Union Veterinary Clinic

Reviews 5

A

A Private User

My dog was spayed at this clinic. A few days after the spay, my dogs belly was distended and quite red and puffy. I took her to back to the Dr. Gross (she had performed the spay) and Dr. Gross said the distention would go away, that it was unusual but not too alarming. The next day, I came home from work and instead of being eagerly greeted by my doggie (her normal behavior), she was hiding in her crate and wouldnt come out. She had vomited all her food from the morning. Her stomach was even more distended and there was a huge abscess. I took her back to Union Vet where Dr. Kats lanced the abscess and it took about 10 minutes to drain all the blood, pus, and fluid that had been accumulating. My dog then had a huge gaping hole in her belly. Dr. Kats dressed the wound and said it would heal on its own or I could have it surgically closed. I did not want this clinic to perform anymore surgical procedures on my dog. I took her to Friendship hospital where after a series of daily sugar dressings, the vets surgically closed the wound again. I was thankful that my doggie survived all this. I was extremely disappointed with the services at Union vet and would not recommend this vet for even the most routine procedures. One of the techs there told me that she had worked in spay and neuter clinics for years and she had never seen anything like what happened to my dog. My dog is doing very well and I have subsequently taken her to Dupont Vet, Friendship Hospital, and South Paws, where she has received much better care. I question the sterility of the surgical procedures conducted at Union Vet and also the fact that dogs are left alone there at night after procedures. Also, Union Vet did not offer any sort of reimbursement for the spay. What was a normal $300 procedure turned into a $2500 nightmare with follow on surgeries and care.

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KY

Kyle Snyder

WARNING: DO NOT GET ANY MEDICATIONS HERE! In general, Union Vet seems overpriced, but they have a “minimum dispensing fee” of $23 “intended to cover the cost of the medication, the bottle, the label, the technician’s time, the doctor’s time, etc.” and they “normally don’t” disclose this fee to clients because it’s “always tough” to keep clients informed of all of their policies and charges. So if your pet is prescribed a drug that only costs $3, they jack it up to $23 just because they can/want to. There is no such thing as “minimum dispensing fee” at human pharmacies, and if it was truly a fee to cover the quoted services above, then it would apply to ALL prescriptions they fill. Also, I think the doctor’s time is sufficiently covered in their nearly $80 exam fee. This is just their way of charging people more money to increase their profits. Apparently this type of fee is common in veterinary practice, but they are still 50% more than nearby Atlas Vet who charges $16. They also have a very disrespectful way of handling inquiries and complaints. They had no interest in keeping me as a client (readily offered to transfer records if I wasn’t happy) and accused me of a “threat and blackmail” because I said this type of non-disclosure may cause me to go elsewhere and I may post a review so clients know about this hidden fee if they won’t disclose it (I never specifically asked for a refund so not sure how I was threatening or blackmailing them). Overall, the services are only average and not worth the overpricing and disrespect you receive. If you do go here, definitely ask for a written prescription to fill elsewhere (CVS, Harris Teeter, online).

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A

A Private User

As another reviewer indicated, this place is probably good to take your pet for vaccinations or simple check-ups. The staff seemed nice, which is why I gave it two stars. I would stay away for more complex issues. I took my dog to Union Vet because he has had a lump on his foot for several months. Hed had a couple of them when he was young, and they just went away. He started licking at the lump about a month ago, and so I took him in to have it drained. They biopsied it, and sent the samples to an external lab for reading. Skin cancer. :( We chose to go to a more experienced vet to have the lump removed, as the vet had suggested she may not have the experience to perform the surgery. (Another justification for two stars.) The other vet removed the mass, but to be certain all of the cancer cells were removed and to make sure there was enough skin to close the wound, he also removed the toe. He sent the mass for a biopsy. No cancer. Just a response to an acute trauma. Could have been drained and left the toe intact. It is not entirely the fault of Union Vet since she had sent the sample to an external lab. I called to express concern about the inaccuracy of the lab so that they could take action if there is a recurring problem. The vet left a message that said she was unconcerned about the misdiagnosis and thought the lab would stick to their reading of the slide. If you dont care about the accuracy of your diagnoses, why do I pay you? Turns out I was much more closer to the truth before I went in...

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HI

Hilary Robertson Collado

Ive been taking my pets here for years (large dogs and cats) and have consistently had excellent service. Their prices are on par for the DC area, but they are flexible; for example, if your pet just needs routine vaccines they can be seen by a tech and you dont have to pay for a full exam. The vet techs are super friendly and have handled my pets well. They have always taken my questions and concerns seriously and I feel comfortable speaking with anyone on staff. Also the facilities are very clean and I always see staff washing their hands, which you would think is a no-brainer but having gone to other clinics sometimes the hygiene is sub par. One of the reviewers mentioned they took stars off for a doctor indicating they werent sure they could perform complicated surgery, but I take this as a plus that they will honestly tell you if your pet needs to see a specialist. They have a large network of specialists they work with and can refer you to. The specialists weve been referred to over the years have also been great to work with, and my pets medical records have been transferred without issue between Union Vet and other service providers.

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A

A Private User

I took my large breed dog to Union Vet Clinic for years and had nothing but 5-star service and care the entire time. From the first day that we adopted our dog from the shelter and took her in for a standard checkup to the sad, emotional day that we had to put our pooch down, Union Vet Clinic was always there for us. They are sensitive, caring, and truly love and understand animals. I was always so impressed with their vet techs, they have a tough job sticking animals with needles, taking temperatures, and all sorts of other procedures. The techs at Union Vet Clinic always did a great job. Lastly, we used to see both Dr. Kats and Dr. Cartlidge. Both are absolutely fantastic. They take as much time as you need (which does make things run a little late at times, but its worth it.), they explain what is going on, and all or your different options. We loved our dog to pieces and I trusted the care at Union Vet Clinic 100%. I sincerely appreciate their work and when we get our next dog from the shelter well go straight back for a checkup.

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