I have been bringing my dog to this clinic for the past nine years, ever since we first got him. After Dr. Wheeler retired, I was hesitant to continue bringing him here, but I decided to give the practice a chance. Unfortunately, after our recent experiences, I will not be returning.
On May 20, I brought my dog in for an ear infection. During the appointment, the veterinarian implied that I was neglecting his grooming because his nails were long. My dog is professionally groomed every 6–8 weeks without fail, and due to his naturally long quicks, his nails cannot be trimmed much shorter without causing pain or bleeding. After I explained this, the subject was quickly changed, but the comment was inappropriate and unprofessional.
At his follow-up appointment, the same veterinarian remarked, “Oh wow, you actually cleaned his ear really good! His infection is gone!” While I’m glad his ear had improved, the wording came across as condescending rather than encouraging.
During that visit, I also expressed concerns about two additional issues: his excessive scratching and a lump on his hip. The veterinarian attempted to aspirate the mass, but nothing came out. Later that evening, she called to tell me she did not like the cells she supposedly obtained and recommended surgical removal, for which I was quoted nearly $800. The concerning part is that nothing was visibly collected during the aspiration, and the lump has since completely disappeared.
Regarding his excessive scratching, I was simply told it was allergies and not to worry.
Just two and a half weeks later, my dog’s scratching became so severe that he scratched open the skin above his eyes. Because I couldn’t get a timely appointment at this clinic, I took him to another veterinarian in Los Lunas. Within minutes, they identified the actual problem: fleas. The veterinarian was genuinely surprised that this had been missed during an examination only 2½ weeks earlier.
As a result, I paid for the initial visit, the follow-up appointment where this should have been identified, and then another veterinary visit to receive the correct diagnosis and treatment. While I don’t mind spending money to care for my dog, I do expect competent and thorough veterinary care.
It is difficult to have confidence in a recommendation for an $800 surgical procedure requiring anesthesia when something as straightforward as a flea infestation was overlooked. Combined with the unnecessary comments regarding my dog’s care and grooming, this experience has completely eroded my trust in this practice.
I loved this clinic for many years, which makes writing this review especially disappointing. However, I cannot recommend a practice where I felt both judged and let down by the quality of care. My dog’s health and well-being deserve better, and for that reason, we will not be returning.
My dog and I love coming here. Staff are very caring and kind. Every thing is well explained and all of our concerns were discussed with patience. Office is exceptionally clean, and Prices are very reasonable.
Exceptional, compassionate service and knowledge. Following my dog’s spinal injury, the front desk staff was accommodating - working with urgency and communicating appointment availability. The doc and tech worked with gentle hands and great care, explaining every step of their examination. I was given actionable recommendations to continue my dog’s care in the weeks ahead. Timely, competent, communicative, and caring.
