Vet problems

[Heather&Dagron]

Hey yall, I am going to bring these issues up with my vet, but I needed to rant and also would appreciate any suggestions.

Today, Dagron was supposed to go in for his first glucose curve. Literally 15 min before the appt, I got a call saying they had to cancel because the vet tech called out. I live 30-40 min from my vet, and I was 10 min away at that point. I feel they could have rearranged some things to accommodate us rather than calling me 15 min before the appt.

So a total of 75 min in the car, my poor cat is stressed out and hot, peed himself because we were in the car too long and he couldn't hold it. We got home and I let him out and could tell his legs were very stiff. I'm furious about how this affected my cat.

Other issues - about a month ago, I had to get estimates for everything so I could try to get my ex to give me money to take care of things (long story and a different rant). For one appointment, I told them a week in advance that I needed an estimate and didn't get it until two days before the appt. It takes longer than that for a transfer to clear the bank.

I'm considering switching vets once we get the diabetes handled. I don't want to, because the vet himself is awesome, but his support staff keep failing me. Also, if they are going to call 15 min before the appt, I'm sure I can find a vet closer to home that I am comfortable with, so instead of being in the car for 75 min we're only in it for 10-15.

The whole reason I wanted to drive this far for the vet in the first place is that I wanted a vet who wasn't going to push Rx diets as the end-all be-all. I like this vet because he had a conversation with me about food and listened to the knowledge I have rather than dismissing me off-hand as a random owner who doesn't actually know anything about cats. I also like that he took the time to make Gryphon comfortable - my fearful butterball who shakes from the moment we leave the house until the moment we come back. I've literally never had a vet before with that kind of bedside manner.

Another little thing that irked me - Dagron is not good with bloodwork. We were trying to get it one day and he kept jerking, so we took a break and I was rubbing him and telling him what a good boy he was, and the assistant says "Well, he's trying to be anyway." I dunno, just the attitude of the poor cat having to be responsible for his behavior when he's obviously very stressed and fearful. Would you tell a child they weren't being good if they were in a similar situation?

This same incident, I ended up having to leave him so they could sedate him for blood and come back later, then I get a call at work 1.5 hours later (and of course my work is also 30 min from the vet) that he's ready to go home. They said they had three people hold him and the (substitute) vet did the blood draw. I don't know what's worse, the fact that they wasted so much of my time or the fact that they did the draw without sedation just because they were able to hold him with three people.

Anyway, I'm going to do his glucose curve myself this weekend instead of risking the same BS, and I'll bring up these issues with the vet when I talk to him. If anyone wants to weigh in and whether I should keep the vet or not, I value your input. There's always the possibility that I'm being an uppity, entitled jerk, after all.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Hey yall, I am going to bring these issues up with my vet, but I needed to rant and also would appreciate any suggestions.

Today, Dagron was supposed to go in for his first glucose curve. Literally 15 min before the appt, I got a call saying they had to cancel because the vet tech called out. I live 30-40 min from my vet, and I was 10 min away at that point. I feel they could have rearranged some things to accommodate us rather than calling me 15 min before the appt.

So a total of 75 min in the car, my poor cat is stressed out and hot, peed himself because we were in the car too long and he couldn't hold it. We got home and I let him out and could tell his legs were very stiff. I'm furious about how this affected my cat.

Other issues - about a month ago, I had to get estimates for everything so I could try to get my ex to give me money to take care of things (long story and a different rant). For one appointment, I told them a week in advance that I needed an estimate and didn't get it until two days before the appt. It takes longer than that for a transfer to clear the bank.

I'm considering switching vets once we get the diabetes handled. I don't want to, because the vet himself is awesome, but his support staff keep failing me. Also, if they are going to call 15 min before the appt, I'm sure I can find a vet closer to home that I am comfortable with, so instead of being in the car for 75 min we're only in it for 10-15.

The whole reason I wanted to drive this far for the vet in the first place is that I wanted a vet who wasn't going to push Rx diets as the end-all be-all. I like this vet because he had a conversation with me about food and listened to the knowledge I have rather than dismissing me off-hand as a random owner who doesn't actually know anything about cats. I also like that he took the time to make Gryphon comfortable - my fearful butterball who shakes from the moment we leave the house until the moment we come back. I've literally never had a vet before with that kind of bedside manner.

Another little thing that irked me - Dagron is not good with bloodwork. We were trying to get it one day and he kept jerking, so we took a break and I was rubbing him and telling him what a good boy he was, and the assistant says "Well, he's trying to be anyway." I dunno, just the attitude of the poor cat having to be responsible for his behavior when he's obviously very stressed and fearful. Would you tell a child they weren't being good if they were in a similar situation?

This same incident, I ended up having to leave him so they could sedate him for blood and come back later, then I get a call at work 1.5 hours later (and of course my work is also 30 min from the vet) that he's ready to go home. They said they had three people hold him and the (substitute) vet did the blood draw. I don't know what's worse, the fact that they wasted so much of my time or the fact that they did the draw without sedation just because they were able to hold him with three people.

Anyway, I'm going to do his glucose curve myself this weekend instead of risking the same BS, and I'll bring up these issues with the vet when I talk to him. If anyone wants to weigh in and whether I should keep the vet or not, I value your input. There's always the possibility that I'm being an uppity, entitled jerk, after all.

I don't think you're being a jerk at all! My responses in those situations would be the same as yours. Is there any way you can talk to the vet you like about the issues you have had? Maybe he can have a word with his staff. To be honest, the tech who implied that your kitty was deliberately being difficult probably doesn't realize how offensive it sounded, and it would be good if the vet spoke to her to make her more aware. As far as cancelling/rescheduling when you are already almost there - I would make it very clear that you are some distance away and that you expect to be notified of any appointment changes at least an hour prior, or you will expect to have your kitty seen. This is not unreasonable. Any good veterinary practice will try very hard to accommodate their clients, they want your business.

Just a heads-up: I don't know what your vet has said to you about it, but you can do his curves at home. It is actually better if you do them at home because the numbers you get are not affected by "vet stress." Vet stress can raise BG number by 100 points or more.

 

[Heather&Dagron]

Thanks, Squallie. Validation helps.

My vet trusts me to do curves at home, he just wanted to first one done there. It doesn't make sense to me because of the likelihood of false numbers, but whatever. I am going to talk to him - hopefully over the phone so that we can have a private conversation. I am supposed to call them up to reschedule, so I think instead I will call and say I am doing the curve at home this weekend and ask to have the vet call me.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Thanks, Squallie. Validation helps.

My vet trusts me to do curves at home, he just wanted to first one done there. It doesn't make sense to me because of the likelihood of false numbers, but whatever. I am going to talk to him - hopefully over the phone so that we can have a private conversation. I am supposed to call them up to reschedule, so I think instead I will call and say I am doing the curve at home this weekend and ask to have the vet call me.

That sounds like a good idea!

 

[JanetNJ]

Hey yall, I am going to bring these issues up with my vet, but I needed to rant and also would appreciate any suggestions.

Today, Dagron was supposed to go in for his first glucose curve. Literally 15 min before the appt, I got a call saying they had to cancel because the vet tech called out. I live 30-40 min from my vet, and I was 10 min away at that point. I feel they could have rearranged some things to accommodate us rather than calling me 15 min before the appt.

So a total of 75 min in the car, my poor cat is stressed out and hot, peed himself because we were in the car too long and he couldn't hold it. We got home and I let him out and could tell his legs were very stiff. I'm furious about how this affected my cat.

Other issues - about a month ago, I had to get estimates for everything so I could try to get my ex to give me money to take care of things (long story and a different rant). For one appointment, I told them a week in advance that I needed an estimate and didn't get it until two days before the appt. It takes longer than that for a transfer to clear the bank.

I'm considering switching vets once we get the diabetes handled. I don't want to, because the vet himself is awesome, but his support staff keep failing me. Also, if they are going to call 15 min before the appt, I'm sure I can find a vet closer to home that I am comfortable with, so instead of being in the car for 75 min we're only in it for 10-15.

The whole reason I wanted to drive this far for the vet in the first place is that I wanted a vet who wasn't going to push Rx diets as the end-all be-all. I like this vet because he had a conversation with me about food and listened to the knowledge I have rather than dismissing me off-hand as a random owner who doesn't actually know anything about cats. I also like that he took the time to make Gryphon comfortable - my fearful butterball who shakes from the moment we leave the house until the moment we come back. I've literally never had a vet before with that kind of bedside manner.

Another little thing that irked me - Dagron is not good with bloodwork. We were trying to get it one day and he kept jerking, so we took a break and I was rubbing him and telling him what a good boy he was, and the assistant says "Well, he's trying to be anyway." I dunno, just the attitude of the poor cat having to be responsible for his behavior when he's obviously very stressed and fearful. Would you tell a child they weren't being good if they were in a similar situation?

This same incident, I ended up having to leave him so they could sedate him for blood and come back later, then I get a call at work 1.5 hours later (and of course my work is also 30 min from the vet) that he's ready to go home. They said they had three people hold him and the (substitute) vet did the blood draw. I don't know what's worse, the fact that they wasted so much of my time or the fact that they did the draw without sedation just because they were able to hold him with three people.

Anyway, I'm going to do his glucose curve myself this weekend instead of risking the same BS, and I'll bring up these issues with the vet when I talk to him. If anyone wants to weigh in and whether I should keep the vet or not, I value your input. There's always the possibility that I'm being an uppity, entitled jerk, after all.

Sounds like the ride is a tremendous amount of stress. That alone would make me switch. Make sure you get them to send a copy of all the lab reports if you do switch.

Once I started home testing I haven't brought my cat back. (Although now she's do for a regular senior checkup.)

 

[Heather&Dagron]

Janet, that's a huge factor, for sure. I just don't trust a lot of vets. So I need someone that I can trust at least somewhat, who is still in a reasonable driving distance, and is compassionate towards the stress and fear my cats have around going to the vet. I'm the kind of person that obsessively researches diseases - I'm more of an expert on cat pica, cat crystals, canine patellar luxation, rabbit cardiomyopathy, human endometriosis than many doctors out there, and will probably soon be an expert on feline diabetes and human epilepsy (boyfriend).

So I know enough, for instance, to bring up concerns about honey and maple syrup not being suitable compounds to quickly raise blood sugar in a hypo cat because the foods themselves have low glycemic index (something my current vet did not know). However, for diseases that are brand new - say, heaven forbid, one of my boys got lymphoma - I need someone with enough knowledge that I can trust them until I have the time to do adequate research myself.

I did try a come-to-your-house vet, but I think that was actually WORSE on the boys, because I had to lock them out of the bedroom all morning. I think they knew something was up and were more freaked out by the time she showed up. I will definitely give the drive time some heavy consideration, though. Thank you.