VCA South Shore Weymouth Animal Hospital

VCA Weymouth is wonderful and the prices are better than other vets. We were coming here for years, used the Care Club when our dog was a puppy, and the savings was substantial. Especially since it includes everything, including the neuter (or spay) and microchip. Foolishly, we went to another clinic at the recommendation of a friend and were charged way more and got the hard sell for everything from various blood work to flea meds to prescription food. We just came back to VCA for an emergency with our dog. We were greeted warmly, seen quickly and the issue was resolved, thank God, with an exam, some meds and a treatment plan for less than $300. Knowing folks who have paid $1000 elsewhere just to walk in the door with an emergency before their pet was even seen, this seems completely reasonable for an ER vet visit in my opinion. We’ll be enrolling again in the Care Club for adult dogs because it is a savings and lets you pay monthly for the vaccines and visits you’re going to go to anyway. Not sure if it still includes 1 ER visit, but it did a couple of years ago - would have saved us more. All of the vets we have seen at VCA are terrific, the vet techs are wonderful, they’re caring and compassionate, understanding and patient. I’ve seen them interact with others coming in with emergencies and they just know what they’re doing. If you’re on the fence, give them a try. Worst case, it’s not a fit for you and your pet… but I can’t imagine why, this is an excellent clinic!

posted: 10/24/2024

If I could give them 0 stars I would. Sorry for the long review but so many things went wrong that need telling. I brought my 4 month old Frenchie Luna in for persistent vomiting under the direction of the urgent care center who said she needed an ultrasound in followup to their xray. After several hours we were sent home and told to bring Luna back the next morning for the ultrasound so she could fast overnight. We went back first thing in the morning and despite her chart stating the need for ultrasound we were made to wait seversl hours to see a doctor before being triaged for the test. When we finally saw a doctor I asked if they would consider that she had not eaten for over 26 hours and was there for persistent vomiting that left her malnourished and dehydrated. I wanted her to be able to eat asap. His response was that this was an ER and all the patients were sick. They had to treat them as a community. He could have simply said yes. Or explained that she would be ok despite the fasting. Instead he made me feel selfish for advocating for my dog. Several of the community of humans in the waiting room apologized to me for being seen before us since my Luna was so obviously sicker. We finally received a diagnosis by phone and told we could take Luna home to be managed with medicine and diet. If it didn't work we could schedule surgery. When I picked her up I had more questions but the vet tech could not really answer and did not offer to get the doctor. I called two days later to ask my questions since Luna was still throwing up. Was told to just keep feeding her and giving her the medicine. I scheduled a surgical consult for several weeks later ..the earliest they offered. No feeling of urgency. Two days later I called again and left a message since Luna was still not better. She took a rapid turn for the worst that afternoon and died in transport. We called on the way to let them know to expect us urgently. Passed a limp Luna to them along with approval for CPR. A few minutes later we saw someone who asked if we wanted them to perform CPR. I was horrified and confused at why this had not already been done but said yes. She spoke a few minutes more before leaving the room??!! We waited and prayed for the best while we could hear staff laughing on the other side of the wall. Within a minute of the doctor coming back in to say Luna had passed someone else came in with paperwork. A few minutes later and we were paying $600 for their lame effort at CPR. 7 days later and I am still waiting for someone to call me. I called and asked for their experience manager a few days ago. The receptionist asked what was going on with Luna. Well....Still waiting so I can ask you that VCA. Never were we made aware of what to look for to know the medical management they prescribed was not working. Signs to know to bring her back in. Never were we made to feel like they cared about our one patient in their community of patients beyond our ability to pay.

posted: 08/28/2024

Gremmly came in for consult for soft palate, nares soft tissue surgery and I scheduled the surgery for the next week. I was disappointed that Dr. Davis wasn't available but decided to go with Dr. Diamond. I asked about recovery and he brushed me off saying they went home soon after sx and didn't need to stay for monitoring. I asked about swelling and aspiration pneumonia. Dr. Diamond said that the laser pretty much ensured that swelling was minimal and to watch for aspiration when home. I paid for the sx in full and Gremmly sounded great the next day and was the quietest I'd ever heard him. He developed a cough with labored breathing the next day. We immediately did chest rads and found slight indication of pneumonia. I brought him back to South Shore so he could spend time in the oxygen but because the pneumonia was so mild, I wasn't overly concerned. I placed the full deposit and expected him to improve quickly. I received a call from the ICU Dr that he had gotten much worse and his throat was incredibly swollen, he had fluid in his lungs and wasn't responding to the medications. I was devastated to see him struggling to breath and he sounded like his throat was a straw. They kept him hospitalized for another day and updated me that he was continuing to decline and should either be euthanized or upgraded to ventilation which may or may not help him and would cost ~$15000. This was conveyed with some coldness like I was making my dog suffer. I didn't want him to exhaust or struggle so I came in and had him euthanized, which was devastating. They asked me if I wanted more time with him after he was gone and I declined saying that I didn't want to feel him get cold. I then confirmed multiple times that he would be picked up by the cremation services that same day because I hate the idea of him in a bag in a freezer and was told that it would definitely be that day. I tried to settle my final bill at the desk but they said they had to get my employee discount figured out and they would call me. I tried again to call several times in the next couple days to settle the final balance and was still told they were getting my discount all set. Finally, several days after that, I got a call saying that I needed to pay my bill right now or he wouldn't be sent for cremation. EXCUSE ME. My dear companion spent 5 days in a bag, in a freezer for no good reason. I wasn't avoiding my bill, I asked multiple times to settle it. I had made my wishes VERY clear in that I wanted him immediately sent for cremation and was told it would be done. My dog died from complications of his elective soft tissue surgery which I feel could have been avoided if he had been monitored longer or closer after the sx. Even after my dog died from the results of this surgery, I never received a call from the surgeon or the hospital manager to discuss this. I had to go pick my dead dog back up from South Shore a week after he died so I could bring him somewhere else where I trusted that he would be taken care of and my wishes honored. If this is how they treat a fellow VCA employee, I can't even imagine the experience a member of the general public has. South Shore used to be the referral hospital I would recommend to clients and friends but I will be telling everyone about my horrendous experience here. Next time, I would rather pay full price at another hospital than use them at a discounted price. My wish to have my dear friend have a better life quality and ease of breathing instead killed him. I will never forgive myself for this, and I will never forgive VCA South Shore for their part in it. I understand that complications can happen but I feel that the arrogance of Dr. Diamond and the ignorance of the rest of the staff doing the exact opposite of what I wanted for aftercare was 100% avoidable. As a professional courtesy, I spoke to the hospital manager about my experience but I never heard back about any changes they would make so this didn't happen to someone else.

posted: 07/25/2024

Waited over 5 hours with my dog crying and pacing in the waiting room. I asked several time at the desk and was told I was next unless emergency came in. Then I was told a doctor picked up my case and I should have spoken to the dr. Then was told that it would be another 45 minutes till I saw someone. I understand emergency come in but they could have communicated better. Had to leave to try and comfort my dog at home and wait to see his vet in the morning. Fingers crossed nothing happens to him while I wait for his vet.

posted: 12/22/2024

Rosie was attacked by coyotes Monday morning oct 7 2024 at 6am . She managed to escape their grasp . I rushed her to the vca animal hospital in Weymouth . I may have broken the speed limit a touch . They gave her a 50/50 chance of survival and rushed her into surgery . She’s a tough little girl we brought her home yesterday oct 8,2024 . She has a lot of staples on multiple huge wounds . She’s on the road to recovery doing very well for the hell she has been through . Coyotes are pure evil with very sharp teeth . I’d like to thank the vca in Weymouth all of their doctors and associates for saving my best friend .

posted: 10/29/2024