Reading Animal Clinic: Thistle Linda M DVM

Jun 2024

To start off with I have to say the doctors, vet techs, and door greeters are great. There is a lot of staff and a few I assume are administrative. The new office is very attractive. After reading some of the reviews I can see that some of the cons are unfair because in any practice of medicine there are protocols and to make a diagnosis you do need to perform test to rule out other probable causes and many people do not understand that. I brought my dog to the clinic and was satisfied with the care. I came only because it wasn't corporate, and the Middlesex Animal Hospital closed, and its great DMV referred me. I do believe the care is superior to corporate care BUT the costs are extremely high, but I guess if you want high end service you must pay high end prices. If you are a senior and on a fixed income this is not the place for you. To sum it up, docs, techs and door greeters are very friendly and caring. If you are on social security and a fixed income this place is not for you. I was lucky enough to return to my original vet because he reopened his practice, and he has an exceptional reputation around my area and pricing for those financially constrained is affordable.

Feb 2024

I have been using Reading animal clinic for 3 years. Up until now it has just been vaccinations. My dog strained his back leg and was given anti-inflammatory medication. After a week of this I made an appointment for Saturday afternoon for an evaluation with Dr Moon and hopefully get something a little stronger for pain. Thinking a Tylenol or something along those lines. after the evaluation 2 techs gave him an injection of Ketamine and told me he would seem like he was drunk and would hallucinate seeing purple elephants. When I got outside, he had a seizure in front of the building. They took him out back and I waited in an exam room for a few minutes. The brought him in covered in urine and feces from the seizure. I asked them to clean him up and they handed me a towel. next they told me I had to leave they were closing, and I should go to Woburn, he needed to be monitored because of his seizure. They told me if he has another one in the car on the way just keep driving until I get there. Woburn's cost was $1000.00. After a few days went by I realized they were never going to call to see how he was doing. When things go a little sideways the true character of a business really shows itself.

Jun 2023

Very unprofessional business staff. Vets are nice until your dog needs real care. They want to give shots and collect money. They should not be allowed to do any surgical procedures in their office not even routine procedures. Our dog was there for routine spay. We were called and told there were complications and the dog needed to get to an ER. When went to get her we asked to speak to the vet. Instead a "nurse" who according to their website hasn't even finished an associates degree program told us the dog might die on the 8 minute ride to the ER. When we again asked to speak to the vet to understand what happened and what we should tell ER Dr Moon came in and in a less than compassionate way said "what can I do for you?" It was like we were bothering her. We then asked for our dog and an oxygen tank and mask to try and keep her alive during the ride to the ER. The business manager then came in and said we had to pay first before we could leave with our dying dog. Seriously! One compassionate person gave us our dog and oxygen and fortunately we made it to ER in Woburn and they saved her life. According to ER She had suffered non cardiac pulmonary edema. All heart tests and blood tests came back normal so it was something the Vets or staff did wrong during the procedure. But read other reviews like this. They always blame the poor animal