Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

If yes, how was your experience?

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Ebony died of a heart attack while under their care.

I will never ever go there again.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I have been there 3 times. I have to be honest I wasn't overly impressed. They are super expensive. My dogs surgery site would not heal right so I went to my regular vet and he made me go back to them to remove stitches that didn't desolve. He kinda did an eye roll when he saw the site. The last time we went they wanted to do an ACL surgery on my dog immediately, I then went to 2 other vets for second opinions and they said it wasn't necessary.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I was there about five years ago when I thought my dog has cushings. I never went back, as I had a problem there waiting for hours when I had an appointment. One of the employees didn't log me in when I got there. Even still, you wait for a long time.

I would like to let you know of a place I took my precious beloved Maltese in the last year and a half of her life. I believe you are in Suffolk. It is called Atlantic Coast Veterinary in Bohemia. It is a specialty place open 24 hours like the place you were referring to. THey also have a place in Mineola. My dog had a bad heart and the owner of this facility is the only board certified cardiologist on Long Island. He gave my baby an extra year and a half with me. He is absolutely wonderful! They have all kind of specialists there, including what you are looking for. They are very caring and it is not unorganized like Long Island Veterinary Specialists. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. I highly recommend this place and I have been all over in the 15 years of Merry's life. Good luck!

EDITED: I just read this thread fully and realize that I was thinking of a facility in Westbury. I was never at the one in Plainview.

Cindy

Message edited 2/20/2007 8:34:38 AM.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I have always taken my dogs to the emergency hospital in West Islip on Sunrise Highway. I forget the name. It seemed as if they did a good job with them. I never had a problem. Maybe try going there for now one. Just an idea.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Never have but I'm so sorry your poor doggy is going through this I hope his eyes heal soon

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I don't have any info on LIVS except that my DH higly recommends them for specialists, however, he also recommends The Center for Specialized Veterinary Care. I think he sends certain cases to LIVS and others to The Center for Specialized Vet. Care...but don't quote me on that, I'm not absolutely sure.



Here's The Center for Specialized Veterinary Care's webiste:

http://www.vetspecialist.com/index.php

Message edited 2/20/2007 11:31:33 AM.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I go to the Center for Specialized Vet care as well. 3 different times with 2 different pups & I have to say they were fantastic!

I am sorry that your Hershey is having problems

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I was referred to both LIVeterinary and Atlantic Coast in Bohemia when Misty ate the Gorilla Glue. LIV told me over the phone to wait and see if she continued vomiting, Atlantic Coast had me bring her right in and they did the surgery to remove the glue immediately. They told me if I had waited, she probably would have died.

So another negative for LIVet. in Plainview.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I went to LIVS a few years ago when I first purchased my puppy. My vet recommended I go there b/c he has a liver disease. I found the vets to be wonderful. They are $$$$ and did a whole load of testing. They told me before the surgery, that the liver disease my dog has can either be operable or inoperable, of course he had the inoperable kind. While they weren't able to "fix" him, I think they were great. Maybe a little crowded and long waits but I trust my vet and he trusts them. My little guy is still alive, I just have to follow up with my vet for periodic blood work etc. and of course he is on a special diet.

After hearing all these stories though, I may go elsewhere next time.

Message edited 2/20/2007 3:25:50 PM.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Posted by Kathy116

Posted by Cindy

Posted by Kathy116

Posted by Gertyrae

I was referred to both LIVeterinary and Atlantic Coast in Bohemia when Misty ate the Gorilla Glue. LIV told me over the phone to wait and see if she continued vomiting, Atlantic Coast had me bring her right in and they did the surgery to remove the glue immediately. They told me if I had waited, she probably would have died.

So another negative for LIVet. in Plainview.

When you wrote Atlantic Coast, that rang a bell in my mind...my DH also refers to them as well...Dr. Kramer is great.

Kathy,

Dr. Kramer is who my maltese saw for her heart disease. He was absolutely so so wonderful and really cared so much too. Unfortunately her heart could not take anymore, but she was seeing him for the last year and a half of her life and I know all the treatment she had with him, that was the reason I had all the more time with her.

Cindy

I'm so sorry your dog passed.

I'm glad to hear of your great experience with Kramer...he comes to my DH's practice quite often (or his staff) for ultrasounds.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

We also did not have a good experience with them. In 02 I rushed my little 8lbs cat to the emergency hosptial on Sunrise in West Islip. My cat had vomited 18 times and the last 2 times looked like blood. He did x-rays and told me that the cat had cancer and had just a few weeks to live. I saw the x-rays and there are definitely spots all over her lungs, instestines and stomach. He wanted to put her down that night. I said no it was my DH's cat (we weren't married yet) and I couldn't make that decision without a second opinion. He said we should take her there. So my husband took ther to LIVS the next day. They wanted to open up my 8lb cat and biopsy every organ in her body and then start her on a high dosage of chemo. My husband told them she is 8lbs and he will not put her little body through that. They basically made it seem like my husband was a monster because he wouldn't do that to her. We said that we would take her home and make her comfy and when the time comes we will put her down.

I thought they had some nerve to talk to my husband like that. Oh and as I type this story my cat is lying on her favorite chair napping. 5 years later she is still here when they told us she would be dead within 3 weeks tops!


( I am happy she is here- sorry if I don't sound like I am not-- I Love my fuzz ball).

Message edited 2/20/2007 11:20:55 PM.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I can't believe all these stories about LIVS. I was under the impression they were the best of the best. I am glad to know there are other emergency vets though if I need it in the future. I was happy with their care when I brought my little Rocky in and I dont know that they went over board b/c the only way to diagnose my little guy was through a biopsy which they did. He also had a large hernia that needed to be removed. It was $$$$ though. Several thousand dollars.

I am going to ask my vet about LIVS next time I see them. I go to Terry Animal Hospital in Rockville Centre. I am surprised they would refer me to a place with such a bad rap.

Message edited 2/21/2007 4:41:50 PM.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Thank you everyone!

Hershey is doing better, her left eye is healing slowly.

This is experience definitely taught me a life lesson. To go with my gut feeling.

I would have not let him do the procedure.

But it is done and I am concentrating on the healing process and giving her lots of love and attention.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

Posted by karacg

Posted by peabody

Thank you everyone!

Hershey is doing better, her left eye is healing slowly.

This is experience definitely taught me a life lesson. To go with my gut feeling.

I would have not let him do the procedure.

But it is done and I am concentrating on the healing process and giving her lots of love and attention.

We trust the professionals to do the best thing for our pets. Sometimes, they are wrong. I am so sorry and glad to hear Hershey is on the mend. You did the best thing for her - took her to a professional so do not feel guilty. (Coming from someone who can't get over her own feelings...)

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

We rushed Tiny there on a Sunday b/c we didn't know where else to bring him. He was in pain so we knew we had to bring him somewhere.

They took him right away b/c he was vomitting and in pain. After waiting about 1.5 or so, we saw a vet. I asked him how Tiny was doing and he said he seems to be ok right now. But b/c it is an ER we have to take other pets in the triage (which I totally understand).

Well it turns out that after $1200, they sent Tiny home with Pepcid AC.

I was annoyed b/c I could have waited two hours at home to see if he got any better but didn't want to see him in pain.

I kept telling the doctor I beleved he ate rabbit fecies.

Oh well- we're just happy Tiny returmed to himself after a few days.

Re: Has anyone been to Long Island Veterinary Specialists?

I am so sorry to hear of all these terrible experiences