Family Pet Hospital

Reviews 3

LA

Lauren Naranjo

FPH has been begging for me to review them via multiple emails. I wasnt going to, but I dont feel like they deserve a favorable rating, based on my experience. In my personal opinion, they were very rude, I felt like they did not look out for the well-being of my dog, and I really feel like they did not do the right thing. Here is my perspective: I got an odd feeling about this clinic from the start, but since Marley, my familys 7 yr old Yorkshire Terrier had been a patient here before, this is where I took her to get a check-up and her shots this summer. Prior to the appointment, I had noticed some lumps on my dogs belly that looked questionable. I asked the doc to take look at them and which he replied that he examined them and it was just a little pimple. I said "No...I really dont think so, they have been growing rapidly over the last month." Supplying exact dates in which I noticed them changing sizes. He continued to blow it off and say it was nothing but I refused to leave it at that. He finally leveled with me, pat her stomach down, and confirmed that "Oops! Yes those are in fact mammary cancer." Sheesh...I felt like it was such a hassle to get someone to listen to me. Soon after, my dog went in for surgery - to be spied and remove the 2 lumps that we had identified together at the first appointment. I made it perfectly clear that if there were any more potentially cancerous lumps visible, to remove them as well. I signed a form which stated I agreed to pay $1000 more than quoted if the surgery time ran over what was expected to ensure that everything be done correctly. The staff at the front desk assured me they would do an examination before surgery and remove ALL tumors. The receptionists were not very helpful, I felt...they sent me and my dog home with nausea medicine for the amnesia with no directions on how to use it. Thank goodness for Google. As soon as I was able to, I inspected my dogs belly and what dd I find but another fairly large lump right next to where an incision was made. I thought there was no way the Doctor had missed it - it must be some swelling from the surgery or something. I returned for the post-op and pointed out the lump that was so clearly there during the first operation. Dr Skees confirmed it was a cancerous tumor yet defended himself by saying that he "didnt have time to feel the WHOLE BELLY of every dog that he does surgery on before he does it! In this case, her stomach is the size of my hand! This left me flabbergasted. Additionally, I felt like he was very rude and uncaring during our conversation about it rather than being apologetic and trying to make things right. A discouraging conversation and many tears later, Dr Skees agreed to put my dog back under and remove the cancerous tumor that he missed the first time round at no charge. By the time of the 2nd surgery, a 4th lump had formed and I requested he remove it at the same time...He agreed to do so but told me that he would have to drop me as a client since he was not making money off of me. Believe me, I would not have returned to that negligent practice anyways! But the nerve! ...He did the last surgery, cutting my little yorkie open once again and causing her an extra unnecessary month of painful recovery. The suture job honestly looked terrible (I got opinions from TWO vets post-op). Now, there is a big puffy bulge that wasnt there before. Attached is a picture of my dogs belly after I got her back from surgery with the mysterious stomach bulge... I feel like My yorkie has never been the same since, she has been noticeably more lethargic and snaps whenever her stomach is touched where the last incision was made...I understand that this can be due to other factors but... I think you all understand my perspective This has been a nightmare for me and my family. I love my dog; I only want the best for her, and that sure isnt what I feel like I got. Im sure this pain has been excruciating for her, and I feel its so unnecessary. I will never go there again, and I would not recommend this place.

JO

Jon Galvin

First, I have never posted a review on anything before but felt the need after our experience at Family Pet Hospital about a month ago. We have multiple animals and decided to rescue an 8 week old cat to add to our family. We have been using the Family Pet Hospital for two years without issues. We had a schedule appointment at the rescue shelter to have the cat neutered and to fix a hernia, but the cat didnt seem to be doing well and decided we would take him in to see Dr. Skees. To make a long story short my wife signed an agreement to complete the procedure and that we would spend an extra $100 without them having to call us if something went wrong. We never received a call and was told he spent over $1800 but would only charge us $300 more than we agreed upon. When we said no he tried to guilt my wife on all the money he spent and we could make payments (money wasnt the problem). We are animal lovers and would have spent that on our other pets but were not willing to spend it on a cat we just rescued. He then told us to come pick up the cat and our other animals records that we are not to come back...thanks for doing us a favor!! He was such a coward he made his employee do all the dirty work when we showed up and we felt bad. He cared so much to spend all that money to save the cat but had no problem showing the cat the door after major surgery making us scramble for a new vetanerian which we needed to do as the staples came out. Thankfully Trickham Ridge was there to help us and we look forward to years with them. I would not recommend Dr. Skees to anyone as he chose do more work than we authorized, expected us to pay for it and then when we didnt kicked us to the curb.

ST

Stew Burdick

Absolutely worst vet experience ever. Unethical and lacking integrity. At time of pet visit, he prescribed an anti-inflammatory for my dog. When I asked for a paper prescription, he told me he would not provide a written prescriptions but I could buy through him. When I got home I goggled to see my request was out of line and quickly found that under the AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics, to refuse my request was considered unprofessional conduct and was subject to disciplinary action. Armed with this information, I returned to the clinic and again requested a prescription, which he again refused to provide until I handed him the printout containing the above statement. Two days later I was given the prescription. A month later, when I tried to fill it with an on-line pharmacy, it took no less then a half dozen calls to get them to authorize the pharmacy to fill the prescription, after which I received a call from the clinic essentially informing me they would not authorize any other prescriptions and suggested I take my vet needs somewhere else. NO PROBLEM! I would discourage others from using this clinic without asking a lot of questions and knowing what youre getting into.