- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #21
Oh! I see it now. Thank you!
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Is this how a typical annual vet visit goes?
- Thread starter kouie
- Start Date
I think during COVID lockdowns it became more of a "thing" that cats (and other pets ofc) were taken away for whatever needed doing while their human sat in the waiting room or waited on the street outside the vet clinic.
That hasn't gone all the way back to how it was in the before times yet.
Had a locum vet tell me recently that they couldn't trim my cat's claws (I can't manage the thicker ones due to arthritis in my hands) because there was no nurse available and they couldn't ask me to hold him while his claws were trimmed for reasons of liability - if he scratched me as I was holding him the vet could be held liable.
My cat is as soft as blancmange, he's not going to bite or scratch anyone, he's the sweetest cat that ever lived, and our regular vets and nurses have no issue with me holding him while they do his claws.
I mean I say to him "Jakey can I do your eyes" and he holds his head up towards me with his eyes closed for me to remove sleep from the corners of his eyes. I call him my teddy bear cat.
Can't get his claws trimmed at the vet these days without a special appointment where 2 people other than me are available to assist 'just in case' though
If I am present he just needs to be able to stick his head under my arm (cos he's an idiot and thinks if he can't see anyone, no-one else can see him either) and just speak softly to him and reassure him - he doesn't even struggle, he's really sweet and gentle.
That hasn't gone all the way back to how it was in the before times yet.
Had a locum vet tell me recently that they couldn't trim my cat's claws (I can't manage the thicker ones due to arthritis in my hands) because there was no nurse available and they couldn't ask me to hold him while his claws were trimmed for reasons of liability - if he scratched me as I was holding him the vet could be held liable.
My cat is as soft as blancmange, he's not going to bite or scratch anyone, he's the sweetest cat that ever lived, and our regular vets and nurses have no issue with me holding him while they do his claws.
I mean I say to him "Jakey can I do your eyes" and he holds his head up towards me with his eyes closed for me to remove sleep from the corners of his eyes. I call him my teddy bear cat.
Can't get his claws trimmed at the vet these days without a special appointment where 2 people other than me are available to assist 'just in case' though
If I am present he just needs to be able to stick his head under my arm (cos he's an idiot and thinks if he can't see anyone, no-one else can see him either) and just speak softly to him and reassure him - he doesn't even struggle, he's really sweet and gentle.I have had a mobile vet for my rescue, and even with the gabapentin she gets prior to the visit, it's a lot easier to confine her to a small room than get her into her carrier and out to the vet.
The vet will sit on the floor to examine the cat, while the tech cradles my girl in a blanket to soothe her. I'm present, and the vet explains things to me throughout the exam. The current vet actually fed my girl one of those Delectables squeeze treats during the process.
This type of visit is less stress for both of us.
Fortunately, I also have a full-service animal hospital 10 min away and a great vet there should my girl need any procedure beyond her wellness checks, rabies shot, and nail clipping. That vet actually encouraged me to use the mobile vet because I'm 83 with mobility issues, and this rescue does not like to be handled.
Since I use mobile vets, all my cats have gone to the Rainbow Bridge from home.
The vet will sit on the floor to examine the cat, while the tech cradles my girl in a blanket to soothe her. I'm present, and the vet explains things to me throughout the exam. The current vet actually fed my girl one of those Delectables squeeze treats during the process.
This type of visit is less stress for both of us.
Fortunately, I also have a full-service animal hospital 10 min away and a great vet there should my girl need any procedure beyond her wellness checks, rabies shot, and nail clipping. That vet actually encouraged me to use the mobile vet because I'm 83 with mobility issues, and this rescue does not like to be handled.
Since I use mobile vets, all my cats have gone to the Rainbow Bridge from home.
BTW if anyone has trouble getting their usually friendly and well socialised cat (because this method requires picking them up, so is not for ferals) into a carrier, this is a method that was suggested to me a while back and has never failed, even though Jakey has historically been a complete pain.
Put the carrier on the very edge of something, table, chair, bed, desk whatever works for you With the carrier door open over the abyss. If they can't put their legs down anywhere, their only option is to go forward into the carrier.
This was an absolute game changer for me when I tried it and turned getting the cat to the vet from a battle of wits that could last a couple of hours and was very stressful, into OK that's it he's in the carrier within 30 seconds.
He does cry a bit when he's in there, but it was always the loading him in that was the most stress. And sorry my darling baby, I sometimes cry when I have to go to the Doctor too
Put the carrier on the very edge of something, table, chair, bed, desk whatever works for you With the carrier door open over the abyss. If they can't put their legs down anywhere, their only option is to go forward into the carrier.
This was an absolute game changer for me when I tried it and turned getting the cat to the vet from a battle of wits that could last a couple of hours and was very stressful, into OK that's it he's in the carrier within 30 seconds.
He does cry a bit when he's in there, but it was always the loading him in that was the most stress. And sorry my darling baby, I sometimes cry when I have to go to the Doctor too
Last edited:
It feels almost scammy that the vet didn't let you see what was done to your cat or even come to talk to you about it. I've had lots of vets offices where the vet techs do most of the mundane things like weights and the like, but the actual vet always at the very least comes to talk to us.
I would absolutely not go back to that vet if it were me, it feels like he just took your money and didn't even look at the cat. If the vet doesn't even tell you the results of their examination, you have the exact same information as you did before you brought in the cat.
I would absolutely not go back to that vet if it were me, it feels like he just took your money and didn't even look at the cat. If the vet doesn't even tell you the results of their examination, you have the exact same information as you did before you brought in the cat.
- Joined
- May 2, 2018
- Messages
- 3,524
- Purraise
- 4,431
In the past, my only really good dvm did everything with me there, even bw most of the time. X rays were done in another room but then he would show me the xray and discuss it with me. Also old dvm before that also did this for years, but I think they did not do blood draws in the room with me. Lately the trend seems to be with some dvm to take the cat away, which as was pointed out is worse for a scared or feral cat. But really a feral cat should be sedated as it is too stressful not to be and you can't have an exam, I am talking about a really untouchable cat. Most dvm I visit it is the techs who do weight first and ask me questions etc. Then dvm comes in.
Weight, heart rate etc., eyes, ears, mouth and general health should be examined. If they aren't doing that you should not be charged an exam fee. Not talking to you at all is not ok. Also, they palpitate their stomach area etc. I would call that dvm and ask what exactly he did and ask for an explanation. There are records which should show what was done if they are accurate.
My most recent dvm we go in with a tech, do weight and questions, then dvm examines etc. then other stuff. Last time I brought Zena and Quinn to new dvm for recheck and xrays. Zena was on gabapentin for 2 days to avoid sedation which worked. I took him out of the carrier because he was scared which was fine with me, they wrapped him in a towel a bit and she examined him, he seemed fine, just scared. Quinn is good to go each time which is funny considering how dominant he is at home. He had is vaccinations right after the xray in the back. Zena went first I think so he would not get scared if Quinn did maybe. I have forgotten.
Then dvm came back and discussed everything with me on both cats and gave rx etc.
We did not wait outside, that only ever happened in the pandemic height period. It might cut down on stress for Zena, since there are dogs in the waiting room. But he was ok with the gabpentin so I know he will be fine now as long as he has that for two days in advance.
I went to a cat dvm for Syb for a while, but she was worse there because there were cats who lived there and for some reason it stressed her out more than dogs. Also once they were trying to get urine from her and they asked me to come and help. It was crazy, the had 3 people with her on her back and she was growling at them, no wonder
I just told them to forget it because she was too stressed and did not calm down with me there. He wanted to have her come back and sedate her which I said no to. I took her back to the good dvm where they never had any problem doing anything.
Weight, heart rate etc., eyes, ears, mouth and general health should be examined. If they aren't doing that you should not be charged an exam fee. Not talking to you at all is not ok. Also, they palpitate their stomach area etc. I would call that dvm and ask what exactly he did and ask for an explanation. There are records which should show what was done if they are accurate.
My most recent dvm we go in with a tech, do weight and questions, then dvm examines etc. then other stuff. Last time I brought Zena and Quinn to new dvm for recheck and xrays. Zena was on gabapentin for 2 days to avoid sedation which worked. I took him out of the carrier because he was scared which was fine with me, they wrapped him in a towel a bit and she examined him, he seemed fine, just scared. Quinn is good to go each time which is funny considering how dominant he is at home. He had is vaccinations right after the xray in the back. Zena went first I think so he would not get scared if Quinn did maybe. I have forgotten.
Then dvm came back and discussed everything with me on both cats and gave rx etc.
We did not wait outside, that only ever happened in the pandemic height period. It might cut down on stress for Zena, since there are dogs in the waiting room. But he was ok with the gabpentin so I know he will be fine now as long as he has that for two days in advance.
I went to a cat dvm for Syb for a while, but she was worse there because there were cats who lived there and for some reason it stressed her out more than dogs. Also once they were trying to get urine from her and they asked me to come and help. It was crazy, the had 3 people with her on her back and she was growling at them, no wonder
I just told them to forget it because she was too stressed and did not calm down with me there. He wanted to have her come back and sedate her which I said no to. I took her back to the good dvm where they never had any problem doing anything.
Last edited:
I use a variation of this method, too! I put the carrier on the edge of the bathtub (with something in the bathtub to support it), bring the cat in, let her put in her front paws, tip the carrier slightly, and then shut the door. I figured this out at random and it's been a game changer for us, too!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #28
How much is the cost difference between mobile vet and clinic?
Cost depends on the vets involved. I've found that for the most part the cost is similar.
The only time I've had them take my cat to the back without me for an exam is in the veterinary ER.
I've always weighed my own cats at the vet. I set them down and pick up and the staff just reads the scale.
Everything is done in the room except bloodwork. Even vaccines. Usually, they don't let people into the lab for bloodwork but if thr cat is particularly ornery, they have the owner go. My wife usually takes Calcifer.
I've always weighed my own cats at the vet. I set them down and pick up and the staff just reads the scale.
Everything is done in the room except bloodwork. Even vaccines. Usually, they don't let people into the lab for bloodwork but if thr cat is particularly ornery, they have the owner go. My wife usually takes Calcifer.
My vets do weighing, general exams, and vaccines in the examination room. Once in a while, a blood draw has been done in the exam room as well. For anything that needs to be done in the back, the staff take only the cat. At least here, liability insurance does not permit the owner to be in the other areas of the hospitals.
ERs are different because the animal is usually taken directly to the back, especially in the case of anything which could be serious.
I was allowed in the back once when Jamie refused to come out of his kennel because he was so mad at having been brought to the vet in the first place that everyone was afraid of him.
As far as information is concerned, if I am paying the bill they are going to answer all my questions.
ERs are different because the animal is usually taken directly to the back, especially in the case of anything which could be serious.
I was allowed in the back once when Jamie refused to come out of his kennel because he was so mad at having been brought to the vet in the first place that everyone was afraid of him.
As far as information is concerned, if I am paying the bill they are going to answer all my questions.
We are the same here as far as having non staff in the back rooms and liability like
fionasmom
said above.Most routine procedures are completed in the exam room. They aiso don't have any problem with a cat walking around the exam room before or after an exam. Our vet as has never tried to rush me out the door without answering all my questions. I can always call if I forget something, think of something else or feel there might be a problem or concern.
fionasmom
said above.Most routine procedures are completed in the exam room. They aiso don't have any problem with a cat walking around the exam room before or after an exam. Our vet as has never tried to rush me out the door without answering all my questions. I can always call if I forget something, think of something else or feel there might be a problem or concern.
