Renee Kirzow

Review of Garden State Veterinary Specia...

I noticed something wrong with my 2.5 year old dog...

I noticed something wrong with my 2.5 year old dog, so I brought her to my primary vet. He thought something was neurologically wrong with her, so he scheduled an emergency appointment with the neurologist, Dr. Gibson, on staff at Garden State Veterinary in Tinton Falls. I saw the neurologist and she was totally not interested in helping my dog. She acted like there was nothing wrong, except that my dog was blind, and didn t look like she even wanted to exam her. She made me get expensive blood work, which my vet later said was probably not necessary and took urine from my dog, but never performed a urinalysis. She said there was nothing wrong neurologically and that I shouldn t be concerned unless my dog looked demented. She said, When I m looking at her, all I see is a blind dog trying to navigate. She told me to go to the ophthalmologist, but she still wanted to give my dog an MRI, spinal tap, and possibly brain surgery, if needed. My dog was just over 2 pounds. They had trouble just drawing blood from her (and complained that she squirmed too much), so it would have been nearly impossible to have even the MRI. Two days later, I saw the ophthalmologist and he was certain it was neurological and even diagnosed her. He said the neurologist wrote in her report that it was likely neurological, so why did she send me to the ophthalmologist? To get more money? I didn t misunderstand because my mother was with me and heard the same thing. After my dog got progressively and rapidly worse and after discussing with my primary vet, I had to put my dog down. All I wanted was the blood work before I put her to sleep. The results were supposed to come the latest by Monday. Tuesday I had an 11 am appt to put her to sleep. I called numerous times to get the results, which did come in but they wouldn t read them to me. I told them I was going to have to put her down in a couple hours and please, could they give me the results. Finally, I asked them to fax a copy to my vet asap and she said well then I ll have to get off the phone with you to do that with attitude. At 11 am, I went to my vet, he gave me the results, and I put her to sleep. He comforted me and told me it was the right decision and after having so much trouble putting a needle in her vein, said that any MRI or brain surgery would be extremely high risk, something Dr. Gibson never said. At 6 pm, after she was put down 7 hours prior, the ophthalmologist (not the neurologist) called with her blood work. This all happened within a 3 day span. I m very disappointed and would never recommend the neurologist, Dr. Gibson. She had no sympathy, no compassion, and still has not called to follow up. Please find somewhere else to bring your precious animal.