VCA Animal Wellness Center of Maple Grove

Reviews 3

YU

Yuliya Walters

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CATS THERE. The practices of this clinic destroyed the relationship between my two "best friend" cats. I have two cats that used to sleep on each other, groom each other, and were the best of friends. I brought in one cat first for a check-up and brought him home after the appointment. I then brought my second cat in shortly afterward. With my second cat, I watched a vet tech spray 5 pumps of something on a blanket, and she placed this blanket on my cat in the exam room. I didnt think anything of it at the time, but this procedure was NOT done for my first cat. I found out later that what she sprayed was a product with synthetic cat pheromones that supposedly "calms" cats down. Its called Feliway spray. When I brought my second cat home, my first cat took one sniff of him and viciously attacked him because he did not recognize his scent. While trying to break up the cat fight, I was scratched and bit brutally. As a result, I had to go to urgent care, and Im now on two strong antibiotics, taking 5 pills per day, total. I called the Animal Wellness Center and they could only have me speak to a vet tech, even though I insisted that I needed to speak to a veterinarian. The vet tech said, "we use Feliway spray on all our cat patients - we even spray ourselves with it. Nothing like this has ever happened before." When I was in the exam room, I remember seeing a Feliway plug-in diffuser, but other vets Ive been to also use the diffusers. So basically, not only did they have the diffuser in the exam room, but the staff douse themselves in this product AND they applied it topically to my cats fur. After researching this spray, the instructions say to spray it in "doorways, cat-flaps, furniture and other objects around the house." THEY DO NOT SAY TO TOPICALLY APPLY IT ON A CAT! They applied a large dose of this product to my cats fur, and they did it without my permission. Also, in doing more research on Feliway, there are numerous accounts of pet owners saying that it caused aggression and fear in their cat instead of the supposed "calming effect." Also, the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) has banned Feliway spray from all its cat shows. I was extremely upset and I asked the manager to make it right. I asked for a refund of exam costs for my cats, since I was now out money (urgent care copay, prescription costs, bandages), and I was also out time and my emotional well-being was compromised. The manager told me that since everything during the exams went well, that they would not be giving me a refund. However, they could give me anti-anxiety medications for my cats at no charge. I told her I would be speaking to her superior, and I called the owner later that day. After speaking with the owner (Sue), she consulted with the veterinarian who examined my cats, and I was notified later that day that the clinic agreed to refund me the amount I paid for the cats exams AND give me the anti-anxiety medication for my cats at no charge. Anytime a business refunds you for their services, you know they admit fault. Now, it has been 5 days since this happened, and my cats are completely broken. I bathed both of them the night this happened, not only to get rid of the pheromone scent but also because they were both covered in urine from the cat that was attacked. The cat that got attacked is scared and agitated; the cat that became aggressive is also scared and howls like a wolf when he sees his former "best friend." I have been doing everything possible to re-introduce them again. Ive been keeping a "safe room" and switching them out to get them tolerant of each others scent. However, they cannot visually comprehend each other - they think the other is a foreign invader and they hiss, growl, and scream "bloody-murder" at each other. Nothing is working. Emotionally, Im a wreck and I cant sleep or function as a result of the disharmony in my household. I blame the Animal Wellness Center or all of this. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CATS THERE.

JA

jason misquick

HORRIBLE SERVICE! Ive been to this vet at least half a dozen times and each time its been TERRIBLE! Im in there for no less than one hour each time. The staff is STUPID and RUDE! Totally incompetent. The prices are absolutely ASININE and they refuse to take returns on food and medication that wont work for my dog (Ive been to probably half a dozen vets in my life (I move a lot), and Ive never been treated this way). All they care about is the money. I swear if I went in there with my dog dying in my arms theyd calmly say "well euthanasia is going to be $386.22 plus tax. Cash or card? Also disposal of the body in our back dumpster will be an additional $122.89 plus a convenience and handling fee." The place looks VERY nice, but dont be deceived. I expressed my displeasure with my most recent dealings with them (they refused to return a $20 bottle of pills that probably cost them $0.01 when it made my dog deathly ill). Over the past year Ive spent more than $1000 on veterinary care for my dog, and theres nothing serious even wrong with her! To top it all off, I recently received a letter in the mail saying that I should never come back. I guess its because I made a stink about their terrible service and return policy on food and medication. This letter was sent after I had already requested all the medical records so I could change vets. So they KNEW I was transferring vets and decided to send me a letter anyway to try and stick it to me. How rude and inconsiderate! Thats like saying to your boss that you quit then him retorting and saying "no, youre fired." EXTREMELY unprofessional. This is by far the worst business Ive ever patronized and I URGE you not to try this place for your animals sake if nothing else. I hope this place gets the bad name it deserves and they either change their conduct and attitude or go under. In this economy theres no reason for such an EXPENSIVE and UNPROFESSIONAL establishment to even exist. I really wish I could give this place a score somewhere in the high negatives (like -99999). I certainly would. Zero just doesnt do it for me. On a side note, Ive decided to go to the Oakwood Pet Clinic. Check out their reviews AWESOME! In the nasty letter they gave me, they gave me several referrals to other vets in my area. I looked them all up and ALL of them have terrible reviews. Its like all these terrible places work together to try and screw as many people as possible. I was also referred to a local animal hospital by the Animal Wellness Center and it was terrible too. I swear it was so nasty there could have been rats living in there. Stick way from the Animal Wellness Center and all the other companies in their little "circle."

NA

Natty channel Arsola

I have been taking my pets to this clinic for years and now all of my family and friends take their pets here too because of my recommendation. I tell everyone I meet about them because of how amazing they are. I have fostered dogs for 10 years and I have worked with at least 12 vet clinics throughout this time and no one is as experienced as the Veterinary Doctors and techs at The Animal Wellness Center. They have advanced equipment, the Vets are constantly attending continuing education classes and seminars and they have several specialist that they can refer to for surgeries or other procedures if necessary. The staff is friendly and professional and the clinic is beautiful, clean and always updated. They have every kind of treatment option possible and also offer boarding, daycare and grooming. Dr. Laura Elliott treats every animal like it is a member of her own family and she is great at explaining things so that you can truly understand what is happening with your pets health. All Veterinary care can be expensive but another thing that I love about the Wellness Center is that they understand that I am on a budget and they will always give me options for care and even print out a price estimate for each option before hand so that I can take it home and make a decision. Most recently my Shih Tzu (who is the most important part of my life) developed several issues including severe weight loss, lethargy, and dramatic hair loss and I really thought I was going to lose her but with the diligent work of Dr. Elliott (who would respond to my daily emails and phone calls), within 6 months we were able to get her back to herself and now she acts like a puppy again. Also, recently I helped a family member adopt a rescued Rhodesian Ridgeback mix who (had no health problems) according to the rescue organization but unfortunately he had an eye that was red and irritated looking and he was constantly messing with it. My family member brought him into two local vets who treated it like it was an eye infection and provided antibiotic drops but the problem consisted and began to get worse with time. I brought the dog into Dr. Elliott for them and she immediately diagnosed the problem as ulcers on the eye and with medication and minor surgery the problem was resolved within weeks and the dog has not had any eye problems since and is obviously relieved. Thank you Animal Wellness Center for all you do and I will continue to recommend you to everyone I know. (My pets thank you too!)