Hillside Veterinary Hospital

Reviews 4

AL

Alisa Bradshaw

I only write reviews when I have a great experience or a terrible experience somewhere. In this instance, I felt it was important to warn pet owners to pay attention to the bad reviews of this place more than the positive reviews. Please read the entirety of my review, because I just want to make sure youre doing your research of where to bring your best furry friends because we care about them SO much! I took my 1 yr old yellow lab, Charlie, here because she was throwing up and had major blood in her stool. I knew something more was wrong than just a minor stomach upset. The vet took an HOUR to come into the stuffy room that they put us in. I went out and asked an assistant when the vet would be coming in because my dog was not doing well. She was surprised that the vet hadnt come in yet. She said, "Oh, she hasnt been in yet? Huh. Ill go ask her to come see you." In about 20 min. the vet finally came in and gave Charlie an exam. She said that it was probably just a stomach upset and the blood was coming from her raw skin. I told her that I would like a possible giardia test. She said "Oh thats a good idea." I asked her if it wasnt giardia what would we do from there. She said that to run more tests would cost a fortune so to just give her some pills to stop the diarrhea and nausea. I mentioned that a stool sample would be good but she said that it wouldnt be possible to get one. At this point I was really bothered by the fact that I had to bring up solutions to cure my dog. They ran the giardia test eventually and I was told that we could check out. I had to ASK them to give me the results of the giardia test. It was negative. They sent me home with some pills and some dog food. $250 later, I was asked to go out the back door because she was considered "contagious". They obviously knew something more was wrong with her. I take charlie home and she doesnt get any better after a few days. I took her to another vet and they took a simple stool sample and WOW they found out what was wrong! It was a parasite that was wreaking havoc in her body. Not only that she had passed it somehow to my other Black lab Lucy. So I had to bring both of them for treatment. So moral of the story? If you want to have a thorough checkup of your pet dont go here. Id love some sort of a refund for my wasted time and the possibility of my dog becoming extremely sick to the point of losing her? Negligence is what it is! I hope this review will warn others to not take your pet here! Please!

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CH

Charlie Ward

Our experience with Hillside Veterinary Hospital has been stellar over years of patronship. Many years ago, (on a recommendation from a friend) our animals began seeing Dr. Kaye Brown. Dr. Brown gave our lab/pit mix great care for years and ultimately provided a very peaceful and humane experience when her life came to a sad but expected end. Beside Dr. Brown we have seen most of the other staff at Hillside including Dr. Michelle Schilling. We repeatedly were impressed with her knowledge and by the honest care Dr. Schilling provided to our animals; ultimately we began asking for Dr. Schilling exclusively. She not only is one of the most skilled animal practitioners we have worked with, she is also kind and caring. We believe animals can sense much in humans which we miss. Our little dogs (we work with a chihuahua rescue society) trust and feel safe with Michelle. Every time we brought in oldest chihuahua, Dr. Schilling would say, "I just love this dog"; we knew she was not putting on a show, because, for this animal in particular, the feeling was obviously mutual. Our sweet little girl recently passed away at home. Dr. Schilling and the staff of Hillside walked us through the mourning process comforting us as they too (honestly) mourned her loss. The staff even gave us a thoughtful expression of sympathy by making a donation to Best Friends Animal Society in her memory. Going to the Vet can be an extremely stressful event for our pets. The staff sees them only on their (and subsequently OUR) worst days. I can not imagine how difficult it must be to see animals suffering day in and day out. I strongly believe that these people are saints. Even though they possess special talents needed to do their work, I also know, from experience, that they are not all equal to Dr. Schilling and her staff. Hillside Veterinary Hospital is nearly a half-hour drive from our home. And even though its a complete pain to have to drive past so many other (likely skilled) vets, I will not go anywhere else. For as long as we are able to keep rescuing and fostering animals, our home will remain full of animal companions. Likewise, Dr. Schilling will remain our Vet; she has earned our trust and respect. I highly recommend Dr. Michelle Schillinger and Hillside Animal Hospital.

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A Private User

We have been going to Hillside for 2 years. We have a 2 year old beagle boy and now a 3 month old beagle girl. We had a great experience with our boy - we only had to have routine shots & checkups with him. Our girl is a different story. We had her spayed at Hillside on 4/30/2010. When we picked her up they did not give us any e-collar because they indicated she had not tried to go for her incision in the recovery room. The next day we had to go out and buy an e-collar so that she would not be tempted to lick the incision & so that we would not have to be constantly watching her. They told us that the stitches were buried - the incision itself just looked like skin sticking together. Four days after the surgery (5/4/2010), her incision started to bleed. We pressed down on it with tissue and it stopped after a few minutes. It was late at night so we just decided to keep an eye on it through the night & the next day. This afternoon (5/5/2010) we looked at her incision and it was open - it was like the sutures were unraveling. It was open far enough that we could see part of her abdominal wall. We immediately called our vet & after 20 minutes of calling and getting a voicemail stating that they were in a staff meeting we decided to just take matters in our own hands and take our girl to an emergency vet - Mountain View Animal Hospital. They put in staples to hold her incision shut and gave us antibiotics for her to take so that she will not get an infection. They also provided an e-collar for her. Thank goodness we took her in because now she will be okay. We will absolutely not be going back to Hillside Veterinary Clinic. Our pets are like our children - a sentiment I am sure many of you can relate to - this experience has painted the clinic in a very bad light for us. I would absolutely not trust this clinic with any pet surgery - especially spaying or neutering.

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A Private User

I am very disappointed. NEVER take your pet here. Ive been here twice. This last time I took my dog in for an ear infection. He scratched hi ears so bad that he bleed all over the car seat. Let me just Sum it up. 1. Took the dog in and the assistant knowing my dog was in for an ear infection, squeezed his ears as she petted him. Ofcourse my dog yelped. Honest mistake, so it was forgiven. 2. To Vet came in Dr. Jessica Bienapfl and DID NOT even touch my dog. No petting, no running her hand over his coat, NOTHING. 3. She asked me to pick my dog up and put him on the table and hold my dog down and hold up his ears as she swabbed it. Then she threw my dog his treats. Nope, not hand it to my dog, threw it. 4. She didnt look in his ears. Didnt check if there are foreign objects in his ears or if the internal ears integrity is compromised by the excessive scratching and bleeding. NOTHING, just a swab. 5. She came back 10 minutes later and told me to hold my dog down as she DARTED him with a needle. A needle of what I asked as she injected . . . steroids . . . .Oh, thanks for asking me first. 6. Did I mention that she didnt touch my dog when she stuck him with the needle, she just threw it like a dart to my dogs butt. Not only did my dog flinched, I flinched. 7. Over a hundred dollars later on a SWAB and $45 of meds, I left and had to call my dogs primary vet to find out if I can mix the meds I was prescribed. and guess what ....NO. I can not mix this medication with the dosage prescribed, and since she never checked on the integrity of my dogs ear drum, I shouldnt even be putting in the drops which could cause permanent hearing loss. If you love your pet, DO NOT take them here. Its not the cost, but the professionalism, the love of animals, and the knowledge this vet lack.

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