Alta Loma Animal Hospital

Reviews 4

A

A Private User

I recently came across allegations that Alta Loma Animal Hospital in Alta Loma, CA has and most likely is, committing medical malpractice that would be better described as gross cruelty. The main allegation is that they use a cheaper anesthetic on animals that is ineffective, resulting in the animals waking up mid-procedure. My family dog was mis-diagnosed there for years before we finally sought a second opinion and discovered that our dog Lucy had received countless cortisone shots and operations for a “warts virus” that did not exist. She now has an incurable anxiety disorder and tumors in her anal glands that could be a result of the shots. Another family friend took their puppy there for parvo treatment, just to find it lying unattended to in a pool of its own vomit. Ive written to the CA Vet Board requesting that they take immediate action. The practicing MVD, Dr. Moussa has had multiple disciplinary actions taken against him and yet he is still allowed to practice. The practice, Alta Loma Animal Hospital is not even a valid corporation, the States office shows it as dissolved. I don’t understand how the CA Vet Board can issue a license to a corporation that has been dissolved. Even their renewal application for individual physician licenses does not has if the applicant has had any complains or disciplinary actions. The San Bernardino County Health Department lists them as a care provider. The Google and Yelp reviews make me physically ill. I graduated from Upland High, and while I now live in Chicago, am limited to what I can do. My mother still lives in Upland and knows people that take their pets there. Someone needs to open a formal investigation and put an end to this. I am reaching out to as many animal advocates that I can to help grow momentum to find out the truth. There is an ex-employee who has posted here with a description of the atrocities witnessed also says that they are “thankful for the opportunity to work with animals and the nice things Dr. Moussa had done for me, I dont think he should work with animals if his heart is more set on money than the well-being of others. PS. My employment there is verifiable.” This person needs to come forward so the authorizes can do their jobs. In addition to the CA Vet Board, I’ve contacted the County of San Bernardino, BBB, PETA and various non-profit animal advocate groups in the area. ASPCA does not have jurisdiction in CA unfortunately and refers you to local law enforcement.

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CR

Crishta Avery

I have always taken my dogs to two other vets that were so expensive, when my pet needed care it would drain my savings accounts or I simply couldnt afford everything. I was referred to alta loma animal hospital about four years ago. I take all four of my dogs here for care. Three of which had been spayed or neutered. My oldest had surgery recently on his ear due to a tumor like growth that was painful and bleeding. In addition, all of them receive their immunizations/vaccinations by alta loma pet hospital. I can tell you only by my personal experience, that I have NEVER been over charged for any of my pets care. In fact theyre much less for the vaccines than any other vet Ive ever called to price out. My dogs play at dog parks, go on walks and travel. They have never received a virus or disease that is protected under the vaccinations. Confirming that they must be receiving valid vaccines... Lastly, when I picked up my large elderly dog after his recent surgery; he had been out of surgery for 30 minutes when I arrived. He was still completely out of it from the anesthesia. He couldnt even walk, I had to carry him to my suv. My dogs never cry in fear of being there nor have I waited more than 30 mins for my appt. It scares me to read these past two reviews of an ex employee and person in Chicago. But I can tell you that I am very protective of my animals. I will never allow them to be in harms way or danger. My dogs mean as much to me as children. Yesterday I took my female for a possible bladder infection and Dr. Mousa spent a lot of time with her, and felt it was probably nothing more than a urinary tract infection, but sent in for lab work to make sure. As with any type of medical work, people should review lab results in detail. And as I always say, I never make a decision without a second opinion unless its an emergency. I recommend Dr. Mousa and his team... if something were to ever be suspicious, I am very outspoken and will be the first to post something! This isnt the Ritz Carlton of vets, but it is somewhere the average household can afford very good care for their pets...

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A

A Private User

I had previously written the post "Stayaway" is referring to. While Dr. Moussa is personally a nice guy, I do not believe his heart is truly in working with animals. I had witnessed many horrible things as a result to his negligence and (as much as I hate to say it) greed. At the time (not sure if its still the case) Alta Loma Animal hospital was owned under a company specializing in Realty, nothing to do with animals and Dr. Moussa was also under pressure to pump out money for these guys. Omar, one of the owners (again not sure if he still is), himself didnt like animals. Besides that, they were very unsanitary, completely contrary to a hospital environment and cheap at a price. They indeed would over-book. This is because they were in it for the money. As a result to overbooking, things ran very sloppy and stressful. This also lead to lots of animal abuse. The anesthetic wasnt one commonly used for surgeries because effective length was unpredictable, but, used because it was a "fast-food" environment. This resulted in animals waking-up, out of anesthesia, in the middle of surgery, and sometimes the anesthesia would wear-off right before surgery (which didnt stop Dr. Moussa from operating). Witnessing animals being operated on without the anesthetic effects was the worst, because theyd wake up screaming. Dogs and Cats. We would be told to hold their mouth shut and/or hold them down. Cats I truly felt for during declawing. Dogs would be screaming with their stomach open. This is no lie. Many times I refused to hold the pet down while the pet struggled to get out of the surgery table. I had also witnessed Dr. Moussa cheat patients out of their money. I have witnessed many unfortunate things there. At least I can say I spoke out about it when not very many people speak out about these things at vet places. While I am thankful for the opportunity to work with animals and the nice things Dr. Moussa had done for me, I dont think he should work with animals if his heart is more set on money than the well-being of others. PS. My employment there is verifiable.

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A

A Private User

I just moved to the area and this vet was recommended by a friend. I arrived to a cramped, hot (no AC), packed waiting room full of dogs, cats, humans and other animals. Waiting for so long, my dog became extremely distressed and dehydrated. We did not see the vet for 1 hour and 45 minutes. When I asked for an update on the timing, the staff did not seem to care that my poor dog was panting and very stressed (as was I!). When we finally went in, the vet tech could not take my dogs temperature. She said the vet would do it. When the vet came in, he did not take the temperature, nor did he really listen to me when I told him the reason for my visit. He would not do anything with my dog. He made me lift him onto the table, hold him up so he could see his belly, and even made me show him his gums (which I had trouble doing, after all, Im not a vet!!). After about 35 seconds of looking at my dog from a distance he decided the diagnosis and took him into the back. When I checked out, my bill was four times what I thought it would be -- for injections I did not authorize and prescriptions I did not ask for. Before we went to this vet my dog and I were both in good spirits, and after we left we were broke, pumped full of all sorts of injections we did not want, and both distressed and dehydrated. Well at least one thing is easy - I will never ever ever go back to this vet again.

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