Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital

Reviews 3

A

A Private User

My boyfriend and Is cat became very ill one night and had to be taken in for emergency services. The cost just to see him was $100, which was the typical going price for the other emergency vets in town so we went with it. Turns out his urinary tract was clogged and he needed it to be unclogged immediately, as well as go through a days worth of electrolyte treatments and get a potential surgery. We didnt know much about this problem at the time and were quite panicked. Were both in college and can afford small luxuries for our animals but nothing prepared us for the list of prices we were about to be given. To remove the clog and run some blood tests- $500 For 24 hours of electrolyte treatments- $2000 minimum For the Perineal urethrostomy (PU) surgery to prevent the clog from happening again- ~$3000 Needless to say we were beside ourselves because we seriously do not have that kind of money. The electrolyte treatments were necessary seeing as his toxicity levels were high from the pee blocking up in his bladder for so long. He had a slim chance of survival without them. We proceeded to panic and argue on the phone in tears with our parents to get the $500 just to get him unclogged (his conditions was rapidly deteriorating). They would not help him until someones card was swiped. This is where it gets rich. The doctor actually "cut us a deal" and told us she would put him down free of charge if we disposed of the body ourselves. Having a vet seriously treat me and my pet with such little respect didnt help my already panicked and upset state. We managed to get the money and he was unclogged. We took him the hell out of there and over to our normal vet Harrison Memorial, then to Broadview Animal Hospital for the surgery. Here are the charges: Nearly 48 hours of "electrolyte treatments" aka plenty of fluids + a battery of tests= $400 At Broadview, Perineal urethrostomy (PU) surgery + AN ENTIRE WEEKEND OF MONITORING TO ENSURE HIS SAFETY= $425 After further research, I realized just how big of a rip off Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital really was. They charged us $400 simply to insert a catheter in him and squeeze his bladder to release it. They then tried to sell us the PU surgery for $3000. The fact that they can honestly charge people that much money for a surgery that an animal hospital 25min away would do for A TENTH OF THE COST with longer care is complete robbery and a sham. In summary: Avoid this clinic at all costs, shop around and get second opinions. Make sure they detail what theyre doing to your pet before they charge you three, four, five times what other places would for their "exemplary and board certified" practices (aka sticking a catheter in my cat). They may have better specialty care if youre rich and can afford to pay for it. Their fancy coffee machine in the waiting room does little to comfort me when me cat is minutes from death in the back room and Im being cut a deal to euthanize him and carry his body back home with me because Im clearly too broke to get my cat the care he needs. Spare me. My cat is alive, well, and recovering from is routine PU surgery from Broadview where they treated me very well and worked to assure my cat would be alright. He even ripped out his catheter last night and they put a new one back in this morning FOR FREE. Imagine that.

PA

paul carnoske

*WARNING*!!!! IF YOU LOVE YOUR PET PLEASE RECONSIDER TAKING THEM HERE. They killed my 8 week old kitten because I couldnt pay there extremely overly priced fees. My kitten had a Urinary tract infection, and because I questioned why it was going to cost $700 to have his bladder drained and some antibiotics prescribed, I was listed as having some financial restrictions. A catheter was inserted in him drained his bladder and sent him home. Needless to say this did not work due to the inflammation of infection and then having a catheter stuck in him and then removed. could someone please explain to me how they really thought this was going to work, I dont think they can. There was no time to let the antibiotics take effect and nothing was given to reduce the inflammation. Well I awoke to my little kittens abdomen swollen to the size of a tennis ball, so I called them right away and got him in within the 24hr grace period for a recheck. Well it was as if I had never been there before, new doctor, all new (but the same as yesterdays) tests, and a whole new set of charges. At my request to either leave the catheter in or keep him for a few hours to see if there are any complications this time, they opted to remove the catheter again and babysit him for just long enough that they could charge me for a full day of daily professional services $121.50 as well daily nursing care $92.25 to bring my daily total to $1,541.00 for all the exact same tests that they had run the day before, hence bringing my two day total to around $2,300 hundred dollars. I had already paid $700 hundred of this the day before. Wait it gets better (poor choice of words) or should I say worse, then I went to pick him up (they told me he was good to go home, again) he was re-blocked again (they should have left the catheter in and given the antibiotics a chance to work). This time they chose to do nothing, because I couldnt pull another $1,500 hundred dollars out of thin air plus whatever the cost would be to put the catheter back in $500. Here were my choices sign a promissory note agreeing to pay for all these new charges (that were twice as much as the day before for the same tests, blood work, UA, etc...+ a few hours of babysitting) and I would have to sign over ownership of my kitten. So because they hadnt fixed the problem, even if I signed the promissory note for the $1,500 dollars I still would have to give up ownership of my kitten so some agency could put up 2,500 for further care and to find it a new home. Excuse my French but that is bullshit! I left for a little while to weigh my options, to get a phone call from them saying his condition had worsened (because they did nothing, like putting the catheter back in so he wouldnt drown in his own urine)and he would have to be put down. I dont think I have ever been so miss treated and disrespected in all my life. If you have any morals and self respect, and you love your pet do the right thing by steering clear of this place. They are 10xs higher in price and it is all about the money and not your family member. my 8wk old kittens name was Lil-bit. Im so sorry that I took you there little buddy I miss you and I will always carry your memory in my heart, you would be alive right now if I hadnt taken you to that hellhole. love you forever Lil-bit

KA

Kayla Murphy

My experience with Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital has been a nightmare. My dog was diagnosed with protein loosing enteropathy and bowl disorder 2 months ago. This place plays out every worst case scenario and takes advantage of your love for your pet. One time my 8lbs yorkie went in for a protein shot and came out with scratches all over her belly. They recommended I have her blood tested every 3 weeks for protein levels but could not give me an appointment with their interenal medicine specialists. Im from New York and travel back often so I took her to my vet in New York and they had a much more optimistic, ethical opinion of her health. Because I live close to Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital I took her back for her blood tests. I was told this appointment with internal medicine would cost $180. Again I was played out all of the worst scenarios before her blood was even checked at the appointment. And another prognosis was added to the roster, which none of the many veterinarians she has seen had even suggested in 2 months of treatment. It was suggested she receive vitamin B12 shots once a week to help with her disorder as well as a probiotic. They charged me $247 for a "comprehensive med. spec. exam" & "young canine maintenance profile" and sent me on my way without the the medicine or her nails clipped like I requested. 2 days later the vet that saw her called me and suggested again that I treat her with the B12 and probiotics and told me to come in the next day to pick them up. She told me she was putting me in for 5:45pm to be shown how to administer the shot, after I told her I couldnt get there until 6:15pm because of work. She said that would be fine and someone would be available to show me, just to call fist. A pharmacy technician even called me the same evening to confirm with me. I called at 5:15pm to kindly let them know I definitely would not be able to make it until 6:15pm because I did not want to take up time in their schedule. A rude gentleman Anthony told me the veterinarian who called me the night before did not know what she was talking about, after putting me on 2 separate 5 minute holds. When I arrived at 6:15 I waited for 45 minutes, also listening and watching this man treat other customers poorly. After 45 minutes I asked if I could just purchase the probiotic and vitamin B12 and I would find out how to administer it elsewhere. 15 minutes later they sent me into a room with an angry vet tech who ripped open the needle and yelled "They pulled me out of a meeting for this, this is why we told you not to come in tonight!!" At that point I decided I didnt want an angry technician giving my baby a shot so I said "Thank you for your time." And I walked out of the room with my dog. I then asked for a less angry technician from the front desk. They told me they guessed they would try to find one, and there is nothing they can do and to have a seat.. (Again). After sitting down for a few more minutes I decided I didnt want these people touching my dog anymore and I left without any medicine. $2000 later my dog is still fighting for her life. Hoping I can find better treatment elsewhere in Colorado!