Family Friends Veterinary Hospital

Reviews 4

NA

Nadine L

I called to schedule an exam for my very sick kitty. They were able to get me in later that afternoon. I called the office back to get pricing on x-rays and blood work, because I knew that would be above the exam fees and highly likey to be necessary to determine what was wrong. Little did I know that informing myself financially was frowned upon by the clinic and was admittedly used against me by the same person who was to care for my cat. During the exam, Dr. Carpenter checked vitals, prodded his abdomen and pelvis stating the bladder could not be found. My cats temperature registered low as well. He proceeded to say the symptoms could be caused by a number of issues. At one point he was leaning strongly towards poison, but he admittedly said there was no exact diagnosis. With my daughter and two other children in the room, he said by Monday we would know if kitty was going to make it or not. Dr. Carpenter gave us two options. We could take kitty home and administer subcutaneous fluids by injection, or we could leave him in their care over night with IV fluids. Either way it was shot in the dark with no real answers. I agreed to leave him for the night to get the fluids faster. I left with no answers, and worried my cat was on his death bed. I was to call the next morning, however I decided my kitty needed a second opinion with some testing and hopefully answers, so instead I picked him up. When I did, I found not only did they NOT administer IV fluids, they gave him a muscle relaxer not knowing his nuero state, AND with super low blood pressure, which is their excuse of why he didnt get an IV. Might I add, they only tried one leg for the IV. Not once was I notified of neither the drug they took upon themselves to give my cat, nor did they notify me of failure to IV him; the main reason I left him over night in their care. I took my cat to another vet, paid for another exam, and did blood work and x-rays. My cat was found to have an obstructed bowel and needed to have surgery to remove. I contacted Dr. Carpenter to make him aware of the findings and to express my dissatisfaction in how my cat was treated by him or lack there of. He admitted to me he thought cost was a bigger concern for me then anything, because I called in to get the prices for services. Due to his preconceived notions of me, my desires and or abilities, he decided to not offer or even discuss with me any x-ray or blood testing, nor did he talk to me about payment options. Now, in an attempt to make things right, he offered to do the surgery for $200, so long as I "agreed to play nice with him". However, the wording he used for the "surgery", that I had to be there within an hour and 15 minutes, and the fact that he just admitted to being prejudice against me, really didnt settle well with me and I couldnt trust putting my cats life in his hands... again. I trusted Dr. Carpenter to treat my cat the first time, and he basically was going to let him die.

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KR

Krystal Topper

I recently moved to the Grand Rapids area and saw the high scores and great reviews for this clinic, so decided to give them a try. I have to say I am impressed. This is, by far, the best clinic I have ever stepped foot into in the last 10 years of owning dogs. They were very welcoming, gave me a tour of the entire facility. The front desk staff are very warm and inviting. The two veterinarians Ive visited with were very friendly, knowledgeable, and thorough in their examinations and explanations of my pets health care. And the best part? VERY affordable! Today I stopped in for a quick weigh in on my puppy and they fit me in immediately for a quick health consult and her rabies vaccine with a doctor, even though I showed up during surgery hours. Now that is customer service! I highly recommend Family Friends! Wanted to add 3/1/13 - I rescued a dog from a rural shelter and he has kennel cough (the common cold for dogs). I called the office and said I want to talk to a vet about vaccine protocol and boarding because this dog is ill, FDA regulation says to not give vaccines to sick animals because it can cause adverse affects including death. I was told that the vets were busy but they could call me back. I agreed. No vet has called me back. Instead I was forced to talk to an office worker who did not identify herself as a vet tech or medical professional with the skills to talk to me about my pets health. She told me they would have to hospitalize the dog for a cold, and give him antibiotics for a viral infection. Thats like saying youre going to cure AIDS with cough syrup. Anyone whos done any reading about what an antiBIOTIC is knows they do not treat viruses. I am very disappointed with the office today. Next time I can make it in I will insist, in person, to talk to a vet and possibly the office manager and express my concerns that I was denied contact with a doctor about my pets health.

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A Private User

I WOULD DEF RECOMMEND ANYONE HERE!!!! Heres my story, ive been bringing my dog to Weisner, Innis, and Schoen(yes im telling u the name so people can know what their getting them selves into). I took my dog there for 2 years and ive always put up with the place bc yes they pretty much are the cheapest in town. The receptionist and even some of the techs are very rude, unmannerly, and impersonable. So finally one day after the Doctor pretty much cattled my dog through ive had it. Then i tried another place which was nice but the doctor was way too pushy, wanting me to buy this and buy that. Wasnt happening! Finally i went to Family Friends omg i was soooo relieved i finally found a great facility with an actual friendly staff. It was big, clean and updated compared to the dive i was at. The girls at the front were extremely nice and compassionate. Then we met Dr Kathryn Sutphen i was delighted! She was very informative, non pushy and friendly. She was very thorough when examining our dogs. Prices are pretty comparible to the last vet which was a good thing. Lastly the vet tech asked the receptionist to take us on a TOUR of the building. WOW how nice was that..never ever before has anyone done that. What an all around great place...for peace of mind for the owners and pets. Even though its a further drive im NOT going anywhere else.

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A Private User

My dog had been seeing Dr. Carpenter for her entire life and loved to visit him and the rest of the staff. She sustained a back injury at the age of 13, and received the very best care from her "Family Friends" vets-- through accupuncture and massages and therapy for her injured spine. They did not charge me for the initial consult, explained everything that was happening to her to me, gave me ways to help manage her pain, taught me how to care for her and exercise her inactive muscles. Unfortunately, she gave up after a few weeks. I had to make the hard decision to take her in to have her put down. Dr. Carpenter stayed late on a Saturday, stayed in the room with me and left to allow me to grieve, and his staff we there immediately, even offering me the service of washing her after she was gone. They did so, held her body for me while I prepared her grave. Dr. Carpenter came in on a Sunday morning in order to bring her to my car. I could not imagine taking my animals to anywhere else. Their service and compassion for me in my difficult time is unequaled. They also refunded my money back for the therapy sessions that we ended up not being able to take her to. You can trust your animals whole life to Dr. Carpenter and his staff, they are truly the best.

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