Western After Hours Emergency Vet Clinic - Avondale

I had wondered if I should be posting this review of our experience at Western After hours emergency Vet clinic but ended up deciding that I should, to encourage other pet owners to always seek a second opinion. A few weeks ago our border collie had just returned from his routine evening walk and we noticed that he wouldn’t/couldn't lie down. He was sitting upright looking at me. Something was not right. We thought that he probably had an upset stomach so we took him out again but he didn’t want to do anything. Around 9.30pm we knew that we had to take him to a Vet as he wasn’t lying down at all. He was now standing and not sitting down anymore. After an internet search for after hours Vets, we took him to the Western After hours Emergency Vet Clinic on Rosebank road. The receptionist was friendly and we were shown to a Vet after a short while. The Vet, Trevor Hing, listened to us and physically examined our dog’s spine and underbelly. He said he couldn’t find anything wrong. He suggested an X-ray and called the receptionist to assist him in the X-ray room. After a few minutes, this Vet came out of the room saying that the dog had bitten him and they hadn’t been able to take the X-ray. We were quite surprised to hear this from a Vet. Back in the consulting room, he said he couldn’t find anything wrong, and added that our dog was “fat”. A very strange diagnosis! He administered a sedative to help our dog sleep through the night and told us that he should be alright by next morning. We left there thinking the sedative might give him some relief from whatever was hurting him. However, he still couldn't sit down and was falling asleep, intermittently, standing up the whole time, due to the sedative. We called the Vet back again around midnight to update him that the sedative wasn’t helping him. He told us to take him up the street for a walk and to take him to our regular Vet in the morning. By 2.30am, we were searching on the internet for other after hours Vets and called VSA (Veterinary Specialists Auckland) in Mt Wellington. Their Vet quietly listened to us and said that we should either go back to the Western Vet who had just seen him or take him to Mt Albert (nearer to us) or take the dog to them but to do so "immediately, with no delay". We took our dog straightaway to VSA in Mt Wellington and he was immediately taken in by the Vet. Within a few minutes, the Vet returned to tell us that our dog was bleeding internally which was most probably due to the rupturing of a tumour. He told us in no uncertain terms that if we had waited until morning we would have lost our dog by then. The Vet explained all the options to us. Our dog would have to go through a major surgery the next day, without which he would not survive. The surgery would take place after an X-ray (to see if the tumour had spread) plus blood transfusions since he had, by then, lost a lot of blood. He was admitted into the hospital that night and we were allowed to see him before we left. He had IV tubes running from his legs and he was kept comfortable. The surgeon called us the next day to explain the procedures in detail both before and after the surgery. After 3 days in the hospital, he was discharged on a Saturday. We waited anxiously for the biopsy results as the chances of the mass being malignant was close to 80%. On Tuesday, our wait was over and we received the absolutely awesome news that it was a benign nodule. The purpose of this review was mostly to emphasize that if we had followed the advice of the Western After hours emergency clinic Vet, Trevor Hing, we would have lost our dog that first night. This Rosebank Road Vet didn’t even manage to get an X-ray done which had absolutely shocked us. I would strongly recommend everyone to please get a second opinion, as we had fortunately chosen to do, if your visit to this Vet is not completely satisfactory.

The lights were on but no one was there. I waited outside for an HOUR desperately pushing the doorbell, calling their number and listening to the phone ring, yelling "please help my dog!" Through the door. I was there from 2am -3am. I heard someone cough, but no one answered the door. By 45mins I was simultaneously calling their phone, pushing the doorbell and shouting helplessly. My dog had eaten a whole bar of chocolate, we got back late that night from a Christmas party and no one noticed the chillibin wasn't closed properly, so the dog took the opportunity to eat the whole block of chocolate while everyone was asleep. He was shaking and drooling. After waiting at the door for an hour I had to get home. The lights were on, the sign said they are open at this hour, no sign on the door indicating they were closed. Appalling. I got home because my son was by himself (asleep), but I didn't sleep, fearing I will wake up to a dead dog. A night from hell.

I would say the best vet I have been to for sure! The veterinarian took one look at my boys tummy explained what he had and told me I needed surgery right away. The price was worth every cent! And tbh I couldn’t be more happy with this place they looked after my furr baby from the time I dropped him off to the time I picked him up. Thank you guys xx

My baby had broken his nail and had bled alot, the guy at the desk was very informative with options of care for my dog, i knew it would be expensive considering its after hours but i needed to get my dog on some sort of antibiotics to carry him through till after long weekend, Vet examined him in less than 5mins and gave his nails a trim, my boy was so nervous he had pee'd and poop'd in the room, i guess he exchanged that for the hefty consultation fee. ?

We go there because Gina (Vet Doctor) is there. She is brilliant and very kind. Last time we went, there was a lovely and friendly guy on reception. Didn't catch his name. Thankyou :)

Took our dog here tonight for a check on her sore, scratched eye which had developed throughout the day as we didn't want to risk leaving it unchecked for too long. The receptionist was lovely and the vet really seemed to know what he was doing, which was reassuring. We left feeling very pleased that we had chosen to take her there. To top it off, it was pretty affordable for an after-hours clinic. I definitely recommend.

I never leave reviews but holy hell. We didn't even make it to seeing the vet because the receptionist was so utterly trash. Our rat had a seizure this evening and we drove all the way from Papakura just to come here. As soon as we walked in the door and told the receptionist the issue he instantly said 'we can't do anything for seizures', I'm not sure whether he was uneducated or just lazy. We left and drove 7 minutes away to another AMAZING after hours and our boy was given the required medication, along with a lovely experience with the vet (and a much better receptionist)

Dr Trevor Hing helped our cat Little Legs back on the road of recovery after a knee injury. Trevor explained to us in detail pros and cons of surgical and non surgical options. An honest and down to earth professional, highly recommended!