After reading the reviews aI entrusted Northwest Animal hospital with my giant breed dog to have some tumors under his skin removed. Dr. Kocher seemed knowledgeable and friendly and I chose to have her perform my dogs (supposedly simple) surgery. What ensued after has been nothing short of traumatic for both my dog and my family.
Upon picking up my dog from surgery, the vet was nowhere to be found. They delivered my dog to me looking like Frankenstein with three stapled incisions, one of which was almost 4.5 inches in length and was still bleeding and gaping in the middle. I requested to speak to the vet as I was very concerned at how everything looked and I had questions about the surgery. The tech said the vet was "Unavailable". In all my years of owning various pets and WORKING for a veterinary hospital, I have NEVER not seen the vet or spoken to them via phone immediately after or upon pick up after a surgery. I should have known right then that something was really "off" about this facility. I then requested that all RX's be transferred to the Costco pharmacy. (Any person is entitled to fulfill their RX's wherever they choose and as a large dog owner, many RX's from a vet can be triple the cost of what they would be at Costco). The tech at first refused to allow me to do this and when I pointed out my legal right to do so they reluctantly handed me the written RX's.
I took my poor doggie home and literally watched him bleed for 24 hours straight. In panic and tears I called the office and asked to speak to the head vet/owner Dr. Sudduth (as I couldn't get a hold of Dr. Kocher, nor had she called to follow up). I was transferred to v/m and I left a msg for him to please call me back as I had serious concerns about the sutures. HE NEVER CALLED BACK….ever.
So here is where I will summarize the following two weeks of struggles following that phone call.
The incisions are still gaping and bleeding despite two follow up visits. They tried to charge me for one of these visits. I will NEVER go back!
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