This is the hardest review I have ever had to write. I am writing it in the hopes that no one has to go through the same kind of experience I had with Periwinkle Pet Clinic, because some things can ne... Read More
This is the hardest review I have ever had to write. I am writing it in the hopes that no one has to go through the same kind of experience I had with Periwinkle Pet Clinic, because some things can never be fixed when they go badly.We recently moved to Albany with our two older cats, Turner and George. Turner (17) had been diagnosed by another vet with stomach cancer about two years ago. In the time since, Turner had done rather well, until the last 6 months or so, when he had started to decline. He had lost enough weight to be little more than skin and bones, and while he ate nearly constantly, it just came right back out and he was getting no nutrition from it. He no longer moved much throughout the day. Even when I was holding him and petting him, he was far less responsive than he had always been. He was clearly experiencing pain. We decided that as soon as we got moved we would take him to a local vet to discuss euthanasia in order to spare him further suffering. I wanted his last days to be as pleasant as I could make them, and I wanted to be able to plan for his last moments being loved and pampered, not in pain and terror.After doing a little research, we decided to take him and George to Periwinkle. At the first visit with Turner I explained why we were there, and the vet asked questions and then asked if we were willing to test him to rule out a thyroid issue that would be treatable. She thought that was likely the case, and there was a good chance that she could help him with a change in diet. I explained that we did have very limited funds, due to an illness and disability. That said, I would find a way to pay for the test so we could be sure that we weren't ending his life when he could get better. If his current decline was due to something other than the cancer, I couldn't in good conscience do anything else. Turner was taken to their back room for a blood draw, and we were told they would call us with results. In the interim, we should change his diet to one with easily digestible protein, and to scramble eggs for him. The vet looked George over and suggested a pheromone collar for him, and said she wanted to give him some antibiotics for a gum infection. This was phrased as "I could give you some antibiotics to give to him". I was touched that they would do that, obviously being sensitive to our financial situation. When we left and it was time to pay, it became clear that she didn't mean "give" Visit cost - $294.80 I had expected total costs for the visit and euthanasia to amount to around $200.00, but when the vet said he could be treated, what else can you do? So I wrote a check and off we went to spend more money buying new food for him. At least he seemed to enjoy the egg. When we went back in to get the results, their scales showed that Turner had lost another 1.5 lbs. In a matter of a couple of days. The vet we saw on that occasion was skeptical that he had lost so much in such a short time and suggested their scales must be off. We were told that he had an UTI,. They would give us antibiotics & give him some iv fluids (again, "give", but I knew better this time). I truthfully should have said no at that point, and proceeded with planning for goodbye, but if we could give him a better last day on earth than the agony and terror he was going through I wanted to. So I agreed to give him the antibiotics. This vet actually DID say that he was "circling the drain" and would not be getting better, but said that we could make him more comfortable. I asked if they would be willing to euthanize him at home if we scheduled it in advance, and she said they would. So off we went home to give him his medicine and decide what day we wanted to set aside to have them come out. That visit - $140.25 Turner crashed so fast from there. He was more ill than we had ever seen him, suffering awfully. Couldn't even keep liquid down now, & was crying from the pain. Within 24 hours I had to take him back to end it. This was not done in the room with me, though they brought him back for me to hold him while it took effect. I was unable to keep him with me the whole time, so he got to experience even more unnecessary terror. There is more, such as not being told I would have to go pick up his remains at another location, but I will post that to my facebook review. I hope that you choose to spend your money somewhere that you know it is doing good for someone in your family, not just for the clinic. Read Less