Laura W.

Joined 2 months ago

My experience was awful. I was told by Hamilton Ave that if I related my experience on this site that they would not charge me for my pets stitches removal, but saving money is not why I am leaving this review.

I chose Hamilton Ave. because my daughter goes there and had had good experiences, so I came in from a neighboring state because of those experiences, which, I want to stress, continue to be good.

For my pets shots, they were super. For the spay and declaw surgery, not so much.

For instance, when I picked up my pet, I had to sign a paper that said I realized my pet could die from the procedure. THAT was not encouraging.

When I picked my pet up, the dried blood was not cleaned off of her hair on her legs, and she had bright red blood on one leg from new bleeding. When the lady in the white coat saw her condition as they brought my pet out to me, they took her back into the back and fixed the source of the new bleeding. But she was still not cleaned up. That was kind of hard to witness.

The stitches were not tight. There was a gap in the incision. It was still mostly closed, but loosly. Each stitch, save for first and last, were loops that stuck out just over 1/8 inch away from her body. She's got some scar!

I had to pay extra for her post op pain meds, and a cone for her, so she couldn't go after the stitches, (I declined the additional cost for antibiotics since I had some at home) and I kept her confined so she could not jump or climb.

The post operative instruction sheet was unreadable (they had a printer issue), and I said so when they gave it to me. I was simply told to call if I had any problems, which was not encouraging considering the instructions were a full page long.

I ended up calling a local vet that was recommended by my apartment manager after she saw the shape in which my kitten was returned to me, and this vet told me what I could do to get her cleaned of the dried blood (peroxide and water mixture) and what to do to get her unconstipated from the anesthesia drugs. Her bowels didn't move for almost a week post surgery and she wasn't drinking much water at all, so I was worried. I wanted to get her to drink water again like she used to so that she would not be dehydrated (boil some chicken and give her the broth, from then on she'll drink water with no problem). Both suggestions were hugely successful, and I did not need to bring her in to see anyone, thus incurring more costs. The fat in the broth helped her bowels to move so that she could expel the dried out and hardened stool from the surgery meds. She became regular again overnight, and began to drink water as she did before surgery, just as he said she would. Hamilton Ave just told me she might need to come in again.

My pet has recovered now, it will be two weeks tomorrow since the surgery. It was easy for me to remove the stitches because they were so loose anyway. She is taking care of the blood clots at the claw sites herself, having licked off four so far.

I was fortunate to find this local vet who includes all charges in his costs, so there are no surprises to pay extra for needed post op meds, materials or care like stitches removal (saved me a 100 mile round trip plus costs), and he gave me instructions for free, and did not simply advise me to bring her in, like this place did. So she got excellent post op care and no added expense.

I feel badly about having to relate my experience, especially after reading good ones, and again, my daughter has never had a bad experience there. I don't know why my experience was so bad, but I certainly will not return.

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Jennifer A.

Joined 3 months ago

thanks for the compassion that was shown to me and my cats.

I was in such a bind and Dr. Wright gave me all of the options and did not judge me at all. my cat Charles is doing better and it was within my budget to take good care of him. I am very grateful to the vet and staff.

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Maridon S.

Joined 3 months ago

I love Hamilton ave animal hospital I take all my dog there they will work with you in any way they can an it wont break you to take your animal there I have been goin there for about 5 years now an my animals love it my bull dog stands at the door when it is time to go he loves his dr an all the people who work there an I just got my little girls dog fixed an she was very happy an done very well for them i could not ask for any better people to take care of my babys