S W

Stay clear of Belmont Vet, Rondebosch

Worst experience ever! Please don't rush your pet there in an emergency. My cat was hectically attacked by a dog - ripped leg with a puncture wound. We rushed him there, he was sedated and had X-rays. We were told he was severely injured and needed immediate surgeory by an orthopedic surgeon and told to send him to TAH as they didn't have this level of expertise. They said he'd need extensive surgeory and could result in his leg being amputated. On arrival the next day to transfer him they wanted a R9k deposit paid to them not TAH. I refused to pay them and settled their large bill for one night. TAH were extremely professional. The surgeon vet said no surgery could be done before ensuring there was no infection from the puncture would. He was sent home with antibiotics. He was good on release and on the weekend we saw him losing energy. We took him back to Belmont vet who admitted him. They drained an apsis, did minor surgeory creating an incision leaving two drain holes open. They flushed the wound daily. The alarming thing was the different vet reports daily. One vet said he was doing great. The next day another vet phoned to say he needed emergency exploratory surgery the very next day and they needed my authorization that night. With the vet bills between Belmont and TAH (Belmont being the highest) already amounting to R22k, and with them saying infection was just one aspect and he'd still need surgery to repair his torn muscles, we were faced with the reality that there was no guarantees and that his overall prognosis was severe and unfortunately costly. We were put under pressure to reply that night, which they refute after my complaint. We said we'd have to consider eithenssia. What other option does one have if you have children to provide for an a seemingly unlimited vet bill. I was totally and utterly heartbroken. I sobbed all night, woke up depressed. Later that am another vet phoned to say "I'm not sure who you spoke to last night, but I'm telling you that your kitty is doing well". I nearly fainted. Seriously. How do they go from a R6k surgery and weeks of recovery with them which would be another R10k, to "he's doing well"?? We visited him the next day. We were told he was doing great. He was well, eating, walking! We requested to speak to the vet on duty, Sharon, who was extremely rude. Starting the conversation with a sarcastic and offensive tone "I don't have a crystal ball. I cannot predict the outcome. And I heard you were considering uthenasia". She was explicitly implying that we were terrible humans and proceeded to tell us he's beautiful and she wanted to keep him! Clearly she didn't know of maybe did, that we'd been told he needed urgent surgery. We left biting out tongues and returned the next day after taking it all in to bring our boy home. He was absolutely fine. He's running around, eating, healthy. I reported it all to Claire, the owner, who take great lengths to say she was concerned, investigated and came back with excuses. Saying they reduced the bill to help us out with our duress. I explained it was not just financial more emotional with the varying daily reports. I will never use them again. Their invoices emailed to me changed day by day. One day R5k, the next half the cost. On final settlement the receptionist, who seems to rule the costing, stil charged me more than my final invoice emailed the previous day. I was so over it I just paid.