I don't typically post reviews, but for this particular instance, I felt it was necessary. I came to this vet a few months back for a routine exam (the first one my kittens had had.) Dr. Allen wasn't ... Read More
I don't typically post reviews, but for this particular instance, I felt it was necessary. I came to this vet a few months back for a routine exam (the first one my kittens had had.) Dr. Allen wasn't in, but the staff that was left to help me was equally helpful considering it was only a checkup. That was... until we went into the exam room. The woman/nurse/doctor/ WHOEVER who saw my cats was completely rude and DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT MY CATS! Now, these are the first cats I've ever owned and it was a first vet visit for all of us, but I'm pretty sure they're at least supposed to look in their ears/mouth! The wait wasn't terrible, and for the price, I guess you kinda get what you pay for.
However, this bad experience hadn't completely steered me away from Pleasant Valley Vet Hospital, as I'd heard great things about Dr. Allen.
Recently, I took one of my kittens back to Dr. Allen because he had been suffering from an upper respiratory infection, along with a swollen eye and nosebleeds. After frantically searching the web for some kind of indicator on what my cat had, all signs pointed to feline chlamydia. Of course, I'm no doctor. After listing off his symptoms to the staff at the front desk, I was taken to one of the exam rooms where a nurse came to "check him out." By that, I mean she pet him with rubber gloves on while I told her his symptoms, I kid you not, she did nothing to inspect the wellbeing of my cat whatsoever! She put her rubber gloves on only to stroke his fur on the exam table. I thought "Okay, maybe she's only here to listen to his symptoms."
Dr. Allen walks in a few minutes later looking at his chart (doesn't even say hello or introduce himself. Really?) and instantly diagnoses my kitten's disease. Without even looking at him! He says it's calicivirus. At the time, I didn't protest his diagnosis because I was relieved to finally be able to put a name to the condition my fur baby had (and it had a better ring than "feline chlamydia.") After telling me "It's calici. It's fixed with antibiotics," the doctor walks out of the room without saying anything else. To be clear, at this point, no doctor or nurse had taken more than a glance at my cat. Here's what pissed me off:
Dr. Allen walks back in several minutes later holding a needle. I had no idea what was going on, no one had told me what kind of antibiotics were needed or how they were going to be administered. Without warning, Dr. Allen pushes my cat into the exam table with one hand, shoves the needle into him with the other. No warning at all! I was absolutely livid. The staff at this vet do a terrible job communicating with their patients. At the time, my fiancee and I were very strapped for money, so I curiously asked the doctor (as I had intended to do BEFORE the shot was forced onto my cat) what the estimated price of the vaccine was going to be. He asked me "Are you asking me how much you have invested in this cat?" Are you kidding me? My intention was to get his opinion and run with it to another vet who might give me a more assuring diagnosis, one who'd actually look at him before reading a few symptoms on a chart and giving me an answer. (I managed to look at the symptoms the nurse wrote down, she left out a few important ones including the nosebleeds.) For the rest of the visit, he was condescending, all because I asked about how much the medicine would cost. I think it's more appropriate for a doctor's office to keep you updated with your bill as the visit progresses, rather than surprise you at the end. After all, the reason you're coming to this vet is either because it's cheap or you live close. I left with an inexpensive bill, yes, but my cat's condition worsened. The shot was very irritating to him for days after and gave him a horrible skabby rash right between the shoulder blades. This whole experience was an absolute nightmare. To restate what a few other reviews before me have said, don't come here if it's important. If your animal is sick, take them elsewhere otherwise you're kinda getting ripped off anyway. Decent for a routine exam. Read Less