Animal ER Care - Central

Brittany Malory

We are incredibly grateful that our 7-year-old German Shepherd, is alive and recovering. That said, our experience at Animal ER Care Central was traumatic and deeply concerning, and we feel compelled to share it so other pet parents can advocate for their animals. Our Pup was initially evaluated at the Nevada location and was told she was not critical but stable, with bloat ruled out. Upon transfer to the Academy location, the messaging abruptly changed. She was suddenly described as critical, and we were presented with costly diagnostics under urgent pressure. After inconclusive X-rays due to gas buildup, Dr. Jen Colangelo, DVM, told us our pup likely had a mesenteric torsion, stated she was 95% certain, and strongly advised euthanasia, explaining surgery would likely be unsuccessful. We were given the option of an additional $1,000 ultrasound or making “the hard decision.” At that point, we had not seen our dog for hours. When we asked to see her we were met with a surprised- “Oh, you want to see her?” We wanted to take her home, make her comfortable, and let our children and other family say our final goodbye byes. After upselling us on nausea meds “pills and injections”, we were finally released. Later that evening, a radiologist reviewed the same X-rays and found no torsion at all, instead diagnosing aspiration pneumonia, a serious but treatable condition. Antibiotics were started, and our pup improved rapidly—eating, walking, and acting like herself the very next day. Had we followed the earlier recommendation by Dr. Colangelo, we might have lost our dog unnecessarily. While we don’t believe staff were intentionally unkind, we felt rushed, pressured, and led toward irreversible decisions before final diagnostic information was available. Emergency care should allow room for clarity, transparency, and informed consent. Our advice to other pet parents: ask questions, wait for final reads when possible, and trust your instincts. We are grateful our Pup is still with us and hope future clients experience clearer communication and less fear-based urgency.

Dec 16, 2025

Mariah Justice-Hainley

Everyone was absolutely amazing and took such great care of our sweet boy. Dr. Dixon, her tech that night, and the receptionist were absolutely incredible. They got down on the floor with me to treat my bunny as he was scared and stressed. They were all so kind and made a very scary experience more comfortable for me and George. I am so grateful for their care and love for their patients, I cannot fully express my gratitude. Dr. Dixon and her team were so kind, helpful, and thorough.

Nov 7, 2025

Albert R

The facility and the staff are absolutely wonderful. AERC Central is 100 percent in my book. They have taken care of my Fur Babies with the utmost care and professionalism. I also want to mention that they have also taken a personal interest in the health and well-being of my Fur babies. I cannot single out just one person. The ENTIRE staff have been wonderful. I am happy to even say that they have even become a part of our family. They have been treating my Fur Babies as if they were their own.

Nov 7, 2025

Wendy James

I came in with my kitty who hurt his paw. The whole team was great. They apologized for the wait time. I work in Urgent Care so I understand. The staff kept checking on us and updating us on our wait time. The doctor was great with Freddy. So glad your clinic was open. Highly recommended. Very attentive staff

Oct 31, 2025

Mark Haas

Loving and thorough care. They worked with us to bring a successful result and we felt heard and respected. Dr. Thielmann and the vet tech were AMAZING. Our dog Norman was seen in the early afternoon of Nov. 26th and I can't remember the tech's name but she was so kind and reassuring. Overall, superb gentle and informative/expert care.

Dec 3, 2025