I write this with a sad heart, We thought South Shore Animal Hospital was a good place to go in an emergency, use to be. We had no idea it had been purchased by VCA, if so we would have gone elsewhere, anywhere!
On Wednesday December 24th Christmas Eve for those of the Christian Faith, We brought our Siberian Husky in because his stomach was bloated. Nanook is a beloved pet of ours.
After getting past the receptionist, who was looking for an ok for 300-650 dollars, we saw the doctor. His immediate response was that Nanook needed a $4,000.00 operation or he would have to put down!
After us explaining that $4,000.00 was out of the question, he said that he could take an Xray for $100.00 to see if his stomach had actually flipped, as he thought it did.
Well he came back with the Xray, and the stomach looked normal.. He then proceeded to explain that they had released the gas by inserting a needle into Nanook’s stomach and it probably flip back over while on the xray table and still needed the surgery or for us to put him down.
Now I am not a vet, but I am also not an idiot This was an out right push for Expensive Surgery Period… Yet at the time we were heart broken and a little in shock. In the mean time we were being pushed for payment, At one point the manager suggested my son go home and find someone with the money , and in the mean time I was to stay with Nanook as hostage! My answer of course was Bullshit! My company had done printer service work for them before and we were made to wait 30 days for payment!!!!
So can they!
In the mean time Nanook was crying to go out, and so my son took him outside where he immediately relieved himself, So much for the diagnosis that his stomach and intestines had shut down… When questioned about this the Doctors answer was Duh! I’ll be back, and he did come back with the killer needle, which I guess he though he was going to use to cover his tracks.
Fortunately my son and I had a discussion, Nanook was acting too much like his old self to put down, We decided to take him home, where if he did get worse, at least he was with us. And we thought that maybe he would at least last till after Christmas Day, We did not wish to dig a grave on Christmas or Christmas Eve.
The young lady who came to let us go told us we were making a big mistake and Nanook was going to die a horrible, painful death that day, We had to sign a release excusing the Doctor because we were taking him against his wishes (he wanted to surgery or uthinize) . We wanted neither. After fighting over the bill, (we were charged $140.00 for the xray that the doctor said was $100.00) and paying 1/2 and signing a frigging promissory note for the balance, we finally got out of your hell hole.
So here it is Saturday, 2 days after Christmas, Nanook is just like he always was! No pain! He is alive and well!! His regular Doctor (not a vca ) called us on Friday to see how he was doing, He could not believe what you people said!!!! He told us that many of his breed had occasional bloat and most were not FATAL And that putting him down was a last resort after trying, releasing the pressure, using a tube, or just giving meds to break up the gas, or just letting nature take it’s course, kinda like a human.
Oh did I mention, They never evan called! So much for caring…
Tags: bad vets, killers vets, vca
