... they have a problem with staffing, and getting someone to return a call in a timely manner didn't happened today.
Gray had a visit on 9/30/10 - they gave him Convenia antibiotics.
Just like clock-work - he started sneezing about 6 days afterward - all stressed out from the visit, I suppose.
Friday night I found him drooling, so I quarantined him away into the laundry room. He and his family (mommy and two of her kids) are already separated from the other 4 cats in our home. About the only spaces I have left to quarantine a cat is a closet.
Our vet isn't open on Sunday - so, in an effort to be pro-active in Gray's medical care (he has been diagnosed with FIV) I contacted the vet office.
When I called, neither of his two Vets were in on Saturday - and, they were short-staffed according to the reception person I spoke with.
So, I left a message for the first available vet to call me. Mostly I needed information (and reassurance) as to how much the Convenia's help might be with fighting any potential respiratory infection.
That was at 9:00 a.m.
Since I had left a message like this a couple of months ago, and hadn't received a return call, I decided that I would call again. Two hours later I called back to confirm that someone would call me, and the reception person assured me that I would get a call back, and, that the office didn't close until 5 p.m..
At 4:30 p.m., with no call back yet, I called again, and left a message for the office manager, who is also Gray's vet - telling her about my day's experience. I told her that I wasn't optimistic that someone was going to call me before closing - and for her to call me on Monday. I had checked - she was to be in on Monday.
Now, if Gray was showing symptoms of deep distress - my conversations with Reception would have been more forceful - but, as I had been told earlier, they were short staffed and each of the vets there were in appointments - so, unless I was desperate for Gray, I pretty much knew that even if I went up there with him that I wouldn't be satisfied, and then - Gray would be stressed even more.
The owners of the VCA office I go to have taken the summer off - but they are about to be unhappy with the information I'm about to give them. I like the office manager, and I like it that the office manager is my Vet - but maybe she needs help in getting the owners to hire more staff. I do know that one of the owners told me they were having trouble getting people to work on the weekends, or enough to get a staff for emergency hours.
Fortunately, IF Gray is worse tomorrow, I do have an Emergency Vet option - a good one - but, we're talking another $300.00 I'm sure.
Gray: I'd be holding him on my lap right now, but the interaction with me causes him to purr, then more sneezing and loud breathing - so, I have limited my time with him. He has eaten some today - tonight I fixed chicken with juices to give to him - he tried to sniff it, but I don't thing he ate/drank any yet. I really hope that the Convenia IS helping him right now, and will hold him - maybe even enough to help him over the cold.
Gray Family: and all the others - praying that no one else get the cold - especially his "wife" and kids - 'cause she's still got a lot of Feral in her and the thought of trying to get her into a carrier - well, let's just say, I'm not thinking about it.
The family has been confined inside now for only a few days - I keep telling them they are INSIDE cats now - but, they don't want to believe me.
Gray had a visit on 9/30/10 - they gave him Convenia antibiotics.
Just like clock-work - he started sneezing about 6 days afterward - all stressed out from the visit, I suppose.
Friday night I found him drooling, so I quarantined him away into the laundry room. He and his family (mommy and two of her kids) are already separated from the other 4 cats in our home. About the only spaces I have left to quarantine a cat is a closet.
Our vet isn't open on Sunday - so, in an effort to be pro-active in Gray's medical care (he has been diagnosed with FIV) I contacted the vet office.
When I called, neither of his two Vets were in on Saturday - and, they were short-staffed according to the reception person I spoke with.
So, I left a message for the first available vet to call me. Mostly I needed information (and reassurance) as to how much the Convenia's help might be with fighting any potential respiratory infection.
That was at 9:00 a.m.
Since I had left a message like this a couple of months ago, and hadn't received a return call, I decided that I would call again. Two hours later I called back to confirm that someone would call me, and the reception person assured me that I would get a call back, and, that the office didn't close until 5 p.m..
At 4:30 p.m., with no call back yet, I called again, and left a message for the office manager, who is also Gray's vet - telling her about my day's experience. I told her that I wasn't optimistic that someone was going to call me before closing - and for her to call me on Monday. I had checked - she was to be in on Monday.
Now, if Gray was showing symptoms of deep distress - my conversations with Reception would have been more forceful - but, as I had been told earlier, they were short staffed and each of the vets there were in appointments - so, unless I was desperate for Gray, I pretty much knew that even if I went up there with him that I wouldn't be satisfied, and then - Gray would be stressed even more.
The owners of the VCA office I go to have taken the summer off - but they are about to be unhappy with the information I'm about to give them. I like the office manager, and I like it that the office manager is my Vet - but maybe she needs help in getting the owners to hire more staff. I do know that one of the owners told me they were having trouble getting people to work on the weekends, or enough to get a staff for emergency hours.
Fortunately, IF Gray is worse tomorrow, I do have an Emergency Vet option - a good one - but, we're talking another $300.00 I'm sure.
Gray: I'd be holding him on my lap right now, but the interaction with me causes him to purr, then more sneezing and loud breathing - so, I have limited my time with him. He has eaten some today - tonight I fixed chicken with juices to give to him - he tried to sniff it, but I don't thing he ate/drank any yet. I really hope that the Convenia IS helping him right now, and will hold him - maybe even enough to help him over the cold.
Gray Family: and all the others - praying that no one else get the cold - especially his "wife" and kids - 'cause she's still got a lot of Feral in her and the thought of trying to get her into a carrier - well, let's just say, I'm not thinking about it.