Animal Emergency Clinic

I came in my house and found my 15 yr old dachshund unable to stand. She is a very healthy dog......good heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, eyes and hearing. The veterinary dr at the animal emergency clinic diagnosed her with ivdd..........a back situation that many doxies are subject to. She said it would never get better and that surgery was the only answer and I would have to go to Ann Arbor, Mi or Purdue Small Animal Clinic....all of which would cost many thousands of dollars. I suggested that acupuncture or laser treatments might help. She said no it was too late in the game and could never be repaired and that euthanizing is usually the only option. I was shocked and disappointed to hear her say that. I have had doxies my whole life and I know all about ivdd.....and I know that both of my suggestions would work. I told her NO on the euthanizing and that I would take her to my vet on Monday morning. I did just that and I had to leave my dog at the vets office because they were booked full that day. When my vet did call me she had nothing but good news for me. My 15 yr old dog who had been given a death sentence by the emergency clinic was up and walking and doing just fine. My vet took her off all of the pain meds and did a laser treatment and she is still doing just fine. What if I hadn't known about ivdd in dogs???? They would have just euthanized her right then and there. I know she is 15 yrs old but she is in good health and I will take every minute I can with her. The vet at this facility was professional and the staff was nice but the vet needs to learn more about ivdd and the options that are available..........dodgerslist.org is an excellent resource for information. Acupuncture, laser treatments, wheelchairs for dogs, braces for dogs are ALL options besides euthanizing. I think this facility is always too quick to put an animal down as I have heard from many people who have had to go there. Everyone just make sure you have been given all options. They also need to stop charging so much just because they are open at night and weekends..........and they need to have some sort of program for people who don't have money or who have no other way to pay except payments. Poor people love their animals too. more

My Son's emotional support dog was hit by a car 7 days ago. There was nooone at home when this happened, so he ran out the door with ""Lucky"" in the passenger seat. Poor doggy had a towel wrapped around his mid section. His one side was literally peeled back and he was bleeding pretty bad. My Son left the house without shoes or wallet, just one hand on his best friends wound, one hand on the wheel (and trying to get ahold of me by cell) all at the same time. Finally, after over an hour of him sitting at the vet, because they wouldn't treat him without full payment, I showed up. They were rude and cold to him, and as soon as i spoke to the front desk person, she displayed the same aloof demeanor. They literally wouldn't let my Son have his dog back if he didn't come up with $9! He asked why they thought they could keep his dog hostage, and what wee they thinking if they weren't going to give his dog back if the bill wasn't paid upfront. They said they would euthinize him! His friend had money available, but because he couldn't pay IN FULL, they were keeping his dog hostage! Thank God I was able to pay the amount. They called a humane Society Rep and had her sit in the lobby for legal representation because they felt he was hostile. He was upset. He never raised his voice or used profanity. When they couldn't provide him with alternative vet care, his friend found him one. EQUINE VALLEY VET on Bell and 3rd St. in Niles MI. They would not release my Son's Best friend to him if he couldn't find one! When he told them where he wanted to take him, they specifically names a Vet there, hmmm...peculiar, they couldn't offer him any vet names, but knew the one after he found one himself! After My Son had finally got ""Lucky"" back and took him to the Equine Center, a report from the Magrane;s was waiting. The new Vet told my Son that they said he was hostile and he didn't want to get care for his dog. These are the people that (sorry got ahead of myself) that wanted to kill his dog because he couldn't come up with $9! This poor little dog was in such pain, and they didn't want to do anything! they never used words of compassion, they never were kind! Awful people! more

I do NOT reccomend this facility to anyone. My Lucky, an emotional support dog prescirbed by my doctor, and my best friend, was hot by a car this past weekend. (Yes, he is okay and revovering well). Being that it was an emergency I had grabbed the keys to my mother's car, had no shoes on, and had no wallet. I also had a 3 month old puppy in the car with me. I couldn't reach my mother, so a friend showed up to help pay the required $100 fee in order for them to see him. She had brought a card with only $91 on it, and I explained to them that my mother was on her way if they could just take the $91 so Lucky could be tended to and I would get them the $9 when my mother arrived. They said, ""We only accept full payments."" Okay, fine. I understand a policy is in place for a reason, but I received so empathy or any sense that they related to me in my pain and misfortune. My dog's side was exposed, for the skin was torn nearly all off and needed care. They were cold and didn't give off the impression that they loved animals. (Not that it's a requirement to work in Vet's office, but you would think.) When the doctor explained to me Lucky's condition, he was very cold and matter-of-fact. He provided little hope and said my cost at their facility would be around $1,600 and it was due now. I talked ito ver with my friend and I was thining of all my options. I asked the desk assistant if there was any other place that I could take him where they might accept payments. I didn't have access to $1,600 right at that moment. They referred me to Fort Wayne and Michigan City. When I asked about close by places in Michigan, they said there were none. I sid, ""So, If I don't come up with the $1,600 right now, do I just take him or what happenes?"" The doc responded, ""No, you can't take him. If you can't pay, then we will put him down."" Again, NO EMPATHY or care in his voice. \r I said I would just take him to a different Vet. He asked ""Where?"" and I responded by saying, ""It's my dog. It doesn't matter."" (Only implying that I would find a place since I was the only one that seemed to care about the wellbeing of Lucky.) He immediately caleld the Humane Society, claiming he needed legal representation. The officer came and NEVER spoke to me, the dog owner, jsut went to the back and spoke tot he Vet. She came back out and sat in the waiting room, stil never speaking to me. My friend called River Valley Equine Clinicn and small animal hospital (where she takes her pets) and they had an on-call vet available. He caleld me and we decided he was best for Lucky. When I told the vet where I was taking Lucky, he responded with the doctor's name, as if he knew exactly who I was talking about. (Rememeber when they knew of NO OTHER place for me to go.) Hmm. Anyway, I took Lucky to Dr. Brant in Niles at River Valley, and He is wonderful. He LOVES animals and that is his first priority. He was very empathetic and caring. He was so caring and wonderful. You could tell he loved his job. So, in closing, do not take your animal to the Animal Hospital on grape. They don't really care, just in it for money. And it's not like I wantd them to treat my dog for free, I just wanted options and some human understanding. They provided none. more

We lost both of our Yorkies (three weeks apart) between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. Being after normal hours, we went to the Animal Emergency Clinic. They were extremely kind and sympathetic. Our boy had to be put to sleep and they gave us as much time as we wanted/needed to say goodbye and treated us all with dignity. When his sister passed away a few weeks later, I was devastated and the staff was more than compassionate when we once again walked in the door with our little one and tears in our eyes. I would never hesitate to return there if need be for any reason. Thanks for your kindness. more

Our cat was just about to die. The staff was very kind and phenominal with helping to diagnose over the phone the symptoms. We determined to bring him in for emergency care very late in the night and they were very compassionate with our cat. Though we did not have much money they determined to do the best they could and we were able to save him. Pros: null Cons: null more

Just before christmas about two years ago. I took my one year old cat tohru to them. She was crying in pain and bleeding for her urinary tract. They never told us at the desk that they don't take small payments at a time. It was a lot of money to fix the problem and we had just spent all of our money for christmas. They told us that since we could not pay they would have to put her to sleep. We would have payed money little at a time, but they would not let us. My cat died crying looking up at me, while I too cried. I wish my vet would have been open then my baby would be here. I could not let my cat suffer like that, but most of all I did not want her to die. I could Not even keep her ashes Because It would have cost $50 to keep them. I still wonder what they did with her to this day, and I tell my baby sorry every day. Pros: null Cons: null more

On November 2, 2010, I had to do one of the most difficult things of my life. I had to put my 14 year old dog to sleep. She had been my sidekick for all those years and, if you are a dog person, you understand that she was family. We took her to the Animal Emergency Clinic and the vet that was on duty that night was so kind and caring - even after my baby girl was gone, the vet still held her and kissed her head - that meant so much at that time. I will never forget their kindness. This wasn't out first visit to this clinic, they had treated her a several weeks before but she had become so ill that to hold on to her was being cruel and her disease was taking over. I just wanted to thank everyone there and let them know that in her final minutes, they were kind and loving to her and I am so grateful for that. . more

The Vets and Vet techs at Animal Emergency Clinic are wonderful. They are professional and courteous. They take the time to answer all your question. They even know your pets by name. more

My mother-in-law was sitting my dog over the weekend. My dog cut herself on something in her back yard so she took her here for stitches. The staff was knowledgeable and very caring. My dog is doing wonderful and healed up without a scar. more

I had to take my pet here late on a Sunday. Good thing they were there. My cat recovered and is doing great. The staff made sure I understood what was wrong and what they would do to fix the issue. Wonderful. Doctors were very helpful with preventitive maintence for the future care of my cat too. A+ more