Vet visit :(

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Charley

Charley

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Not a good visit. The vet was very upset that I changed the prescribed dose of 2 units. Irritated that I continue to use a human meter to make uneducated guesses. He also insisted that u100 syringes can't be used with Prozinc. He had zero interest in my spreadsheet or the numbers I got from curves. He said weekly Bg checks in his office will be required between +6 and +7. He did not care that I am a teacher and can't take a day off a week. I tried to tell him how great Charley looked, how his water intake is down and how playful he has been. He then commented that Charley is his only cat even on insulin. What the heck does that mean? I left in tears.
 
Well, shoot. I hate it when vets are like that. His advice is a combination of bad info (funny everyone here uses U100 needles successfully) and bullying (why would you pay him for numbers you can get more accurately at home?).

The only thing I can figure is that a vet who reacts like this is nervous. He doesn't really know what he is doing and he is expected to be the expert. And when you come in, clearly having bypassed any knowledge he has of FD, he can either listen and learn and appreciate what you have done or he can try to frighten you into going along with the little he knows.

Bottom line - Charley is doing great. Your vet's advice from the beginning hasn't been good.

Two choices. Take a few days to breathe and then call him back. Tell him if he would like to continue "working for you" you will need to him be a partner in Charlie's care and this is what that will look like. Or start vet shopping.

I guess it's a lot like human doctors. They begin to think they are omnipotent.. I think it was Teresa who said that everyone's vet is likely to have graduated in the bottom 90% of their class.
 
Sorry but that means that he is a control freak with a closed mind and wants your money on a weekly basis. That also means that he's not worked with very many diabetic cats and isn't as up to date as he should be. If he made you cry I think it is time to look for a new more cooperative Vet who would be willing to work with you, not against you.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. You are doing an awesome job caring for Charley.

Remember that the Vet is in your employ, you pay him for his expert opinion and then YOU as Charleys care giver decide if you want to take his advise or not.

((((Hugs))))

Robin
 
Well, if Charley is the only cat he has on insulin...ummmmm, that would make me nervous! There is no way he can have a lot of experience treating diabetic cats, now is there? So,you are much calmer than me.... I would have looked at him and very nicely said...."No Sir, you now have NO cats on insulin!"

You are doing a Great Job! Find a new Vet!
 
That stinks.
He said Charley is his only patient on insulin? Well, that speaks volumes to me. You may not be a vet, and haven't got his diploma on your wall, but your practical experience with insulin, BG testing, diet management of diabetic cats, and "hands on" training is probably ahead of his.

He's mistaken (to put it nicely), about the usefulness of home testing. He's mistaken on a dose that makes sense for YOUR cat. Charley, any kitty for that matter, isn't just some generic one-dose-fits-all kitty. We stress "ECID" for a damn good reason. Because every cat IS different. 2 units twice a day won't make a dent in some kittie's BG, while the same dose into another cat could cause a hypoglycemic coma.
He's mistaken just thinking that you or any of his clients are obligated to follow his advice to the letter. I can understand, if he thinks beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is 100% correct, his being upset that you wouldn't follow his advice. But he's forgetting that although he's a trained professional, when it comes right down to it, he's in the "customer service" business. It's his job, in exchange for your hard earned paycheck, to give you a high quality service and provide customer satisfaction. If he did his job well, that wouldn't even be a concern. How anyone with that attitude remains in business is just beyond me. If you suck, nobody is going to buy what you're selling!
He's either threatened by the chance that you might be more current on FD treatment than he is, or he's unwilling to work with people. If he thinks he is 100% right all the time, well, he's 100% wrong.
I agree completely with Sue. Give it a couple days, call him up, and tell him that if he wants your future business, he's going to have to work with you (in reality, he's working FOR you). Promise to keep him up to date on Charley's progress. Offer to fax or email your SS to him so you can go over it with him by phone. One thing a vet can't argue against is results. If you show him that doing this "your way" is working, he can't possibly say you're wrong. Well, he can, but that's when you put a dent in his monthly income and find a better vet.

If you post a thread in Health titled "Need good FD vet in Central Florida", you might find another member with a vet that is worth your money.

Carl
 
Ha! I was just thinking...... I have two more on insulin than your vet! :lol:
 
Make like Donald Trump and tell him, "You're Fired!"

Find a new vet ASAP. You should NOT be reduced to tears when dealing with your vet. You employ him.

Period. :evil:
 
Nice day Charley had no matter what meter you used. :-D

Let me know when you're ready with that Alpha Trak, I'll run over and hold him down for you. :evil:
 
Wow! Nothing makes you appreciate your vet like seeing something like this!

After spending over an hour with my vet this morning, checking Grayson over, looking at his spreadsheet, discussing the marathon dances (12 so far), what I've learned through my research [primarily on this board], my reasoning for dropping his dose, my concerns about balancing cycles, doses, and range of numbers...as well as her running blood and urine tests, Sub Q fluids, and providing me w/ Sub Qs and anti-biotics, and some insight about why she suggested what she had... I got WAY more than my moneys worth today! I honestly have to believe she undercharged me. Yes, I know it could've been the nature of my situation - but I can't remember a vet spending over an hour with me and my pet like this. Ever!

The feedback you've gotten from people here is right on target. The vets work FOR us. It's not a given that we'll come back. Customer service IS a part of their role - most towns have multiple vets you can choose from. When they provide good service, we often spend amounts others may consider frivolous or "above and beyond". In 2004, when my dog was going through Chemo at VSH in Raleigh, every one of their staff, if they walked through the lobby (to go to their cubbies), greeted each dog there and spoke to their person! EVERY ONE!!! Of course some of it was staged (or at least encouraged), but it sure made you feel a lot better about writing those checks w/ all the 000s before the decimal point!

YOU are in the drivers seat. I'm sure you'll do well in making sure you have the best professional care for Charley - that compliments all the great things you're doing! Good luck!

Lu-Ann
 
I just wrote him a letter detailing where we started just over a month ago and where we are now. I listed what steps I have taken and why. I offered to provide journal articles if he was interested and added that I'd very much like to continue working collaboratively with him to help keep my kitty healthy and happy. We will see how he responds. There Is another vet within the practice, but she is out on maternity leave.
 
I think you are doing great and don't let any vet tell you differently. We went thru the same thing with my old vet a year ago. She made me cry three times and I had to leave there. It was making me crazy. Same kind of power trip you experienced. We now drive 45 minutes to another vet who works with us and is kind and understanding. He is very impressed with the spread sheet so I gave him a link to it and we talk via email or over the phone if I have questions.

There are good vets out there. You will have to interview them before you commit to go there but with a little looking I am sure you will find one who will partner in your good care of your kitty.

(((((hugs)))))
 
I am so sorry you had to go through the "What I Say Is Best" and "You Have No Right to Question My Authority" vet visit. :sad:

I took my four fur babies to the same vet office for many years. They lost my business via one ignorant and bullying vet.

What I say about doctors, what I keep in mind when dealing with them, is 50% of the doctors out there were in the bottom half of their graduating class. Ever taken a class? Did you get a grade for the class? How does that grade reflect your effort? The same applies for doctors, or in this case vet. Unfortunately, doctors or vets do not need to score 100% on everything taught to them to be able to practice medicine. Scary thought, eh? And they don't have to retain everything for years on end. From what I understand, Feline Diabetes isn't even a class but a seminar. We, with newly diagnosed fur babies, rely on vets to help us and guide us. Unfortunately, that guidance is often wrong or out dated.

Just like any visit to a medical person, it is our responsibility to know ourselves (or our fur babies), question when we don't understand or it doesn't make sense, and make our own choices for what is best for us. (Even if this means doing some research on our own or "arguing" with the doctor.)

There is nothing wrong with seeking a vet you'd rather do business with, and it is your choice. When I shopped for another vet I often got the same pat answers and knew they weren't the vet for me. Perseverance pays off. Know what you're going to ask. Here's what I asked:

Hi. I'm looking for a vet in ______ area (as if I was new to the area).
I have a cat with Feline Diabetes who needs a bit more care than normal pets (and listen for the response).
Do you have other diabetic cats you see? How many?
What insulins do you usually recommend?
How do you feel about home testing?

The last three questions are important, at least to me. Having an idea of how many cats they see could be an indication of their knowledge (but not always). The type of insulins they use is huge! Do they use Humilin N? Pfft. (A negative for me). ProZinc/PZI. DIng ding! (good ding) Lantus. Levimir? Ding ding (good ding). And the last question is the most important, for me. Their reaction says a lot. The vet I chose (and really like after taking Poopy to see him)...their answer to home testing? Oh sure! We have folks send or bring in their spreadsheets all the time. Ding ding ding! A side bonus? Cheaper than my long time vet office! Ding ding ding ding!

You do not need to put up with ignorant bullying! :YMHUG:
 
Agree with everyone! Find another vet. It took three try's before I finally found a somewhat decent one that finally knew something about FD, but have to drive 40min up a winding mountain road. Mostly he agrees on the the type of insulin, prozinc or lantus, and homestesting. Understands about the budget without criticizing and has other cats on insulin. Mainly all my vet is used for is support, perscribition and being a vampire for blood tests i can't do.

Good luck at finding another vet. Remember like everyone has said, you are paying him/her for their expertise.
 
Charley said:
Not a good visit. The vet was very upset that I changed the prescribed dose of 2 units. Irritated that I continue to use a human meter to make uneducated guesses. He also insisted that u100 syringes can't be used with Prozinc. He had zero interest in my spreadsheet or the numbers I got from curves. He said weekly Bg checks in his office will be required between +6 and +7. He did not care that I am a teacher and can't take a day off a week. I tried to tell him how great Charley looked, how his water intake is down and how playful he has been. He then commented that Charley is his only cat even on insulin. What the heck does that mean? I left in tears.
Click to expand...

I have an answer to your question "What the heck does that mean?"

Get yourself a REAL vet. Sorry, but that's one dumb vet, and I truly feel sorry for any other person who puts up with such abuse. Do NOT ever go back to that vet.

Ask around the board for vet suggestions in your area, make a list of questions that are important to you and then start to make a list of vets you can see for a consult.

Make a list of about a dozen points that are important to you.... like how many cats does the vet have as clients who are diabetic, what insulin does he/she prescribe, what are thoughts on home testing, and any specific concerns you have maybe about any of Charley's health issues that worry you. Like one of my cats had lots of pancreatitis issues so when I took her for a consult, that was one of the questions I asked: how do you treat pancreatitis.

For you questions, ask the ones where you know the answers... you are trying to find out what the vet knows. Be sure to take a written list of questions and tell the vet you want to write down the answers.

When it comes right down to it, it won't be long before YOU know more about feline diabetes than most vets in your area! I want a vet who is willing to work WITH me, understand my concerns and go along with what I want. If I want to home test, I will. if I want to keep a spreadsheet of numbers, I will.
I need a vet who can draw blood for health tests, fix broken bones, do dentals, etc. stuff that I can't do on my own. Otherwise, I am the boss of MY cats. It's my money and my cat, no discussion.

Get yourself a real vet, and once you have someone good, you may want to put in a review of the old vet online. There ARE places to place a report on a vet and people DO check them! I reported my old vet office, but I included that there was one amazing vet there... too bad everything else about the place sucked.
 
I am sure there are other sites, but here's one that has both of my vets offices in Toronto listed and reviewed.

Why not search on your crappy vet, and if present, read the reviews and add your own
If your vet is not yet listed, add the place and the nasty vet, then post your review.

http://www.vetratingz.com/
 
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