East York Veterinary Center

Reviews 3

JE

Jen Freed

I took my cats to East York Vet for many years. There were several vets there I liked, but as soon as I would get to know a vet they would leave the practice. I still stayed with East York Vets office because they were more thorough then my previous vet. Then my oldest cat had to stay overnight with what turned out to be a urinary tract infection. Dr. Miller wanted to do multiple other expensive tests (like a thyroid test), and she stressed “because of her age”, not because of her current problem. She wanted to do these tests even though I knew my cat did not have any of those problems. I had a deep connection with this cat and KNEW when something was wrong. That was our relationship – she was part of my family and my friends had said my cat was like my child. I refused to allow the multiple expensive tests and that was the end of the discussion. My cat came home with medication and got over her bladder infection and all was well. Years later the same cat was diagnosed with kidney disease. After the shock set in I realized maybe that was why my cat had urinary problems on and off through part of her life. She was put on five medications, but no info was given about what each one does (aside from the Pepcid AC, which we bought elsewhere), so I found out later during my own research that certain ones needed to be given at least an hour apart. I bought three of the medications regularly at East York Vet, but then one skyrocketed in price for $13 to around $32. I had asked before if that medicine was the same one that could be bought in the drug store, but was told there might be some differences. Even though I was sure this wasn’t true, I continued buying from East York Vet just in case. After the price jumped I insisted on a real answer, and thankfully a young vet was able to tell me, and even show me, that the bottle was indeed the same over-the-counter medicine I could buy elsewhere for much cheaper. That was the last straw. I decided right then I was going to switch vets. Unfortunately, before officially changing vets, my cat went downhill and it was time (she was 17 and a half). Perhaps the staff and doctors have changed, but my problems with the place were greed, constantly waiting (even to pay the bill), under-quoted estimates (one time the difference was over $100), and Dr. Miller herself. I chose that office, even though the prices were higher, because I liked the place, but their prices became a bit ridiculous after the expansion, and Dr. Miller pushed for unnecessary tests. I liked several of the vets who were once there, but the few times I had an appointment with Dr. Miller were enough for me to request another doctor. Just because she volunteers at the SPCA does not make her a good person – it just means she has the time to do it and it makes her look good to society. I now have a vet practice that I like in a small office in Lebanon, (where I now live), and they don’t make me wait forever or overcharge me. My last trip to East York Vet was to pick up my cat’s ashes, and I will never be back.

MI

michelle Lentz

took my elderly cat to be checked out and to see how much it would cost to fix his broken leg. they told me i had two options surgery to put a pin in the upper leg or amputation they worked up an "estimation" on how much it would be for blood work, an exam, and a splint. (I had gotten xrays friday night which was 2 nights before at the emergency vets office) before they would do anything for him they required payment, the diffrence between the low estimate and the high estimate was several hundred dollars, the receptionist was dimwitted and easily distracted, once paid, he was takin care of and when the Dr knew of the results of the blood test she called me and left me know that he had the early signs of kidney failure but if I wanted them to call in the traveling orthopaedic specialist he could still go thru the surgery, I told them to go ahead but I needed to know about what it would cost to fix his leg, they gave me a rough estimate of 1500 to 2500 to put a pin in his upper leg and told me they would let me know for sure the cost as soon as they got ahold of the specialist, the next evening (monday night) im already in bed for work when she calls and lets a message saying they could do the surgery the next day and the estimate jumped up to 2500 - 3000, and thats when they started pushing the amputation option. they told me Id would take several more sedations to take out the external pins, and multiple sedations in an older cat is not good on there systems. Ok besides there late weekly and weekend hours thats where the good stops about this place. I got a second opinion from a vet that the spca had recommended, I had East York fax his records over to the new vet and dropped off his xrays for their in-house orthopaedic surgeon to look at I was told again he needed a pin again and at the most it would cost 1500 to fix, and there would be no external pins. i make the appointment and when he goes in for his surgery 5 days later they did blood work again to make sure nothing changed. they called me and told me if they did the surgery my cat would of died. he was severly anemic and his kidney levels were extremely low. when I picked him up the Dr wanted to speak to me and show me the results from east York and from them, after doing this I asked them if East York would of did the surgery or amputation at the levels he was just a week before would he have died? they told me if he didnt die during the surgery it would of been soon after. unfortunatly the new vet did say because of his levels there is nothing they can do for him but keep him comfortable and gave him a month or so to live. but that could of been cut short if i left East York do the surgery and I would of been left to pay a $3000 bill, so yeah dont take your furbaby here they are very money hungry and wont even try to work with you if you dont have the money for a procedure like this, and they hold information from you that in my case could of been between life and death. if I could of given anything lower than 1 star I would of, these people make me sick!

NO

Not Telling

So, why is there no certified techs at east york vet clinic? It kind of worries me, because I know that the nurses and techs handle/distribute meds to my animals. And I was curious about the different scrubs worn (this is important). Apparently they use different scrub colors to designate departments. Completely understandable. But, are my animals not worthy of a nurse or vet? Im not boarding my animals, so why are the ladies in the brown scrubs, which is the animal care department, handling my animal for a medical visit? Im not sure about other places, but Im pretty sure that animal care, contrary to its name, has no medically trained personnel. They are animal sitters. They care for the ones staying while were on vacation. Im very thankful for that, but shouldnt a nurse or vet take my animals for the medical visit? What is this? Next youll tell me that the receptionist is performing surgery. Are the nurses that incompetent that they need the babysitters to do their jobs? This highly worries me. And I have read the other reviews about the lack of professionalism with the staff. Now, I cant say that I have witnessed everything, but I am pretty sure that I would lose my job if I sat there playing with my cell phone all day. Seriously, what is this. If it wasnt for the fact that Patton in red lion was changing staff like underwear, Id take my babies there. Bigger kennels, higher fence so the neighbors dogs cant harass mine. And cheaper, too. How does anything get done properly if the ladies in brown scrubs have to do it all. If they are skilled enough to do the jobs that the nurses are supposed to do, maybe you should switch their positions. And rethink your ability to run a business.