Friendly to both me and my pets, will get to the root of the problem if there is one.
Im just trying to get my dog in for the simplest annual bloodwork done because my vets booked so far out. They wont even tell you a ball park price or proceed with anything unless you prepay the $85 appointment cost. I could care less what it costs i just want to know if you can get to us sooner and what it'll cost in difference, seems pretty scummy you have to prepay for that Info. Sounds like miss management to me so id rather wait for my vet.
I am deeply disappointed with the care and communication we received at this animal hospital. Our dog recently developed neurological and seizure-like symptoms—including loss of balance and getting stuck in locked positions—that began with increasing frequency during the 7 to 14-day window following his rabies vaccination, typical of timelines cited from other research we've done about the issue.
Having observed our dog every day of his life, we know his behavior, and we are confident these episodes are seizures, not an environmental allergic reaction as the hospital's representatives suggested. Despite our repeated attempts to share our observations, we felt they continued to sideline our concerns and dismiss a potential connection to the vaccine.
We felt completely unheard, shortchanged, and left alone to manage our dog's alarming health decline. A veterinary team should listen to owners who know their pets best, rather than dismissing clear neurological signs.
First update: Since then, they have followed up and kindly addressed our concerns, which we appreciate. They were respectful and we hope to continue having respectful, amicable relations.
Second update: Since then, they cut us off as a client, not allowing us to receive any further care from their team. We were shocked given we tried to be amicable about the situation and hear and comprehend their perspectives. Fawn Burnell, the Practice Director, called us directly to state that after talking with the doctors, they would no longer continue caring for our dog. She iterated that their doctors need to feel comfortable and have a level of trust in communication, which they felt was not present. This phone call was shortly followed by a formal letter from the clinic confirming the decision to terminate services and offering to send our dog's medical records elsewhere.
It is deeply disappointing that despite paying for their services, placing our trust in Dr. Hill, and being fully willing to renew our care with them, they chose to close off communication and end the relationship completely instead of working toward a compromise.
I brought my dog in because he was having some seizure-like symptoms that genuinely concerned me. I wasn’t sure if they were seizures because I’m not a veterinarian and didn’t know what I was looking at, but he was seizing up and locking up in ways that seemed very unusual to me. I brought him in because I wanted someone to actually evaluate what was happening.
Dr. Emily Mitchell came in, performed a very quick physical examination, and then suggested that what I was seeing might be seizures, but also seemed to settle very quickly on the idea that it was probably just itching. She mentioned that we hadn’t been in for a while, and the way it was said came across as condescending to me. She also pointed out that his history was itching, which seemed to reinforce that she had already decided what was going on.
I tried to explain that I understood he had a history of itching, but that the itching didn't seem to explain the specific episodes I was concerned about. I asked what the seizing up and locking up could be, and I didn't feel like I really got an answer. The conversation kept coming back to him probably just itching or scratching his ears.
She also briefly mentioned that it could be epilepsy. I asked what epilepsy was, she answered the question, and then essentially the appointment was over. She left, and her assistants told us she recommended two different options for reducing his itching.
That was it.
I left feeling like my actual concern had barely been addressed. It felt like Dr. Mitchell had already decided on a diagnosis and there wasn't much room for her to consider what I was actually describing. I wasn't expecting her to magically know what was happening, but I was expecting a little more investigation, explanation, and willingness to address my concerns.
I also asked if I could ask Dr. Mitchell one more question, or at least have someone pass the question along to her. I was told that she was already in her next appointment and would be a while. That made the whole experience feel even more rushed and abrupt.
To be fair, Dr. Jim Hill did call afterward and offer us a free examination, and I genuinely appreciated that. He was much more thorough and took the time to listen and examine my dog carefully. However, that doesn't erase the experience I had during the original $85 examination.
We had previously seen Dr. Paul Lory at this practice, but he no longer works there. I wasn't informed of that beforehand, so I simply assumed we would be seeing him again since we had seen him the previous two times. That added to the feeling that the visit was very abrupt and impersonal.
Even the initial phone interactions with the assistants gave me the impression that the office was extremely busy and stressed. I understand that veterinary offices can be overwhelmed and that doctors have demanding schedules. But as a worried pet parent, I still need to feel like my concerns are being heard and taken seriously.
My biggest issue wasn't that Dr. Mitchell couldn't immediately determine what was happening. It was how quickly the concern was dismissed and how little time I felt was spent actually investigating it.
I appreciate that Dr. Hill took the time to follow up and provide a more thorough examination at no charge. Unfortunately, that positive follow-up doesn't completely replace the experience I had during the original appointment with Dr. Mitchell.
Even though we couldn't save Kakashi, I just want to put it out there for others who are not happy with their current vet or do not have a regular vet; Vista Hills Vet in Greenwood was the first vet experience where we felt like they actually cared. They told us about their experiences with having to put their pets down and had tears in their eyes even though it was our first time going there.
Everyone was so kind and thoughtful, Dr. Hill didn't make us feel rushed or scared, he understood and explained what was going on carefully. I know that some vets can grow cold after seeing so much pain but it was very refreshing to find a place that felt like a family that had your back. I've never experienced that at any other veterinary clinic, I highly recommend Vista Hills.
