Ferris is at the vet's now...

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gingersmom

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Originally Posted by beandip

I hope you're able to find a good vet. I'm sorry that you've gotten the run around this week.

Is this the one that doesn't exist anymore? (the info I found could be out of date, I don't know)

Dr. Elaine M Bird
The Feline Hospital
81 Webb St
Salem, MA 01970
USA
Phone: (978) 744-8020

I found it here:

http://aafponline.org/find_results.p...&Submit=Submit
Thank you for finding this for me!
That's the one! They are in the white pages but NOT the yellow pages for some strange reason.


I just called and they are really busy today but they confirmed that they DO specialize in ONLY cats, they just happen to be located exactly around the block from the new apartment I am moving to in six weeks, and they are taking new patients. That would be SO convenient!

They were too busy to answer many questions this morning but suggested that I call back on a Tuesday or Friday morning and they can give me more time at that point.

I think I'll schedule a visit just for ME, and go interview them! Oh, I HOPE that this will be the right place - I just can NOT go through what Ferris and I went through this week ever again!

Thanks again for finding that info!!!
 

adymarie

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Originally Posted by GingersMom

Thank you for finding this for me!
That's the one! They are in the white pages but NOT the yellow pages for some strange reason.


I just called and they are really busy today but they confirmed that they DO specialize in ONLY cats, they just happen to be located exactly around the block from the new apartment I am moving to in six weeks, and they are taking new patients. That would be SO convenient!

They were too busy to answer many questions this morning but suggested that I call back on a Tuesday or Friday morning and they can give me more time at that point.

I think I'll schedule a visit just for ME, and go interview them! Oh, I HOPE that this will be the right place - I just can NOT go through what Ferris and I went through this week ever again!

Thanks again for finding that info!!!
That would be perfect! I think you going in to interview them would be an excellent idea! I really hope that they work out for you.
 

kai bengals

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What a bummer Betsy. I hate a Vet that won't listen and thinks they know it all better.
To have Ferris and you go through the whole ordeal of getting him there and then they refuse to give him the cut you want for him, is outrageous.

I hope the "cat vet' works out better for you. Hopefully they've treated bengals there before too. It's nice to have a vet that knows a thing or two about the breed.

On the bright side, at least when Ferris lies down on the cool floor with his newly sheared belly, he'll be very comfortable on those warm days. Hopefully the girls won't laugh too hard about his new hairdo.
 

neetanddave

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Betsy and Ferris. And I hope Nial is right, I hope Ginger and Penny don't harass Ferris too much.

My only other suggestion was to see if you could get a mild sedative to put in his food and find a groomer that you could talk into coming to your house to trim him next time.

Sounds like the new vet is just the right thing though.
 

katiemae1277

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wow, that's nuts, what the heck is the big deal about getting a lion cut?? A lot of folks do that for their babies in the summer
I'd royally peeved to Betsy
hope the new vet is a match!!
 

natalie_ca

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Poor Ferris!!!!

If I were you I would have stood up to them and demanded that they give me the lion cut that I wanted for my cat! It's your money after all and you are paying for it. It's not like they are doing you a FREE favour here. You are paying them $300.00 and they aren't willing to accommodate your request?

I wouldn't pay them a single cent until they gave me what I wanted in the first place.
 

sarahp

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Oh man how traumatic for both of you!!!!!! I can't believe they didn't respect your wishes! Hopefully he's not too traumatised when he comes back.

With the kitties at the shelter, for ferals and semi ferals, they often have to sedate them to get blood drawn because the cat freaks out too much for them to be able to get the needle in and draw the blood. Maybe that was there reasoning for that? Still doesn't help you at all, and you probably know how your kitty reacts to needles being poked in him...

I hope he's ok when he gets home, and feels cooler
 
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gingersmom

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Well, the vet's office called and said that they gave him the cut I wanted. I won't know until LATER what that means exactly.


I asked if they vaccinated him and they no they weren't going to. So I get upset again: THe WHOLE POINT of having them give him his ANNUAL today while he is there is so I do NOT have to bring him back in in two months!

Oh my aching head, what is WRONG with these people?!?!

So, after a lengthy argument with the vet himself (after much telephone game back and forth with the vet tech in the middle
) they will be giving Ferris his rabies shot at 2 p.m. and I am to call them at 4 p.m. He was also going to give him a shot for "respiratory"
and I said no, I do not believe in over vaccination and Ferris is INDOOR ONLY. The rabies shot is enough for now, they can give him that other shot NEXT year, as far as I am concerned.

I told him that I am not ever in contact with any cats that would have contagion and that he is not at high risk of catching anything INDOORS.

Then the vet tells me, "Ferris is a VERY good boy for me, I don't know why you have so many problems with him, he doesn't seem to have any panic issues for me."

Again, oh, my ACHING HEAD! They just aren't getting it and I do NOT know how to better communicate to them - it isn't the vet visit it is the CAGING HIM to GET HIM THERE!

I can't take this stress - my head is exploding. I have no idea why this had to become so difficult. It should have been SIMPLE: I ask for services, I RECEIVE services, I pay for services, end of story.

Is it a full moon or something?
 

mooficat

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Originally Posted by GingersMom

Is it a full moon or something?
well it is the Summer solstice - so that might have something to do with it all

Aww sweet Ferris - someones gonna get tons of love and cuddles when he gets home
 

emrldsky

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Nuh uh...might give me away!
I think by that point I'd call back and inform them to have copies of all the records ready because I was seeking PROFESSIONAL assistance elsewhere and that Ferris better be ready to go when I get there as well.

I am SO sorry that you are dealing with that. I just don't understand why they don't listen to you!!! YOU live with the cat, YOU take care of the cat...they see him for a day and they know all about him? Please!
 

renny

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I'm sorry to hear about the terrible time you're going through for you and for Ferris. I'm shocked by the vet's assertion that getting a lion cut is stressful. I would think my poor kitty suffering from the heat and mats would be much more stressful in the longterm then going to sleep and waking up naked! Lucky survived her lion cut admirably. The part she gets stressed about is only if the groomer has dogs in their, or if she uses the really loud hair dryer.

I hope Ferris is doing ok....lots of snuggles (and maybe some naked Ferris pics?) when he gets home.
 
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gingersmom

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Originally Posted by adymarie

You sound like you need a drink!
I think I need FIVE at this point.


Originally Posted by emrldsky

I think by that point I'd call back and inform them to have copies of all the records ready because I was seeking PROFESSIONAL assistance elsewhere and that Ferris better be ready to go when I get there as well.

I am SO sorry that you are dealing with that. I just don't understand why they don't listen to you!!! YOU live with the cat, YOU take care of the cat...they see him for a day and they know all about him? Please!
I'm going to hold off on requesting the records until I have had a chance to interview the vet at the Feline Hospital. I'm tired of jumping from one vet to another, I really am. I want to approach this with aforethought rather than just be reactive.

My biggest problem with the current vet is the lack of clear communication between his me and his staff, and his staff to him. Again, they were wonderful with Ginger, and they may think that I'm nuts, but it is imperative to me that I get the care that I DEMAND for my furbabies.

Part of the problem I think is that this vet is hard of hearing and won't wear a hearing aid.


I just spent a half hour on the phone with my friend Liz, owner of 9 cats - she's the one that just joined TCS but hasn't posted yet, silly woman, and she's the one that referred me to this particular guy about a year ago.

Her feedback about the Feline Hospital is that she thought they were very rude and didn't listen to her - so I'm thinking, OMG, if she thought THEY were rude but liked THIS guy, then I'm really in trouble here.


So I'm just going to try to get through today as best as I can - I don't want my anger being passed along to Ferris this afternoon - he's going to need coddling, and everyone will get a vanilla treatment, as I know for a fact that Ginger will hiss and try to attack him when he comes home smelling like vet.

I think I'm going to have to pick up some cheddar cheese - Ferris will definitely need a special treat once he's had the sedative work out of his system.


I just want this week to be OVER, and OMG is this what Menopause has in store for me regarding mood swings? I'm in deeper doo-doo than I thought, if that's the case.

Pass the tequila, please!
 

kai bengals

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A little trick that I've learned over the years, in my many dealings with vet clinics:

If you need to get an urgent point across about your animal, bypass the staff, unless you know one of them quite well and they have an excellent track record with passing on messgaes to the Vet. Insist on speaking with the Vet directly, even if it means waiting. That way it goes from you, right to the target audience. No chance of miscommunication.

If he or she doesn't listen, find another Vet post haste. A good Vet will listen, then address the issue, even if it isn't what you want to hear. A good Vet will also explain why they don't agree and offer alternatives for consideration.

I've noticed that quite often the staff at vet clinics are young people and they come and go alot. This doesn't equate to knowing your animal or perhaps even caring if information is conveyed correctly and completely to the Vet.
 

goldenkitty45

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I know that you are more then a little upset right now. But when you calm down a bit, sit down and write a letter to the vet's office outlining all the problems and then asking if something can be done monetary wise for all your trouble you and the cat had to go thru.

If they won't reimburse you or treat you better, then write another letter saying you will be taking your business elsewhere and letting people know of their "service". The last thing they want is no customers!
 

natalie_ca

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All vets report to a licensing body (board). I'd report his clinic! It seems to me that they want the maximum money for giving the minimum services. Charging $300.00 for a belly shave and blood work? OMG! That's outrageous!
 
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gingersmom

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

All vets report to a licensing body (board). I'd report his clinic! It seems to me that they want the maximum money for giving the minimum services. Charging $300.00 for a belly shave and blood work? OMG! That's outrageous!
It's $150 for the full blood panel, $50 for the annual visit, and another $100 for the grooming under sedation, which is actually not too expensive in my part of the country. This vet charges less for their services than the last one I went to.

For example, I see all kinds of people posting that they can get neuters for $40. Up here, a "low cost" neuter is a MINIMUM of $70.

So I'm less concerned about the cost as I am the quality of care and communication.

Nial - that's great advice and how I am leaning after this fiasco. It is true that the girls in the front office just don't seem to be that knowledgeable and/or educated.

Why is it that no matter what industry it is, those that are on the front lines of customer service are ALWAYS the least trained? Is that a law or something? It seems so stupid to me - the best customer service is provided by those that know the most about whatever product or service they provide, and they are NEVER the ones that the customer is allowed to speak with first.

I don't get it.
 

swampwitch

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Originally Posted by GingersMom

...Then the vet tells me, "Ferris is a VERY good boy for me, I don't know why you have so many problems with him, he doesn't seem to have any panic issues for me."...
EXCUSE ME?!! After everything you had to put up with, you have to listen to the vet spouting this stupid comment?

I hope you find a better vet very soon! I'm so sorry to hear you've had to go through all this!
 

kai bengals

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Betsy, misery loves company, right? So let me take a moment to join you..........

We decided to go ahead and spay Gypsy (penny's sis) last week. A new Vet tech at our regular clinic does the pre-surgical prep and shaves her stomach from her front leg pits to her tail ! In the process she nearly cuts one of her nipples completely off.

Normally they just shave a small section, as the incision is only about 1 inch or a bit larger.

So now I have a bengal with a mohawk, a bloody nipple and a small incision lost in a sea of hairless skin.
 
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