Stark County Veterinary Emergency Clinic

Reviews 3

JE

Jeff Gray

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID - My wife and I had a very bad experience at the Stark County Veterinary Emergency Clinic (SCVEC) with our cat. We brought our indoor cat into SCVEC due to the fact that it was limping and our normal veterinarian was closed. The initial estimated cost of $400.00 plus dollars was raised to $500.00 plus dollars when we were informed that our cat was "morphine" resistant. The SCVEC administered morphine to assist in taking a simple x-ray. Research on the Internet indicates that the use of morphine in cats is very controversial due to the fact that cats do not have the enzyme to metabolize morphine. Administering morphine to cats results in a very heightened state of excitability. SCVEC administered TWO doses of morphine that did not work in calming our cat so that a simple x-ray of her hind leg could be taken. Our cat was then given a dose of propofol . An X-ray was then taken and sent off on the Internet to be read by a unknown radiologist. The radiograph was inconclusive and was not properly marked (tagged). No official radiology report accompanied our results (we found this out later from our normal veterinarian). (Also, our normal veterinarian DOES NOT USE MORPHINE in his practice). Our regular vet took his own X-Ray and found what could be a small hairline fracture in the fibula. Our vet was able to take the X-Ray without any type of sedation. Our cat was actually worse upon returning home from SCVEC. Our cat became very lethargic, would not eat or drink, and eventually became dehydrated. Also, the cat started to run a fever (104.5) which indicated the cat now had an infection. THANKFULLY due to the care and skill of our REGULAR veterinarian, our cat is now starting to heal. Our vet had to retake the X-Rays... administer fluids via an IV bag, administer antibiotics, and force oral feeding of a moist high calorie food. SUMMARY - AVOID this place if at all possible. Go to your regular veterinarian or Google "Emergency Veterinarian Green, Ohio" . Our cats health actually became worse for going to this poorly staffed emergency clinic. We spent over $500.00 and were there for over 4 hours. Because there is only one veterinarian there, your pet may be under the care of a vet tech who is being directed by this single vet which may be busy with other pet emergencies. NOTE: It is NOT the cost that bothers me the most. It is the level of non-care and inappropriate-care that my pet received at this clinic. Giving our cat morphine for a simple X-ray was a big mistake!!! The vet tech even came out after the second dose of morphine and said that we could simply take the cat and forget the X-Ray if I wanted to because they were unable to get the cat comfortable. Furthermore, our cat was given a take-home drug that our regular vet does NOT use in his practice. Our vet indicated that it makes animals "dopey" which is exactly the opposite of what we needed when our cat was given an overdose of morphine (total was 1.5mg - Internet states that maximum dose should have been no more than 1.2 mg based on weight) I am contemplating a small claims court action against SCVEC. I simply do not want other pet owners to suffer the anguish that I have suffered with our cat. In my opinion, the costs at SCVEC are EXTREMELY HIGH ($$$$$) and the level of skill for caring for your animal is very low. Note: the level of care and skill may vary depending on what combination of you get at the time of your visit. Is the vet skilled for your type of animal? How many other cases are being looked at? Who is the vet tech at the time of your visit, etc.....

A

A Private User

Stark County Vet Emergeny Clinic...Notice how it says EMERGENCY in the name. I had a very sick puppy who was throwing up blood. They refused to see him without payment up front. They accept paper checks to hold for two weeks but refused to hold my check card info in the same way. I had to sit in my car with my puppy throwing up BLOOD for two hours as I tried to find someone who could give them their credit card information over the phone. Over $70 to just walk in the door, another $70 for a test and $75 to hold him as they put him to sleep BECAUSE I couldnt give them $1500 in FULL at midnight to try and save his life. Oh yeah their business cards say they love pets. It should say they love money. I"ve never experienced so much greed in my life. All because they would only hold a paper check and not a check card info..if you arent rich and its after hours in Stark county our animals are going to die. He was only 7 weeks old hadnt even had a chance to live yet. I also want to add that the cost to kill him was going to be $50 but because I wanted to hold him I had to pay $75 they had to put in IV line so they "wouldnt accidently stick me with the needle". I had to leave and pay for this all in advance when I came back he wagged his tail a little and gave me a little kiss. He was still full of love even though deathly ill. I think this clinic needs to allow all forms of payment to give people of all income levels a chance to save their pets life. As it stands its the haves vs. the have nots even for pets lives. I had emailed with a vet blogger his answers still all pointed to the rich having emergency vet care and nothing for the poor. Im trying to get this clinic to change their policy. I wont stop til they do in memory of Henry.

EV

Evan Zimmerman

I brought a stray who was in pretty bad shape here around 10 pm.The dog needed to be put down because of a spine injury. They never checked or offered to check for a microchip. They went from kind and compassionate to hateful and disgusted when I couldnt afford to pay more than half the bill up front- this was never mentioned to me until after the dog had an xray. My wife and I were actually waiting in an exam room to be with him while he was euthanized. They said we could no longer be with him during the euthanasia and would have to transport the body home ourselves. They brought this dead dog loosely wrapped in a sheet out to our car. My wife asked for a box because hed have to go in the backseat and they said they didnt have a single cardboard box in the establishment. I asked them what they thought we should have done- leave him to die slowly on the side of the road or bring him to the ER and attempt to work out a payment plan? They didnt care. Ive never experienced a vet that doesnt offer payment options, or at least a little courtesy during such an emotionally trying time. Dont EVER come here, please make the drive to Akron, regardless of where you are from. The staff was hateful, a traumatizing situation was made more traumatizing, and they clearly only cared about money. Imagine if this happened to your beloved pet rather than a stray that you felt an obligation to help- youd be in pieces. This place not only doesnt deserve your money, they will likely kill your pet through malpractice or unconcern. If they dont do that, they will make sure that you know what a terrible individual you are for not having the entire bill paid upfront.