Advice dealing with a horrid vet?

Kisami said:

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Ah. This probably explains why they can't remember. I mean, bad on them for not having this information charted SOMEWHERE - we put the vaccine labels in the chart, write down the injection site, and log it in the computer - but at this point they're probably never going to remember if they gave a shot or not. I can probably remember what we did with all the patients I interacted with today, but even the specifics of yesterday are foggy.... we just see too many animals, give too many injections, that it's hard to clearly remember who received what if it's not brought to our attention asap.

They should certainly be able to tell you exactly what was done at your appointment. Do they acknowledge that your cats received ANY vaccines at all, or are they trying to say they received NONE? It's a stupid situation because if there's no record of it happening  - then it didn't happen. But I would not be quick to give the rabies vax again if there is any possibility that they already got it.

However,  I will say that it does worry me that there is the possibility the kitten didn't get it. I wouldn't want a kitty that young possibly going unprotected for a whole year. I would think a rabies titer on a kitten would be pretty telling, because if the antibody response is sufficient.... well, why else would that be unless they had been vaccinated? Rabies isn't exactly one of those viruses that you come across frequently enough in your day-to-day life for the immune system to build up its own response. I'd get an opinion from another vet clinic.

I like stephanie's advice about trying to contact the state licensing board. I'm going to send you a message privately because I'm curious who's this veterinarian. I hope it's not doctor Volel-- she's nice although I think her office is very low tech.

I also like the advice of a cat-only veterinarian in the future.

I'm so sorry they were unprofessional with you

Rabies vaccines are very strictly monitored and controlled. Every vaccine has a number. The vet's records should show exactly how many vaccines were given on any day. It should be very easy for them to determine, and prove, if the rabies vaccines were given to your cats or not.

I would definitely take this further. Your cats are at risk without that certification.

Kisami said:

 a 12 week old kitten. They both got rabies and the kitten also got distemper,

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Is the rabies shot usually given so young? We don't have rabies here but it's required for imported cats, my girl couldn't have it until 16 weeks.

And was the kitten only given a distemper vaccination or the complete 3 in 1 combo? Quite unusual to just give the one distemper shot.

The FVRCP shot is often just called "distemper" shot. However it is the 3 in 1 that includes Feline Herpes (FVR, feline rhinotracheitis) C (calicivirus) and P (panleukepenia also called distemper)

The kitten FVRCP ("distemper") shots are given in a series 2-3 weeks apart, because they are small doses. Usually they are started at 8 weeks, or 2 pounds.

Rabies is usually given at 12 weeks. My vet uses the PureVax rabies vaccine which does not contain an adjuvant, and is currently "good" for one year, by state law. My vet is hoping that it will soon be approved as a 3 year vaccine (so am I!)

My personal preference is to not allow two vaccines at one time, ever.

Kisami, be sure to keep us updated!

otto said:

The FVRCP shot is often just called "distemper" shot. However it is the 3 in 1 that includes Feline Herpes (FVR, feline rhinotracheitis) C (calicivirus) and P (panleukepenia also called distemper)
The kitten FVRCP ("distemper") shots are given in a series 2-3 weeks apart, because they are small doses. Usually they are started at 8 weeks, or 2 pounds.
Rabies is usually given at 12 weeks. My vet uses the PureVax rabies vaccine which does not contain an adjuvant, and is currently "good" for one year, by state law. My vet is hoping that it will soon be approved as a 3 year vaccine (so am I!)
My personal preference is to not allow two vaccines at one time, ever.
Kisami, be sure to keep us updated!

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Yes, the 2 vaccines at once isn't something I'd do and we do only 2 kitten shots 4 weeks apart, no vet will do it at 2-3 weeks. German girl had her shots done the same as here, at 8 & 12 weeks, then rabies at 16.

Thanks

otto said:

Rabies vaccines are very strictly monitored and controlled. Every vaccine has a number. The vet's records should show exactly how many vaccines were given on any day. It should be very easy for them to determine, and prove, if the rabies vaccines were given to your cats or not.
I would definitely take this further. Your cats are at risk without that certification.

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This depends on the type of vaccine being used. the pure vax vaccines come in individual vials that can be accounted for, but other rabies vaccines like ft Dodge and pfizer have vials with ten to twenty doses per vial. Now the lot number of a particular tray will be the same so input in the computer till a new tray is opened, and for the multidose vial, the serial number is input in the computer til a new vial is opened. The Rabies vaccine isn't a controlled drug like Ketamine or vallium ect that has to be put in a seperate individual log, but if this vet had any sort of organization, they should have reports ran at the end of the day, that states what was given or done to each patient. That's what we would have done, but then again we would have written everything down in the first place. Now the fact that it wasn't written in the charts makes me doubtful that it was written anywhere else. I second getting a titer done before subjecting them to another vaccine again. Both my cats react badly to RV vaccines so next time they are due, I am requesting a titer.

I do hear ya on dealing with dimwitted vets and clinics. I am currently not in practice, (I am a registered RVT and have been one for 10 years) pursuing other endeavors, but finding a vet up to my standards is next to impossible. I actually stopped going to one when they were manhandling my sweet gentle female kitty, and then proceed to prescribe metacam and at three times the  "safe" dose! I questioned the vet on that and told her I was not giving metacam as I don't feel comfortable giving it and that the dose she calculated at first would have surely caused kidney issues. I currently go to an excellent cat only vet who has excellent prices and is very knowledgable. I have a great vet also for my dog and birds and is a back up for my cats, but for now I stick to the cat only vet.

Ok, I'm almost laughing.  not really, but what else can I do.  Yesterday I made the decision to cut off the horrid vet I've been seeing at the knees, even though I paid $350 for a kitten package.  I called and after being put on hold for over 10 minutes they were very understanding about it being "too far away" and said they'd send email with the cats' vaccination records.  I got their email today.  For three dogs, in a different town.  I call the office and they say "oh, so you just need one more?"  Sure, why not!   When I finally made it clear that I'd like the vaccination records for MY animals, I got email about fifteen minutes later.  And the first thing I notice is that they've indicated Bob got his rabies vaccination - which they had denied him, choosing instead to solicit me for $600 worth of crap he didn't need.  OMG.   I think a tete-ectomy (where they remove the patient's head from their ass) is in order here.  How is your rabies saga coming?

Thank you all again for your replies. Some people might just think this is silly to be so upset about but I am just completely torn up over this whole thing. I feel naive because while I have had some bad business experiences, never in my life have I ever been treated so horribly by one.

I went and saw them in person today. I had to take the bus and then walk, which I got lost and wandered around some back alleys where all the warehouses were boarded up with graffiti and broken windows lol so I was already off to a bad start!

As soon as I got there the reception person asked me if I had brought in my cats to get the rabies shot... I tried to be so polite and nice, like ok it was a mistake no harm just fix it ya know? I say I just was here to discuss the matter with them and she just yells at me. She says the vet assistant (she never mentions the vet himself btw) swears the vet never gave them the shots. And all that they can do for me is give them the shots.

So I try to explain that I know the vet did give them the shots. I know some people reading this might think I was just mistaken, and if there was any chance I was I would admit that. But I am 1000 times sure. Not only was I watching the vet like a hawk after he hurt my baby lol there was a whole convo about it! He asked me about it, I said yes they needed them, he tried to give them both distemper and I told him no I didn't want my older cat to get it, then after he gave it to my kitten he almost forgot to give it to my other cat completely and the assist had to tell him, multiple times.

About what type of shot it was, he just pulled out the syringe things. Didn't need to fill them or anything, they seemed ready to go as is.

I asked her if she kept records like inventory and she said no they didn't.

She wouldn't let me talk to anyone. And treated me like a liar and some type of scam artist. I don't understand that at all. I could maybe understand if I was trying to say they gave them to me and I wasn't going to pay, but I was going to pay. I basically stole those shots and I even feel bad about that. I expected to go in, pay for them and get the records.

Anyways I tried to explain and talk to her rationally but she just began yelling at me. All she kept saying very loudly was bring your cats in or find another vet. She refused to let me talk at all. I felt like a deer in headlights with my mouth open, tears in my eyes just having zero clue what to do. Like the worst moment was when I was just like but this is my cats health and again she just yelled the same thing at me. So I just said I would never bring my cats back here and left.

Maybe I didn't explain right idk. I am still in shock that she just yelled at me like that. Honestly I sat in the parking lot crying like an idiot afterwards & I wanted to just go back in and try but I don't think anything I say matters.

My husband and sister agreed with you that I should just go to their facebook page and yelp and other review sites and just be honest and say what happened. I looked up the AAHA but it doesn't look like they r a member.

I am going to call a different vet that I did like and just see what my options are for my kitten.

Thank you all again so much

This is why I'm EXTREMELY careful and do as much research as possible before going to any bankers, doctors, lawyers or mechanics. So many make their money by exploiting the ignorance of their customers.

Yes.  I'm not taking offense, but it's hard not to be "ignorant" ... people push these profitable / "expert" ideas so insistently it's hard to stand your ground even if you have plenty of observation, info and common sense.  I've started referring to my ex-vet as "the Midas of vet's offices" - not because they have a golden touch, because they remind me so much of having my oil changed.  "Oh we can do that, but we'd be remiss (and so would you) if we didn't do an engine flush and replace your entire exhaust system while you're here."  

Kisami, I'm sorry this has been so terrible for you.  My only advice would be to do what I did:  told them they could kiss-a-mi a$$.  I feel so much better just writing them off and starting over.

I most certainly did not mean to offend you.

The people in the fields I mentioned are supposed to have extensive experience & education. We (regular consumers) are forced to rely on their competence and honesty. It's part of the division of labor

of the social contract.

I (and the other 99.9999% of humans) can't go out and get medical degrees AND law degrees AND mechanic certification, etc.

The only way to somewhat avoid being hosed is to invest large amounts of time and effort in researching the individual (doctor, lawyer, etc.) and the nature of your problem which sucks especially if you're facing an emergency which you usually are when you need these people.

I am so very very sorry, you had to go thru that, especially with dealing with the bus and getting lost.  I excell, at taking on business's like that.  The prev poster is right, so many business's thrive on the customer, not knowing, and expecting them to do nothing.  Send me a private message, I will tell you what to do, what I have to say, I can't put in here.  

Please don't beat yourself up about this, you didn't know, and you were taken advantage of, and you learned a very valuable lesson, which we all had to learn stuff the hard way too.        

Oh NO!  What a horrible experience!!!  I am so sorry you went through that.  Taking the kitties to the vet can be stressful enough without having to deal with a disorganized office on top of it all.  I would find another vet and maybe discuss the vaccination issue with them.  Personally I would not allow a 2nd Rabies for sure.  I've heard and read too many horror stories and I don't even like to give mine their yearly Rabies.  I refuse to allow the 3 year Rabies under any circumstance.  Too much interaction with the immune system and cats can have bad reactions from it.   I feel so bad for you.