Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services

Reviews 3

KI

Kimberly Libby

Im going to start off by saying always listen to your gut!!! I brought my dog here in August 2015 with a GI bleed and she was about to go into hypovolemic shock. Also, Im an RN and they figured out during the initial consult that I have knowledge... So I left my dog there after a few hours and drove an hour home. Midnight rolls around and I still havent heard anything so I call and speak with a nurse who tells me she doesnt know if my dog was given IV fluids yet. EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?! I left my dog there about to go into hypovolemic shock and you dont know if she was given a fluid bolus?! She said the doc will call me when he has time and hung up. My gut sunk and told me to go get her and take her somewhere else but I didnt listen. She ended up being diagnosed with GI lymphoma and after a week of her being there and progressively getting worse I took her home AMA (against medical advise) because I knew she would die there if I left her there. They also starved her. I took her in on a Sunday and she hadnt eaten until 3 days later when I spoon fed her a jar of baby food that I had brought in days before. She was so nauseated when I spoon fed her that she was drooling non stop. When the nurse came in I told her and she said of we can start her on an anti nausea. EXCUSE ME?! You haven;t started her on an anti nausea? Hello! She hasnt eaten in 3 days and you didnt think it might be because her GI bleed was making her nauseated?! So they gave her Zofran and what do ya know the next day she was eating on her own!!! When I complained about this the Dr. said well she was getting cerenia. Um hello clearly that wasnt working and why didnt anyone spoon feed my dog? She responded that it would be considered force feeding and they dont force feed. Um no sorry when a dog willingly opens her mouth to take a spoon of baby food thats not force feeding!!! They fluid volume overloaded her because she couldnt keep any of her fluids where they belonged so they just keep giving her more IV fluids. Her abdomen was so swollen, she had pitting edema in all her feet, had pulmonary edema, and her brain started to swell too. I could tell by the way she was bobbling her head that she was getting cerebral edema. The nurse said to me she started bobbling her head that morning and I said her brain is swollen and shes gong to have a seizure just like she did the summer before if you dont give hr mannitol or a diuretic to pull the fluids out. And I said I wasnt paying if she had a seizure because they fluid volume overload her. When I decided to take her home AMA is when they informed me that her GI lymphoma was stage 4, metastasized to her pancreas, liver, and spleen, and she was getting vitamin k injections every day. When I took her home I wrapped her feet in medical tape and it helped push the fluid back in. Why didnt anyone there do that? I feel they didnt properly inform me of her diagnosis because they wanted my money and knew that with my medical knowledge Id have known she wouldnt have made it. I got a$10,000 vet bill and my dog didnt survive. I feel they didnt properly inform me because they wanted my $ and could care less about the welfare of my dog. I dont recommend anyone go here ever under any circumstance. Years later and Im still grieving the loss of my dog and still so disgusted with the care she received here. I told the doc I complained to on the phone Id rather drive to California than ever bring another animal here and I still mean it. I should have reported them to the veterinary medical board when this happened. I wonder if they will investigate it now? Well Ill find out! Ill also post pictures so everyone can see how fluid filled and swollen she was and pictures of how her feet looked after I wrapped them to push the fluid back in.

J.

J.J. Van Name

CARES...it has been Abbis (14 yo white and black Portuguese Water Dog) and my second home for over 2 years now. Dr. Puerto (surgeon) and Dr. Overley (oncologist) saved and continue to save her life against some pretty tough odds...she is known as the miracle pup. She had a very big surgery and treatment to follow, and then 2 more smaller unrelated surgeries since. After a bout of vestibular disease 2 yrs ago which Dr. Darrin, the neurologist helped her thru, he ordered a cautionary ultra sound which ended up being the reason they discovered a malignant kidney tumor and a non-malignant liver tumor. The kidney had to be removed, followed by well tolerated chemo. Then later on, a small malignant mast cell tumor on Abbis back leg, and more recently, a small non-malignant parathyroid tumor that caused her calcium to go up which caused problems had to be removed. One of the thyroid glands needed to be removed as well as the parathyroid tumor was embedded there. Ironically the lab discovered in that removed thyroid the beginnings of a malignant thyroid tumor, so that is gone now too! Each time Abbi bounces back...shes an incredible trooper! Dr. Puerto and Dr. Overly knew that we suddenly lost Abbis other Mom prior to all of this, my Love and Partner, Laurie who adored Abbi. Abbi took incredible care of me thru that unbearable time, and losing her as well was not an option. There is nothing I wouldnt do for her. These doctors were so kind and sensitive and true to their name, caring and compassionate. They take the time to answer the (MANY) questions I always have at every step of the way. Even Dr. Caniglia, the anesthesiologist took special care to call me, and see me in the waiting area to let me know she also had an older Portie and would take extra special care of Abbi. The support staff, nurses, techs, are all also amazing...some I dont know well, but the oncology staff I do, Brit & Sami. I cannot thank each and every one of you, named and unnamed enough, who show/ed Abbi and me such caring (and PATIENCE!) thru these very difficult events. And the desk staff...I know at times it gets trying dealing with the public when they are anxious and scared. I have been on the other side of that. And they do their best to help you with every question you have and they all get you an answer one way or another. Thank you. All we could do aside from paying our bills, was bring chocolate, cupcakes, fruit for you all, and and a special flower for a truly extraordinary person. I cannot imagine a more skilled and CARING team on the planet...thank you all for giving Abbi and me all this, and more time together. With Love, JJ & Abbi Van Name

JO

Jo Ann Janssen

It has been 33 days now Our little girl Jameson got into my pocket book and ate a mini pad she was 10 1/2 should would of been 11on July 26 (about 8 years ago she had a stone stuck in her colon and had to go to the vet and had fluids and did pass it by the next day )she did get sick and ate a bit and was drinking a little but the next day would not do anything but hide so we took her to Cares when we went in they took her right back the vet took her back to do blood work and take a X-ray .they came back and said there is a blockage in her Small Bowel I asked if I could see the X-ray the doc said they were going to try liquids and meds for her pain there was a chance she would need surgery but she is a OLD DOG but in GOOD HEALTH . So before they would take her back to treat her they needed half of the money . Told us to go home and they would call us in a few hours I called and asked how she was and they said good a few hours went by and they called about 6 and said she is getting worst she needs to have surgery they wanted us up there right away so they could do paper work for the bill for surgery and so we could see Jameson before the surgery the vet said she will be in hospital for about 3 to 5 days I asked the doc if she would be ok and again said she is a OLD DOG but in GOOD HEALTH I was not sure about the surgery because sometimes they dont make it . The doc said it will be about a hour to hour in half for surgery two hours went by and the vet called and said there were complications of her heart Jameson heart rate dropped also they had to call in a board-certified vet in because the first vet could not reattach the lower bowel back together they said it was so damage from what she had ate when it passed when I went up and waited for the BCV to come out and talk to me she said the next 24 hours are critical I asked her what was it that was in the bowel she said there was little debris in there Jameson had passed it . The Vet said go home and well will keep a eye on her all night at 715 am the vet called and said Jameson had a stroke and died . I can go on and on . Needless to say $5.500. Bill And a broken heart . Pls if u go there also have a BCV do surgery on your baby maybe it would of made a difference because Jameson had no heart prob going in there its because she was under to long with the first vet also make sure you have your check book or a credit card to pay with because that was there main concern $$$$$