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11/8/23 |
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I would be giving this place zero or minus stars. Years ago the experience I and another person had with this place was the worst any pet owner could imagine. I had hoped that, over the years, it would have changed for the better. Not the case. Do your research in advance of any emergency so you know what options are and can call other places. If your own vet refers you to this place, there are other good specialists and other emergency clinics perhaps they could refer you to those or you can make an informed decision as to what is best for your pet.
Staff might be less than happy with how things are but might not have any choice as to what the priorities are.
Would be difficult working with animals which are suffering and have to avoid expressions of love or compassion, when your nature is to do the exact opposite, but have to avoid so as to not waste any time on such types of things. With love, in memory of our beloved family members who cannot speak for themselves.
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5/4/23 |
3 |
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I do not recommend bringing your pets here. Dr Doug Mason, I don't think he's knowledgeable of what he is doing. And also, if they suggested they have to do some test on your pets, ask to see the results of the test to make sure they did the tests. These test are not cheap.
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7/14/21 |
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3 |
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I honestly don’t comment a lot but I had the worst experience here with A doctor mentioned here. The clinic kept asking for more and more money down upfront saying our dog’s life was in danger, do more procedures, and to keep him hospitalized. I was terrified and asked a few questions and the attitude I got was extremely curt and lacked compassion. After thousands of dollars we took our dog home because we honestly couldn’t afford it anymore and he told me that he wanted me to know if our dog died it would be on me. I cried my eyes out and took our dog home. Miraculously he did fine at home and is alive and well today. I would never take my dog here again, regardless of the medical abilities their attitude towards their patients just makes the whole experience honestly kind of traumatic.
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8/11/20 |
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4 |
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GOD, I hate Dr. Doug Mason. I've had pets why whole life, so I've dealt with a lot of vets. Dr. Mason has THE WORST bedside manor I've ever encountered. Over the course of my time with him, he chronically gave me conflicting information (eg. the most important thing is to recover from fatty liver, so let the cat eat whatever it wants ... a year later he was yelling at me about how much weight the cat had put on. I put the cat on a diet, and a year later he was yelling at me about how much weight she had LOST, despite her being perfectly healthy!!). He also gave me NOT ENOUGH information. When my pet became diabetic, he did a blood test and then dumped me outside with a vet tech who showed me ONCE how to do an insulin shot. Absolutely NO time was taken to explain the complications of diabetes, symptoms to watch out for, nothing. And the worst part of it all is that he hated when I asked questions, and yelled, actually raised his voice at me, when he thought I did something wron
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3/13/18 |
3 |
5 |
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Dr. Doug Mason is an exceptional internal medicine specialist, the best in the country. He saved my dog's life more than once, when two other IMS's at another facility had given up. He and his staff have been excellent. Dr. Brendon Ringwood is again, an exceptional surgeon. I've unfortunately had very negative encounters with his staff, which is the only reason I downgraded the staff to a 3 rating. I've also dealt with the ICU staff numerous times when my dog had to be under their care and found them excellent. I'm also grateful that they allow you to visit your dog anytime and for as long as you want when they have to stay there. Equipment is top notch and this is clearly a great pet hospital. It's unfortunate that some of the staff can ruin the experience for pet owners.
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8/27/15 |
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2 |
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The first time I went to the VEC south was because my dog had bloody diarrhea and would not eat.It was the middle of the night and I believed this place was my only option.I rushed him there, with a stool sample.After waiting, for an hour, they began into their worst case scenario prognosis that I know them for.They did X-Rays,put him on an IV and held him overnight, claiming he had something lodged in his stomach.I stayed overnight in the waiting room, refusing to leave.They told me we could wait to see if he could pass it naturally, but recommended immediate surgery.As it was getting closer to my vets regular hours I opted to wait to speak with him.Shortly after I said that they said he had passed it and I could take him home if he could keep down food, which he did.After paying them $3600 he continued to have bloody diarrhea at home. I went directly to my vet, who actually did a stool test, proving it to be parasites. I doubt he ever had anything lodged in his stomach at all!
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10/23/13 |
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I brought my healthy dog in for knee surgery two weeks ago and he died 9 days later from severe pneumonia. He also suffered abrasions and cuts to 3 of his 4 paws from being at this "clinic" as well. The staff were basically negligent in providing pre and post care after the operation or conduct thorough and accurate diagnosis of complications that developed. They falied to take proper measures that could have saved him. They were more interested in releasing him to make room for more business. Please avoid this place at all costs (speaking of costs, its absurdly high, especially when your pet dies from their care, or lack of.)
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11/1/12 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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This Veterinary Emergency Clinic is the worst.The doctor's I had to deal with - the oncologist (cancer specialist) and one of the internal medicine vets, their attitudes were absolutely disgusting. They should learn to treat people with respect. I gave them thousands and thousands of dollars for their services and I received nothing but disrespect from both the doctors and most of the employees.
If you can find another vet clinic with the specialities you need I would advise you to go elsewhere. (I decided to go to the University of Guelph).
After sharing my experience with other people, I learned I was not the only one who went through a horrible experience with this clinic. Please be warned.
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1/23/12 |
4 |
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I brought my rabbit here in an emergency because my vet's was closed. The intake was quick and efficient; the staff polite, straightforward, and respectful. The exam room, however, had blood on the walls and floor and fur everywhere. It was disgusting. After examining my rabbit and discussing treatment, the vet left with my rabbit saying "I just have to weigh him." I was left alone for 45 minutes! I had no idea what was going on and nothing to do but look at the blood on the walls. I poked my head out at one point but no one was around. Finally we left, but not before paying a massive bill. Also, they wouldn't dispense any drugs. My rabbit needed pain meds, gut motility meds, and hydration to tide him over before seeing the vet in the morning, so my options were to leave him at the VEC overnight (at a MASSIVE cost, and lots of stress for my bunny), or take him home after a single dose of each med. I took him home but this is far from ideal. I hope I never have to go here again!
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9/22/11 |
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I had a horrible experience with this clinic. In fact, I made a formal complaint to the College of Veterinarians, which more people should do(They were not found negligent by the college). I brought my cat in to remove a few teeth, which I was reassured was a simple procedure. She had problems breathing when I brought her home. They told me to bring her back. They ran test after test making me think it was necessary to find out. They really take advantage of your emotional situation. Well after $3000 and they couldn't determine the reason, my cat recovered on her own. Looks like it was the tracheal tube that they used during the surgery had caused irritation. Couldn't they had offered that as a possibility, instead strongly suggesting that I go ahead with $500+ tests. I really felt like I had been taken advantage of.
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2/26/11 |
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We took our six month old kitten to the south clinic for her spay and a liver biopsy, she was referred here because she had a bad reaction to the anesthetic. $150 just for consultation. Then the estimate for this procedure was going to be anywhere from $3500 to 5000. Thank Gods we have insurance. Or at least I thought. As soon as front of house staff heard that we didn't have the cash for a full deposit its like they stopped listening. Despite having pre approval, we were treated like crap, never getting anyone who knew their job, with the exception of one girl who worked in the back. The front of house staff are a bunch of idiots. The doctors are great as far as we could tell. But if you've got insurance be prepared for a headache with these twits. The only notes on our file happened when we asked them to file another claim to cover the meds they gave us, and that was to NOT file the claim until they received full payment.Unless you have the cash, don't take your pet here.
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2/14/11 |
2 |
5 |
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I went to VEC last year for a CT on my dog. He was treated for a fungal infection. Cost = $3000. I was told that from then on I have to see my reg. vet & my dog will need occasional antibiotics. I called VEC a month later to let them know that my dog was still showing symptoms. I received a rude call telling me to go see my reg. vet. An email to the vet stating my concern was ignored. According to instructions, my dog was on occasional antibiotics. Ten months later, he started bleeding from his nose & was rushed to an emergency clinic. $1000 to stabilise. The next day was transferred to VEC. I was told (different vet) I never should have taken him elsewhere for this problem. I admitted him for a CT. He suffered V-Tach, and another bleed and required a blood transfusion. Vet couldn't tell me anything from the CT. He examined the CT, grinning! "I don't have time to got through scenarios" he said. $7100. Dog didn't survive. The vet was extremely rude to me! No compassion!
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1/18/11 |
3 |
5 |
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After having two experiences with VEC, I have to question the ethics and it's pricing. My first experience the vet was able to diagnose my older dying cat with lymphoma and that the cancer had moved into his brain. Though it was clear he was too far gone to proceed with chemo, I felt pressured by the vet to put my already suffering cat through expensive and painful chemo, even though I was told if he managed to survive it would come back anyway in a year maybe two. Does this make any ethical sense? My second experience with a young cat is after breaking it's leg and needing 5000.00 dollar surgery from VEC, to repair it I was told my other option was to amputate the leg with any regular vet. On my own I found a vet willing and more then able for less then half the cost quoted by VEC to do the surgery. I find it shocking that VEC would rather amputate a leg then give a referral that could save it. Though I was happy with the care for my cat while he was there. Naturally it was $$$
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10/13/10 |
1 |
3 |
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I do believe that this hospital may exploit an owner's affection/ attachment to their pet. My budgie went in because she had a prolapse. Dr.X said that they continuously need to push it back in, they also continuosly anaesthetized her. I was worried sick out of my mind and when i spoke to the vet, she gave the impression that there was a possibility that my bird could die if I did not do all that they recommended. By the way, she thought it was egg binding occuring as she saw the xray- it was actually my birds gizzard- there was no egg as the vet at links road cleared up. Anyway 3 nights (long weekend), $1800 and much grief later i took her to Links Road Animal and Bird clinic and guess what? She came home that very day with me after her prolapse was pushed in PROPERLY and it did not come back out. I would say to bird owner, as my experience came from, BEWARE of this place; I was led to believe that the vet actually knew more than she did.
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11/1/09 |
1 |
4 |
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I brought my cat here because she was limping. The orthopeodic surgeon looked at her walking then looked at the xray from my clinic and said he didn't see any reason why she should be limping and disbelieved me even since she wasn't limping there due to her adrenaline being so high. A year later when I brought her to another referral clinic for something else, the vet there took other xrays and said 'do you know you cat's knees are shot'. This was a year later, so my poor cat had to go without any pain medication because the jerk/specialist at the VEC didn't figure out that the xrays he had did NOT INCLUDE THE KNEES.
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9/4/08 |
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1 |
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My dog was diagnosed with Lymphoma and they kept pushing me to pay $5,000 for chemotherapy. They said that they had a vial of medicine that was expensive, but that a cat was getting half of it. The vial only lasts for 24 hours after it's been opened. So they offered to sell it to me at 'half price'. But, they were actually selling me HALF A DOSE AT FULL PRICE! AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO THROW OUT! THEY WERE NOT GIVING ME A DISCOUNT! INSTEAD, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET PAID TWICE FOR ONE MEDICATION! Anyhow, my dog has since passed away and I hope to never have to go there again.
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7/17/07 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
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100% recommended if your pet needs help! Dr. Mason was absolutely AMAZING with my cat and I cannot thank him enough for dealing with my pushiness and crying etc! My cat should have died and thanks to his knowledge and concern, I have a bad 2yr old little boy who is healthier than a horse and were loving every minute of it. I seriously CANNOT thank him enough and if my cat every needs him again I hope he'll take me as a client LOL! *I tip my hat for Dr. Mason* Thank you so much for saving my little boy.
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