Purdue University Small Animal Hospital

This place is great. I adopted a kitten from the local shelter and this place was on their list of providers that give a complimentary vet exam for all adoptions. This was a very nice gesture on their part. We found the doctor to be very welcoming and knowledgeable. She was a great resource for information. Then kitty got sick so we brought her back. They were very helpful and expedient in figuring out what was wrong with her. Aside from the attending doctor being fantastic, the vet students that also helped us were great. They were very friendly and professional. When we had troubles giving kitty her oral medications, the vet students stopped what they were doing to come out and give us a lesson on how to best do it. The student even gave me several follow up calls to check in and see how kitty was doing. I could not have asked for better service. The girls behind the reception counter are very nice as well. Any time I have had to call in, they are always professional and courteous. They even went out of their way to compound some additional medication for us after the cat squirmed around and we missed squirting the medication into her mouth. I would highly recommend bringing your pet her. If you receive half the level of service that I received, I’m sure you will be happy.

AVOID UNLESS ITS AN EMERGENCY, THEN THINK TWICE.
The vet thought my dog might have cancer, but she wasn’t sure. She recommended I go to Purdue for a few test. I agreed. The vet tech called Purdue to make arrangements. For me to walk into the door, Purdue needed a $ 2,000.00 deposit, which I had no problem with. After all they’re doing human medicine on a animal/​pet. I was then told I would need an additional $ 10,000-$ 15,000.00 for Purdue to have a vet read the test, and treat my dog, should she have cancer. I asked if Purdue had a payment plan, as I just don’t have an extra TEN TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND sitting around. The vet tech’s eyes that were as wide as mine with the dollar figures that the Purdue Vet School was throwing around. The individual on the phone at Purdue acted disgusted with the question about a payment plan, then questioned whether I loved my dog or not. The person at the Purdue Vet School said if I loved my animal, I would do what’s necessary and best for my animal, then hung up the phone.
If you have an other option, use it. Obviously, the Purdue Vet School isn’t interested in helping animals, or teaching their students. They’re more interested in you showing them the money, up front.

Our experience here has been phenomenal! We’ve been coming since November 2012 when I pushed my vet to refer me to Purdue. After having spent several THOUSAND dollars at our local VCA in Indianapolis, I was facing another possible 5000 work up to determine if my Scottish Terrier has TCC (a form of bladder cancer very commonly seen in Scotties.). I knew from reading the literature that Dr. Knapp has been leading the field in TCC research and if I was going to shell out a lot more money, it may as well be to the best. Luckily for me, the vet group at Purdue was able to do a much less invasive procedure to biopsy and confirm TCC, at ¹⁄₃ the price of VCA.
Since Maggie’s diagnosis, she was quickly enrolled in a clinical trial, which has enabled me to afford her chemotherapy. She achieved partial remission after only 2 months of treatment, and while there have been some bumps along the way, she is doing very well! Everyone we have worked with, especially the Oncology group has been kind, caring and very professional. Yes, this is a teaching hospital, and like even the best Human teaching hospitals, things move slower. You have to accept this, remember, this is to train tomorrow’s veterinarians. All students are more than adequately supervised, and for me, there has always been ample time to discuss everything and ask questions.
I have nothing but great praise and respect for the vet medicine going on at Purdue, they’ve given my girl a great chance at survival while maintaining her quality of life.

WARNING! Under no circumstances should you take your pet here!!! I have never had a worse experience in my entire life. I took my dog here in an emergency situation and received no communication, was told the treating doctor in medicine «moved» when I tried to reach her at the hospital, then — when my pet died — they had him cremated without my permission. He died in June of 2012 and it is now February of 2013 and I still do not have any answers and I cannot get them. Everyone is incredibly cryptic when I call. I called again today to get my pet’s records, and they want to CHARGE ME FOR THEM. I had written to get them about 5 months ago and they did not send them. My vet also called to get them about 6 months ago and they wouldn’t send them to him.
When I had a dog at UGA Vet Hospital, a 4^th year student was assigned to my case and she called me at least once per day, sometimes twice per day, to update me as to my animal’s condition, how he was doing, what his prognosis was, etc. He spent 3 months in the ICU and I spent $ 15,000, but I would do it all over again and spend twice as much at UGA because of the level of care my animal received and the respect I received, as well as the communication back and forth between me and the student and doctors as to my dog. Things couldn’t have been more different at Purdue. No one would call me, no one would return my calls, I still do not know to this day what caused my pet’s death. Please do not go here — as an animal advocate who has spent 20 years fostering pets and on the board of different rescue organizations, it is my opinion that the level of care they provide is horrifying.

Just wanted to send a huge thank you to Dr. Hogan and the rest of the Cardiology staff for his help with my dog, Nigel, and their treatment of his pulmonic stenosis. Dr Hogan did an excellent job of educating me about the valvoplasty procedure and the related risks and rewards. The procedure went great, and i couldn’t be any happier about the service provided. For any pet owner that needs this procedure, I would highly recommend Dr Hogan. Thank you again.

I am so grateful for Purdue Small Animal Hospital and all the great cardiologists, especially Dr. Aliya Magee, and the student intern staff, that have seen my cat, Ansel, through two saddle thromboembolisms. Without them, my cat would not be alive. They have gone to great lengths to educate us about his englarged heart, congestive heart failure, blood clots and lifespan expectancy.
They enrolled us in a clinical that provided free medication, exams and tests which helped out a lot in costs. When Ansel developed another blood clot and could not participate in the clinical trials anymore, they again helped us with the costs by accomodating our request to send the prescription to a Canadian pharmacy. I’ve had to call them twice to fill a prescription last minute in Des Moines, IA and Chicago, IL, and they always come through. Dr. Magee even went out of her way to go grocery shopping for human grade tuna for Ansel who refused to eat and drink because he was so upset having to hospitalized again. I wish my own doctors cared this much about me, as they care about Ansel.
The cost is substantial for all the medical issues Ansel has, but it’s at least 5 times more at a private, veterinary practice, if you can even find one that has a cardiologist and all the medical equipment. Faced with the choice between a cardiologist in Chicago and all the cardiologist at Purdue, we drove 2.5 hours in the middle of the night to take Ansel to Purdue because of the savings and the great care he received there. The cardiologists and staff also have an upbeat attitude, convey a lot of competence and optimism in their abilibities to help your pet and show great compassion and empathy in your moments of panick. That goes a long ways to reduce my stress and worry.