Boston West Veterinary Emergency & Specialty

Apr 10th, 2024

They are good but very expensive
Mar 28th, 2024

Very thorough assessment of my dog when she was having some stomach issues. They did tests and administered meds appropriately.
Mar 16th, 2024

I had to calm myself down for awhile in order to write this review. I'll preface it by urging you emphatically: PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR PET HERE unless you want your grief about your animal's condition to be EXPLOITED by a facility THAT CARES MORE ABOUT $$$$ THAN YOUR BELOVED ANIMAL. It's $230 to walk through the door - fine. But then you'll be "treated" to "Dr. A," a terse, cold doctor without compassion who will only become more impatient when you urge him to help you find more affordable routes so that you can bring your cat home in slightly less pain and then return to your own veterinary clinic as soon as possible. While my poor cat DID have a fatal condition whose prognosis was echoed by the (MUCH MORE LOVING Angell Hospital in Boston, now run by the MSPCA), Dr. A's demeanor was clipped and blunt to the point of cruel. He quoted me $4.5K to help my cat...then brought it down to $2K at minimum. Their prices are EXTORTIONATE. After begging him to give my cat something to alleviate his pain for the night, he reluctantly agreed to rub an ineffective $80 cream into his neck/skin, and only at the final moment reluctantly recommended Angell Hospital. I walked out, drove to Angell (who - to Boston West's credit - echoed the same prognosis for my cat, but with much more loving doctors and better alternative rates for those who could afford it), and yet I still sadly had to put my cat to sleep. But I'm glad that I brought my cat to rest at a caring, humane environment where he was treated with love instead of being considered a dollar bill. Boston West wants a minimum of $300 to euthanize your animal -- and that's without arrangements for cremation. Most animal hospitals (Framingham Animal Hospital, for example) will do it for free out of EMPATHY for you and your animal. BOSTON WEST WANTS YOUR CASH. The reason for the single star is only due to Paulette, the lovely receptionist who warmly listened to me and kept me company during my distress. She had more empathy than any nurse or doctor that I met at Boston West. It makes me infuriated that this facility takes advantage of people's distress with inflated prices and money-minded doctors. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR ANIMAL; THEY WANT YOUR CASH.
Mar 31st, 2024

DO NOT BRING YOUR ANIMAL HERE. This was my second time here. First time I brought my pet here was in 2019 in critical condition. The first communication I had was with a physician who gave me an A, B or C option. Option A, a quote for a one night admit, Option B two night or Option C three nights. I told her, lets start with costs for the diagnostic tests recommended and aimed at finding a diagnosis and go from there. I interacted with multiple doctors over a 24- hour period, one callously stating over the phone, I should prepare for the end-of-life discussion. Only one doctor who was brilliant and compassionate had answers for me and because of him and him alone, I took my animal home who was fine up until one week ago. That doctor no longer works there. Last Friday I brought my cat here due to fever, vomiting, no appetite. I had blood work from my Vet. A physical exam from the doctor was done-she noted mild dehydration & fever. S called to discuss treatment plan at which time she suggested a FUO Test (Fever of unknown origin test). I told her I thought a FUO was when a fever lasts for more than 3 weeks, doesnt respond to antibiotics and initial diagnostic tests cannot find anything. I asked the cost of the test-she said $400.00-$500.00. I asked if this test has produced useful information in the past. She said, very rarely. I asked about a result on the Blood test from my Vet, in particular a type of white blood cell found and its significance. She told me she is not a Medicine Internist [Internist recognize symptoms of diseases and know what tests will give definitive diagnoses]. At this time the conversation was getting tense, so in attempt to lighten it up, I brought up her old colleague and how much I loved that doctor, to which she responded, you know he is gay. WOW!!! With no alternative, I admitted the cat at 9:56 a.m. He was documented as a Low Risk Patient. Upon admission he had normal heart rate, respiratory rate, ambulatory x 4, no lameness, mentally appropriate. An abdominal ultrasound was done at 3:03 p.m. Urine was taken for analysis. I got a call at 5:40 p.m. I was told there were no significant findings on the ultrasound to explain signs- just some Effusion (FLUID) in his abdomen. I was told a Tick Born Virus was possible even in indoor cats and I was reminded if he stays, I will be going over my 12-hour estimate. At 5:45 p.m. he had a FEVER HIGHER THAN WHEN ADMITTED, when his pain medicine was held because he had just received his FIRST dose of antibiotic at which point his fever started to decline. At 7:16 p.m. the overnight doctor documented Abnormal Grade III/VI right parasternal systolic heart murmur, rapid breathing, spinal pain, hopping in limbs-he was given Methadone [I only know this from reading his record after the fact). At 7:40 a.m. a doctor called and told me he had spinal pain overnight and recommended I get a Neurology consult, mentioned tick born viruses and Fever of unknown origin. Given this feedback and the complete lack of compassion, I discharged him around 11 a.m. (Cost-$2100). When the narcotics wore off, he started breathing heavy. I called Boston West, requested a doctor. When someone finally picked up and I started asking questions, she responded I dont know the answer to that. To which I said, you are an ER doctor and dont know. She said I am just a technician. I said get a doctor on the phone. I ended up hanging up and brought him to Tufts ER where within minutes upon arrival the ER doctor did a TFAST Scan (an abdominal, thoracic ultrasound) that focuses on identifying the presence of FLUID within spaces of the peritoneal (abdomen), pleural (lung) and pericardial (heart). He was immediately given Lasix. His heart/kidneys/respiratory were compromised and given his level of suffering, he was euthanized-he was 6. Such un-empathic, callous individuals who do not appear to have the expertise you would expect from a care team in an Emergency Hospital.
Mar 30th, 2024