The Cove - Center of Veterinary Expertise

Reviews 4

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Rena Woodell

Very heartless experience. My grand babys 4 month old puppy was hit by a hit and run. We brought her to this hospital stat. They met us at the door and I told them she was hit. They said 3 to 5 hundred dollars for pain med, iv, and ex-ray, we said ok. We had that amount on us in cash. We waited in waiting room. They came back in about half an hour and said she was critical, she had no broken bones, no injuries to her back, she was hyperventilating and had a pneumothorax which is air in lungs. They said, they need to relieve pressure off her lung and it will cost another 2 hundred dollars. So we thought ok do that and we can be billed for that. About another hour went by and they came back out and said, originally she was to stay overnight depending on her situation, from an overnight stay to about 3 or 4 days, we will have to keep her to make sure her lungs heal up and she receives her medicine. I said ok thatll be good and it will give us time to get more money. She said you can apply for a care credit card. I did but was rejected, because my job folded under and my credit needs repaired. Anyhow, she said we will have to do another option and I said whats that, well you need to sign this medical paper for treatment, so I did. Here I was to upset to read it and distraught, crying, wasnt paying attention and it was euthanasia. I was so up set and distraught that I didnt know what I was signing. I said now what, she said we will euthanize her because you dont want us to do any further treatments. I was shocked and said what are you talking about. She said, we will need another 2000.00 dollars to continue to treat her and you said, you dont want us to. I said I want her to be treated but you have to bill me the rest. I only have 500.00 dollars. You are telling me you cant treat her unless your are paid up front. wth is wrong with you people. Your suppose to try your best to save her she is just a puppy. I kept saying I want to see her, I want to be with her, I want to take her to another veterinarian that will treat her and work with me. This happened 4/15/2017 Saturday Easter Weekend. They would not let me go see her nor be with her while they euthanized her nor they will not give me her remains till everything is paid. So this company is not about the love of animal its about the MONEY. Now my little grandbaby is still crying her heart out. Her papa and I have custody of her and we are veterans and we cannot afford another puppy. Bambi would have lived if they treated her . We still cannot bring her home and bury her. Never again will I ever use this Hospital.

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Brenda Mosley

This use to be a vet I loved because of the compassion and how good the doctors were. ( Dr. Smalls) Those days are LONG gone. Now instead of compassion it is all about the money. First example a lady was in with her dog who had been attacked by another dog. She was crying because he had little funds. The dog needed meds and a e-collar. She could not afford the meds so they took them right out of her hands and left to go into the back. They did not even try and lower her bill, work with her or anything. She couldnt afford the e-collar which I know is super cheap for the vet to buy. Obviously the collar can not be used on another dog but right there they snatched the e-collar and took it in the back where they will have to throw it away. After 2 hours of a family dog being there because he was attacked by another dog they finally call us back. They didnt shave and clean any of the wounds in the 2 hours we were waiting. The doctor was the worst I have ever had to deal with. No bedside manner, beyond rude, and spoke to us like we were idiots. I will not post her full name but it starts with a F. Came in and said the dog would need a $6000.00 dollar surgery and another costly surgery in 5 weeks. While this is going on they would not even let us speak to the doc who would be performing the surgery not in person or by phone. We ended up having to put the dog to sleep. At this time their only worry of payment kicked in "before we put the dog down will you go ahead and pay." The over all experience was horrible. Long gone are the days of caring for the animal and being compassionate. Overall not happy with the service, the doctor, and the treatment of the people who are bringing a family member in as well as the treatment of the animal. THE MONEY SHOULD NOT BE MORE IMPORTANT THEn THE ANIMAL OR FAMILY!

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Jeff S

I went to Dr Fox, who is a very nice lady, very kind. Dr Fox is touted as a dentist by THE COVE, but she is really a resident in dentistry and not yet a full-fledged dentist at this time, which they will tell you if you specifically ask. My cat was dying with mouth cancer. Dr Fox said she was certain it was mouth cancer and that the cat would only live a few months (2 other vets confirmed this by their exams). Still, Dr Fox was very much in favor of doing a biopsy of the cancer to prove what it was in spite of the fact that the biopsy would bleed and cause stress to my cat without really prolonging his life; it had the potential of causing pain for a while (weeks?) after the biopsy. I did not want my cat to have to live his final days suffering from a biopsy when the only option after that would be radical surgery which would neither cure the condition nor prolong his life (and make him miserable). The COVE eventually sold me a narcotic for my cats cancer pain at $32 for 1.0 ml of buprenorphone. For a renewal, I went to The Dog and Cat Hospital of Ghent, where they charged me $6 for 1.5 ml (COST 5 TIMES LESS FOR 50% MORE MEDICINE). I then finally realized that The COVE was most interested in money and wanted to do a biopsy for $800-1000 which would have been totally unnecessary. Dr Fox was kind and seemed competent, but I would not recommend them as any better than a local vet, for example, than The Dog and Cat Hospital of Ghent, which was much less expensive in every way and compassionate and fairly competent as well. I would avoid THE COVE if you can-- they will bill you heavily and try to scare you into doing unneeded procedures, which is where the money is.

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PHYLLIS GARRETT

I am very familiar with The Cove because Dr. Small, who is a cardiologist, did a magnificent job of taking care of my previous poodle. The staff at The Cove is caring, loving, welcoming, and is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your pet. I have a new puppy who was coughing and gagging and I was concerned that she may have something caught in her throat. When I called The Cove, the receptionist remembered me and my poodle who had recently died and was excited that I had gotten a new puppy. I described my puppys cough and she told me to bring her in. When I got there the nurse immediately took us to an exam room and took my puppys vitals, and I was given an estimate of the cost of the treatment. The nurse and doctor suspected that my dog had kennel cough from my description of her cough to the receptionist, so they wore protective garments to prevent transmitting my puppys kennel cough to other patients. The exam verified their suspicions. The doctor prescribed a cough suppressant and an antibiotic, and x-rays were taken to establish a base line because the breed is very susceptible to trachea collapse. As is always their procedure, a nurse called me several days later to check on my pet. The care a pet receives at The Cove is second to none. I wish that they also offered primary care because there is not a veterinary hospital to compare with The Cove. I have had nine dogs and have been to many veterinary hospitals in Virginia, South Carolina, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Florida and The Cove is definitely the best.

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