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10/11/24 |
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VRCC does not provide actual 24-hour critical care veterinary care as they advertise. In fact, their vets only assess patients once per day in the morning. VRCC's overnight shift vets do NOT monitor ICU patients and will not provide any updates, so it is actually a 12-hour care facility. When I called to check on my pet during the overnight shift, I was told that the overnight vets only assess and treat new, incoming patients and do provide any care or monitoring for previously admitted patients. The only active veterinary care happens from 7am - 7pm. My terrier had sudden onset acute respiratory distress and was transferred to VRCC from another practice, because she needed a cardiology assessment. She was admitted to VRCC's ICU and was there for 28 hours, before they assessed whether her lung condition was getting any worse, even when it was boldly obvious that she was in severe pain and her chest was filling with fluid.
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7/31/12 |
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Although I rate certain individual specialists very highly (Dr. Nuhsbaum, Dr. Loyer, Dr. Sanderson), all of my experiences with the emergency services practice (CEVS) have been negative ones. I just spent almost $300 for an exam fee, blood work, and medication without actually receiving any kind of concrete diagnosis. When I called to talk to the vet, I was told that "it was not an option". I followed up with my vet the next day, who actually physically examined my dog (palpated his entire body) and discovered an enlarged spleen. She recommended an ultrasound, which revealed a large inoperable adrenal mass. Since the prognosis was very poor, I chose to end his life. If I had not sought follow-up care, Ben would have suffered needlessly before dying. Should I get another pet, i will never use their emergency services again.
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10/4/11 |
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Took dog in for what I thought was a minor problem, Nuhsbaum ended up informing me he probably would need his eye removed. Within minutes of getting this shocking news I had an estimate shoved in my face of the cost. NO compassion. Did zero diagnostics to make this pronouncement, all she did was look at it. (Vet I switched to dilated pupils to get a better look and took an ultrasound.) Had seen her at satellite location, ended up having to drive 90 minutes each way to get a digital photo taken of the eye, because according to her the camera equipment was "too bulky to transport". It ended up being just a slightly large camera.. smaller than the kind you see the pros using. Prices are 2-3x higher than the vets I've checked with since. Never ever using VRCC again. EVER.
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7/10/11 |
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They sold me Atopic for my dog (very expensive med), the meds I got was not Atopica and when I told them this their response was that the box said atopica so they sold it to me in good faith, and since I no atopica left over they would not help me with this. I'm still not sure what they sold me or what I was giving my dog but I know it was not atopica. Has any one had this problem with them. If you have bought Atopica from them I would check and see that you are getting the real thing.
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12/18/09 |
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The first time I went to VRCC was to bring my dog to emergency on a weekend. I don't know what the policy is for emergency room advice, but I couldn't get anyone to help me figure out what kind of treatment and testing I should do for him. He was already 12 years old, and the last thing I wanted to do was have tests done on him for something that would never give him back his quality of life. I had to decide whether or not I should euthanize him. Frantic, I called my vet on a weekend to help me figure out what would be best for him, since they wouldn't. For the two days they had him, I spent $2500. I decided to never go back, but was then referred to internal medicine so they could read some x-rays of my kitten that my vet couldn't read. Since they are specialists, it made sense. I'm glad I went there, but I have to go somewhere else for his surgery. The quoted pricetag would run me $5,000. His life depends on it, luckily I found much better alternatives that I can actually afford.
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2/24/09 |
5 |
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There are so many ways my dog's life could have been shortened, but weren't because of the excellence specialists at VRCC. I took her straight to emergency when she stopped eating. After an xray, the problem clearly wasn't a twisted stomach. She was transferred to internal medicine and with a few tests, it became clear she was in the early stages of pancreatitis. They didn't gouge me for more treatment than initally necessary. Each time decline in her responses were match with more agressive treatment. I know better than to think that doctors are mechanics that just fixed it & outcomes are always the same. It's called art of medicine for a reason. Living organisms have their individual ways of responding. Unfortunately, my baby's case was rare and complicated, ending up in surgery where they resolved all the adhesions and necrotic tissue. Now she's on her way to recovery and I love VRCC & Drs. Westfall, VanPelt, Devitt, Wheeler, Dawson, Wertz and all the wonderful techs. xox
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12/15/08 |
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My cat was losing weight and urinating all over my house...I didn't know what to do! I took him to the Emergency dept. at VRCC...Dr. Rump and his technicians were SOOOO kind to me...they diagnosed my cat as being diabetic, showed me how to give him his insulin (they made me practice so I could do it at home), and gave me diabetic food to feed him. My cats are my life and this team of experts helped me figure out what was wrong! I will be forever grateful!
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9/17/08 |
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Ill tell you something about this place! About a year and a half ago our baby was in so much pain that this was the facility that was recomended to us. Unfortunately It was on the weekend and only emergency was open. We were put off for a long time and she was in alot of pain. I cant tell you how many times we had to ask if someone would see us. we kept getting the runaround and told that someone would be right with us as soon as they could be. Finally we got in. x-rays were taken and then they decided that she needed an MRI. Of couse we wanted the best for her. The MRI cost was about ( if memory serves ) $1600 or up. Damn! The decision was made that she had a ruptured disk and needed to have it fixed. We did at final cost for the whole proceedure to be almost $8000. Talk about feeling like we just got bent over the barrel and raped! We have been hearing about other bad situations. Now our baby has to have the exact surgery to fix what they did. NEVER AGAIN!
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7/24/08 |
5 |
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I have a had a great experience at VRCC. My lab was having trouble with his back and not being his normal playfull self. I took him to another animal hospital in Aurora and they said nothing was wrong and the doctor was not sure why I brought him in. So I went to VRCC for a 2nd opinion. Boy am I glad. My dog did in fact have back problems, specifically a ruptured disc in his back and needed to have surgery. I knew the bill would be expensive, but I certainly got my moneys worth. The staff was passionate, caring, and comforting to my animal and me. I would highly recommend them to any pet owner looking for a specialist.
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10/30/07 |
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Our 2 and a half year old boxer had to undergo intestinal surgery to remove a large piece of a fabric toy he ingested. We took him to a smaller emergency care center and after the initial surgery he had to be opened back up twice due to infection. When he still presented with problems at the surgical site the center recommended specialists. They referred us to VRCC. We had the most competent, caring, consistent experience at VRCC (including the ability to reach our Dr. on his days off and after hours, i.e. 1:00 AM one time when we thought there was a new problem with our dog's pump that was removing excess fluid). Our pup is 100% healthy now. I highly recommend them.
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7/20/07 |
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4 |
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Very good specialists. Terrible emergency room - unless life and death and 2 blocks away I would never take to this ER -
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5/30/07 |
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I can't speak to the incompetence of the diagnosis, surgery, or patient discharge. That's all beyond my scope of expertise. But I can speak to how VRCC's claim to "care about the health of your pet" is insincere when they take the most dangerous (and expensive) course of action and then behave so irresponsibly and unprofessionally when confronted. I brought my dog in over a long weekend. They did a couple sets of x-rays and determined that there was an obstruction in her abdomen. I asked if it could be removed endoscopically so she wouldn't have to be cut open and they insisted it could not because the obstruction was no longer in her stomach. They refused to acknowledge that endoscopy as a solution and said that she had to have surgery or starve to death. So I let them do the surgery. Turns out, the bag was indeed retrieved from her stomach.
They sent us home with a narcotic patch on my dog's stomach. No additional pain medication, no antibiotics. The incision ran the entire length
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3/26/07 |
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I am a high-end veterinary client who is used to paying higher prices for speciality care and advanced services. Despite the claims on their website, the VRCC does not have "...some of the world's leading specialists...". My pets and I have seen some of the leading specialists in the US (we have lived all over), and NONE of them practice at the VRCC. We saw specialists in two different specialities and found them to be antiquated in management/treatment options and state-of-the-art knowledge (as in they didn't have any), as well as patronizing and unpleasant jerks that personified the dreaded GOD COMPLEX. And, what did we receive for this mistreatment and lack of knowledge? Big surprise-a huge bill!! And like I said, I'm used to high prices, but this place is downright INSANE in their pricing, especially when you factor in the bad service and lack of recent, relevant scientific information. If your pet needs either Emergency or Specialty Care, make the drive to CSU!
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3/16/07 |
5 |
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You definitely get what you pay for. They have specialists in oncology, dermatology, surgery, opthalmology, cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, and an overnight and weekend emergency service. All departments work well together. I have taken pets to them on multiple occasions, and have always gotten great service and wonderful care for my pets. Their cardiologists are the best. It may cost more than the average, but it is worth every penny.
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11/25/06 |
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If money is sincerely no object then go here. If you're like most owners (on a budget) and your child is dying but you have no idea why this isn't the place to go. They'll check for everything odd, rare and expensive first then shame you if you can't afford $6000 for surgery plus a week of their care. They told me they'd put my Lab to sleep for a modest $500 because I couldn't afford a $3000 deposit for them to do tests on his intestional blockage. It cost me $1000 to get him out of there for sitting in a room for 4 hours completely ignored and some fluids. My own vet sat with me the next day while laxitives were administered. Surgery through her was going to be $1300. Laxitives worked and he was better without surgery. My vet took him home with her to personally monitor him that night even though he wa doing better. If you want the Mayo clinic go here but be prepared to pay through the nose for everything!
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10/17/06 |
5 |
5 |
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This vet is the Mayo Clinic for pets! They have several specialist and E.R. services.These guys are costly but well worth the money! They have saved the life of 2 of my dogs. If your family vet can't figure out whats wrong I would bet this fine staff of Dr's could. Need a vet in the middle of the night? These guy are there with 24/7 care for your pet.
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