Vet Visit From Hell

[Judy & Fritz]

Our primary vet is smart, competent and a close personal friend but she could not board Noah two years ago. Our alternate vet could board him and when I told him I home tested he put his hand on my shoulder and told me he was proud of me. He has clients who just won't listen or don't want to hear it.

Dig deep into the fine print. The "pre-existing condition" clause covers whatever they say it does unless you're hit by a train on a Tuesday wearing green socks. There are good companies, I just can't think of one.

My experience with Pet Plan has been the exact opposite. It has been amazing. They even pay for boarding,

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

That sounds like a great plan. $50/month is peanuts if you get whacked with multiple thousand dollar tests, retests and subsequent follow ups.
I'm living in the past when I think Jasper's MRI and spinal tap for $2600 was a lot. Sam just had three teeth pulled, $1900. Every medical tragedy we've ever had with pets was something untreatable, we've never experienced a long term medical nightmare.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

That sounds like a great plan. $50/month is peanuts if you get whacked with multiple thousand dollar tests, retests and subsequent follow ups.
I'm living in the past when I think Jasper's MRI and spinal tap for $2600 was a lot. Sam just had three teeth pulled, $1900. Every medical tragedy we've ever had with pets was something untreatable, we've never experienced a long term medical nightmare.

It has been wonderful, imo. Don’t care for their app, still fixing some bugs, but as far as being extremely comprehensive coverage, it can’t be beat. And their customer service reps are super nice and very knowledgeable. They even pay if your pet is lost or stolen! And pay for holistic vets, and so much more.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

This week I had the vet visit to Hell. Marco is a very agreeable cat who likes the car (dangerous but a 10 minute drive on side roads) and resents being placed in a carrier. He needed some follow up blood work and a pee sample. On Monday I got the call, 'He's making a fuss, bladder is empty and this isn't working, come get him'.
I tried again on Tuesday, dropped him off at 8AM and knew this might take all day. We're not allowed in the door but I asked to briefly come in out of the scorching sun to explain something and the tech took a step forward to block the door, 'NO, you'll tell me right here'.
Marco was abused with a spray bottle before we rescued him. All you have to know is that if you use a spray bottle to disinfect the exam table and Marco sees this it's all over. The receptionist is a tech and both her and the lead tech know my voice on the phone, I called back when I got home and explained that one simple thing. Everything worked out and when I brought Marco home he plopped down in front of the water bowl like nothing had ever happened.
Your cat or dog is basically a piece of meat when they go behind the door. I don't expect a floral print sofa and aroma therapy candles for them, all I want is for someone to listen to me. Is that really so hard?

 

[Olive & Paula]

@Noah & me (GA) ,

No Dickson it's not so hard for them to listen. They choose not to. I'm holding off on taking Tripper to the somewhat new vet until I can go in. None of my cats like going to vets. They poop, pee, vomit in carrier before we are out of driveway. Tripper had a few curbside visits and something/someone must of gotten rough. She was hissing, growling and trying to bite them. None of my cats has ever been like that at vets. They usually hunker down on exam table, or PJ who is to afraid to leave the scale. On Trips last visit they had to put a hood muzzle on her. Even vet said she has never been so bad in all her 18 yrs.I

I had to stop techs once with Smokey, they were getting to rough trying to get his blood. He loved going to vets, his mission was to find the treats in the room. After that visit, he became cat from hell at the vets.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

This week I had the vet visit to Hell. Marco is a very agreeable cat who likes the car (dangerous but a 10 minute drive on side roads) and resents being placed in a carrier. He needed some follow up blood work and a pee sample. On Monday I got the call, 'He's making a fuss, bladder is empty and this isn't working, come get him'.
I tried again on Tuesday, dropped him off at 8AM and knew this might take all day. We're not allowed in the door but I asked to briefly come in out of the scorching sun to explain something and the tech took a step forward to block the door, 'NO, you'll tell me right here'.
Marco was abused with a spray bottle before we rescued him. All you have to know is that if you use a spray bottle to disinfect the exam table and Marco sees this it's all over. The receptionist is a tech and both her and the lead tech know my voice on the phone, I called back when I got home and explained that one simple thing. Everything worked out and when I brought Marco home he plopped down in front of the water bowl like nothing had ever happened.
Your cat or dog is basically a piece of meat when they go behind the door. I don't expect a floral print sofa and aroma therapy candles for them, all I want is for someone to listen to me. Is that really so hard?

I will NOT go to a vet who doesn’t have nice staff. Oh, there may be somebody here or there who’s having a bad day, but take it out on me, NOT on my baby! And if you do decide to take it out on me, realize you’re confronting a worried pet parent who had to drive an unhappy animal to get to you, and there may be consequences. Everyone’s on edge, it seems. I hate having to sit in the parking lot and not accompany my babies inside, but it is what it is. I understand that people are afraid of this virus and are trying to deal with it the best they can. It’s a crazy time for all of us and a little kindness goes a long way. This was my first experience having to just sit outside and wait, and I don’t like it at all! I have always been able to accompany my pets inside. My new vet couldn’t be more wonderful, she specializes in cats, is super supportive of home testing, and was the fourth vet I ran through in the space of two weeks, it was more than worth the effort to find her. But I don’t like not being able to go in. I am so sorry you had to go through that with little Marco, he sounds like a doll. I hate to think of any of them being thought of as just a piece of meat! Do most of the vets in Canada have this sit outside and wait policy?

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

One clinic makes me wait outside, the other allows us in the lobby but only in the exam room if I really need to see something. My primary vet is great but cannot find competent techs who graduated yesterday whose vocabulary is "awesome, and like, rockin' it"
Nigel was the perfect first diabetic cat, he trusted me and any vet that handled him but trimming his nails was a horror show. I once walked into an exam room where two new techs had him pinned to the table to clip his nails. He was mouth breathing so I pulled the plug immediately, they were too stupid to be offended.
Some people have never seen the Bite Hood, it's pretty benign and sometimes covers the cat's eyes to quiet them down. I was in my 50's before I saw one.

 

[BellaBlue82]

I cringe when I have to take one of my guys to an actual vet office. My cat Sonny (rest his furry paws) was the main reason I looked into mobile vets. I seriously lucked out, and found the most wonderful vet who comes to my house!! Started back in 2011. She's been a godsend, and she works with me. She puts everything into words I can understand, asks me if I have questions, and let's ME make the decision. Never pushes. When I told her I got a meter for Nico , along with ketone strips, she said well there is no reason for me to come out and try to draw blood for curve and stress him out. You just send me his numbers every month and we'll schedule time to talk about his progress. OMG talk about relief!!!!!
I only hope that everyone can find someone as willing to listen as she's does. I'll never leave my vet and I hope she never retires!!!