Calvert Veterinary Center

Reviews 4

LO

Lori Perez

I came here for a second opinion. My dog has been suffering with terrible itching. The first vet gave us a bunch of "it could be this" or "it could be that" along with a $500 list of prescription medications that "may or may not work". In search of a 2nd opinion, we went to Calvert Veterinary Center. They gave us a proposed treatment plan for over $1,000 with tests and medications that were not even associated with the reason for bringing her to the vet in the first place. We explained that we wanted to deal with the problem at hand first and would address the unrelated blood work once we could get the itching under control. We received a recommendation for $350 in medications. It felt like we were being upsold the entire time. When we agreed to additional testing, but discussed using an online service provider for her prescriptions, we could tell that they were disinterested in us. They care more about their cut than they do the health of the animal. I explained that I didnt want to simply do $300 in testing (which we did) and $350 in medication when I didnt even feel that trust had been established. If we ordered the medication elsewhere, and it worked, then I would feel much better about trusting their opinion. And if they want to promote the health of the pet so much - then consider price matching. Instead, they printed the prescriptions for us, but the drug company said they can only legally receive a fax from the Vet office not a copy faxed by a patient. When the VetRx company tried to reach out to have a copy of the prescription faxed to them, they refused. They said it took too much time and they dont work with outside companies. So now, because of their unwillingness to work with a prescription company, the only way to get our dog the medication she needs is to get the medication directly from them or to go to another vet. I totally understand the need to make a buck in this economy, but as a consumer, its important to trust the providers. And yes, in this economy, saving $100 is important too. Furthermore, the prescription didnt match the treatment plan (misleading...) and we were told the treatment plan didnt take our dogs weight into consideration (why?). We were even told that one medication treated a disease that the research showed it did not. When questioned about it, we were told that the FDA requirements were too difficult to get this medication to pass as an anti-parasitic, but "trust me" every vet around town prescribes it. We left feeling like they didnt know any more than the first vet we went to (who did work with the prescription company). Im not trying to not care about our dog, but at this point, we are $1,000 with no answers and an itchy dog. I want to work with a vet we can trust and one that I dont feel is simply trying to make a dollar. I havent found that at Calvert and I will certainly keep looking.

---

JO

Joe Mikeska

Worse than poor, I would say horrible bordering on irresponsible. I took my almost 3 year-old dachshund in for a regular checkup and vaccinations. I knew that he needed rabies and bordatella, no big deal. They let me know that he was also due distemper, again, I know this vaccine and no big deal to me. Then they advised and actively pushed for me to get the lepto vaccine for him. I wasnt familiar with that one and said I didnt want to give that many to him on one visit and I wanted to get more information first. They advised that sometimes Dachshunds can sometimes have mild reactions, so to come back in 2 weeks for the lepto. So they gave him two injectable vaccinations, rabies and distemper, and the nasal bordatella. No big deal so far. Two days later, my dog became VERY ill, feverish, and lethargic. I was out of town so my wife took him in. First, they carved us FOR A FULL EXAMINATION, even after they had seen him 2 days prior and knew that this breed had reactions to vaccines. During the blood work, they noted his white blood cell count was high, and based on that they thought he had Meningitis. Okay, here is where I really take issue. My undergraduate degree is in pre-veterinary medicine from Texas A&M, I worked at the small animal hospital at the university in both the surgery, ICU, and emergency departments, and I now work in the healthcare industry. NO ONE with any integrity would EVER jump from high white blood cell count to MENINGITIS which is an infection of the central nervous system. This is a HUGE leap. To add insult to injury, they still tried to get my wife to schedule the lepto vaccine for 2 weeks later, knowing that this dog has had reactions to vaccines. Speaking of the lepto, I have since researched the vaccine, and virtually all Dachshund organizations categorically say DO NOT give this vaccine to any dachshunds as they are extremely reactive to this particular vaccine and has even caused death on multiple accounts. In short, I would not recommend this practice to anyone, particularly anyone with a dachshund.

---

AM

Amber S

Bringing my cat to this place was the worst decision I ever made, by far. I just moved here, and my cat began to stop eating dry cat food. So, I decided to bring him to Calvert. They did a full work-up, and said that he had a bad tooth infection. They offered to give him an antibiotic shot to take care of the infection. So, I agreed. They then proceeded to hand me a list of tests that they want me to do so they can diagnose him further: over $600 worth of tests. I work a minimum wage job, and didnt have all the money for all the tests. So, I did them one at a time. Since my cat was having trouble peeing, I did the urinalysis. That came back that he had an infection, which we already knew. I decided to come back a week later when I had more money for the tests. Ever single visit, even if they were two days apart, they charged me a $45 fee to tell me that nothing has changed in the external exam. I did every single test they asked of me, and everything came back normal, even the blood work the she begged me too do. She told me she wouldnt diagnose him until we had the blood work. And to pay for it, I had to work two more weeks to save up the money. They blood work then came back normal. She then told me she still wanted to do an x-ray, which would only show if he had a blockage, or a tumor, which would kill him either way, and I didnt have the almost $200 for the test and the exam. They neglected to try and treat my cat for things that tests didnt show, such as irritable bowel syndrome, and other things like that. My precious, beautiful kitty died about a week later. I will never, ever take another pet here, nor will I recommend it to anyone who has a pet. They took every penny I had saved, and every paycheck after that. And still did not diagnose my cat. The only good thing I have to day about them is that they loved my cat and treated him well.

---

JU

Judi Rogers

I have had 5 visits to Calvert,over the last 2 years. My first concern is I have never walked out without a bill totaling 350.00 or less, for minor illness, with a long list of tests run. Never has an illness been diagnosed within the first visit. More tests and more tests, more money, till we get to a maybe it is ???? My second concern is once you are an established patient, if you call because there is an issue and you need your pet to be seen , you are charged for an emergency visit, and you walk in and the business is empty ? Also nothing is done with you in the room , other than weight ,ear and teeth check. Then your pet is removed, brought back by a tech, and maybe if your lucky the vet will come back in the room to give you a diagnosis, if not your just loaded down with medicine , and told to come back for a recheck. If you refuse any of the pile of products, you get a lecture. Sorry but I can get the same shampoo on line for $20 less. The same ear cleaner for $10 less. Before moving to this area , my normal Veterinarian never charged for a recheck. You can believe Calvert does, for a 5 minute look over, then your out the door. Most of the staff is very friendly and welcoming, a beautiful clean facility. So disappointed , will continue to search.

---

---