Animal Emergency & Critical Care of Lynchburg

Buyer Beware! Order on line, hours later no pizza delivery, Credit card chargedThen 4, YES FOUR WEEKS -THAT'S LIKE ONE MONTH still no refundWhat's worse is this is the 2nd time this has happened! Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on meNo communication or attempt on the part of ownership/management to make amends or retain me as a customer! Too bad I am sure I spend over $per year! Never another dime from me or anyone I know if I can "Yelp it"!

Review: My dog was taken to this vet on October 6, 2013 with c/o hacking and not eating. Was taken to the emergency clinic where she was checked out, blood work taken, etc. We were told it was probably allergies. She was given a antibiotic and injected with fluids for possible dehydration. The area that was injected was on her right side. A few days passed and we noticed the area where the injection was giving was not closing and there was a know under the skin. We checked area and some pus came out. We continued to check area thinking it would go down but on 4/17/13 the area still had not improved and was oozing pus/blood. We called the Emergency Vet back to see if this was normal and of course we had to take her back in. The first visit costed me $270.00. I thought this visit would be a no charge visit since she was just seen a few weeks prior. Well need less to say I was charged once again for the same diagnosis...This trip costed me $116.00. Of course I was furious. My dog had a worm that had made its way to the site of injection. According to the Dr. this parasite could have been what was making her cough, and just so happen to come out at the site they injected. I find this hard to believe. So now I have another dr visit, exam, and 2 more medicines again. I think the vets are raping people.. It costs less money to take my children to the dr instead of a pet. THIS IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY !!! Something needs to be done.Desired Settlement: Money refunded on a f/u visit. that was the fault of the vet.

Business

Response:

10/31/13ID: 9769211 To whom it may concern- This particular person brought her dog to our fílity the morning of 10/6/13 for what she described asvomiting or dry heaving. Examination showed mild dehydration and painful throat with a dry cough. Simple bloodwork was performed to determine kidney and liver function prior to starting medicines. She was treated for pharyngitis with fluids, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories and was sent home. We called the owner at 5:51pm on 10/9/13 to check on the dog and was told by the owner that she “seems to be doing good. The next day after she left here, she seemed to be back to her old self." Sometime after that phone call the owner noticed some discharge from a wound and waited until 10/17/13 (over a week later) to contact us. We recommended she bring her back in and she was diagnosed with a Cuterebra larvae infestation. This is an opportunistic infection of the dog caused by the rabbit bot fly. This is a totally unrelated problem from the original complaint. The wound from the larvae was cleaned and the dog put on antibiotics again. Because these were two different problems that were separated by over a week she was charged for an exam each time; which is our standard procedure. The first problem resolved with treatment, and the second problem hopefully did too (we have not talked to the client after the complaint). We are not rapists or robbers. If it costs this lady less money to take her children to the doctor it is because someone else is subsidizing her visit-insurance, the state, or federal government. Unfortunately for most people a trip to the vet reflects the true cost of treatment, not your copay. We categorically deny her accusations and believe that the treatment and diagnoses given we correct and appropriate. I would suggest she find another emergency hospital to see in the future as we wilt deny her service if she comes back here. Sincerely, Joseph N Harper III DVM

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear First of all, I have had this dog for several years and have never had this problem with her before. When I returned to the clinic for them to look at her again the dr stated that the parasite could have been traveling thru is why she had the cough. The dog came home with a large hole in her side from where they had administered fluids. I am not sure of what gauge needle they used but the hole remained open, so we kept it clean and thought that it was normal and would close soon. After several days of this "hole" remaining open and a knot under the skin is when we contacted the clinic back again, and explained the situation and they advised to bring her back in. which I did and they therefore claimed that this was a seperate incidence. I find that hard to believe when the same area that the injection was given is the same area that the parasite was. As far as going back to this clinic, They were told before I left the office that I would not ever return again. This office is a joke. I will not recommend them to anyone Regards,[redacted]