lyme. Then on return visit to now have "LYME TEST" done, they will be recharging us a office visit! Umm, I don't think so. I could go on & on about our not satisfactory visit but basically they seemed to me to be all about $$. Read Less

I gave my dog Bentley a nylabone treat last night and after eating the whole thing he started coughing up a white foamy liquid. I took him to Tufts where they did an X-ray and found the treat was lodged in the back of his esophagus. They immediately called in their medical team to perform emergency surgery to push it out of his esophagus into his stomach. He stayed overnight for observation and I picked him up this morning. The staff at Tufts was amazing. They were so compassionate and caring with my dog as well as me when I was visibly upset and worried about him having the surgery. I'm thankful I live close enough to have brought my dog here. They saved his life and I'll forever be greatful. I'd highly recommend Tufts to anyone. Read Less

A special thanks to Addy Felton for coming out in the cold and the snow for our poor old pony Magic, down with colic. We had limited help for her, but my grand kids pitched in and she looks much better. Hoping she does ok..Addy was so good, careful explanations for treatment and care!!!! Read Less

I love evryone here !  From the reception staff to the technicians and veterinarians - all extremely kind, compassionate, smart and friendly.  The doctors are pretty great but the technicians are the shining stars of this place - they do so much much work behind the scenes.  When my dogs have been hospitalized there I know that they got great care !  The technicians really got to know my dogs' personalities and quirks.  They've seen it all and then some - true professionals !!  Every single person there!  I only wish that they would do routine veterinary care - but I can't take them down a star for that! Read Less

Tufts medical team was instrumental in helping us decide the best course of action for our little man 'Sam' during his medical ordeal. Although we lost him in June 2016 Tufts did their best to keep him going, but inevitably his time with us had come to an end! .....thank you Tufts team for all you did for Sam! Read Less

Exraordinary care! All the staff here is helpful respectful kind and compassionate. We have taken 2 of our furbabies here--they treat us with such kindness. They listen, give you your space and time, answer all questions and really make you feel like they want to help. We had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to our loving boy cat this month and each and every staff member we dealt with made the whole process a little more bearable. We are heartbroken but are thankful we chose Tufts. Read Less

I was there last night with my dog Hammer. I had come home to find blood all my kitchen and my dog looking pretty limp. I was extremely scared and upset. I was shaking all the way there. The minute I walked in the door the staff took over to calm me down and did the same for Hammer. Dr. Warburton was excellent. She explained evey test result and what treatment options were available. I am very grateful to the entire staff for thier professionalism and compassion. Thank you Read Less

Today I had to bring my American Bulldog to Tufts to see an eye doctor. My dogs eyes became very red, and glassy looking something that is common with this breed that I was unaware of. Dr. Maggio & her vet techs were great. Our appointment was scheduled for 10 and we were seen promptly and on our way home with antibiotics within 30 min. Additionally, the hospital sent me out the notes from the visit by email to ensure I remembered what was discussed and the treatment plan. This was my first visit here and I strongly recommend Dr. Maggio for anyone whose pet is having vision/ eye trouble. Read Less

On New Years Day our pug Maddie was not feeling well and I knew she was in pain. We took her to Tufts to be checked. (This was our first visit there). After some blood work and an xray, which were normal, they decided to keep her overnight to monitor her. They called us the next morning to say she was ok and she could go home. Just want to say from the moment we walked in we were treated with compassion and professional people. From the front desk to all nurses and doctors. We would definitely go to Tufts on the future. Wanted to say a big Thank you to Dr. Milligan who took good care of Maddie. Sincerely, Jim and Sheila Young. Read Less

If there were an option for a negative star that would still be too high a rating for this careless, money grubbing establishment full of useless individuals. The abundance of wishy washy half answers from so called professionals is mind blowing. I have now had two experiences with Tufts and will never have another. My first experience with Tufts was not a good one for multiple reasons. First because our dog was not well but secondly because the available vet didn't have a clue what she was doing. I'm not sure if her mis diagnosis of our dogs condition was due to being over worked, or a lack of experience or just her remarkable stupidity. Whatever the case may be she started our dog on the wrong treatment. Quickly realizing the mistake she had made the course of action changed, but it was too late and we lost our two and a half year old dog. As horrible of situation as this was we assumed it was an unfortunate and isolated event....... My second experience with Tufts was tonight. We rushed our 4 month old puppy to Tufts after he injested a bully stick in its entirety. Upon arriving to the empty waiting room there was zero sense of urgency and we waited for almost an hour. Meanwhile vet techs were coming in and out, not to do any preliminary examinations, but rather treating the area like a petting zoo. Finally a vet became available. We proceeded to pull teeth to dry to establish the right solution, with her saying things like "well you know him best" and "well we could do that". We rule out putting our puppy under for a procedure that may or may not help the situation and decide on an x Ray. After reviewing the x Ray she determines the bully stick is not stuck in his throat but she can't see it in his stomach either. We are told to watch him and are sent on our way. We get home and what do you know.... it turns out it was stuck in his throat and he throws it up. Not to mention after a quick google search we find out an x Ray would not have shown this. As a non veterinarian pet owner I have to rely on and trust in so called professionals and animal hospitals like Tufts. For these people and places to blindly diagnose or give a clean bill of health while not knowing what they are doing is irresponsible and disgusting. So if you want to play vet roulette with a bunch of doctors who look to you to do their job for them, then head over to Tufts and don't forget your wallet. Read Less

So my dog stretched and her stitches came open. That is what I woke up to on Christmas morning. After struggling with my vet's answering service I go to this place because I'm terrified about my dogs health. I paid just shy of $200 on Christmas morning for a room for 10 minutes and some pills accomplices by a $21 registration fee. The doctor didn't seem knowledgable and gave me the run around when I answered questions. She basically said she's ok an that there is no way I can try to stop the bleeding and said that I could leave her in a small space while I'm with family. How can you tell someone to let their dog sit in their own blood for hours on a holiday. How can you charge so much for nothing. I am appalled. I will never be visiting this place ever again. Read Less

Besides the cost of care ( which is why I took a star off), I'd say that hands down the best place for any sick furry friends. The staff is incredibly kind, attentive and patient with both patients and parents. The doctors are extremely knowledgeable and engaged. They never rushed me off the phone or in person. Our dog Murphy was in great hands Read Less

My 4 year old boxer just had emergency surgery Saturday night for a foreign object removal. My coworkers referred me to this hospital, and I must say I will NEVER bring her anywhere else every again. Every single person I came in contact with, from the receptionists, the technicians, the doctors and surgeons were above and beyond compassionate and caring. Not only for my pup but for me as well. Even in the midst of an emotion meltdown finding out she needed surgery, the staff continuously came to check on me and make sure I was ok. She needed to be boarded for obs an extra night, and the doctor had no problem doing so. She was discharged home this evening and her care plan was explain thoroughly to me. All my questions were answered and I felt like she was cared for completely. I highly recommend this facility to anyone seeking services. Thank you to each and every one of you. - Seven & FamilyRead Less

I have had 2 dogs with very different medical emergencies and the dr's and nurses were wonderful both times. They were able to explain all the issues so we understood and I never felt like they were running tests to make a bigger bill. Having to leave your pets overnight is awful but it was easier knowing the dogs were in good hands. Read Less

I just got back from taking my elderly Shih-Tzu for emergency treatment.  Yesterday she was caught eating chicken bones that a squirrel dropped in our fenced in yard (obviously stolen from our neighbor's trash).  Today she seemed to be in pain around her face, head and back but it seems uncharacteristic of symptoms of a dog with splinters from chicken bones.  As the day wore on there were times when she screamed out in pain when no one was touching her and she wasn't even moving.   My vet in Dedham is off on Thursdays so I decided it was worth the 45 minute trek to Walpole during rush hour.  The 3 receptionists couldn't be any more understanding and empathetic and the techs and doctor were very compassionate.  I was expecting xrays but it wasn't necessary - the doctor determined that her pain was in the neck area and unrelated to the chicken bones.  She most likely has a disc issue in her neck caused by jumping on or off the couch and needs a few weeks of rest with anti inflammatory and pain killers.  I was expecting a crazy bill but it was a little over $200 and if I feel like bringing her back within 24 hours, there's no doctor's fee ($139) Read Less

Just brought my dog in today for emergency treatment. The staff was very kind and understanding of my dog's needs. They took great care of him and sent us on our way with care instructions. We have been before for emergency services and I will always make the ride from Dedham to Walpole because it is worth it. Shadow and I thank the staff. Read Less

Wonderful doctor and technician Dr. Joo performed difficult surgery on my cat.From the moment I walked in her tech made me feel like I was a friend...she sat on the floor to play with my cat. Dr. Joo explained everything in detail.  They found me an appointment in the Grafton location 2 days later.I recommend Walpole and Grafton to everyone. Although the phone system is tricky as they are very busy every person there at each location is friendly and attentive.Thank God for a place like this for our furry friends! Read Less

My geriatric dog had a serious neck injury and he was in a lot of pain, so at about 9pm we made the trip to Tufts to get him checked out and get him some good pain meds. Under the circumstances, it couldn't have been a better visit. Literally everyone I dealt with that night was very sympathetic to the pain my dog was in- you could tell you were amongst animal lovers. I was treated kindly- the receptionists (I'm sorry I can't remember any of their names!) offered coffee or water and a choice in tv shows in the waiting room, and when I asked for possible suggestions of where to begin my search for a primary vet (I have recently moved back to the area), they were so helpful and reassuring. Dr. Taylor was absolutely compassionate and informative without being pushy- she couldn't have had a better bedside manner, and she treated my dog with very obvious love and care. Read Less

Sadly, my dog, Mordi was stricken with a heart issue on the evening before Christmas Eve. Fortunately, I found Tufts in Walpole. The staff, specifically the vet who cared for Mordi was completely open about his options without any pressure about what path I should take with him. Dr. Operil is the most compassionate, caring vet I have ever dealt with. She made a very heartbreaking and difficult decision easier. I feel so fortunate to have found not just the facility, which is much closer to home than my present vet, but to have found such a wonderful, caring doctor for my pets. I am very grateful to have had her in our corner during this difficult time. Having a vet who is accessible 24 hours a day is also a big advantage when you have a pet who has "after hour" issues.Read Less

I cannot say enough good things about Tufts. My vet in Quincy tried for nearly a year to help me get my cat's GI issues under control with prescription food, antibiotics, probiotics and steroids to no avail. Recognizing this needed a specialist, he referred me to Dr. Cooper and Dr. Carney at Tufts. It's not cheap, but they solved the problem in two visits and you cannot put a price tag on peace of mind. When I ended up moving out of state before my cat could be weaned off the medications they had her on, Dr. Cooper continued to call me to give guidance over the phone. The staff even FedEX'd me refills of the prescriptions right before a snowstorm hit Massachusetts last winter so I wouldn't run out of medications for my cat. I did have to find a new vet in my new state, but if I hadn't moved for work, I would still be using Tufts. The staff genuinely care about your pet and your wellbeing! Read Less

If you look at Ming L's review, you'll get a good sense of what Tufts in Walpole  is like in an emergency situation.  Up-charging pet owners with unnecessary, lengthy or expensive treatments. Lack of follow-up. Poor communication with my dog's primary vet.  An attitude--ie., the pet-owner is always wrong.  I brought my dog here for a quick blood panel because my vet was concerned he wouldn't be able to get results right away. (It was a Wednesday. He wanted them before the weekend.)  Well, they did the blood panel. But I didn't get the results for more than a week. In fact, I had to track down the vet and get the info sent to my dog's primary. This "premium" service cost about $1000.  All along they kept suggesting MRI's, an endoscopy, an internal medicine follow-up.  About $5000 more in unnecessary stuff. What a racket. Very disappointed in what I understood to be a first-rate veterinary hospital. Read Less

A few years ago my dog Max on a Sunday morning needed a Hemilaminectomy surgical procedure. A local Vet said it would cost $10,000. I asked for financial assistance then I was told they could perform the surgery for $8,000 when I asked if they knew of any organizations that could help with the costs they said no. (I learned afterwards there are a few organizations that can help) I was left with a choice to pay $8,000 in two days or euthanize my dog. (My family was crying all night) No compassion what so ever from the local vet.  The vet said to go home and think about it. We called around and found Tufts Vets in Walpole. We were told by our first Vet the better outcome diminishes with time. We brought Max to Tufts on Monday night. A really late time for a good outcome. We expected the worse. The Tufts Vets performed the surgery and to our amazement our dog Max who arrived without the ability to walk within a few months had almost  a compete recovery !!The only thing he no longer can do is jump up on the couch which is something he should not have been doing in the first place. They saved his life ! Max is a Pekingese and is 12 years old this year.  I will always be grateful for the skilled and compassionate Drs and staff at Tufts. (The surgery cost was $4,000 and we received help with Care Credit who were generous enough to increase our limit to help with the surgical costs !! Read Less

Short story: KEEP YOUR PET AWAY FROM HERE Tufts seems to have a great reputation, which is what brought us here. How they have maintained their reputation is beyond me. Our experience from beginning to end was nothing less than completely dispicable.Long story:We brought our dog  in on a weeknight to the ER for evaluation. Two docs who seemed like they knew what they were doing, listened to us and asked us questions, did some quick tests on him and then told us they would like to keep him for the night for "further testing'". we said no, and they advised that we bring him back the following morning to be admitted for the day. They said they would take care of all the information since it would no longer be them in the morning, but a new set of hands and doctors which would be seeing him. We PRE-PAID the night before and arranged everythying for the morning.I showed up less than 10 hours later with him, and it was as if we had never been there the previous night. None of his information had been passed along, and no notes were left as was promised by the doctor. The "new" doctor came to see the dog and had no idea what he was there for. I had to try to relay all the medical talk and words I could remember from the previous doctor and try to explain as best I could. I was very uncomfortable and uneasy with the fact that they were this lazy and unorganized. Also thinking that they were relying on me to explain to them what was wrong with my dog?? Then I was ofcourse asked to pay, and explained we had already paid. She said they had nothing in their system. I luckily had the receipt in my car and was able to prove we paid. ($700)This "style" of unorganization, mis-information, complications, un-professionalism, lack of customer service ,  no bedside manner continued during every time we had to call them or come in. This made everything so much more stressful for us and really made the whole process excruciatingly difficult. We not only had to worry about our dog but if the information was being relayed, who was taking care of him  and if what we were being told was accurate.After keeping our dog for the day, they called yet again and said they wanted to keep him for the night. Over $1,000. He now was with yet ANOTHER doctor who was on his case. She was extremely cold to us over the phone and made us pull teeth to get explanations of what she was talking about and referring to. She did not provide us with the information we needed. She called to diagnose him and said she would leave us "information packets to pick up" instead of explaining it to us by her , a DOCTOR. She did not leave us any information packets.When we picked the dog up, he was having a reaction in his eye due to a certain eye drop she was putting in his eye without our consent. He looked like he had been punched in the eye and it was bulging out his face. We looked at him and immediately asked what was going on and what had happened. I couldnt contain myself from crying. The vet assistant looked at the dog and acted surprised , saying "oh wow, it wasnt like that before" we asked him to take the dog back to the doctor to look at it. He came back 5 minutes later saying the vet said she "didn't have much expereince with the drops. but to keep using them" We immediately took him off the drops and his eye immediately went down. We were given a wierd serum liquid that we were to give to him to "ease his stomach" he had been vomiting after we were very careful with everything .I was convinced this is what was making him sick.  We googled and it said used to treat "vaginal diseases"  in humans and to avoid getting in eyes or mouth. We immediately took him off of this and he has not gotten sick since.We were then prescribed medications that she again did not explain to us. Yesterday by accident the dog was given full pills instead of his "prescribed" amount of 1/4 and 1/2 pills. We immediately called the hospital and the doctor called us back saying she would "need to look up the amount that would be toxic". When she called back she said she "had no information" on the medication and didn't know what to tell us. She said "you can call the pet poison hotline for $40". I asked her if there were any other doctors there who could help us or knew about the medication and she said "no." How can she be prescribing a med to my dog that she has "no information" on , and how can be prescribing a dosage amount to him if she does not know the dosage that would be toxic to him? We rushed and were able  to find another vet who could help us to make sure the dog was going to be okay and did have the information and capability to help us.I am writing my experience here, in the hopes that  I can prevent even one person from bringing their loved pet here. Read Less

Because I had positive experiences when I had brought other people's cats here in emergencies, I took my cat directly here when he was having problems and skipped a visit to my vet. Since it could not be determined if his symptoms, all occurring in the lower half of his body, were related to the chronic loose stools he had been having for two years, he was seen by Dr Carney of the GI department. As it turned out, he was actually wounded and the wound was very badly infected. TheTufts surgeon on call agreed to open him up to drain, clean out, and flush the infected wound. I had concerns about general anesthesia because he has a heart murmur which has worsened, so they agreed to try to work with conscious sedation. They took him right away (I was expecting an overnight stay), they were done within an hour, AND they sent me home with many free samples, generously portioned, of food to try for his GI problem. He recovered within a week AND no more loose stools. All for $340.00, which was FAR less than I expected for cost. Couldn't be more thrilled. The staff was attentive, friendly, sympathetic, and very careful and kind to my cat. Read Less

I have great things to say about Tufts, from the very beginning they looked in my dog's best interest, and answered my questions completely, even took the time to explain everything I forgot to ask about. Carney, Cooper and Summerhayes (spelling is wrong I am sure) were completely transparent throughout my dogs entire care, from medication to surgery to end of life services. They all really went the extra mile. The only issue I had with Tufts is you have to know how to use their automated phone service. Tufts is very busy all the time and thus the communication via phone is slow, but if you call and leave a message they do truly get back to you as soon as they can. Read Less

I cannot say enough about the wonderful and caring treatment my dog has received at Walpole.  We've been part of the "Walpole" family since December of 2012 when my dog came to be treated for a very serious eye condition and bladder stones (all at the same time). The coordination of efforts between the Walpole vets and my own personal vet helped ease my concerns about the two operations my dog had to simultaneously receive.  Dr. Maggio is one of the most incredible doctors I have ever met. Her dedication and work ethic (along with her assistant Jen) to save my dog's eyesight was something I had never witnessed before.  I am happy to report that KC continues to do remarkably well since his surgery and I think it is in large part to the care and continued treatment he receives at Walpole.  Everyone....from the front desk to the all the staff I have encountered are caring, knowledgeable and polite.   Thank you Tufts at Walpole on behalf of all those animals you help everyday -- for all that you have done and continue to do every day you show up for work! Nikki Davidson Read Less

Took my 9 year old dog to Tufts as she needed supportive 24 hour care as it was detected by my regular vet she had bowel disease and had chronic diarrhea. Her protein levels were low so they transfused her with human albumin, human blood serum, which was explained it was a low risk. Next day the doctor performed the endoscopy. After the procedure, the doctor called to say she has bowel disease and needs to be put on a strict diet and needs B12 shots. Later that day, another doctor called to say she is doing fine but a little woozy from the anesthesia. Saw my dog that evening, and she could barely walk. She fell on her face, was walking into walls, very hyper. I asked the vet tech what is wrong, and she said it is from the anesthesia. I said is this normal, she said no, most dogs are fine hours later but dogs react differently to anesthesia. I was concerned as I thought this was not normal. The next morning, the doctor called to say they thought it was the anesthesia but it is because she has high sodium. Told me they will need to get her sodium level down but slowly. I will be able to take her home at the end of the week. This was repeatedly told to me that she can come home. At 3 that afternoon, the doctor called to say she is having seizures and I need to see her. Later as I was driving to Tufts, the doctor called me again asking if I was on my way as we have big decisions to make. I told her I will be there in 10 to 15 minutes. When I arrived, another doctor who I saw the first night, came into the waiting room. When I approached her, she coldly said to me I'm not your doctor and walked away. The vet tech brought me into the room and my dog was lying in the kennel in a vegetative state. There was no reaction when I came over to her. I asked where the doctor was and was told she left. Another doctor came to me and said there is nothing more they can do for her, couldn't give me a clear explanation as to what happened, and I had to put her to sleep. Next day Tufts accounting called to tell me I owe $3800. Told them I was not paying for the entire bill. A week later the hospital director called and basically told me I have to pay for the entire bill, told me I did not appreciate the work the doctors put in to helping my dog, defended the doctor for leaving without waiting for me. I will NEVER bring any animal to Tufts. The staff totally misled me about the treatment of my dog. Dr. Cooper, the primary doctor, who I never met, abandoned me and left as apparently either my dog was not important to her or she felt guilty about her treatment decision and could not face me. I never received a call from the doctor expressing her condolences and/or any explanation of what could have happened. The hospital director, Dr. Steven Rowell, only cares about the money. He could care less about what your thoughts are on the animal's treatment. Very Unprofessional Staff!! Read Less

Despite our high hopes, our actual experience was far below expectations. I became alarmed at the severity of the suggestion of treating the symptoms and not bothering to find and treating the cause. And grew further alarmed at the insistence on blindly submitting one already prone to gastrointestinal distress and arthritic tremors on Cyclosporin.  Upon arriving home and confirming some specific pieces of information given by the vet to be unfounded/false (we're an MD household with access to medical publications database) was troubling.And what little benefit of doubt remaining became eradicated after finding medication mix-ups.Cost of such experience  =  previously undisclosed "one time registration fee" + vet fee of more than double our regular vet's(knew about this) =  too costly (well over $500, but less than $1000 for the visit). Read Less

I took my Shar-Pei dog Lucky here because of the name and I would say it was the worst experience I've ever had at an animal hospital. I drove from East Greenwich RI to come here and was enraged at their lack of thoroughness and failure to properly advise us on the proper care for our beloved pet. We spend over $3000 here and couldn't have had a worse experience if we were in a third world country. The incompetent vet Alexandra Pfaff is a poor excuse for a veterinarian. She over medicated him with prednisone and cyclosporine, and were unable to conduct an exam on him even after he was heavily sedated. He was very traumatized by the way they handled him. After this I took my best friend to Angell in Boston and am elated with their care. I suggest drive the extra 35 minutes and go to Angell if you care about your pet. And oh by the way Lucky is doing great now!  :) Read Less

I had a great experience with their veterinary dentist, Dr. Joo.  I have a 20-year-old cat with arthritis, chronic kidney disease, and chronic pancreatitis going back 6 or 7 years.  Because of these I hadn't wanted him anesthetized for tooth care, since I figured he was on his way out.  Bad decision; turns out he's one tough cat, not planning on giving up soon, but his teeth were awful and for the last year and a half we had been trying to keep mouth pain at bay with antibiotics when it flared up.  That wasn't doing the job any more, and I felt had to make a decision - if I wanted to keep him around I had to address the root cause of the problems in his mouth.  My vet works with Angell and I was referred there, but their dentist was backed up for months.  The office there referred me to Dr. Joo, and though it's nearly an hour away without traffic, straight through Boston (so when the traffic's bad it's awful), when I was able to get an appointment the next week I grabbed it.   (And of course, the available appt. was at rush hour.)She assessed his condition (she admitted she was skeptical when she saw his stats before he arrived, but was impressed when she saw him), and even carried him down the hall so the cardiologist could take a quick listen to the murmur she thought she heard (turns out it wasn't a murmur, it was an "intermittent gallop").  We discussed the costs vs. benefits of a cardiac workup - and she supported my decision to decline - and was able to keep him that day to do the surgery in the morning!  (They wanted him overnight to begin hydration.)She called me that evening to tell me how he was doing, and again about noon when the procedure was done, and was happy to chat a bit (about the cat of course) both times.  When I arrived in the evening to bring him home, she told me that she'd noticed his pupils didn't react the same, so she'd had the ophthalmologist take a look, which turned up age-related changes (no surprise!), nothing serious.  Besides the malocclusion she'd spotted immediately, which caused one tooth to constantly bite his cheek (ouch! so that tooth was pulled), he lost several more to  resorptive lesions, and 3 more because they were loose - 8 in all - plus of course got a good cleaning of what remained.  And the cost, while of course not cheap, was well below the estimate I'd received at Angell the year before for a couple of extractions.And independent of my great experience with the vet and the facility, I've found I made a good decision, as Boris is eating better than he has for years and I'm not tied down syringe-feeding him.  (CKD, pancreatitis and bad teeth will all affect appetite or willingness to eat, so I had no way of knowing in advance how much was the teeth.)  Obviously he will continue his slow decline, and might go over a cliff any time, but I don't know when that will be and I can be happy until then that he's not suffering pain from his mouth. Read Less

Monday night we had a big scare with Hugo the Pug. While we were running around the house trying to do laundry and other chores Hugo happen to get into the mouse poison that our landlord happen to put in our basement stairway. We didn't know what to do. We try to call Poison Control but since we didn't have the package and it was 11:30 at night and we couldn't call our landlord to find out what type of poison it was, they were useless. So we called the Tufts Veterinary Emergency. They advised us to bring Hugo in right away, so we packed up the pug and headed down to Walpole from Quincy. When we got there the nurse who greeted us at the desk was very nice, asking if our pug was "Hugo" remembering his name from the phone call 20 minutes ago. They brought him in the back right away, while we filled out some forms in the waiting room. After about 40 minutes the nurse came out and let us know that they were able to make Hugo vomit and they were able to get all the poison out of his stomach. The whole time that she was talking to us she made sure to comfort us and let us know that everything was going to be okay. She explained the different types of situations that could happen with Hugo depending on the type of poison. She said that they were going to give Hugo some charcoal and let us know if she thought that we should let Hugo stay overnight or if we would be able to take him home. About 20 minutes later Hugo came out to us, wagging his tail. We were so happy to see him. The nurse said that we could take him home, that they gave him fluids under his skin and gave us some Vitamin K to give him as a precautionary measure against any blood clotting issues. While we knew that it wasn't going to be cheap, I was quite surprised that it wasn't as bad as I expected. All payment is due before you can leave, so you might want to make sure that you have the funds available. The staff gave us their number it told us that if we needed to call for any reason that it would be no problem. At 2:30am, we could finally relax knowing that our puggy was going to live!! Awesome Bonus Points: We called to follow up with our regular veterinarian the following day and the staff from Tufts Emergency Veterinarian had already sent over Hugo's chart. Way to be on top of everything!!! Thank you so, so much Tufts Emergency Vet!! Read Less