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Time Well Spent in Loudoun County...I Even Found a Great Emergency Vet

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Since last Fall, I've been spending a great deal of time in Loudoun County.  In my duties as a Buyer's Agent, I've helped two buyers get great deals on homes in two different Ashburn 55+ Active Adult Communities.  One moved to a condo development by K. Hovnanian and another found a great attached villa in Potomac Green.   And right now, I'm helping a buyer who has found a great townhouse in Leesburg.  That property should be going to settlement this week.

My favorite find in Loudoun County is an emergency veterinary clinic in Leesburg.  I can't take credit for finding it.  I will have to give credit to my regular veterinarians at VCA Healthy PAWS in Haymarket.  After a bad experience with a local emergency vet, fairly close to my Bristow home, I was given the Leesburg emergency vet as a referral.  I was told that unless there was a critical issue like loss of blood, traumatic injury or respiratory distress, that I should take the 45-60 minute trip to Leesburg.   I'm glad I listened.

The first trip my husband James and I made to TLC (The Life Center) off of Fort Evan Road in the town of Leesburg, involved a cat (Shadow) with vomiting and diarrhea.  Not critical, but not something we were prepared to wait ten hours for VCA Healthy PAWS to open.  We had a great experience with Dr. Mark Olcott.  He got to us as quickly as he could, ran the necessary tests, listened to our intuition on the food that may have caused this, and sent us home with some meds to help. The bill really wasn't that much more than what we would have expected at our regular vet and, as with all emergency vets, the tests were run onsite.

The second trip was two weeks ago.  This time we took another cat (Phoebe) who had started prancing in misery in and out of the litter box about two hours after VCA Healthy PAWS closed.  Am I going to let her suffer all night?  No way.  I know how miserable a urinary tract infection can be.  James and I put her in a carrier and drove an hour to TLC.  This time we met Dr. Charla McKoy and had another great experience.  She listened, ran tests, chatted with us and put us at ease while waiting for the kidney blood work.  That night the lab had new equipment and she assured us that the wait had nothing to do with anything other than the lab workers frustration with the new equipment.  Thank God we weren't paying by the swear word.  Again, a reasonable bill, a relieved cat and another vet I'm happy to have on our roster.

If you live in Loudoun County, or even in Western Prince William County like me, I highly recommend The Life Center (also known as Animal Emergency Critical Care.)  They are great vets in a super facility.  All they ask that you call ahead if at all possible.

The Life Center/Animal Emergency Critical Care

165 Fort Evans Road NE

Leesburg, VA 20176

703-777-5755

 

Comments (9)

Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Hi Chris Ann...

We have an emergency vet that we use, but it's a pretty long drive ... especially when you have a sick pet. But it's a great facility with people that care.

Mar 28, 2010 11:10 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

When you have pets knowing the closest emergency clinic is important.  My  favorite clinic closed and now that I have a new kitten I need to research one close by.  Thanks for the reminder.

Mar 28, 2010 01:10 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

It's the best when you have an emergency vet. Our regular vet will me you at his office in an emergency. But when someone doesn't have that kind of service, it's worth it's weight in gold to find an emergency vet. Especially one you are happy with!

Mar 29, 2010 02:09 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Finding a good vet can be hard. People might think how hard is it? But wait until you've been through unnecessary tests, for which you were charged thousands of dollars, and had the misfortune of a misdiagnosis, and you begin to appreciate the better vet clinics. I drive to Davis to see my vet and don't take my cats anywhere in Sacramento.

Mar 29, 2010 03:47 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Richard:  Caring docs is as much as you can ask for.  That's my problem with our local ER vet.  I don't get the feeling they really care.

Cindy:  I don't know the Woodbridge area for vets.  Let me know when you find a good one so I can let my future Woodbridge clients know.

Jackie:  It's definitely a good resource.

Elizabeth:  That's how important a good vet is.  I pass two vets on the way to my regular vet, and there are two ER clinics closer than the one I go to.

Mar 29, 2010 08:38 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Poor little Shadow and Phoebe. Zoey the Cool Cat sends Get Well wishes.

Get Well, Shadow and Phoebe

Mar 29, 2010 04:44 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Russel:  They are both in great health now.  It's just nice to know there ia a place we can go when our regular vet is closed and get the same level of care.

Mar 30, 2010 03:10 AM
Anne Clark
Metro Referrals - Gainesville, VA

I've heard great things about this Emergency Vet.  I'll have to keep it in mind in case one of the cats or Buster ever needs a Vet during off hours.

Jul 10, 2010 03:49 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I heard that Dr. Verna left Healthy PAWS and that my favorite doctor there is leaving as well.  I think they may have something in the works.

Jul 10, 2010 04:07 AM