Bad Vet Experience

Cocoa at Electric City Animal Clinic
Bad vet experience. Those are three words that make me cringe. This is going to be a long one, dear readers. Then I want you to share any bad vet experiences you've had with your cats.
Cocoa is pictured here at the clinic who is trying to help him.
I really don't know where to begin this story, so I'll start WAY back in the last century. Here's the link to that story. Sadly, it was the same vet who did this to my cats who I was forced to see on Monday when I took Cocoa in. I didn't know my regular vet was out sick.
Let me describe what's going on with my beautiful boy. He won't eat a bite unless it's fed to him mixed with lots of water and through a syringe. He practically gags at the sight of a plate of food. This has been going on for a week now. In case you hadn't read an earlier article about him, he has no claws and only one tooth in his head.
Did I mention I had a wreck on the way to the vet Monday? This just keeps getting worse and worse. I not only wrecked my car, but I arrived at the vet only to find my vet out with an attack of appendicitis. The practice owner saw my Cocoa.
I explained the symptoms and double checked as this vet looked inside Cocoa's mouth. Everything looked fine on that end. This vet then suggested I "wait several days and make Cocoa get really hungry." Then he repeated "there's nothing wrong with him," followed by "no charge for today".
I really need to stop writing for a moment and break something. Do any of you know how frustrating it is to know something is very wrong with your cat and no one wants to believe you?
On Tuesday I drove my battered body in my battered car to my hometown. There's a clinic called Electric City Animal Clinic. I think I'm going to transfer my cats over to them as they open at 7a.m.
I had to drop my daughter off at her grandmother's nearby and just stopped in to see if the vet had time to see my big boy. They worked him in. The first thing the assistant noticed was severe upper respiratory congestion. Then she took his temperature (no fever) and listened to his chest. The vet examined my monster boy (he weighs almost 14 lbs.) and told me he believes Cocoa won't eat because he's too congested to smell his food.
Now for another shocker: Cocoa is a senior cat. Didn't see that one coming. He's had a lot of years to practice that loving.
His new vet prescribed antibiotic liquid, a steroid nose drop and an IV to replace some of the fluids he'd lost. Cocoa has to go for a recheck on Monday and it was suggested that if he doesn't improve quickly blood work needs to be done.
Sure, I had a bill for this service. But at least I got service. NOT some vet who didn't think my kitty was worth more than a few minutes of his time.
I watched the faces of some of the other clients at the first vet. They looked grief-stricken for lack of a better word. Like I said, the other vet in the practice is GREAT. Too bad the owner hasn't learned a thing or two from him.
I also spoke with some of the clients where Cocoa's condition was finally taken more seriously. They offered only praise for this clinic. Word of mouth goes a long way in my neck of the woods.
It's also the best method in my area to fight bad vets. Reporting them to veterinary associations does little good. Most of these are older vets who refuse to change with the times. Merchant Circle and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are more effective.
I do have a chip-in here for Cocoa. I don't know what kind of treatment or tests he'll be needing in the future. I plan to do the best I can for him.
I just hope no one finds out it's "bring your cat to work day." Yes, he's sitting in his duffel bag carrier by my work station.
As I write this, Cocoa watches me from his carrier. He's refusing the water and the can of food I placed in there for him. It's entirely possible my boss will walk in on me cradling and syringe feeding a cat. Now THAT would be a story to tell his children.
I hope I NEVER have to go through anything like this again. It's agonizing! And the sad thing is this first vet has a very steady clientele because he's been practicing for about 50 years now. People brag on how great he is! I wonder if he prefers some pets and shoo's off the rest as insignificant?
Have any of you had a bad vet experience? What happened and what did you do about it? There are days like Monday when I don't see how I've lived 50 years without being arrested.
Elisa
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