Please read if you are going or considering going to Boulevard Animal Hospital. I took many pets there over the past 30 years, until now. Deserves 0 Stars but not a. Option.On June 7th, Jamie was take... Read More
Please read if you are going or considering going to Boulevard Animal Hospital. I took many pets there over the past 30 years, until now. Deserves 0 Stars but not a. Option.On June 7th, Jamie was taken to Boulevard Animal Hospital at 1913 Grant Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia and was seen by Dr. Nicolle Chacosky, VMD. She was taken there because for a week or so we had noticed she was constantly licking at her paws. They had become red and irritated, losing some hair and bleeding off and on. Dr. Chacosky looked at her and said she had a skin infection. It was nothing to worry about, and with some antibiotics, steroids, eye ointment, pain killers, medicated baths, and time, she would be as good as new.For twelve days, we followed the Dr's instructions, Jamie slept pretty much constantly from the pain killers, she wore a cone so she couldn't lick her feet and she looked slightly better but had developed what we thought was a sore on her neck and chest caused by the cone.On June 18th, one of our other dogs stepped on one of her front paws and broke it open. The following day, we took Jamie back to Boulevard Animal Hospital and she was once again seen by Dr. Chacosky. On this visit, we were told that there must have been an abscess in the foot and the other dog stepping on it must have just broke it open. We asked about the area on her neck and were told that it was part of the infection and it was just going to take some time to heal. Jamie was given an additional antibiotic, increased steroids again, more pain killers, and continue the baths.On June 27th, Jamie's neck and chest began bleeding and the sores were seeping what looked like puss. Once again, we called Boulevard Animal Hospital and took Jamie to be seen on June 28th. On this visit, Dr. Chacosky did a $15 skin scrape and told us that Jamie actually had Demodex Mites. The Dr. stated that she did not test for that initially because she had never seen a case that severe before. The Dr. also stated that the use of steroids can actually worsen Demodex Mites. The Dr. stated that Jamie could not just come directly off the high dose, she had to be weened off over the next week. She received additional antibiotics, was told to continue with the baths, and was given a Nexgard Chewable to treat the mites which have now been going unchecked and aided by steroids for about a month.On July 1st, we came downstairs shortly after, we found that Jamie had died on the family room floor. We said goodbye, wrapped Jamie in a blanket and took her to Boulevard Animal Hospital where she was later cremated. We were told that she probably had a heart attack. What actually happened is that Dr. Chacosky and Boulevard Animal Hospital were completely incompetent and neglected to do a simple test that could have saved Jamie. The Dr. then gave Jamie a medicine that actually worsened her condition. Finally, with Jamie's weakened condition, and lowered immune system from the steroids, they prescribed Nexgard. If you search Nexgard, you will see numerous cases of it causing seizures and killing dogs. A number of Veterinarians will not even use it because of the risks associated with it and a number of local Vets have since said they would not have given it in conjunction with high dose steroids.I have gone to Boulevard Animal Hospital for nearly three decades. Their prices are higher than most but I always felt that the quality of care made it worth the cost. Needless to say, my three decade run is over and I will be searching for a new Vet. The fact that Dr. Brett Geffen who has treated many of my animals could come up with no answer other then I'm not sure I would have done anything different is a joke. His Dr. killed a dog in three weeks and he may have done the same. Sounds like either a cover story for Dr. Incompetent or maybe Dr. Brett wasn't as good as I thought if these results are something he would have duplicated.I also be reported Dr. Nicolle Chacosky to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Board. She was only nine years old. In one month she went from a healthy dog with no issues other then a slightly wonky knee and a low grade, untreated heart murmur, to no longer with us. Dr. Chacosky wants to say underlying conditions in her excuses. Jamie had her physical 2 months before and got a clean bill of health. If you look up Demodex Mites, the underlying condition was the steroids that she prescribed without doing a $15 test to save my dog.I loved that little mutt more than I can possibly put into words. I miss her with all of my heart. If you have read this far, I am sorry for running on but I hope that the information at least helps someone. Thanks for listening. R.I.P. my sweet little girl. Read Less