Previously, we had been coming here for all our animals for about 15 years. Never again. Before Judy retired everything was fine, it's unfortunate to say it's taken a taken a turn for the worst.
Set aside the fact we consistently wait 30-45 minutes past our appointment time (something we never had to do before despite the fact there now seems to be even more employees) I am appaled by the recent care of our dog.
She has had minor allergy issues as she got older that were taken care of by antihistamines or food, until they got worse and the only option they gave was shots that cost hundreds of dollars which we just can't afford. We started expensive medicated shampoos, didn't really help either. The vet gave the impression of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ what can you do besides spend money you don't have on shots that MAY or MAY NOT work??
Not only that, it's very difficult to get my 100lb Shepherd to the vet in the first place despite being quite literally across the street as she is terrified of cars since she was in an accident (she's okay she was physically unharmed) and has to be minorly sedated to get her to the vet because she refuses to go near a street or car. They know this, they have to give us the pills every time. We have to muzzle her because she is SO ANXIOUS and scared by the whole thing. They know how difficult it is to just take her for her shots that they give it to her all at once so we don't have to resedate her.
Recently, it got really bad. There was a flea issue, old flea medicine doesn't work anymore. Fine, okay, New flea stuff. But something still wasn't right and we knew it. Biting herself to pieces and she just wasn't right so we went in and they did a full work up with blood and urine and when we went back for the results they said she was fine. We asked if it was mange, no they said. Okay, great not mange, but SOMETHING ELSE WAS WRONG. No they said. But look at her!!! Fur falling out, skin inflamed, crusty skin, weird smell generally very unhappy dog. "It's just the fleas, she will be okay." You know when something is wrong with your dog. You just do.
We ended up taking her to another vet in lakeside. They took one look at her and said "yeah it's a skin infection" they gave her one shot and other medicine that cost a quarter of what Judy had last charged us. Within 24 hours, she was no longer biting or licking, absolutely no redness to her skin. And she's eating and smiley and so happy again, she looks 5 years younger. We asked about long term shots for allergies and told us what Judy's had suggested, "oh no we NEVER offer that stuff unless we've tried everything else its so expensive!" YEAH IT IS
It's about a week later and my dog is transformed. Obviously the infection isn't gone she still has some antibiotics to get through but she's a new dog. Usually she's one to constantly lick to to point she needs a neck pillow to stop herself. She maybe occasionally licks her paw as any dog would do.
I am so angry because we had no reason to not trust the only vet we have taken our dog to since she was born 11 years ago. It was only us looking at our poor animal who was obviously suffering that made us finally take her somewhere else just to be sure. And the vet in lakeside after looking at our records didn't seem surprised we had come from Judy. Sure, maybe the fleas caused the infection, but why didn't they notice it???? We noticed SOMETHING was up more than fleas.
My SO also takes her pets here and after seeing the transformation of my dog (and knowing her very long and frustrating history of biting and licking) will also stop taking her animals here. Its devastating, my grandmother always said it was downhill since Judy left and I always choked it up to "well you prob just miss the old vet you know" and now paying close attention over the last year as we have tried to solve this issue she is 100% right.
I know my dog is an extreme case, and a complicated one. But I feel like anyone could see there was some sort of problem, we did. They should have. And now I'm questioning all the medicines and treatments we have paid for or have been urged to pay when the comparitively cheap shot they gave us did wonders. You can't make money off of people's pets. Shame. read more