Bideawee

03/02/2008 Posted by ronross

I currently have two cats and a dog under the care of Bide-a-wee and have used a number of Manhattan vets over the past 30 years. I used to go to a highly regarded vet center much more convenient to my home and yes, they did tend to keep more closely to their appointment schedule and be more organized at the desk. However, their rates were roughly twice or more than Bide-a-wee's. This isn't so important if a younger, healthy pet needs a physical exam once in a while. But older pets, ill or not, routinely require bloodpanels, urinalysis, and specific testing to diagnose or rule out serious problems. At my "for profit" vet, these tests were prohibitively expensive and frankly, I often declined them because I just couldn't afford them. I wasn't giving my pets the best care because of $. Bide-a-wee seems to be marking up their tests very minimally because I have compared prices and there is no comparison, unless one is speaking of the Humane Society or the ASPCA. I came to Bide-a-wee from the Humane Society because a visit to the HS is like an episode of ER. Not only did I wait forever for my appointments at the HS, but the desk staff were even more harried and stressed than Bide-a-wee's. Since Bide-a-wee added new vets, expanded their hours, and started advertising themselves as an affordable alternative, they have had growing pains. But even with insurance, had I taken my very sick with bowel disease dog to the Animal Medical Center I would have maxed out my insurance and been deeply in the hole before a diagnosis was obtained, and chances are they would have conducted the same tests. Bide-a-wee takes patience, no doubt about it. But I could not afford to care for three pets if I used anyone else.

Pros: Caring, capable vets, affordable testing and surgery

Cons: Occasional long waits to be seen, disorganized billing

02/20/2008 Posted by emtea83

I really wish that i could like this place, but after a few bad experiences i just cant recommend it to anyone. The staff that makes appoints are very unorganized, I was left waiting for almost 2 hours when a staff meeting ran late. When i asked why my appointment wasn't canceled, they said because my appointment started at 1:30 and their meeting was supposed to end at 2:00. O.k. so they were going to make me wait for 1/2 hr, which ended up being almost 2. My sister took her cat here, and after checking in at the front desk they forgot about her an skipped over her appointment. I was also not impressed with the vet i met with, she was in rush to get me out of there and i didnt experience any of the warmth other people see at Bideawee. They took the cat to the back room to do tests and the vet's assistant who brought her back out to me in the waiting room, dumped the cat carrier on the seat next to mine as if a kitten weren't inside! Like i said, i really do wish i could like this place but after several bad experiences, the low cost doesn't really justify the poor service.

11/12/2007 Posted by moridog

It's a shame that people take a bad medical situation for their animal and blame the organization. Just like in humans, it can take money and time to diagnose what is wrong with your animal. I have experienced nothing but the best from Bideawee. I adopted a dog from Bideawee and use the Vet Center for his check-ups and they have been wonderful to me and my dog. I also used Bideawee to train my dog (got it when it was an older puppy) and I do believe I got the best companion on earth from Bideawee. I don't know what I would do without him. The Vets have always been extremely courteous and helpful to me and even take the extra time to give me advice that other Vets haven't that I have had in the past. I have friends who have used their Vet practice with the same satisfaction with their medical help. One friend had a tumor removed from his cat and it would have cost an astronomical amount elsewehere. I highly recommend this Vet center to anyone in Manhattan. You get quality medical care at a more affordable price. I have 4 animals and couldn't survive without the great affordable medical care I get there. Better yet - they have a great Vet and training program and rescue animals. Who better to give your money to and great service in return?

Pros: Great medical care, affordable prices, training and adoptions available as a plus

Cons: none

11/12/2007 Posted by nikkitay11

(I sent Bideawee my review. Next day I see review above from 'Moridog' clearly as a reply to mine - my guess from an empoyee there as the tone is similiar to the office staff's - rather defensive with no real concern for my cat - and merely reiterates 'basic care only') I took my cat there with golf ball sized growth in his throat and urge you not to do the same. Nice vet, but surgeon chose not to operate due to my cat's weak kidneys and xrays showing a possible metastisis in his lungs - which was actually pneumonia, not metastasis. No mention of pneumonia which should've been considered. Biopsy on throat growth was inconclusive. Just 2 visits there cost me $800 - wiping out my abillity to pay for a second opinion that week. Second opinion would come when i got paid again days later, but my cat had to go to the emergency room the next night due to the undiagnosed pneumonia that caused him to go into extreme distress, gagging and unable to breathe. So, I'm posting to urgently tell you that if you find a lump and especially if your funds are limited. go to an oncologist FIRST and spend your money there before you waste it with a clnic that has limited resources and, quite frankly, an alarmingly lackadasical office staff. Had I gone to an oncologist first, lung metastisis might've been ruled out and pneumonia properly diagnozed and treated. It was the pneumonia that caused him to go to the emergency room 2 more times over the following week and a half and then finally caused us to have to have him put to sleep - which was devastating. We're waiting to hear if thyroid growth was malignant - might've been (frequently they're not), but definitve diagnosis not possible at bideawee due to limited equipment. I wasted crucial time and money at Bideawee. I thought they'd be the most compassionate group I could take him to, but they seem overwhelmed at that clinic and unable to do anything but basic care. And if you have questions about your bill....well, good luck.

Pros: Nice vet, but jumped to conclusion that xrays showed metastasis in lungs instead of what he had - pneumonia

Cons: office staff is uncaring, couldn't meet with surgeon, charges were high enough to significantly delay me getting an urgently needed second opinion

02/06/2007 Posted by riano

my roomie & i recently visited bideawee to get our cat spayed. the vets there were awesome and made sure veta received the best care. bideawee is non-profit so the service saved us a bunch of money on a super crucial procedure which helped two young professionals that can't afford to spend over $400 on our kitty. they put animals before money, i mean who can argue with that.

Pros: price$$ & compassion

Cons: none