ComplaintsforDowners Grove Animal Hospital & Bird Clinic, P.C.

• Initial Complaint

  03/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  We took our cat to DGAH on 02/02/22 with a possible ***, blood in urine, frequent urination, squatting for long times. They couldn't get a urine sample, so they prescribed 10 days of antibiotics based on symptoms. After the antibiotic, she still had symptoms, so we brought her back on 2/18/23, they were able to get urine, they said they tested for bacteria and it was negative, but said it could be a false negative because she had antibiotic in her system. They said they saw blood in her urine sample. They recommended to send a urine culture to the lab to test for bacteria and do a blood test to look for other things both of which would cost $500. The whole bill that day was just under $700. When the labwork came back they said everything was fine. They said she probably has behavior issues or Idiopatic cystitis, which is a blanket term for urine issues with no known cause. After another week, she still had symptoms and I saw more blood in urine. I called them back and complained that we spent $700 and they did not definitively rule out the *** by saying it could be a false negative or give a real diagnosis. The vet I spoke with was very rude said we could bring her back for re-testing but we would have to pay for any tests they re-did. I decided to bring her to another place which I did. They did a urine test and gave us a urinanalysis report which immediately showed she had a high amount of crystals in her urine and we had a diagnosis. That cost was $114. I remembered that the urine test DGAH 1st did and charged us for on 02/18 was a urinanalysis. I never rec'd a report so I called them and asked them to send me all test results in the file. There was no urinanalyis. I called back and asked again and still no report. They finally sent one to me on 03/13 and it was just created that day. The only thing they checked for on 2/18 was the bacteria. If they had done the whole analysis the crystals would have showed and the $500 in lab tests would not have been needed.

• Initial Complaint

  07/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I took my bird to this ********************** on 7/6/22 for ********************* after he suddenly fell ill. My pet * I saw **************** Merkin, DVM, one of the practice owners. Dr. was rude * verbally aggressive * berated me with harsh criticism * stated that everything that I was doing for my pet's care was wrong/inadequate. As an experienced "pet parent" who has cared for many animals, including a dog for whom i administered twice daily insulin injections, I was shocked * stunned. Dr. then examined my pet * opined that the bird required a treatment which would cost, in his exact words, "about an extra hundred dollars, in addition to some medications." (I had already paid $88 in advance for the exam.) I consented, and afterwards **************** proceeded to prescribe two meds along with several vitamin supplements to counteract the supposed ill effects of the seed diet that the doctor stated was causing "malnutrition" in my pet (who has been happy * healthy for over 10 years on same diet). The **** turned out to be over $300. I was also given oral syringes to administer the meds, and these fell apart after the first use. I called the ******* ****** questioned my ability to use the syringes, then told me I could pick up more of the faulty syringes if I chose. (I ended up going to Petco * purchasing an avian syringe for a few dollars.) In my opinion, **************** cares nothing about his *************** pets, * used my visit as an opportunity to maximize revenue. The prices charged for services were extremely high for the area, * a ****** Search revealed that the prices for products were about double the average. His strategy was to browbeat me into believing that I was negligent, and then push overpriced ******************* on to me which I would buy out of guilt. I intend to report the Dr. * ********************** to his professional association for unprofessional * unethical practice, including verbal abuse. My pet is now doing worse * needs follow-up care which I can't afford due to this rip-off.

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