Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital

Welcome to the local introduction of Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital, located at 10737 Broad River Rd, Irmo, SC 29063, USA. Operating under the platform category of "Pet Hospital," Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital has served the community for over 30 years, as indicated by one long-term customer. However, recent customer reviews present a stark contrast in experiences, particularly concerning surgical procedures and post-operative care.

One pet owner expressed significant regret regarding their dog's spay surgery at this facility, stating that the experience was "terrible." Their detailed account raises several serious concerns. On the day of the scheduled surgery, the owner was informed of a potential heart condition based on bloodwork and was recommended to proceed with additional x-rays at an extra cost. The owner questioned why this wasn't discussed earlier, expressing suspicion that it was a tactic to incur additional charges. Despite proceeding with the spay, the owner felt their time and money were wasted on what turned out to be a non-existent condition.

The negative experience continued with a rescheduled surgery. The owner reported not meeting the veterinarian who performed the procedure. The following day, the dog's stitches were visibly problematic. Since the veterinarian was unavailable for the weekend, the owner was forced to seek emergency veterinary care. The reviewer criticized the hospital's scheduling practices, suggesting that surgeries should not be scheduled near the weekend if post-operative support is limited. This contrasts sharply with the reviewer's experience with a previous vet who was always available for weekend emergencies.

Adding to the distress, the pet owner noticed a large lump developing near the surgical incision after the procedure. This lump was not present before the surgery. Despite bringing this to the attention of an emergency vet on Friday and making multiple attempts to contact Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital the following week, the owner reported receiving no response or call back regarding their concerns. It took three calls over several days to finally reach someone at the front desk, who promised a callback from the vet, which allegedly never occurred. This lack of communication and follow-up led the pet owner to lose any remaining respect for the clinic, especially given their dog's pain and the unexpected medical issue requiring an expensive emergency vet visit.

The reviewer concluded with strong negative sentiments, stating that the care received was subpar compared to their previous veterinarian and described the experience with Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital as "scammy and low level." They expressed deep regret for entrusting their dog to their care and would not recommend the facility.

In stark contrast to this highly negative account, another customer with over 30 years of experience with Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital offered a glowing review. This long-term client praised the "great group of doctors" and stated that all their pets had consistently received "excellent care." They noted the doctors' ability to quickly diagnose and treat any problems that arose. This review suggests a history of positive experiences for some clients over an extended period.

Given these conflicting accounts, it is challenging to definitively describe the current environment, services, and features of Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital without further objective information. However, based on the reviews, some inferences can be made.

The environment likely includes standard facilities for a "Pet Hospital," such as examination rooms, and potentially surgical suites and diagnostic equipment, given that spay surgeries are performed. The presence of multiple doctors is also indicated by the long-term positive review mentioning a "great group of doctors." However, the negative review raises concerns about the level of post-operative monitoring and the availability of the performing veterinarian for follow-up.

The services offered likely include routine surgeries like spaying, as mentioned in the negative review. The positive review suggests a broad range of diagnostic and treatment capabilities to address various pet health issues over the past 30 years. However, the discrepancies in the quality of care and communication, particularly surrounding surgical procedures and potential complications, are significant points of concern raised by one customer.

Features that emerge from the reviews include a potentially long-standing presence in the community, as indicated by the 30+ year customer. However, a concerning feature highlighted in the negative review is the perceived lack of transparency regarding pre-surgical diagnostics and the limited post-operative support and communication, especially over weekends. The contrast between the two reviews suggests a potential inconsistency in the quality of care or significant changes in the hospital's practices over time.

No promotional information is provided in the given data. Local users would need to contact the hospital directly to inquire about any current offers or specific details about their services and policies, particularly regarding surgical procedures, pre-operative diagnostics, and post-operative care availability.

In conclusion, Friarsgate-Ballentine Animal Hospital in Irmo presents a complex picture based on the limited information available. While one long-term customer speaks highly of the consistent excellent care received over three decades, a recent detailed account of a spay surgery experience is overwhelmingly negative, citing concerns about pre-surgical communication, post-operative care, weekend unavailability of the surgeon, lack of follow-up on a significant post-surgical issue, and overall poor communication. Local users considering this "Pet Hospital" should be aware of these conflicting experiences and may wish to seek further information and potentially references before entrusting their pets to their care, especially for surgical procedures.