Finding a good vet is it impossible?

lexiegirlblue · Aug 31, 2013

I took Princess Elise to a new vet 2 weeks ago and it was the most horrific experience. She was having labored breathing and it turned out to be pneumonia. The vet not only told me she was much older than she was, but tried to convince my friend who was with me for support to convince me to put her down. She refused and on his fourth attempt to convince me I backed myself in the corner of the room, tears streaming down my face, my arms raised in front of me and said NO she is only 5 years old and in need of antibiotics. He gave her a shot of antibiotics and steroids, but not before I verified exactly what the medicine was. As I was leaving his parting shot was I put some of your money aside for euthanizing her. I am happy to report she is thriving and healthy and this morning Princess Elise came up to me placed both of her paws cupping my face and kissed me on the forehead. We have this thing that I kiss her on her forehead (after singing to her) and she now kisses me on my forehead as a sign of love and affection. I will not take her back to that vet and am wondering if it is impossible to find a good one or do I have to go back to school and become a vet myself.

What would you have done under those circumstances?

betsygee · Aug 31, 2013

What an awful experience. No one can really armchair quarterback those kinds of situations--it's always so shocking when somebody unexpectedly comes at you aggressively like that. You can't really be prepared ahead of time. But with experience, I've learned to say 'no' right away when something doesn't feel right. Sounds like you did that, too, and good for you for insisting on the antibiotics.

I've been to more bad or mediocre vets than good ones, unfortunately. I was on my fourth vet and finally found one I like and respect and who has the same philosophy as I do on treating the older IBD kitties I have--and I just found out she's leaving the area!

She got a better offer in northern CA.

I tried to talk with another vet in the same clinic to see if we could work together, but she was a b*tch on wheels (excuse my language). I'll never even speak to her again, let alone let her touch my kitties. I'm hoping another vet will come in who's a decent human being and good vet....

Best of luck finding a good vet for your kitty! So glad to hear she's recovering.

stephanietx · Aug 31, 2013

Oh wow! I am thankful that I've never taken my kitties to a vet who didn't fight for them and try everything they knew to try to get an animal well. I have taken my animals to a couple of vets who seemed nervous or whose bedside manner I didn't like, but I've never had a vet treat my animals poorly or tell me to euthanize one of them just because they were sick. Finding a good vet seems to be getting harder and harder.

I would start with asking any friends or neighbors about their vet and start from there. You could also try to look for reviews online. Then, make an appt for a consultation without your kitty and talk to the vet. Basically, interview the vet. I came across this article a few days ago, and it talks about finding a good vet.

http://consciouscat.net/2010/09/27/adventures-in-veterinary-medicine-finding-a-new-vet/

mservant · Aug 31, 2013

Sounds horrendous. Glad you had a friend with you and not on your own. Posting review on internet justified in my mind, and find another vet ASAP so you don't have to go back there. Ask around anyone you know who's got a cat to see where they go and how they find the place, and look on line for reviews too.

Elise's lucky to have you looking out for her.

lexiegirlblue · Aug 31, 2013

I am lucky to have Princess Elise and the vet is lucky that her brother Prince Kenai was not there. It's interesting that people say cats and dogs do not get along. I have seen the total opposite with my 4 legged children.

cccdlx · Aug 31, 2013

Reputable cat breeders have to have GREAT cat vets. Are there any in your area? I've exhausted just about everyone on my list here until I remembered a friend of my mother who used to breed Himalayans. He's next on my list. I hope your search goes well. Net work, ask everybody. If you see someone in the grocery or pet store ask them. You might get some strange looks sometimes, but a cat lover is a cat lover. WE ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

lexiegirlblue · Aug 31, 2013

Yes we are everywhere. My local pet stores know me very well. That was a good suggestion. Thank you.

denice · Aug 31, 2013

I would try online vet rating lists on the internet. Unfortunately people usually don't bother with doing a write up for a good vet but they will for a bad or mediocre one. I went through three bad or mediocre vets before I found a good one. I was so happy to find this clinic that I did leave a write up on the internet. It's a three vet practice. The cats have their regular vet but one of them has seen one of the other ones once and I also liked her.

There are some really bad ones out there. There is also a tendency in a general vet practice to know more about and attach more importance to dogs. The clinic I go to is a cats only clinic.

white shadow · Aug 31, 2013

betsygee said:
lexigirlblue , you know what I'd do to that twerp? I'd call and book an appointment for a "wellness visit". I'd bring Princess Elise in, allow her to strut her stuff in front of this man, let him know loudly and clearly that both of you were just visiting to show off her wellness...then I'd remind him about that putting "some of your money aside for euthanizing her" bit...and then, I'd be demanding a refund!!! Needless to say, I wouldn't be paying for that "visit" either! That might just set him back in his saddle a bit. (Of course, I would have obtained a copy of all her records waaaay before that stunt!)

cccdlx · Aug 31, 2013

Ticking off a vet's office is NEVER a good idea! Emergencies happen. It's amazing what they do to your bill.

runekeeper · Aug 31, 2013

Wow, that definitely sounds like an awful vet. In my own experience, good vets are not impossible to find, but they are darn hard to find. A vast majority of the vets I have taken my cats to for more than just basic checkups and shots were complete morons. Just a few examples of the stunning veterinary services in my area between the two local clinics:

Took my cat in when his stomach became horribly distended. Vet did an X-ray and said he definitely was NOT full of fluid. Took him to get an ultrasound at a better facility far outside of town and told that he was, in fact, full of fluid. This would not have bothered as much had my usual vet said, "I can't tell for certain if it's fluid or not because X-rays are not that accurate." They gave me false hope that he was just gassy.
When I had my female cat in for a checkup because she was vomiting everything up, I was given a bag of sensitive stomach kibbles. She would vomit about 30 seconds after eating, so food wasn't even making it to her stomach. It turned out she had an esophageal stricture, which I learned at the out-of-town clinic.
Treated my female cat for borderline hyperthyroidism when she did not, in fact, have actual hyper-T. Out-of-town facility told me to take her off the Methimazole.
Had vet records sent from one office to another for my Kippy, and they insisted on a feline leukemia test. Despite the fact he was tested for it when I got him back in 2004. That was left out of his records.
Not a personal experience, but when my mother had a kitten like 30 years ago, he got into some antifreeze and was obviously suffering. Mom took it to the vet to be put down. One of the local vets who still works there today was there then and tried to talk her out of putting the cat down. Sorry, but I've never heard of a cat coming back from antifreeze poisoning, and I don't think the small local facility has whatever equipment is necessary to help a cat after ingesting antifreeze.
One clinic outright lied to me, saying they do not administer fluids at all. I was at that very same clinic back in 2005 getting my old tabby cat fluids in an attempt to save his life (it was simply old age that took him and I thought he was sick).

It just stinks because the local vets are all nice. They're just idiots.

lexiegirlblue · Aug 31, 2013

Myself, Princess Elise and Prince Kenai thank you for all of your input. I have filed a formal complaint with the pet hospital and the state of Oregon. The best revenge is taking Princess Elise in for a wellness check with another doctor in attendance. Princess Elise proved that so called vet wrong!!! Love is stronger than stupidity.

mservant · Sep 1, 2013

What confident action. You are a strong advocate for Princess Elise (and I am sure equally strong for Prince Kenai) and a wonderful example of what people can be capable of when inspired by love. Your fur companions are very lucky to have you speaking for them. I hope your complaint is handled sensitively and achieves a positive outcome for you all, though I am sure nothing will beat the fact that Elise has overcome her recent infection and is going back for a wellness check! Here's to many more years of Princess Elise forehead kisses, they sound beautiful.

(I hope that vet's put the 'euthenasia' fund in to a high interest account

)

lexiegirlblue · Sep 1, 2013

Once again we thank all of you for your input. It really did help me sort out the course of action needed. A little bit about my Beautiful furry children. Princess Elise is a classic brown Maine Coon that lived on the streets for a year and half before going to 2 different shelters and then I adopted her from the cat adoption team in Sherwood, OR. I visited with 4 different cats before Princess Elise it only took me 30 seconds to know (even if they did claim she was part feral) I loved her and would make a great sister to Prince Kenai. Prince Kenai is a red and white Siberian Husky and a wonderful dog. He was raised with cats and his sister Princess Simone (cat) was brutally murdered last year and I did prosecute and pushed it the man that killed her is now in prison. I promised him a new sister and he got one Princess Elise. Prince Kenai will herd cats in and other dogs. It is strange because I come home to strays that he has herded in. One good thing out of it (well there are many) is my mothers dog Jack passed from natural causes and I got the OK to give my mother another Chihuahua and she adores him as I do. His name is Xavior.

white shadow · Sep 1, 2013

Just to say....thanks, for sharing all that - so very much in that "little bit".

misty8723 · Sep 1, 2013

I've been lucky so far with my vets, but one that we went to for a "second opinion" when we were trying to get Cindy diagnosed so we could see about treatment, told us not to "put her through" surgery, to just take her home and make her comfortable for whatever time she had left. And this was a cat only clinic! We paid several visits to that clinic and every time I left there I was bawling my head off. A visit to my regular vet would usually calm me down and give me hope. That was last December and I'm pleased to say that Miss Cindy is currently cancer free and sleeping on her favorite chair in the kitchen window.

lexiegirlblue · Sep 1, 2013

That is great. Cindy is lucky to have you and her favorite chair. Keep your regular vet!! It's hard to find a good one.

Finding a good vet is it impossible?

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