Jules Veterinary Center

Reviews 3

A

A Private User

This is our experience. Remember, if you feel like something is wrong with ANY vet office or how they treat your pet, GET A SECOND OPINION. We took home our beautiful Siamese not two months ago from the Tracy shelter. (They picked him up off the street.) The shelter recommended Jules to get our Sgt. WantCuddles fixed and vaccinated, and we did so. When he developed a respiratory infection soon after, we took him back to Jules, and they were helpful, though my wife wasnt impressed. She didnt feel they were detailed enough when explaining things to us. Also, they forgot to give him a particular shot when they were doing his vaccinations (rabies, I believe) and we had to come back later after they discovered their mistake. Even worse, we did not receive a copy of his sterilization certificate. None of this sat well with my wife. Not one month later, I took our kitty back after he kept vomiting two or three times a day. The DVM on duty at Jules examined him and after finding a fever, recommended X-rays, as she was worried about something caught in his stomach. No blood work was offered, just X-rays and meds. We opted for medication, and they gave him subcutaneous fluids, and two shots which we were told were anti-nausea and antibiotics. They also gave us antibiotics to give to him at home, and told us to call back if he kept vomiting. My wife was extremely upset that they did not explain things like how high his fever was, they didnt explain what the take-home antibiotics were for, that I had to repeat myself a couple times (including saying twice that he did NOT have diarrhea) and that they seemed to worry about things like swallowed string from the start, instead of trying to diagnose based on symptoms. They also sent us home with a paper requesting a stool sample which was ordered and paid for and SHOULD have already been done! Either it was not done, or their record-keeping has been having issues of late. (See issues in previous paragraph) We then took him to Banfield (in Petsmart near the mall) for a second opinion after a week later - Sarge was not vomiting, but also not eating, had not passed any solid waste in a few days, was moving slowly as if in pain, and even worse, overnight his skin had turned yellow around his eyes, ears, and gums. The doctor weighed him (he had lost more 10% of his weight in just 1 week,) immediately recommended blood tests, and gave us multiple options to help with our budget. One hour later (they have the equipment on-site) the doctor broke the news to us gently. Sarge not only had Feline Infectious Peritonitis, but a mass in his stomach area that he had us feel - and it was HUGE. We asked him if it could have developed in a week (since wed last been to Jules) and he was adamant that it would not have developed that quickly. He gave us all our options, explained the blood test results to us, and explained the length of time that Sarge could expect to live with and without surgery. Reluctantly, tearfully, we decided to ease his pain, and the office was very sympathetic in dealing with our decision and encouraged us throughout the process. Diagnosis: Icterus and Biliary Blockage & Hepatitis. We were given time before, during, and after the euthanasia to spend with our kitty, and we were able to leave quietly afterwards. Jules was never unkind or mean to Sarge, but service always felt rushed and rather impersonal. There were never any overt problems, but rather many tiny slip-ups that we couldnt ignore because they mounted up. While Jules couldnt have saved his life, they could have detected this mass earlier and eased his pain much quicker. Instead, we kept him at home for an extra week, trying to figure out why he wasnt eating and why he wasnt passing solids. We just pray he wasnt in pain the whole time. Needless to say, we *will* be talking with the DVM who examined our kitty and ask why the lump was either not found or why it was found and not brought up. We dont want anyone else to have to go through losing a pet through hasty or faulty diagnosis.

CH

Cheri Gafford

I WOULD GIVE THEM A WORSE RATING IF I COULD! WE HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER! MY BEAUTIFUL CHIHUAHUA HAD AN INFECTION THAT WENT SEPTIC AND THEY TOLD ME SHE WOULD DIE WITHIN 24 HRS IF NOT GIVEN OPERATION. I OF COURSE AGREED BUT THEN THEY WANTED $4000 UP FRONT! THEY TOLD ME I HAD AN HOUR TO GET THE MONEY OR ELSE THEY WOULDNT DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FRIDAY. AFTER A HALF HOUR OF SCRAMBLING FOR CASH THEY AGREED TO HALF UP FRONT AND REMAINDER WHEN DISCHARGED (ALL THE WHILE SHE WAS DYING!) I GOT THE MONEY TOGETHER AND AT THE LAST MINUTE THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND WANTED IT ALL UP FRONT!!! I CALLED THE ANIMAL CLINIC IN MANTECA WHO DID THE SAME OPERATION FOR $1600. THE ANIMAL CLINIC WAS APPALLED AT THEIR FEES! TO TOP IT ALL OFF, WHEN I TRIED TO GET MY DOG TO TRANSFER HER, THEY CHARGED ME $250 FOR DOING NOTHING AND WOULDNT RELEASE HER UNTIL I GAVE IT!!! KEEP IN MIND, EVERY MINUTE SHE WAS NOT IN SURGERY, HER ODDS OF SURVIVAL WERE WORSENING. MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN TEARS (AS WAS I) AND THEY COULDNT CARE LESS! DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET HERE!!!! THEY ARE SO AWFUL. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS $$$ AND THEY ARE HEARTLESS! THEY ACTUALLY SENT ME A BILL AND CALLED ME SAYING I OWE THEM $20 MORE! (WHICH I ENDED UP JUST PAYING) I WAS NOT A WALK IN OR NEW CLIENT. THEY HAD BEEN OUR VET FOR A WHILE BUT WE NEVER HAD ANY SICK PETS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. IT WASNT LIKE THEY DIDNT KNOW US OR WE HADNT ESTABLISHED A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. JULES OFFICE SPACE IS A NICE ONE, CLEAN AND IN A GOOD LOCATION... BUT DO NOT LET LOOKS DECEIVE YOU! THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOOD AND ARE IN THE WRONG BUSINESS. DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED, THE ANIMAL CLINIC IS A SHABBY RUN DOWN BUILDING WITH WONDERFUL STAFF. THATS USUALLY HOW IT WORKS THOUGH. IF YOU ARE IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, YOU USUALLY DONT MAKE AS MUCH $$ BUT YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE...SAVE LIVES!!! BY THE WAY, MY LITTLE DOG PEBBLES IS ALIVE AND WELL THANKS TO THE LOVING CARE OF THE ANIMAL CLINIC. IF YOU WANT STAFF WHO CARES, DO NOT GO TO JULES. THANKS FOR READING MY RANT. I HAVE BEEN HOLDING THIS IN FOR A LONG TIME AND WANTED A WAY TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.

A

A Private User

We found a poor little dog on the street in April 2010 who was in a tremendous amount of pain and was covered with mats and smelled like a skunk. We took him home thinking he was just dirty and frightened. We took him to another Vet in Tracy on 11th street the following day because none of the groomers would clean him up without a cert. This vet said that he must have been hit by a car and probably had a broken pelvis and ruptured bladder because under the mats he had very bad urine scalding all over his hind. They said $550 to clean him up and take 1 xray (more if more xrays were needed) and we should just take him to the pound to put him to sleep. After calling rescues we were recommended to take him to Jules. I made an appt to have him put to sleep (didnt want it done at the pound) and we cried for 4 days waiting for our appt (we could not get time off work until then). By that day he was warming up to us and looked happy, though still in pain. Jules Dr. Smerni examined him and said "He has not been hit by a car". For 1/2 the price of the other vet, they sedated him, shaved him, cleaned him up, examined him and took several x-rays. Diagnosis: 1 year intact male old poodle mix pup that had been on his own in the country for over 6 months. Months of neglect caused matting so bad that when he urinated it soaked into his fur and burned 1/4 of the skin off his body (under the mats). He had severe and painful injuries to his feet, ears but especially his butt. No broken bones or ruptured anything. After two weeks of TLC, meds and bathing his bottom he is as good as new. What a crazy puppy he is! We thought he was an old dog, but now that he is healed he is great. And so greatful to be in a home with a family. What a happy ending to a very sad vet visit.