Complaint Review: Seven Hills Pet Hospital Henderson NV - Henderson Nevada

This page is to warn people about the horrific experience both my dog and myself had at the Seven Hills Pet Hospital.

Two days ago I found an access on my dogs tooth, with a large lump under his chin. He is a 15 year old Maltese in very good health - a little arthritis but loving life. Last year I lost two of my dogs to a car accident and a heart attach and still have Boris - who this story is about and his son Bosco. I LOVE my dogs!

Realizing I had to get to a vet quickly, I looked up dental (I have no pet insurance) and saw an excellent deal on Groupon for a Dental Package $199 at Seven Hills Pet Hospital. It was only a simple teeth cleaning, pull out a tooth or two and antibiotics I had thought so called and asked all the important questions. Told them his age and asked to bring him out for an urgent appointment that afternoon with the possibility of surgery the next day. He was very happy and the lump had gone down a little by afternoon so they suggested I just come in the morning to drop him off between 8-9 am. I asked if he would need blood work up as he is 15 - they said yes it was all included in the package.

I arrived the next morning and they had me put my electronic signature on twice - and being distracted, concerned that my 15 year old dog was going into surgery, and feeling SO guilty that I had missed this tooth infection - and being an idiot - I signed both without even looking what it was for. I did not get a copy of either page.

I went over the budget - was told it was up to $100 per tooth extraction on top of the package - and instructed them to have a $500 limit - no more. And they were to call me if there was ANY concerns or problems.

I was at a meeting when they called and told me he was under anesthetic, that they needed to do radiograph as they thought he had cancer. It looked to be 50/50 cancer or bone infection and they needed an X-ray. It would be an extra $110. I immediately started sobbing and agreed. They called back. "Well, it is 50/50 - its either a bone infection or cancer".. Ok that is what you told me before the last $110…..

The now needed someone to read the radiograph - it would be $160 and it would give them the answer they needed…(thats what they told me ten minutes ago about doing an X-ray - and shouldn't a vet know how to read an X-ray!!!) They also wanted to do a biopsy - $250. They wanted to pull 12 teeth. total bill $1250ish…. I advised them to just pull the infected tooth, clean his other teeth and I would take him to his own vet tomorrow. They then advised that if they pulled the tooth the cancer would very quickly spread to his brain and he would be dead in a few weeks. (ok,,,, weren't you just about to pull 12 teeth???) She then advised me that if I didn't have the money, he would be in terrible pain and to just let him pass away while under the anesthetic…. Sobbing harder - she wanted an answer right THEN - pay $1200 or let him die…… I said I would call right back - hung up and rang my own vet - a very highly respected vet and perhaps one of the highest respected in Las Vegas. He told me to tell them to take a biopsy while he was under, for me to get the X-rays, and bring him, the biopsy and X-rays straight over there.

I called back and gave them instructions. They said that they had already cleaned his teeth and would take the biopsy.

I arrived to pick him up and spoke to the Vet (and I use the word loosely…..) he told me that he wasn't sure what it was and stated "thats what cancer of the jaw looks like in cats, but Im not sure about dogs"…… He went on to tell me that he couldn't take a biopsy (funny as he wanted to charge me $250 for one just a few hours ago) and then showed me the X-ray and stated that the dog had no bone on his jaw under the tooth. That if I wanted they could take the jaw out and replace it with other material. AHHHHHHH this was getting scary.

I took him straight to my own vet. The tech that booked us in was annoyed that they had not told me to take off his arm bandage as it can cause swelling and infection complications.

My vet looked over the paperwork and immediately asked if they had told me that his blood work on his liver showed a problem - NO they had not. Instead of a reading of 50 - which was normal - his showed 2000. They should not have put him under with a reading this high. They did not mention it to me so that I might follow up on WHY it was that high. They did not mention that several of his teeth "fell out" during the cleaning - and am surprised that they didn't charge me for those as well.

My vet looked at me blankly when i explained that they couldn't pull the tooth out because it would cause his cancer to spread. He said two things. "First - in all my years as a vet that is the most stupid thing I have ever heard. Second - the teeth are not connected to the gum, they are just floating - he could have plucked it out with his fingers while Boris was under". AS for replacing the jaw - he stated that you can't. It can't be done and is never done.

He could also not understand why the Seven Hills Pet Hospital Vet could not have taken a biopsy while Boris was under. The X-rays were of the dogs head and shoulders - not a close up of his teeth. I learnt this morning from Seven Hills that they do not have a dental X-ray machine - even though they very rigorously advertise Dental Packages. My vet showed me the bone - although not as dense - under the tooth. Boris absolutely did not need to have his jaw removed.

Boris was placed on a strong course of antibiotics for his tooth and bone infection. He will have to undergo anesthetic again to have those teeth removed in two weeks, and to X-ray his liver and lungs to make 100% sure there is no cancer. He will also need a REAL dental X-ray. My vet said he would never have guessed that the dog was 15 and he was in fantastic condition - except for his tooth problem.

Boris came home with me and today is back to his normal hilarious self. He will have a few good years of love left in his life and I am just so d**n grateful that I did not let them pressure me into "letting him just go while under"……….

Oh - as an end note - on their bill they also charged me for Radiogram restraints - even though the dog was under anesthetic….. they charged me for "handling" the X-rays, for reading the X-rays, waste disposal (for the teeth that fell out perhaps)

SHAME ON YOU SEVEN HILLS PET HOSPITAL SHAME ON YOU….. a tacky tacky way to run business and the worst kind of switch and bait that I have ever seen.