Advanced Veterinary Complex

Dr. Benson is really great and very knowledgeable about greyhounds (who often have specific health concerns and whose blood work comes back looking different than the average dog). I feel very confident taking my beloved greyhound here (and I drive all the way from Baltimore city).
Their prices are very reasonable for visits, procedures, and medication. My only complaint is that I am often put on hold for a long time when I call to schedule an appointment, but I will deal with that as long as my dog is well taken care of.

I would not recommend this veterinary clinic at all. First the rude staff, I am put on hold for 20 minutes at a time and I have to keep calling back. I realize this could be because they have so many patients but even when I go to the office I have to wait to be seen, as I am standing at the counter while they other vet techs and receptionists chat away. The first awful experience was with my new puppy who weighed 2.6 pounds at the time we went in for her puppy shot, they tried 3 times to give her a shot and it went all the way through and her skin so you could see the needle outside of her skin! This happened twice! Then the vet had the audacity to blame my boyfriend saying he wasn’t holding her well enough and took her out of the room to give her a shot who knows how many times they did it out there! The last and final straw is I get heartworm and tick meds every month for my puppy and she weighs 4.8 pounds, thank the Lord I checked this month because they gave her the pill for the weight range 50 – 100 pounds! She could have died of overdose I went there to tell them and I did not even get an apology! All they were worried about was if I paid the correct amount for the pill. I am so disturbed by this place and their completely careless attitude! Good riddance!

DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET HERE!!! I took my pet for an emergency visit for what was diagnosed as a sprain. My pet was prescribed medication /​anti inflammatory. I had just returned from vacation and decided to get my dog groomed. she was overdue. This was my first time using service and groomer. The cut was mediocre. Shortly after we got home my dog was scooting around. Her stool was soft with a little blood. I called vet and was told that her anal glands were not fully expressed and to bring her in. The next morning i called and spoke to a carin who was very rude and unprofessional. I explained what was going on and she immediately stated it would be a charge and emergency visit. She did not take the time to LISTEN. Uneducated trash! Who probably makes minimum wage. I was then told to bring her in. Once i arrived carin gave a half ass apology and informed me a tech would express the anal glands. The tech was rude. I attempted to explain what had transpired since the grooming and she stated «I don’t have anything to do with the groomer». I brought a stool sample because i thought the doctor would address the situation. The tech took my dog to express glands and stated they were «really full» and she didn’t know why groomer didn’t do it. She then proceeded to say she could send stool to lab or call doctor. who i believe was there the whole time. The doctor. (benson) intially said he would express the glands at the emergency visit but didn’t. I told the tech to contact dr. The tech came back and claimed my dog had stress from grooming. My dog never had this issue before as she goes to another groomer. My dog was prescribed flagyl. No apology for the rude receptionist or inconvenience! And i was charged $ 10 for medication! I will never go back again! And plan to file complaint with BBB.

Rude technicians asked us to come in at 10:30 am to see our 3 cats and 2 dogs for a routine annual checkup. They continually ignored and pushed us back further and further. All we needed was a single shot for one cat and checkups and they couldn’t get that done. Sat there for an hour and a half before finally being fed up and left. Poor management and service. Thankfully it wasn’t an emergency, I’m not going back.

Oh, I really want to like this facility. I’ve tried, just can’t do it. Which is a shame, because it is the closest to our home. My mother has an abundance of felines. One of which was diagnosed with diabetes. The cat was an in-​patient for several days because of ketoacidosis. They did a fine job saving his life. I know I should be grateful and not returning a croaked cat to my mother might sound like a 5 star situation. It’s what happened upon discharge that I just can’t deal with.
The discharge instruction were as follows: ‘Tabby has been stable on I. V insulin, we are prescribing one unit twice daily of Vetsulin’ Okay, I’ll need some of that then. Oh, no you already have it. Well, no, no we don’t. My mother does not give the cat insulin. So I’ll need some to go. The vet tech, then explains that they are prescribing insulin that they have on hand for in-​patients only. For out-​patients, not so much. Well, then, how would you suggest that I obtain this medication? Do you think I could get it from 1 – 800 Pet Meds? I don’t know, was her reply.
I called another Vet’s office, to ask if they had the Vetsulin on hand to fill a prescription. Advanced was supposed to fax the prescription to them. Surprise, after waiting in line for 20 minutes, no such prescription existed. I asked the employee there if she could call Advanced for the script. No, she said. It would be quicker for you to drive there.
At this point, I’m expecting Alan Funt or Ashton Kutcher to inform me that I’m on Candid Camera, or being Punked, since I am neither in the Los Angeles area nor a celebrity, I decide no, this is no joke.
So, off I go, back to Advanced to pick up the paper copy of the prescription that they refused to give me in the first place. The woman at the desk just so happened to have prescription within arms reach, she commented that she had faxed it to the other Vet earlier, and had a confirmation. So she can’t imagine why they didn’t have it. ‘Thanks’, I said.
Back at Vet office B. After standing in the cat line again. The woman who refused to call Advanced takes the hard-​copy prescription, I mentioned that I’d also need syringes, ‘Oh, I don’t think we have any of those in stock’ (Dammit.You’ve gotta be effing kidding me? Right?) ’ Where do you think I could find some? Do I need a separate prescription?’ Hold on, she said. I’ll see if I can find a few in the back. Thankfully she returned with an open 10-​pack with enough for three days.
There are at least some very good doctors and Vet. Techs. employed at Advanced. I know this to be true. I just didn’t have the pleasure of meeting any of them on this particular visit.

Dr. Benson saved the life of our newly rescued pup.
He had round the clock diarrhea, weight loss (from 42 to 31 pounds in 4 weeks) and a ravenous appetite. Our first vet in Baltimore suspected pancreatic insufficiency and prescribed enzyme supplements and 2 ½ cups of food a day. We heard Dr. Benson was one of two premier vets in the area. His second opinion: replace the dog food with Rx variety, feed 5 ½ cups a day and stop the enzymes which should have worked immediately if enzyme insufficiency was the problem. Dr. Benson said surgery instead of enzymes was a more radical option, if insufficiency was the problem, BUT the dog would likely die from surgery due to weight loss and weakness. The next day our dog was fine. That was four years ago and our dog is now 54 pounds and healthy. We will always be grateful to Dr. Benson, a gifted and dedicated vet.
Footnote: our dog sees Dr. Benson every 10 weeks for anal gland expressing. I could not be happier with Dr. Benson and have recommended him highly whenever I can.

What’s the appropriate amount of stars for the vet who turned away my dying dog? I guess one?
I lost my best friend last night. She was the best, funniest, kindest most loving dog that’s ever been a dog. Yesterday she wasn’t doing too well. We called the vet who said they would be open until 10pm even though it was 4^th of July. A few hours later she took a turn for the worst and even though it was only 8pm once we got her to the clinic they reported they were closed. The vet and staff were all still there they just couldn’t take the time to see her. They referred her to another animal hospital over 30min away and she passed in the backseat of the car on the way there. Instead of being surrounded by the people she loved and given medication to minimize her pain she was left to die in the back seat of a station wagon. The only thing worse than losing my pet is knowing the people who should have cared about her couldn’t be bothered. She was a great dog and deserved so much better.
Please find another vet for your pet and don’t go here.

I dropped my healthy, lively dog off for three nights and when I picked him up, he had a terrible stomach infection. We have taken him back three times to see the doctor, who can’t figure out what’s wrong, and to date they won’t take any responsibility for the charges to fix an illness they are responsible for! Terrible service and my dog is still unwell!