VCA Chestatee Animal Hospital

Reviews 11

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Ellen Schlossberg

Petlovers, be very careful if you are considering this practice!!! We were longtime patients here and had a flea problem that Frontline would not solve some months back. We were talking to a vet tech friend, and she suggested we ask the vet for a flea killing med called Capstar. The vet had it in stock, and we purchased doses for our two dogs and 3 cats. Price was $21 per dose. The vet dispensed the pills in little paper envelopes with no info about the drug - just the loose pills with the pets name handwritten on the outside. We dosed everyone, and although we got rid of the fleas, our young kitten and old dog seemed lethargic, but we thought that could be a normal side effect of the med. Fast forward to this week. We again needed something other than Frontline and purchased Capstar at a new vet that just opened nearby. The price? Six bucks a pill. Because we were upset that a vet would mark a medicine up almost 400%, we called Chestatee and asked for an explanation. Incredibly, we were told that the issue was not that the medicine had been marked up 400%. Rather, Chestatee flat out did not dispense the Capstar we asked for. Instead, they dispensed a completely different drug we had never heard of (and that was not appropriate for our situation, because the animals had been given Frontline just days earlier). When we expressed shock, Angel, the office manager, was beyond rude. She first accused us of trying to cheat the practice (for asking them to refund the difference between the cost of the expensive drug we got (but did not ask for or NEED) and the Capstar. She then tried to blame us for the practices malpractice by claiming that we must have requested the drug they dispensed, a drug we had never before heard of and knew nothing about. Finally, she reluctantly agreed to put a credit on our account, but when I told her we would not be comfortable again using the practice, given this major lapse in care, she refused to send a check for the difference, and hung up on me midcall. I called back and asked to speak to one of the vets and and was told I would get a call back. Not only did I not get a call back, I did not get an apology. Ultimately, I would not bring my animals back here if they were on fire. Aside from the rude and obnoxious staff, there is apparently no eye for detail or acceptance of responsibity at this practice. We know were lucky - the practice did not poison or kill our animals. It could have easily gone another way, given that so many meds that are safe for dogs are lethal to cats. It scares me because they have been running newspaper ads for express services - the last thing they need to do is rush through patient care to make a quick buck.

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A Private User

My dog broke his leg and I took him to Chestatee to get the cast put on. When I brought him home, He had terrible wounds on his foot so I rushed him back. They told me they "didnt see the wounds" thats why they didnt tell me about them. It worried me so I tried to talk to the doctor but he wouldnt get on the phone with me until I started talking about a lawyer. When I saw the xrays, I knew something was wrong so I asked to be referred to another vet. The bone pieces were not even touching. The Chestatee doctor told me that he should be fine. Once I got to a different vet, he removed the cast and my poor puppy had bandage wounds all up his leg that Chestatee "didnt see" or tell me about. Thanks to the new vet, my dog can walk. Thank god I knew something wasnt right.

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Sally Ringo

I have been going to Chestatee Animal Hospital since the founder, Dr David Orton, first opened and ran the office himself. His care and concern for each animal, and its owners, was evident from our first visit. Not only did (and does) he spend a lot of time with each patient and parent but he also has laser-like talent in pinpointing health problems for dogs and cats. He even gave me his personal cell number when Buster and Lilly were bitten by copperheads. Over the years, and due to his dedication, his practice has grown to about 5 doctors and countless kind, efficient and talented personnel. The "culture" of Chestatee Animal Hospital echoes the values of its founder, Dr Orton -- kindness, talent and high quality patient (and people) care.

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Michael C

We spend the summer in Dahlonega and have tried to use this vet here and there in a pinch and they have never been helpful. We see a VCA hospital in Atlanta regularly and all of our animals are up to date however it never seems to be enough. We ran out of flea medication and they required a exam to give us more. Even though I have there vet records available. This is not the first time they have done this. Last year my vet called in a Rx to them and they still wanted 100$ in exam fees. Want to get your dog groomed "we will need to do a vet exam" WHAT???. The bottom line seems more important to them then helping people and their pets. Red Barn on Hwy 60 is a reputable and reasonable vet who deserves your business. These people DO NOT!

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Stephen Usry

Dr. Tarpley showed our dog, Lola, great affection and care during our recent visit. Lola needed her yearly vaccinations and much like her "parents," Lola doesnt enjoy needles. Dr. Tarpley took her time to make sure Lola was comfortable in the unfamiliar surroundings of the office and thankfully, the extra care led to an incident-free visit! The rest of the staff was very caring as well. The price for the vaccinations was the best we found in town so we will definitely be back. Thanks, Dr. Tarpley and the rest of the staff. Great work!

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Betsy Chaput

Just took Bones (aka Practically Perfect Precious Pup) in to have his leg looked at - hes not able to put any weight on it. They were able to give me an early appointment, I didnt have to wait when I got there, and everybody was very professional and friendly. Most importantly, the treated Bones well. Thanks, CAH!!!

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Jeremy Kelly

I always receive great customer service at Chestatee Animal Hospital. They actually spend TIME with my pet, are not overly expensive, and always help me save money here and there. They genuinely care about our pets and understand the fact that they are family members to us.

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Lillian Delgado-Krebs

We have used this facility for many years. They_have taken care of all our dogs and helped us through some tough times. New owners charge us more but they are convenient to where we live. They do love all the animals they tend to.

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Nathan Johns

The staff and doctors at Chestatee Animal Hospital are great. They are a very efficient group which I really appreciate. Also, the chance to board our dog at a reasonable price is awesome. Thanks for all your hard work.

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Shelly Jennings

The staff at Chestatee Animal Hospital genuinely care about your pets and understand the fact that they are family members to us. They are always friendly and listen to our concerns before making any recommendations.

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Clara Boyd

This was our first visit and I am beyond impressed! From the kind, courteous, and friendly staff to the cleanliness of the facility, everything was top notch! I cant think of anything that you could improve on.

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