update on Raul. I knew the tough old guy loved to eat too much to let a broken femur do him in. Today he started yelling his name at me again, and looking at me with greedy clear green eyes. He gets around well but needs PT to get the joints less stiff. Last night I forgot to enclose him in the shower stall and duiring the night he managed to do the steps up onto to the bed and slept with his conehead (don't lick the incision collar) on my pillow.

Kitty, the best thing is that kitty will never blame you for what happened. It may be that he will want to spend more time in the house and not so much time in the garage!

Good for Me-raul! So glad he's hungry and hobbling around.

Actually he blames me for his every waking moment that he is not eating exactly what he wants or is on any side of any door that is closed, and he is named for his frequent protests, "Raul, raul, raul, raul"

He always asks to go in the garage (but can't until healed) and then if the house door is open he wants to be in the house.
I had a handyman once who was very mild mannered, but got irritated trying to bring materials in and out bc Raul always wanted to be on the other side of any closed door and would wail and run under his feet anytime the door might open, no matter if to or from the garage. Allowed in the yard at the old house, kitty stood in the eye beam of the garage door to keep me from closing it.

That's just Raul's personality. He is a demanding, kingly, fabulous little old man with a limp that lessens by the day, thankfully.

Colony Vet Hospital costs.
 

We had our little guys toenails cut there. It takes a pro to do this as he is a terror when we try it. They charged us $12.50!! The mobile pet van wanted $65.00 to come to the house and we have had it done at vets in the past for anywhere from free to $25.00. The job was done well too!

Glad your fur baby is doing so well. Great news.

Open House this Saturday, August 10th, from 1pm to 4pm at Colony Pet Hospital.

Brenda
 

633-7327. We have two small dogs and really like Dr Drum and his staff.

Colony Animal Hospital
 

I have taken my two dogs there twice. The front staff is very slow and seem to not have their act together. Both times I have been there it has taken them 45 minutes to check me in 45 minutes to check me out. Seems there was only one lady, Judy, that had a personality and knew what she was doing. Unfortunately, I only saw Judy there one time when they initially opened.

The vet seems to be personable and knowledgeable. I can't say the same for the remainder of the staff.

I boarded my dogs for a week while I was out of town. I took all their food/treats & provided the front desk with written instructions as to how to feed my babies. When I picked them up, almost 1/2 of the food was still in the zip lock bag. When I got the dogs home, one of them refused to eat or drink and threw up several times. I finally had to take her to Buffalo Ridge Pet Clinic for an after hours visit.

I was very pleased with Jason Sexton, DMV at Buffalo Ridge Pet Clinic. He was very caring and thorough. I understand Buffalo Ridge Pet Clinic provides grooming and boarding also. After my visit there, I am seriously considering taking my babies there vs Colony.

I wonder what you mean by "boarding." There are so many different options now for leaving your pet in good hands while you're away, and putting them with a vet is not high on my list. Are they put in a kennel with a run and left on their own? That's what boarding with a vet used to mean.

I would suggest doing a search on the pet forum for recommendations for pet lodges and/or people who keep dogs in their homes or will come to your home and stay with your dogs. There is a pet place who advertises here on the forum, and many have recommended them. And I can recommend Pet Lodge and Spa in Leesburg, who allows their dogs to be out playing all day and only kenneled at meal times and at night, plus someone on premises 24 hours. 29.50 for an 88-lb fur ball.

Your experience with the checking in and out process sounds like it could be typical start-up problems, but the boarding experience you had is not a good story. Getting half your dog food back and a sick pup is unacceptable.

I can't speak to Colony for veterinary medicine and care but I do use Buffalo Ridge and have been very happy with their care of both my dogs which have been under more demanding expectations than routine care. The emergency clinic works well and in tandem with the regular clinic and I believe both Dr. Vernon and Dr. Rakes are very qualified vets. Fro the most part, the staff is easy to deal wtih.

SO SORRY to hear about your kitty...........we had a similar problem with our cat 3 weeks ago and he has no fractures but a "soft tissue" injury. We took him to Emergency in Orlando that day and then to our Vet the next morning. He is on 6 weeks of "low key" activity and acts totally normally except for a limp. Looks to me like shoulder blade but we are waiting 6 weeks to see how he does. I want to take him to UF Gainesville since I heard they have a TOP physician there. PLEASE let me know your opinion/experience with them...Thanks! Maureen

Does anyone know how Dr. Drum prices compare with Paws Animal Hospital which is also on Village property? We found Paws no more expensive than Countryside Vet.

thanks, Raul's doing very well and has his normal, constant, annoying demands back and I'm happy to see him all out.
i'd compare prices b4 using colony. they did a fine job with our case but seemed to have some charges higher than UF's emergency clinic, which is btw the very best IMO and only an hour away by I75.

Cost of Colony Vet
 

Back to the original question posed on this thread...who has experience with the new Colony Vet Clinic and their pricing? Thanks...

miss diagnosis
 

I took my dog there because it was sneezing all the time. He treated it for an upper respiratory infection to no avail. I ended up going for second opinion to Florida Vet Hospital and the dr diagnosed it as a tooth root abscess where the pus was draining into the nose. They pulled the tooth and it cleared up wonderfully. I don't think he gave a good examination as was needed. I also thought he was overpriced. The wrong diagnosis at any price is overpriced. Try Florida Vet Hospital. They are great.

:rant-rave:

miss diagnosis
 

I took my dog there because it was sneezing all the time. He treated it for an upper respiratory infection to no avail. I ended up going for second opinion to Florida Vet Hospital and the dr diagnosed it as a tooth root abscess where the pus was draining into the nose. They pulled the tooth and it cleared up wonderfully. I don't think he gave a good examination as was needed. I also thought he was overpriced. The wrong diagnosis at any price is overpriced. Try Florida Vet Hospital. They are great.

Where is the Florida Vet Hospital please?? ALSO, does anyone know if there is a Vet that graduated from Gainesville in this area?????????? It is one of the best in the Country and would like to find one local here. Thanks!

New Vet cost
 

$340 is about what I paid for just xrays, diagnosis and emergency visit for our Jack Russell here in Michigan. Doesn't sound like that is out of line. Glad to know they took care of your pet so well. Hoping for the best for your little guy.

Ditto on Dr. Manganaro. I've used her since Kathie recommended her last year. Very competent and accommodating. Office us not glamorous, but that's okay. I'm paying for her skill, not a fancy facility.

THANKS Kathie! We ended up going there with my cat and saw Dr. Valdez instead....VERY happy with his knowledge, etc. Driving the 7 miles down 27 is worth it---I don't care what the facility looks like so long as it is clean!!..Our cat has shoulder muscle/nerve damage that may be permanent but he gets around fine and he is not in pain. Dr. Valdez is doing laser therapy on our "Lovey"............We think VERY REASONABLY PRICED!!.

Dr. Drum was much less then we paid at another vet. Our cattle dog had to have a huge cancerous tumor removed from her hind leg/hounch and the total bill with all pre and post meds, the surgery, boarding, and meds to take home was half of what we thought it would be. Dr. Drum is a wonderful vet; he is kind to the animals and calls the next day to see how your baby is doing. We are so glad we switched. BTW- our dog is doing wonderfully!!

if you board, there is nothing indoors, true?

o

Besides Dr. Manganara, at Park Hgts sister clinic in The Villages, Dr. Raquel Fox is also a graduate of Gainesveille and a very accomplished vet! Many years experience. I have used both clinic since moving here but Village Veterinarian is my main clinic. Love the staff and the Doctors.

It would be helpful if you could name the other vet and give the price comparison between the two. For what was Dr. Drum much less than?

The buffalo ridge one is soon to open. There must be a LOT of dogs here in the villages

We use Buffalo Ridge. We have been there during regular office hours as well as after hours and, unfortunately, also for euthanasia services. They have been great under all circumstances. I will probably use the new one that is opening on 466A for routine check ups as it is significantly closer but I have complete confidence in Dr. Rakes and Dr. Vernon as well as Sexton for after hours. I think they mentioned mid February would be the opening last time I asked.