Making Sense of Emergency Care in East Cobb, Marietta Georgia

Making sense of the veterinary resources available in East Cobb County, Marietta Georgia. This is not written for everyone. This is for MY clients in MY geography; and so I’d say to practically anyone else, that based on certain emergencies, choose the CLOSEST and fastest Emergency Clinic.

But closer isn’t better if they’re going to do an MRI and bloodwork before a thorough history and a thorough exam.

I’ll keep it brief.

The best Emergency Clinic in East Cobb in Marietta Georgia is a Dogwood Vet. The reason is: They are a “soup to nuts” full service operation that was founded on the principles of client centric, non “invoice strategizing”.

Leave some money in the clients pocket, and do what’s best for the animal, not necessarily the corporation. Here is their motto: “Let’s bring back the old times, when what mattered the most was the wellbeing of our pets.”

The cases that have come out of there have been thorough, (or not), based on the expectations, financial capabilities of the customer and the probable outcome of the case. They don’t go unnecessarily far down the road if the case isn’t treatable. They will tell the truth. Some places will answer each question you have with the stock answer: “We should know the answer to that question after the next few tests.” Those are ‘commission-based’ answers from vets looking for that 15%. My client feedback on the DogWood Vet option have been superlative.

Despite the name, “urgent”, I must observe that in my experience and client-feedback; Urgentvet is not really an urgent care operation. They are a standard veterinary clinic, that opens when all the other veterinarians close. And then they close at 11. They’re a worthwhile resource though. They’re the working-persons solution to workday veterinary care. For this I say “You go, y’all, this is great for folks who work all week!” You can check off the boxes after hours until 11 o’clock.

The name “urgent” is a misnomer. If you go to Urgentvet with an emergency, they will of course triage your pet exactly like a daytime vet, and refer you to Dogwood mentioned above.
I was very disappointed in the Urgentvet because the things I sent there or recommended them for were just not in their wheelhouse. A catheter in the bladder of a dog. Too much. I am very sure that immunizations and heartworm testing is well within their scope. The level of engagement of the doctor there [solely according to my client], was typical of a corporate ‘gig’. Kind of seemed like they wanted to go home. Soon.

Veterinary Emergency Group
Veterinary emergency group is about to open their doors in East Cobb, and they generally seem to have a decent reputation nationwide. They are in fact, a chain-store, corporate entity with a corporate manifesto. They were (like almost every other operation) opened with a mission of profit. That’s capitalism. No drama no judgment. I don’t know what to expect from them. I will add to this article later.

Blue Pearl
When you seek the most thorough and expensive veterinary care possible, trying to find a place where you know the doctors did every possible thing, to save your animal.“…Like, literally: “Every single possible thing we could possibly think of.…”

A subluxated digit (stubbed toe) could cause lameness or limping, but so could a brain tumor and that’ why your pet should be slated for the brain MRI.

If you want the be$t of the be$t:  This is the place for you. Blue Pearl.

Blue Pearl’s stated justification that ‘Comprehensive and exhaustively-thorough veterinary medicine is good for the client and good for the bottom line’, it turns out that there is an upper limit. And I think they more-than found it.

In fairness there are tons of people in East Cobb with unlimited resources. Where expense doesn’t matter and that’s awesome.

Animal Emergency Clinic of Sandy Springs
Animal Emergency Clinic of Sandy Springs is a non-chain-store entity with a good reputation, I believe there is a Dr. Biddle over there, who sounds well worth the drive. The cases coming out of there have been well handled. Like a lot of emergency clinics, they are dealing with volume issues. So some customers have been disenchanted by the wait times. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why a dog with its entrails hanging-out gets to go before your dog’s broken nail. Or, why you are the only person in the waiting room waiting for two hours, (And that it could be because all hands are on deck in the back, resuscitating an animal with a crushed trachea.)

 I like this Emergency Clinic, and consider them a good referral.