On 11/22/2008, I brought my pet cat to VCA Shoreline Veterinary Clinic.  He was very sick.  The intern claimed to have examined him but failed to notice a golf ball size abscess on his chest.  She ordered blood work and radiographs, which revealed nothing.  They gave me a bill for $462, my sick cat and nothing more.  They did not give me discharge instructions, but called me 3 days later to tell me that "I forgot them."  She (the intern) had verbally recommended an ultrasound the following week.  Monday, Nov. 24th, I rushed the cat to his regular vet, Dr Michael Reid (Monroe, CT).  He needed emergency surgery that morning for the abscess.  I know that Dr Reid had called Shoreline to tell them what happened.  Shoreline also failed to forward any of the information to my regular vets office, something that they are supposed to do automatically.  I have been trying for weeks to negotiate with Susan Corona, the office manager.  She will not return my phone calls.  I don't know what to do anymore but report this.  Their business practice is irresponsible.  They order unnecessary tests, prey on people's highly emotional states and use dying animals as a means to order expensive diagnostic tests.
 
Also, on Labor Day of this year, I was forced to bring my mother's dying cat there.  The cat was 15 years old and FIV positive.  Initially, they did a multitude of tests including blood work, x-rays and an ultrasound, and they put him in an oxygen tent.  They confirmed the FIV diagnosis.  The ultrasound revealed that he had masses all throughout his body, he was open mouth breathing which is very bad.  Up to this point, the bill was already $1600, but they said that they really should "confirm" the diagnosis so she went on to recommended a bone marrow scan, a full infectious disease panel (even though he was an indoor cat, ticks sometimes get inside, she explained), and an endoscopy to make sure that his open mouthed breathing wasn't being caused by an obstruction in his throat.  The estimate for the next wave of diagnostics was $2500, in addition to the $1600.  I was appalled and shocked.  To order those things for a 15 year old dying cat is nothing short of disgusting greed.  Keep in mind that this is was my elderly mother's cat, someone who can't afford to pay over $4000 on a cat who wound up dying!
 
A close friend who is also a local vet called Shoreline a "playground for interns" and I couldn't agree more. 
 
I realize that as our pets are dying, we have no choice and are at the mercy of places like this.  I only want people to be aware that they could wind up with abill for thousands of dollars and that their pet may die anyway.  Be careful what you approve!