Heading: Don't go!
1st IN RESPONSE TO (My story is below): paula h...My entire point was that we were not informed of any option but putting our dog down. You evidently were, although I'm unclear as to what happened in your case you say at first that you spent 36 hours and $2000 dollars at the animal hospital and it was going to cost $6000 more to find out the outcome??? Then say that Hardwick Pond called the hospital, got the answers and told you everything. If you did indeed try to save your dog even though he was paralyzed then SHAME on you for being so selfish. Were you doing it for your dog or for you? And if the story is that Hardwick Pond called the hospital and told you everything, then why weren't we given the same courtesy when we went to try to save our dog's life. I pleaded with them and said I would do anything. That pee and poo would not be a problem as I work from home and was still given no options. In the Code of Ethics it calls for full disclosure and a discussion of all options. SHAME on Hardwick Pond Veterinarian Center for not informing us that we did have other options. This wonderful Old Fashioned Vet is at best unethical on numerous accounts and at worst so far behind modern medicine that perhaps retirement should seriously be considered. SHAME on you for posting a response to something you know absolutely nothing about and thank you for letting us know he does discriminate. If we were afforded the same courtesy that you were we would have no reason to complain, but we weren't and we do. People live with horrible pain everyday of their life; does this mean that they should be put down? Also all dogs and all cases are not the same. My dog was a lap dog and basically required little exercise thus perfect for apartment life. From what we have learned smaller dogs do better with paralysis than larger ones and he would have no feeling and thus no pain or little which could be managed. Also when you referred to wearing a brace maybe initially it would be needed along with cage rest until the dog healed, but the dog wouldn't need it for long. If you would like to educate yourself rather than criticizing us for wanting to do exactly what you said you did. Please go to paralyzeddogs.org. Remember we don't kill people who can't walk and an INFORMED CONSENT WITH ALL OPTIONS, COST, AND BEST AND WORST CASE SCENARIO SHOULD BE DISCUSSED. ALL I WANTED WAS THE SAME TREATMENT AS PAULA H. If you or anyone you know feel you have been done a disservice by your Veterinarian you can lodge a complaint online with The Massachusetts Licensing Board and in the most serious cases please always get a second opinion!
I normally do not write reviews, but my latest experience with this vet has prompted me to write in order to warn others. My small dog got hit by a car and was paralyzed from the waist down. Frantic, I raced him over to the vet where I was told there was nothing I could do, but euthanize him. I pleaded and stated, "I will do anything for him" and even then the vet continued to tell me there was nothing I could do for him. I even specifically asked about obtaining a wheelchair and the necessary care that having a paralyzed dog would entail, but again was told there was no hope. After several hours of holding him I finally gave in and my poor dog was put to sleep.
Over the next few days I did extensive research online (and I now wish I had gotten a second opinion before making such a decision). I found out that the vet did not conduct all the necessary tests to tell if my dog really had a severed spine and spoke with 2 other vets who confirmed this and they couldn't believe after telling Hardwick Pond Vet I would do anything to save him he didn't give him a shot for the swelling and send me to a specialist. One also let me know that he could have survived without surgery and initially require cage rest until he healed for a month or so. read more