I began working with Dr. Rachel at Calm Vet about 9 months ago, initially bringing in my…read more6-month-old dog. At that time, Dr. Rachel diagnosed him as underweight and suffering from degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia, and arthritis. This felt incredibly alarming--especially for such a young pup. I consulted the breeder immediately, who was stunned and advised me to get a second opinion. According to established veterinary consensus and research (e.g., OFA guidelines and DM testing protocol), conditions like hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy are not typically confirmed in dogs under 2 years of age due to skeletal development timelines.
I was also strongly encouraged to give him a weight-gain injection--likely B12 or vitamin complex additives--which I declined. Instead, I began supplementing his meals with peanut butter, veggies, and hard-boiled eggs, and he quickly gained healthy weight without any medication or intervention.
Next, I brought in my 6-year-old lab for a yeast infection and a limp in his hind leg. After paying over $600, I was told he needed surgery. I followed her instructions for rest, and one week later, he was walking and running just fine without surgery, rehab, or any invasive treatment. It was clearly a soft tissue injury that resolved on its own. In hindsight, this too felt like a clear misdiagnosis--one that could've led to unnecessary surgery if I had blindly followed the advice given.
Another concerning moment came when I said the younger dog would miss our long walks due to his brother's rest period, and Dr. Rachel offered an anti-anxiety prescription for my puppy. That felt like an unnecessary escalation, especially for a healthy, social pup reacting normally to changes in routine.
The final straw came recently when my lab got another small yeast patch. I requested the same antibiotic that had worked before, but Dr. Rachel denied the Chewy order, reportedly leaving me a voicemail I never received. I followed up repeatedly. Eventually, I was told to just pick up an over-the-counter antibiotic spray. I already had some from the last round, but it wasn't helping, so I sent a photo. The assistant then said he must come in--and sent a nearly $400 estimate just to get medication. This included an exam, skin sample, bloodwork, and meds--with no option to skip parts of the bill to get him the relief he needed.
It has become clear to me that this clinic is more interested in profit than in pets. There is a consistent pattern of misdiagnosis, over-diagnosing, over-medicating, and recommending invasive or costly treatments that often prove unnecessary. It no longer feels like my pets are being treated with individualized care--it feels like a business model built on fear and upselling.
I am going elsewhere.
After multiple experiences of premature diagnoses, excessive costs, and a lack of collaborative dialogue, I no longer trust this clinic to put my animals' well-being first. I want a vet who listens, respects owners' insights, and practices medicine that's grounded, humane, and not profit-driven.
