At about 11p on April 27th, my 7 year old Boxer, Cooper, received a bad injury to his right shoulder. We took Cooper to the Diley Hill Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Canal Winchester, were upon examination and x-rays, they determined that Cooper would need surgery, and that he most likely, would lose his leg.\r
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We were offered two options...an estimate of $1700 for his surgery, or $350 for euthanasia. The doctor told me there shouldn’t be any complication, and it would be a ""routine"" operation, and if we choose the surgery, he was sure he would make a full recovery. He even mentioned that many dogs do just fine with 3 legs, so we opted for the surgery. He stated they would start the surgery right away, and he could most likely come home the next day.\r
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I called the hospital at 2a to check on him, and they said he hadn’t started surgery yet. Strange...the attending said he would be going right in at around 11p.\r
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I called again at 4a, and they said he was just going in. Why did they wait 5 hour to start the procedure?\r
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I called again at 7a, and they said he was being closed up, and after he came out of anesthetic, and would eat something, he could come home.\r
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About 10a we received a call that Cooper was not doing well. They said Cooper was unresponsive and that we should come down and see him in case he didn’t make it. What had happened?\r
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We rushed to the hospital, and found him on a ventilator. His heart was still beating, but they said he had some sort of respiratory ""event"" Whatever that means?\r
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Cooper pupils fixed, dilated, and glassed over. He had zero response to any stimulation...he was gone, and never knew we were there. I’m not sure why they wanted us to come down...the last image I wanted to see, was my family pet brain dead on a gurney with a tube stuck down his throat.\r
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One our way home, they called and left a message that his recovery was futile, and recommended that we let him go. Are you kidding me? They HAD to know that when they called us the first time, however, I called them back, and agreed to let him go.\r
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It was a terrible evening for us...one of the worst of our lives. We couldn’t sleep and were highly distraught. I cannot put into words how terrible it was. While all these questions raced through my head, I was so overwhelmed with grief, and had to curb them.\r
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Then, at 2:00am in the morning, our phone rings. It’s a Dr. Hughes from the Hospital. He asked for me by name, and says he has an update for Cooper (he calls him by name). He says Cooper is responding well to treatment, and the prognosis is he’s going to be fine! I begin to become elated! My wife wakes and asks ""Is Cooper going to be okay?"" to which I reply, that’s what the doctor is saying!\r
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I then ask him to confirm...he restates my name and says it’s specifically about our Cooper! I tell him that I thought he was going to be put down the afternoon before, are you telling me he’s okay now? There is a rather long pause, and he says, ""Oh, I’m sorry...there must be some sort of mistake on the chart...your dog’s condition has NOT changed"".\r
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We break down in tears AGAIN, and relive the grief all over again. It was horrific...how could a doctor make such a mistake!?\r
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And after all this, I get charged for BOTH, the failed surgery AND the euthanasia amount, just under $2000. I wonder how much profit they made from my Cooper? I wonder why he never recovered from a ""routine"" anesthesia? Why did they wait so long to do the surgery?\r
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I contacted the owner Alec Land, and asked that our bill be adjusted. He came off as non-caring, and refused. \r
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This place did nothing, but devastate up AND, took our money. They should be ashamed of themselves, but are not...all the owner cares about is making (stealing) money. If you love your pet, and want even good care for it, avoid this place like the plague. They don’t care about your pet, and only want your money.\r
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