Giving Anesthesia to Cat for Blood Work - Need Advice Please

I can't comment whether or not the blood work is necessary, but I would absolutely be with Binky during the procedure! I just went through this with my little Tuptake last month. The vet tech came in and just took her and said I'll just take her blood, we'll be right back. Oh, how I regret that. I don't know what happened in that room, but I fear I may have lost the love and trust of my dear little buddy forever. She is a completely different cat and treats me like a stranger. PLEASE listen to StephanQ, and don't make the same mistake I did. I feel terrible for you, AdventureMe. These little ones are such an important part of our lives. Hope everything goes well for little Binky.

AdventureMe said:

What is so frustrating is that I am unable to be at the clinic with who ever is administering the necessary shots/testing – is this the job of the vet tech or vet themselves? They insist the pet be dropped of as early as possible (they open at 8:00am) in order for them to prepare the animal and make them I guess try to calm done in their carriers for when the vet is able to see them. I recall the vet tech telling me last time that the vets don’t start usually until around 9:30am. I hate to make them angry with me which is why I have not asked if it’s possible that I am present during the blood work. When Binky had her blood work done in October of last year, she was not on any medications as this weird syndrome she developed had just started and I took her in because I didn’t know what happened to her. Now I want to take her in because I’m scared of all the stuff I read on the Internet about steroids possibly causing liver damage if taken for long term use. Binky has been on Prozac since October, Gabapenin since around end of November and in the last month and a half she had to also take Prednisolone as her twitching was so bad on just the Prozac and Gabapentin. I hate giving her all these meds it breaks my heart trust me I’ve shed so many tears over it, but when I see how tall the meds are working together in order to stop her constant twitching I know she must take them. I am however, on the fence about whether she actually does need to have her blood tested this early (6 months later). Part of me thinks I’m over reacting but there is that voice in my head that says, “better to be safe than sorry”. Yes it’s very difficult being on a single income (vet knows this) but I made a commitment when I took her in from someone who could not care for her when she was just a few months old. Heck, her spay at the same clinic cost me about $100 more than what I paid in October for her visit for the blood work (was just under $600). Maybe I’m being taken advantage of and should tell them I refuse to have her put under full anesthesia. Surely if the vet tech tells me they have all the necessary tools to help for this type of thing, they would not have to fully sedate her but I’m not there to see just how bad Binky gets but she is very aggressive at the clinic especially when smelling, seeing and hearing all the other animals there. Gawd I’m so stressed out and scared about this. She even developed a bump on her nose from the last visit in October and when I told this to the vet tech, she said it was not from her being at their clinic. Oh boy, what to do what to do. Thank you all for your comments, I’m so grateful.

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Vaccinations and shots for pain and meds should always be given by a vet, not a vet technician unless he or she is under the guidance of a vet.

You have the right to be present during blood work. The clinic may have the policy of wanting cats to be on sight in advance of procedures, but this shouldn't prevent you from being present when the blood work is done.  It could be that there is some miscommunication between their policy and your wishes, and so I would suggest that you have a frank discussion with your vet at the next opportunity, so you can clear the air with them and feel better about things. Its not healthy for you or your kitty to let this situation fester without getting things straightened out.

If your clinic values your business and cares about doing what is best for your kitty, they will be receptive to openly discussing your concerns, and finding solutions that you can be comfortable with. Sometimes you have to make the first move to start a dialogue. If it turns out that they are less than receptive, maybe you need to think about finding another clinic that is more in keeping with your wishes and expectations.

First off I’d like to thank everyone who posted replies regarding taking Binky in to the vet clinic to have blood work completed yesterday.

I am very upset at what unfolded yesterday at the vets and I’m scared to say anything to them because I’d hate to have to go through everything again somewhere else. I don’t even know if things would be different at another vet clinic. Here is what happened….I called the clinic on Thursday to ask if Binky should be given her regular meds that evening and in the morning and they confirmed yes but to give her the morning meds before 7:00am seeing that I had to have Binky at the clinic by 9:00am but to withhold food after midnight (not water of course). So that evening she received her meds, she ate a little food around 7:30pm and then went off to sleep around 9:00pm. I stayed up until midnight just in case she woke up and wanted to eat a little more before taking her food away. The next morning, poor Binky was starving because she had only eaten a little food the previous night. I gave her morning meds and called a taxi to take her down to the clinic and arrived there at 8:40am. The girl at the front desk at the clinic said they will take her to the back and have her sedated and will call me later to let me know when she can be picked up. She also said they had a few surgeries booked for the day. So I waited all day worried and feeling very stressed out because of the sedation and they know how worried I was about this at the clinic. Still no phone call at 3:00pm which made me very upset and scared so I called them to ask why I hadn’t received a call and to inquire what was going on. I was put on hold after being told that Binky was just being sedated and the vet came on the phone to say Binky was fine and they are having a very busy day but the blood work is being done shortly and I can pick her up at 6:00pm. I was very upset of the fact that my poor girl will have gone without food for 24 hrs by this point. She probably did not even drink water as she had not eaten and was most likely terrified sitting in her carrying cage in the animal cage all day. The vet did not seem concerned at all about her not eating for so long which made cry after I got off the phone. Is this really humane? When I picked her up, the vet tech told me that they gave Binky a reversal drug for the sedation and that she would not be back to 100% for about 12 hrs and that I could go ahead and give her the regular meds that she get in the evening except for the Prozac. The blood results may be in today and that her vet will call to discuss them with me on Monday. I believe they gave binky the sedation, reversal and maybe did her blood work all while she was in her carrying cage because when I picked her up she was turned around in her cage with her back side in the front and there was a long plastic cap in the carrier. She was so hungry when she got home and ate a whole can of cat food (small one) in one sitting and a small bowl of dry food and still wanted more. She also was drinking a lot of water. Her hind legs were so wobbly she could barely stand up. She actually lay out on the floor while eating. What do you think I should do at this point? Am I over reacting? Should I give the vet a piece of my mind? I just emailed the clinic to ask if the blood panel results have come in and if so, if they can email me the report.

AdventureMe said:

What is so frustrating is that I am unable to be at the clinic with who ever is administering the necessary shots/testing – is this the job of the vet tech or vet themselves? They insist the pet be dropped of as early as possible (they open at 8:00am) in order for them to prepare the animal and make them I guess try to calm done in their carriers for when the vet is able to see them. I recall the vet tech telling me last time that the vets don’t start usually until around 9:30am.

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Wow, just wow. Where in our wonderful province are you? To be blunt, there is no way l would be taking my cat there. l would really find another vet.

l'm in Ottawa and use both a "rural" (read: inexpensive) vet for the routine needles, and a city (expensive) vet for bloodwork and diagnostics. Everything at the out-of-town vet is done with me present. They get their jabs while l hold them still, and same for any blood draws. l have major issues when they want to take my pet away for routine procedures, and would definitely never drop off a pet for something like blood work. lt's done in minutes, and the test results generally take only minutes (idexx or istat). l don't know why they're making this so difficult.

l've just read your last post and l don't blame you for being upset. l would highly recommend a new vet. Hopefully you're close to a "Cat Friendly Practice" or a cats-only clinic. lt might help to somewhat alleviate kitty's stress.

I am just now reading through this thread and I am dumbfounded.  All this for bloodwork is really extreme.  I think I would be looking for another vet also.  I have a kitty that gets blood drawn every six months and I wouldn't go through all this.  I've watched them take blood it's not that big of a deal.  My one kitty several years ago had it drawn out of his neck once and I couldn't watch it being done, but I could've.

Your vet clinic has "labelled" your kitty and they are not going to change the label. You need to call around and find a vet who feels confident trying a pre-emptive sedative and allow you to be present. You might suggest that the cat would be less stressed and less reactive to the procedure if you are the one doing the holding.

So the vet just emailed me to ask how Binky is doing because I emailed them early this morning to ask about the result of the blood work. Should I give the vet a piece of my mind? I am too emotional about the situation and may say things I regret.

l wouldn't. lt won't benefit you, or your cat, so l don't see the point. What's done is done, and you need to find a new vet before burning bridges 

l'd keep your files there in case there is ever an emergency and you absolutely need to go back, a new vet can get copies without you ever needing to talk to them or explain.

I suspect that they gave Binky some fluids while she was sedated, but, would be worth a check since you are concerned about her going so long w/o. Giving fluids is and should be normal protocol when sedating, esp since she was required to stay at the clinic all day. If no fluids given, I would have concerns.

As for the food, when the vets around me do surgery/proceedures, it is normal for food to go up 6 hrs prior to sedation and no food given for 8-12 hrs after sedation. When food is given, it is done so in small quantities so no upset stomach.

I know different places have different policies, but I would be more concerned about hydration.

Also, it doesn't sound like you are comfortable with the way this particular clinic runs. I think it is time to look around and find another clinic you like.

I drive 20 mins past a dozen or so clinics to the vets I use. They have an open policy and offer tours of the *entire* clinic and allow clients to be with their pets whenever possible. Several of our rescues get nervous or vocal when traveling; but, it is worth it for the care they receive.

Very sorry to hear how traumatic this experience has been.  I hope Binky is settling and well at this point.  The wobbly legs after sedation sound 'normal' from what I experienced with my previous cat, but if you have any concerns I think it is reasonable to ask your vet about them.  I also think it is reasonable to ask about whether they gave her fluids to keep her hydrated, or any food when they knew she was not going to be sedated for some time when she first arrived.

Getting angry with them or criticizing at this point I agree with others is likely to be counter productive as you may need to see these vets again  in future, particularly if you are not able to find another surgery, but I very much hope you do find another vet.  It is important to have confidence and a positive relationship with the vet you use given the responsibility they have for your fur family members. Also for the deeply emotional and painful decisions  we all have to make with our vets from time to time.

I know for snowleopard, my vet phobic cat, I had to have complete confidence in how she was handled and that the vets we went to were confident in the approach to be used.  If I left her at the surgery I left her for the shortest time possible, she would be sedated as soon as possible, and as I mentioned in my earlier post, because she would become so distressed they did not reverse the sedative but left her to come round slowly back in my care.  Vet visits were only for critical health reasons.  When I suddenly had to change vets I met with the vet initially: to discuss her needs and  agree a likely management plan. She saw them four times in total I think after her initial assessment when she presented with an acute bladder infection, and two of those visits were for her final illness about 8 or 9 years later.  Once the vets met her, her management plan was adjusted (not to bring out of sedation at the surgery), no annual vaccinations or routine check ups and use phone consultation if appropriate.  The management plan was for snowleopard's health and safety, not the veterinary surgery staff: they were all experienced in handling very distressed and aggressive animals.  They had concerns that the level of distress experienced by my cat would cause her further health problems if she were not sedated, the vets would not be able to undertake basic examinations that she required, and if taken to the vet when not sick she would be very likely to become sick due to the acute and severe distress she experienced.  It was well beyond the level an oral sedative could help with.

I think it is totally reasonable to expect a veterinary surgery to adjust the nature of care they provide to suit the needs of animals they are experienced in treating.  They should be able to safely handle, but also judge at what point that safe handling becomes counter productive for the individual animal concerned and the examination or treatment required.  They should be able to explain their decisions clearly to you, and if they say you should not be present explain to you why they are saying this.  If this is not the service you are getting at the moment it is definitely time to ask around and see who is happy with the vet they are going to.  Go to visit vet surgeries within reach, and talk with the vets about how they would approach Binky's needs if Binky were still to be fearful at another surgery (which of course might not happen - it might just be this surgery she gets frightened at and if handled in another place by another vet or vet tech' she might be fine).  I wish you luck in finding a new vet that both you and Binky have confidence in, but that she does not need to see them for some time.    

Sometimes at the end of the day, it comes down to a trust thing. If you believe your vets are advocating for you and your pet, then it will go far in removing uncertainty from the equation. If you don't feel that is the case, then maybe you could be happier elsewhere. There are so many ways of getting the same task accomplished that there is lots of room for personal preferences to become a reality at some clinic some where.

I don't know if this makes you feel any better, but while cats are under sedation, the bloodflow in their body is not focused on the stomach or gut. Meaning that, they are not starving (nor would they be processing all that food in their gut) while under the sedation or during recovery to any large extent. The way they feel about it is much different as if they were sitting in the same kennel with no sedation at all. Most of my sedatives contain "happy drugs". Takes the mind of stress, hunger or anything else. 

k

While this whole situation is really unfortunate and I feel sad for you and your kitty, I just have to ask why you went ahead with the sedation if you were opposed to it? What happened with the idea of the body bag for restraining your kitty? It just makes my heart sick to read that this clinic insists on using such a high-powered approach for a basic procedure. I feel very strongly about anesthesia as I almost lost my young tuxedo as the result of a bad reaction to ketamine following his neuter. Needless to say there is an alert on his chart to never use this drug again. 

I don't want to upset you but I think you really need to lose the fear and learn to be more assertive in asking for more accountability from this clinic, and making your expectations clear. Not when you are upset mind you, but in advance of things like this, so you don't end up feeling taken advantage of, but can be comfortable and happy with the service you are getting. For instance, when the receptionist mentioned that the clinic had a number of surgeries, this could have been your opportunity to say sorry, but I am not comfortable in knowing that my cat may spend several hours here before you get to her. A clinic environment can be very stressful, and so it is quite reasonable not to want your kitty to have to spend any more time there than is necessary. Asking about time frames for when your kitty will be seen, is quite reasonable. And if it looks like there might be delays, it should be acceptable for you to re-schedule for another day.

But back to the business of the sedation, you are the only one who can be an advocate for your cat and if you don't feel right about this procedure for this purpose, then you need to say something, or find another clinic who will listen and work with you to find another way. I wish you and your kitty all the best.

I work for a vet and unfortunately we've had days like that where some procedures were pushed to the back burner so to speak due to a busy day, emergencies and/or other procedures that take precedence.  I myself have undergone anesthesia a few times and had to fast, honestly I didn't want to eat much that day.  We always recommend people only give their kitties a portion of their normal feeding the night of anesthesia as it can make some of them sick.  To me it doesn't sound like they did anything out of the ordinary other than keeping your cat all day.  We have several kitty and doggie patients for that matter who have to be sedated for exams, nail trims and bloodwork.  However if you feel your kitty wasn't given optimal care, I would email the vet and let them know.