I WOULD GIVE 0 STARS IF I COULD
I'm not normally one to…read morespeak negatively about businesses, but I feel I need to share our experience.
DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET TO CHENAULT VET HOSPITAL.
If Miles had any chance of survival, I believe it was taken away because of the care he received there.
A week before this, Miles had been seen at the emergency vet because there was blood in his urine. At that time, he was acting completely normal, and we were told he likely had a UTI and should follow up with a regular veterinarian. His appointment with his regular vet wasn't until Thursday.
By Tuesday, Miles had suddenly become lethargic. He was vomiting, unresponsive, and clearly not acting like himself. Chenault's was the only clinic that could get him in quickly, so we took him there.
When the doctor came into the room, she smiled and reassured us that Miles was going to be okay. He was diagnosed with kidney disease, and we were even told he should still have around two years left. We were sent home with paperwork listing products that could help him. Miles was given fluids under the skin and anti-nausea medication, then discharged.
By the time we got home, he was much worse.
He tried to drink water, but his head would fall into the bowl. He didn't want to eat, move, or respond to us. He cried out in pain. I kept hoping the fluids would help and planned to take him back in the morning if they didn't.
As I looked over his bloodwork, I noticed his glucose level was 41, something that was never discussed with us. Glucose that low in a cat can lead to seizures, coma, or death. I tried giving him sugar paste to help, and for brief moments he would try to stand, only to fall over and cry.
He spent the entire night lying on me, getting worse by the hour. He cried, fell over, wouldn't move, and even kept one eye open, as if he was trying to make sure I was okay.
By 4 a.m, he had 3 seizures, I knew we had to go back to the emergency vet. I was already preparing myself for the possibility that I would have to say goodbye.
When we arrived at Cladda Veterinary Hospital, the staff reviewed Chenault's records and told us they were shocked that Miles had been sent home. We were told it was not appropriate for him to be discharged and that he should have remained hospitalized on IV fluids overnight.
By then, Miles was too far gone, and we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let him go peacefully.
Later that day, I called Chenault's to explain what the emergency vet had told us and to ask why Miles had not been referred elsewhere if overnight care wasn't available at their clinic and why his glucose level was not discussed. I also requested reimbursement, which I felt was reasonable given the circumstances.
I was told that they do not offer overnight hospitalization. But if that was the case, why were we never advised to transfer him to a facility that could provide the level of care he needed?
Today, I received a call stating they would not reimburse us because the doctor's notes claimed that Miles's glucose level and other concerns had been discussed (Mind you we also didn't receive the doctors notes until today) . That again, we were not told that. They also said they gave him something for his sugar, which they did not and it was not on the paper as well. The question of why we were never referred to another hospital if he needed overnight care was never truly answered.
What hurts the most is wondering if things could have been different. Miles left Chenault's in pain, critically ill, and already dying.
Justice is needed for this sweet boy because he deserved better.
My boy was taken from me far too soon.
Please think carefully before trusting this clinic with your beloved pets.
