Hilltowns Veterinary Clinic

She killed our dog. Three days after admitting him, all the while assuring us that he was doing well and that waiting was not an issue, she finally operated on him at 8:30pm. Two days after he passed away, we received a $1,200 bill, accompanied by a fabricated account of how WE delayed his surgery. We are still heartbroken.

unknown

I called the Hilltown Vet (our regular provider) to see our cat about an issue with diarrhea. They saw him very promptly (that afternoon). We brought a stool sample along that showed nothing to the naked eye, but she said that it would be sent out for examination and that they would call with the results (they never did. I had to call them). She assumed that he had worms and gave him Drontal while at the office.
I was in the exam room standing with the vet (Sharon Lynch) the entire time while she checked the cat. Her checking consisted solely of palpitating his stomach and listening to his heart for a good minute or two.
I was given a week's supply of Metronidazole pills and Fortflora packets to be given daily. the bill was $138. I paid it and took the cat home. When I got home I looked at the itemized bill, which included an exam fee of $42 and $30 for the Fortiflora - 30 packets at $1 each. We were only to give the cat 14 of these packets.
I was a little irritated by these charges and called the vet office, speaking to a technician. I said that if I was going to be charged $42 for an exam, I would expect the vet to take my cat's temperature, look at his teeth, his eyes and in his ears. She did none of these. I told her that I was hoping that she would put a note in the records stating that I had called, and that I felt I should be 'owed' an exam when next we brought the cat in. She agreed to write this in the record, but not that we would get the next exam as part of this $42 cost.
I then pointed out the discrepancy about the packets of medicine and she told me that they sold them in 30 pack boxes and would not break up the boxes (these were individually sealed foil packets).
A few days later I opened our mailbox to find an envelope from the vet that stated that they would no longer work with our pets due to my phone call (I never lost my temper during the call). They also included our records, so that we could share them with our pets' next provider. Imagine my surprise when I saw the write-up of Jagger's March 10th, 2015, exam, which included the following (these are quotes):
EARS: Both the ear canal and pinna are normal and he seems to hear fine
(I was in the room the whole time and the Vet never looked in Jagger's ears)
EYES: Jagger's eyes are normal. the eyeballs, eyelids and associated structures appeared normal. Jagger appears to have normal vision.
(I was in the room the whole time and there was NO eye exam at all)

MOUTH/TEETH/GUMS: Mild to moderate dental tartar.
( was in the room the whole time and the vet never looked in Jagger's mouth)
What Sharon Lynch (Hilltown Veterinary Clinic) did amounted to fraud. I looked at past exams for our cat in the records they sent and see much the same thing as regards to ears, eye and nose exams. Did she ever look? I wonder.
I am not complaining because I was over-charged for my visit. I am complaining because our cat's medical records are a lie. In these records she stated things that she has no way of knowing. To my mind this is malpractice. I would not recommend this veterinarian to anyone.
To be fair, I will state that Jagger's diarrhea did clear up after the visit.
PS: I brought our dog, Ziza, to her a few years ago when she was limping. Within 2 minutes she had diagnosed an ACL injury that she stated would require surgery to correct. She wanted to schedule it right them. I was skeptical, considering that no xrays or any diagnostic (other than a physical examination of the area) was done. hence, I took no action (and the dog subsequently recovered on her own, with no treatment).

unknown

NO WHERE have I ever recieved the service that is offered at this clinic. They understand how difficult it is to leave your beloved pet overnight and provide the best possible care for your animal while they are there. My animals are actually excited to visit with Sharon and Fred. I have never taken my dog to the vet and have him drag me to the door it has always been the other way around. Thank you Hilltown Vet Clinic for the care provided to both me and my pet in our time of need. You have always been there for us no matter how big or small our need has been. You won't find this type of service in the big animal hospitals no matter where you look!

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