They refused to see our cat for nearly 3 months, and now say it's too late to treat her…read more
They only reason they even pretended to look at her is that I forced the issue in person, during one of our regular dog visits. (as we have done for decades)
December 15 2023 update:
negative 5 stars. I am beyond any words, and have given myself a couple of days to settle...this is the best I can explain.
Misu may have survived had they not ignored us for months. Now, Blame us for not calling them personally: that's all they got.
Finally, after much effort on our part for more than two months, they agreed to see Misu. Vipay said steroidal treatment is indicated from the pictures, but he wanted to do a thorough exam. However, when I brought her in, He and Bancroft REFUSED to look at her tongue beyond a cursory glance. They refused to look at high-res images I had on my phone that showed it's original form when they originally refused to see her. They refused to touch her tongue even.
Dr Vipay and Dr Bancroft both concurred that it is likely easinophilic granuloma (as Vipay stated is the likely case last week) or a carcinoma. They said it is TOO LATE to treat for granuloma with steroids because it has progressed too far, having caused separation of the sublingual muscle 2 weeks ago...2 months after they initially refused to see her.
The treatment would have been simple in September: steroids. Not a cure, but a mitigation of the spread that could have prolonged her life for years. Now it is months at best and perhaps weeks, per Vipay.
BLAME THE Victim: So, they both (especially Bancroft) went into a lecture that we should have contacted them directly, instead of the clinic. However, when I asked for any contact information, they refused to give any. They said the way to contact them is to contact the clinic and leave a message.....like we did when they refused to make an appointment for a decades-long customer.
So now they refuse to try even the steroids unless we pay for a $1000 biopsy, which we cannot afford. Maybe if they had allowed us to bring her in 2.5 months ago, she would have survived for 10 more years, maybe only 5, maybe not even 1. We will never know. To be clear, Vipay DID say last time that they WOULD have treated her in September, had they accepted her for treatment, based on the pictures back then, which showed two small ulcers on one side of her tongue only,....a month before the tongue split on the edge and two months before it separated from the sublingual muscle.
THE LESSON ABOUT CRAGO IS THIS: If you are a decades-long customer and have an emergency for a cat, then they will ignore you. they will refuse any appointment whatsoever....PERIOD. If you push hard the next time you bring one of your dogs in, they will pretend to care about the cat while they cover their own arses and blame you for their own ignorance.
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Update from December 4th 2023
We took our dogs to crago as usual and I showed the dentist working there pictures of my cat's tongue and he let me know that it is fatal but that he would like to see her immediately. I said that's great but you all refused to see her in September, to which he expressed slight surprise yet said yeah back then we we're busy... And he said that should not have mattered because we have been long time patrons.
So he forced the clinic to make an appointment for next week, and everyone's making every excuse in the book as to why they rejected my cat, but the prognosis would have been much much better according to the dental veterinarian had they accepted her back in September.
So now I have mixed feelings. On one hand finally they're going to see her, but on the other hand they refused us and because that she's going to die a lot younger than she would have.
Still not even worthy of one star
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Below is my original review in September
they love money, but not animals. not compassionate in the least. disgraceful, really. or maybe they just hate cats. they have taken our dogs on emergency basis, but refused for both of our cats. I think it's based on how much money they feel they can make from the given procedure.
despite Wendy and I having taken our animals for years and spending tens of thousands of dollars, Crago refused an emergency treatment for my cat I was stopped eating and drinking and has lesions on her tongue, or even to make a non-emergency.
they are perfectly happy taking money for surgeries and expensive matters, but they definitely have no love for animals.
they will take your money for surgeries. but they cannot be inconvenienced for the sake of the health or welfare of an animal in pain and desperate need