June 2021 by Maureen K.
I have been going to Newington Veterninary Clinic for 5 years and I was happy with them. Until now. This is the 2nd time that Dr. Fortin has left me with a very bad taste in my mouth, feeling very underwhelmed by the "care" provided and way over charged for anything and everything. I have rarely seen the same vet twice (I don't think I'd know Dr. Fortin if I fell on her). I will be switching to a new vet and, on my way, I'm telling everyone I can about my recent experience with them because it was completely avoidable. Sorry, but this is lengthy... On 6/11/21, my dog had an acute event that, in my eyes, was an emergency since it's happened before and I wasn't going to sit on it. I called the vet at 8:18 A.M. for an appt. I conveyed my anxiety to the receptionist, Hallie (?), that answered the phone. I was told that she didn't know if she could get my dog in for a visit since she might have just given away the last appt, could she put me on hold. I asked, "So, are you telling me I should go to the emergency vet?" because I would have gone. She very testily responded "No, I'm asking to put you on hold right now". She came back on to tell me the doctor wasn't in yet, she would give my info to the doctor and they would call me back when the doctor got in in about 30 minutes. Seriously? I'm freaking out and you tell me you'll call me back in 30 minutes? I thought she might've said something like "If you feel you can't wait, then yes, I'd go to the emergency vet" or some disclaimer like that. Nope. So, I justified the wait by saying to myself that it'd take me much longer than that to get to the emergency vet. However, I was less than happy about this. Oh. And they're still doing "curbside" so no one is allowed in because 1 employee wasn't fully vaccinated. So, I was told that I couldn't go in with my dog if they did have an appt. And Hallie who answered the phone? She became even more testy when I balked at not being able to come in to the office. I even offered to show them my vaccination card. I have followed COVID guidelines to a T since March 2020 and still do. Now, the entire country is opening up, you don't have to wear a mask in Starbuck's if you're vaccinated, but this place isn't allowing people inside still? Even though other vets have opened back up (yes, I checked)?? More on why that's an issue coming up... I received a return call at 9:07 A.M., almost 50 minutes after I called the first time. I was given an appt for 11:30 so I let the 50 minute wait time slide. I show up at 11:30, I call upon arrival as instructed to and then have to wait for another call to again explain what happened to yet another person. I repeated that he vomited only once before 8:00, he hadn't vomited since and this wasn't a current symptom. First, the vet didn't get the entire story straight with my dog. Why? BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HEAR IT FROM ME. I was told that my dog was given an injection to help control vomiting. I just listened to the vet as she spoke, taking everything in and I would process it later since I was still pretty revved up, concerned about my dog. The total bill? $166. I thought, ok, not bad since it's cheaper than the emergency vet. Then I saw the invoice AFTER I paid (even if I asked them to review the bill with me before I paid, the injection was already given and I'd have to pay anyway. Nice, huh?). MY DOG WAS GIVEN A $91 INJECTION OF CERENIA TO STOP ANY FURTHER VOMITING!!! This was about 4 hours after he had vomited the 1 and only time. Ninety-one flipping dollars to fix one of the symptoms my dog DIDN'T have. And not a single answer as to why. Would this be as much of an issue for anyone else? Maybe not. While I did get over the receptionist's lack of social skills and professionalism and the 50 minute wait time for a return call, I can't get over the vet. When you are emotionally charged and feeling vulnerable beca
