About us
Animal Hospital
Services we offer
MEDICINE, GENERAL SURGERY, VACCINATIONS, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY, ENDOSCOPY, DIAGNOSTICS, ONCOLOGY, DENTISTRY, DERMATOLOGY, LASER, ULTRASOUND, BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING, BOARDING & GROOMING.
Accepted Payment Methods
- American Express
- Check
- Visa
- Discover
- MasterCard
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 82% | ||
| 6% | ||
| 6% | ||
| 6% | ||
| 0% |
Filter reviews by service
My dog suddenly stopped eating on Monday and she was lethargic. My regular vet was on vacation all week and she is the only vet at her practice who can handle my very shy dog. I didn't want to wait a week so I researched on the internet and found Butler Creek and Dr. Shell. I called for an appointment because I liked the reviews about his care for the animals, years of experience, excellent service and reasonable prices. I was told that they were going into an afternoon meeting and were not taking any more appointments, so I got an appointment for the following day on Tuesday. Dr. Shell was off on Tuesday so I saw Dr. Mills. She and the techs were pleasant and soon put my dog at ease and overcame her fear. After examining the dog and doing x-rays, bloodwork and taking a fecal sample to send off for analysis, Dr.Mills advised keeping her a few hours to give the dog subq fluids. When I picked my dog up that evening, Dr. Mills prescribed flagyl (metronidazole) and a probiotic and bland canned food to go home. I left a message by phone on the next day, Wednesday, because Dr. Mills was off and no one could answer my question about the bloodwork and the fecal sample that was sent out. At my other vet, the techs are able to answer questions but this seems like a new practice and I observed that only the vet seems to have answers or maybe they prefer the vet to be the only one giving answers. On Thursday, Dr. Mills called to check on my dog and she hadn't gotten my message from the day before. She wanted to see Sadie again and check her temp and hydration. I took my dog in that afternoon and Dr. Mills again did bloodwork and said her temp was high but could be from anxiety. The tech took Sadie back and gave her subq fluids and when they brought her back to me, blood started squirting on the wall and the floor! I have given 4 of my own dogs subq fluids in the past 6 years and never had that happen. The purpose is to put the fluids under the skin. You need to make sure you check needle placement before you start the fluid drip. I can only imagine what happened to cause blood to spurt out like that. Dr. Mills was about to dismiss us when I remembered the fecal sample that they sent off 2 days before to check for any parasites. I asked Dr. Mills if they had the results back yet. Amazing to me, Dr. Mills had forgotten about the fecal test and immediately checked on the computer. She seemed surprised and said, "Sadie has Giardia". That was my first thought when Sadie got sick on Monday but I don't want to tell the vet what to do. My regular vet has been practicing many years and I have never known her to forget checking test results. The bottom line for me is, ask for the senior vet because they will usually have more experience and be on top of what tests they have done and they have read your file before they come in the exam room so that they cover everything. I'm still unclear about what the bloodwork results showed that they did twice and I would have appreciated knowing what the results are since I paid so much for the services. I think Butler Creek is a new practice overall and I am not slamming them. I believe they care about animals but after my experience there, I would not go back. To me they seem like they aren't all on the same page and need more training. I was upset by the blood spurting out on the wall and the floor and the nonchalant way it was dismissed like it was no big deal and the vet not checking the fecal test results without me having to ask. If I hadn't asked, the vet would have sent me home without proper medicine, Panacur, and a dog who would have likely gotten sicker and it would have cost me even more to get Sadie well. The prices are higher than I would have paid at my regular vet so I don't think the cost was as reasonable as their website reviews claim. If I had not been in a hurry, I would have waited on my regular vet to come back from vacation.
Dr. Mills and his assistant Diana were top notch. The facility was very clean and inviting and the exam rooms were spotless. The pedicure was done first and was accomplished quickly. Dr Mills came in and examined our cat for the tick but found a scratch with a scab instead of the tick (our misdiagnosis) that was most probably caused by her scratching. Dr. Mills continued the exam and gave our cat a clean bill of health along with some tips.
I felt very comfortable with Dr. Mills, Diana and the staff at the front desk and will continue with Butler Creek Animal Hospital. I would also, without hesitation, recommend them to anyone who wants quality care for their pets.
Our first priority was our 18 year old, Domino. If he responded well to the clinic, then we would take the other two. Because of his age, we knew this first visit and the associated tests would not be inexpensive. (In addition to the basic visit and lab work, we paid $110 for medication.) I don't know how their prices compare to other vets in the area; however, before any procedures were performed they gave me a detailed estimate. I decided to forgo one of the tests and wait for the results of the lab work.
We are very pleased with the level of service, the clinic environment and, most important, the personnel.
The receptionist who greeted us, the veterinary assistants, and Dr. Shell were friendly, efficient and professional. Domino complained very little and is responding well to the prescribed treatments.
My review is based on a 9+-year relationship with Dr. Shell. He is the best veterinarian I know. I have had the opportunity to meet a large number of veterinary providers in the 5 years I did rescue work. None compared to Dr. Shell. When he moved from Marietta to Kennesaw - I followed him. It's a terribly long drive (especially during any rush hour period), but I do it without thinking twice. He is worth the drive. I KNOW my animals are getting the best care possible. He is fabulous with his clients (your pet).
Some 9 years ago, I wandered into Trickum Ridge Animal Hospital looking for a vet for my newly adopted shelter dog. I met Dr. Shell. I was tremendously impressed with how he got on the floor and got to know the dog, while talking with me about various issues we were having. He does not try to kill a gnat with a sledgehammer. He provides sound advice and when he doesn't know something, he says so - does some research and calls you back. I especially like that he will call to check up on things or to give you lab results
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