***MEDICATION SHORTED***
I had an appointment YESTERDAY on June 18 for a regular checkup for my two dogs. I have taken my animals here every year for now 9 years and I book my appointment a year in advance so that I am not late, do not forget, and make sure my dogs get their proper dosage of yearly medication. I have always received 6 Heartguard Interceptor pills that are to be given from June through to November, once a month. I mark down in my calendar with the heart stickers they give in the package on the correct day each month to give the pills so I do not miss it. So when I opened my package I was supposed to start today , I was shocked when there was only 5 pills. I called and spoke with the receptionist, Melissa, who said because my appointment was half way through June that I had missed the June pill and that it was not necessary to take it. I did get upset at this point because I booked my appointment a year in advance to avoid such things like this occurring so why would the receptionist book me so far into June if the pills needed to be started at the beginning of June? Melissa continued with and I do quote "its the same protection if they [dogs] take 5 pills or 6". I continued to ask if that was the case why was I charged for 6 every other year if 5 is the same protection? She came back at me stating I was not understanding what she was staying (and I was not understanding because it does not make any sense) and that she would have the vet call me when they had time tomorrow. After hanging up, I called two other vet offices and explained the situation. Both offices explained to me that under no circumstance should a 6 pack of pills be cut down to 5, especially because I was starting the pills in June. One lady asked me to read the box and it clearly states on the box that the medication it to be taken from June through to November and does not specify when exactly in the month it should be started. The lady continued to explain to me that not every vet would be able to accommodate seeing all dogs on the first of June so it would be impossible for all medication to be started by all dogs in an area on exactly June 1. I did call back to Ostrander vet, spoke with a man named Andrew and he was a apologetic to my experience and understood my frustration. Ultimately, at the end of the day, this is my dogs health we are talking about and I believe that this vet office is shorting packs of medication and telling owners it is okay to perhaps through a few dollars back in their own pocket. Every 5 pills they take makes them a new pack, and they already took 2 of mine!! After 9 years of fantastic service (I drive from Guelph to come to this vet) I have lost all confidence in this Clinic, I will not return after they have shorted my dogs medication. I would recommend to anyone that does continue to stay with this Clinic that they carefully monitor the medication provided by the Clinic and even perhaps get a second or third opinion on proper dosage. My dogs were almost a month short of being protected had I not noticed and got another opinion, one star is just too much!!!