"On Sunday night I attended the surgery…"

On Sunday night I attended the surgery due to my dog having excessive panting still 4 hours after attending the dog groomers.

When attending the practice the vet (Frankie) was understandable of not putting my dogs collar and muzzle on (as she is an xl bully) due to her having breathing difficulties.

The vet examined her and advised it is an allergy and gave her a steroid injection, anxiety injection and steriod tablets. 4 hours later she stopped to pant and calm down but continued to be drowsy.

My dog then woke up at 1am on Monday morning panting and then was sick an enormous amount of blood. We called the vets and was advised to take her straight in- my dog was still panting (due to nausea). The new vet on shift (Josh) needed a muzzle and collar on even-though my dog was struggling to breathe and this was not required the day before.

He was very wary of my dog and it was noticeable to my dog that he was scared. We had to stand over her back and hold her whilst the other held the muzzle on (which was on the slackest setting to give her room to pant) as you can appreciate my dog has been through trauma and was struggling to breathe and felt sick with stomach ulcers and was getting very frustrated with me and my partner having to hold her whilst he checked her heart. Extremely unprofessional for a vet espiecally after the day before she was completely fine and calm with no collar or muzzle required.

Josh then went on to advise that the steroids have not agreed with her and given her stomach ulcers and that’s why she had such a huge amount of blood in her sick. He advised he can prescribe painkillers omeprozle and anti sickness however she could need a blood test for anaemia due to the amount of blood lost but let’s see if she is sick or poos anymore. Josh also advised if a blood test is required he would have to sedate her.

This morning she has pooed blood therefore I called my own vets this morning for advise they advised that could have already been in the digestive system, maybe wait for the next one. I asked if they would be required to sedate her to do bloods after checking the records they advised they would try to do it without sedating first (as they have treated Zola before) however there blood test machine is broke and she would need to go to Chorley for it anyway.

I then called Chorley around 5pm as my dog has not managed to pass any poo since breakfast after eating many of meals and I was worried if maybe an ulcer was blocking digestive system. The receptionist advised Josh would call me back when he’s on shift he starts at 7, a new contact number was provided as the one they had no longer worked.

I then called the practice again at 8 as I still hadn’t received a call josh answered and advised he tried to call however it just rang out with no voicemail I told Josh a new number was provided to the receptionist he said ‘she hasn’t given it me’ what’s up? I asked if the receptionist relayed any information he said no. Again I repeated myself he said well you can bring her for bloods but I’ll have to sedate her I asked the price of sedation he advised £450 with bloods.

I think this is absolutely ridiculous as the practice has caused this issue when the steroids were prescribed no one advised the side effects could be stomach ulcers sickness or diaherra just increased urine and appetite! And again because a vet is on shift who is scared of the breed ( which I think is discriminating against the breed because she is a banned dog) I then have to pay for the dog to be sedated however if it was another vet this wouldn’t be charged?

After relaying all this to Josh he said you can wait till Boxing Day then? I asked if my dog was going be safe until then?he said I’m unsure. I asked to speak to a manager he advised this isn’t possible it is Christmas Eve.

I understand it is Christmas period and maybe Josh didn’t want to be working however it made me very worried about his diagnosis and he didn’t seem to want to be there.

I would like to request a refund so I am able to get a second option on my dogs health as a matter of urgency.

I have paid for a weeks worth of steroid tablets at £240 (first time we visited) in which my dog only had one dose of, and the medication you have provided have now caused stomach ulcers which then required a re visit fee, 3 other kind of medication and a further £150. It was then requested for me to pay £450 for a blood test of something your practice has caused because your vet was scared of the breed.

"Dreadful Communication "

Our beloved cat was brought in to Hillcrest Hospital, deceased after being hit by a car, a whole week before I received a phone call informing me of this. He was registered with this vet. I have used Hillcrest Hospital since 2000. I have emailed Hillcrest but have had no reply. I will now be going to another, more caring & compassionate vet.

"I can not thank these people enough."

I can not thank these people enough.

I thought I was going to have to put my dog down earlier this week until I took her to the vet. Turns out she has diabetes and they have been nothing but amazing with me and my dog. The most helpful vet & nurse I have ever had the pleasure of coming across.

"I would rate them 0 stars if there was an option"

I would rate them 0 stars if there was an option. Very badly let down by them and gave them a chance and they did it again. Exceptionally uncaring doesn't touch it. Just interested in the money in my opinion

"Poor service, mis-diagnosis and overcharging."

Hillcrest quoted £2,250.00 for an abdominal operation on my cocker spaniel - the day of discharge my credit card was debited with £5,823.02. 61% higher than the quoted figure.

Upon querying the £5,823.02 I was informed that there had been an error with the accounting system - the treatments/medications had been doubled up on my account resulting in an overcharge of fifty percent. Six months later I am still fighting for the correct refund of £3,573.02 - the practice is only willing to refund £1,728.02.

Furthermore, the vets failed to diagnose the real abdominal problems on three consecutive visits - thus resulting in a delay for the treatment of the abdominal tumour. This misdiagnosis, delay in treatment and then discharging my dog too early subsequently resulted in the death of my dog.

"Above and beyond the call of duty"

Our dog Tammy was a patient here for seven years
They saved her sight a few years ago due to their swift action
When she became terminal with cancer they were so kind and caring
When the time came to put her to sleep they came to the house to do it
I’ve never experienced such compassion
It was all done so peacefully
Thankyou for all you did for our dog
We will never forget it

"They discharged my dog on a Friday…"

They discharged my dog on a Friday night in a life threatening state , no communication from the vets, he was admitted at 5 pm after waiting firm 1pm in an emergency and discharged at 7pm with symptoms of septic shock. The broke their professional code of conduct.i had to rush my dog to vets now in Preston where the consultation fee is £287 , they told me my dog had been left too long to treat, I phoned hillcret/medivet Saturday Morning to ask why they had discharged him from an ani la hospital, the vet said because they don’t have the facilities, I said yiu are a hospital, she said they did t have the staff. So basically my dog was kicked out to die , again breaking the professional oath which states no animal should be left in pain and emergency care should be given. No communication front the vet to this day . Ive since found out from another vets that my dog had pneumothorax which is basically air around the lungs ( similar to collapsed lung ) and he was in a state of shock.
Medivet /hillcrest also tried to PTS my eldery dog prematurely last month also.. so that’s TWO dogs u;tHe same household, still very much alive after hillcret/medivet were insisting on PTS prematurely.
I am also the next door neighbour and stayed loyal to the for 25 years, since this emergency happened then they wrote me a nasty letter saying don’t come back !

The vets are all training there , u see a different vet each time it’s pot luck , they think more about closing up shop than the welfare of the animal ,

They swear an oath and should practise by it , they don’t put the welfare of the animal first

Don’t risk yiu animal being PTS especially at a weekend here because that’s there answer to everything

"I was just on the phone to hillcrest…"

I was just on the phone to hillcrest vets chorley talked about emergency appointments and I asked what happens if you have an emergency late at night because I was under the impression it was 24/7 they are Not because some nights are not covered so they would refer you to a different practice what angered me was what happens if you can get to that practice her response was " its not my problem "what a disgusting response it's a different story when it comes to pet plans I'll be making a formal complaint in person because they don't have a website

"Friendly and welcoming"

Been using this practice for over 10years now for dogs and rabbits and never had any issues. They always find an appointment to work around me. Recently my dog broke a toe, they saw me straight away sorted the surgery the same day and reception staff explained the process for insurance claims, very helpful and friendly staff!

"Took a ill puppy here"

Took a ill puppy here, had to be put to sleep.
On the way out in front of everyone a vet shouts “next time pick a healthy one”
Disgusted with them
I asked for the ashes back but never got them and was lied to about it.
Very expensive and wouldn’t recommend

Also had a skin issue with another dog and the treatment didn’t work at all, 6 weeks later I said I don’t want the same tablets it’s not doing anything and he needs something to help, steroid ointment will work, but I Was ignored and given the same thing probably because it was the most expensive. I didn’t pay for it and I left.
Went to another vets was given steroid ointment and three days later his skin was good!
Stay away!