We have been bringing our dogs to river valley vet for years. Our previous dog, Anthony, lived a long and healthy 17 1/2 years. We now have a year and a half old chihuahua named Abigail. Recenty, Abby was diagnosed with Addison's disease after going into crises. Dr Honse and Dr Linkenheimer have been great helping us understand the disease and how to treat her. We are still in recovery mode but she is making great progress. We feel prepared for what Abby needs and understand her medications. We also know what to be aware of when it comes to her condition. This is thanks to the time they have taken to explain everything to us.
I also want to mention how the rest of the staff seems very concerned about her and always make sure to check on her to see how she's doing. All of this is greatly appreciated. We thank you, and so does Abigail.
I chose this veterinary office because of its convenient location and generally positive reviews, but unfortunately my experience has been disappointing.
At my puppy’s first appointment, I arrived 10 minutes early and was taken into a room quickly. However, we waited over 50 minutes past our scheduled time with no communication from staff to be seen. My puppy was extremely anxious—pacing and crying the entire time—and no one checked in or apologized for the delay. I completely understand that offices can run behind, but a simple update or acknowledgment would have gone a long way. I would have preferred to wait in my car rather than in a small exam room with a stressed dog.
When a staff member finally came in, she did not introduce herself, and I initially thought she was the veterinarian. It wasn’t until i asked questions she couldn’t answer that she clarified she was a vet tech. While she was polite, the lack of clear communication was frustrating.
During a later visit, my dog was taken to the back without me to receive vaccines. When she was returned, the tech did not maintain proper control of her leash, allowing her to approach another dog in a very small waiting room and even knock over another client’s drink. Thankfully nothing escalated, but it felt unsafe and unprofessional.
After one round of vaccinations, my dog experienced significant discomfort—she could barely walk and was crying. When I called to ask if this was normal, I was told to take her to an emergency vet due to a possible reaction. Fortunately, I was able to have her assessed by someone with veterinary experience, and it appeared to be injection site pain. Still, I was not given clear information at the appointment about where the vaccines were administered or what to expect afterward, which added unnecessary stress.
At a subsequent visit, I requested to be present for my dog’s vaccinations/boosters. While they accommodated this by administering it in the waiting room, the staff seemed visibly irritated by my request. They also recommended a Benadryl injection as a precaution but did not inform me of this ahead of time—something I could have administered at home to avoid an additional charge and another injection for my dog.
Additionally, I was presented with a treatment estimate that included services that were never discussed, which further contributed to my concerns about transparency.
Overall, my experience has been marked by long wait times, lack of communication, and concerns about handling and care. While I appreciate the convenience of the location, I will not be returning and would encourage the practice to improve communication, client transparency, and patient handling.
