Boyette Animal Hospital — Local services in Riverview

My pets (dogs) have been patients of Boyette Animal Hospital for about 18 months since we transition from CA to FL. I never had an issue with their service until recently. Our 10-year-old Husky had fallen ill on Thursday night/Friday morning (3 Sep) and refused to eat for almost 2 days. We were able to get him in at Boyette Saturday (4 Sep) afternoon. In calling Boyette, we communicated that our Husky seemed extremely fatigued, immobile, refused to eat, and had abnormal breathing at times. Upon examination, it was determined that he experienced a gastro and ear infection. He was sent home with an ear infection and diarrhea medication. It was also identified that his white blood cell count was almost off the charts; however, he was sent home and told to let them no know if he's not better in two weeks. Boyette called to follow up on our Husky Tuesday (8 Sep, after the Labor Day holiday) to check in on him. I communicated that nothing had changed that he was not eating and immobile for some reason. The representative states she would send a message to the doctor to have her call me back. I did not receive a call back until Wed (9 Sep) from the doctor, where she advised that my dog should have an ultrasound as she was concerned with our dog's white blood cell count. She states she would call the facility for the quote and call me back. The doctor called me back a few hours later with the ultrasound price and recommended that he have this ultrasound done next week (17 Sep). She also mentioned my dog is older and should take arthritis supplements since he has difficulty moving. On the morning of 10 Sep, I called the facility as I was concerned with my dog's immobility and still refused to eat. I spoke with a front representation who mentioned the doctor was in, and she would leave a note for her to call me back. Throughout the day at work, I waited for Boyette to return my call. Later that afternoon, my husband conversed with a co-worker about poisonous toads in FL and how our dog might have ingested one. My husband quickly looked up the symptoms that align with the symptoms our dog experienced. Upon this information, my husband called Boyette (approximately 3:15 pm) to inform them this may be why our dog was ill since my husband sees this toad around our home. Boyette told them they would send the message to the doctor, but in the meantime, my husband could email them a picture of the toad he had seen.

Also, somewhere in the conversation, it was mentioned either they close 4 pm, or the doctor was leaves at 4 pm. Fast forward to appropriately 630pm, we still did not receive a call back from Boyette about our concerns. Our dog was in so much pain that we took him to Fetch Emergency Room (This was the facility my dog's doctor recommended for ultrasound). Upon arrival at Fetch, the facility requested to stabilize our dog and re-do the blood work that Boyette had done before. It was discovered that our dog had been suffering from leukemia. His limbs had swelled at this point, his one blue eye had turned brown, and the doctor told us that his blood was so thick. Faced with this unexpected new, we were given the option to either euthanize or start chemo; however, at his age (10 years old), we would only be adding months to his life, not years. We ended up euthanizing our beloved dog.

I am not upset that Boyette could not detect he had cancer, as this is not their specialty. However, we are upset about the lack of follow-up to our urgent request even today; we have not received a phone call concerning our dog. One thing that Boyette did right was recommending Fetch to us. Fetch has called us the next day to check in us. The fact our dogs had been patients of Boyette for at least a year, we would have expected better communication methods. We are heartbroken that our dog was sent home with basic medication instead of more aggressive care. We would not recommend Boyette and will no longer take our other dog to...

I have been going to Boyette Animal Hospital for over 7 years and this has been my worst experience. I was referred to Bay Area Vet because Boyette Animal Hospital was about to close and I needed to run to the bank. Two weeks ago I brought a snack from Petco for my boxer and I notice his stomach started making gurgling sounds. I gave him a little piece of Yam since I did not have pumpkin and it helped. Two weeks after I spilled a little perfume on the floor and my dog lick it. I mediately gave him some water, but next day I notice he didn't eat much, and he was eating more grass than usual and a little foaming around the mouth. Just to be on the safe side I took him to Bay Area Vet and they indicated he looks find as it's usual for boxers to have some foaming around the mouth. I was told they can hear a heart murmur level 2 and I asked how could that be because he was just seen in October and didn't have a heart murmur. I was told for the gurgling sound I would need three different type of medication which will cost over $300.00 including for the visit. I decline all medications except the shot, as they indicated that will help with the gurgling sounds As I reviewed the medication online it indicated to help with diarrhea and vomiting, but my dog did not have nay of those symptoms. I was still told it will help. I was not given a receipt nor released documents also for side effects of the medication, nothing was given. When I got home my boxer was limping from the area where they gave him the shot. I called the office and asked for my receipt and documentation which I never received. I was told they will send before they close at 10 pm. Never received anything. The next morning my Boxer was less active and not really responding, we started panicking and my daughter was in tears thinking we were about to loose our boxer. I contact Boyette Animal hospital and they indicated the medication should have not been given because he did not have diarrhea and vomiting symptoms. The lady told me to bring my boxer to be seen. As I was leaving out the door Bay Area called and I told them I could not talk because I was on my way to Boyette Animal Hospital which I already had a feeling he was going to call over there because he said they have a close relationship and he was upset because I made a bad review. When I got to Boyette, Dr Trimble indicated my boxer was much more alert than earlier, but I indicated he had most of the side effect symptoms of the shot that was given. I could see she was immediately covering up for Bay Area Vet base on what she was explaining to me that my dog still needed all the other medications She was covering for her friend at Bay Area Vet. She also indicated my boxer did not have a heart murmur level 2 which was not a concern at this point. I explain my concern at this point is his unseal behavior is what I was more concerned about. I explain that I will give him the pumpkin and keep a close eye on him.

As of today I asked for my boxer medical report and Dr. Trimble try to cover for Bay Area Vet and herself again. There were no notes that her office indicated my dog was not supposed to be given that medication because he did not have those symptoms, but she make sure to add notes that my son said he wasn't suppose to given the shot. She also indicated I decline radiology testing even though she insisted he did not have a heart murmur, shame on her, I will never want my dog to be seen by her again and her friend over at Bay Area. These people will prefer for you to send a lot of money for dog medications, but they will not agree to home remedies first.

All the other doctors there has been great as well as Dr Bob who I prefer and has a lot of knowledge.

My dog is doing just find with Pumpkin with turmeric. Thank God

WOW, NOW I CAN SEE WHY THIS FACILITY HAS A 4.5 REVIEW...

Boyette Animal Hospital let me down for the last time and I will NEVER return. This clinic felt like family to me. I have taken our family animals there for nearly three decades. I remember being a little girl and seeing Dr. Bob in his first clinic next to Winn-Dixie back in the 90's. So when I tell you Boyette is not the quality it once was, trust me, I know what I'm talking about.

My 18 year old Dachshund needed medical attention. Did I have an appointment? No. Did I know I would have to wait? Of course. Did I remind them of his age & what he suffered just three weeks prior & I feared this was possibly a repeat? Absolutely. (My dog almost died from HGE and was hospitalized for two days.)

An hour passes. He begins panting & showing signs of stress. I inform them, hoping we will be called back to a room. Nope.

Another 30 minutes pass. I've been patient long enough. I decide to say something about the wait, only to be told it would be another 30 minutes, putting us at 7:00 (closing time). That is not being "added on" as they put it. That is being put at the end of the list. Being put at the end of the list when your dog isn't laying there sick and weak isn't a problem. When your dog is fighting for their life at his old age, should be recognized and prioritized better than this.

I brought to their attention yet again his age & current health condition. He had vomited multiple times and had bloody stool. It was unacceptable for him to wait 2 hours to be seen. He was so ill & needed me to advocate for him. I was just told "Sorry, there's nothing we can do. We're really busy." What else can I do? What else can I say? I'm trying my hardest to be patient and keep myself from crying in that waiting room.

I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't just sit there anymore while other dogs were being taken back and they were not suffering like my dog was. It was only when I asked for a copy of his medical records because I was going to take him elsewhere did they take him back to a room to begin treatment.

I'm not even going to elaborate on how horrible the doctor experience was. This is not the first doctor (since my favorite left to open his own clinic) that has not met my standards. I was treated as though I was an inconvenience & that my dog didn't matter. I cried. I was so hurt by this entire experience. I love my old man & he's laying lifeless in my arms. I would do anything I could to save him and keep him from pain. Wouldn't anyone else feel the same? I've given multiple doctors a chance. I know it takes time to build a relationship but when you have a sick, old dog the last thing you have is time. They need the utmost care immediately.

I'm aware that "add ons" get squeezed in when there's availability. I completely understand that. I've been an "add on" on numerous occasions. However, Boyette should be ashamed of themselves. We were looked at as just another body in the waiting room. Just another bill. My file is thick from my five animals and the amount of money I've spent is endless. This night, no one took into account how sick my dog was, even after I verbalized it multiple times. Even after I was crying in that waiting room and expressing my 18 year old dog was stressed and incredibly sick. Honestly I'm surprised I kept it together for as long as I did.

This review is thorough because I want others to know. To know how someone of three decades, with a sick, old dog was treated. He doesn't have much fight left but I will make sure that however much fight is left, he will be taken care of at a clinic who cares.

I don't write reviews. I don't share my experiences publicly. This time, I made it a point to and I will continue sharing with anyone who asks about my experience at Boyette. I hope this is read by someone at Boyette and Dr. Bob is made aware. I hope this never happens again to...