Dovelewis Arvostelua 

My experience with DoveLewis left me feeling like once they have your money, you are no longer treated with the same level of care or consideration.

DoveLewis charges a significant premium for their services, and with that premium, I expect a certain level of care, customer service, and accommodation. If I were going to a low-cost veterinary hospital, I wouldn't necessarily have the same expectations. But when you're charging what can be double what you might pay elsewhere, the level of service should reflect that.

For example, I caught a charge of around $150 on my bill for antibiotics after my dog's surgery. I had the charge removed and asked for the prescription instead. I was able to have the exact same antibiotic filled at Costco for around $12. That's a massive difference, so I would strongly recommend reviewing your bill carefully and asking about outside pharmacy options before paying for medications.

My dog underwent surgery at DoveLewis that cost me nearly $5,000. I later had to bring him back to have five stitches removed. We drove 30 minutes to get there and arrived nine minutes late for our appointment. The response from the receptionist was essentially, "Too bad." I was told we would have to come back another day or go wait in the ER, where they would get to us whenever they could.

What bothered me just as much as the lack of accommodation was the attitude. It felt very much like, "Too bad, so sad—go away now," over being nine minutes late. Keep in mind, this was around 9:20 in the morning, shortly after they had opened, and the building appeared completely empty. I didn't see another client or animal waiting. We were there to remove five stitches from a dog they had just performed a nearly $5,000 surgery on.

I understand that appointments run on schedules and that being late can cause problems. But there is a difference between having policies and showing absolutely no willingness to accommodate a client who spent thousands of dollars with your hospital and drove 30 minutes to get there. Nine minutes late, and the only options offered were to leave and come back another day or sit in the ER indefinitely.

I do want to add that the ER staff I interacted with were friendly and helpful, and my frustration is not directed at them. My issue is with how the situation was handled by the regular team. Being met with essentially zero understanding or willingness to accommodate us over a nine-minute delay—especially for something as quick as removing five stitches after a nearly $5,000 surgery—was incredibly frustrating.

When you're paying premium prices, you expect premium care—not just during the process of collecting your money, but afterward as well. Instead, I walked away feeling like once the nearly $5,000 bill had been paid, the care, flexibility, and customer service disappeared. For the amount DoveLewis charges, I expected much better.

They took $250 from me told me my cat was going to be seen at 6am (3 hours after we arrived) I was told he was “high urgency” 3/4 for potential urinary obstruction.
Didn’t hear anything at all until 10am (they told me to continue waiting) I had to advocate for him for his medication to calm his nerves at 11am “they’ll ask” they said. I was scared for him so I found an appointment at my cats primary care for 11:30 and asked to discharge him. The staff told me not to leave because “he’s next the doctor is seeing him right now” that was a lie. Finally got pain medication though at 1pm (not the correct medication it did nothing for his nerves. I asked for gabapentin because it always calms him at the vet not sure why they didn’t listen to me they just assumed wrongly that he was in pain, he wasn’t) My cat was so stressed when the doctor FINALLY went to “examine” him that she refused to touch him without full sedation. Yeah who’s fault is that? Also just assumed that he needed an icu stay catheter and full treatment for a urinary obstruction they tried to charge me 4500 for. I said “not without an exam” because I wasn’t sure there was actually anything wrong with him. Went to my vet the next day and, like usual, without any sedation they did an Ultrasound and bladder palpitation for him. There was nothing wrong with him. They got way ahead of themselves. Grievance process was pointless and staff is super rude they just want your money they’re on some high horse and praying on your concern for your pets. If my cat were obstructed he would have died waiting that long. Do not trust this hospital with your animals. Last year he was obstructed and went to Riverbend Urgent Care they placed a catheter sedated him immediately and transferred him to Willamette Valley Hospital they charged me about $2500 for his hospital stay and there was zero hassle. They warned me it could have been an isolated incident but keep an eye out. He has been fine ever since. PS this “hospital” also returned my cat to me caked in his own dried up shit he was sitting in from at least 11am- 4pm was he given a litter box? Why even force him to sit back there if you weren’t going to give him access to a litter box? I will be cancelling my payment to this establishment for fraud as they stole my money under false pretenses locked my cat in a box for 12 hours in his own mess and refused care and tried to FURTHER rip me off. Never took vitals, never felt his bladder refused to touch him didn’t give him the meds I asked for. My worry was misplaced, I realize now that my cat was holding it for a little while because my other cat has been guarding the box. That’s all. I wish this vet was competent enough to tell me he was fine at 6am when I was promised. I would have gladly paid $250 for that peace of mind. Now I’m pissed I had to pay for TWO vet exams to find that out and the one that gave me answers was less expensive even including the ultrasound.

I feel I have the responsibility of sharing my story in order to save the lives of those reptiles that otherwise will find the end of their lives if they are taken to Dove Lewis Animal Hospital.
A Sunday morning in November last year, I woke up to find my reptile unresponsive and showing all signs of severe distress. I knew she was in a life or death situation and needed immediate help.
I ran as fast as a could to get to Dove Lewis with the hopes that they will give her a chance at surviving.
Instead I was dismissed, ignored and forced to wait in the lobby for 4 hours while the vet kept my reptile warm inside under "observation". No treatment was given to her. Nothing. She was just kept warm while I begged in the lobby to please treat her or she would die.
And she did. She did die by the end of day.
For this reason, I feel I need to share this story so other reptiles don't have to face their end under the hands of Dove Lewis staff who have zero competence in reptile care. They were unable to listen to me when I explained the signs of distress. They were unable to act and do something about it. They did not have the knowledge to save her. And finally they lacked empathy because had they admitted they did not know how to save her, at least I would have given the chance of letting her die in my arms in the comfort of her own home, not in the cold unloving environment of a hospital full of strangers who could not care less if she lived or died.
I know after this experience, I had to share so if you find yourself in a life or death situation like I did, Dove Lewis is not the place where your animal will be saved.