Veterinarian Administering Medicine WIthout My Approval

To make a long story short, my veterinarian administered sub-q fluids to my elderly cat without asking me. The reason I'm upset is because I told the vet my 16 y/o cat had fallen over after vomiting - something that indicates serious heart disease. It appears that they gave her more than 100 ml and she's barely 7 pounds. I'm concerned they overhydrated her and with potential advanced heart disease, that could be dangerous and even life threatening. In fact, she was in worse shape the three days following that office exam. I've scheduled an ultrasound for next week.

I plan on telling the receptionist, tech/assistant, and vet that they "are not to administer any fluids to her without my authorization and if they do give them to her, we're gonna have a serious problem."


I suppose I'm especially upset because this same veterinarian prescribed sub-q fluids for a previous cat of mine. The cat had heart disease that was forgotten about by the veterinarian and unknown about by me (I only found out after the cat had died and I requested a copy of the records). The fluids pushed the cat into CHF after maybe 4 dosages and the veterinarian didn't recognize the signs/symptoms that I reported. I didn't realize the fluids had caused all this until it was too late and the cat was already dead.


Does anyone have any thoughts on me telling the receptionist, tech/assistant, and vet that they must obtain my permission before they administer fluids?

I'm so sorry you're in this position. I've been in your shoes. Not too long ago, my vet administered a three-year rabies vaccine to my cat with chronic pancreatitis after I told them not to without first having a discussion with me. The discussion never took place. He was taken in the back for a blood and urine draw, which I confirmed before they took him. When they brought him back, they slapped a rabies certificate on the exam table and told me he's all up-to-date. Boy was I livid. I hated the world for like a month.

I have a few words of advice. If you tell the receptionist, tech, and/or assistant, don't assume the message is going to be relayed to the vet and don't assume they'll relay the message to each other. You can ask for a note to be put in your record, but it might get buried depending on the system they use. If the tech/assistant meets with you first (while the doc is finishing up with other patients) and wants to take the cat in the back for anything, say you want to wait until you talk to the vet. I think it would be a good idea for everyone handling your cat that day to be in the room together while you reiterate your concerns. It would be best if your cat never left your sight at all. And finally, if they do as you ask and don't administer fluids for one visit, don't assume they'll remember for the next visit. They might, but you may want to err on the side of caution and take the same approach each time.