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October 2024 by Melanie Lech
TLDR: They could have helped my dog but did nothing and she died 1.5 months later.
These jerks charged me $211 to do literally nothing for my dog. On the phone I said I couldn’t tell if my dog’s wound was necrosis, and I asked if I could send a photo. They said no, I had to come in. After long wait, Vet immediately said it was a normal scab and to come back if something changed (aka to euthanize her).
The assistant was compassionate — she took all of my issues seriously and wrote them down — but the vet was awful. I asked if I could get an RX for an ointment to put on the scab and she said there aren’t any (wth? Not even true).
I asked about a couple other issues my dog was having, like her crumbly ears and eye discharge, and she said that the ears were keratosis and a normal part of aging and there’s no treatment (not true) and that she didn’t think there was anything for the eyes but I could make an appointment with the eye dept for further analysis. I kept pressing and she said I could try human-grade GenTeal eye drops. I also told her I tried an anti-fungal flush in my dog’s ears and that it helped with her balance and she said, “oh well, maybe because it dries them out.”
She decided my dog wasn’t worth helping before even giving her a chance because she was a senior dog. And I know it was the vet who made that call, because the assistant had already taken urine in a syringe for a urine test in case we needed one. (They didn’t bother running it.) Also when the assistant came back in, she wouldn’t meet my eyes. I know she felt guilty about the whole situation.
I left with nothing but a bill.
Fast forward A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, and things are getting worse with my dog, and I’m freaking out, so I take action on my own accord. And guess what? I found an antibacterial eye cream (terramycin) online BY MYSELF that stopped my dog’s eye discharge in TWO DAYS. I also continued the anti-fungal flush (Curaseb Antiseptic Ear Flush) which I got on Amazon MYSELF), and ALL OF HER EAR CRUMBLES WENT AWAY. I started her on amoxicillin, & her fur health and general wellbeing started to improve.
I further found out my dog had impacted anal glands. (It’s like the vet didn’t even LOOK AT HER.) And when I expressed her glands, her extreme halitosis (bad breath) went away completely, & she seemed to have a lot of relief.
Had they taken even one GLANCE at my dog to diagnose these issues, she could have had a better, healthier, happier remainder of her life. These horrible people didn’t even prescribe pain medication for my sweet baby. I can’t fathom the carelessness. I can’t conceive it.
My dog died and my heart is shattered. If I had been aware of any of this at the time of asking, I’d have done something. But I didn’t figure out any kind of treatment until it was too late and her issues had compounded.
I despise Carolina Veterinary Specialists. Dear God I wish I had spent my money somewhere else. Despicable excuse for an animal hospital. DO NOT GO HERE.
Oh, & they charged me a $10 biohazard fee because my dog piddled on the exam room floor from how long the wait was - even though I wiped up the pee. Also, I was literally in the doorway to take her out when they called me in, so I didn’t get to. Holy cow. I hate this place.
My baby girl is dead. I hate myself for taking her here instead of somewhere that would’ve made a difference. It’s inexcusable.
GENERAL ADVICE — feed your dog the meat, skin, & organs from chicken quarters from grocery store - boiled plain, no bones. Saved my dog’s life in 2018 when vets said it was the end. (She died Sept 26 2024.)
Denamarin is a fairly cheap supplement on Amazon - also saved my dog’s life years back when her liver values were off the charts & vets said she needed a surgery I couldn’t afford.
Raw dog f
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October 2024 by Kim Meckley
I cannot say enough good things about the staff at Carolina Veterinary Services. Our dog was telling us it was her time but it happened to be on the weekend. The staff were so caring and did what they could to make sure we were comfortable and she was able to go peacefully. They also took the time to make laminated paw prints and nose prints for us. We appreciated the compassion in a sad situation.
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October 2024 by Kaley Clapp
Have no idea why this place has such bad reviews. Brought our dog in for an emergency visit… we were met with the most sincerity, professionalism, and kindness anyone could ever ask for given the dire circumstances. The whole team gave options, allowed input, and answered all of our questions. The amount of try and care given to our dog in this time was more than we could have asked. We ended up having to put our boy down, but not without giving him the most effort we could. The process of letting him be put to rest was thoughtful, respectful and made the hardest task a pet owner could be asked to do that much less difficult. This office deserves all 5 stars and then some. Should we ever be in this situation again, we will not hesitate to bring our animals here.
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October 2024 by Robyn Clark
What a disappointment on so many levels. We went to this location with information from our vet about what was wrong with our cat. Carolina Veterinary Specialists came up with a different diagnosis, completely ignoring the most obvious issue our cat was facing (which turned out to be the root of the problem). When it was time for discharge, they were disorganized, the tech could not answer the most basic of questions and they could not locate the medical records we left with them upon arrival. The cost of their substandard care was over $1200. Two days later, when our cat was in fact WORSE, we contacted Carolina Veterinary for guidance. Conveniently they told us they could not see him and sent us to Winston with assurance that they would call ahead and inform them of our impending arrival. We called back to reconfirm that they had called, which they confirmed they had. Because we were nervous about their business practice/follow through, we called Winston who had never heard from them. The staff at the Winston office called Greensboro on our behalf. When confronted with this information, the Greensboro staff rudely misrepresented their actions. To make matters worse, the original diagnosis from our vet that was taken to Greensboro was confirmed by the Winston location meaning that not only had we paid over $1200 for care that served no purpose, our cat suffered needlessly for 48 additional hours. We are not aware of any governing bodies for vet practices or a pet owners bill of rights but we will be educating ourselves and taking appropriate action.
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October 2024 by Nautica Grimes
Honestly, could not say better things about the staff here. I brought in my english bulldog last night around 11:30ish. She suddenly got very sick so I called this location and they were upfront about the cost for her to be seen as well as the wait, which i appreciated, so my baby and i headed that way. While we were waiting, the staff would come see how we were doing when they got the chance, as well as several updates rather than just being left in the dark. The veterinarian who saw my dog was so kind and communicated with me so well on the tests they were wanting to run, the medications they were wanting to give, and the costs to confirm everything was okay. I know this may seem like the bare minimum but I was so appreciative with their approach. I could tell they were all so busy last night yet each staff member i encountered still made the time to make sure my dog and I were comfortable and okay. By the end of my visit, all of my questions were answered, there was already a difference in my baby, I had a very well understanding as to what all of the medications were for that I was bringing home with me, and I knew what I needed to do for the next few days to help her heal. Last night was scary for me as a dog mom but I couldn’t thank the staff enough for what they did for us.
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October 2024 by Madison Williams
I cannot say enough about the incredible team at Carolina Vet Specialist. I found myself in a desperate situation with my beloved buddy, and no other vet offices were open. From the moment I walked in, they showed an immense amount of compassion and professionalism.
Dr. Olsen, in particular, was outstanding. In what was easily one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make – putting my buddy down – Dr. Olsen treated me with empathy, patience, and the utmost care. She explained everything clearly and made sure I understood all my options, without rushing me or my pet through the process.
Although the outcome was heartbreaking, I felt supported the entire way. The staff at Carolina Vet Specialist truly went above and beyond, making a difficult time a little more bearable. If you’re ever in need of urgent care for your pet, I highly recommend this clinic.
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October 2024 by L Younginer
If you have an animal diagnosed with cancer, first of all, I am so sorry. Secondly, I highly recommend Dr. Dianna Burr & the Oncology Department at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Greensboro, NC.
My dog was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma on the spleen & had a stomach mass that wasn't able to be biopsied. They had an excellent surgeon named Pete. I called him Dr. Pete, he removed my dog's sick spleen & biopsied the inoperable stomach mass. After surgery, Dr. Burr came up w/a treatment plan along with recommended supplements for my dog. This worked, the stomach mass disappeared after a couple of weeks & life was restored. He lived long past his diagnosis, thanks to Dr. Burr & her group. Dr. Burr goes above & beyond office treatment. She will respond to email outside of the clinic. I can't tell you the wealth of information, how helpful & compassionate this Doctor is. I am thankful to have found her to care for my dog & give him a good quality of life up till he was called home.
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September 2024 by Melissa Morford
I wish I could give no stars. I called to ask if they were able to see my pet and was told they would triage first and there could be a wait. The person when I asked further questions, the front desk person hung up on me. I should not have gone, but I went with my pet. After arriving I was told my pet would be triaged shortly. After an hour and a half, I decided to go to another location. When I told the front desk person I would be leaving since it had been an hour and a half and we still had not been triaged, she blamed me for not stopping someone when they walked by. Fortunately, my pet was stable or she would have been dead in your lobby. You should really reassess your front desk employees if you want to bring business in and not lose it!
No compassion
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September 2024 by Lee Scripture
This team was the dream team of being there for our dog in a time of need. All of the people here were professional, helpful, personable, knowledgeable, and most of all compassionate. I highly recommend them if you have a vet emergency. I have recommended them to my family, friends and clients. If you have a vet emergency this is the place to go!
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September 2024 by Dakota Jade
If you need to see a good review this is it!! My dog was suppose to have a consultation for surgery in a few weeks but within the past 48 hours he got drastically worse so I called to let them know and they said I could bring them but they were at full capacity in the ICU and that it would be an extreme long wait. I chose to go anyways because he could drink, eat, and would barely even go outside. We did end up waiting about 3 hours. They checked to make sure he wasn’t critical before making us wait. Also kept us updated consistently. Everyone from the doctors, to the vet tech, to the specialist were very kind, informative, and understanding. It was a long and exhausting 11 hours. He was able to get seen and have same day surgery. I am very thankful for them because I don’t how much longer I could’ve went seeing him like this. Even after putting a deposit down for the surgery we ended up getting a refund. It’s not often you end up getting money back. I will forever be going to them in case of future surgery or treatment. I wish they had there own general clinic. Thank you to everyone again for the help today❤️ *Never forget the receptionist too for being kind and trying there best to help us out as much as possible.*
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September 2024 by Kimorah Love
The entire staff was kind, empathetic, caring, and patient during a very difficult time. Holly and the other ladies at the front desk welcomed me, my daughter, and Micheal with such compassion. From the moment I called, to when we arrived, and through his final moments, we were allowed to mourn and grieve our beloved Michael in our own way and time. For that, I am eternally, grateful. Thank you for all that you do?
Kim
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September 2024 by Stephanie Pinnix
If I could give a zero rating I would. I spoke to a CVS (Carolina Vet.) Rep in June 14, 2024 regarding an outstanding bill for my dog's oxygen treatment. I advised them that Banfield Hospital would be taking care of the bill & I informed the Rep of whom they would need to speak too. The Rep said she had notes on file indicating this and hung up the phone.
Fast forward to yesterday, I received 2 letters from American Profiff Recovery stating CVS sent my bill to collections saying I owe $801.71. I did not get any further bills or communications from CVS saying I owed them. Leaving me to believe everything was take care of.
I called Banfield Hospital who stated they never received an invoice from CVS & that they would contact CVS to pay the invoice.
I called CVS and informed them that I never received communication from them stating the bill wasn't paid or notification of them sending it to collections. The lady (Stephanie)I spoke to on the phone today could not provide any reasonable answer as to why I was sent to collections nor why I was never communicated too about Banfield Hospital not paying the bill.
Now CVS states once Banfield pays the bill they will get everything removed from my credit. That's fine & good but proper communication would have settled this months ago. When i called!! Whether Banfield or CVS was at fault, CVS should have communicated with me before sending me collections.
CVS has poor customer service and poor communication. I pray I NEVER have to use them again! I have had to suffer with the loss of my dog and dealing with CVS trying to ruin my credit ?.
I SUGGEST YOU TAKE YOUR ANIMALS ELSEWHERE! They only care about ? money.
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September 2024 by Ally Christensen
Dr. LaFoon is the best vet we have ever had!! Not only is she extremely knowledgeable, she also cares deeply for my cat. My cat has been suffering with eye issues since she was young and with Dr. Lafoon’s help we were able to get this under control. I highly recommend her!
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August 2024 by Patricia Vargo
Staff was so compassionate and helpful through a very difficult time.
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August 2024 by Lynda Lynda
Does anybody else feel like carolina vet specialists is nothing but a bunch of extortionists or caters to only the well off? Every single thing is exorbitantly overpriced just because you're going "after hours." Examination fee is $216...seriously? What is this Manhattan? I sadly don't know how all these "specialists" that u have to look at their faces on the wall Knowing they're very comfortably sleeping in their Bed that night on their 3000 count silk sheets While my dog is possibly dying telling me it's gonna be 3000 to 5000 dollars to put my dog in a hospital for 2 days. okaaaaay. hmmmmm As an average citizen who doesn't even make that in a month. Let me think about this...? What an awful position to put ppl in!
How many dogs die every day because somebody needs to drive a Lexus and ski in Colorado. It's not just this place, all yaw greedy a$$ vets AND the dog food companies!!! I hope to God yaw never say you got into veterinary care for the animals because people cant afford 3000 to 5000 dollars for two days of hospitalization. In 1993, an examination fee was $19 in NY. What a crying shame this world has become.
I've lost 2 dogs there now that I've spent 500 to 800 dollars in just a few hours to bring them home in a box. You will find a lot of empathy for your animal there, but not your pocket and the only reason I give it 2 stars is because the probably underpaid people that work there are kind..
And your only other choice is After Hours down the block Who is definitely better priced But will leave you sitting in the waiting room FOR HOURS. This area is sad for any kind of emergency help for your sick animals unless you have deep pockets. They don't care about the average joe
I never could understand vets like this - for the animals, right? This isn't a car. This is something that somebody cares very, very deeply for and your callous prices make me sick right along with my dog. You just keep forcing ppl to Make the agonizing decision to euth their animal over your usual 3000 dollars for hospitalization.
RIP BABY GIRL. I am so sorry I didn't even get a Fighting Chance to save you like you woulda gave me if the prices were actually reasonable. ?
