so unhappy with vet...

pombina

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Hi all,
Not sure if this is the right place for this thread but can't see anywhere else it might fit.
I just wanted to say I took Sleeves to get neutered yesterday. It wasnt at his normal vets as they don't do surgeries there so he was sent to their other practise which was a fair drive away, but because they are so lovely at his usual vets I didn't think twice about doing this.
It was traumatic enough for me because he obviously couldnt understand why he wasn't allowed food or drink the night before and kept looking for it and I found this really upsetting.
Anyway when we arrived at the vets it looked like a prison camp with bars on the windows and I instantly had a bad feeling.
When we took him in, this lady came out to fetch him and she was so in my face. She was so loud. She also had really dirty fingernails so I asked if she was the vet and she wasnt so that was a relief.
We took him through the back as I had a few questions, but she couldnt wait to get rid of us. She said she was taking Sleeves through the back to 'calm down' and IMO there was nothing wrong with him. He was sitting in his carry basket being very subdued.
She told me to call at 2 to check his progress. So we left, after not being given a chance to even say bye bye.
When I called at 2 I asked how he was doing and how it went and she put me on hold for 5 minutes then came back and just said 'you can pick him up at 4' and I asked again if he was ok and she just said 'yes he's been castrated'.
I just felt there was no feeling there at all and I was so upset by it. When I picked him up she said 'thats a long way to come, just for a cat'.
I was so upset I just thought yes he's MY cat and I won't be coming back here again.
He is fine, apart from being dopey last night he seems to have recovered fine today but his claws are filthy, which makes me wonder where he was kept all day as he is indoor only and normally squeaky clean.
I just feel so down today.
Has anyone else had any experience like this? Im thinking about writing in to tell them why Im changing vets but don't know if its worth the upset.
Sorry about this being so long I just needed to vent it...
 

lillekat

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It alsmost sounds worthy of a formal investigation by whatever authority has the power to do so. Surely someone like the RSPCA would have something to say over that. I'd very strongly recommend getting in touch with them at least. As far as I'm aware (certainly near Inverness where I'm from) all vetinary staff have to be scrubbed to the eyeballs, and that includes nurses and receptionists. Tell someone - and certainly lodge a complaint about this woman's conduct - it was terrible. It would be worth having the hygiene in this place looked at seriously. Give the pussycat some scritchies from me
 
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pombina

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Yeah I think I will I just felt the whole thing wasnt right, and compared to the way they are at his normal vet, the difference was unbelievable. You just want to feel like they care about your animal.
Im at work today and just want to go home and cuddle him

I know its a reputable vets as they have 3 practises in the Dundee area but I just feel they really need to buck up their ideas.
 

rosiemac

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You need to have a word with the main surgery about the way she was with you
The thing is she's been like this with you so how many more patients has she upset?!.

Do you have to take him back there for his post op checkup or back to your normal vets?.
 
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pombina

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She didnt mention taking him back, and his stitches are disolveable so theres no need to get them out thankfully.
Is it normal practise for them to go back for a check up?
 

lillekat

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Hrmn.... I certainly wouldn't trust to go back to that vet for the check-up though. It could perhaps only be this one woman who is causing all the trouble - it could be that the other staff are very nice people, but seeing as you only saw her, it does taint your view a bit. And if your cats claws came back disgusting, I'd definitely question the hygiene, because indor cats wouldn't get THAT horrid from just being indoors in a cage recovering from surgery. Disgusting claws would either suggest that the cat has been outside, or the conditions in the vetinary surgery are downright unaccaptable.
 

sar

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Post op check-ups tend to be just for the girls, as their surgery is more invasive. You only need to take your boy for a check up if he is paying too much attention to the area and you feel it may be getting infected!

I'm sorry you had such a terrible experience at this vet.. My practice is pretty similar, but it is one of the only nationally registered ones in my area. My vet used to be a bit stand-off-ish, but now he is fantastic and very caring - so I'm happy with that now.

The reception staff and nurses are often much to be desired, but to have a good vet, I will put up with them.

I would certainly write to the head office and explain about the treatment you received from the practice and definitely point out the dirt on poor Sleeve's feet - that's not a good thing at all!


Good luck with it!
 

stampit3d

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I`m real sorry that you and Sleeves had to deal with this woman and that place!
I would not go back there EVER again either...but I`d copy and paste the post you put here on TCS (You worded it very perfectly!) and print it out a few times. Send one to them (if this woman is just giving them a bad name, then they may want to know, but I`d also CALL there and ask to speak directly to the vet, as, if she happens to be the one to open the mail, then someone in higher authority there might never see the letter, if you get my drift)
I`d send one to your own vet too (or hand them one and also talk with them about it...they may not want to recommend this surgery place again to any of their clients) PLEASE also send one, backed up by at least a phone call, if possible, to the RSPCA so they can check out the cleanliness situation....my gosh...they are doing surgeries there!!!
If you do not know how to contact the RSPCA for your area, I`m sure there is someone here that can tell you.
I hope that Sleeves is feeling OK today...I suspect that he is doing better with it all than you are....but watch for any signs of infection and get him to your own vet if you notice anything. (I`m a bit worried about the germs in this place.)
Pets to Sleeves and a ((hug)) to you!
Please let us know how this all turns out. At the very least I hope this woman get fired (as she is definatly in the wrong profession ) and I hope the place gets a check over from the proper authorities.
Your actions now may keep this, or worse, from happening to someone elses pet and owner.
Linda
 
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pombina

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At least now I know Im not just being over-protective, I had a feeling everyone might come back and say its normal to feel like this...
It was actually the 2 women I spoke to that both had attitude problems. It was the receptionist that I spoke to on the phone at 2pm who was abrupt and also made the comment when I arrived so it seems that its normal in there to be rude...
Ill write the letter this weekend for definate. Im sure Sleeves doesnt know whats going on, I really hope so anyway. I just feel like its traumatic enough when you are so in love with your animals and want the best for them but some people just don't respect that...
 

purity

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I don't think you're being over protective at all, it's a stressful experience taking your cat in to any vet let alone one that you have misgivings about. I would write and explain if I were you, like others have said the actual vet may not know how awful his/her assistant is.

My boys were neutered a coupld of weeks ago and I didn't need to take them back at all unless there were complications or infections (which there were, but if there hadn't been then there would have been no need for a post op checkup).
 

gardenandcats

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Sorry to hear you and your cat had such a bad experience at the vets. printing out your post and sending it to this vet is a good idea. I sure would not go back there ever again. People that work for the vet ,,vet assistant ect need to be animal lovers and sure sounds like this is just a job for this lady. And she needs to find one she is more suited for!
 

fatkitties

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I agree that this lady doesn't sound like she loves animals, which means she is in the WRONG profession! Who cares how far you drove? It's what you do when you care about your animal. I get the feeling that this lady probably likes dogs, but not cats, since she said "a long way to drive for a cat." Makes me feel like its acceptable to drive that far for other animals.
I would definitely make a complaint, and take him to your regular vet and have them check thoroughly to make sure there's no sign of infection or anything. With as dirty as he came back, I'd be seriously concerned about how clean their operating room was, and the possibility of infection.

Amber
 

gailc

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The unclean conditions would worry me too.
I've been in most of the room at my vet's clinic and they are pretty spotless.
I would lodge a complaint against the place.
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by GailC

The unclean conditions would worry me too.
I've been in most of the room at my vet's clinic and they are pretty spotless.
I would lodge a complaint against the place.
Sleeves came out of there with dirty feet???????? NO EXCUSE for that! Definately report them to your own vet and to the RSPCA! (I'm glad Sleeves is fine).
 

eburgess

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I would tell your regular vet about that place and the people there.
 
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pombina

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Thanks everyone
Im going to call the RSPCA tomorrow and just let them know of my experience and they can go for a look if they like, but then I'll write a letter to my usual vet anyway so it will surely be investigated by them.
Sleeves seems fine this evening so Im thankful for that. He's running around and cuddling like normal.
This kind of thing just makes you realise how much they mean to you and how much you love them
 

jcat

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Originally Posted by Pombina

Thanks everyone
Im going to call the RSPCA tomorrow and just let them know of my experience and they can go for a look if they like, but then I'll write a letter to my usual vet anyway so it will surely be investigated by them.
Sleeves seems fine this evening so I'm thankful for that. He's running around and cuddling like normal.
This kind of thing just makes you realise how much they mean to you and how much you love them
I think it's a good idea to inform the RSPCA and your usual vet of your experience - it might save another pet's life. I'm glad to hear that Sleeves is back to normal - the boys seem to bounce right back, don't they?
 
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