VCA Animal Hospitals review: unethical practice

I took my dog in this hospital on 8/3/2010 at 11.15am to check his Anul Mass which is bleeding the night before. When the assistant check his weight and ask a few questions. When I saw the Vet Candace Joones DVM, she immediately said my dog is in a bad shape but she didn't to perfrom a thorough exam like checking temperature, using the equipments to check his ears, or his heartbeat. She just took me that the surgery for the removal of the mass is around $500. Then she step out and redo the estimate and return. I saw the bill quoted me around $960 to $1, 200 for removal of a small mass and biopsy. I instantly told her that I need a second opinion and told her why I am no going back to the clinic and changed to another one because of their overcharged.

Then, I go pay my bill but because I was in a hurry and didn't focus to look at the charges. They charged me $50 for no even an real exam and another 4.99 for waste management. I went to another Vet and they charged me a very reasonable price and then I started looking at the invoice the VCA provided, and found out the 4.99 charged. She didn't even touch my dog so where is waste management charges and I think they should just charged $25 instead of $50 for not a thorough exam but just a consultation.

I went back the next day to talk to them see whether I can get a refund but she said NO. She had done everything she can and need to clean the table that's why they charged wasted management fee. But compared to the 2nd Vet and the previous Vet, that is not an acceptable exam and they chargedf waste management. They are known overpriced and charged. Always asking clients to clean their pet's teeth or other vaccination or check up, and charged a outrages price. They are UNETHICAL as well by saying my dog is in bad shape in order to scare me. My dog is 16 years old and in a better shape compared with other dogs.

My 2nd Vet only charged me $319 for the surgery plus the biopsy, $38 for office visit/exam, no other so call waste management charged. That is 1/3 of this clinic's price. In this tough economy, I don't want this kind of rip off happening to others around my neighborhood and I am currently unemployed too.

Please don't go to this VCA hospital in Lynnwood anymore.

PTS