Recently, I took my 8 year old dog in because she was coughing. I thought it was because of the smoke from the Eagle Creek fires, she has a history of allergies and her eyes were a bit runny as well. ... Read More
Recently, I took my 8 year old dog in because she was coughing. I thought it was because of the smoke from the Eagle Creek fires, she has a history of allergies and her eyes were a bit runny as well. I took her to Dr Z, hoping to find relief for her cough. Xrays, bloodwork and $600.00 later I am given a pamphlet on megaesophagus, some antibiotics and some obscure comment about feeding my dog meatballs from an elevated position. None of this made sense until I read the pamphle...t. After reading it, I thought, no, that is not at all what she is doing. Her symptoms were nothing like what was described. Later I learned the vet who saw her was fresh out of grad school. The following day they left a message to tell me the radiologist report confirmed megaesophagus and they wanted to do further blood work to test her for myasthenia gravis (more money, right?). I am frustrated so I do not call back, they call again and I speak to Dr Crooks. I explain my frustration, that I don't feel I am being listened to. That Zoey's symptoms are not at all like what either of the above disorders describe but she persists, repeating the request for me to bring her in for blood work. At this point I tell her no, I am taking my dog elsewhere. I ask for the records and am told to have the new vet call and they will send them over. Great! I call early in the morning, make an appointment for that afternoon, give them the phone number for Dr Z's office so they can get the records. I arrive at 5:00pm, they still don't have the records and have been trying to get them all day. They call again. The wonderful doctor examines Zoey and we have a lengthy discussion about her health, past and present. Still no records, at this point the Dr cannot move forward without xrays, so I agree to have more taken. Xrays from Dr Z's office did manage to get there about 10 mins after they were taken again. So the Vet says, yes megaesophagus (I am about to scream) but then he says, wait! Where is her stomach? Is that it in her esophagus? I agree to an endoscopy to confirm and yes, that is it. Her stomach is up in her esophagus but why? Zoey is under so exploratory surgery is performed. Cancer! A huge tumor pushing her stomach into her esophagus, her liver is riddled with it, galbladder completely blocked off. We decide not to wake Zoey up. May she rest in peace...... I will be calling Dr Z's office about a refund, they misdiagnosed her, refused to listen to me about her symptoms and did not send her records over in a timely manner, forcing me to pay for the same tests again. I felt they were more interested in charging me for diagnostics than actually helping my poor dog. I know Zoey would not have survived even if they had done their job but what if I had taken their word for it and treated her for a condition she didn't even have? She would suffered longer than necessary. See more Read Less