Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center

This veterinary service is a great place for injured pets. They care. Had used them many years ago and that is why we came back when our new baby needed back surgery also. At first we were worried as it took a day or two before we heard about her after dropping off. But there were other babies that needed care more as they could not even walk to whereas ours could. Understood after that. But once they started and diagnosed the problem they took charge and we now have our baby home recuperating. Glad we trusted in them and they still have vets that care. Heidi’s human and dog family are happy! They missed her.

As it is in human medicine the wait was a bit long but the care and compassion from the staff was exceptional! We witnessed much bigger emergencies than our own come through the front door several times that evening and everyone waiting was extremely patient and understanding. It was a long but somehow still pleasant experience. They got us all fixed up, highly recommend this facility should you ever need it!

They saved my dog's life and rebuilt his shoulder and arm but couldn't save the leg. Dr Gavara is incredible and staff is second-to-nine! I wish there was a hospital like this one in Myrtle Beach! God Bless them!

My experience with this hospital was deeply concerning and resulted in my dog experiencing three days of continued deterioration and prolonged suffering before his death. He was admitted with severe azotemia, dehydration, and a uremic crisis causing acute kidney failure requiring emergent intervention. Despite these findings, the attending veterinarian declined to initiate fluid therapy during the first two days of hospitalization, citing concerns about his heart murmur, even though my dog's cardiac output was fine, and she could have learned more about his heart by doing a cardiograph or consultation with my dog's primary care doctor. Following his death, I retained independent veterinary reviewers to examine the medical records. Their conclusions were consistent: without fluid therapy on day 1, my dog had little to no chance of stabilization. While patients with cardiac concerns require caution and close monitoring during fluid administration, they can still receive fluids, and his primary care vet had given him fluids a while back as well. The reviewers agreed that fluid therapy was the only intervention that offered any possibility of improving his condition or reducing his suffering. The standard approach would have been to carefully administer fluids while monitoring for intolerance and adjusting treatment as needed. Instead, no attempt was made to address the severe dehydration, worsening azotemia, and toxin accumulation that were actively driving his decline. What is most troubling is that my dog's condition continued to worsen over two days without treatment directed at his primary life-threatening condition. During that time, he became more dehydrated, developed diarrhea, and his kidney values continued to deteriorate. He was treated for suspected conditions that were later not confirmed, while the confirmed problems—severe azotemia, dehydration, and elevated phosphorus—remained unaddressed. By the time a different veterinarian initiated fluid therapy on the third day and acknowledged its necessity, my dog was too compromised to stabilize and passed away later that afternoon from cardiac arrest. I am also disappointed that no one contacted me as his condition declined throughout the day of his death. I was ultimately informed only after he had stopped breathing. Equally concerning was the hospital's unwillingness to discuss my concerns afterward. Although I was told an internal review was conducted and results are kept internal, no meaningful discussion regarding the treatment decisions was offered despite my repeated requests. My concern is that treatment for the primary condition causing his decline was never attempted during the critical first two days of hospitalization. The absence of an attempt to address severe dehydration and uremia represents, in my opinion, a failure to provide necessary care through inaction. Risks can and should be weighed, but when the alternative is certain deterioration from kidney failure, doing something is better than nothing. Doing nothing is not an acceptable substitute for attempting treatment. I strongly encourage the hospital's leadership and medical director to ensure that critically ill patients receive proactive, timely intervention and appropriate oversight. Pet parents deserve confidence that life-threatening conditions will be addressed promptly and that concerns raised after an adverse outcome will be met with transparency and meaningful communication. I regret that my dog was under the care of such an incompetent doctor.

Our local vet referred us to ECVMC after several visits with our big guy. He hadn't been doing well and we were having trouble nailing down the issue. Long story short, after a long day at ECVMC we received a very unexpected diagnosis. Heartbreaking as it was, Doctor Hooper and the staff where great. They were caring, professional, and very understanding. Thank you Doctor Hooper. We appreciate everything you did. SP & RP Our Boxers, Benny and Joon