My 10 mo old dog Kody was dying. He had a huge fever that got worse every day for 5 days. Totally lethargic and declining rapidly. His local vet was treating him for a bacterial infection ...but nothing was happening. As his steady temp reached 106.5, I went to the MassVet emergency room. The overnight vet found an abscess in the throat that was causing the general infection. Because they see so much and work as a team at MassVet, they found what others missed. The MassVet ER people transferred the case to the surgery department (seamless!) and I got an emensely professional and competent surgeon and team. All the while, MassVet people kept in contact with me on Kody's progress and encouraged me to call any time if I was concerned. They have a very personal approach to clients and dogs. Kody was home 24 hours after surgery and is recovering. The vets at MassVet saved my little pal's life. This facility is expensive, and it makes you wish you had insurance. But they stayed to their estimates and they are no more expensive than similar institutions like Angell or Tufts/Foster. What's great is that all the expertise and equipment you need to treat your pet is there under one roof. They truly work as a team, so the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. One caution about MassVet... The admitting ER vet was a-typical of everyone else (staff and vet) at MassVet. He manner was dreadful and unlike the overnight vet, she did not find Kody's problem, despite her 'extensive' (???) exam. She wanted to order up a futile chase for greater viral and bacterial infections. So my word of caution is that they aren't perfect at MassVet. I have made my comments known about the subperforming vet to senior people at MassVet, and they were well-received. So, if you don't get a good feeling for your ER vet, be assertive and request a change. But overall, I am thrilled by what MassVet was able to do for my dog. My highest recommendations for this institution and my surgical team!
Pros: Emergency Care, Expertise, Comprehensive Facilities, Team Approach, Client Relations
Cons: Expensive (esp. the small things), One Bad ER Vet
more