My friend's cat developed a urinary blockage with blood. Being an assistant at an animal shelter myself, I advised her to take her cat to Bay Hill AH, as the shelter I work for has used this Animal Hospital in the past. Now I know why we do not use them anymore, and why I will not take my Cats or Dog here. So I went with her to bring the cat in, and they gave us an estimate in the $560 ballpark area, which is not bad. Well over the course of the next few days, she kept being told that he was not ready to come home, and that it would only be slightly more than the estimate. I went with her just an hour ago to pick him up finally, with a bill of $1,339 (nearly 3 times the estimate) which was outrageous, and made me look like a fool for recommending Bay Hills AH. At no point did they warn her how much more it was going to be, or even give her a chance to brace herself for that stunner. I have looked over the bill to see what on Earth could have cost so much, to find that they charge $24 for an individual pain medication administration. This is nearly 3 times what any other vet hospital in the area charges. She was sent home with 5 doses of pain medication for him, which total $58. We use this same medication at my shelter, it does not cost this much. Not even 1/5th that much. More research into the itemized bill revealed a series overcharges and unnecessary charges that add up significantly. Oh well, the cat is better now, and so too is my advice to friends as to where to take their animals if they want to avoid being ripped off. I strongly recommend against Bay Hills Animal Hospital. You can get good quality care like this almost anywhere. You will just pay three times as much for it at Bay Hills Animal Hospital, and you will not have a clue about that until you are standing there at the counter with your credit card in one hand and your jaw on the floor, listening to your cat meow from the back room. Highway robbery, 100%. Think about this, this was not even my money, or my cat. I will even admit that their quality of care is exceptional. But the fact that I am sitting here taking my time to write so strongly about this should tell you that this place is worth avoiding. They made me look like a complete fool to my friend. Don't let them make a fool out of you.
Listen, this is what to do. unless your cat or dog is dying, and it is urgent, even if you live next door to Bay Hills shopping center... Get in your car. Take 50 to 97, get off at the exit for Rt. 3/32 and take 3 all the way down to Waugh Chapel. See Dr. Andersen at Waugh Chapel Animal Hospital. I know that it is quite a hike, but you will get amazing care and spend less than half what you would at Bay Hills. The only reason my friend did not go there is because her cat was in kidney failure, and it was very urgent.
Please do note that I give 2 stars, because they do have good quality care, a very friendly staff, and they always have. But seemingly overnight they have tripled their charges, and their notification of increase from an estimate leaves much to be desired. Maybe that Whats Up Annapolis poll got to their heads.
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