Is this vet visit strange - Harley

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Harley and Pattie

Harley and Pattie

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I am having second thoughts about Harley's new vet. It really bothered me that they did not examine him in front of me. They took him to the back (in his carrier because he would not come out for the tech) ...and examined him there. Then the vet brought him back in and talked to me about him. What went through my mind was, did you really examine him or just lean on his carrier drinking coffee until 15 minutes were up and then bring him into me.

I need to make another appointment and when I call, I will ask if that is their policy - if it is...on to a new vet.

This place is suppose to know a lot about diabetes???

So, I called to get a new appointment and asked if it was their policy to examine animals in the back. Answer, if there is blood work to be done, they take the animal back and do it all there. I asked if she would examine Harley in front of me. Answer, I will make a note that you want to see her first - my response..no, I want her to examine him with me there - answer, I will make a note that you want to see her first.

So, I am thinking I am canceling this appointment and going back to his original vet..she may not know much about diabetes but she is a great vet and I can get her to research info that I need.

Any thoughts?

Pattie
 
It is many Vets policy to examine pets AWAY from owners. A policy I DO NOT agree with. Go with your gut. If it were me? I'd cancel. JMO.
jeanne
 
You know your cat. I'd trust your gut.

I think there's a lot to be said for seeing the way a vet and the vet techs handle your cat. Friends of mine have a cat that freaks at the vet's office. A couple of the vets really know how to gently deal with what appears to be a raging saber tooth tiger. One vet they refuse to allow to see their cat. There's also one vet tech who's an idiot and they won't allow in the room. You're the caregiver. It's your call.
 
My gut tells me to run back to the old vet. "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't" Does that make sense.

Pattie
 
I agree with the others... we've only had one vet take Willie to the back, and that was after a thorough exam with me in the room... they just took him back for a urine sample collection, then immediately brought him back (with praise for what a perfect gentleman he had been)... and he was all smiles and purrs.

I mean, if they aren't doing the physical exam in the room with you, how are you to discss your observations, etc.?
 
I do not know of any vets that do the exam in the back room. It is not unusual for the animal to be taken to the back for urine same because a lot of vets uses an ultrasound machine to guide the needle to the bladder. Some vets also bring them back for a blood draw since some animal resist and restraint is required. Also, for some animal, the animal is more calm when away from the owner.
 
Personally, I would go back to your old vet, not only because the new one didn't do an exam in front of you, but when you called to ask about policy they weren't listening to you. That tells me right there that there is a failure to listen to the care giver, which is not acceptable IMHO. I have a wonderful vet who not only listens and learns from me, but when I bring in different animals the receptionist makes sure they see whichever vet that particular animal gets along with best. For example, my drooler is a snarling beast with Dr. Brad, however, all 95 lbs of him tries to crawl in Dr. Rick's lap and smother him with kisses. But on the other hand, Bert my blue-point siamese has tried to shred Dr. Rick on several occasions, but with Dr Brad he is all purrs and head butts. So when I call to make an appointment and say it is for King (drooler) the receptionist without my asking will respond "I'll see when Dr. Rick is available, unless this is something urgent" but if I call and say I need to bring Bert in she will again say something to the effect of Dr. Brad can see him at 10:30. Both Vets are great with my animals but it is nice to know that they are also tuned-in enough to realize that certain animals have preferences too.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang.
 
fwiw, i'd say my vet 9 out of 10 times does the exam in front of me. then for bloodwork, cytocentesis, etc....they go in the back. which is fine with me. i trust my vet. occasionally if the cat is too upset, they don't examine at all right away but rather take carrier and all to the quiet room in the back where kitty just gets quiet attention and hopefully calms down and they examine them later. what i really like about my vet is the exam rooms have see thru doors on the backside so you can actually watch some of what's going on in the back if you want.

i might try talking to the new vet for a minute and explain that you've never seen things done that way (exam in the back) and that it made you a little uncomfortable and see what her response is. if she responds that that is the way they do things and doesn't understand your concern or agree to do them in front of you, then go back to the other vet and hope they can learn more about diabetes. she may have clients that don't do well with watching the kitty go berserk or get examined, etc.....the first time my fiance had to take my late Kitty to the vet because i was out of town, he was scarred for life. he didn't do well with the whole taking the temperature thing and felt so sorry for her and has never stayed in the exam room since if there's a chance the cat is gonna get their temp taken. silly man!
 
Yeah, I've never heard of a vet doing the entire exam in the back room either, and I would be very uncomfortable with that. One of my civies, Shnookie, really freaks out at the vet, and so they do blood draws and everything they can in the room with me. If he has to go to the back room for a procedure, they let me go with him, because in his case, my presence is definitely helpful. He is NOT one of those that does better away from the owner, and although they tried to tell me he would at first, we've proven that we know what we're talking about and they accomodate us.

If it were me, I'd run back to the old vet.
 
I would go back to the old vet. They are working for YOU. It does not sound like there is a conducive environment for open dialogue at the new vet and they believe that they are above explaining that to you. We are on our third vet. If it doesn't feel right, then it probably isn't.

Good luck!!
 
Well, i asked for a dental on my Diabetic, CRI kitty.
They told me a dental was in progress and i could go back.
A kennel worker was doing the dental. Then another kennel worker intubated her.
No IV running. Kennel worker listening to heart sounds with stethoscope.
I said to the vet i had never seen a dental or intubation done by anyone other than a vet.
He replied, "i have people trained to do that."
 
If you want to use this new vet, I would call again and ask to talk to the vet. Explain that you will only be bringing Harley back to them if the exam is done in front of you. If they say no, follow your gut and find someone new.

My vet always examines in front of me. I sometimes look away, but I'm there. The only time I didn't have a vet do everything with me in the room was a blood draw from a substitute vet.
 
Go with your gut, Pattie. I always tell women that.

I had a vet do J.D.'s blood draw in the back room, a long time ago, and have never returned since. I thought it was really strange.
The last vet I went to in CA, did everything in front of me, including a C & S. I thought that was really cool that they did it in the exam room with me there.
 
If this new vet gave your cat a rabies shot in the scruff of the shoulder-blades, you would never know unless he developed cancer there. Rabies vaccinations should never be given in the scruff. Vaccines should never be mixed into one syringe. A vet tried to inject a rabies vaccine into my civie, Rusty, in May of this year even though vets have been advised not to inject into the scruff since 1995.

If you cannot observe, you don't know what your vet is doing in the back room. I don't let anything happen outside my sight.

Lana
 
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