Animal Emergency & Referral Center of MN - Oakdale

30-Sep-12
dawn p

I brought my dog Molly into the Oakdale emergency vet at approx. 4 am when she started to throw up blood. The vet came in and examined my dog. She said that my dog was very ill and brought her in back right away to start an IV and get some fluids in her. They came back to the room with a plan of what they wanted to do which consisted of keeping her for the day, giving her fluids, pain meds, doing some x rays, and various other testing. They initially wanted between $1700 & $3600. I had let them know that amount was not something that I could afford without a payment plan. The vet had told me that she would be back shortly and that she had to go check on my dog as she couldn't be alone for long. The vet came back into the room once again and told me that my dog had an infection in her uterus and needed a major surgery that would cost me $5000. She then informed me that if complications arose during surgery that the cost could increase to between $10k and $20k and that my dog still may not make it. I had explained that my dog wasn't just any old dog, that she was my son's dog and that my son had picked her out 6 days before he died from pediatric cancer so therefore I would do anything, but I needed a payment plan. She informed me again that they don't have a payment plan. I ended up leaving with my dog and bringing her to the Inver Grove Heights Animal Clinic and that was by far the best thing that I had done all day!! They had done some testing and an ultrasound and determined that there was absolutely no infection in her uterus at all and that her only problem was pancreatitus. They also let me know that IF my dog would have indeed had an infection in her uterus that the surgery would have been under $1000. After my experience at AEC, I would never go back ever! They are there strictly to try to make money and I feel as though they play with peoples emotions to get them to spend lots of money for stuff that is not needed.