Reviews for Mclean Animal Hospital in Mc Lean, VA

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I tried to complain directly to McLean Animal Hospital (MAH). However, when I called a week ago on August 15 at around 5:30pm I was told that the person in question stepped out and would call me back. No one has so I am complaining online.

I brought my dog to MAH since 2009. Our experience was always good, but my dog was pretty healthy. When she really was sick and needed professional treatment, MAH made medical and administrative mistakes that caused the dog some pain, cost me heartache, cost me money and delayed a diagnosis by two weeks, when I went elsewhere.

The troubles can be divided into two types - medical and administrative. There were many administrative failures and only one medical one, but the medical failure is more serious so I'll start there.

My dog has cancer. Specifically, she has a tumor in an anal glad that spread to a lymph node and some other areas. This main tumor is visible as a bump from the outside and was confirmed in under five minutes in a physical check by the veterinarian I visited after MAH. A biopsy of the tumor is a relatively quick and easy affair, seeing how it is right under the skin. The new vet says that this type of tumor is fairly common for older female dogs like mine. When asked if it was reasonable to expect a vet to locate that tumor she said yes.

MAH missed that same tumor, instead subjecting my dog to two biopsies and ultrasounds by at least two vets to try and reach a secondary tumor in a hard-to-reach lymph node. Every sample collected was not enough to actually identify the tumor type or even confirm that it is a tumor. MAH charged 1,300 dollars for this and delayed diagnosis and treatment by two weeks.

MAH also has administrative problems. Some are annoying, but small. Some are bigger.

While waiting for the second failed biopsy results, I asked MAH to please be quick as I was scheduled to leave the next Saturday for work and I needed to know if I could go. They said to expect results by Wednesday, but that I could call myself on Tuesday to check if they had them then. Based on this, I told my director that I might have to delay my trip and would tell him by Wednesday.

On Tuesday, when I called Ryan told me that the test was done, that all they needed was for the pathologist would write it up and I'd have it that day or the next.

On Wednesday, when I called Islam told me that the test wasn't done yet but they asked the lab to hurry given my travel problem. I had to tell my director I still didn't know what i was doing next week.

On Thursday, after multiple calls from me, Dr. Anderson said nothing had happened but that he had sent the lab an email asking them to do it that day. I told him that I was getting a different story every time about talking to the lab.

On Friday I called at 5:30pm, I was told then that they had results, and had for "a few hours," but Dr. Anderson was too busy that day to call and tell me. I asked for any other vet to call me as I needed to know about my flight the next morning.

One did, a woman, although I missed her name. She told me that the lab said that the sample wasn't good enough and that they would try another slide.

At this point I grew frustrated and asked why no one could call me for hours even to tell me that they had results that required a re-test when they knew that i was expected to leave the country the next morning. She said that Dr. Anderson was too busy all day to call me and tell me that they didn't have useful results. I said that one of the many other vets could. I admit that I was pretty unhappy and my voice sounded it. She didn't like this and got angry, telling me that the vets were all too busy, that there were many other people wanting lab results, that i wasn't important as I thought I was (!) and that I'd have to be patient until someone had time to call me. At this point she was yelling and I was pretty mad so I hung up.

I then called and asked to file a complaint.

Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Anderson called. He did not address my complaint request, but had found time to call. He said that the lab had also found the time to try that second slide and that the results were also inconclusive. He seemed to think that i should be happy that he and the lab had such a quick response time. After a week of several daily calls begging for action, the fact that they could move when they really wanted to did not make me feel better.

Learning from the new vet that the main tumor is so easy to find and to biopsy, and that I put my dog through unneeded stress, paid an unneeded $1300, and needlessly looked bad at work, I feel worse.

by Minna xxx.xxx.51.111

August 21, 2014

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Does this provider leave you on hold for a long time when you call?

No, they are really great about answering the phone right away

Does this provider remember you and your circumstances at every appointment?

Yes

Was this provider sympathetic to your situation?

Yes! They went above and beyond to make me feel special and respected

Did this provider thoroughly explain the risks and benefits of your treatment?

Yes, they made sure I had all the information I needed to make a decision

Would you recommend this animal hospital to others?

I Already Have

by Anonymous xxx.xxx.68.114

April 07, 2013

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Did this provider seem up-to-date with the current advancements in their field?

Yes

by Anonymous xxx.xxx.71.21

March 18, 2013

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They do basic veterinary medicine very well, and boy do they charge you for it. Definitely count on a "zip-code tax" for doing business in McLean. They always have a new product to sell you, which they will try to, but do have competitive prices at least on things like Frontline and heartworm medication. If you want a brand they don't carry you will be told that brand is the worst thing in the world for your pet. Until they run out of their preferred brand then the off-brand they were just decrying is the best thing since sliced bread.

They have been unable to successfully treat an ongoing health issue with my pet but have been more than willing to charge me $300-$750 a pop over the course of a year without solving the issue. Their only answer is for me to spend more money on treatments they readily acknowledge aren't likely to solve the problem but "may" tell us a lot and "could" rule out further possibilities. $3200 later and all possibilites they said could be ruled out supposedly have been but my dog is still sick. Take from that what you will. If money is not an issue, go to McLean Animal Hospital. The money you spend will at least make you think you MUST be getting the best care due to the price.

by NoVA Pet Owner xxx.xxx.151.23

January 03, 2013

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Their prices were not fair at all. They were extremely overpriced and I felt ripped off. Their office was clean enough, nothing special though. The restrooms were very well-stocked at this provider's office. They always have toilet seat covers, paper towels and toilet paper and never run out. Their pricing was outrageously high. I was shocked and appalled at how much the bill was when it was time to pay. I've never seen so many crazy pets running around a veterinarians office before. The entire staff seemed completely overwhelmed and unable to keep up with the work load. I prefer a veterinarians office to be a little more organized than that.

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