NHVS North Houston Veterinary Specialists

So far, we have been pretty happy with NHVS. They still have our very sick 10-year old dog but he should come home tomorrow. He had complications from cancer tumor removal surgery at VCA Spring and we brought him here for 24 hour CCU care. Yes, their callback procedures and timing could be better but the level of emergency care and clear explanations were great. Dr. DeCiIlo can seem a bit brusque but I know last night she was dealing with multiple urgencies and I am sure she has to stay somewhat detached. That is no different that people ER docs. We all have a right to question procedures and medicines for our beloved pets, but making their best professional judgments on treatments, medications and handling are something these vets deal with all the time and are very well trained to do. Dr. DeCillo graduated from Texas A&M so I know she is a well trained vet. If you have a special requirement (handling or otherwise), you should tell them up front! It is very difficult, but if you can remain calm you will get all the information about treatment and billing you need. At least that is my experience, even though I know others experiences are different.

It is Sunday and my regular vet is not opened yet, and they had recommended NHVS in case of an emergency, so I gave them a try today. I got there and the door were closed it took the heavy set woman receptionist clerk at the desk 5 minutes before she opened the door to let us in. Then she has me fill out paperwork and takes my pet. I told her what was going on. the heavy set women takes my pet to the back. I heard pets barking and crying and was wondering if it was my pet. The heavy set woman came back out and advised that they gave my pet an ultrasound, but without ever discussing with me anything or even the Dr. veterinarian speaking with me about what was wrong with my pet or what they had to do to check her. Then the heavy set women told me the doctor will be out shortly. Ashely Decillo then walks into the room to ask questions about my pet anything other than why I brought her there. I had to tell her, I brought my pet as I thought she had a bladder infection and it was the same situation about 6 months ago. She told me it is unusual for a dog to get a bladder infection and then gave me all these complication scenarios that could be causing it with out even examining my pet. I asked Ashley Decillo if she ever examined another dog with a bladder infection and she was not able to answer me. I told her my pet had a bladder infection about 6 months ago and I asked if she would be able to give my pet the same medication, because it helped her recover rather quickly. Ashley Decillo advised that she did not recommend giving her the same antibiotics but would do so if I wanted and that it would cost me an extra $150.00. Then she said let me take your pet and I'll be back, at that point I was not feeling really confident about this so called veterinarian and organization, I asked if she could get the shot and inject in front of me. She replied sure. She then came back and said oh I just looked up the the price it will cost an additional $250 and not the $150.00 that she was wrong. I asked Ashley Decillo if she knew what she was doing, today must have been her first day, the level of service was unbelievable from when I got there. I do not recommend this place to anyone, please stay clear. They simply are to inexperienced to help our loved ones. Worst experience ever!

Please - DO NOT BUY MEDICINE FROM THEM. They charged me $80 for the medicine, until I found that the same medicine's original cost was only $40.



I raised this concern with them and they replied that they need to have some margin to make profit?!?!?! 150% profit margin through the medicine + the hospital charges + the lab test charges, freaking everything you are charging to us and still wants a profit margins of 150%?



I mean c'mon, have some kind of humanity. I would never ever recommend anyone to go here.

I can't stand this place. It's like a bunch of kids playing house. They don't know anything like experienced vets and are downright rude. They take your frightened pet to the back and when you ask about them, they say "we will get to that" like s bunch of kids. It's way too expensive for the treatment and the fact that they don't seem to know much. I asked them to bring me my dog and I waited an additional 45 minutes.

I took my nearly 15 year old cat to North Houston Veterinary Service on 2-7-15. I explained to the front desk that she had lost a lot of weight and that she was all bones weighing only 5.2 pounds at home. When it was my turn for the consultation the doctor informed me that when her technician Laurie was getting my pet out of the carrier my pets skin came off in her hands. I was immediately shocked by this as I had handled the cat everyday without this occurring. I asked her how much skin was removed and she clasped her two hands together and made a large oval. I asked where is she? She said she would go get her but really wanted me to leave her there. She offered no apology for this horrific action to my pet. I asked her why her technician Laurie didn't slide her out of the carrier by pulling out the mat she was lying on. That's how my vet always takes her out. Instead they forcefully grabbed her behind the neck removing a huge chunk of skin. She peed on the fleece padding she was laying on in the carrier. Something she has never done. I was very distraught at not knowing how she was. I waited and waited. My husband arrived and also was shocked at her condition. The doctor said it was bound to happen. Do you hear an apology??? This place does not care about your pet. Even at checkout the doctor tried to charge me $190 instead of the written $115 for the consultation. I asked the front desk for a printout of the charges and the doctor kept telling me to stop talking. Oh and while my husband and I were in the room with the doctor and a technician I requested many times to have water and a syringe so I could give water to my cat who was obviously thirsty. What did they say? We don't have time for that we have other patients! They said on a scale of 1 to 10 her condition was a negative 5. Her back of her neck now looks bloody. I received no pain medication and no bandage. She's supposed to heal on her own but they didn't think she would live another 24 hours. They wanted me to leave her there for blood transfusions at a cost of $1000 per day! The girl who removed the skin from my cat I was told was about to cry. I was there for four hours and she was ABOUT to cry? My experience with this place was nothing short of horrible. They even refused to give me a written statement of what they'd done saying they would send it to my vet. I paid the bill. I went there on my own but I can't receive the report. Stay far far away from this place folks. Dr Sayre said she had six years of experience. She has no compassion. The office manager Christina stayed hidden in her office. After I left I phoned from home and spoke to her. Again no apology for what they'd done. I deeply regret going here for help. My cat is worse off than when I brought her in thanks to their rough treatment. I can show you a photo and there's no doubt you'd agree with me.

Tried this vet because I was referred by my regular vet. I regret taking the advice.



I found it interesting that the $40 medication that was the cure for my dogs bowel obstruction came with a $1,050 bill to establish what was actually wrong, though I was never told what the name of the condition was.



The reason I give them a 1-star is because of their lack of communication and un-knowledgeable staff. On four separate occasions over two days they said they would be performing an examination and would call with results shortly, and on four occasions I was forced to call them to get updates. Twice the exam hadn't even occurred (8 hours after they said it would). The answers they gave over the phone were of no help what-so-ever; they could confirm (or not) that the exam happened, but not what was determined. I got a lot of "He's fine. He hasn't thrown up." and "He's sleeping."



The only time I got to speak with a doctor all he did was read the notes that a different doctor had written. He couldn't answer my questions because he wasn't the person who had examined the dog (the other doctor had left without calling me to update).



When I finally picked up my dog, the technician who explained the bill couldn't explain all of the charges (you know how doctors use abbreviations and code numbers) nor could she say what the actual cause of the bowel obstruction was. I asked her for a diagnosis and she gave be a blank stare, then said, "Don't worry, this medication will help. And keep him on a bland diet for the next few days."



"What do you mean by bland?"



"You know, canned chicken. Maybe mixed with rice."



"So, canned food?"



"Yeah. But you can use dry food too, that's ok."



A wonderful explanation for taking care of my dog who is sick with a disease you can't name. Glad I trusted your people, and next time I think I'll just wait to go to my normal vet.