|
Review content:
I was confused when reading the reviews here, since they seem pretty clearly split between ""AK is HORRIBLE, STAY AWAY"" and ""AK is the best thing since sliced bread."" As usual, the truth is somewhere in between, and probably depends on what happened with your pet. I've taken my dog here several times now and have been satisfied by the competence and diagnosis of Dr. Weiss. She is straightforward, professional and knowledgeable. I was able to work with her to troubleshoot over the phone rather than schedule another appointment (we had just been by to see them a few weeks earlier for booster shots and a minor injury). I really appreciated the fact that while they recommended I immediately scheduled a visit, Dr. Weiss was willing to listen and consider having us wait a day to see if there was a change in conditions. I have never used them for an emergency -- yet -- (hopefully never), but judging by the vet and tech attitudes so far, I wouldn't be at all troubled to do so. Some procedures can be surprisingly expensive, and I don't think purchasing medications through them is the cheapest option. They don't offer that you make your own purchases through other vendors, but I'd imagine they would be willing to write out the required prescription if the condition can wait a few days. I was surprised at the bill the first time we visited: a round of booster shots (DHPP) + Bordatella, deworming meds, a stool culture, and an antiseptic solution to clean a cut, an e-collar, + the cost of consultation = $300, but that price is hardly exorbitant. You be the judge. The next visit to treat a minor eye infection = $66, including prescription ointment and consultation. That was a very pleasant surprise, and seemed rather cheap to me. The counter staff, it's true, are varied. One staff member on our first visit almost turned me off completely from ever visiting again -- he seemed completely uncooperative and uninterested. However, another staffer, during the same visit, took a look at our dog's wounded leg and recommended we just wait and see, and come back if the flesh would wasn't healing quickly enough (obviously, it didn't). However, I don't fault someone for having a bad day or a bad moment, or of saying perhaps not the most caring thing at the right time. Isn't everyone entitled to be human? What convinced me that this is a solid, professional establishment, was the fact that there are other staffers who clearly care about providing sound treatment -- and that helps, when anyone's having a bad day. Someone else can always pitch in and help defuse a situation, offer a kind word, make a suggestion. The number of trained staff at this clinic clearly allow for that provision, as we experienced. A final note -- when reading vet reviews, I'm always struck by how emotional some of these reviews sound. I think it's something to consider that when our fur babies are sick, we sometimes are out of our minds with worry and grief -- and being out of our minds is not a good place from which to judge anything, least of which a field which generally one doesn't have adequate training or exposure to. It must suck to be a vet, because I'd imagine that some days, a vet just can't win, and all they can do is hope that the pet owner's grief and rage aren't unfairly transferred to them.
|