Negar Parastar has only good things to say about her recent experience with the Ontario Veterinary College’s Heath Sciences Centre.
From the students to the technicians to the surgeon, and even the other pet-owners in the waiting room with her, it was a positive experience. “Hats off to them, they’re doing a great job,” she adds.
“Everyone was so caring and loving – I wish a human hospital could be as attentive,” Negar says. She brought her dog Arrow to OVC on Dec. 9 with a herniated disc. He was paralyzed from the waist down.
“I was frightened to death,” she added. The surgeon, Dr. Adam Ogilvie, spoke to her about the needed surgery for a herniated disc and was very patient, says Negar. “It was the best experience.” Ogilvie also provided detailed instructions and good advice for next steps as Arrow recovered from surgery.
Chris Whipp, a DVM student, called Negar twice a day while Arrow was in the hospital to report on his progress. Arrow had never been in a kennel before, says Negar, but that didn’t cause any issues.
While Arrow was shaky the first few days, after three weeks he was running around again. Negar and her husband, Steve Franco, are building ramps on some stairs to make it easier for Arrow to get around and decrease the chance of further injury.
Her parting words to the OVC hospital staff: “Thank them all on my behalf!”