We chose this vet because they offer weekend appointments and it is close to home. Wish we hadn't. I took one of my dogs in and they said she needed a blood test and ultrasound. Then when I asked abou... Read More
We chose this vet because they offer weekend appointments and it is close to home. Wish we hadn't. I took one of my dogs in and they said she needed a blood test and ultrasound. Then when I asked about the results I was told their instruments were not sensitive enough for the tests and another set had to be done and sent out. I had already paid for the first useless set and was now told I had to pay again plus a courier fee for the same exact thing! For the ultrasound, after I was shown the pictures and they could not identify what was in it, I was told I needed to take her to see a specialist because they were not sure what the ultrasound said... they were not experienced at ultrasounds. I paid hundreds of dollars for something they cannot even do properly??? They graciously gave me a $50 discount! I was told my dog has a rare kidney disease that is incredibly painful and incurable and would require medications for the rest of her life, big bucks every month. Turns out, she had a bladder infection. My second dog developed a small growth on his leg. First couple of visits they assured me it was a fat deposit and no threat to his health. I disagreed and returned. To prove to me it was a solid fat deposit they took a syringe... oops, liquid filled. I asked for it to be tested. Later, I called for results and was assured it was inflammatory fluid, swelling like arthritis. They gave me some more expensive anti-inflammatory pills (I later found out the price was greatly inflated!). A couple weeks later, it was even larger. They told me that it was nothing to worry about. I again asked for it to be tested, but wanted it sent out this time. Again, inflammatory fluid. When it started getting really big, they told me they could no longer remove it, I would have to go to a special surgeon and have a biopsy (my husband was assured that it was only for MY peace of mind, as if I were a hypochondriac!). A week later, it had a large growth spurt and he scratched it. Worried about an infection, my husband took him in. They bandaged it and gave him expensive antibiotics and said to remove the bandage in a week. They also did x-rays... on his lungs because of his breathing (there was nothing wrong with his breathing!) 5 days later, the bandage smelled really bad so we removed it... and my dogs leg EXPLODED all over the bathroom! We took him to an emergency clinic and surgeon and they immediately operated. They were forced to amputate his leg up to the hip because the cancer encompassed the entire leg. We were told by the new vets that the mass should have been tested from the beginning and that the cost of removing something that small would have been minimal, with out-patient surgery and little or no permanent problems. Instead, 3 days of hospitalization, total loss of a leg, and $3000 in medical bills on top of all Dumfries charged us for the multiple visits. My husband believed them because someone with a veterinary degree SHOULD know more about animal health than an untrained pet owner. In hindsight, we have had a lot of unnecessary meds and tests, a lot of disregard for what should have done, and services performed that they were not adequately qualified to perform. Warning: no matter what vet you use, educate yourself about what should be done and research what they tell you. Get copies of the treatment records. And if you disagree with what they are saying, see someone else if they do not take you seriously. Read Less