Deeply troubling experience at Craig View Veterinary with Dr. Ross Schwartz

I recently had a deeply troubling experience at Craig View Veterinary with my beloved chinchilla, Pixel. In the month of December 2024, I brought Pixel in because she was not eating, and I suspected it might be her teeth. Unfortunately, my concerns were dismissed by Dr. Ross Schwartz, who misdiagnosed Pixel with Pyometra (a bacterial infection of the uterus that can be life-threatening). To make matters worse, the prescribed medication was not appropriate for her actual condition.

This misdiagnosis and incorrect medication not only caused unnecessary stress but also led to a significant delay in getting Pixel the proper treatment she needed. Tragically, this resulted in Pixel's condition deteriorating to the point where I had no other option and nearly had her euthanized.

Just when I thought all hope was gone, I decided to Google for another vet somewhat nearby that also caters to exotic pets, such as my chinchilla. I was lucky to find Bryanston Avian, Exotic & Small Animal Clinic, where Dr. Perushan Yenketsamy immediately did a full assessment, including a scan and a dental check-up on Pixel. With great relief, Dr. Yenketsamy confirmed that Pixel was completely misdiagnosed by Dr. Schwartz and that she had a severely blocked stomach and also a dental issue with one of her teeth growing skew, as I had initially mentioned to Dr. Ross Schwartz was one of my main concerns and that this was not a death sentence.

He immediately attended to Pixel and I had to leave Pixel there for two nights, as she was placed on a drip given the correct treatment where there is 24hr. Care by Veterinarians. May I also mention that Dr. Yenketsamy phoned and messaged constantly with updates on her progress and after only two days I went to go fetch her. He gave me correct medication and showed me exactly how and when to administrate it.

Dr. Ross Schwartz's lack of compassion and professional oversight in this case should not be overlooked. His actions directly contributed to the suffering of Pixel and nearly caused her death. I strongly believe that such malpractice should result in serious consequences, including the revocation of his veterinary license.

Whilst I would like to believe in the clinic's commitment to providing quality veterinary care, this experience has left us extremely disappointed. I hope Craig View Veterinary can address this issue directly with Dr. Ross Schwartz and improve their diagnostic practices to prevent such tragedies in the future.