Veterinary Emergency Group Review
On a harrowing day, my 15-year-old dog Charlie, who is incredibly gentle and never bites, suffered a traumatic eye injury. After hitting his head on a railing, his eye began to protrude, and he was in obvious pain. I rushed him to the Veterinary Emergency Group in Falls Church, VA, around 3 PM.
Stop #1: Veterinary Emergency Group - Falls Church Location (7500 Leesburg Pike, Suite 11, Falls Church, VA 22043)
Despite Charlie's severe condition, the staff did not prioritize his injury. After waiting for two hours (8 PM to 10 PM), they referred us to their Georgetown location, a 20-minute drive away, failing to see the urgency of an eye injury.
Stop #2: Veterinary Emergency Group - Georgetown Location (2311 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037)
Upon arrival, Charlie and I were placed in a room where vitals were taken, and then we were left unattended for two hours. After raising my concerns, a doctor finally arrived, stating that talking to me was delaying care for my dog. She ordered tests, which I had to prepay before any action was taken.
They sedated Charlie only to discover they lacked the equipment for the necessary eye pressure test. I was told other locations had the equipment but were unwilling to share. Hours later, the vet suggested returning on Monday for an eye pressure test, diagnosing "dry eye" instead of addressing the obvious injury.
The vet admitted she had not conducted the appropriate tests, yet prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs without a proper diagnosis. She refused to refund the charges for the unperformed services and showed no empathy or urgency regarding Charlie's severe condition.
During our wait, several other patients were attended to, seemingly due to preferential treatment, while Charlie's critical injury was ignored.
Stop #3: Friendship Hospital for Animals
At 4:15 AM, I arrived at Friendship Hospital for Animals, the only other 24-hour facility available. They immediately took Charlie in and started treatment. Within an hour, I had a diagnosis and treatment plan. Although they couldn't save Charlie's eye due to the delay, they quickly alleviated his pain and suffering, demonstrating genuine care and respect for both him and my time.
Conclusion
The Veterinary Emergency Group's handling of Charlie's emergency was unacceptable, reflecting a lack of priority for urgent cases, insufficient equipment, poor communication, and a disregard for patient well-being. I strongly recommend reconsidering this establishment for emergency care. I am exploring legal actions, disputing charges, and sharing this review to prevent others from experiencing similar neglect, any suggestions?
5/25/23 Took my cat to VEG Dallas for pancreatitis. When I picked him up, it was clear that he was not properly cared for since the cage was was full of litter, his litter pan was completely soaked with urine, and his paws were filled with clay clumped litter. They had to sedate him to clean him up. When I confronted the doctor, she agreed that the condition of his cage was horrendous and should not be that way, and the care was unacceptable. I took him home and ended up taking him to another pet ER, but he was so far gone from their lack of care that I lost him a few days later. These people should be shut down. Not sure how the state authorities allow them to stay in business.
On February 8 2023 I took my little Yorky too emergency, Veterinarian Group my dog was not in any pain when I took her. The doctor gave her an IV for three hours. I was told that my dog was supposed to have and I’ve overnight the doctor misdiagnosed my dog when I left with my dog and went home. An hour later my dog was in so much pain she was crying. So I called the doctor back that morning on the ninth to tell them, my dog was in pain and why Did the doctor send my dog home without pain medication? My dog died on February 10, 2023. I’m so sad I miss her.
If I could give this place a zero I would....BEWARE PET OWNERS!!!!!! I have recently sought out treatment at this Emergency vet clinic and the vet diagnosed my cat with pyometra vs FB vs pancreatitis and they've estimated that treatment for this would be $8,000...this was just a quote, so the actual cost could have been much higher depending on the outcome of the surgery that my cat needed. I've decided to treat my cat Marshmallow somewhere else and it turns out that I HAD UNNECESSARILY PUT MY PRECIOUS BABY THROUGH A VERY INVASIVE SURGERY, WHICH SHE DID NOT NEED!!!!!!! She DIDN NOT have pyometra or FB or pancreatitis!!!!!!!! NOT ONLY DID I PUT MY BABY THROUGH SO MUCH PAIN AND UNNECESSARY SURGERY BUT I'VE SPEND THOUSANDS FOR A TREATMENT/SURGERY THAT SHE DID NOT NEED!!!! This was nothing other than taking advantage for people in emotional distress to extort thousand of dollars for treatment that out babies don't need given that this is an emergency hospital and people who care about their pets are at their most vulnerable emotional state....If this happened to my cat...how many other pets who sought treatment at this clinic had unnecessary treatments or surgeries.!!!!