We brought our new puppy to Laguna Beach Animal Hospital for her first check up and exam a while back. I furnished the veterinarian on duty at the time, Dr. Cruz, with the puppies shot record from the breeder. After the exam, I was told that our puppy was a healthy puppy but needed a series of shots/vaccinations (4 shots of different vaccines... All at one time). I asked if it was absolutely necessary, being as she had already had some shots. Furthermore, I asked if it was safe to give her so many shots at one time being as our dog's particular breed had a history of possible adverse reactions to vaccinations.
* I was told it was safe, so I consented and the puppy was given the shots. Total bill for the first visit, including exam, shots, flea medicine, etc *$334.49
Only 3 days later, our new puppy began to act lethargic and also began to limp. She also was not eating well. I called LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL for advice. I was told to watch her and to bring her in if her condition worsened.
One day later, our puppy was now barely eating, the limp had worsened dramatically and she seemed ill. I brought her to LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL and was seen by a "Dr. Craft".
*I asked the doctor if our puppy was possibly having a reaction to the 4 vaccinations she received several days before.
*I also asked her if the puppy could be developing a condition called HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy), a dangerous condition that is common in large breed dogs, *and often develops after multiple vaccinations.
She said *she was not sure* and needed more testing, and x-rays, which she then performed. Although I was not given a specific diagnosis of what was wrong with our puppy, I was nevertheless sent home with 2 different medications to give her. I was also told to watch her and to let her rest.
*The charges for that visit were *$420.92
One day later, our puppy was now gravely ill. She could barely put weight on any of her limbs and was running a high fever.
*I spoke with LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL on the phone, Dr. Craft, and was told to take the puppy to "ANIMAL URGENT CARE IN MISSION VIEJO".
*I asked if they would recommend any other hospitals and was told that "THEY WERE THE ONLY HOSPITAL THEY REFERRED TO"...??? That seemed strange to me. I did as I was instructed and took our new puppyto the hospital. *Once there, they too said they were not sure and suggested more testing and an overnight stay. I left the puppy in the care of the referred hospital. I was instructed to pick her up the next morning, Saturday, which I did.
*Our Puppy was in the same condition as she was the night before when I left her in their care. *They did not know what was wrong with the puppy, nor why she could not stand up or support her own body weight, but nevertheless administered various tests, antibiotics, fluids and pain medications while she was in their care. I was instructed to return our puppy to *LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL*.
*The charges for the one night visit to the referred ANIMAL URGENT CARE IN MISSION VIEHO were over $1031.00!!! STILL NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG!
The next day, I took our sick puppy back to *LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL*. She was still running a high fever and was now lame and unable to stand at all. I was told that she could stay at the hospital and be given fluids and antibiotics.
*Again I asked what was wrong with our puppy and was told "THEY WERE NOT SURE BUT NEEDED MORE TESTS".
*WE WERE TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO HOSPITAL STAFF TO CARE FOR OUR PUPPY OVERNIGHT AT LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL!!!..."but that she should be fine on the IV drip and antibiotics".
*Our puppy spent the night there alone.
The next day, *I WAS CALLED BY DR. James levin, early in the morning. He left me a voicemail message, stating that "our was still very ill, running a fever, and still unable to stand or walk". He also said on the message that "our puppy possibly has a neurological problem, a lesion in the brain or maybe she was suffering from a reaction to the vaccinations she received
*4 shots at one time at LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL... Just a few days before!!! *
he said he was not sure what was wrong with her. He also said he had never seen a case like this... And additional testing was needed.
*I spoke with Dr. Levin later in the day and was told he could not help our new puppy. He said I should take her to a neurologist the next day in Irvine. I agreed and set a time to pick her up on Monday morning.
*Additional charges for the stay at LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL...*$624.25
The next morning, I picked up our puppy up at approx 9:30 AM and rushed her to the neurologist I was referred to by Dr. Levin. While driving to the neurologist, I received a call from someone named REBECCA, the office manager at the LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL HOSPITAL.
*She told me that I had not paid my bill and was wondering when I would be back to settle the account.*
I felt that the timing of her call was inappropriate and insensitive considering I was driving to another hospital, facing the possibility of having to put my dog to sleep. I told her I'd pay the bill when I could come by and went on with our puppy to the hospital.
*It only took the doctors there approximately 10 minutes examining our puppy to conclude that she had some type of a neuromuscular disease, *that the antibiotics and fluids she'd received were not the answer.
They said I could spend more money on testing but that the eventual prognosis was not good. We discussed the options and decided that the best solution for our puppy, *as well as our devastated family*, was to put her to sleep immediately.
*Our puppy died that morning.
All of this after only 10 minutes of passionate and thorough examination. *Total charges were for the agony relief to our puppy and our family was only $79.00
I wish that our puppy and the rest of our family, my wife and our daughter, could have been spared the several days of testing, emotional devastation, and financial burden (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) we encountered.
Furthermore, i wish laguna beach animal hospital had exercised more sensitivity when contacting me by phone, with a gravely ill puppy in the car beside me, seeking further payment.
*My young daughter cried for weeks.
*I wish I had been referred to the hospital in Irvine from the start.
*Our family is still recovering from the emotional and financial stresses we endured.
We will not be using the laguna beach animal hospital or animal urgent care in mission viejo.
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