I need a vet for my Susie...she is a twenty one year old siamese cat who is totally spoiled. She is very lovable with everyone who comes to visit. She's not so lovable when she goes to the vet and is scared. We have avoided vet visits for a few years now as the last trip tramatized her pretty badly. (poor thing had to have an enema) She is showing her age now and meowing at nights. She appears to have good quality of life...spends lots of time cuddling and purring with me and hubby. I know she needs to be evaluated to see if there is something we can do to make her more comfortable - she walks pretty stiffly and can't jump anymore. My problem...I'm not sure I have confidence in my vet at the moment. We lost our beautiful puppy Nugget on April 1/03. She was a little four month old Pom. She had an accident and broke her leg. I got the call at work and called ahead to the vet's to say we were comming. The girl at the front desk kept telling me she couldn't fit us in. My first instinct was to go elsewhere but I had liked the way the vet interacted with her when she was in for her first checkup and shots. This was Friday...she was kept in the clinic and operated on Saturaday night for her broken leg...the vet said that she needed a bone plate...he found that the little bones did not heal well without them. She was released Sunday and was so happy to be home. She was coughing a bit but we thought it was from the tube that was down her throat during surgery...by the next day she was having problems breathing...we took her back and she was put in an incubator with oxygen. She had fluid on her lungs. She was given lasix and steroids but her antibiotics were discontinued...one of the vets thought she might be having an alergic reaction or that maybe they had missed a heart problem and that it had enlarged. I wanted to take her home so bad but I tried to do the right thing for her. They were going to do more x-rays the next morning...she died during the night all alone. They told us the autopsy showed she had an pneaumoina (spelling?) and had flem from her lungs in her trachea...I'm not sure why they didn't do the x-rays when we brought her in...maybe then they could have treated her agressivly for the pneaumonia instead of discontinuing her antibotics.
What do you suggest I ask a vet to know if they know their stuff...
Chosing a vet
I'm sorry to hear about your pup, that must have been a very difficult time for you.
First, you can read How to Choose a Vet, and opt for looking for a new vet. No matter how hard they may or may not try for the patient, your instincts should come first. If you have not been happy with your current vet in the past, it's time to seek a new one, and right now I might add; I would also seek a feline-only vet where your kitty is concerned.
Your kitty is depending on you to get her examined completely, I also strongly suggest a full geriatric blood profile, this should be done at anytime after 6 or 7 years of age, and followup bloodwork yearly. Older kitties are predisposed to a variety of illnesses, so catching them and treating them effectively early on will prevent you and your kitty much heartache, cost, and suffering. Many of those illnesses can be effectively treated and maintained as long as they are caught early and you follow up as your vet advises.
Rather than put off the exams, think instead of your kitty, and her predisposition to certain disease factors. She's depending on you to care for her with your utmost concern for her health in her senior years. We owe it to our senior pets to do more. No pet likes to go to the vet, but that's a part of their care and prevention of disease.
As for the approach your vet took with your pup, we don't know the full story, don't know what he offered you in the form of additional diagnostics or if he did offer, that you may have declined them. X-rays should always be an option when a fracture is present, and for a surgery that invasive, your vet might have opted for complete pre-surgical blood profiliing prior to the surgery, to make certain the pup was a good anesthesia candidate. Presurg blood screening monitors liver and kidney function. Had he suspected a heart condition, he might have been able to detect that upon the initial exam, or upon listening closely to heart and lung sounds. I'm sure he did that, as it's an essential part of any exam, but sometimes, a heart condition is missed, or not explored further if there are no accompanying symptoms or complaints from the owner.
Pneumonia can occur due to the tracheal tube inserted incorrectly. That may have been a potential cause, but in my experience, that is extremely rare. Another problem could have been insufficient sterilization of the tube prior to intubation, which bacteria could have therefore entered the lungs or chest cavity, causing fluid and infection. This too is rare, but it can occur. Had your vet suspected either of these problems, he would have discussed them with you.
Sometimes we don't know the cause, and sometimes we have no control over the unexpected. However, again, if you are at any time uncertain about your vet's capabilities or have been displeased in the past, trust your instincts and find a NEW vet ASAP.
Your focus now should be on getting your kitty seen ASAP.
First, you can read How to Choose a Vet, and opt for looking for a new vet. No matter how hard they may or may not try for the patient, your instincts should come first. If you have not been happy with your current vet in the past, it's time to seek a new one, and right now I might add; I would also seek a feline-only vet where your kitty is concerned.
Your kitty is depending on you to get her examined completely, I also strongly suggest a full geriatric blood profile, this should be done at anytime after 6 or 7 years of age, and followup bloodwork yearly. Older kitties are predisposed to a variety of illnesses, so catching them and treating them effectively early on will prevent you and your kitty much heartache, cost, and suffering. Many of those illnesses can be effectively treated and maintained as long as they are caught early and you follow up as your vet advises.
Rather than put off the exams, think instead of your kitty, and her predisposition to certain disease factors. She's depending on you to care for her with your utmost concern for her health in her senior years. We owe it to our senior pets to do more. No pet likes to go to the vet, but that's a part of their care and prevention of disease.
As for the approach your vet took with your pup, we don't know the full story, don't know what he offered you in the form of additional diagnostics or if he did offer, that you may have declined them. X-rays should always be an option when a fracture is present, and for a surgery that invasive, your vet might have opted for complete pre-surgical blood profiliing prior to the surgery, to make certain the pup was a good anesthesia candidate. Presurg blood screening monitors liver and kidney function. Had he suspected a heart condition, he might have been able to detect that upon the initial exam, or upon listening closely to heart and lung sounds. I'm sure he did that, as it's an essential part of any exam, but sometimes, a heart condition is missed, or not explored further if there are no accompanying symptoms or complaints from the owner.
Pneumonia can occur due to the tracheal tube inserted incorrectly. That may have been a potential cause, but in my experience, that is extremely rare. Another problem could have been insufficient sterilization of the tube prior to intubation, which bacteria could have therefore entered the lungs or chest cavity, causing fluid and infection. This too is rare, but it can occur. Had your vet suspected either of these problems, he would have discussed them with you.
Sometimes we don't know the cause, and sometimes we have no control over the unexpected. However, again, if you are at any time uncertain about your vet's capabilities or have been displeased in the past, trust your instincts and find a NEW vet ASAP.
Your focus now should be on getting your kitty seen ASAP.
..........Traci
-
oconnorjoy
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2003 12:06 pm
- Location: Canada
Thanks Traci
Thank you for your response Traci...you're right...sometimes we just don't know...I did tell the vet to do whatever needed to be done as far as tests etc for Nugget...I did not turn down any tests...I also know that anything that was done for Nugget was done with the best of intentions. She was so trusting and sweet...all the people at the office loved her. I just feel that she shouldn't have died...I would have gladly paid whatever to have the proper tests done on her when she was sick instead of finding out what was wrong to late.
My Susie had all her blood work done through a jugular test the last time she was in as an inpatient. This was done at a vet's clinic in Nova Scotia, the other side of the country. We were going to school there at the time. Do you think they would fax me the results so I could bring them to Susie's new vet?
I am going to an open house for a new clinic that opened recently here on Saturday. The vet who runs it has a good reputation. People I work go to her and are happy. I think I'll go and see her and find out what she's like.
Thanks again....ps..how do I post pictures on the other pages...I'll post an adorable one of Nugget and Susie together.
My Susie had all her blood work done through a jugular test the last time she was in as an inpatient. This was done at a vet's clinic in Nova Scotia, the other side of the country. We were going to school there at the time. Do you think they would fax me the results so I could bring them to Susie's new vet?
I am going to an open house for a new clinic that opened recently here on Saturday. The vet who runs it has a good reputation. People I work go to her and are happy. I think I'll go and see her and find out what she's like.
Thanks again....ps..how do I post pictures on the other pages...I'll post an adorable one of Nugget and Susie together.
just an adendum...whenever i had clients moving and
they would ask me about a vet in their future domaine, i could look one up in the directory but always told people to ask pet owners when they saw them either in the park or walking on the street. then when you pick or get the opinions, walk in and talk to the vet and assay his attitude and facilities...my brother was also a vet and i would not even reccomend him, course i would throw his name out when clients moved to stuart Fl. but again i told them the same thing, ie ask pet owners..
Yep, NS is a long way from you now, otherwise, I would have suggested PEI...
Depending on what those results were and when they were done will depend on the relevancy to her exam NOW. If those results were normal, you probably don't have to request them being sent to your new vet. However, if there were ANY inconsistencies with those results at the time, no matter how slight, it would be a good idea to ask your new vet to call and ask them to fax Susie's records. If you can also remember any of your last vet's comments about her exam or previous bloodwork, that would come in handy as well.
Blood taken from the jugular is the preferred method for collecting a larger amount of blood. This way, more blood can be drawn in the quickest amount of time and can be used for several tests, i.e., chemistry profile, hematology, CBC, or any antibody tests, etc. An adept tech or vet can do this with ease, including handling kitty with the least amount of stress or discomfort. Done adeptly and correctly, it only takes a few seconds.
As for pics, they must first reside on a website (not your computer), see the FAQ's section for more on posting pics.
Depending on what those results were and when they were done will depend on the relevancy to her exam NOW. If those results were normal, you probably don't have to request them being sent to your new vet. However, if there were ANY inconsistencies with those results at the time, no matter how slight, it would be a good idea to ask your new vet to call and ask them to fax Susie's records. If you can also remember any of your last vet's comments about her exam or previous bloodwork, that would come in handy as well.
Blood taken from the jugular is the preferred method for collecting a larger amount of blood. This way, more blood can be drawn in the quickest amount of time and can be used for several tests, i.e., chemistry profile, hematology, CBC, or any antibody tests, etc. An adept tech or vet can do this with ease, including handling kitty with the least amount of stress or discomfort. Done adeptly and correctly, it only takes a few seconds.
As for pics, they must first reside on a website (not your computer), see the FAQ's section for more on posting pics.
..........Traci
Re: just an adendum...whenever i had clients moving and
And also in your local grocery store in the pet aisle!! It's easy to strike up a conversation with someone in the pet aisle, chances are, you'll either meet a total weirdo or someone with experiencedavet wrote:they would ask me about a vet in their future domaine, i could look one up in the directory but always told people to ask pet owners when they saw them either in the park or walking on the street. then when you pick or get the opinions, walk in and talk to the vet and assay his attitude and facilities....
..........Traci