River Valley Animal Center - Suffield, Connecticut

Melissa Buxton

The doctor that I had was very rude and told me I can’t handle my dog well, maybe he should go back to the veterinarian school and try to handle a Dalmatian and she my dog was only there for her rabies shot an exam and I really did not want no blood work done cause I didn’t have the money. I waited for almost an hour and a half. Just waited for the doctor to come check my dog. And wanted me to get this done and not done on my dog and I said no she was only here for the rabies shot an exam they add stuff to people to make more money off of people. I will not recommend this place at all. These people need to go back to school. I would not recommend that doctor to take care of my pet.

mckenzie boulineau

I'd give this place nothing if I could. Everytime we have an appointment we wait over an hour to be seen like our original time doesn't matter. Our 9 year old Beagle has been having liver issues as he grows older and the vet doesn't even seem like he cares and is a waste of our time as we live 30 minutes away. He never explains what's going on thoroughly and have had enough of his ambiguous practice. He hasn't gotten better over the last year and he isn't taking any steps further to improve anything. We are seeking a new clinic

Allison

Brought my kitten to this vet after recently relocating to the area. I felt very rushed, like the Doc did not want to be there or that I was wasting his time. Both the doc and the vet tech were pretty rough with my kitten, basically manhandling my pretty friendly and calm cat for no reason. She was not given any treats or anything to help her calm down or get used to the new environment (that is what her previous vet would do) and the doc took no time to try and pet or talk to her in order to calm her down. They pretty much pinned her down on the table to give her shots and take her temperature. Basically they were very rough with her in a way I have never seen a vet treat any animal I’ve ever had. My cat had a UTI but we spent most of the ten minute appointment being told by the doc that there was probably nothing wrong with her and it was probably our fault she was peeing all around our apartment because we weren’t cleaning the litter box enough even though we told him multiple times that we clean it every other day but it was like he didn’t believe us or something. Overall, we felt very unwelcome and uncomfortable with the way the doc treated both me and my partner as well as our kitten. We will not be coming back.

Stephanie Edwards

If I could give this placed negative stars I would- I will never step foot in this place again, I went to the office on Thursday after calling regarding my cat peeing outside the litter box for the past 1.5 week. I told them I wanted to make sure was not a UTI before saying behavioral ;as he’s a 9 year old Persian and they are prone to kidney issues. I told them he occasionally poops outside the litter box which he did with my first pregnancy (never pee), I am now 7 months pregnant and he told me that he thinks it’s most definitely behaviorable, he told me given he is eating ,drinking and pooping outside box as well ; he doubted uti. He told me to have my husband dump and empty the boxes daily for 2 weeks (even though he had 3 litter boxes to himself) if this didn’t work come back and we could test his urine. I then asked if he could palpate his kidneys as Persians are prone to kidney issues, he told me that because he is “chunky” it would hurt him finding his kidneys and didn’t want to upset him. Had he palpated his kidneys maybe he would’ve felt the giant amount of swelling from infection brewing from obstructed kidney stone. He never once checked his temp (had he , he maybe would’ve seen it was abnormal.) He never checked his gums, (had he, he may of seen how anemic and dehydrated his was.) It was only after telling me had an ear infection (basically only thing he examined ) while walking out the door, “ya know we could test his urine…. or we could wait and see because we don’t know for sure what it could be and we can try two weeks of doing the litter.” Trusting the vet I listened to him and will forever regret not pushing for the one thing I came to rule out. Him and tech were dismissive of my suspicions and blamed it on my cat being upset I was pregant. Flash forward 48 HOURS LATER my sweet boy is gone. In the emergency room Sat night he was found to be in septic shock and acute renal failure from a urine infection and a large infected kidney stone, his hemoglobin was 7.5, his potassium was 8.5, his bun was >130, his heart rate was super low, his temp super low, his bp super low- the vets said he was so anemic and dehydrated very visible by physical exam especially his gums. They were concerned with his incredible abdominal fullness very visible if someone touched his kidneys. My sweet once healthy cat is now dead. I am beyond heart broken and saddened that this vet did not even check vital signs for my cat that was there for sick visit (they only checked weight.) That they they wouldn’t palpate his kidneys after asking, that they did not offer a urine sample right off the bat when that was my main reason for going and only until the very end of the exam did he offer as an after thought walking out ~I trusted that his medical knowledge meant something and he had low suspicion . Of note this was not the main doctor who I usually see but a different doctor named Dr Radu Nastase .

So completely sad that this could’ve potentially been caught in time.

Debbie Roberts

I had been going to River Valley for many years now. I have 4 dogs and when we first started going there I sang the place high praises. Not sure what has happened there. I believe when the Doctor texts you the results of your beloved dogs pathology reports (which I can't read) to find out that Maggie has cancer is totally UNEXCEPTABLE!! She died 2 weeks later. Never a phone call or text to see how she was doing. This place is a JOKE!! If you go there find another place. I would hate to see anyone have to go through this ever.....

Nina Bane

We have been with Dr Sachdev for so many years. Everyone in his practice is so empathetic and caring. Always extremely knowledgeable and explain everything so you know what's going on. There isn't any vet facility that is better.

OJ

Amazing staff and doctor. They couldn't be nicer and more helpful. They really care about your dog and you.

Elaine Chaski

I am writing this in tears. I have been bringing my many dogs to this practice for over 5 years. What started out well ended up in sadness. I chose to go to my local tractor supply company to get our dogs vaccinated rather than have to pay office cost plus shots so we mainly used the veterinarians for sick visits. In the past two years I have had to see them because one of my dogs started having seizures and got to the point where he had to be put on medicine. My 14 year old dog is also receiving medicines for arthritis and hip issues. The lack of communication from the time I call and speak to a receptionist to the time I actually am able to pick up their meds at Costco is appalling. There has been three seperate incidents where one being this week when I’ve had to call daily with promises I would be called back as to why my refills have not been filled. I’m puzzled as to why any caring veterinarian would want any one of my dogs to have a pause of either pain or seizure medicines which may cause harm to them. The physical care has been wonderful but the lack of communication from front desk to doctor like I said is lacking which has caused myself to find services elsewhere.