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Business Profile

Veterinarian

Guardian Veterinary Medical Center

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 1 complaint in the last 3 years.
  • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

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The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:12/03/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    They killed our dog. On Thursday, 11/21, he went in to have his right front toe amputated, for a growth on front paw. Additionally, he was having 3 small skin tags removed (left front paw, right front elbow and mid belly). After the surgery the vet even commented on what a strong, healthy dog he was. When he got home, I noticed he had a small scab on his belly by his right back leg (not near any incision sites). The scab was about the size of a nickel, so it was noticeable on his white fur. I thought it was odd because there was no reason for them to have done anything in that area. On Tuesday, 11/26, that small scab on his belly had turned into a large area that was flushed, swollen and oozy. We wiped it with a warm washcloth and his hair was just falling out. The next morning, we took him back to the vet because his whole entire back leg was swollen and the area was oozing worse. They told us it was probably a spider bite and gave us more antibiotics. By Friday morning he had a hole on his belly, and the entire right side of body was swollen. We took him back to the vet again. They gave us ******** to rinse it and told us to squeeze the puss out of his leg. On Saturday morning the hole in his belly had tripled in size. We had to make the heartbreaking decision to put down our sweet boy. Who was a happy, healthy, strong pup, just 9 days before. We thought we were sending him in for a simple procedure, to get some lumps and bumps taken off. In the meantime, all of his surgical wounds were healing nicely. It was the mysterious cut on his belly that was the problem. If it was actually a spider bite, then he got it at their facility 100%. He did not have an injury in that area when he left the house that morning. Not only would the vet not tell us the truth about what happened to him there, but she is also not educated enough to recognize *********************.

    Business Response

    Date: 12/12/2024

    We would like to provide a clear and factual timeline regarding Tanks case.

    The canine named Tank underwent surgery to amputate his toe on his right front paw. Thursday, November 21, 2024. The procedure was successful,and he was discharged with a bandage on his foot and specific post-operative instructions, including keeping an e-collar on at all times to prevent licking or chewing. A recheck appointment and bandage change were scheduled for Monday,November 25, 2024.

    On Friday, November 22, 2024, we contacted the owner to check on ***********operative recovery. The owner reported that he was doing well, with no concerns noted. At the scheduled recheck and bandage change on Monday, November 25, the owner again indicated that Tank was doing well at home. During this visit, we observed that his surgical sites were healing appropriately, there were no other wounds observed on Tank at this time, and we scheduled a follow-up recheck for later in the week.

    On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (six days post-surgery), the owner contacted us, stating that they returned home from work the previous afternoon and observed Tank licking a wound on his back leg. The owner confirmed that Tank had been unsupervised during the day. The wound was located on a back leg, completely unrelated to any of his surgical sites. The owner reported that Tank was now very painful in that area, which had not been the case during his recheck on Monday.

    Upon examination, we determined the wound was likely the result of a venomous spider or snake bite, as evidenced by necrotizing tissue.We explained that venom from such bites can cause extensive tissue damage and that the full extent of the injury would take 23 days to become apparent. Due to the location of the wound, it was not feasible to apply an effective bandage, and we advised keeping the area clean. We also recommended seeking emergency care over the weekend if the wound worsened.

    When the wound progressed, the owner sought care at a specialist emergency facility. The specialists agreed with our assessment that the wound was consistent with a venomous bite causing *********************.Given the severity of the tissue damage and cost of treatment the owner elected humane euthanasia.

    To be clear, Tanks wound was completely unrelated to his surgery or our facility. His surgical sites were healing well and showed no signs of infection, which was also confirmed by the veterinary specialists. The location of the wound and its timingemerging several days after surgeryindicate that it occurred while Tank was at home and not under our care.

    We remain confident that we provided appropriate care and guidance throughout this process and did not cause or contribute to the wound on Tank's leg.

    We have reviewed the allegations in the complaint and firmly assert that they are unfounded and lack supporting evidence. The claim that our actions caused harm to tank pet is unsubstantiated, and the characterization of our company as "evil" is both defamatory and unfair.

    We respectfully request the removal of this complaint as it contains libelous statements. To support our response, we are prepared to provide relevant medical records or other documentation upon request.

    We remain committed to ensuring the highest standard of service and addressing any genuine concerns in a fair and respectful manner.

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