Countryside Animal Hospital

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I brought my ferret Rocky to Dr. Edman back in November because he was losing fur on his tail and losing weight. While these can be symptoms of adrenal disease, they can also be symptoms of a cancer that is very aggressive unless treated early. She preformed no diagnostic tests, no blood tests, she merely diagnosed him as having adrenal disease by looking at him. I spent $300 in Novemeber for his examination, a Lupron shot ($50) that treats adrenal disease and $68 for a melatonin implant to also treat adrenal disease. Does this sound like if Dr. Edman had suggested a blood test that I would have said "no" because I didn't want to spend whatever it would have cost to get him healthy?!? We started him on a treatment course for adrenal disease which was a Lupron shot every month ($70 a shot). The price of the shot went from $50 to $70 every month because she gives them an "examination" along with the shot. We THOUGHT he was getting better. This past Sunday night Rocky had a seizure and we found out she misdiagnosed him and he really had lymphoma, a severe type of cancer. If she had done a simple blood test we could have saved him. Instead she charged us $500 before she told us she couldn't do anything and sent us to Angell Animal Hospital in Boston. At this time the cancer had spread throughout his body and he was too far gone. By the time we got him there he was severely dehydrated and had almost no blood left in his body. A tumor in his liver burst and he was bleeding into his stomach. That is the last image I have of my baby - suffering. Oh, lymphoma can cause a tumor on the adrenal glands, causing the weight loss and fur loss, symptoms similar to adrenal disease. If she had done the blood test back in November I could have treated him for the cancer and he would still be with me today. My husband and I trusted her with his well being and she basically charged us for a treatment he didn't need and left his cancer to run through his organ systems and destroy his body. If a human doctor had made a mistake this big they would be in serious trouble. Nothing will bring my baby back, but I am pleading with you to find another vet. Anyone who is a real animal lover knows that pets are not just animals, they are members of our family. Our babies can't speak and they rely on us to get them treated when they are sick. Just because they are pets doesn't mean they don't deserve the best care possible. With money not being a factor, we could have had a blood test and been spared the tremendous heartache we are feeling now. When I speak of the heartache "we" are experiencing, I am also speaking of Rocky's brother Pistachio. He walks around looking for his brother who he will never see again. My entire family is grief stricken and we will NEVER be able to get over the thought that we are without him when he could have been easily saved. I can never get Rocky back, but what I can do is share my story and hope that you will find a vet who is committed to doing ALL they can to give the best care to your furry family members.



I hope that if Dr. Edman has a family memeber who is sick and in need of care that they receive better care than she gave my family member