Mission Animal Hospital

unknown

Felt talked down to by staff. Would have liked to see the vet that I originally chose there. He is generally unavailable. This business seems like its grown to fast and has lost its luster.

One star is too much. Be very careful, the smooth talk about you being a friend is masked behind a very different individual with the owner. My dog died because of him, and it was fully due to negligence which he admitted was his fault verbally, by saying he ?dropped the ball,? and wrote in a letter, but later thought better to recant. Watch out, your animal may be next. Integrity is not a long suit, behind the glitz and trendy office is a factory without a heart, although I trust Dr. Fuller, who is one of the staff.
Here?s what happened. You can make your own decision or search for another vet.
Paloma was a two and a half year old pup that was just becoming an adult. She was as most people described her, sweet and always full of joy. She was well socialized, had five training courses and was accredited with the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification.
Paloma was critically ill and would have died on Wednesday if it weren't for hospitalization. Addison's disease was suspected and the test report confirming Addison's was sent to Mission the following morning, Thursday. Dr. Fuller called me to discuss the finding, and it was agreed that Percorten would be administered, despite its cost. It was then, that morning, that the medicine should have been ordered that would save Paloma's life. (Mission's "timeline" in writing confirms that the report arrived in the morning, and Dr. Fuller's phone call is part of the phone records.) Instead, it was left until the end of the day, when it was too late to get it overnighted, which meant that it wouldn't arrive until Monday. This was neglect in my humble opinion. 
Toman writes that she was sick for a month before she was brought to him.To say that she was sick for a month is misleading. Terry, my lady and I first noticed that she had a tough time getting up one morning and thought it was simply a matter of her legs "falling asleep" as ours sometimes do, since she got up and acted as normal and happy as usual. Once this occurred again on Sunday evening before she went into crisis on Wednesday, I knew this was a serious problem and took her to Mission, and was there before they opened the doors that day. I would do anything for this dog!
There were two days between that Sunday and Wednesday morning when Paloma nearly died. There were two days between Wednesday and Saturday when she did die! With the medicine, she would have lived. The only thing I was told by the doctor was to give her extra Prednisone if she was going out into a stressful situation. He gave me no other information. In retrospect, he should have said to take her to the emergency pet hospital and get the Percorten shot that would save her life. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that four days between a life or death crisis and next Monday might be fatal. When he was asked in court if he met the accepted standards, he turned away, paused and skirted the question. The judge asked the same question again. He answered yes. You be the judge.
The judge told me I should have known my dog was critically ill and taken her to an emergency room. I'm sorry, but that's absurd, we already knew that, but I trusted Toman"s direction by keeping Paloma in a quiet, restful state. What I couldn't have known or anticipated, was that she would suddenly die! I am not a doctor, I depend on doctors to look out for the well-being of my pets. Again, you be the judge.
Once again, it gets back to the delay in getting the medicine on time. It also calls into question the two day splits between Sunday's attack and Wednesday"s life or death crisis, and the assumption that a four day delay would be perfectly fine.
Dr. Toman rudely pointed out that within a few weeks I went out and found another dog. This is true. I was distraught and couldn't sleep. Worst of all, I was pacing around, feeling like a pane of glass. It haunted me that when I moved, there wasn't that cheerful shadow (Paloma) following me. Terry found a dog for me, and it helped to have a loving shadow again, but Paloma's senseless death kept haunting me and does to this day, over a year later. I remember the five painful wails of pain and me running downstairs to catch her as she fell to the floor and took her last breath. I couldn't handle the emotions that ran through my mind. I tried CPR, but collapsed next to her when the sickening reality struck home. And, to think I trusted this man! All it would have taken was a suggestion to go to one of the two hospitals within twenty miles that both carried the medicine in stock. I didn't know that at the time, but I'm sure he did.
What the court should have heard but didn't was that the information and agreement regarding the treatment was all decided early Thursday morning and if it had been ordered overnight, she would be happily playing by my side. 
As a footnote, following Paloma's death, all the front staff that I got to know, changed faces, more doctors were hired and Saturday hours were added to the schedule. Coincidence? Perhaps. You be the judge. Be careful. smiles and glitz without integrity?

We absolutely love Mission Animal Hospital. Dr. Kevin is the best vet in town. His staff is helpful. My little dog resists getting her nails clipped. This appointment the tech was able to hold her and another tech clipped the nails. My dog yelps and whines at home when I do it. Not one yelp or whine at the vets. Well worth the money. They treat pets as they should be treated....with love, patience and respect. Highly recommend this vet.

I like the approach of Dr. Kevin. He's very good at our cat.

This vet was awesome. Sat down on the floor with my animal and wanted to know all about him. Likes, dislikes, behaviors, food, interactions. We nearly talked for a half an hour, at least. It was undivided attention. Pros and cons of treatment for different issues - such as ears, eyes (has torn cornea), herpes. The kitty has been through a lot. Anyway, so impressed. Only wish the doc was available on Saturdays. There is another vet that usually works Saturday I am told. Kevin was the recommended vet and so glad I went to see him.