ISU Small Animal Hospital

Reviews 5

RA

Ray Younker

Our experience at the small animal hospital was horrific. We took our 6 year old cocker spanial after a running accident. He had no motor skills in his hips. His back legs were motionless and he had no control of them at all. The first thing they asked me was if they have to sedate him it would be $200.00 to $300.00. Our answer was yes. After that it was $ 3000.00 to $4000.00 for an mri or a ct scan and surgery. Since we could not come up with at least 1/2 of that on a Saturday night at 10:30, they had to have $1500.00 to keep him until Monday when I could get the money to them. We were told the mri or ct scan would show any spine disease, tumers, or canser. They were told when we got there that he was probably running like hell like he always does, and probably fell. We asked many times about an xray of his hind quarters and were told it would not do any good. We did end up leaving him there for the night, not wanting to make the call to put him down or not. ISU doctors called us Sunday morning to see if we had made the decision to get the mri or ct and surgery. At this time the price was still $3000.00 to $4000.00. We had not decided yet. At 10:30 they called they still told us $3000.00 to $4000.00. At 12:30 They called and again I asked if they had done an xray and was told it wouldt do any good. The mri or ct was what was needed. I then asked again what the mri or ct would cost and finally was told $1500 and that needs to be paid up front. That is when I had to make the call to put brut down. When I told her that we would have to put him down, she says well there is another option, and that was cage rest. Then she tells me that 70 % of dogs come out of this. This happened on sat night and today is wed, and brut is now walking around in the yard. Now to be fair he is still dragging his back feet a little but they are moving and it looks to me like a few more days he will be back to normal. To think I almost had to put him down because I couldnt pay them on sat night makes me sick. These people couldt wait until monday morning, almost cost us our very best friend. They wait until we are ready to put him down to tell us (well 70 % of dogs do come out of this.) To this day We still don,t what this is. I feel they preyed on our emotions and were misled into thinking the only hope for brut was the mri or ct and surgery. Still don,t know how they knew he needed surgery when they had,t done any mri or ct. This was the biggest scam I have ever seen. The only reason I give them 1 star is because that is the only way it will post.

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DE

Deborah Spence

If zero stars were an option, that would be my choice. I had a litter of puppies born here by elective C-section which was planned from the day we did the ultrasound and found out that she was pregnant. The puppies were born at approximately 10:30AM and had nothing to eat for at least 4 hours, at which time the almost 9-10 ounce puppies were given 0.5ml. (they should have each and at least 5ml) When we were to leave with them, 1 was having some labored breathing and a couple of others seemed weak and like they could also use some supportive care so we left the litter with the ICU.....that was the beginning of 10 days of hell. I have the flow charts showing that the puppies were basically starved, given meals ranging between .1ml-.5ml every 2 hours. Each puppy was fed approximately 5ml over a 36 hour period (not even enough to keep a baby squirrel alive) and they should have been fed approximately 100ml each! What person with a lick of common sense believe that a meal for a 10 ounce puppy is 2-10 drops of formula?? When I found out the amounts fed, after the first pup had died, I was in tears trying to tell them that they were starving my puppies. They wouldnt listen (seems to be a big problem there)......all they had to do was read the back of the Esbilac can. The puppies likely never needed the oxygen, they needed food. Weve taken our pets here for the last 25 years. This used to be a top-of-the line place to go but weve watched it slowly go down-hill for the past 10 years and after this, we will never go there again.

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JE

Jeanne Tanksley

I hear several people complaining on here (as of this writing this place has either 5 or 1 star reviews, nothing inbetween). All our experiences there have been extremely positive. Know before you go: 1) This is a learning hospital, so naturally its not the most efficient place in the world - but it does serve an important function by creating new vets! If thats not what you want highly personalized service with no waits, feel free to go pay a student who graduated from this clinic 5x as much at a boutique clinic somewhere. 2) Surgery, tests and medicine are expensive - even at discounted places like this. Students are prone to "play it safe" and offer you anything and everything they think might help. Dont get mad when you take your pet to a doctor and the doctor attempts to provide medical care. Thats insane. If this is going to upset you, dont take your pet to the doctor. 3) Nearly all vets require upfront payment or a hefty deposit on expensive procedures. Its incredibly common for people not to pay their vet bills, so they have to do this or they would rapidly run out of funding. This place is no different, its not that they are heartless - its that they do actually need to be paid.

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MA

Mary Mayberry

Our yorkie was deathly ill and we took her to Ames she barely made it there, we drove almost 3 hours from sw Iowa. The staff there were wonderful, started treating her immediately. She spent 3 days in intensive care but went home . Unfortunately she had to return 2 weeks later for surgery. They treated her like she was the only patient there,we were kept up to date hourly on her progress. I even got to see her in a quiet room by ICU. I would trust my pets with ISU anytime. They have a wonderful staff and my complete trust with our baby called Abby. I cant praise them enough. Today youd never know she was ever sick. She goes back for her two month recheck shortly and Im anxious to see the staff, which have become like family.

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KA

Kathy Brinkley Mueller

The veterinarians at ISU Hixson-Lied saved my dogs life. I live in IL and no vet had the technology or skill set required to do a canine pace maker. ISU Hixson-Lied did and they were absolutely wonderful. From diagnostics through follow up care, I couldnt ask for more caring doctors. The students were fantastic as well. To the people complaining about cost - it is far more expensive in IL! You have a quality facility with state of the art technology and world class veterinarians and youre complaining? I drive 5 1/2 hours each way! I wish I were as lucky as you to have them close by.

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