PitStop
My experiences at this veterinary office have been a mixed bag. Both times, there was no wait for my “deposit required” appointment, and the low-stress environment was great for my cat, since it was empty both times we went. The first veterinary technician was absolutely delightful and chatty! (in a pet parent, loving on my cat kind of a good way! :D :D we really connected over our pets’ names, which are all Pokémon-themed! It made me feel much more at ease! However, my consultation with Dr. West left me feeling a bit less at ease. I brought my sweet indoor cat in because she had some major eye irritation and needed to update her vaccinations after a few years. The vet mentioned that we needed to change her diet immediately, first… Since she was a senior and chicken in cat food causes allergies and issues later in life??? which really surprised me since we were primarily addressing the eye issue and she had the same food for many years with no issues otherwise…. I wasn’t expecting dietary changes to be part of our first visit for an eye irritation! Regardless, I immediately changed all my cats' dry and wet food to the vet-recommended SHEEBA brand and single ingredient dry food. During this exam, I learned that my cat has a heart murmur and was told she would need a senior profile for bloodwork. On top of that, there was a suggestion to schedule a dental examination that might involve tooth extractions. It felt like a lot to absorb all at once… BUT she is my #1, she is 14 years old and has outlasted many friends and relationships. I stressed that money wasn’t an issue, and I wanted to get her taken care of. ♥ We were provided with an anti-itch cream and a cone; she recovered in like 3 days 😊 ♥ (thank you, team!) In our follow-up visit for the recommended senior bloodwork profile, I didn’t see any veterinarian, which made me wonder about the seriousness of the heart murmur AND the dietary changes we were advised on, AND the follow-up to set up a dental appointment, AND any follow-up for her echocardiogram that was needed…. WOW! That is a lot to not even talk about the next visit!! On this occasion, I encountered a different veterinary technician, who informed me that urine extraction would take place during the blood work. I made a lighthearted comment about the previous technician stating that this would occur during the dental procedure since cats cannot urinate on command!! The second technician, lacking a warm demeanor, suggested that I must have misunderstood and whisked away my cat. OOOKKKAYY…... I also noticed that the examination room didn’t have our names displayed, which was a nice touch during the first visit, and the atmosphere felt less inviting this time around. I had requested an invoice for my pet insurance, but I’m still waiting for that, which is a bit frustrating. (I’ve reached out twice via a call. I have also emailed and no invoice still showing my card paid.) They do have an app, but when I asked why it didn’t show any of my cat’s information or billing or history, the front desk staff mentioned it was quite basic and I could call in for anything… While I do appreciate their transparency, it made me feel like it was going to be a hit-or-miss experience here. Ultimately, I decided to seek out a different veterinary office that seems to have a more welcoming atmosphere. Even though I received an email saying her bloodwork was fine, the lack of follow-up everywhere else was lacking. It’s so important to treat pets and their humans with care and kindness—which I truly believe enhances the whole experience. In the end, I know I made the right choice for my furry friend and got her taken care of ASAP, and I hope they can continue to grow in the right direction! The first visit they literally provided like 5 potential future costs, so I have added a few below! Please do not reach out to me, I will just accept the loss of insurance covering the 2 visits. Thank you for taking care of us, nothing would be able to replace her ♥
