I just came back from taking my one year old cat to the vet for his yearly check-up/shots. He was in my lap when the Vet and vet tech came in the exam room. Without talking to him for a minute or giving him a chance to sniff her hands the vet tech grabbed him by the scruff and pulled him out of my lap. He swiped at her and she got a small scratch, barely visible, on her nose. The Vet made a big fuss about looking to see if she was really scratched until she finally saw it. The Vet then stated that since Jazz is not being cooperative she will give him his shots and listen to his heart. She asked me if he was indoors, if he had any symptoms, gave the shots, listened to his heart for a second and said OK, anything else? I said, you aren't going to really examine him and she said, no, we already have a bleeder. As they left the room she told the tech lets go clean up that scratch.
When I checked out, I asked to speak to the head Vet, who I usually see, she will be away until next week. I said I had no problem paying for the shots and fecal test but that I didn't feel I should pay for the exam he didn't get. The girl went to speak to the Vet who said I agreed to pay for an exam and she listened to his heart and I have to pay for it. I saw no point in arguing with the receptionist and left a message for the head Vet to call me next week.
So, is it me??? Shouldn't a Vet's office know how to handle animals and be able to deal with a cat scratch and still give an exam? The Vet I used previously in another state for a different cat always had me put her on the table and hold her. I would have done that this time, but the tech just swooped him up. Who does that to a strange cat unless they know how to "scruff" a cat properly?
Anyway, it's not about the $, I wanted my boy to get a real exam, I want to keep him healthy! Even the heart check she did was 2 seconds, he is a Ragdoll and they are prone to heart problems, I doubt she could have heard anything that quickly.
So, please tell me, is it normal for a Vet to do this? And also, don't alot of cats do this type of thing at the Vets office and shouldn't they know how to examine them anyway? What if he was sick?
I would love advice before I speak to the head doctor. Thank you
When I checked out, I asked to speak to the head Vet, who I usually see, she will be away until next week. I said I had no problem paying for the shots and fecal test but that I didn't feel I should pay for the exam he didn't get. The girl went to speak to the Vet who said I agreed to pay for an exam and she listened to his heart and I have to pay for it. I saw no point in arguing with the receptionist and left a message for the head Vet to call me next week.
So, is it me??? Shouldn't a Vet's office know how to handle animals and be able to deal with a cat scratch and still give an exam? The Vet I used previously in another state for a different cat always had me put her on the table and hold her. I would have done that this time, but the tech just swooped him up. Who does that to a strange cat unless they know how to "scruff" a cat properly?
Anyway, it's not about the $, I wanted my boy to get a real exam, I want to keep him healthy! Even the heart check she did was 2 seconds, he is a Ragdoll and they are prone to heart problems, I doubt she could have heard anything that quickly.
So, please tell me, is it normal for a Vet to do this? And also, don't alot of cats do this type of thing at the Vets office and shouldn't they know how to examine them anyway? What if he was sick?
I would love advice before I speak to the head doctor. Thank you