Avoid Northstar at all costs--especially Dr. Davies. What started as a dislocated hock joint in our border collie became a nightmare that ended in her death, all because of gross incompetence and negligence.
In the spring, we were referred to Dr. Davies for a specialized surgery that our regular vet couldn't perform. Initially, he gave us a good feeling--confident, warm, and assuring. He promised that the $13,000 surgery would resolve the issue, and aftercare would be covered. But that initial confidence quickly crumbled into a disaster we could never have imagined.
Despite Davies' assurances that he had performed this surgery many times without complications, things started going wrong almost immediately. He admitted to using smaller screws than normal during the surgery but was "confident" it would be fine. It wasn't. Within days, our dog was showing signs of distress. We called 15 times over the next two weeks, only to be dismissed by the staff, particularly Stephanie, who brushed off our concerns. By the time Dr. Davies finally admitted to striking a blood vessel and applying the bandages too tightly, necrosis had set in, starting a domino effect of horrors.
It went from "maybe a couple of toes" needing amputation to "all the toes," then "some of the pad," and finally--after weeks of neglect--her leg needed to be amputated at the hip. This was not inevitable. It was preventable. A second opinion confirmed what we suspected: this didn't have to happen. The complications were entirely due to Davies' botched surgery and improper aftercare.
Dr. Davies, now embarrassed and defensive, became short and dismissive, recommending a hip-level amputation. Thankfully, our regular vet had more sense, and we opted for an amputation below the knee, hoping to fit our dog for a prosthetic. Even that was botched--Davies and his team failed to properly measure her stump, forcing us to return days later. How many times can one dog be put through anesthesia in 10 weeks? More than in her entire 11-year life.
The final straw came when our dog suffered violent seizures, foaming at the mouth just before she died. Dr. Davies, as usual, dismissed our concerns, blaming everything but himself. His callous response? "Seizures happen for all kinds of reasons. I'll definitely charge you if you bring her in." After $13,000 and countless hours of unnecessary pain, our beloved dog died, neglected and betrayed by someone we trusted to care for her.
Let me be clear: Dr. Davies hid behind phone calls and texts, avoiding any in-person conversation after the surgery. If you're going to charge that much and ruin a dog's life, at least have the decency to speak face-to-face. Instead, he clearly cared more about racking up surgeries and cashing checks than about the animals in his care.
Kayla, the only decent staff member there, showed more care than Dr. Davies ever did. Since our ordeal, I've met two other dog owners whose pets suffered complications due to tight bandages at Northstar. This is not an isolated incident--this clinic is dangerous.
Dr. Davies, I will be reporting your malpractice to the state veterinary board. No one should ever experience what we did. Do not bring your pets here if you care about them. Go anywhere else. read more