Animal Hospital of Dauphin County

Reviews 5

JA

Jacque Foster

I cant say enough about the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County, especially Dr. Audrey Zajac. I lost my 14 year old cat Kirby on February 28 suddenly after he caught a cold. He had been losing weight over the past few months which Dr. Zajac said suspected kidney failure. 8 days later I brought his furry brother Oliver in who had been very depressed since Kirby was no longer in the house. His appetite had decreased and it turned out that he had diabetes which I was shocked to hear. Dr. Zajac felt that while he had been coping with it for a while, the depressed of losing his buddy pushed him over the edge. It was a difficult time for me to lose my 14 year and 8 year old boys. Everyone we came in contact with at the AHDC was understanding, kind and compassionate. What is incredibly amazing to me is that Dr. Zajac just called me, on a SUNDAY, to check on me and see how I am doing after losing Oliver so soon after losing Kirby. How incredible! And she also wanted to make sure the only kittie left in my home, Jennie, was okay after losing her furry brothers who she only knew for 5 months. Wouldnt it be great if we all cared about each other like that? How wonderful would this world be? I never took Kirby or Oliver there before but yet they got them both in within hours (45 minutes for Oliver) and although Dr. Zajac never met me or my boys ever before, she was the most compassionate person I have ever met. She let me spend as much time with them before and after and gently took them away after they were gone. With Oliver, she hugged me and let me cry on her shoulder. What a special woman. Can you guess who Jennies new vet is?? Receiving a sympathy card for both my boys signed by the entire staff with Kirby and Olivers paw prints was such an incredible gesture. Words can say enough thanks to Dr. Zajac and everyone at AHDC for their kindness and caring of not just my furry kids but also for worrying about my well being!

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NI

Nicole Workoff

The actual care I received from this vet was fine / on par with what youd expect, but I have two serious complaints: First, the cost of any treatment, whether routine or otherwise, is not discussed in an open manner. Techs and docs alike discussed various things I "should" have done or that they "recommend" and as a new, and I suppose naive, pet-owner, I agreed to do them without asking what they would be, what would be included/covered, etc. They perform the work and then surprise you with the bill after. Ive been better about speaking up, but I wish this vet and vets generally would be more open about costs. Secondly, I had my senior dog in for what was a new case of barking and what appeared to be insomnia. My dog would get up in the middle of the night, barking for no reason when he didnt bark at all before. The problem got progressively worse, so I took him to their office. Without so much as a basic check, the doc printed out some information on "doggie dementia" and suggested maybe a new vet-prescribed ($$$) dog food to help with what was obviously a mental problem in my dog. I paid the fee, but nothing got better. I took my dog back after a couple more weeks with this and they (a different vet in the practice) finally discovered the culprit -- AN EAR INFECTION. Poor dog was trying to tell me BOTH his ears were hurting (probably ringing or lack of hearing anything is why he was barking like a banshee), but the first doc jumped right to DEMENTIA without ever examining my dog. Once we got him on meds and drops the infection cleared right up and so did the barking and insomnia. Needless to say, I take my dog elsewhere now.

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PA

Paula Caruso

Up until a year ago I thought the world of this place. In June my Gracie broke her leg but before that horrific day we took her back three times prior to that breakage and had x-ray after x-ray to see why her front leg looked like it did. Each time Dr. Balmer would tell us that she could not confirm that it was osteosarma and would send us home with predisone and tramadol. Not once did they tell us to take her to get a ct scan of her chest and lungs. Finally in June on a Saturday of this year she broke her leg and we waited through the weekened giving her pain medications. Finally, Monday came and we took her in for what we thought was going to be a surgery for her leg. The surgeon, who was not an orthopedic surgeon would not do the surgery and sent us down to Metropolitan near Philadelphia. The bottom line is we had her leg amputated about a week after the break and Tuesday of this week we had to put our precious Grace to sleep. This is my advice to anyone who goes there just ask all the questions you can and if you dont feel comfortable with the answers and the diagnosis, look it up on the internet and there is a wonderful place in Rye - Animal Hospital of Rye who has the equipment necessary for these types of diagnosis. I regret every day of my life that I listened to them. I now have transferred my records to another vet. Good luck to all.

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A

A Private User

To rory post on Oct. 29 2011, you wrote that you transferred your records to another hospital. When you had that done you ending you client doctor relationship. And in doing so means you our no longer a client. If the hospital only has an emergency Center for clients, that’s what it means clients only. The price that you paid for everything is about right on what everyone else charges. Then your complaint about the follow up care, that’s what all vets do, as well as human doctors. When you have a kid do they charge you up-font for you weekly doctor’s appointment, and the birth, and then all the post op care? NO they DON’T. Why would it be deferent for a dog, you pay as you go, cuz they don’t know what all will happen in the next week or next month. Then you went to Mechanicsburg Animal Emergency Center talk about a place that is money oriented. I am sure that was not cheap going there and I bet they also told you that you have to go to there vet office now so they can do follow-up care. ALL THEY WANT AT, Mechanicsburg Animal Emergency Center is your money.

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LI

linda billet

Before we even had a dog, we called this practice to ask for help with a wild animal that needed rescuing. No money was exchanged, they just offered advice because they are good people. So naturally I chose them sixteen years ago when we adopted a puppy. EVERYONE at this practice has been stellar. But then about 9 years ago, I think they kicked into above-and-beyond mode when my dog was in a horrific accident, attacked by another dog. I know that they researched a lot to come up with a plan to heal my dog. Two days ago, she passed, but she was a health happy dog right up to the end. When a sixteen year old dog can still run and play, that is saying a lot. I feel like she (and our family) got a nine year bonus because of AH of DC. In sixteen years of service, there were certainly mistakes made and times that I waited because everyone at this practice is human. THAT is why we go there.

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