Veterinarian recommendations?

[PennyQuilts]

I know this is an old thread - but I wanted to provide a related experience.

Our long-haired Chihuahua was attacked last night by two larger off leash dogs. It was after-hours so we had to go to a vet hospital. We went to Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Hospital at 1800 West Memorial Rd.

A really bad experience. They tried every bully tactic in the book to get us to agree to a $1,000 24-hour stay to monitor the dog's condition and prepare him for a $3,000 surgery. Feeling we had no other option we left our dog until 8am this morning. We then returned and checked him out 12-hours early. Even with him only being there 12-hours, the bill was close to $700.

We took him to our regular vet at Southside Dog Bird and Cat Clinic and they said he could have gone home with us (with an IV bag and meds) and did not need surgery. They agreed the dog had broken and separated ribs, an internal hole that was leaking air under the skin and other minor issues. They said it can sound scary (as the other vet had done), but that in most cases those types of injuries will heal up just fine on their own. They didn't try and do additional x-rays or blood work and only charged us $77 and a $4 prescription with orders to return in a few days. The Southside clinic is certainly more 'ghetto' but we've always been very happy - the staff is great and the vets are really caring. Plus, they've never tried to get us to buy unnecessary procedures. In fact, they've seen our pets for free on a few occasions.

They did advise to use Neel Vet Clinic for any after hours care. We used them once before in the past and were very happy, but they were further away.

I am so sorry about your dog - what a bad deal but I am glad he is going to be okay.

Regarding the Emergency and Critical Care hospital, we once used them several years ago and while we didn't have nearly the bad experience you had, we weren't really happy with our girl's care. It was a different situation (she was sick rather than injured) and it wasn't the expense so much as they didn't seem to really be able to address her problem. We went to them because we were in town during the summer before we moved back home. It was a holiday and we didn't have a regular vet. I give them kudos for being open but I wouldn't be happy about going back.

As for Neel's we tried a couple of vets when we moved back and ended up going with Neels for a variety of reasons. They are NOT expensive and we are the type to take our dogs to specialists if they have a special problem, anyway. Their facilities are excellent, they have the water treadmill, laser surgery and up to date equipment, the hours are 24/7; and although we have never boarded our girls, their boarding facilities are clean and reasonable, plus they have a very nice doggy day care facility. We know that if something ever comes up and we have to board them, they already know our girls and we can trust the facilities. Plus, if there is an emergency, they already know everything about our girls. They have a nice waiting room outside the surgery unit and have snacks and drinks for patients' families. Since it is a 24 hour facility, you can go at any hour. They also have a pretty good website to keep up with your pet records and be able to directly e-mail your vet. I've been there late at night with a friend who was just visiting and her blind dog needed emergency care. They treated him and the bill was negligible - I honestly think they discounted it because my friend adopts hard to place dogs with medical problems and they helped her out. They've also been willing to talk to us over the phone on minor things - probably because they know us and trust us. They haven't tried to push drugs and therapies the girls don't need and have been very supportive when we've taken the girls to specialists for certain problems. It has been a good fit, for us.

[trousers]

For general practice, I've used Portland Veterinary Hospital for more than 30 years. Dr. Nida is a very caring person, always takes time to discuss matters with us, and doesn't hesitate to refer problems he doesn't understand to specialists who might be able to help. It's at NW 50 and Portland, next door to the Shamrock station on the SE corner, and is open M-F but not on Saturdays.

Very happy with my experience here.

[PennyQuilts]

I was back to Neels, yesterday, with a lame dog and someone brought in a puppy dead from parvo wrapped in bloody paper towels. The vets seemed taken aback because the puppy had clearly been dead awhile. ("I am sorry we can't help you - this puppy is in rigor mortis.") There is apparently a bad strain of parvo going around that is even affecting grown dogs. I was tempted to wash my dogs in some bleach after all that - parvo is a horror. Staff was spraying down everything as soon as the man left with what appeared to be a large cake box.

I was back at Neels, today, with a sick puppy. They got her right in and because she's a puppy and because of the parvo risk. They went over her with a fine toothed comb but think it is just a tummy upset. They spent quite a bit of time with her. I was wiping down her belly and feet, frantically and the blanket in her travel crate got tossed into the washer, immediately.

[Gene]

I was back to Neels, yesterday, with a lame dog and someone brought in a puppy dead from parvo wrapped in bloody paper towels. The vets seemed taken aback because the puppy had clearly been dead awhile. ("I am sorry we can't help you - this puppy is in rigor mortis.")

My dogs attacked a stray cat in our yard. I rushed it Neels. Between the stop light at 23rd and Macarthur to their parking lot it stopped breathing. They said there was nothing they could do, and took the body without taking a dime.

Very good people, very compassionate.

I also took my dogs there one night because they got into a huge tin of chocolates my ex-mother-in-law sent me. I'd always been told chocolate was dangerous for dogs, but until I looked it up recently I hadn't realized it was specific concentrations of chocolate.

The tin was full of foil wrapped chocolate covered toffees (sort of like Hershey Kisses combined with Heath bars). The vet looked them over for a moment and told me they'd be fine once the sugar rush wore off... which took hours!

For a few days we'd see red tinfoil reflecting in their dung.

[PennyQuilts]

I have seen the tinfoil in the dung, myself. Only my girl got into Bailey's chocolates so she got a double whammy of alcohol and chocolate. I was worried but she was okay.

I've made three trips to Neels, this week. One girl lame (she'd better, now) and then the puppy got a gastrointestinal problem and ended up there two days in a row. They almost hospitalized her but decided she'd be more comfortable at home. They showed us how to do the subcutaneous fluids and spent quite a long time with us going over all the sorts of things to do for her rather than hospitalize her. They treated her like the only dog they had to deal with and I appreciated it. Puppy was soooo sick but she seems to be fine, now.