A Cautionary Tale: My Questionable Experience with This Pet Clinic

I've been taking my pet to this clinic about once a month because of a wonky bite. Honestly, the place is tiny - smaller than my one-bedroom apartment. It's located next to a pet store owned by the same clinic, and I'm still not even sure which one is the clinic and which one is the store. The hallway is only about a meter wide, with a few chairs, a scale, and three doors: animal storage, reception, and the operating room. There's always a line, and if someone's getting operated on for a while, the line will get backed up and people will have to wait outside. You can schedule an appointment, but it won't make a difference because there's always someone who's sicker or got there earlier. You'll learn to deal with the wait over time, and I've even dozed off a few times.

The doctor, Mrs. Ozerkova, is a force to be reckoned with. Everyone brings their pets to see her, but mostly it's decorative animals like rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and hamsters. She works like a robot, which isn't surprising given the number of customers. What's impressive is that she remembers every single one of them, which is a bit unsettling. As for operations, you'll quickly get used to the fact that they'll tell you upfront that your pet needs to be put down, even if it's just for a minor issue like fleas. They're always exaggerating, and I'm not sure why they do it. Maybe it's just to avoid being held responsible for their actions. The tools are washed in the sink, but only if they have time for it, and they're left to air dry on the windowsill. They'll use a single tip to swab out the infected areas and then immediately insert it into the clean wounds. Sometimes they'll leave a drain in the wound without even telling you, and you'll only find out weeks later. Everything is done in a rush and not very carefully, which is understandable given the high volume of customers, but it's not exactly reassuring. The fur gets trimmed poorly, and the skin gets sliced off in big chunks - it's just easier that way, and who cares about the consequences? They'll cut my rabbits open while they're still alive, using a scalpel without anesthesia, telling me it doesn't hurt the animal. I strongly advise against letting them keep your pet during the operation if you can't handle the sight.

Now, about the prescriptions. They're the same for everyone, just with different dosages. They'll prescribe antibiotics to everyone, which kind of makes up for the lack of sterility. And they'll give them in huge doses, so your pet is likely to die from a gut infection because they won't prescribe probiotics. And they won't be held accountable for it, because they'll tell you upfront that your pet needs to be put down. We've lost a few pets due to this exact reason, so we've learned to give them our own dosages and probiotics. If you need help with your pet's medication, I'd be happy to walk you through it.

The only good thing about this clinic is the price. They'll do a complex operation for $1,000 to $2,000, which is a fraction of what other clinics charge. They won't charge you for a follow-up visit, and if your pet gets worse a week after the operation, they'll do another one for free. It's way cheaper than their competitors, and that's why people flock to them in droves. But, I wouldn't recommend cutting corners on your pet's care. When I have the means, I take my pet to Pride Clinic. You can read my review of them here.