Kari from Hound Girl had a post this morning entitled, “Breaking up with your vet.” I started writing my comment and realized I had an entire post.
Once upon a time, I broke up with my vet. Here’s how it happened.
We used the same vet for Sampson that we had used with our previous dog, Roxanne.
After Delilah joined our pack I had a bad experience with our vet. Delilah went into heat three months after joining us. I was stunned as the rescue group had presented her as having been spayed.
We discussed with the vet when is the best time to spay Delilah and decided to wait a couple of months after she had finished her cycle.
We were in the process of buying our current house and scheduled it so Delilah would be fixed and come home to the new house.
The day of the closing dawned and as much as it pained me, I couldn’t give Delilah any breakfast. I was very worried about how this would affect her, since she is such a food hound, but she survived it. I dropped her off at the vet and then Sampson off at daycare and headed back to the house to pack up our bedroom.
In short fashion the vet’s office called saying Delilah’s urine test came back indicating a urinary tract infection and they couldn’t do the surgery.
Could I come and get her.
I couldn’t. I literally was in the middle of moving. In retrospect there was probably something I could have done, but in that moment I couldn’t think.
After lots of yelling on my part, I finally convinced them to give her some food and water, Hubby picked her up on his way to the new house after the closing and we rescheduled the surgery for after she’d completed her round of antibiotics.
We scheduled the surgery for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We knew the vet’s office would keep her overnight and we would be home with her for the next four days.
I remember being upset with the vet for not letting her come home the day of the surgery, the vet said she had to stay quiet so as not to tear her stitches. I asked if someone was staying with her and they said no. At this point I felt she would be better off with me, who would stay with her throughout the night and even share a bed with her. But they said no.
I swear upon all that is holy that what I’m about to write is the God’s Honest Truth. When the vet called me after the surgery she said she had to cut Delilah “from stem to stern” that there was a lot of fat in there because she’d apparently had a litter of puppies and she called her a “behemoth.”
Her poor belly. She ended up with the stitches irritating her and slightly infected.
I don’t know how you feel about this, personally I can call my dog anything I want, but NO-ONE, especially a vet calls my dog a behemoth. I don’t care if my dog is 50 pounds overweight, YOU don’t get to call her names.
When we went for the follow-up visit the vet said to her vet tech, “This was my spay from hell.”
OMFG are you kidding me?
I didn’t say anything, I was too stunned. But I did make sure to have the vet squeeze Delilah’s glands and Delilah let her know emphatically that she was out of line in doing so. The vet commented on how hard Delilah was squeezing her back-end around the vet’s finger. I can almost guarantee she was channeling my anger.
A short time later, Sampson had an appointment with the owner of the practice and I brought my concern of the unprofessional vet to his attention.
It was a while ago and I can’t remember what he said, but it didn’t appease me. So I switched vets.
I love my current vet. She is holistic, she answers any questions I have and is very honest with me about what vaccines she feels the dogs should have. I have recommended her to anyone who has asked and will continue to do so.
When Delilah was having her episodes, they were very open to anything and everything and had no problem consulting with outside vets at my request.
If they hadn’t been open to alternative treatments Delilah would more than likely be on medication for epilepsy right now.
You’d change Dr.’s if you weren’t satisfied with yours, right? Don’t be afraid to change vets if you aren’t happy with the care you are getting for your pet.
Just Be The Dog.
Holy crap, Jodi. Sounds like you had the vet from hell! I’d definitely switch after an experience like that. I’ve dropped human doctors and dentists for less.
She was absolutely out of line and I would never tolerate that kind of behavior from a professional.
I love my vets! Even if they need to comment they do it very tactfully; when I had to leave Riva to have her OFA hip x-rays done and I returned to pick her up I asked how she was and the tech said well she was a little out of sorts, when I knew she was actually very snarky 😉
All I can think to write is grrrrrrrrrr . . . my blood is boiling for you!!!! We had a “minor” experience at the vet when Candy was getting spayed. There are several vets at this practice and the older one picked Candy up and immediately put his hand in her mouth and she growled and snipped at him. Then the vets labeled her as a “biter”. Seriously, Candy is the most gentle, sweetest dog I have ever known. The girls at the desk kept apologizing but our feelings were hurt that someone would call our sweet girl a “biter”. Seriously, IF there were another vet in the area, we would have moved right then and there. However, ever since they’ve been wonderful with all three of our girls. Can’t think of what to end this with except, grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I don’t know who to be more pissed off at, the vet or the rescue group that lied to you.
Wow – First of all, I can’t believe that they kept her over night – interesting. I wouldn’t be happy about her being all alone either. I have no words for the way the vet behaved – SO UNPROFESSIONAL. I guess she missed the class on bedside manner and tact. I would have switched vets too. I will only go to a vet that will listen to my concerns and discuss options – sounds like your new vet is a keeper. 🙂
Haha! I wrote a novella on HoundGirl’s blog! I’m not afraid to change vets. Our current vet told us Georgia was fat a while back. (And she was. Not any more though.) He said it directly, but nicely and I love him for it. Behemoth is rude and unprofessional language.
Did you ever call the rescue group to give them a big scold?
First of all, the rescue group was horribly irresponsible to let a dog go that hadn’t been spayed. That’s how a lot of oops litters happen when owners think they have a neutered dog.
I’ve been able to bring home all of my dogs on the day of surgery, I’ve never heard of making them stay over especially if there was no one to watch them. I’m hoping your old vet finds another occupation, like road work that fits their sensitivities.
That’s horrible! You definitely did the right thing by finding a different vet. I’m so glad that you have a vet that you like now.
That sounds like a horrible experience. Unfortunately there are a lot of bad vets out there. You might find this funny. The vet practice that we go to is very good. (They even have an orthopedic vet on staff.) I think there are like 6 vets because they are a large practice open 7 days. I like all but one of the vets. Usually I call to see which vets are seeing patients before I go. It is walk in but you can request to see a specific vet. When we discovered the growth on Storm’s gum I sort of freaked and ran her right to the vet which was crammed full of people waiting. Because I was freaking I waited too. 🙂 One of the vets working that night I like a lot and so does Storm. The other vet Storm does not like at all. He wrote a note on her permanent record after she scratched him while he was trying to cut her nails. OK she was a pain and he was bleeding. 🙂 Imagine my surprise when most of the people there that night were requesting to see the vet that we do not care for and not the one we like! At least we didn’t have to wait as long as they did, but I was like WTF! 🙂
I would have NO problem changing VETS if I had a bad experience.
Good on you for doing the right thing for yourself and your dogs. I would have been out of there too.
We actually switched vets ourself over a year ago as we just weren’t getting a lot of personal attention. We only really go once a year and when we do I expect a vet to look at our pets for more than three seconds before jabbing them with a few needles and collecting our money. We took Shiva there two days after adopting her from the shelter and the vet we saw went on a tirade about shelter dogs and how he had one once, never liked him, and was happy when he died. That’s what he said. Can you beat that? What stuns me the most is that we went back there several more times. I should have walked right on out that first day.
Great that you found a holistic vet. Around here I’m not so excited about the vet options–there is a holistic one but I haven’t tried her yet for fear that her prices would be astronomical. Might be worth a call though–it would sure be great to feel really good about the person I entrust my pups to!
This sounds like an awful experience and I wouldn’t even of thought twice about finding a new vet! My vet annoys me sometimes too, but she never says anything that is down right rude! I am glad you are happy with your current vet!
So happy you’ve got a Vet you like now 🙂
I’m super lucky as my Vet is really nice and really goes above and beyond what you would expect 🙂
Wags to all
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
ugh,,,, vets from hell…. I lost one of my collies because of a vet from hell… I know how you feel…..
The head of the practice should have fired this vet. Completely unprofessional and lacking in compassion to boot. If that had happened to me with my Mazzie, it woudl have taken several vet techs to pry my hands from the nasty vet’s neck!!!! I’m so glad that you’re with a wonderful vet now.
That sounds like an awful experience Jodi. You were right to change your vet. I have a good vet who actually comes to me.
Jodi – thank you for mentioning my post, it was a fun one and I loved hearing the stories that were left in the comments – we def are not alone with bad vet experiences. OMFG I cant believe all that happened to you at your old vet, shame on them. Wow and to keep her overnight with no one there 🙁 poor girl. I am so glad though that your new vet is amazing and the right fit for your family.
Thanks again for the shout out 🙂