VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital

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49 E Main St
Plainville, CT 06062

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(860) 479-1904
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VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital - Plainville, CT
Reviews
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( 4 )
( 3 )
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( 9 )

Best

My 8 - 10 year old cat started acting sick around Christmas. His appetite was very poor and he slept all the time. We brought him to Old Canal (we live in Canton so it is a 30 mi...

Worst

I am being charged almost $400 for a spay and required shots for a 2 year old cat. I see lower cost services running around $75.00, but unfortunately they all take forever to ge...

Stay away!!! 2/19/2012

I have been going to this place for years. Ever since they switched to corporate, it's always been about how much money they can gain from their clients. I can't tell you how many times Dr. Hexter has mentioned the word "surgery" to me for my cat, and he only needed it once. Can we say "kickbacks??" There is no customer loyalty from this place, no matter how long you have been going here and how much money you spent. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that they make you pay for a follow-up visit. My new vet does not charge for follow-up visits. My favorite vet there however, was Dr. Cessana, he took the time to talk to you and was extremely knowledgeable and personable. He was also not trying to rape my pocketbook. Too bad he's working for that corporation. Stay away from this place unless you like getting ripped off!!!!!!!!!!!!! more
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Love your animal? DON'T GO HERE!!!! 5/6/2011

They burned my sister's cat and it took close to $2,000 and 6 months to heal the cat. Then, they had the nerve to refuse to take responsibility. more
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I highly recommend Dr. Hexter for a vet! 12/11/2010

I went to VCA Old Canal for the first time the other week. I called the office because I wanted to bring my dog in to have a check up. Since I was a new client, they told me that I could print out a free first exam coupon, which the girl who I spoke with would waive the first exam which is $61. Since I didn't have a lot of money, I thought that was great. So, when I brought my dog in, the front desk staff welcomed me as I walked in and were very helpful. The vet who helped my pet was Dr. Troy Hexter. He looked over my dog and come to find, my pet had an ear infection. Dr. Hexter took time to answer all the questions I had. I would recommend VCA Old Canal and I would recommend Dr. Hexter. more
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Nasty 2/4/2010

I have never encountered such a disorganized place. Just calling for lab results (at the predetermined time) I was put on hold for 28 minutes then someone picked up and put me back hold for another 12 and still couldn't answer really basic questions. \r \r They don't want/need/desire your business. Don't even bother. If they treat you like this for a well-pet visit, it must be devastating to bring a sick pet there and be treated like a total chump.\r \r Oh, and I had clumps of pet hair stuck to my shoes after visiting the office...and it was first thing in the morning. I don't think anyone could be bothered to clean the place. Very nice. more
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Lacking in Professionalism 2/4/2010

I have met all the vets in the practice over the past couple of years and I have liked them all. I have found the medical care to be quite good and the actual medical staff to be helpful with explaining things.\r \r The veterinary office and exam rooms are run down and dirty. Does make you think twice about having a pet have surgery there.\r \r \r The front desk people are a disorganized mess. You have to wait before and after your appointment, and no matter when you call...it is NEVER the right time. Not to mention, during the long waits, you get to hear the office staff complaining to each other about their jobs! Yes..talk about a vote of confidence if the employees are complaining right in front of the clients. \r \r I think the vets should relocate or fix up the facility and then fire all of the staff and start over again. more
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Keep looking 1/25/2010

We've been taking our yellow lab there for years and always thought the prices were a bit high. We've delt with a number of Doctors and until recently we thought they had our interests at heart, but the don't. Its all about the almighty buck. \r We received an estimate for eye surgery to remove some tumors that was affecting his vision. The quote we received was $600. When we had the money to do the surgery we found out the Vet had gone corporate and raised their rates to over $1,000 for the exact same surgery, just 2 months after given the original quote. When we produced the original quote they then compromised and charged us $750 after tinkering with there new computer system to lower the operating costs.\r \r Two months later the dog began vomitting due to an unrealted illness from above. After spending $1500 on blood work and an unltrasound we're seeking a second opinion. They still don't know the diagnosis, but want to do more bloodwork for $250 and a bone marrow test another $600 a more
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Good experience 3/3/2009

I was quite surprised to read all the bad reviews of Old Canal. We had a pretty good experience. We had an issue with our dog, and it happened to be on the day of the biggest snowstorm of the season. Our regular vet, whom we have been going to for 7 years, is in Southbury, and we didn't want to drive the 40 minutes in the bad weather. We got a recommendation for Ragged Mountain, but they were closed, so we called Old Canal. \r \r Dr Cesana treated our dog and was thorough, kind, and had all the time in the world for us. Our dog has a history of minor medical issues, but since we had never been to Old Canal before, we had to explain it all, and Dr Cesana was very patient and a good listener. \r \r The vet techs and women at the desk were perfectly nice and attentive. The prices seemed perfectly fine as well, but we are used to expensive treatment in Southbury. \r \r There was one problem but I don't really think they were to blame for it--our dog had bloodwork done, but since the weather was more
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The very best veterinarian clinic - Dr. Hexter is very compassionate 2/24/2009

My 8 - 10 year old cat started acting sick around Christmas. His appetite was very poor and he slept all the time. We brought him to Old Canal (we live in Canton so it is a 30 minute drive) and he was diagnosed with a bad inner ear infection. Over the next two weeks, We treated him with antibiotics and ear drops and the ear infection cleared but he started jamming his head into corners and getting stuck between the wall and cabinets, etc. He did not seem to be able to see. The next morning he was very lethargic and limp like he had a seizure during the night. We rushed him to the vet where he stayed for 5 days with an iv for fluid and was syringe fed baby food. We had him tested for toxoplasmosis which he tested positive for but it did not necessarily mean he had it (he may have just had the antibodies). The dr said it was either a brain tumor or toxo. On the second to last day at the vet, Dr. Hexter gave him a cortisone shot hoping that it would revive him and make him feel bet more
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Dumbfounded 8/18/2008

I brought my foster dog (who happens to be a Pit Bull mix) to be seen for a lump on her side. Dr. Hexter came in and examined her and he was very courteous and professional. That same week the dog was brought in by the new adpotive family for what was thought to be a urinary tract infection. This time Dr Fahey examined her. She insisted on putting the dog in a muzzle because she's a Pit and can't be trusted. She had the audacity to say to the new adoptive family that it was a very poor placement for the dog because there are children in the family and Pit bulls should not be around children. This was followed by a number of rude and unnecessary comments that insulted the adoptive family. Not only that, the issue that they went there for in the first place was never even addressed!!! When I brought the dog in the first time, the front desk staff (with the exception of one woman) basically ignored me. On my way out, I asked if I was all set and they sat there talking to each other and di more
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I hope your time is not important to you!!!! 8/12/2008

I have 2 cats and a puppy. Every time we go to the vet. we are waiting paitiently for @ least 45 min after appt. time. The waiting room is always crowded and filthy feeling, that if your pet didnt have something , it sure will now. Then they will overcharge you to treat them for it. The girls in the office are sometimes nice, but always confused. I for one have switched vets and I would advise anyone looking around to continue looking. Dont be fooled by the big building and convienent location. I dont think it will be difficult to find a better vet.\r -out of time- more
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VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND THEY OVER CHARGE 6/11/2008

The staff are very rude and try to make you buy things you don't need. They also give you a bill that you can't figure out so that they can hide the way they over charge. The technicians are terrible and don't know how to handle dogs. I was in the office for three hours half the time waited to see the doctor and then waiting for the bill. They are so unprofessional, even the supervisor that refused to give me my pets records to go to another vet. I had to threaten to sue them to get them and then they wanted to charge me for them after they had been over charging me. Awful Awful experience save yourself a lot of aggravation and go to a vet clinic thats not just about treating you bad and ripping you off. more
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They are very good and they do care.... 5/26/2008

They always quizzed me in if I had an emergency with my pets. At times you do have to wait to be seen but it is just like us when we go to the doctor we wait too. Expensive yes but I have not found a vet clinic that wasn't. I rather pay for the best then have to wait to be seen and treated like cattle Like at the Fox clinic at the CT Humane Society. Sometimes you get what you pay for. Now as for Dr. Tracey Fahey I'm going to her with a dog with cancer and she took the time to tell me everything. Told me to call her anytime with any questions or problems that is a Veterinarian that cares. She told me all the best options and told me up front that she would do what ever I wanted for my dog. She told me what she recommends to do as well. So in other posts they say bad things about her but I can't see anything bad about a person who is doing all she can to help your pet. I would recommend her fully to anyone... In closing I had many animals in my life and I been going to old Canal since th more
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Completely Unprofessional Service 4/27/2008

My mother and I took our cat to this clinic in the winter of 2005 shortly after Christmas and she was seen by Dr. Fahey. We had been going here for years and had always seen Dr. Cesana. She had been lathergic and not eating and had a large bulbous mass on her paw. The doctor weighed her and she had lost 30% of her body weight since her last visit. Dr. Fahey urged us to opt for a $900 surgery to remove the tumor from her hand and to do it immediately. I asked the doctor REPEATEDLY "Do you think operating on a 10 year old cat with cancer is a good idea? Don't you think it is likely that the cancer will manifest in other areas?" Dr. Fahey insisted that this type of cancer in cats is very rare and that it is very unlikely that that will happen. I urged my mother, who was not in the best financial position, to take the cat home and think about it first. Dr. Fahey urged my mother to leave the cat there that day and have the surgery done immediately and said (and this is an exact quote) "If i more
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Outstanding veterinary care w/ Dr.Troy Hexter 3/3/2008

If you consider you pet your best friend, then he/she deserves the best in health care. There is no better care than Dr Troy Hexter & staff at Old Canal Veterinary Clinic. I tried three other local vet offices before choosing Dr. Hexter @ Old Canal. Some may say I?m picky, but I want NOTHING BUT THE BEST for my dogs.\r \r Like kids, illnesses & accidents to pet seem to usually happen during the night, on weekends, or holidays. Fortunately, Dr. Hexter is as caring as I am for my dogs. Many times I have called him at home with a problem with one of my dogs. I don?t know any other vet who is willing to meet you at the clinic in the middle of the night or as Dr. Hexter did 2 years ago, ON CHRISTMAS MORNING! Most clinics would refer you to one of the emergency hospitals.\r \r Dogs & cats can?t verbalize what is wrong. It takes a skilled, knowledgeable vet to find the root of the problem. Usually tests must be run to find the answer. If cost is an issue, then discuss this with the Dr. or p more
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Terrible Experience 10/4/2007

I gave Old Canal all the chances in the world, but they were consistently awful. The waiting room is crowded and chaotic, the front desk staff always seems disgruntled and rude and confused. The nurses were usually good with my dog, but it was hit or miss- sometimes they seemed like they had no idea what they were doing. Dr. Learn and Dr. Fahey are great but Dr. Hexter ran a bunch of tests and I felt like he never had time for me. When I had a problem with a bill there the office manager was completely rude and unprofessional. To top it off the place is old and dirty looking. I'll never go back there more
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VERY Expensive 5/22/2007

I am being charged almost $400 for a spay and required shots for a 2 year old cat. I see lower cost services running around $75.00, but unfortunately they all take forever to get an appt. and this kitty has already had 2 litters and we just got her (she was a stray) when she was pregnant with her last litter. Her yowling and peeing in inappropriate spots was unbearable! I understand that the vet has salaries to pay and other overhead expenses but keeping the cat overnight for one night does not justify almost $150.00 extra based on the average prices I am seeing. I think $200 - 250.00 would have been more reasonable. A little greedy Old Canal? Save your money and wait for the lower cost services is what I learned from this experience. There is no difference in care, surgery is surgery, and shots are shots. One night overnight for "monitoring" is great, but the added expense in this case was not "worth it". more
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Great care but expensive 3/19/2007

I have several pets and been taking them to Old Canal for years. They are Very friendly caring people. Dr. Learn in particular has been wonderful. I have spent thousands of dollars that I really can't afford on eye surgery, alergy tratmenst and a number of other problems. Dr. learn has gone out of her way to help save me some money as well as not charging for a minor visit or 2. This clinic is not one of the cheapest but you can't beat the care. more
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They really care 12/27/2005

I really think Dr. Hexter and his crew really cares. They do all the tests to find out what is wrong with my pets. My Italian greyhound had tumors. The lumps were benign, thankfully. But it does turn out to be expensive, having all the tests run. And the administrative staff there makes the check in people ask you if you want pain meds, etc. Say no if you don't want the extras. They can be pushy. The parking is behind the building in the municipal lot. The inside is usually crowded, I schedule my appointments early in the day, so that I don't have to wait. Every single time I call they put me on hold. PROS: Caring doctors CONS: Expensive extras, put on hold. more
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It's all about the money 8/16/2005

This is one vet that will try to milk every dollar they can from you. They are completely focused on the allmighty dollar. They will order more tests than necessary. Our cat (which we learned was diabetic) was put through thousands of dollars of tests, when just 2 simple tests would have given us the answers we needed. I suggest taking your pets elsewhere so that they can get the care they deserve and you don't have to shell out a ton of money. more
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Great vetenarians, but long wait 7/28/2005

The waiting room was packed, which showed me that this was a popular place to bring your animals,but I waited at least two hours before even being seen. The staff were very nice and caring and very good to my pet. PROS: Great people, great care CONS: LONG wait more
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Owner Message

  • VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital has been in service since 1975, and servicing the communities of Plainville, Southington, New Britain, and Newington. Our goal has always been to provide outstanding healthcare to our patients, and superior service to our clients. We have complete medical, surgical and diagnostic facilities to provide services for dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits and other exotic pets. Cat boarding and basic pet grooming are also available. Our team of doctors, technicians and receptionist work hard to maintain the highest standards of veterinary medicine available. Additional Services/Information: • Bone and Joint Surgery • Cardiology • Chemotherapy • Comprehensive Annual Exams • Diagnostic Imaging • Digital Radiology • Digital Radiology including X-Ray • Endoscopy • Ophthalmology • Orthopedic Surgery • Pediatric & Geriatric Care • Preventive Health Care • Tonopen • Ultrasound • Vaccinations Please call us today for more information about our veterinary, boarding & grooming services and to schedule your pet's appointment!

Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-6pm, Sat 7:30am-1pm
  • Payments: American Express, Discover, Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, Visa, Master Card
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