Something my vet did

I've been going to the same vet for almost six years and have been impressed with her skills and compassion, but I heard about something she did from one of the vet techs I know and it's really bothering me. Apparently a cat nipped at, not bit, its owner one time and she brought it in and requested my vet extract all the cats teeth. My vet did it, even though her staff tried to talk her out of it. She claimed she had to do what the owner requested. To me, this was just unnecessary and cruel. At least the owner didn't request the cat be PTS. I've had always had a lot of respect for my vet and appreciate the excellent care she's given my cats, but this really changes how I feel about her. It's got me thinking about finding a new vet. The tech who told me about it is looking for a new job. What do you guys think?

Honestly, I'd ask the vet herself.

Nothing worse than losing reputation and rapport over hearsay.
It's quite possible that her techs are upset with her over something completely unrelated.

Maybe the extraction took place, maybe there were other factors involved, such as bad teeth.
Maybe none of it ever happened.

I would ask the vet personally if the story is true or not. If it is..I would be changing vets and letting her know why. Just because a customer asks you to do something doesn't mean you have to if it goes against your own beliefs.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Honestly, I'd ask the vet herself.

Nothing worse than losing reputation and rapport over hearsay.
It's quite possible that her techs are upset with her over something completely unrelated.

Maybe the extraction took place, maybe there were other factors involved, such as bad teeth.
Maybe none of it ever happened.

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Excellent point. Thanks! I need to have all the facts before making any decisions. If it's true, I'll be looking for a new vet.

Eileen, thats really too bad about your vet. Especially if you've been going to her for so long. If its true, I personally don't think that she should have done that - even if it was what the owner wanted, I couldn't go against my personal beliefs, knowing it was so wrong!


I hope that you can get the facts straight from her, and you can continue going to her. If not - good luck finding a new vet!

Get the facts straight, it sounded like the vet tech is trying to turn customers away as a revenge

A lot of people like to retaliate (sp) maybe the tec hates the vet enough to lie about it. I would personally ask the Vet. Maybe keep it under-wraps who told you.

OMG i hope this isn't another procedure like declawing But yes have a word with them Eileen just to make sure.

I agree hear what happened from the source not a 3rd party!!

That's a disturbing story, to be sure. Definitely check it out with the vet herself. You may not have been given the whole story, and she is entitled to speak in her own defence. You'll know from her response whether you want to continue dealing with her, and whatever you decide it will be based on more than hearsay.

I feel bad now that I'm doubting my vet and that I just automatically believed the tech. I was just so shocked by what she said and reacting to the situation. Definitely need to clarify things directly with my vet. Just have to figure out how to bring it up without letting on how I heard about it. Maybe pose it as a "what if" kind of thing?

Originally Posted by eilcon

I feel bad now that I'm doubting my vet and that I just automatically believed the tech. I was just so shocked by what she said and reacting to the situation. Definitely need to clarify things directly with my vet. Just have to figure out how to bring it up without letting on how I heard about it. Maybe pose it as a "what if" kind of thing?

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I would just tell her that you heard from "someone" about what happened and you just wanted to get the true facts straight beacuse you were concerned. She should understand, and hopefully tell you the full truth!

I really hope you don't have to find a new vet, Eileen!

Originally Posted by babyharley

I would just tell her that you heard from "someone" about what happened and you just wanted to get the true facts straight beacuse you were concerned. She should understand, and hopefully tell you the full truth!

I really hope you don't have to find a new vet, Eileen!

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Yeah, you're right. Better to be direct about it. This is just a really awkward situation!

Originally Posted by eilcon

Yeah, you're right. Better to be direct about it. This is just a really awkward situation!

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Thats so true, and thats no good that you have to deal with something like this. Especially when you really do have a great vet that you've been going to for six years!

I really hope that its not true!

maybe you should ,ake her go to confession to get the truth out?


its also a way

Originally Posted by fwan

maybe you should ,ake her go to confession to get the truth out?


its also a way

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Or I could sprinkle her with the "all powerful" holy water and it would force her to tell the truth!

Okay, now I'm just getting silly.

Don't beat around and say I heard something that really bothers me and I would like to get it sorted out.

Originally Posted by eilcon

Or I could sprinkle her with the "all powerful" holy water and it would force her to tell the truth!

Okay, now I'm just getting silly.

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What about that gold rope that Wonderwoman uses? LOL

Actually, I agree with those who said you don't know the whole story. I could speculate on a lot of things. What if the owner had a baby and it was that or get rid of the cat?

What if the people wanted the cat PTS and the vet talked them out of it by suggesting this as an alternative to keep it alive and in a home?

Maybe the tech didn't hear the whole story and the cat had a gum disease of some kind.

There are lots of reasons, good or bad, why the vet could have done that, if he or she in fact did.

Also, if the tech was so concerned, why are they still there?

However, I have also heard that a vet is, at least in some states, required to do what an owner asks, if they cannot be talked out of it. I was told that by the woman I work with from my local rescue group when I told her I wished I had been able to go to veterinary school when I was younger, and she was pointing out some of the negative sides of being a vet, so there would have been no reason for her to make that up.

On the other hand, if that vet told you the story, I wouldn't trust the vet even more, because shouldn't those kinds of things be confidential. I would be more suspect of the tech who was breaking confidentiality and had no business telling you anything about the vet or another client. If he or she had concerns about the vet, the proper, responsible thing to do would have been to contact the local animal control agency or veterinary board.

If you've been using that vet for a long time, and trust her, you could ask her. I doubt she'd tell you, unless she explains it in a very general way, if she does at all. I would say if you trust her to be a good and humane vet, maybe you might consider trusting not only her, but your own original judgement.

The last thing you want is trouble with the vet. What if the tech loses his or her job because you've asked, and now you've got another problem to deal with.

I'd think about it a little more, or perhaps try to get more information before asking.

I've gotten in too much trouble in the past myself for saying too much too soon. LOL

keep us posted on this, i'm very interested to hear the outcome!

I think we all are....