Augusta Ranch Animal Hospital

Reviews 3

A

A Private User

This establishment lacks courtesy and common sense. I took one of my cats in to exam a lump on the top of her hind leg, and Varney put her and "my pocketbook" through x-rays, before determining that we were dealing with a superficial bite wound. I found that to be a sign of either inexperience, incompetence, or a careless method of generating a bigger bill. One would have thought a competent vet would have ruled out a common bite before ordering x-rays, but I was willing to give her and the place the benefit of the doubt until just recently... I took another rescue in for her annual exam and vaccinations. A different vet in this hospital (Daigle), who treated her then, told me that I had to return on another day for her rabies booster because we were still a couple months too early for that particular vaccine. (Unfortunately the shelter that housed her for a year gave her a rabies shot four months after her first set of vaccinations.) So, when I returned to do so two months later (when she was actually due for the shot), I asked that the cat be taken into their back room and given the booster to avoid any unnecessary ordeal ...Afterall, the cat had already had two full, physical exams in the last eight months - once when we first adopted her and the routine annual, just two months prior. I was assigned a room anyway and told by the front desk receptionist that we would probably have to endure some kind of exam. However, she assured me that it wouldnt be a full one...So, I waited in the room with my anxious cat for about fifteen minutes, until the fearless Dr. Varney sends her assistant in to inform that because it had been TWO MONTHS, we would have to go through another full "annual" exam before she would give her the standard booster shot. Varney actually made it a requirement - not just a recommendation - essentially forcing me to pay for more than I had to or had anticipated.... First, we do not ordinarily take our pets in for MONTHLY check-ups, so her "two-month" reasoning didnt fly... I could understood the need to get a quick temperature read on the otherwise healthy cat, but the insistence that she endure and that I pay for another comprehensive $50 exam in order to receive a $20 booster, that another doctor in the SAME facility wouldnt dole out during the annual check-up eight weeks earlier, was patently absurd...or perhaps a convenient opportunity for them to turn a $20 booster into $70. Plus, Im sorry, but medically-speaking, Varney did not have to re-exam the tartar on my cats teeth again to determine whether she could administer a rabies shot. Such "policy" stinks of an unreasonable and illogical financial entrapment of people trying to care for animals - people, unlike Varney, who do not get paid to do so. Its sad that some in the business of caring for animals will hide behind conveniently excessive "protections" or policies, willfully refusing to put a specific situation or customer request into perspective...and thus effectively gouging those who actually support and care for the pet on a daily basis. Ultimately, they hurt the cat, the customer, and themselves... I, nor my cat, were in the mood for insult, financial exploitation, or medically unrelated and unnecessary suffering that morning. So we walked out, taking all medical records of my three cats with us...My mother later went in and did likewise for her multiple animals. In the end, they lost 11 patients by their own lack of common sense, greed, and/or rude excess.

RO

robin smith

I would not recommend this place to anyone. I brought my 14 year old dog in to get some blood work done. She has a lot of issues, including a spinal disease (which they dont seem to agree with me on and chalk up her constant whimpering and screaming in pain as just something thats consistent with her breed, even though she has been diagnosed elsewhere as having an actual degenerative illness. I was "helped" by a tech who, from the very moment she walked in the room, seemed rushed and somewhat annoyed to even be there. When she took her to the back room I heard my dog yelping and figured that was to be expected from her (she is vocal, Ill admit), but when the tech came back into the patient room she was obviously very flustered and annoyed and stated, "I dont know what her problem is! She is a SPAZ!" There was no laugh to follow the statement, just more looks of annoyance. At the time I decided to bite my tongue. When I got home I tried to take the harness off of my dog (that slipped on that morning without any issue), but when I touched her side to unclip it she began screaming in pain like I have never witnessed from her other than when she initially began to have back issues. I again, thought maybe she is just in pain right now because of the blood draw, so I brushed it off. It is now a week later and I have not been successful one time at getting her harness on. She screams in pain every single time I attempt it. It is my belief that the staff there was much too rough with my geriatric and sensitive dog who has a whole host of medical issues. I am beyond upset and will NEVER bring her there again. Vets are supposed to be places of care, they are supposed to HELP, and she should have been handled with kid gloves, as they know all of her issues. If they treated a person that way the would have a lawsuit brought against them. I hope anyone that reads this decides against taking their pet here, especially if they need to go in the backroom for any type of procedure. I was planning on getting a dental done and her bad eye removed, but Ill be taking my $3000 worth of work elswhere. Also, just a side note, I called my parents vet and they gave me a high end price of $1400 for her dental, whereas at Augusta Ranch they wanted over $2000. I will be going in next week for that procedure, so take that Augusta Ranch, lol. Ill be sending a direct letter to their office as well.

AU

Aussieduck57

My husband and I have been bringing our two pussycats here since we came to the Valley from Las Vegas in 2006. Finding a new vet in a new city can be a daunting experience and we were so pleased to find our vet, Dr Varney. She is just wonderful with our animals and we are extremely pleased with the service weve received in all those years. The other staff are also very professional and helpful and its always a pleasure to see them again. I know our cats are getting the best attention they can. Blood test results are always quick, their regular shots are handled efficiently and Dr Varney is so familiar with our animals by now, she can diagnose and treat any ailment without delay. We are always greeted warmly and sincerely when we go there. We also buy our specialist cat food and their prices are very reasonable. Weve never had a vet bill that didnt reflect the expert level of care and attention we enjoy at Augusta Ranch and we would never think of going any place else to have our cats so well looked after. When one of our previous cats passed away after a long untreatable illness, I was struck by their compassion and caring. They made it easier to say goodbye. They made a small clay impression of our beloved Freds pawprint and we received such a sweet card from the staff, I was so touched by their thoughts. We both highly recommend Augusta Ranch.