I think most shelters who have the means are doing it. In my immediate area, I believe all the rescues and most of the shelters that I'm familiar with perform FeLV tests routinely.
Exactly, I agree 100%. Every Vet has their own policies, but I have found that ones with the best "bed side" manner, will do many of the procedures right in front of the client.
The shelters and rescues that have the money WILL do routine FeLV testing. Unfortunately the test is relatively expensive even when paying the at-cost price for the test, and the shelters I work with can barely afford to give the appropriate antibiotics to sick animals, let alone pro-actively test for disease.
Actually, most pets are better without their owners, especially owners who are stressed and can't handle the procedure. Veterinary staff are generally calm, quick, and gentle, and the procedure is much more safe and stress-free in the back room.
no, but you apparently would have no problems with your own medical doctor doing whatever he felt necessary if he thought it was for your benefit - whether you disagreed or not.
Testing for a highly prevalent disease that I have a high risk of exposure to?? YOU BET! What is there to disagree about? Wait until next month when I have more money... also been done before.
thanks for completely missing my point.
How 'bout we just agree to disagree.
I am surprised nobody picked this out. If you didn't get them tested and they got sick THEY would suffer the consequences.
Well, that may work for you, but I don't believe that the majority of pets are better without their owners when strangers poke and prod at them. My cat, Possum, comes to me for comfort and buries his head in the crook of my arm when we got to the vet's. I'd rather be there for him.
Anyway, I'm glad you go to your doctor regularly, but you probably shouldn't think that they always know more than you. I've told my doctor about things he's never heard about that I have.
I am surprised you did not read the rest of my post. Vaccines do not protect everyone or everything. Studies show that even vaccinated animals and humans can and do still get the disease they were vax'd against even though they have been vaccinated. Some suffer serious ill health after vaccine induced reactions.
Assumption on your part..
Perhaps, but I do not appreciate her being so condescending and then turn around with a half smile and laugh about the whole situation at expense of my cat suffering due to her forced decision. It was not funny. It was a power trip for her.
I agree, where most pets are concerned (ferals and untame or fear-aggressive individuals are a different matter of course). My vet prefers the human concerned to assist in the handling of the patient where at all possible and as long as the human is competent in doing so - last night at the vets I held Sonic for his examination and treatment, and if blood were to be drawn I would assist, and not only that, I would want to assist with holding my cat, and am competent to do so. Nate held Radar when he had to have stitches removed.
ummmm... i think the 'them' she was referring to was the vet & techs, not the cats...
I disagree. My animals have always been better when I'm with them.
I also disagree. I have a very good friend (a nurse) whose baby was in the hospital. The nurse attending her baby was about to give the baby an injection. My friend stopped her and asked her what it was and how much. When the nurse told my friend the answers, my friend told her she was not to give the medication to her child because it was too much and would kill the child. The nurse argued with her and my friend made her to call the doctor about the dosage. Turns out the doctor made a mistake in the amount and if the nurse had administered the injection, the baby WOULD have died. The only thing that saved this baby was that it's mother was a better nurse than the one looking after her baby. So, no, don't just blindly trust anyone because they are human and fallible too. This is not a "story" I heard - this is true and happened to my friend.
That is also how any vet I've ever consulted here in Canada works as well. I've never actually had to deal with a vet tech personally in all my time visiting vets. I'm assuming most vets here have them, but they work behind the scenes and don't interact directly with the owners. Only me, my kitty and the vet are in the exam room.
This has usually been my experience in the US, as well, although sometimes, the vet techs do do certain things, but never anything like injections. They weigh them and gather general patient information. My cats have only ever had injections administered by the vets themselves. I am always in the room when any of this is going on, and I'm also the one restraining them when needed.
