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Girard Veterinary Clinic
Category: Pets Veterinarians Veterinarians [Edit]
2806 W Girard AvePhiladelphia, PA 19130
Neighborhood: Brewerytown
(215) 232-0831
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm
About This Business:
Get veterinary care on your schedule! Everything from preventative care and problem diagnosis and treatment (skin, metabolism, behavior,… read more »
26 reviews for Girard Veterinary Clinic
26 reviews in English
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Review from Scarlett L.
Philadelphia, PA
2/2/2012
I took my rabbit for a spay at Girard Vet. It was the first time I took her to any vet so I was hesitant. Phone service was fantastic, they gave me lots of info.
On the date, the front desk seemed new, I waited over 15 mins for a drop off. However, They accepted the low cost spay/neuter program, which was fantastic. I just paid a copay for medications.
I never actually saw the doc. A nurse brought bunny out to me at pick up. She gave me pain meds and instructions on how to care for her and told me to call with any issues. It's been 2 days and she's back to herself.
I'm very pleased they took good care of her. -
Review from Kimberly W.
Philadelphia, PA
4/9/2012
Yay! I FINALLY found a vet clinic that's compassionate, excellent, and reasonably priced! Took the kitty in to Girard Vet Clinic as a walk-in first thing in the morning, and there was already a bit of a line. (Be sure to get there at least 15 mins before they open if you don't have an appointment!) However, I can totally see why they're so popular; the level of care and compassion here is amazing, and their prices can't be beat! My poor, sick kitty was seen to by the lovely and compassionate Dr. Byrd, was given a shot of antibiotic & anti-inflammatory meds to help with his sore gums, and the Dr. was extremely sharp and on the ball when it came to diagnosing and treating some of the cat's underlying issues. I think I've found a new regular vet! Very happy with the service here, and the people in the waiting room are very friendly, as well! :) Just excellent! :)
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Review from Lauren D.
Philadelphia, PA
4/19/2012
After having a pleasant first experience at my dog's check-up a few months ago, he needed to go in for X-rays. The vet (which has seriously un-accommodating hours) told us we could drop him off in the morning for the x-ray and either wait until done (around noon), or board him & pick him up between 4 and 5. We opted to wait, but then were told to leave. After several calls throughout the morning & afternoon, we were told he had not been sedated or x-rayed, to THEN get a call that they wanted to reschedule his appointment. When I refused to reschedule because I had worked from home and dropped him off HOURS earlier, they other option they offered me was to take my 130lb dog out of their clinic in a partially sedated, "wobbly" state, instead of honoring the appointment we had made by extending their office hours. This mishap was attributed to "emergency visits," and as a person in healthcare, I do understand the urgency of emergency situations, but this office clearly lacks a system comprehensive enough to meet the needs of their animals & customers. Needless to say, we will not be going back. 0 out of 5 in my opinion.
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Review from Melissa D.
Philadelphia, PA
9/23/2011
Dr. Balzer is fantastic. She is friendly, energetic, knows what she's talking about and gets the job done quickly (without making you feel run over). What I like best is that she has stayed in the neighborhood for so long and offers more affordable care than anywhere in Philly. That shows heart.
I just read Garrett M.'s review though and feel conflicted now. What happened to Garrett and his cat is, as he said, "unconscionable," and I have a feeling it was NOT Dr. Balzer who was treating his pet but rather one of the other doctors that works part-time at the Girard clinic. Garrett, I'm glad you got your cat to Penn and that he made it through!
Based on my own experience though, I've got to give this place 5 stars. -
Review from Joshua S.
Philadelphia, PA
5/6/2012
To start off it is difficult to get an appointment unless you show up in the morning and wait literally hours for their open clinic or you are willing to wait weeks for an open slot. I went to the Girard Clinic for paperwork to take my cat overseas which basically required a blood test and filling out forms and sending them to government agencies....not the most difficult thing I would think (although it cost close to $400).. At any rate all I got was a lot of misinformation about the process (even when I had all of the papers in order to begin with), I had to wait weeks for the blood work (which in reality was finished in three days), and in the end they messed up the filing of the paperwork (the vet forgot to sign it) forcing me to miss a flight costing me hundreds of dollars and for me to make a trip to Harrisburg to do everything myself which I was paying them hundreds of dollars to avoid. When I made a complaint to the manager and the vet trying to be proactive and rectify the situation, all I received was a lot of grief and outright lies on their part, threatening to not to give me my cat's bloodwork results (which I had already paid for). I strongly do not recommend this clinic. Maybe this was a fluke, maybe they are better with surgeries than filling and signing a simple form...but there are enough vet's in Philly....choose someone else
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Review from Garrett M.
Philadelphia, PA
2/26/2011
I'd taken my cat here to get neutered before and it went off without a hitch.
But earlier this week, I'd noticed that he was having difficulty urinating. He was straining, spending a good deal of time in his litter box, and passing very little fluid. I immediately took him to this animal hospital and explained the problem. They said they would hold on to him until at least the evening and to call that afternoon.
When I called, I was told that he had started passing blood in his urine, and that they wanted to keep him overnight.
The next day, they call me and tell me that he's taking in fluid and urinating without issue and that I can come take him home. When I come to pick him up, they give me some medication for his joints. I ask what it's for, and the vet tech says that he seems "a little sore." She then proceeds to explain that "Sometimes older cats have trouble with their joints." I told her that my cat is only three, to which she replies "Yeah."
...Okay. So I take him home. He still has trouble urinating, but I figure that it will pass.
The next day, I notice that he's severely lethargic and almost completely incapable of urinating. At this point, he's just lying in his litter box. I call the vet, and she asks if his bladder is distended. I feel around and say I'm not sure. She says that if his bladder is distended, I have to take him elsewhere because they are closing.
At this point, I'm panicking. I ask if she knows what is/was wrong with him, and she says that they didn't think they needed to catheter him (even though I brought him in because he couldn't urinate) and that they couldn't get any urine to test (despite the fact that they had told me that he was urinating all day without issue and THAT IS WHY they let me take him home).
It is at this point that I realize that I have to take him to an emergency vet. When I get him to UPenn, they immediately take him in and put a catheter in him because his bladder is very distended and his urinary tract is blocked. They wanted to run some tests and keep him for a couple of days... they also told me that it's good that I had brought him in, because he would have died without veterinary care.
Now, I understand that with this sort of business, the reviews on Yelp are perhaps more likely to reflect whether or not the vet was able to help, regardless of whether the problem could have even been helped.
HOWEVER, the veterinarian LIED to me. Whether it was when I was told that my cat was urinating without problem and that I could take him home or if it was when I was told that there was no urine available to test, these people lied to me. I paid almost $200 for them to sell me medication my cat didn't need, to lie to me, and to endanger my cat's life... and that is simply unconscionable. -
Review from evie p.
Chicago, IL
7/11/2011
I have been going to Dr. Balzer with my two adult cats for 3 years and I've had a great experience.
-She always answered my questions with patience and in detail - never felt like she had one foot out of the door to see her other patients (and she gets quite busy there)
-Great bedside manner with my cat
-Offered affordable and very effective remedies. My cats were poisoned by rat poison my landlord put in my apartment (and failed to tell me about) - Unfortunately my other 9 year old cat had to be put to sleep because of the irreparable liver failure this caused him but my younger 4 year old cat recovered beautifully from the poisoning with her prescription of medication - Milk Thistle pills from Whole Foods to cleanse his liver - At first I was skeptical of her herbal suggestion but I had no need to be - he recovered absolutely wonderfully, is better than ever, eating healthy again and gained back all the weight he lost - the milk thistle only cost $11. I feel other vets would have charged unnecessarily expensive medicines/procedures.
-I like that they participate in the discounted spay/neuter voucher program, and that they never send a pet home who gets neutered without pain meds - they also treated my cat's avulsed nail free of charge when he went in for his neutering
-Only downside is the front desk folks sometimes seem rushed/rude
-The office cats are very sweet and make the place feel homey -
Review from Ellis M.
Philadelphia, PA
11/9/2011
I love this veterinary clinic! Took my cat to Dr Byrd (the new vet) yesterday and she was so kind to my (understandably) stressed kitty. She was good at explaining issues with my cat and honest and upfront. If you don't want to be told that your cat is fat, don't go; but, the vets are advising you so that your cats stay healthy. The support staff is also great. Had to take home some antibiotics and they were very thorough in explaining directions. The kitties who live in the office are adorable. Finally, as others have said, the prices are very reasonable. It's a nice, casual, and friendly environment.
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Review from Sarah F.
Updated - 12/12/2010
After my last visit here my opinion has changed. I took my formerly stray cat in for his annual exam/vaccinations. He tends to get a little primal when in uncomfortable situations. He growled and hissed at Dr. Balzer, but still allowed her to touch him, and at no point did he try to bite or strike her. She decided she was uncomfortable with him, and refused to examine him without anesthesia.
I felt as a vet, that she should have been able to handle a nervous cat. So my poor cat ended up being, drugged. He urinated on himself and vomited for the rest of the day.
I'll be finding a vet that is more comfortable handling the animals they care for.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2010
I love this vet, its affordable, and they know what they are doing. Dr. Balzer asks a lot of… Read more »
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Review from Nicole R.
Philadelphia, PA
1/17/2011
Dr. Balzer and the rest of the staff at GVC are amazing! I've brought both our dogs, all 3 cats and our various fosters here on many occasions.
Dr. Balzer is extremely thorough, has a great bedside manner with the furry ones and it truly seems as though she treats each pet that comes in as if it were a member of her family. Regardless of how busy she is (and this place gets pretty damn busy) she has always taken the time to answer all of our questions thoroughly and honestly without haste.
I love that GVC participates in the low-cost spay neuter program and truly gives back to the community by helping local strays & rescue groups.
It does take some time to get an appointment here but they have walk-in hours in the morning which are great if you have an emergency. They are a clinic so you can expect some wait time & the waiting room is a bit crammed (not so fun if your dog has "issues" with other dogs).
Regardless of how busy the clinic is everyone is always so sweet & helpful and after any procedure you can expect a follow up call the next day to make sure everyone is doing OK. -
Review from Meira V.
Philadelphia, PA
2/23/2011
People rave about Dr.Balzer, but my experience was pretty bad. I had to take my sick foster cat in to see her and had to bring my kids along because I couldn't find childcare -- ok, so bringing kids along already assures it's not going to be the best visit to the vet, that's my fault, and I apologized for that from the start. Trust me, it's a rare parent who WANTS to bring young kids on an emergency visit to a busy vet's office, what a nightmare. If I could've avoided that, I would've.
I had to wait out front, and then I had to wait a while in the room. She came in, listened briefly to my description of the cat's issues, and said it was hopeless, he needed to be put to sleep. She didn't ask me to remove him from his carrier, she didn't examine him -- she barely even glanced at him. His issues were not communicable. I don't know why she didn't even bother to touch him.
He was a really nice young beautiful cat, and I had become rather enamored of him during his stay at my house -- between the news that he needed to be euthanized, my frustration over her extremely brief review of his situation, AND my kids being there -- I NEVER cry but I started tearing up and practically begged if anyone could sit with my kids for just a minute, so I could at least be with him while he was euthanized -- her response was to get annoyed and impatient with me. I was incredulous. She's rumored to fix animals other vets give up on -- maybe she does, maybe she was actually annoyed that she couldn't fix mine . . . I don't know. But she was cold and curt and completely insensitive when I really would've appreciated just a little compassion.
I've done foster care for a while, I understand that they can't all be saved, and I believe there is such a thing as a good death -- and I believe that people who care for animals owe them a good death. All I wanted for him was to having loving, familiar arms around him in his last moments. He didn't get that, I got treated rudely -- it was fail, all the way around. -
Review from Lisa Y.
Philadelphia, PA
10/27/2011
The Vet's are good actually better than good...
but the real problem is getting pat DANA the office manager - she runs it as her own personal fiefdom and she is the QUEEN. Don't think you can talk with a VET with out her okaying it - plus she informed me that the vet's want NOTHING to do with the financial aspects of the business?? Hello? Who died and made her the top VET? -
Review from Matthew S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/21/2008
I can't say enough GOOD things about Dr. Balzer and this clinic. We recently moved to the area, and took our dog there because they were close and, we heard, very affordable. The people are friendly and very respectful of us and our dog.
They helped us through a very difficult time as our dog had developed Cushings disease. We discussed treatment alternatives, how to keep him comfortable, and finally, they were very compassionate as we made the painful decision to have him euthanised.
Overall, they are kind, knowledgeable, compassionate people.
My one complaint is that it is sometimes hard to coordinate a return call. They are a nonprofit, I believe, and a bit understaffed. We found it was easier to just stop in for feedback on test results and such.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Marlene E.
New York, NY
12/19/2006
Dr. Cindy Balzer is an excellent veterinarian. She possesses true empathy and love for all animals. She has set the bar that I compare all other veterinarians to.
Several years ago I was found by two stray kittens and they decided to keep me. At the time, I was a full-time grad student and on a tight budget. The Morris Animal Refuge referred me to Dr. Balzer. She accepts Morris' neuter/spay vouchers and also administered all the necessary shots and tests for a reasonable fee.
Girard Veterinary Clinic is situated in a low income neighborhood and provides a tremendous service to the local community while remaining affordable. Only walk-in appointments are available. Sometimes the wait is long, but Dr. Balzer is worth it.
Dr. Cindy Balzer is also one of the few veterinarians in Philadelphia who handles and treats ferals.
I was awakened one night by frantic sounds outside my apartment. I ran outside to sadly discovered that a possum had attacked and killed a tiny kitten. Here a feral cat had recently given birth and was she was nesting nearby. I immediately became very attached to "Mama Kitty". I fed and made a shelter for her and her brood. Once she weened the remaining litter -- I was able to find homes for all of them. Unfortunately "Mama Kitty" was too feral to tame and bring indoors.
With Dr. Balzer's guidance I was able to trap "Mama Kitty" and brought her in to be spayed and vaccinated. I felt relief to be able to release her back into urban wilds knowing she'd now have a better chance of survival.
Dr. Balzer's compassion enabled me to help this poor creature and play a small part in controlling the local feral population.
We need more vets like her. -
Review from Keith F.
Philadelphia, PA
3/23/2010
Dr. Balzer saved my puppy's life. The day after getting our 10 week old boxer/terrier mutt puppy, she became very sick (Parvo) and nearly died. My girlfriend and I went to Dr. Balzer and she brought our dog through it. The staff were all incredibly nice to us and even let us in just before/after business hours so that we could come to see our puppy and hold her for a little while each day.
All in all, she was in the vet for 3 days with piles of medications and and IV for 2 of those days and the complete bill came to $214. If we had gone to Penn, this would have been at least an order of magnitude more expensive. It has been 12 months since this, and as long as I live in the city, I will never visit another vet and I recommend that same for everyone else!
If you are going to the vet for the walk-in time, make sure to get there at least 30 minutes before opening, or it is likely that you won't be seen that day. The first 9-10 that show up are seen during walk-in hours in the morning (plus the emergency visits). -
Review from Julia N.
11/19/2009
Dr. Balzer is fantastic. She has that quietly in-charge demeanor (wait, what's that, Cesar? "Calm assertive™?" OK...) that animals love and respect. Even my, uh, opinionated cat (who once sliced up a vet so bad that he had to leave the room to clean up all the blood) cooperates with her.
I find Girard's prices to be super reasonable, and my only problem with them is that it's tough to get in to actually see Dr. Balzer. You can go in and wait early in the morning, when it's first come, first served, or call for an afternoon appointment, which tend to book up months in advance. No evening or weekend hours, either. Not so convenient, but Dr. Balzer's worth it. -
Review from Julie C.
Philadelphia, PA
12/4/2009
Dr.Balzer once saved my cat's life. She is so amazing and friendly and flexible.
If you're fixing a kitty or puppy, get them a neuter/spay voucher for $30 at Morris Animal Refuge, and then take them here with it at no extra cost.
My favorite experience with Girard Vet is the time I sat in the waiting room and hung out with a baby goat who was terrified of the office cats and was nervously just clip-clopping about.
Balzer is the best! -
Review from Mary S.
5/7/2010
I had my dog spayed at GVC and they were very helpful and supportive of all my questions when I brought my dog in for the procedure. I had gone to Morris Animal Rescue and purchased discounted spay coupons that were accepted here in order to get my dog spayed but not break the bank. Regardless of this I was treated just like any pet parent and My dog made it through with flying colors. The scar from the procedure is barely even visible today.
I would definitely recommend this clinic to other dog owners, the only reason I don't use them full time is because it is so far from my house in south Philly and traffic gets pretty bad up in that area when I can usually get my dog in. -
Review from James B.
Philadelphia, PA
4/5/2010
I used this vet out of desperation when I discovered that my guinea pigs, which are considered "exotic pets," could not be seen by 95% of the vets in the greater Philly area. I was told that Dr. Balzer had experience treating guinea pigs, so I brought them in.
The first visit was for mites, a fairly common issue with guinea pigs. It should be noted that like most serious GP owners I have an extensive knowledge of their health issues and how to handle them. (A cursory googling of the facts I assert here will confirm them to be accurate.)
Dr. Balzer was friendly but I was thrown off by two suspicious things. The first thing was, when I told her it was mites, she began looking through my arm hair to see if I had any. The type of mites that GP's get do not transfer to humans - under any circumstances. It seemed like something she should know.
The other thing was that she said she had a guinea pig, and that it lived outside in a wood hutch. Guinea pigs that are not living in the wild should never live outside. The temperatures in even just the fall will kill them.
She also asked me other things like if I was giving them Vitamin C drops (a very last resort way of getting it to them - you should always try to get it to them via frequent veggies.) All in all I was left feeling like this woman had only the most cursory idea of how to treat my animals, even though she did dose them with the proper medication (Ivermectin).
I really hadn't intended to go back, but I did because I got into a desperate situation where one of my GP's was rapidly losing weight. When I brought him in, I had mentioned that there were two new GP's in the house (living in another pen altogether, with no interaction with the sick one.) Her conclusion was that he was not eating due to stress of the smell and awareness of new animals in the house.
Now look. It's true, guinea pigs do weird stuff that makes them sick when they are afraid or stressed - they're just that stupid. But the idea that my GP would be wasting away over such a situation was just out of control ridiculous. But she wouldn't accept that something else might be wrong! Another shocking thing was how different her scale (one meant to weigh newborn babies) was from mine. It was a dramatic difference, enough to make me think my scale was broken or off. Some testing around made me certain that it wasn't - hers was just dead wrong. When dealing with a sick guinea pig, even an ounce of weight loss can be a sign of a serious issue. So to have her scale off by 6-7 ounces was not acceptable.
You'll be happy to know that the GP in question, Cookie, is alive and well more than a year later. It turned out he had become anorexic because he didn't like the food I'd switched him to, and that ended up giving him scurvy. He is now the fattest GP I've ever seen. I discovered all this by taking a 2 hour bus to a proper farm animal hospital in New Jersey.
The crowded waiting room that's the size of a thimble I could deal with, as well as the long wait and the first come first serve nature of their service. (If you get there in the morning and aren't one of the first 10ish to sign in, you will be turned away.) But Ms. Balzer clearly only has the most cursory familiarity with treating exotic animals, and I would not trust her with mine ever again. -
Review from toni r.
Jenkintown, PA
2/10/2010
I have used a number of vets throughout B.C., Sweetie Pie and Quentin's lifetime. I've been to the fancy-shmanciest that actually had a play area, to the "take a number and wait your turn like everyone else". The latter, although afordable, usually smell like urine and bleach. Girard Veterinary Clinic is the best of both worlds, sans the aroma of urine and bleach, and sadly, the play area. In fact, the waiting area is so small, it's best to leave your best, supportive bud at home, or send her to the luncheonette across the street. The fretting moms and dads need a seat.
The staff is...well, i don't want to say friendly...they aren't mean...well, i guess it's safe to say, they aren't there to make friends, but you can rely on them as if they were your best bud. They are competent and show compassion to you and your little sick friend.
Dr. Cynthia Balzer is an absolute peach. Were it possible, I'd make her my primary. Not only does she have compassion for your pet, if you are in agony about your pets illness, she is ready with soothing words and a box of tissue. As for her medical skills, Dr. Balzer is amazing. She is driven by her passion to provide the best in care for your pet. She gets in there, asks all the right questions, makes her assessment and will call you a day later to see how things are going. The woman rocks!
The best part about Girard Vet is the price list at the counter as you are checking out. If you go to another vet, and they say they don't provide a price list, look at them as if they are morons and go to see Dr. Balzer. Oh, but if you are going to go as a walk-in, you need to get there by 7am because they only take the first 10. Or, you can call and make an appointment. -
Review from Molly S.
Philadelphia, PA
5/2/2011
I've used Girard Vet for the last year and a half for my 3 cats and one dog.
Pros:
1. Dr. Balzar's prices are very reasonable. We brought in a stray cat for a checkup/spay only to find out that while she was already spayed her teeth were completely rotten and most needed to be removed. With anesthesia, it was under $120 and a few dollars less than quoted.
2. Dr. Balzar and staff are good people. I believe they genuinely care about the people and animals they see. I've seen deals/payment plans worked out for people who couldn't afford a necessary procedure.
3. The people in the waiting room. The people in the waiting room are good people. There are lots of crazy cat ladies and people who do rescue. They're really friendly. I've seen a client offer to pay for the spay of a cat that a poor college student found and was trying to care for.
Cons:
1. Atmosphere: It's really busy and has more of a Planned Parenthood feel than a private doctor's office.
2. Dr. Balzar seems a bit more comfortable with cats than dogs. She's pretty good with my big, dumb friendly lab, but I've heard from a friend with more difficult dogs, that she just didn't seem comfortable.
3. Level of service: I think Dr. Balzar is great for routine maintenance and procedures, and she definitely does not push extra procedures that drive prices up, however when it comes to more complicated issues, I think one might want to go somewhere else. I have a cat that is not peeing in the box, and she did not seem to think urinalysis or blood work were necessary. I am going somewhere else for a second opinion.
I'm going to continue using Girard vet for routine care. Their prices are reasonable, and they're people I want to support. However, I will be going elsewhere for more complicated issues. -
Review from Matt L.
Philadelphia, PA
9/29/2008
The doctors are amazing and caring and they really know their stuff. Unfortunately you will have to wait for it. Plan on taking off the whole morning or afternoon to sit and wait to see the doc at this fist come first serve basis. I had to switch vets simply because I could no longer afford the wait for a basic check up or rabies shot.
I did love the doctors and service, but I couldn't handle having to wait so long (sometimes 3 hours) and if you're not seen in themorning you can get bumped to the afternoon...if you can wait that long.
its really too bad. -
Review from R B.
Philadelphia, PA
8/3/2010
The best vet I have ever been to. If she took people I would want her to be my doctor.
She saved my cat's life and has tended to our three kitties for many years. All of my friends bring their animals here & always have great things to say about Girard Vet.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Joe R.
Philadelphia, PA
1/7/2010
We have been taking our two dogs and four cats to Dr Balzer for almost three years now.
Dr Balzer is great with our animals and we are very happy with the care that they get. Her prices are also very reasonable compared to the Center City places that we have gone to. The office is not fancy and I feel like they care more about taking care of your pets than having a fancy waiting area.
Afternoon appointments do need to be scheduled out ahead of time - at least a few weeks - but I like the option of coming in unscheduled in the morning. You will wait and will need to be there early to get seen, around 7:30am, but a little waiting is worth it if we feel the need to get one of the animals in right away.
We also had to put down one of our dogs earlier this year - she was an older shepherd mix that we rescued a few years earlier. Not a great time but Dr Balzer and all the staff were extremely caring and considerate throughout the whole process. They made sure that Pinky was comfortable and gave us all the time we needed to say good byes.
Yikes - getting a little teary thinking about it.
It is hard to explain but we feel like Dr Balzer and her staff are more concerned about caring for animals than they are for coddling owners. -
Review from Jim K.
Philadelphia, PA
7/1/2009
In emergency, it is tough to find a place to take your pet, but Girard vet clinic isn't a problem. You will have to get to the place no later than 7:30 am as they only see the first 10 walk-ins, but that's fine for my babies. I took my cat there twice, but even though I had to wait it was worth it because there was something wrong with my cat and she needed immediate attention.
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Review from veronika p.
Philadelphia, PA
3/12/2008
I was really, really disappointed by Girard Vet Clinic. I had high hopes for this place and I was really let down. I took my puppy, Henry, here for a check up for a lump he had on his stomach. The vet grabbed him and put him on the table, didn't give him a chance to sniff her or anything, and started roughly grabbing at him and poking and prodding. She told me that the lump on his stomach wasn't serious (an umbilical hernia). She then started looking at his ears and started grilling me about how often I clean them and I told her I just did it - I used a special solution I got at a pet store and was very careful about cleaning his ears. She grabbed Q-tips and solution and started cleaning his ears - without asking me if it's okay (I don't like using q-tips with my dogs. Any slight movement and they can puncture their eardrum, plus, another vet told me that q-tips can compact the wax further in the ear and cause ear infections). Henry didn't like this, and squirmed (probably because she was being so rough) and she pulled his lead so tight that his tongue became blue. She then started grilling me about how often I wash him (about every 2-3 weeks) because apparently his coat looks dry. I told her that I use moisturizing dog shampoo and dry food with lots of protein so his hair will be nice and she didn't believe me. When she was done examining him - if you can call it that - I asked if it was okay if I can give him one of the treats I brought for him now. She said, "Why are you giving him a treat? He wasn't behaving well at all." I said that she wasn't handling him correctly, and he was scared (besides the fact that he hates being groomed). This was actually pretty good for him. She then starts lecturing me about how I'm doing him and her a disservice. I told her that I didn't come in for her to instruct me on training my dog, and she wouldn't take that as a sign to stop. I was very, very appalled at the way she treated my dog and me. Anyone who knows me knows that I take very good care of my dogs and they are extremely important to me - the vet at this clinic implied that I didn't know what I was doing and was in some way harming them. Even though I'm a college student and can't afford it, I'm going to start taking my dogs to Queen Village where I know I'm treated respectfully and more importantly, my dogs are well taken care of.
