I am writing to express my deep concern, disappointment, and distress following an emergency out-of-hours appointment at your practice on the evening of 24th August 2025, involving our beloved 3-year-old dog, Walter.During the consultation, your vet informed us—after seeking three separate opinions—that Walter was suffering from a life-threatening twisted stomach. We were told, in no uncertain terms, that he would not survive the night without immediate critical care and surgery costing between £8,000 and £10,000. We were also informed that the surgery itself carried a high risk and may not be successful.As we could not afford this staggering amount upfront, and being under the impression that our dog was in critical condition, we were left with the heartbreaking decision to agree to have Walter put to sleep. As you can imagine, we were completely devastated and in tears.However, moments before this was carried out and before we nearly signed the consent form we were offered an alternative — a referral to another vet who could perform the surgery for £2,800, requiring immediate upfront payment. Despite the emotional and financial strain, we agreed to proceed in order to give Walter a chance at survival and rushed him there in absolute distress, fearing we might not be bringing him home.Upon arrival, the attending vet carried out an ultrasound and other assessments, only to discover that Walter did not have a twisted stomach at all. In fact, he was simply bloated after helping himself to a bag of dog biscuits at home. No surgery was needed. No life-threatening condition was present. Just a misdiagnosis that could have easily cost Walter his life had we not opted for the second opinion.This is utterly unacceptable. Not only were we given incorrect and extreme advice, but we were also nearly forced into euthanizing a healthy, young dog based on that misinformation. The emotional trauma we experienced — believing we were about to lose a cherished member of our family — is something I cannot overstate. The financial stress, the unnecessary fear, and the near loss of life due to what appears to be a lack of proper diagnostic diligence is deeply disturbing
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Myerscough Veterinary Group has 17 branches across the North West. Covering Preston, Southport and beyond - visit MyVets today to find your nearest practice.