Regional Institute for Veterinary Emergencies and Referrals Reviews
Jun 29, 2016
I took my puppy to RIVER late at night (11:30PM-ish) 3/31 when she started going into seizures after she'd received treatment at another hospital for coccidia. The vet took her back, holding her around the ribs at arm's length out, as she began seizing up again and I did her paperwork. Shortly after, they gave me a room to wait in (for about half an hour) and a vet tech came in to speak to me. He said they suspected Distemper. I told them that coccidia may have spread to her nervous system but they were adamant of distemper and wanted to run some tests, but my puppy (who has never in her life been away from people) would be in isolation including from most staff except for one vet per shift who was also responsible for many other pets. I told them to give her them best treatment possible and let me know how she was in the morning. I went to the waiting room because they said they'd let me videochat with my puppy.
After about two hours I finally asked the reception what I was waiting for and they said "They're just waiting to see how you'll pay the initial deposit of $1200 for services!" I said I'd write a check and the receptionist said "this check better not bounce!" I do not hurt for money and although I am pretty young, I don't appreciate being spoken to as if I can't afford to care for my animals. I left my puppy there for the night and she continued to seize and receive treatment. The next morning, 4/2, I received a call increasing the estimate to $1800 for the next 24 hours with no chance of coming home before the distemper test came back in 5-7 days. I told the vet over the phone that I was coming to get my puppy because I was sure distemper was almost ruled out and she was still suffering from anaemia from the coccidia (likely the cause of the seizures) and they'd been skipping the meds from my normal vet, which in essence invalidates everything she was given, even though I'd asked them repeatedly to give her her medications. They asked for an additional check for $38 before I could take my puppy home, which I paid. Anything to get her away from them!
It was at this time I learned they'd given her a catheter which was entirely unnecessary because she'd been peeing just fine on her own. They just didn't want to deal with her or cleaning up her cage. She was also prescribed 250mg of Keppra 3x a day which is massive! That's what you give an adult human! She's only a 12lb puppy! None of my animals will ever go to this hospital again and all of my friends will know to beware.... RIVER is only out for your money and doesn't care for your animals! RIVER claimed to have ran a distemper test, which cost upwards of $200. A week later, I come to find they're unsure of where the test is or when/if I'll get results back. They commented they're unsure if it even got sent to the lab.
In the meantime, my puppy had a seizure over 3 hours long and passed away. This leads me to believe she (A) had a reaction to the Keppra, (B) was given a higher dose of Keppra there, or (C) was given a different drug entirely. This is the most dishonest and money-hungry veterinary service I have ever encountered. RIVER has since called and said the distemper test never got sent in. They promised to refund my money back into my bank account. Several days passed and no money was deposited, so I called them and asked about it. The receptionist said there was no note or action in the system to refund my money. I am so unbelievably upset and disappointed by RIVER. RIVER still denies their treatment was the cause of my puppy's death. A vet tech who looked barely old enough to have finished school came into an exam room and tried to lecture me on what "actually" killed my puppy. She argued that most of the techs who worked with her suspected distemper, when coccidiosis was the actual cause. I feel absolutely insulted. It's ridiculous that they still get business.
Regional Institute for Veterinary Emergencies and Referrals Reviews
I took my puppy to RIVER late at night (11:30PM-ish) 3/31 when she started going into seizures after she'd received treatment at another hospital for coccidia. The vet took her back, holding her around the ribs at arm's length out, as she began seizing up again and I did her paperwork. Shortly after, they gave me a room to wait in (for about half an hour) and a vet tech came in to speak to me. He said they suspected Distemper. I told them that coccidia may have spread to her nervous system but they were adamant of distemper and wanted to run some tests, but my puppy (who has never in her life been away from people) would be in isolation including from most staff except for one vet per shift who was also responsible for many other pets. I told them to give her them best treatment possible and let me know how she was in the morning. I went to the waiting room because they said they'd let me videochat with my puppy.
After about two hours I finally asked the reception what I was waiting for and they said "They're just waiting to see how you'll pay the initial deposit of $1200 for services!" I said I'd write a check and the receptionist said "this check better not bounce!" I do not hurt for money and although I am pretty young, I don't appreciate being spoken to as if I can't afford to care for my animals. I left my puppy there for the night and she continued to seize and receive treatment. The next morning, 4/2, I received a call increasing the estimate to $1800 for the next 24 hours with no chance of coming home before the distemper test came back in 5-7 days. I told the vet over the phone that I was coming to get my puppy because I was sure distemper was almost ruled out and she was still suffering from anaemia from the coccidia (likely the cause of the seizures) and they'd been skipping the meds from my normal vet, which in essence invalidates everything she was given, even though I'd asked them repeatedly to give her her medications. They asked for an additional check for $38 before I could take my puppy home, which I paid. Anything to get her away from them!
It was at this time I learned they'd given her a catheter which was entirely unnecessary because she'd been peeing just fine on her own. They just didn't want to deal with her or cleaning up her cage. She was also prescribed 250mg of Keppra 3x a day which is massive! That's what you give an adult human! She's only a 12lb puppy! None of my animals will ever go to this hospital again and all of my friends will know to beware.... RIVER is only out for your money and doesn't care for your animals! RIVER claimed to have ran a distemper test, which cost upwards of $200. A week later, I come to find they're unsure of where the test is or when/if I'll get results back. They commented they're unsure if it even got sent to the lab.
In the meantime, my puppy had a seizure over 3 hours long and passed away. This leads me to believe she (A) had a reaction to the Keppra, (B) was given a higher dose of Keppra there, or (C) was given a different drug entirely. This is the most dishonest and money-hungry veterinary service I have ever encountered. RIVER has since called and said the distemper test never got sent in. They promised to refund my money back into my bank account. Several days passed and no money was deposited, so I called them and asked about it. The receptionist said there was no note or action in the system to refund my money. I am so unbelievably upset and disappointed by RIVER. RIVER still denies their treatment was the cause of my puppy's death. A vet tech who looked barely old enough to have finished school came into an exam room and tried to lecture me on what "actually" killed my puppy. She argued that most of the techs who worked with her suspected distemper, when coccidiosis was the actual cause. I feel absolutely insulted. It's ridiculous that they still get business.