WEST CHESTER VETERINARY MEDICAL CENTER

On 6/15/2021 I brought my dog into West Chester Veterinary Medical Center because he was very lethargic, had a fever, frequent urination, knuckling, was having trouble walking, and wasn't eating. Their emergency vet informed me that it was most likely a brain tumor. No other possibilities were mentioned and when asked if it could be anything else she said the symptoms matched up to a brain tumor. She offered blood work, but what was the point if my dog is dying? If my husband were with me that night, I would have put down my best friend. He was unable to be with me that night though so I took my dog back home. After getting some time to digest everything I took him to get another opinion. They didn't believe that it was a tumor but maybe an injury of some sort, however they told me up front that they really didn't know exactly. He seemed to get better but then wasn't doing well again the next day so I took him back to the vet yet again and after some further testing he was believed to have some infection somewhere. After a round of antibiotics, rimadyl, and nausea meds he is back to his happy, bouncy self. My review isn't because of the fact that she didn't know what was wrong with him, but for the fact that when I requested the vet records from that night and read them over myself it had also mentioned wobblers and spinal trauma. Those two things were never mentioned to me that night! If she didn't know the cause, I would have respected her if she simply said she didn't know like the second vet did rather than giving him a death sentence. On 7/6/2021 I emailed the medical director and practice manager my concerns. 7/9 comes and I still didn't hear anything back so I emailed again. On 7/12 I called them and I finally got an email response back from the practice manager basically that she will look into it and speak with the emergency staff about it and get in touch in a few days. Oh and that she apologizes for my loss of my dog. Umm.. did she not read my email stating that he was healthy again?? Here we are on 7/19 and I still haven't heard back from them. It's not even like I am asking anything of them other than a little bit of care and to speak with the vet and warn about giving grave prognosis if she doesn't have a clue. This only tells me that the medical director and practice manager truly don't care about me or my pet. I have been going here for a few years at this point with numerous pets just to have my concerns pushed off to the side. Avoid this practice for their emergency care. They have an excellent rehab team but that is the only plus side of this place. If you need emergency care go to HOPE or VRC.

Beyond horrible. A nightmare that actually happened. They were sent home with totally damaged and bloody mouths , some pain medicine, and NO ANTIBIOTICS! It was downhill from there resulting in my beloved Emmie’s death due to Septic Shock. This is a terrible place now and should have their license pulled. I have used West Chester for at least 30 or more years. It is not the same since it was sold and Willie Weichelt retired. All they do is gouge people with over the moon prices.. with their revolving door of unqualified vets..they let my healthy kitty die because no one cared.. they had their money. I kept taking Emmie and the other two back because they were doing badly.. but not one engaged.. the other two are still alive but struggling. Emmie died due to their neglect. I am just praying Jack and Kacey make it. My heart is broken.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well they handled her. Nobody got hurt, including her, when they examined her and for the first time I didn’t feel embarrassed or overly apologetic. Since then she has had some big health problems pop up. She had a massive bladder stone which they removed without any problems. Last fall, they saved her life from ketoaciddosis which put her in hospital for nearly a week. Now she is on insulin and doing better. Her doctors are always a phone call away. We love Dr. Woodcock! He’s so patient and loving to her,even when she’s behaving terribly. Dr. Parkman and Dr. Chizmar have also taken great care of her too. The fact is that it’s a whole staff effort that creates these great outcomes. I’m forever thankful to them.

In September we had to put down our beloved pet Trip 12.5 yr old lab. The staff was so kind, stayed with us to inform us of the process, completed the process and left us to be alone once completed. They even offered us a private exit to leave the building. They think of all the details. We are now blessed with a new pup, took her there on Friday and again the details they think of are amazing. We were able to schedule our next appointment and pay for the visit all from the exam room. This is very important for people with a new pup, not fully vaccinated.

After Xrays, Dr. Paine put Roxy on cage rest for 30 days along with pain relievers. There was a possibility that she could mend before making the plunge to surgery. After 30 days, Dr. Paine suggested surgery as Roxy hadn't healed as well as he would've liked to see. He discussed cost, pre-surgery,post-surgery, and the likelihood of her making a full recovery. The staff emailed me an estimate, one low and one high. The bill came in under the lowest estimate :) When I picked up Roxy after an overnight stay after surgery, everything was explained to me THOROUGHLY by her nurse. We followed her after-care instructions, and on August 8th, Dr.Paine did her final checkup and her incision and cruciate ligament that he had replaced are healing wonderfully! Dr. Paine was thoroughly involved from beginning to currently, and he let us know everything, answered our questions, was not in a hurry and my cat took really well to him. Also, the staff is just awesome. I received emails, updates, appointment reminders. Whenever they answer the phone, they're polite and help me promptly. Very kind and warm and its very easy to see that they love our animals as much as we do! I would recommend WCVM to anyone, a million times over. This is my second pet over the course of 6 years, and both my dog and cat had exceptional care!

Had the most terrible experience when I took my dog here. She had an ear infection and a bump on her leg that I was concerned about. Dr. Paine took a sample of the bump, looked at it under a microscope and said it "may be" cancerous and that it needed to be removed ASAP. Also, took xrays making sure there wasn't other signs of tumors, plus she has a small grade heart murmur (heard from the vet I use now that this was unnecessary, and could have saved money by doing an ultra sound). Vet bill turned out to be way more than expected. Dr. Paine quickly scheduled the surgery for the removal of the bump for the next week (Wednesday). I left crying and feeling like my dog was going to die from this soon. He put my dog on strong anti-inflammatory/steroids for 3x a day until the surgery making her anxious and not herself at all. I could feel her heart rate/ blood pressure pumping through her chest (must've been okay to give to a dog with a heart murmur). When I got home and rationalized what had just happened, I called Dr. Paine to see if we could get a pathology report before putting my dog's life at risk by putting her through surgery and under anesthesia with a heart murmur. He informed me that it is most likely cancerous and that it would be a waste of money to get one (I could tell by his tone of voice that he did not like being questioned). He was very convincing. Luckily, my mother kept insisting that we get the report done. Called the next day, the staff who answered the phone was very rude because I wanted to change what was planned. It seemed that I was being an inconvenience since I wanted to make sure Dr. Paine was correct and of course, they already threw away the specimen. Dr. Paine explained that it would be hard to get another good specimen of the bump since she was on these awful pills that he gave her that prepared her for surgery. The lady on the phone rudely said that Dr. Paine was booked throughout the day and they'll have double book him. Told her she'll be happy to know that I could not make it in that day (Friday). This was a problem for them since my dogs surgery was scheduled for Wednesday and they would not have the report for 3 days, so they would have to cancel the surgery appointment. So, had to make another appointment, Dr. Paine told me a week before getting it in. Said he'd call as soon as the results came in. Of course, no word from him. I had to track down the pathology report myself. It turned out to be cancerous, but very slow growing. I called to schedule the surgery, Dr. Paine said that I have to make another appointment with the specialist because he will not do the surgery (yet he was so concerned before that it should be removed right away, he scheduled the surgery for him to perform asap. Also, seeing a specialist he referred gives him more money in his pocket and more cost to me for another appointment). Dr. Paine made me feel like I was going to loose my best friend at any given moment and the staff has terrible customer service. I had the worst veterinary experience here and do not recommend this company to anyone, unless you want to get ripped off. 
After all this, I scheduled an appointment with the Malvern Veterinary Hospital. They did a complete and thorough check over my dog, found more little bumps, and I have the choice of removing them or not. Her ears were still bothering her and the vet prescribed benadryl. She has allergies! The vet told me this matter is not as serious as it was made out to be by Dr. Paine. They do recommend that the skin cancer should be removed, but it is not an emergency! The estimate is almost the same amount, but with more work involved. The Malvern Vet has been in business for 90 yrs, and is a family owned business that has been passed down for generations! Needless to say, I left feeling happy, hopeful, and confident with their recommendations.

My elderly cat appeared to have an upper respiratory infection.  I called for an appointment and was told that I could come in later that evening with Dr. Paine.  I had seen Dr. Paine before when I had to euthanize another cat in December.  I felt completely comfortable as Dr. Paine is so professional and compassionate.  He examined my cat, explained his diagnosis and then gave me some options for treatment and tests to help determine the exact cause.  He also performed an overall wellness exam due to her age.  The thing I really appreciate about the West Chester Veterinary Medical Center is their professional, compassionate, skilled yet pragmatic approach to pet healthcare.  He gave me options and his view on what really needed to be done versus things that I could chose to do now or wait to later.  In the end I decided on the treatment plan that I was most comfortable with and that is why I chose West Chester in the first place. Every Vet that I have seen at West Chester has this same level of professionalism, care and compassion.  They always explain the potential cost of service upfront so you can make a fully informed decision on the best course of treatment that is right for your pet.  From my experience with other practices in the past the fee structure is competitive.  The difference or value add that I feel I get from West Chester Veterinary Medical Center is skill, compassion and great customer service.  The entire staff is friendly, helpful and committed to pet health and compassionate care.

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We think they're excellent.  They've always done a great job with us and we always trust them.

I can't say enough about Dr.Parkman she is amazing!  I have gone to her for the past eight years and have gone to this practice since Dr. Wiechelt started the animal hospital in 1990.  I brought in my husky with kennel cough and he treated her amazingly.  She lived a long time thanks to him.  I have to say everyone at the practice is really nice they treat you with respect and go over things with you thoroughly.  They tell you how much things will cost upfront and don't sock you with hidden charges like some other practices whom shall remain nameless do.  They don't try to push procedures on you they recommend instead.  I now live in parkesburg and have to travel a half hour to get to the practice but I don't care they are worth every bit of it.  My special needs kitty who is now going on 18 years old (thanks to them)is worth every minute  of the drive.  They have a separate sitting section for kitties and doggies which is nice as to not stress the animals out.  And someone is there 24hours a day 365 days a year.  I will never goe anywhere else, even if i move out of state it's worth the trip back to west chester to see them!

They are excellent. I use them a couple of times a year. They have a newsletter and they have Saturday hours. They provide a monthly discount every month on some service. They are just awesome with the pets. They stay on time with their appointments and we don't sit and wait forever. They have extended hours in the evenings which is helpful. Their prices are fair in relation with other vets in the area. I've been to multiple veterinarians and I feel that I get what I pay for. It is a very clean place and the people from the desk to the doctors are very friendly. They also offer different diagnostic tests right there.

They are our vets, and are very well pleased with them. Their professionalism, care, and sense of urgency stands out. The price is certainly not cheap, it may be average.

ACL surgery on older dog. compassionate care and attention.
Also, regular yearly preventative care

Upon dropping off my dog the night prior to surgery I was greeted by Rob. He presented me with a copy of the high and low cost of the surgery. When I attempted to ask questions about the bill he informed me that he did not know anything about the procedure or the details of the bill. The doctor on staff was unavailable, however he instructed me to write "call me" on the bill and someone would reach out to me in the morning prior to anything happening. I never received my phone call...instead I received a voice mail from the doctor that the surgery went well.

Relieved that the surgery went well, I called back immediately to gain some insight from the doctor and what exactly he did to fix the knee. I spoke with a staff member and was politely placed on hold, someone then picked up the phone and said she was a nurse and that she would be helping me with my questions. She attempted to answer my questions but responded with answers starting with "I think" and "normally"...she did not have any specifics and instead of stating the fact acted as if I was unreasonable for not accepting vague responses that did not answer my questions. I was instructed that a doctor would give me a call back...when I did not receive a call a few hours later I called back. Same drill, no call back. Maybe the doctor forgot, maybe he didn't get the message...but at this point we were irritated with the level of service received.

The next morning I called back at 9:00 a.m. to see when I could pick up my dog. I spoke with Tammy and was told that an appointment could be set up for 9:30. I asked if they had appointments available after 5:00 and was politely told yes and she set up the appointment...I was NOT informed that in doing so I would be charged for a day of boarding...I assumed this was a part of the $2,700 bill for the surgery. Had I been made aware of the additional charge, I would have adjusted my work schedule and picked up my dog in the a.m. We paid several hundred dollars for the consultation, x-rays, other tests, and our total expense thus far was more than $3,000.
When I picked up my dog I was greeted by Tammy (may have been a different Tammy, I think two work at WCVMC) who was pleasant initially...however that changed when I asked if someone could walk me through my bill. Tammy seemed to get frustrated with me for asking for help and I felt ignored as she stared at the computer screen as I asked questions. The bill looked different than the estimate that I was provided with. I looked through the bill and our conversation turned to the subject of aftercare. Seeing the change in mood, I asked what I should be doing at home to help my dog recover. I was informed that my dogs aftercare/rehabilitation instructions would be provided during the therapist consultation...that I would need to book separately and pay $138 for the initial consultation.

I found this aspect aspect to be very frustrating. Our final surgery cost came in at the high estimate, the staff could not help me understand the details of my bill, and now I could not even get the basic information on how to prevent my dog from hurting himself. Clearly his health was not being placed here and we were being worked through the system. In hind sight I should have demanded to speak with the doctor right away, however my dog looked pathetic. He still had some dried up blood on his leg and my only thought was to get him home to rest.

I called back and left a message complaining of my experience. I finally got a call back from a helpful vet tech who, helped me determine that I was charged more than $90 incorrectly. This amount does not include the additional $30 for the half day of boarding I was not told about.

As stated earlier in my overview, when I finally met with the operating doctor I found out that a different surgery was conducted vs. what was explained to my wife. I deeply regret not personally talking to the doctor at the time I dropped off our dog and signed off on the surgery. I had no clue that it would lead to a failed correction, 5 months of pain for my dog, only to get a second surgery to correct the problem.

The appointment was on time and I was not rushed during the process. Everyone took the time to listen and offer opionions. Dr. Humphries took a blood test on Saturday and said he would call with the results on Monday. He did exactly that. He even combed my cat while we were talking which was very relaxing to my cat who otherwise dislikes the veterinarian.

The appointment was scheduled quickly and professionally. The office is very clean and bright with extensive rehab facilitiies. The vet who attended my dog was very professional and thorough and resolved the problem quickly through prescription medications. The staff was friendly, accomodating and caring. I was impressed.

They are one of the few animal clinics that provide medical boarding. Since they also provide emergency services, there is medical staff on premises 24 hrs./day. They very kindly gave me a tour of the facility and when I checked in, they let me go back with my cat to make sure he was settled in comfortably. I thought pricing was reasonable for the services provided. Everyone was helpful and friendly.

I have had a really good experience with this vet clinic. They are a complete pet hospital. They recently remodeled and they have many treatment options available for your animals. The doctors and the staff are great. You can tell they really care and that they are working on being more efficient.

Noticed my cat did not want to eat, that immediately was a sign there was something wrong. It was in the evening after our regular vet was closed so the recording recommended to use this emergency vet. We took the cat there immediately and they looked at the cat. After examination, they found it was an abscess and so it needed to be opened and cleaned. Because of the cat's age it was recommended that they do liver tests if they need to put them under to perform. They were actually able to do it while he was awake and he did wonderfully. They were very quick and professional and very conscious about the well being of the cat.

Very friendly people...the doctor explained everything and was very nice.

Very impressed with Dr. Kidd. Examined my cat and provided nail trim. Waiting time above average.