I love VRC. When we noticed something was wrong with the dog, we took her for an ultrasound after preliminary tests at her regular vet turned up elevated liver enzymes. Her gallbladder was septic, she had stones, a tear, and her liver enzymes were digesting her pancreas. Basically, she was going to die if she didn't have surgery that day, and even then her odds were 50/50-- but she is only 6 and WAY too young for us to not have done everything we could to save her and give her the best care possible. VRC did exactly that. The ultrasound tech, the surgeon who saved her (thanks, Dr. Norris!), and the nurses who put up with her shenanigans in post op were all great. Excellent bedside manner even though our girl is difficult for strangers. Today she's like a puppy again, and we are so grateful! ...read more

We adopted a young adult cat from the Delco SPCA and were told it had a cold, so the vet there gave it an amoxicillin shot before releasing it to us. We took him to our local vet when the "cold" didn't clear up, and after 4 week course of antibiotics that was ineffective, the vet suggested it might be a nasopharyngeal polyp that would require specialized surgery. He referred us to Dr. Kenneth Sadanaga, a soft tissue surgeon at the Veterinary Referral Center in Malvern.\t\n\t\nI want to say at the outset that we have had many cats and dogs over our long lifetime, and certainly have been to see many vets, so that I feel comfortable about evaluating our cat's treatment and the parallel concern shown for us. It was, in a single word, outstanding.\t\n\t\nDr. Sadanaga sedated the cat and did an endoscopic exam which revealed not a polyp, but a heavy membrane that had grown across the opening and was severely limiting his ability to breathe. The doctor could not break down the membrane with the endoscope and, with our permission and after explaining the probable cost, had to do a much more elaborate surgical procedure. I won't waste space by going into the details here, but our cat wound up with two tiny catheters running from inside the tip of his nostrils back into the nasopharynx--the idea being that over a month's time scar tissue would heal around the catheters and form a good breathing hole.\t\n\t\nAnd that is exactly what happened. In the interim, we had to make a visit for an adjustment to the catheters, had to have medicines switched from oral to dermal, and made a few calls for advice as well, all of which were handled by the staff with alacrity, courtesy and compassion. \t\n\t\nWe felt that the total cost was entirely in line with the time and skills involved.\t\n\t\nThis is a fine medical facility with an excellent staff and I recommend it very highly. ...read more

We took our cat to Veterinary Referral Center for emergency kidney stone removal. The surgeon was very professional, and the staff was kind and accommodating. The staff took good initial care of our cat.\t\n\t\nWhen we returned for a follow-up a few weeks later, the experience was totally different. We were shuffled into an exam room and told to wait for the doctor. Three hours later, the doctor hadn't stopped by. Nobody was available to tell us what was happening. Eventually we had to leave, receiving no follow-up at all! No service, no explanation, and no apology. And then they billed us for the three hours we spent in the exam room getting no service!\t\n\t\nThe Center also promised us a 3-5 day turnaround on kidney stone tests. These tests diagnose the composition of the stones, so a pet owner can adjust the cat's diet and help to prevent more stones. After 7 days, we called for the results and the Center told us they weren't ready. After 14 days we called again and they didn't know when the results would be ready. After 30 days they still couldn't tell us when the results would be in. Nobody was willing to take responsibility for the situation and track down the results.\t\n\t\nIt has now been THREE MONTHS since the surgery. We have heard nothing from the Center. I called yet again today, and they still can't tell me anything about the results. I wonder if they ever sent the stones out for testing in the first place. They certainly billed me a large sum of money to perform the test, but they can't seem to find five minutes to get my cat's results. I am having them fax me all of the records, so I can go elsewhere in the future.\t\n\t\nToday my cat started showing signs of stones again. If it turns out that they might have been prevented by a diet change, I will demand that the Center pay for the surgery this time. I feel bad for my poor cat and the invasive surgery he may have to endure AGAIN. ...read more