I wish to share my concerns with my recent experience at Lucks Lane Veterinary Clinic for the benefit of any seeking the services of a veterinarian. A summary of my issues with the clinic includes:
-The clinic charged $68.34 for an "Examination-Complete", which by my observation consisted of the veterinarian walking in the exam room, taking a wooden tongue depressor and lifting my dog's lip with it to sort of look in his mouth. When asked later, the assistant who handled the intake interview said they did not know whether a full exam had been performed by the doctor. There were no other examination efforts made, other than the veterinarian's assistant taking the animal out of my view to ostensibly get its weight;
-I presented the lab results that cost $103 from another veterinarian for the dental procedure, but the doctor merely gave them a quick glance in the exam room and said that more extensive lab studies were required, for which I was charged $323.07 for what is termed a- "Senior Wellness Profile". I was told that I would be contacted before the day of the dental procedure to give me the results of that more extensive lab work, to confirm that the procedure could take place as scheduled, but I was never contacted, and I was not provided with any details or paperwork detailing the findings of any such additional lab work, until I requested that they be emailed to me;
-During my initial visit to the clinic, the veterinarian's assistant said that an oral Bordetella vaccination was required, for which I was charged $33.06, even though I said I did not want it. (Note that no other veterinarian has ever "required" such a vaccination);
-When I inquired about the amount I was being charged for the preparatory cost of having a routine dental procedure performed, as well as the wide-ranging estimate I was given for the procedure itself that ranged between $656.75 and $1355.98, I was not told whether any of the $498.78 I paid up front would be deducted from the final bill as already having been paid. I learned later that there were incorrect duplicate costs in what I was charged between the initial visit and the procedure cost estimate;
-On the morning of the scheduled dental procedure, I questioned the charges I had already incurred, and expressed my concern that the clinic had charged for an "Examination-Complete" when it was apparent to me that such did not happen. I stated that on the basis of what I had observed I was unsure that my pet would receive the degree of care reasonably to be expected.
To summarize- I was charged several hundred dollars for pre-procedure lab work, even after providing another veterinarian's lab results to Lucks Lane Veterinary Clinic. In questioning those charges, I was dismissed by the two people in the examination room by their saying that if I was not happy that I could find another veterinarian, and that Lucks Lane Veterinarian Clinic does not work the same way that other veterinary practices do. In a subsequent discussion with the business manager for the clinic, I learned that some of the redundant charges were in fact made incorrectly. I was also informed that because of what had transpired, the veterinarian declined to take on my pet as a patient.
As I view my experience with Lucks Lane Veterinary Clinic, I feel that my concerns could have been handled better by the staff members I spoke with. I read numerous positive reviews online for Lucks Lane Veterinary Clinic, so my experience may not be typical.
James Mc. read more
