VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital

My dog had a suffered a severe cut very close to her eye.I called their office, told the receptionist my name and the issue with my animal and that I was 20 minutes out. I was placed on hold and then hung up on. When I arrived a nurse took me into an exam room and explained that she, nor anyone at the practice will treat any of my animals due to an “incident” that occurred with one of my dogs 4 years prior. She stated that my current dogs wound did not look that bad and asked me to leave. I was never informed that their practice did not want me as a client. Why didn’t someone from the office call me back to state not to come to that practice, go somewhere else? I wasted twenty five minutes driving to this practice to be embarrassed and then had to drive another thirty minutes away where my animal received three stitches.The issue with my dog four years ago was with the vet that treated her, not the practice. My dog after spending 2 nights at their facility was not getting better and declining. I allowed the vet to do blood work, an ultra sound and X-rays and no blockages found. At this time I was already $2,000.00 spent at their office. The vet told me she did not know what was wrong with my dog and wanted to do an exploratory surgery at the cost of $3200.00. Scared I almost allowed her to do that.I ended up talking to a vet who reviewed her chart, told me to pick her up and bring her over to his practice. He ended up treating her with Pepcid AC and 2 days later she was back to her old self. He had diagnosed her with gastroenteritis. People are vulnerable and scared when their pet is in a situation like that. I was told my dog was declining and exploratory surgery was my only option. After spending in total $3K for care that could have been prevented by a $12 bottle of Pepcid, you would hope that their office had compassion and understanding for my frustration with the vet. So if that is why they dont want me as a client fine. But inform someone!

I will NEVER go to another VCA hospital again! Took my dog, a regular patient at VCA, 2660 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA, to the emergency room. Got there at 10:45 pm. Sat while other animals came in after me and were deemed higher priority. Got it. Waited for almost 1 1/2 hours before I was able to see the vet. She listened and explained the x-rays, which were unremarkable. She had no idea what the issue was and gave me a variety of "options" but when I asked for her opinion, she seemed clueless. I told her I really didn't know what was best....I wasn't the doctor, but still got nothing. I was told she'd give me an estimate. About an hour later, I told the $2100-2500 estimate, which included keeping him overnight for observation. I told the clerk this seemed like the maximum....what was the critical path? About an hour later, she advised that a urine test would be what the vet recommended. By this time almost everyone who had come in after me and considered a "priority" was gone; only one person was still there. I noticed they waited about 45 minutes, with their dog, to pay their bill. I asked how long the urine test would take and she said about 20 minutes. I said ok and waited....and waited. Finally, I'm the only one left, and it's about 2:15 am. No sounds from the back...nothing. I said HELLO very loudly several times then knocked on the door....SEVERAL TIMES until I was pounding on the door. The clerk returned. I was exhausted and now rather angy and told her I just wanted to settle my bill and get outta there. She said ok.....no other response. I asked about the tests...urine came back negative. His symptoms were rather obvious...swollen, rock-hard gut....lethargy but obviously uncomfortable. I asked about what was going on...I'd been waiting, ALONE, for over an hour. She said she'd get the vet. She came out and said she really had no idea what was wrong with him and I was to call my vet tomorrow for an appointment, who, BTW, was only in for the morning and wouldn't fit me in. I got the regular excuses but no response when I said I'd been here alone for over an hour and was getting ready to slap down $540.00 for what???? NEVER AGAIN!