I feel compelled to respond to the damaging review from Mrs. Laura Silva. This critique of my hospital was so far from the truth that I feel it is in the public's best interest to hear what REALLY happened....
1. Mr. Silva and his son (both very sweet!) were the ones that brought the kitten to the hospital. The visit was SCHEDULED for a rabies vaccine.
2. After obtaining all the records, and a very thorough history from Mr. Silva, the cat had been adopted at the Animal Control Facility a week ago...the kitten had been vaccinated ONCE 2 weeks prior to that at the Animal Control facility for Feline Upper Respiratory/Distemper/Panleukopenia. No mention of a visit to another vet was made nor were any VETERINARIAN records provided to us.
3. After a very thorough (and fun....we let her son listen to his cat's heartbeat through the stethescope!!) physical exam, due to the kittens dentition (teeth), it was determined that the kitten was not old enough for a rabies vaccine, but was definitely due for an Upper Respiratory/Distemper booster which we did administer...(Necessary for the health of the kitten. Un-boostered vaccines don't work!!!)
4. Mr. Silva then said that his wife asked him to get the kitten some Frontline Flea Control. I informed Mr. Silva that I do not carry Frontline....there are much better (I feel), products out there, and if his wife was set on Frontline, she could purchase it at Wal-Mart. I was so proud as he listened and was educated regarding his other options for flea/heartworm combination products.
5. I wrote down prices for some of the other options (besides Frontline) and told him to discuss these at home with his wife, and if she still decided on Frontline, she could purchase at Wal-Mart or they could return and purchase what they decided on here. At this point, Mr. Silva decided to take my advice and purchase Advantage Multi since it would handle three parasite issues all in one product. At no point did I "FORCE" anything on my client.
6. There was NO CHARGE for the office visit. At Nassau Veterinary Hospital, we do this out of gratitude for people who adopt from shelters, from rescues, etc. The first office visit is free.
The bottom line is this woman was NOT EVEN AT THIS VISIT. When she called and was irate (see her review), I told her that the kitten was not old enough for a rabies vaccine (but she was ADAMANT that was what she had scheduled, and by God that was what should have been done). Frankly, I am sorry, just because you SCHEDULED something does not mean I am just going to blindly do it when it is not in the best interest of my patient...and this kitten WAS WAY TOO YOUNG!!! I informed her I would be glad to refund her money for the Advantage Multi she did not want and she could purchase Frontline from Wal-Mart.
Not sure how much better of a job I could have done.
I personally feel she was mad at her husband for not doing EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED even though it was not in the best health interests of the kitten....and I am too ethical to just do "stuff" because an owner "WANTS" it.
For my fellow hard-working, honest veterinarian friends out there....Watch out for this one!! read more