Red Bank Veterinary Hospital

Reviews 3

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Christopher Pilloton

Weve been clients for over 12 years. Even after we moved out of the area, weve kept bringing our pets there. But lately, though, that theyve been getting too busy to maintain their former high standards of quality service. First issue: I tried to get a 30-day refill of Laylas Denamarin but was told I need doctors approval. Several calls and two visits (25-mile trip) to the pharmacy - was told they couldnt get any doctors to approve it. Paged a doctor twice while I waited without any response. I asked to have Dr. Green call me. Two days and no one called or followed up. I went online to Amazon and ordered a bottle of 75 225mg chewable pills - no doctor approval needed and it was delivered the next day. Denamarin is essentially a supplement for treating liver enzyme issues. At the last refill, I asked Dr. Green why a doctors approval was needed but got no answer. This time, I couldnt even get through via the pharmacy or directly. Second issue: We paid more than two thousand dollars last year to have our dog Laylas teeth cleaned. One of the reasons we paid so much (compared to other dental clinics in our area) was the promise of lifetime free six-month checkups. The first follow-up checkup was due in July. The appointment was postponed twice by RBVH and we finally got the checkup in August. The next 6-month checkup was scheduled for the beginning of February. Got a call yesterday from the Dental Dept. that this appointment had to be re-scheduled but it could not be before April (9 months since the last one). The secretary who called said the doctor stated that Layla could wait until then. I asked if there were any other choices such as an earlier appointment in January or with another doctor and was told no, there is no other choice. First of all, based on previous experience with other dogs, we know that these checkups are important and we dont want to let them slide. Second of all, we paid a lot of money to get this follow-up care based on what we were promised at that time. Now the RBVH seems to feel that this commitment isnt that important and not a priority to them - we slid from six months to seven months last time and now they want to slide it to nine months between checkups. Weve been through a lot with the RBVH doctors and two previous dogs besides Layla and have been happy and loyal - it was expensive but has been worth it. Lately, though, not so much - expensive but not so worth it! I would give more stars based on their past experience but find it hard to go more than three based on recent experience. Other minor complaints include long wait times which I wouldnt mind so much if it wasnt for the lack of wifi, cell signal or magazines in the waiting area, not to mention uncomfortable bench seats out in the open thoroughfare. They have wifi by the vending machines which is a little cubby hole next to the rest rooms, but its isolated behind the pharmacy so you might miss the call when they come out to get you and your pet to bring you into the exam room.

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A Private User

I initially contacted RBVH due to a concern that a secondary vet had expressed to me about my choice to not feed my dog the crappy dog food that he sells at his office and to feed him an all natural diet that I prepare myself for him. He stressed how important nutrition was to my dog as a pup and recommended that I speak with a nutritional vet to assure that he is getting the nutrition he needs from his home cooked diet that I have been feeding to him since he was 4 months old. He recommended RBVH for having the BEST reputation and to give a call over to their specialist and just ask about it to make sure. I sent an email explaining exactly what he eats and just asked if they wouldnt mind telling me if i am doing the right thing for my dog by feeding him natural foods or if I was inadvertently hurting him. I explained that we live far and he does not do well on car rides and if at all possible I would prefer not to have to bring him there if it was not necessary. I got a very simple email back from the spec. asst. telling me that I really need to bring him in to see them because it is in my pets "best interest to have a professional specialized in veterinary nutrition to prepare the proper diet." So....After a long car ride alone with my 7 month old pup who fears car trips, I arrived at RBVH on time to wait for 30 minutes to see the Nutritional Spec. Our meeting went well, she spent about 45 minutes with me discussing the nutritional needs of my dog and providing feedback on the food I have been feeding him. She was more than pleased with his current diet and body condition, however, she informed me that she was concerned about whether he was getting the necessary amounts of vitamins for his age, growth and development. she accompanied me to their pharmacy (the place is like disney) and had me purchase 2 different supplements to add in to his current food. She said she would email me how much to give him by the end of the week of our appointment. Our appoint was late June...and we are still waiting for her to tell me the amount that I should be giving him and it is mid August! I have emailed 3 times to ask if she had forgotten about us throughout the summer, and her assistant says no that I should be getting a response from her soon, so finally I called and asked to speak directly with her, stressing I did not want to speak with her assistant, they gave me her voicemail only for her assistant to return my call! She assured me that I would have the Docs email and directions for the supplements today, however it is 9pm and I still have nothing! They were so anxious to get me in there to pay them for doing nothing for my dog...he is still eating the same food with out any modifications by her at all while I am sure she is already done enjoying my consultation fee and is on to the next client. I am very upset, displeased and aggravated I will NEVER return there!

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Amy E

I have worked at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital for 10 years. However, I am a pet owner first. I still have to make an appointment. I still have to pay for medical services. I cannot imagine taking my pet anywhere else, and the times I have had to do that when Im traveling makes me even more proud of where I work. The staff is phenomenal and the caring and warmth can be felt in all parts of the hospital. Few other professions employ like-minded people who share a common love – in this case, of animals. We laugh together, we cry together, we champion the sick pets together. We know what it’s like to lose a pet. We know the heartache that follows. The questioning of whether we made the right decisions, chose the right options, gave it enough time or too much time. What I can tell you, whether you like us or not, is that we care deeply about the pets who come through our door. We all need to receive a paycheck, and we are fortunate to be paid to do what we love, but we are not in this profession for the money – we are here for you, the pet owner, and the animals that youve invited into your lives. Our employer teaches us that the pet owner comes first. Without a pet owner choosing our hospital, we cannot use the skills we have to help the creatures that we love so dearly. Our hospital is not in existence because our employers wanted to get rich, and thought this was the best way to do so. It’s incredibly expensive to run a 24-hour hospital. Like other businesses, we often struggle to make ends meet, and yet meet the needs of the pet-owning community. I have never worked for a company who cared so much about its employees and who took customer satisfaction so seriously. We know we can’t make everyone happy, but there is honestly not one person in our hospital who wants any client to leave unhappy due to something we did or said. We see over 100,000 clients per year – it’s inevitable not everyone will be satisfied, but our goal is that they should be. If you are unhappy, please tell us directly so we can help. Posting negative comments on a forum isn’t a solution. Negative comments last forever and don’t allow an opportunity for problem solving and communication. If you are happy with us, please use these forums to let the pet-loving community know what a great job weve done for you. I can tell you first hand that I wouldn’t work for a company that didn’t value its patients or clients. Red Bank Veterinary Hospital values both.