I was very unhappy with the care my dog received here. I moved to the area and left behind my dog’s old vet so, based upon reviews and accessibility, I chose to take my dog here when I began to grow concerned about his health.
Phenomenal vet with avian care.
The tests that were run on my dog: full body x-ray, ultrasound, fecal sample, two urine samples (neither of them sterile for some reason?), tons of different blood tests, and different parasite tests.
On my first visit, my dog’s weight was taken incorrectly, and they continued to use that incorrect number throughout our time there as a baseline, which skewed his care. When I explained how I knew that the number was wrong (I had weighed him earlier, a cardiologist weighed him shortly after at the same weight I did), I felt like I was not taken seriously.
I can't say enough about how great South Hadley VCA is. They have been incredibly helpful and knowledgeable in dealing with my dog and her ongoing skin/allergy/ear infection issues. My dog is a bit nervous, especially at the vet, and the staff always takes the time to let her get to know them so that she is comfortable with them handling her. The staff truly puts both of us (!) at ease. The Drs. all go above and beyond in making sure everything is addressed and that I am comfortable with the information provided. If you are looking for a local vet who will take great care of you and your pet, this is your spot!
I felt like her bedside manner was lacking. During my first visit I couldn’t follow all the medical lingo she kept throwing out. When her assistant came in to explain billing for certain medications and procedures, I had to ask “wait, did we discuss these things? I am happy to pay, but I am not sure what any of this means.” As the assistant was not a medical professional, she had to call the vet back in to explain what actions were going to be taken in my dog’s care. Also, when I consented to have some full body x-rays, which would take a few hours, she just took my dog from me immediately. No chance to say goodbye.
Stay away from this vet, they will bilk you out as much money as they can. We had to bring our suffering pet here to be put down because our normal vet at the East Longmeadow VCA wasn't in and we were referred here. It was an emergency and we couldn't put it off another day so we reluctantly went here for the euthanasia. South Hadley VCA charged for an EXAM/CONSULTATION in addition to the euthanasia. The manager said it's their policy since my pet was NEW to their practice. They refused to forgive the expensive exam fee even after I explained the circumstances to them. Now why does a pet who's in an obvious state of poor health and is there to be put out of its misery need an exam/consultation? Don't let this place rip you off- go anywhere else! I've never had a fee like this at any other vet. I'll be avoiding all VCA locations after this experience.
The vet seemed uncomfortable making determinations about care without a huge number of tests. Even as the many (expensive) test results came in, she wanted to run more. She would have me purchase pills, give him one dose, then immediately stop treatment. I should note I absolutely DO NOT believe that this vet was being greedy or trying to swindle me with all the tests she had me run. However, I do believe that she had no real idea what to do with any of the information she was getting. At one point, I reviewed the results from a test on my own, did research, and came back with a possible diagnosis for what might have been happening with my dog. She was happy that I had come in with that idea, as she had already forgotten the results of those tests, and said we should go with my diagnosis and start treating for that. She also come in needing a reminder about what medications he was on. When I gave her the list, she was confused about one medication that he was on. She asked ME why he was on it. My response? “Because you put him on it.” She then had to run out of the room to check her notes on why she had taken that course of action. No preparation before sitting down with me.
She was unable to give me any direction to go in with what could be wrong with my dog with all of that information. At one point she threw out no less than eight different diagnoses. She wanted more data and clearly lacked instinct.
I am under no delusions that the vets here at this office could have saved my dog. My poor baby was likely too far gone by the time I initially took him to the vet to be saved, and the discussions I should have been having with the vet should have been about making him more comfortable and knowing when to let him go. The vet either did not have the knowledge base or the instinct to diagnose my poor dog. That speaks volumes to me. She should have known, and it is outrageous to me that after all of those tests, she had nothing to go on, but the moment I took him to another vet she was able to immediately determine what was wrong.
Our dog woke up one day with a cloudy eye and we had no where to go since it was Friday and all the veterinarians in the area leave early. We must have called 20 places for an emergency appointment. We came across VCA South Hadley and said they could give us a Saturday appointment. I have never heard of a vet open Saturday and to me that says a lot about their practice. They got us in quickly and everyone there is so friendly and helpful it is a great atmosphere. We saw Dr. Benner, he is a fabulous vet and is noticeably very committed to his animal patients, he is also very knowledgeable and helpful. I see more veterinarians just about the money but the staff at VCA South Hadley truly do this to help animals. We are financially strapped so any of our extra money is going to our dogs care and we know from many experiences that the prices they give us are better than any other place we have been. We live thirty minutes away and there are dozens of vets closer but we know this is going to be our new veterinarian. Thanks so much VCA South Hadley you have made us so happy!! We all feel at ease with your practice it has made our difficult experience easier to handle because all of the staff is so caring.
I encourage everyone to take their business, and the health of their pets, elsewhere.
Last night, I ended up taking my dog a different vet, an emergency vet, and the vet very quickly diagnosed my dog with cancer, told me the type of cancer it likely was, told me his low chances for survival, and explained the level of pain my dog was likely in. Shell shocked, we made the decision to let him go. I write this review still mourning him.
Vca South Hadley Animal Hospital is a US Veterinary Care based in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Vca South Hadley Animal Hospital is located at 511 Newton St, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA.
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