vets in Park Slope?

Another no vote for Animal Kind.

These guys just want to run tests and keep animals overnight for observation, thus running up the bill.

I brought my dog in because he was vomitting (turned out he had gotten into some spoiled food) and their recommendation was to run a bunch of bloodwork and keep him overnight for observation. This after he started to feel noticably better over the course of the 45 min we were there.

We refused the overnight stay as it would have totally traumatized him but let them run the bloodwork. I called in the next day to get the results and they refused to give them to me because the doctor on duty the night before wasn't working that day and only she could give them to me. They assured me that if there was a problem I would have been called.

In the end he was totally fine but they got us for $250 for a test that they later admitted was probably not necessary but was "just to be safe", a pepcid AC, and saline solution to rehydrate him that is not all that effective. This and they subjected my dog to multiple needles so they could make a buck.

I've heard similar stories of random tests and recommended overnight stays for other people's pets when they were not necessary and there was a very low probability of the animal having the things being tested for.

These guys are about making money at the expense of you and your animal.

Also, last thing I hate about these guys, they have a sign on their window that they will take any stray animals to the ACC so they obviously don't give a shit about the welfare of animals. If they did they would at least try to place them in a no kill shelter or foster program before shipping them off to the gas chambers.

I go to Park Slope Vets: http://www.parkslopevets.com/ I've also gone to the warren st place in an emergency situation and they were great.

brooklynpotter wrote:
i think you get what you pay for: i'd rather hit beth israel than the walk-in clinic for my own health. same for pets.

um, I hate to break it to you but its not a matter of what I'm paying for my dog's care. In fact I also pay for his pet insurance, hence why I am concerned with his having the best of care no matter the cost. this past week cost me well over $2,500, for bladder stones. and I don't mind it one bit. whether or not insurance will cover.
My initial vet came from Animal Kind. She left. My new vet, who is at Hope clinic, came from Animal Kind.
I'd willing to pay whatever it takes to offer my dog the best of care.
Animal Kind wasn't able to provide that for me unfortunately.
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The people at Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital at 365 7th Avenue saved the life of my "exotic" pet in the middle of the night -- after 1:30 AM.

erikka wrote: My cat has problems with pulling out her own hair and I took her to 5th Av Cat Clinic for a consult with the female staff vet (sorry, I don't know her name) and I was totally unimpressed. She barely said a word the whole time and only touched the cat once. I called ahead of time to make sure this was something the vet was knowledgeable about and could address (I've taken her to two other vets for the same problem) and instead I get a $45 pheremone spray, $36 bag of cat food and a cat that still has bald patches. Her only suggestion was kitty prozac--expensive and must be given three times a day, but the stress of giving pills might cause more hair pulling.

So....does anyone know of a vet that specializes in cat issues around compulsive behaviors? I need a kitty shrink.

Hope has a few people on staff that seem to focus on more ... esoteric aspects of pet care. I know they have a massage therapist, for instance, for dogs and cats.

Subject: I wasn't a crazy cat lady until I had a crazy cat.

Thanks Flexi and Nadia--sadly enough, I was able to figure out more about what's wrong with thru the internet than thru the vet. She's an abyssinian and since she's purebred there's some inherit health problems that come along with it. I'm pretty sure this: thttp://www.petplace.com/cats/psychogenic-alopecia-in-cats/page1.aspx is what's going on and have her on the hypoallergenic diet but I don't want to have to do the prozac thing--I can't imagine being out on a date and having to tell the guy, "I'd love to hang out but I have to go home and give my cat her prozac." Aside from the pulling she's a happy, well behaved cat with no other problems, so meds seem a littel extreme, especially since she's been doing this for years. I'm considering going holistic and leaving prozac as an absolute last resort. Like Flexi did with her cat, I suspect there's something else going on and rather than get to the root of the problem, the vets I've seen just throw pills at her.

oh--and I just re-read that website and one the possible side effects of kitty prozac is anxiety. HUH?

erikka, go here: www.callalillie.com

the blogger, in red-hook, has four cats, one of whom just went on paxil (i think) for similar hair-eating behavior.

that's funny, because i was pretty sure she used animal kind.

regardless, i'd try some behavior modification. what my vet calls "mixing it up."--i change the place where the food is, get her new toys, play with her at different times, get her really stoned on cat-nip. seems to work, and stopped her from eating all the fur off her belly 5 years ago.

Subject: 6th Ave Animal Clinic

I'm surprised to read the negatives about this vet. Been going to Dr Dendtler for over 20 years. She's been great explaining tests, health issues and has shown a lot of care and compassion to me and my cats. I always make sure to see her and not any other vet in the office. I'd certainly recommend her to anyone.

Subject: Vets - boarding

I've never been to Animal Kind; have always used Dr. Dendtler at 6th Ave Animal Clinic. And I've never had to board anyone. In my building, we all exchange cat/dog-sitting when necessary. Much better that way.