They took care of my pet. I got calls with updates frequently. It's 24hrs and I just had to call ahead and they would provide a room for me to spend time with my pet. They honestly did amazing for my cat I thought she wasn't going to make it they did all they could and always asked before doing any tests that cost a bit more. Discharged they ensured I got proper instructions and answered all my questions. Gave me digital instructions and hard copy I also got plenty of medications and food for my cat. I am grateful.
I rarely write negative reviews, but I feel I have a responsibility to share our experience.
My dog, Bentley, was being treated for B-cell lymphoma under Dr. McNeill’s care. Throughout this incredibly difficult journey, what hurt the most was not just the disease—it was the complete lack of communication, compassion, and follow-up from the oncology team.
During our visits, Dr. McNeill never performed what I felt was a meaningful physical examination of Bentley. He did not get down to examine him or lay hands on him in a way that gave me confidence he was fully assessing his condition. Instead, the appointments largely consisted of discussing treatment options and emphasizing how expensive they would be. As Bentley’s owner, I left feeling that the focus was on costs rather than on Bentley as a patient.
When Bentley developed severe side effects from CHOP chemotherapy, I left multiple phone messages and sent emails asking to speak with Dr. McNeill. We were frightened and desperately needed guidance. Neither Dr. McNeill nor anyone from the oncology team returned our calls or contacted us to discuss Bentley’s condition or help us manage the complications.
Despite this, I gave the practice another chance. While we were in Florida, we were told someone would contact us, arrange follow-up care, and ship Bentley’s cytosine so his treatment could continue. That never happened. We received no communication, no medication, and no assistance.
As a result, Bentley went approximately three weeks without treatment while I desperately searched for another veterinary oncologist willing to see him on short notice. During that time, his lymphoma progressed significantly. By the time we were finally seen elsewhere, one of his lymph nodes had enlarged to nearly the size of a ping-pong ball, affecting his breathing, and he was also experiencing intestinal bleeding that required immediate evaluation.
Today we were seen by Dr. Del Alcazar at Friendship Hospital for Animals, and the difference was extraordinary. Dr. Del Alcazar came into the room, sat on the floor with Bentley, spent nearly 30 minutes carefully examining him herself, gently palpating every lymph node, listening to his breathing, and taking the time to truly understand his condition. She answered every question with patience, explained our options thoroughly, and showed genuine compassion for both Bentley and our family. Bentley himself was noticeably calmer around her.
That experience reminded me what compassionate medicine looks like. Cancer treatment is emotionally and financially overwhelming, but families should never have to fight for a return phone call, continuity of care, or basic empathy. Communication, follow-up, and compassion are not optional—they are fundamental responsibilities of every healthcare professional, whether they treat people or animals.
I sincerely hope Hope Oncology reflects on how they communicate with families facing life-threatening illnesses, because no one should feel as abandoned as we did during one of the hardest times of our lives.
We’re incredibly grateful to Dr. McNeill and the team at Hope Advanced Hospital for seeing our dog, Panda, on such short notice. After a referral from Dr. Pierce (Centreville Square Animal Hospital), we immediately felt we were in the right place.
Panda’s likely Stage V lymphoma diagnosis was heartbreaking, but Dr. McNeill’s compassion and clear guidance gave us hope through the CHOP protocol. Panda has completed his first treatment cycle and is doing well so far. Choosing the CHOP protocol has given us hope for more time with our beloved dog.
The entire staff from Dr. McNeill to the front desk team and nurses are very kind, caring, and supportive. Panda is family to us, and we’re so thankful he’s in such good hands.
Please please do not trust Dr. Elizabeth Adkins with your pet's eyes. My sister and I had been taking our pup to Dr. Adkins for a few years for dry eye disease...but I'd never met her face to face. When our dog got diagnosed with diabetes I took him in since I was worried about the potential eyesight loss that comes from that and she basically told me in very similar words:
"if the diabetes doesn't get him the dry eye disease will". And left it at that, with the expectation that our 2 minute conversation would suffice.
When I pressed with questions, I also learned that she had in her clinician notes that our dog had been basically blind in the left eye for last 3 years but had never told us that. We were only told over the years that he had "scarring" in left eye but never informed that meant he could not see at all. Any question I asked (I only asked about 3) was met with annoyance.
And one of the worst things, she was happy to tell us she can fit us in for pre-op whenever our dog does get cataracts (due to the diabetes). BUT never told us she doesn't actually do the surgery herself, or at hope center. So even if your pet did need emergency surgery, while hope center can do the pre-op, they will not be doing the eye surgery. It was very misleading the way she told me that and I only learned later that she doesn't even do the surgeries.
I was heartbroken at seeing a doctor behave with such little empathy. Please avoid this doctor if you can, there are other local opthamologists that actually care about your pet that you should go to instead.
