Vet pushing for euthanasia

QUACK ALERT!!!! This vet is a clown! Get another vet ASAP. 

In fact, do a SCATHING review on Yelp so everyone knows not to go to this idiot. 

Oh my GOODNESS!

Even if your cat were in a position to be humanely euthanized, that is certainly no way for a vet to handle it! It's supposed to be as comfortable and gentle as possible, and also be a fully supported endeavor by everyone involved.

I would probably be posting "cat killer" signs outside her office...

I am so sorry you have had to deal with this. I would be so upset if it happened to me. I have only had a vet ask me about euthanasia twice and once I knew it was time, and the other I wanted to give her a chance with the treatment, but she passed anyways that night. Both times the vet was supportive of my decision either way and was very gentle about it. I cant even imagine if they would have acted the way yours did, or how I even would have handled it.

Awesome that you reported her and are doing something about it so she hopefully cant do this to someone else.

So i just wanted to again update you all on this nut of a "vet", i recieved a response regarding the BBB complaint and this is some of what was said, i'll copy and paste. (I pretty much wrote to them what had been said on this thread) They come off very rude and word it as if i am some inhumane animal abuser... my girls have their own stroller and 9 different beds in a two story house. Anyways, here is the response from them... my comments in red.

Thank you for voicing your concerns, we appreciate feedback from our clients - in its many forms. The mentioned complaint points will be addressed individually 

''harassing phone calls'' and ''definitely not sick...not suffering'' : our concern is for the well-being of our clients pets. There was genuine concern for this pet and because we were unable to complete any diagnostic tests, we made every effort to follow up. There were phone messages left and one telephone conversation with the owner. A free follow-up exam was offered to assess her progress after a course of antibiotic medication was given to potentially help with the vaginal discharge and to help alleviate pain from severe periodontal disease. Obviously, we did not want to go back to this quack job again. There were documented warnings from our hospital that the Alberta SPCA may be contacted to ensure the cat was not suffering unduly. We werent given any warning of this at ALL. We have an ethical and professional obligation to do this - similar to social services and children - when there is concern for neglect or inhumane treatment of an animal. In my opinion, there are, unfortunately, many grey areas within animal welfare laws. The Alberta SPCA officers have no medical background and are not qualified to perform a physical exam. Dont they sound respectful of the SPCAs work? Degree of suffering and quality of life are subjective assessments. As veterinary professionals, we base our recommendations or counseling for treatment of disease or euthanasia on what we think is best for the pet while also considering many client factors such as finances, time, environment, personal preferences and beliefs. Pain is expressed in many forms and so is a decline in quality of life.She runs and jumps and has more energy than the 4 year old. We see many types of pain on a daily basis. Veterinarians and veterinary nurses are the most qualified in assessing pain and suffering in animals. I think I speak for most veterinarians, when I say that we become veterinarians out of compassion for animals, to help foster the owner-pet bond, and a love for science and medicine. We prefer not to kill pets. Had this client returned for the free recheck exam, not a chance! we told her this. we might have agreed that the cat had improved, and maybe we could have even helped her more?

''I have given them so much business'': Regardless of how much money a client spends at our hospital, we strive to provide the highest quality of care. Our records show this client had been in once before with another unvaccinated and unspayed cat She is totally up to date on her shots, i had told them this. and spent about $140. Sounding so grateful for my chump change worth of a visit.

''quick to kill policy'': without a doubt, euthanasia is the most difficult and dreaded part of our jobs - not taken lightly. It is emotionally taxing and stressful. As a veterinarian and practice owner I, personally, find this comment hurtful and insulting.Then why push it based on a 20 minute exam? I hope the information above more accurately depicts the nature of this case.

Again, we welcome ALL feedback from any and all of our clients. We do appreciate a chance to respond.

We will not be refunding the $97 for the physical exam and antibiotics - a service was performed and medications were dispensed

Does she have a boss? I would not spend one Iota of time longer dealing with this sadist. Talking to her is just going to ruin your day. I would deal with her boss. If she is the boss, I would do what everyone has suggested and I would tell your story in detail on every single internet review site you possibly could. I learned a long time ago that some people are just totally nuts, and there is nothing anybody else can do about that.

I didn't read all the post but in my honest opinion, this vet is unethical and should be reported. You cannot harrass someone into putting down their pet just because it's old or you don't like the species...There are vets out there that don't like cats. That alone makes me wonder "Why go into veterinary medicine, then?" But what they are doing is WRONG. They cannot make you do something you don't want to. They can suggest it, for the comfort of the pet. But they cannot force you to and they cannot hound you to! I would suggest a new vet. One that specializes in felines or that a friend might recommend. Tell them your situation and ask them to run the test to find out if it is neccessary to put down your beloved kitty. If they do all the test and come back and say "Our recommendation is...." well, there you have it. But, no vet can make you do anything. And they are not supposed to hound you to do so.... Especially without backing their diagnosis up with actual scientific evidence. Best of luck to you and your baby!

So, did they offer diagnostic tests and you refused? From the first line in her response "we were unable to comp,ete any diagnostic tests" it sounds as though it was offered and refused. The vet also mentions vaginal discharge, which you don't mention....do you know what that was about? I recognize you are upset by the visit you had with this vet and she has acted irresponsible in her handling of the follow-up care, however, I think there is more to all this than you are letting on. Did finances play a role in your treatment decision? There is nothing wrong with that, however, if you presented all this on the idea she only did a 20 minute exam (which, is a very long exam without bloodwork or anything else) then there wasn't an accurate picture of information given.

Even though you will not return to this vet, have you taken your kitty in for bloodwork at another vet? No matter the conflict with the old vet, the kitty needs to be seen again and had bloodwork done at a minimum.

When filing claims with the BBB, one must be very accurate in their complaint or it will be dismissed. When you say you have given them so much business, when in fact you made one visit prior to this one, you really undermine your case. Understand, $140 is a good bit of money but $140 is the bare minimum most of us walk out of the vets office having spent. For instance, 1 month ago I spent $200 on a diagnostic vet visit for our dog, 30 days later I returned for a follow-up and spent $80. In 30 days I will return for another $80 visit and this will continue until she is better, which could take over 6 months. I've had cats in their senior years cost me $200/wk for their end of life care. One question I ask people that are turning their senior cat over to me is "Is there an illness you are unwilling or unable to treat?". I ask this not because it will make a difference in whether or not I take the cat, but will give me an idea as to future costs. At 19, you are looking down a potentially expensive path, bloodwork is the least of the charges.

In situations like this I tend to find there are 2 different sides and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I hope you can get past your abject anger at this vet and seek the medical care your cat may need.

We were offered tests, we refused at that time because we didn't have the finances, and were planning to return for testing at another clinic within the next two weeks, during this time is when the phone calls started even though we had already switched, in which she still gave her two weeks to live just by touchinig her, obviously she was wrong. The vaginal discharge was just a UTI and anti biotics treated that and its no longer there. And when i mentioned how much buisness i have given them, I was referring to the fact that I had recomended them to 5 people, 3 of which i know for a fact went based on what I said before this happened. She was literally trying to force me to put her down, she couldn't get her mind around the fact that we had switched and it wasn't in her hands anymore. It wasn't my decision about what i wanted to do, she either wanted me to spend thousands at her clinic or have her put down, claiming her quality of life is horrible, when in reality it isn't at all. If my cat was suffering I absoultley would do something about it, she is acting the same way any other healthy cat does. We have treated her infections, that is why this is so frustrating.
 

I would respond to her letter, and I would mention that she did offer to run diagnostics, you declined, but that DESPITE no diagnostic tests being run, she gave your kitty two weeks to live. (Did she give you a DIAGNOSIS? I mean - what in her estimation was wrong with your cat, and why did she only have two weeks to live?)

And her comment at the end is just wrong, "''quick to kill policy'': without a doubt, euthanasia is the most difficult and dreaded part of our jobs - not taken lightly. It is emotionally taxing and stressful. As a veterinarian and practice owner I, personally, find this comment hurtful and insulting." Um, she harassed you by phone (with no actual diagnosis?), and called SPCA on you. So she can SAY whatever she wants, but as a cat owner, you are complaining about a vet that didn't listen (your cat is active and not in pain - even when you took her for a suspected infection?), a vet that harassed you despite your having told her you moved your kitty's care to another vet practice, and a vet that called the SPCA on you, despite the fact your cat recovered under the care of another vet (yes?) and was fine. You, as a consumer, felt harassed, threatened, and embarrassed because of a vet that made a diagnosis without information, and a determination of death without diagnosis, and a vet that caused YOU the stress of thinking you were doing something wrong by your cat - a cat that was treated, is now happy and healthy and nowhere near death, and did NOT need an appointment for euthanasia.

:dk:

[if !supportLists]·        [endif]REGRET EUTHANASIA  for my cat
11/28/2016 12:00am 
I am one of those who regret having my cat's life ended prematurely. 
My treating vet and I were in agreement that I'm Here Max could have his usual quality of life with the administration of pain medication for a month due to an inoperable cancer which had spread to his jaw. 
He was never a playful cat during his estimated thirteen years, nor much of a lap cat .He liked to warm himself by the heater and meowed only in the morning when he wanted his wet food. He used the cat litter without urging and his weight had stabilized when medication for hyperthyroidism was started. In short, other than being in the house most of the time rather than being mostly outside as before, and sleeping more due to the pain medication his life was much the same as before cancer of the jaw progressed. 
I didn't find it a problem to wipe the occasional drool but he started to bleed on the left side of his gum line. I was concerned about this but had planned to take I'm Here Max to consult with a vet who also practiced holistic medicine for pets so I went ahead with the appointment and asked if anything could be done about his bleeding from his jaw by removing the three teeth which had become loose. The vet told me that he would lose his teeth on his own but that she wouldn't remove his teeth but had good results with jaw removal. 
I had stated from the beginning that I didn't want jaw removal, radiation or chemo so I'm not sure why the subject was brought up although IF I remember right she did state that this wasn't an option at this point. 
The reason for my visit was to have herbal medication added to his current treatment was pushed aside and replaced by what I thought the vet was getting at was that, even with hospice as an option, a more effective pain killer, later on, the correct thing for me to do was to have him euthanized. 
To be honest, at the time I relied on what I perceived was the better judgment of the vet and a friend to euthanize him (ie: have him killed). 
That much as I would miss him and he required no more care really than a well cat I bought into the guilt trip that I was being selfish to keep him alive when he had a terminal cancer. 
That day I was initially relieved that I'm Here Max would be safe from any future suffering due to my "selfish desire" to keep him alive for an estimated 1 to 2 months more. 
It was less than two hours later that I realized that I had made a decision that was neither good for my cat, I'm Here Max, or for me. 
I had pain medication on hand and an 24 hour Emergency Clinic 
within a half hour drive with an indoor cat who NEVER meows so I feel confident he would let me know, if I missed other signs that the time had come. In addition I had him under the care of a vet who supported hospice as a good option for I'm Here Max and me. 
While others may not have the same support I had, I also had to contend with the ideas that "You're being selfish to keep your cat alive in pain" and "You can't tell when your cat is in pain". In short the implication is that I are doing the wrong thing to let the cat live because the cat has a terminal illness and he was in pain which I didn't realize. 
Don't let this guilt trip influence what is best for your pet. 
While sick cats find hiding places healthy cats do too. 
Cats aren't silent in pain. They want YOU to do something, 
Euthanasia can NEVER be undone.

Paula martin, I'm so sorry you have to go through that, I can't imagine the regret you must feel for putting your cat down, but at the same time he went peacefully right? You were doing what you were told was best and you did it out of love. Don't hate yourself for that.

This post is from 2012,my smokie that I originally postedabout ended up living until February of 2014,so a good two years after I was almost forced to put her down, she was very well until about the last two weeks of her life. I had her cremated and got her the prettiest urn I could with her collar sitting on top. I think about her often, but I feel better knowing she lived 21 wonderful, spoiled years.