J Moore

Review of Chester County Spca

I adopted a puppy Labor Day weekend. I got her Su...

I adopted a puppy Labor Day weekend. I got her Sunday and from day 1 she has been sick. Sunday night she had me up most of the night with a nasty cough. I couldn't get her to a vet on Monday because of the holiday. I called the SPCA vet in Malvern only to be told it would take an excessively long time to get her in to see their vet and to come in as a walk in. I went there Tuesday and after a wait that was longer than 3 hours a young man who did not identify himself took my pups leash to go back. I don't know if he was a tech, aid or a kennel worker. I got up to follow and was told the dog would be brought back and I was to wait. I always prefer to go with my pets into the exam room when they are being seen by the vet. This keeps my pet calm because they haven't been abandoned by their mommy. Second it ensures the ethical treatment of my pet. We've all heard of the rough treatment some vets inflict on an unruly pet. And last, if I have any questions or comments I can speak to the person treating my pet directly and not made to feel like my questions are unimportant. My pup was brought out to me and I was told to check out at the desk. I was told she had an upper respiratory infection and handed some pills and instructed to give her 1 pill twice a day for 14 days. I had no idea what the medication was or if/when I should see any improvement. I looked up the medication online when I arrived home. I followed the directions also giving her a canine vitamin and a probiotic. After a week she was not showing any improvement. As I did not have any faith or trust in the SPCA clinic vet, I took my pup to my vet. She was diagnosed with broncho trachea something. I was told to continue with the antibiotic and probiotic. After she had the last pill, she was still having breathing problems, so it was back to my vet. She has been seen 3 times in a 2 week period. She had to be xrayed and now she is in a pre pneumonia. She is on a different antibiotic and an anti tussive medication to help with inflammation of her trach and bronchial tubes. I had called the SPCA at least twice, before receiving a call from a Lauren on Thursday. After speaking with her she assured she would make some inquiries with her superior as to what could be done to correct the issue. She also told me I should take my pup to their vet on her recheck visit to be xrayed to make sure her lungs had cleared, instead of returning to my vet. We discussed my concerns and negative experience at their clinic and again assured me that my concerns would be addressed. She also assured me she would call me Friday afternoon. Friday late afternoon I did not hear from Lauren or anyone else, so I called and left a message. Nothing. I called Saturday again requesting a return call because I needed information about setting up the appointment for my puppy. No call back Saturday. Should I take this as a sign they don't care about this situation? I feel as the puppy had been cleared for adoption, it would be a reasonable expectation that I was adopting a healthy animal. I now believe this puppy did not receive adequate medical care because nobody noticed her gagging cough. I was not advised she had any health issue, so again I believed I had chosen a healthy, happy animal...not one that is very sick.