This article will be about my recent experience with:
Animal Medical and Surgical Center
17477 N 82nd Street
Scottsdale Az 85255
4805024400
On July 21 we brought our poor dog (Shenzi) to the vet because she had begun to lose weight at an alarming rate. She was a 13 year old Cattle dog that we had owned her entire life and loved dearly. The test results were not good at all. Our poor baby girl had a heart murmur, severe diabetes, Cushings disease, and possibly pancreatic cancer (test results were still pending). We set up another appointment for July 24 to discuss treatment options or possibly euthanasia to end her suffering.
Unfortunately, our poor doggie took a turn for the worst on July 23 and lost the use of her rear legs. She also began to vomit what appeared to be dry blood&a total of 12 times in 24 hours. After repeatedly finding our baby girl lying in a pool of vomit and whimpering... Our decision to put her to sleep and end her suffering was painfully clear.
By the time we brought her into the clinic again... She had become limp and lifeless. My step daughter had gone to the vet with me to say her final "good-byes" to the dog she had known most of her life. Our normal vet was unavailable so a Dr. Paula Mack was sent to discuss the situation with us. After expressing my desire to put our dog to sleep... I was SHOCKED when Dr. Mack told me that I was being irrational and completely overreacting to a minor medical situation. My step daughter's face began to glow as Dr. Mack explained that our dog would be fine by tomorrow morning if I allowed her to treat her illness. Normally this would be good news to me but I have to admit that I didn't feel the vet was being honest with me at all and was taking advantage of my emotional step daughter to pressure me into spending money that I couldn't afford just for her own financial gain.
I was then presented with an estimate of $1884 to treat my dog and save her life. I protested that there was NO WAY I was going to spend that kind of money when I know in my heart our dog was going to be dead in a few hours! Dr. Mack massively pressured me (in front of my step daughter) to spend the money and make my dog well again. I reluctantly agreed. Several hours later Dr. Mack called me and recommended euthanasia because our dog wasn't responding as planned. Total cost for tests, treatment, etc... Nearly $2100!!
In my opinion Dr. Paula Mack's behavior was unethical and completely disgusting and should not be tolerated by anyone. I have taken my dog's medical records to other vets in the Scottsdale area and not a single one of them agrees that ANY form of treatment should have been an option. My dog was way too sick and way too old to have any chance of survival.
There must be something that I can do to recover atleast a portion of the money that I needlessly spent trying to help my dog. The fee for euthansia is only $61 and that is what I originally brought my dog in for. Any advice would be appreciated.
Shenzi's dad (Mark)
P.S.&When I asked for a refund under the circumstances... Dr. Mack's reply was " I didn't hold a gun to your head so stop blaming me!"
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