Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital

Since Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital removed my review, I will leave it again. Of course, they don't want anyone to read it. Brought my sweet Barney (and primarily healthy) in on New Year's Eve for basic ibuprofen ingestion - red hematuria in urine. He was a little tired but still cheery and playful. I thought he had eaten 600 mg of ibuprofen. The doctor who saw him took some tests and immediately diagnosed him with a very serious disease - that also presents similarly to ibuprofen toxicology. The treatment, however, is different. IV Fluid and observation would have been great. Instead, they took my very mildly anemic dog (24 RBC Count - also a symptom of ibuprofen toxicity - not in need of very risky transfusion) and gave him an unneeded transfusion ($$cha- ching,both for the vets themselves, and the facility) - to which he had a massive allergic reaction and it caused his body / organs to shut down. He dropped immediately to 14 RBC - which is severe because his body rejected the plasma put into him. He was cheery and happy one day, jaundiced and shut down the next after being in their care. In organ failure. They chose the worst case scenario to overzealously treat before looking at the most obvious, simple issue of him eating ibuprofen. Therefore, he was not being treated for the toxicity in his stomach (which could have been cured in 24 hours but instead lead to liver issues - which is a known issue with ibuprofen toxicity- jaundice and bilirubin way up.) He had to deal not only with original illness brought in for - but also the stress of relentless difficult transfusions and over medication (they just decided to treat tons of things, antibiotics, steroids - the worst thing for ibuprofen poisoning, blood coagulants- only needed after they screwed up the transfusion, and more - making him nauseous, weak, in more pain, and sick) They refused to consider they might be wrong and only said "oh, that's the disease" Bullshit. It's the state of shut down they forced him into, overtaxing his organs with meds and treatment, and most importantly - not curing the original problem - only getting worse by now. They also eventually punctured his lungs after I asked them to slow down with transfusions. He died form that final straw - unable to breathe. I wanted to pull him and take him to Tufts, but they had put him in such a vulnerable state, he would die if I tried to move him. My dog's body and mental state was destroyed and he had no chance of surviving once he became their guinea pig. I wish the vets had listened to my pleas to consider the possibility that their original diagnosis was not correct. That Ibuprofen toxicity presents all the symptoms barney came with, and the jaundice only came after their failed tests. and after they put him on steroids - great for their diagnosis - but dangerously bad for an ibuprofen ingestion. Thus he got even sicker. And they continued to do two more transfusions in 24 hours - even after his first awful response. You'd also think once their medicine did not work to solve the issue they diagnosed, they might accept perhaps I was right. But they had already damaged him, so there was no way they'd take accountablity. Nothing can bring this sweet smart loving dog back. My BFF - but they need to manage their patients' health more closely, with more care and larger perspective. And work with humility - the knowledge that sometimes pet owners have insight into their animals. And not be seduced by challenging diagnoses that don't apply and are negligent- only because they want to try to work on that diagnosis. Numerous vets (it was new years eve day when he showed symptoms so I could not reach a vet until two days later) concurred that this was most likely a basic case of Ibuprofen toxicity. If you love your dog as I love mine, avoid Port City for any undiagnosed issues. My Barney literally did not have to die - he died as a result of me taking him to Port City. Heartbroken beyond - If only I had made a different choice in that moment he'd be alive. Their biased diagnosis, overly aggressive care took his life. Slow down, hear your clients, listen to your animals. Focus less on pushing lucrative procedures. You took my bff from me. We know most vets love animals and truly want to help save them. Whether intentional or not, this was grossly negligent. Folks - take your pets to tufts - half the price, triple the competence, and all the newest technology. I wanted to pull Barney - but he was already put into such a vulnerable state I was afraid he wouldn't make the trip. A painful death to a dog who absolutely should have not died - but been in and out in two days. Good bye sweetest loving boy in the world. I love you forever. https://www.dvm360.com/.../toxciology-brief-ibuprofen... https://veterinaryemergencygroup.com/.../blood-in-dog-urine/