Community Animal Hospital

"I took my cat, Lucinda, in for surgery after having a CT scan and an Ultrasound performed by them prior to her surgery date to ensure that she was a good candidate for her adrenal gland tumor removal surgery, which was causing her to have low potassium. She was doing so well with her potassium supplements I was giving her at home as directed to my local vet, and was her old self prior to taking her to that place. I drove 2 hours to get her there by 8 am. They assured me her labs were to be drawn prior, and they would call me after surgery so I could pick her up by 4. At 10:30 I got a call saying my cat was coding and the girl on the phone said they had “pushed potassium”. She died. I went right back and got there 2 hours later. When I got there I was met by the surgeon. I asked about the potassium. She insisted that she had calculated the bolus of potassium correctly. I asked about the infusion rate and she said “Oh yes it was correct” She denied that they had pushed the drug when I told her what I was told. I’m a nurse and I know how dangerous potassium iv can be and how careful you have to monitor things while you’re administering the drug or it will cause asystole! It cannot ever be pushed directly. I questioned the fact that she was on a potassium drip and died, never made it to surgery, which I could have understood better as a cause of death through surgical risks complications, but they never started. The vet insisted that had “nothing to do with it” and said it would not give me comfort to have a necropsy but the other doctor had offered to do it. I surely didn’t want them to cut up my cat. I said, “ Don’t you think the fact that her heart stopped while on a potassium drip is related?” Then the vet insisted that my cat “may have had cardiac issues”, or internal bleeding before the surgery but they did an $1100 CT scan prior to the surgery. I mean, surely they could see some abnormalities then. It was obvious there had been a problem with the potassium drip which stopped her heart. I call it grasping at straws, and other things I won’t say here. The bottom line is that I’m upset at this point mostly because the surgeon simply denied any responsibility. If I had not been a nurse and understood labs and medications, and physiology that may have worked. But I am, and I asked questions. It’s not like I was threatening a lawsuit! I just wanted to know how this happened! She simply emphatically denied any mistakes. I guess I was supposed to just accept it. But Lucinda was dead. I have been distraught over this whole sordid affair, and it has made me wary about trusting anyone in the animal medical community. They had no qualms charging me over 800 dollars for this, in addition to a total of $2000 for the CT and Ultrasound I had already paid them to ensure my cats safety prior to the surgery. The bottom line is you can’t trust people who cannot admit errors, it leads to incompetence. I’ve seen enough of that in the medical community. Afterwards I waited in the lobby with my Lucinda brought to me in a paper coffin, then 20 more minutes while they sorted my bill. I was crying my eyes out. A stranger in the lobby started crying and gave me a hug I was so upset. My cat suffered. I hate that I entrusted my beloved family member to someone who doesn’t have the courage to admit there was a mistake, whose sole answer was based on CYA. I’m sorry but a mistake I can forgive and work through, a lie I cannot. I have been Lucinda’s voice, and now I will let it go and let Karma do her thing. I regret that I left my precious girl there and promised her it would be ok. I am so sorry I let this happen. Be careful who you trust with your loved ones people."

"Such kind caring wonderful people work here! Thank you for taking care of me and my baby on Dec 8. Even though I wasn’t their regular customer, they showed me and my Prissy girl warmth and love during hard times. Thank you so much!!"

"Kind, friendly and considerate staff. They seem to genuinely care for the animals. Pricing is way better than anywhere else I've found. Also very well kept, very clean. I'm taking all my animals here from now on."

"I have received excellent care for my Australian shepherd Brock. Love the grooming service & reasonably priced. Love the atmosphere & customer service & the Dr.'s. I would recommend. Thank you."

"I took out doodle, Salem for her first visit today and everyone was AWESOME! Dr. Cook was so sweet and caring and put Salem at ease. So happy to have Community Animal Hospital in our lives."