VCA New Kent Animal Hospital

Reviews 3

HE

Heather Sours

this place has gone down hill. I was a client of New Kent Vet for 7 years, up until 3 years ago I felt it was friendly, caring and truly about the interest of the animal. On Jul2, 2014 my cocker spaniel was taken in as he had what appeared to be a severe abcess on his lower right mouth. I was hesitant in taking him there again because the last time I took him there for an emergency visit two years ago I was highly insulted by the front office. Prior to that visit I had a bank error and a check problem, but I called them myself first and made good of the payment as soon as I knew there was a problem. This included the original amount I owed and there return check fee. Then upon checking out the next time after being there for an emergency visit, the receptionist informed me I could not write a check. Now this I found to be strange since I only had a problem one time with them, and I was the one who went to them and made the situation good. Well, too bad for them that day as check was all that I had and yes it was fine. Well now I go again against my better judgement because I feel like this place is nothing but about money money money. They take my dog back into clinical area and leave me out front in waiting room. I sit there about 15 minutes and then take me to exam room where I sit without my dog waiting to hear from vet. The doctor then appears with two pieces of paper in her hand. Both are estimates of treatment, now mind you I have yet to see my dog again and she tells me he needs various medications, but does not know anymore than he may have an infection. So I love my dog and feel so desperate at this time that I leave him in hopes that I will be back later to get him . They call a little later and state meds are not working and now want to add another $125 for blood work on top of the already estimate of $317, so I say yes because I want to know what is wrong. The day goes on and finally at 5pm I get a call that I either need to pick him up and take him to Cary Streeet emergency vet, that he needs additional treatment even though the meds he has been on all day have done nothing and they say they have sent information to Cary street. I call them and to no surprise they have nothing from my vet. My husband and daughter go to vet to get him as now all I want is to take him elsewhere of my choice since no one can competently make a medical decision. When they get there doctor is very rude, gets agitated with my husband because he is asking sensible questions as to the future of the treatment and if it can help. The doctor makes a rude comment and states " Well is he your family member or just a dog", how insensitive. Unfortunately we make the decision to let him go since we are not able to financially take on any more and we are basically told they dont know either the prognosis. The doctor then asks next insensitive question, "Do you want to be present? , if you stay its an additional $60.00". No compassion for the pet or the owner, their only driving compassion is MONEY. Do not take your pet here unless you enjoy donating to someone else cause. They will try to up sell you on EVERYTHING. In closing let me also state the final blow to the stomach, when my husband said yes to take care of him, they then said, "well before we put him down you need to pay, we are closing in 15 minutes" AN IN HUMANE AND INSENSITIVE PLACE. STAY AWAY.

ST

Stephanie Bergman

Ive been going here for years. As I live in Charles City County I have tried vets in Williamsburg and Richmond, but found the service and affordability of the New Kent clinic far better than most--at least until my visit today. I have two dogs and also have worked at a dog rescue for over 4 years, so I am knowledgeable about dogs and their ailments. Yesterday I noticed one of my dogs had copious amount of eye discharge and was squinting. I was worried she had an eye injury or infection so I made an appointment at New Kent for the next day. I also was a bit behind on taking them to the vet, but living and working at a dog rescue Ive always had access to their flee and tick treatment, heart worm, and other common preventive meds. When I called to make their appointment I told them I wanted my one dog to have her eye examined for possible injury and both for rabies shots. When I got there I was put in a room immediately and then waited over 30 mins for the vet to come. She quickly looked at both--ears, eyes, gums, and checked their heartbeats. She explained the eye could be a lot of different problems and she would get an estimate of the tests she wanted done and left. She didnt clean it, didnt examine it for a foreign object, didnt flush it. About 20 mins after she left a tech came in with estimates for BOTH. They charged me for annual check ups (I NEVER requested such things, just wanted them both to get rabbies vaccines--I brought them in before for this without so much as an appointment and certainly not a $40 fee per dog), and requested $270 in tests just to determine why my dog was experiencing increase discharge and a swollen eye for less than the past 4 hours. When I explained I could not nearly afford that I was then lectured about how my dog could go blind which really just made me want to cry. I dont currently work and am in grad school and would give everything I have for my dogs but I cannot believe I paid $120 to get 2 rabbies vaccines and to hear my dogs eye was not good. SERIOUSLY? And almost another $300 to find out what is wrong with it/ not even treatment? How hard would it be to just clean it up and look at it closely to rule out basic issues? Swab the discharge to check for bacteria? Instead Im lectured over glaucoma and cornea ulcers. Seeing as this came on so suddenly Im more pressed to think allergies or a scratch! Maybe Im crazy but some antibiotic eye drops or steroid drops and I figured this would not be a problem?? Cleaning with saline and watching it over the next couple days, and giving her benadryl to rule out allergies. If it does not get better Im not taking her back to New Kent! Also, my other dog was very ill a few years ago. Anemic and internal bleeding, wouldnt eat and was listless. Brought her to New Kent. Paid $1200 in tests and they NEVER found out what was wrong with her. She finally just got better, thank god.

JO

Joel Williams

Not only would I never take any of my living animals back to this place, I would not take a dead opossum that I scraped up off the road to this place. I took my Rottweiler to be put to sleep at this facility and the first thing I told them was not to touch her muzzle and not to touch her feet. The first thing the attendant did was try to get her by the neck and Abby bit her. Then the doctor came out and said that she would have to cut her head off and send it off to be analyzed even though I had a current rabies tag and a current county dog tag which you cannot get without a current rabies tag. Then after they finally put her to sleep, I had to wait around on animal control. I explained the situation and he said they misunderstood his order totally. The place even had the current rabies certificate faxed from her normal doctor. Needless to say, it was not a good experience and all of this while my wife was laying in ICU at the hospital. They gladly took my $403 for private cremation though and who knows what I will get back for that. Once I do get her ashes back, they will never see me again or any of my animals EVER. My advice to you is to SPEED past this place and find another doctor for the good of your animal and yourself.