What did they do to her?!

sharky · Apr 9, 2010

so sorry... my vet actually asks before doing claws ...

strange_wings · Apr 9, 2010

Originally Posted by NicoleGray

Poor girl. Have you had good experiences with this vet in the past?

Yes, aside from problem with a tech a few years ago.

My vet usually charges a tiny fee if they do claws.

She is cleaning them up, but between that and her spay she can't jump very well. Not even short distances.

addiebee · Apr 9, 2010

Oh, man. I would be spittin' mad and fit to be tied!!!

First that someone unecessarily hurt one of my babies and THEN to not have the strength of character to own up to it!

I agree about keeping pressure on the vet and the office manager or head tech to get some answers.

I often just skip trimming back nails because they are often less of an issue than the front ones for damaging stuff, me included.

They are allowed out into the attached garage and do wear off some of the claw that way... they chase the lazer pointer out there...

otto · Apr 9, 2010

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I just laid down on the bed with Tanna (back from her spay yesterday) and every single one of her back claws are extremely short - down past the quick and covered in dried blood.

It looks like a person just hacked them off, it's a clean exact cut on every claw. Her front claws are fine, so I doubt it was from trying to get out of her cage.

I never requested a claw trim, I trimmed them the night before her visit so I remember exactly how long they were. My vet called me back and said that he doesn't know what it could be - no one claims to have trimmed them. I think someone did it because she will struggle and kick you with her back claws when you pick her up...

Holy moley! This sounds vengeful! Someone got scratched, so when she got put under they viciously cut them too short. Hoo boy I'd be mighty POed.

Meaning no disrespect to the techs in this forum but there are some mean ones out there. I'd not stop until I got to the bottom of this, this is outrageous.

Take a picture of it right now, so you have proof, I'd be looking for something knocked off the bill for that, there is no reason for it. NO. REASON.

-_aj_- · Apr 9, 2010

its just not on at all i agree with others get the pics tok, poor Tanna

i hope her claws grow back ok

go kick their as$'s hun

bunnelina · Apr 9, 2010

They drew BLOOD??? From more than ONE claw??? What others have said must be right: this must be vengeful, or criminal — it's abuse! This is not just well-meaning ignorance if your poor girl was bleeding from more than one spot.

I'd take photos and threaten to report them to your local animal welfare agency if you don't get a satisfactory explanation. But how could there be any reasonable explanation? One simply never makes a cat's claws bleed, whether the cat is conscious or not!

I feel so bad for your cat — and for you, because you are such a good mom and I'm sure you're feeling terrible about. Don't feel guilty because it wasn't your fault — but do get to the bottom of it. I wouldn't be going back there again unless they 'fess up and fire whoever did it.

I hope Tanna has a speedy recovery!

nutrolori · Apr 10, 2010

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I just laid down on the bed with Tanna (back from her spay yesterday) and every single one of her back claws are extremely short - down past the quick and covered in dried blood.

It looks like a person just hacked them off, it's a clean exact cut on every claw. Her front claws are fine, so I doubt it was from trying to get out of her cage.

I never requested a claw trim, I trimmed them the night before her visit so I remember exactly how long they were. My vet called me back and said that he doesn't know what it could be - no one claims to have trimmed them. I think someone did it because she will struggle and kick you with her back claws when you pick her up...

UGH! Poor baby! I know when I worked as a vet tech we would trim the nails of dogs & cats WITH PERMISSION. It was included in the consent form for the surgery. I would really investigate more if you haven't already. I am sure her toes will be sensitive for a few days but get back to normal soon.

Hope she is doing better.

blueyedgirl5946 · Apr 10, 2010

I would put my cat in the carrier and go back there unannounced. I would ask to see the vet and demand an explanation. If none given, I would not go back there.

snickerdoodle · Apr 11, 2010

O.O .... I am so horrified to read this, and so so sorry for you and your baby. I would definitely take pics and go up there and demand an explanation. The whole "No one trimmed her nails" bit I certainly wouldn't believe, not with all of that damage. My vet never trims unless I ask, or they consult me first, and I would definitely, if you continue to use that vet, post a huge sign on her carrier that says "Do not trim claws under any circumstances per owner" AND have it written on her record at the front desk and make dern sure EVERYBODY knows never to do that again.
If my Mom had anything to do with it, she would demand an explanation, show pictures, and if she got nothing she would tell them she was notifying the appropriate board to complain by written letter (And the Attorney General and everyone else she could get hold of, that's mom)
What in the world? I would really like to know what happened with that, and what tech or whoever did that.

I hope your baby is okay

I am so sorry

katkisses · Apr 13, 2010

I don't understand how they could cut every single nail below the quick???

*cut nail* it bleeds...

*cut nail* it bleeds too...

*cut other nails* they bleed too...

Something is NOT right, at all. But the vet may have not known... I would make it known to the vet.

I have seen a dog do this to his back nails, he was in a kennel at a shelter. (on TV) His back nails were wore down flat and bloody from trying to get to people walking by. Don't see how that could happen to a cat... vet cages are stainless steel and smooth.

icklemiss21 · Apr 13, 2010

Not all cages are steel, some are a bumpy plastic and I have seen cats break their claws on the bars scratching to get out - but I still think a tech did it

3catsn1dog · Apr 13, 2010

Id be soooo P.O.ED if someone did that to my cats. If I were you Id be back at that office DEMANDING to speak to the vet about it plus with pictures for your records AND the vets! I dont even trim my cats back claws because they for one arent long to begin with and 2 if I mess with them playing around and get bunny kicked so be it its my own fault.....Noone but ME trims the cats nails...I dont even let BF go near the clippers or dog nail trimmers because I dont trust him to do it right.

Ugh I hope you get to the bottom of what happened and they do something about it to the person who did it!!!!!!

strange_wings · Apr 13, 2010

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

Not all cages are steel, some are a bumpy plastic and I have seen cats break their claws on the bars scratching to get out - but I still think a tech did it

His are steel, and the reason I know she didn't do it is because every single one of her front claws were just as I had left them. Had she been trying to claw her way out there would have at least been a bit of damage to a front claw. I honestly think she was too drugged up after surgery, then too spooked or sore to do anything the next day.

They do look better today. I tried to get pictures but I don't have that great of a camera.

Her claws are better now, or at least not causing her any pain, and they did seal up ok. The only issue she has now is that when she tries to use them to help grip when jumping up on things her back feet just uselessly slid off a surface. It's made her fall off the side of the bed a couple times. She's been asking for more face, neck, and ear scratches from me, too.

It would probably be for the best that we all remember this can happen and tell our vets to make sure the claws are left alone. I hope no one else has a kitty come home like this.

Could you imagine if someone did this to an indoor/outdoor or even a feral? Tanna's spay incision will be healed before her claws are grown back out.

sweetpea24 · Apr 13, 2010

I'm a tech and we are supposed to trim an animal's nails prior to surgery. It's a 'service' we provide to clients because many pets won't allow their owners to do it. If I notice that the claws are short, I don't clip them. I've cut the quick by accident but I use the silver nitrate sticks or the styptic powder to stop the bleeding and clean the paws. The person who did your cat's nails obviously did a hack job and I think you should show the vet your cat's paws. I can understand one or two nails, especially if the claws are black but if they were short already, they should have had a clue. Of course, I'm assuming that this is due to the nail trimming and not trying to get out of the cage. Even if cats do kick with their back legs, we can use blankets to wrap them up to keep all parties involved safe. Sorry your cat had to go through that. Maybe her nails are like that because they were sore....

strange_wings · Apr 13, 2010

Originally Posted by SweetPea24

I can understand one or two nails, especially if the claws are black but if they were short already, they should have had a clue.

All house cats have light-clearish claws even if the cat is black. Unlike dogs - I've had to trim enough dog nails to know how frustrating a black dog claw is.

Tanna is a dilute orange kitten with little white paws, it's very easy to see her claws and toes. I had already trimmed every one of her claws as close to her quicks as I dared and it was recent, so you could see that they had been cut - meaning, I could handle her feet fine.

KatKisses pretty much got it right. They would have had to cut through each claw making each bleed so something wasn't right here. I still wonder if it's a new hire. They used to keep a little bulletin board up with each assistant and tech's name on it, but have recently taken that down to redo the wall it was on - so I wouldn't know if someone new was in.
BUT I do know that they get some vet students in sometimes and wasn't too impressed with the ones that gave the kittens the second round of their kitten shots. IMO she didn't look that comfortable holding kittens. (dog person, maybe?)

I'll be bugging them - with luck the chatty tech will be in and I can get info from her as to whether they've had anyone new in lately.

GoldyCat · Apr 13, 2010

Originally Posted by SweetPea24

I'm a tech and we are supposed to trim an animal's nails prior to surgery. It's a 'service' we provide to clients because many pets won't allow their owners to do it. If I notice that the claws are short, I don't clip them. I've cut the quick by accident but I use the silver nitrate sticks or the styptic powder to stop the bleeding and clean the paws. The person who did your cat's nails obviously did a hack job and I think you should show the vet your cat's paws. I can understand one or two nails, especially if the claws are black but if they were short already, they should have had a clue. Of course, I'm assuming that this is due to the nail trimming and not trying to get out of the cage. Even if cats do kick with their back legs, we can use blankets to wrap them up to keep all parties involved safe. Sorry your cat had to go through that. Maybe her nails are like that because they were sore....

Do you do this without telling your clients that it's part of the service? I would be very unhappy to find that something was done to my cats without my prior knowledge, even something that is usually harmless.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

All house cats have light-clearish claws even if the cat is black. Unlike dogs - I've had to trim enough dog nails to know how frustrating a black dog claw is.

Tanna is a dilute orange kitten with little white paws, it's very easy to see her claws and toes. I had already trimmed every one of her claws as close to her quicks as I dared and it was recent, so you could see that they had been cut - meaning, I could handle her feet fine.

KatKisses pretty much got it right. They would have had to cut through each claw making each bleed so something wasn't right here. I still wonder if it's a new hire. They used to keep a little bulletin board up with each assistant and tech's name on it, but have recently taken that down to redo the wall it was on - so I wouldn't know if someone new was in.
BUT I do know that they get some vet students in sometimes and wasn't too impressed with the ones that gave the kittens the second round of their kitten shots. IMO she didn't look that comfortable holding kittens. (dog person, maybe?)

I think you should keep pushing to find out who did it. At the very least you could request that that person---by name---not be allowed to touch your cats in the future.

It does sound like somebody was angry and taking it out on your kitty. One claw, or even two, cut too short can be and accident, but not all of them. It had to be intentional, or somebody who is totally incompetent and should not be working with animals.

that she continues to heal quickly.

laureen227 · Apr 13, 2010

Originally Posted by GoldyCat

It does sound like somebody was angry and taking it out on your kitty. One claw, or even two, cut too short can be and accident, but not all of them. It had to be intentional, or somebody who is totally incompetent and should not be working with animals.

i agree - pursue this! whoever it was shouldn't be working with animals, imo.

taryn · Apr 13, 2010

I have accidentally got Attitude and Nuts too close(I think once with Nuts and once with Attitude) but it is usually one claw I got 2 on Attitude once because I cut one too close and then she jerked on me with another. Also I have never needed to use a styptic pencil(but I don't have one.) I wish I had had one where she jerked on me but less than a minute of pressure and it stopped bleeding. I don't see how you could 'accidentally' cut more than one or two at most too close. It sounds like someone was mad and did a hack job on her. Honestly it would almost be even worse if it was accidental, how in the heck do you not notice you are cutting all of them too close.

That is just sickening. Half-tail won't let me see if hers were clipped but I hope they weren't. However she rarely is alone, she usually has at least one of her brothers with her as 'backup.' Not only that there is no reason for any of them to fight and the other cats that seem to be around are all friendly with them(they have to be, ours have the food and if they aren't nice they don't get to eat.) However, I had Attitude climb a tree twice with Softpaws on(she slipped her harness the first time and she door dashed a second time) so if they need to escape most can still climb unless they are hacked to heck, then they'd be SOL.

Taryn

ruby35 · Apr 13, 2010

When I had Midnight neutered, I recall that when I brought him home and his claws all were trimmed rather short. Not past the quick but literally right there just before that point. They've all grown back sharp as ever. I try to trim them here and there before he runs away and I only manage to get the sharp tip clipped off but it's better than getting stabbed whenever he tries to use my leg as a climbing tree.

What did they do to her?!

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