What's a good vet to take a dog for surgery?

[RX_EVOLV]

Can anyone recommend a good vet hospital to take a golden retriever for spleen surgery?

[CUG]

Bow Bottom Vet Hospital. Dr. Julie Schell. Phenomenal vet.

[speedog]

There are a very good number of more then competent vets in Calgary - problem is that you will find just as many people who've had a bad experience with a certain vet as with people who've had a great experience. Being in the pet industry on the retail side, I can safely assure you of this as I hear this on a weekly basis from customers - even the vet we use, whom we have nothing bad to say about and who's been great over the past 20+ years, has people who will never go back to his practice. The vet closest to my house where I've had several bad experiences gets glowing reviews from some of customers.

Best advice is to watch this thread and search up some similar older threads on Beyond and then make your best educated guess if you can even call it that.

[Zewind]

Originally posted by speedog
There are a very good number of more then competent vets in Calgary - problem is that you will find just as many people who've had a bad experience with a certain vet as with people who've had a great experience. Being in the pet industry on the retail side, I can safely assure you of this as I hear this on a weekly basis from customers - even the vet we use, whom we have nothing bad to say about and who's been great over the past 20+ years, has people who will never go back to his practice. The vet closest to my house where I've had several bad experiences gets glowing reviews from some of customers.

Best advice is to watch this thread and search up some similar older threads on Beyond and then make your best educated guess if you can even call it that.


This :thumbsup:

[freshprince1]

"What's a good vet to take a dog for surgery?"

hmmm....some flowers maybe?

[Billy_Billions]

I wouldn't suggest the CARE center animal hospital.

My dog swallowed a dog bone about six months ago. We didn't see him do it, so we just thought he was a little sick. After a day we saw a little blood in his feces and immediately took him down there as it was the closest place that was open.

The vet took some xrays and told us that he had a sharp bone in his stomach that was blocking regular flow and also jabbing him and causing general chaos in his guts.

The vet came out and gave us three options.

.1 Pay $700 to get him into surgery. They told us they were very expensive compared to other places so they were *kind enough* to give us option #2.

.2 Pay $600 to get an student surgeon to work on him. Cause, you know, why not give a kid a chance? And then the best of all

.3 leave him with the hospital. They have many employees that love Boston Terriers and they're sure he'll find a good home.

I felt like punching him in the face. I could only imagine him saying that to me if we were talking about a human child (cause yes - I consider my dogs my kids.) "Hey leave your kid at the hospital! Jen in reception has been looking to adopt a blonde baby for a couple weeks now!"

Just the worst idiot imaginable.


We immediately asked for him to be transferred somewhere else. Fishcreek 24 animal hospital took him. They were very professional and affectionate and hundreds of dollars cheaper. A couple days later he was out, bathed and super happy to be home, and just a little sore from surgery. The size of the bone was about the size of a dime for those interested.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by Billy_Billions
I wouldn't suggest the CARE center animal hospital.


:werd:

I also had a very bad experience with C.A.R.E.

When my dog was hit by a truck, we rushed him there (as our vet was closed on Sunday), and it was close by. They charged us an obscene amount to examine him, and told us he was "ok, but if you'd like us to keep him overnight just in case"... $800... I don't think so.

The next day we took him to his normal vet. and he found a foot long gash in his skin near his groin, and you could SEE his muscles, and tissue and shit. How the fuck the "CARE" vet didn't see that, I have no idea, but not only are they incompetent, they are also very expensive.

[JordanLotoski]

High river it's half the price.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by Billy_Billions
I wouldn't suggest the CARE center animal hospital.

My dog .........



Originally posted by Tik-Tok


:werd:

I also had a very bad experience with C.A.R.E.

When my dog.....

See, right here is a classic example of Speedog's point. I have nothing but praise and good things to say about C.A.R.E.
Our lab had multiple surgeries ($6500 worth) and was in their care for over a week. The staff, the nurses, the surgeon were all excellent. We brought her in from Vernon at 11:00 at night and they were amazing with us. Caring and kind. Her whole jaw, nose, and skull were shattered and had to be feed through a tube in her neck. Today she's a happy and healthy dog.

It's like any service industry. There are always people with bad experiences in one form or another.

[Kona9]

Originally posted by Billy_Billions
I wouldn't suggest the CARE center animal hospital.

My dog swallowed a dog bone about six months ago. We didn't see him do it, so we just thought he was a little sick. After a day we saw a little blood in his feces and immediately took him down there as it was the closest place that was open.

The vet took some xrays and told us that he had a sharp bone in his stomach that was blocking regular flow and also jabbing him and causing general chaos in his guts.

The vet came out and gave us three options.

.1 Pay $700 to get him into surgery. They told us they were very expensive compared to other places so they were *kind enough* to give us option #2.

.2 Pay $600 to get an student surgeon to work on him. Cause, you know, why not give a kid a chance? And then the best of all

.3 leave him with the hospital. They have many employees that love Boston Terriers and they're sure he'll find a good home.

I felt like punching him in the face. I could only imagine him saying that to me if we were talking about a human child (cause yes - I consider my dogs my kids.) "Hey leave your kid at the hospital! Jen in reception has been looking to adopt a blonde baby for a couple weeks now!"

Just the worst idiot imaginable.


We immediately asked for him to be transferred somewhere else. Fishcreek 24 animal hospital took him. They were very professional and affectionate and hundreds of dollars cheaper. A couple days later he was out, bathed and super happy to be home, and just a little sore from surgery. The size of the bone was about the size of a dime for those interested.

I too have a Boston. Dr Mutlow at Fish Creek has seen him since birth. She not only has a Boston of her own, but she has dealt with the Breeder for the majority of her Dogs and their litters. Great Hospital!

[zipdoa]

I've been very impressed with the Calgary North Veterinary hospital. Expensive as fuck, but that's to be expected with a 24hr branch.

My regular vet is Bowmont Animal Hospital - nothing but good things to say about Dr Kevin Skelley and Dr Nola Steininge.

[Adrenaline101]

Fish Creek was very good when I had to take my husky in after somebody hit him and took off when we were playing near my house. The costs were too be expected, although didnt think it would be $250 if you actually want to keep your dogs ashes after he had to be put down.

They were very good to deal with even in a horrible situation.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by zipdoa
I've been very impressed with the Calgary North Veterinary hospital. Expensive as fuck, but that's to be expected with a 24hr branch.

Ditto.

Dr. Barton took care of us well for the final months. Did not oversell stuff, honest, professional and caring.

The night shift doctor when we 1st brought our dog in was a bit brash.

[bignerd]

Fishcreek does have an internal medicine specialist there... I cant remember her name but she did my dogs ultrasound (I am in school for human ultrasound) and she really seemed to know her stuff.

[RoGZ]

Originally posted by CUG
Bow Bottom Vet Hospital. Dr. Julie Schell. Phenomenal vet.

she is also my vet, she takes the time to explain everything in detail as well. Been taking my mutt to her for about 9 or ten years now

[tirebob]

Originally posted by JordanLotoski
High river it's half the price. So is Airdrie... We can't say enough about the Airdrie Animal Hospital, but either way, leaving the city by 15/30 minutes will save you LARGE $$$!

[J.D.]

North Calgary animal hospital, doesn' matter which vet you get or which receptionist these guys love what they do and look after your animal with honesty and sincerity the whole way through.

[2007RS4]

Originally posted by Adrenaline101
Fish Creek was very good when I had to take my husky in after somebody hit him and took off when we were playing near my house. The costs were too be expected, although didnt think it would be $250 if you actually want to keep your dogs ashes after he had to be put down.

They were very good to deal with even in a horrible situation.

I have had mixed results there with my retriever. The only vet I want treating my dog at that clinic is Emma A.

Also used Ron Torrance on 16th Ave. NE. Was decent.

[redline]

Originally posted by JordanLotoski
High river it's half the price.

:werd:

Same service

[clem24]

I've had good results form North Animal Hospital (this is the one on 4th St right?). They are pretty good and do try to save you money. For example, I thought my dog swallowed something too but they checked her out and said "well we THINK she's ok but can't say 100% without x-rays, but we think she's fine because of this, this and that, so we suggest bringing her home and coming back if she shows signs of this, this, and that." So they don't try to push stuff on you. Of course, we only go here after hours.

I also like MacEwan Vet. They're my regular vet. They have decent vets there and friendly staff.

I do *NOT* like Crowfoot vet. I have had more than a few bad experiences there. My dogs had lice, but they identified it as fleas after I brought in some samples in a baggie. Even just looking at the way they move, I could tell they were NOT fleas, and 2 seconds on Google images confirmed lice.

In another incident, I just wanted to buy something. I called them 5 minutes before they were about to close. I was at Country Hills and Nosehill. About 2 mins away. The stupid receptionist said something like "sorry we are closing, we can't stay open past 9 because then we'd have to worry about paying people overtime, and such." OMFG. I was like 2 mins away and she told me not to come. Seems like all they care about is making money and not the well being of animals. They've lost my business for life even if they're closest to me.

Having said all that [begin rant] OVERALL, I am not fond of vets in general. They seem to not really specialize in any kind of animal. The entire industry is fully 100% profit driven (vs. health care), so stuff like yearly shots and boosters (which I believe to be completely unnecessary - but they need it so they can sustain themselves). What I would really like to see are general vets, and then vets that SPECIALIZE in certain animals (like dogs only) and possibly even certain breeds./rant

[Pikka]

http://www.westernvet.ca/


If you can get a referral from your vet.. by far the best place for surgery and the follow up care was exceptional.


Dog had surgery on his leg a year ago and they still check up to ensure he is doing fine and there are no issues.


Was with Dr. Remedios.

[R-Audi]

Western Vet is great.. but its also one of the most expensive.