1 Star - Compassionless clinic with zero respect for pet owners under stress…read more
I brought my senior cat, Bambi, to Beattie Pet Hospital in Ancaster when she was unwell. After running tests, Dr. Davis diagnosed her with low potassium and diabetes, but instead of offering a realistic, supportive care path, I was quoted an astronomical $7,000 to $10,000 for emergency ICU hospitalization. When I chose to manage her supportively at home under palliative care, Dr. Davis and the clinic staff showed zero empathy or practical guidance.
They could have simply instructed me to give her a veterinary potassium supplement, transition her diet to high-protein low-carbohydrate wet pâté, and give her plain chicken broth daily for hydration like I am doing now. Instead, with Bambi right there with me as they were about to close at 9:00 PM, they aggressively pressured me on the spot to put her down. They said, "Don't worry about our time. We don't have to close right at 9:00. We could still wait and do it right there. Call your wife, let her come by and meet us there." When I refused and said I was taking her home, they pressured me into booking an appointment early the very next morning to put her down--an appointment I thankfully called and canceled.
When I brought her home, Dr. Davis and Beattie Pet Hospital repeatedly harassed me with phone calls and even reported me to Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) simply because I chose home palliative care over their demands.
The reality of home care:
* I managed her care at home myself by putting her on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate wet pâté diet, supplementing her potassium with Vetoquinol Renal K+, and keeping her hydrated with plain chicken broth and water.
* Despite Dr. Davis's alarmism and extreme pressure to put her to sleep immediately, Bambi stabilized completely under my care. She is eating on her own, drinking independently, purring, rubbing against my legs, and using the litter box normally.
* When Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) spoke with me following the clinic's report, the welfare officer listened to my actual home-care routine, recognized that I was knowledgeable and actively caring for Bambi, and closed the case immediately without even needing to inspect my home.
Dr. Davis and Beattie Pet Hospital in Ancaster care far more about controlling pet owners than actually supporting animals. Pushing to immediately euthanize a pet when basic home care, proper diet, broth, and potassium supplements can restore a comfortable quality of life is shameful. Save yourself the heartbreak and find a clinic that actually leads with compassion.