Great Lakes Veterinary Clinic SC

First dog was misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome which we aggressively treated her for(and received a rabies vaccine that day) when she had Hemangiosarcoma that burst and caused instant death almost 2 months later. Another dog was correctly diagnosed with Multicentric Lymphoma(it was pretty obvious as her lymph nodes were hard and swollen) but we took her to UW-Madison for treatment and used Great Lakes for checkups pertaining to the chemo treatment. (of which the head receptionist referred to my dog as an "it" when she was being weighed- "take it over to the scale to be weighed") Had one dog correctly diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (confirmed again by Madison) but nothing given to help the heart issues she had nor was the hydrostatic pressure of her blood vessels checked when she had a severe heart murmur. Our cats "also called an it, this time by a technician" being fixed went fine. Had a dog with severe breathing issues and allergies to which not much was really done at all except antibiotics for a month in which by that time his cancer metastasized and he couldn't breathe or eat at all. The owner misdiagnosed this one. Lastly, a dog diagnosed with proteinuria and we began asking too many questions leading to my wife and I being kicked out. Went to another veterinarian where she had SEVERE MULTIPLE ORGAN FAILURE. HEART-right atrium tumor that doubled that side of the heart/LUNGS/SPLEEN/LIVER---9 TUMORS total. We have kept their diagnosis and our new vets diagnosis including multiple x-rays. We also have another dog who will be seen because Great Lakes diagnosed him with arthritis but the physical exam was so incomplete and not thorough (also in the paper work with multiple areas not even being looked at) that he will have an appt. at a new vet soon. Overall, we had hope when we first went to this vet. We were recommended by a family member who still goes there. The most common answer to questions was "I don't know". Checkups weren't very thorough at all. Some of our dogs had incurable horrible diseases that nothing could be done for but we also had dogs suffer directly from the neglect of the veterinary staff here. We have comparisons from our new veterinarian and I can't believe (nor can they) how Great Lakes missed so much. Great Lakes is a good veterinarian if you need your dogs nails cut, a shot, a pill, or a spay/neuter. They don't seem to have any expertise beyond that as if they got their DVM and then quit learning about the field they are in. (no continued education). All the euthanasia procedures were exceptionally well done except for my dog with the breathing issues because his legs were so edematous that the technician couldn't find a vein for a while in which she dug around the needle causing him discomfort. We trusted this veterinarian very much but they just didn't care about our animals that much. With that being said, I can't recommend them to anyone who actually cares about their animals when other veterinarians in the community would be a much better option with more thorough examinations and correct diagnostic tests being performed.

unknown

We had to have our pet put down so we are not using anyone now. Everything was fine and very good. They were very fair, very professional and very caring. Their prices were fair.

I am pretty pleased with them at this point. I haven't had many chances to use them. Their price is reasonable.

We took our new puppy their for a lump in his stomach and found out he had an umbilical hernia. They did surgery on him, 2 days later the stomach looked the same as before we took him in. We took him back and the internal stitches had come undone.We had to have him put under anestesia a 2nd time nad pay for the surgery again.
Then we took our adult dog there becauses she was vomiting and were told to give her a blan diet, their expensive xrays showed no obstruction. They diagnosed the doggie flu. After another 2 days of her vomiting I took her to a friend who is a vet tech and examined her. She said to take her to her vet right away. That evening the dog started vomiting blood. I took her in right away in the am and the new vet felt her lymphnodes (which were literally golf ball sized- it is written in her chart) and immediately drew fluid and tested it and confirmed our dog had lymphatic leukemia. Had great lakes done a thorough exam they would have found the enlarged lymphnodes and would have been able to start treatment right away. Instead they barely examined her and missed it costing us a few more weeks we could have had with her. I would never take another animal there again.

They are very knowledgeable. They are convenient. I have shih tzus and they are very knowledgeable about shih tzus.

I got there and the doctor was really rough. He grabbed the cat and I'm surprised he didn't just throw the cat over his shoulder to go and give him a shot. He came back in with him and basically dropped him right into my lap. He wasn't very nice at all. The price was pretty competitive, a little pricier. They were able to take me that morning, but they left me waiting there a while.