Having A Bad Experience And Service At Vets .

[Jenarry]

i took my 6 yr old pusscat for her annual vaccination jab at the end of July to a vet that I use because it is fairly close to us. Everytime you go you see different staff and vets which I don't like but thought as it's just routine jabs it's fine.
My cat HATES being transported in pet carrier more than any other cat I have had and gets very very stressed.
Once we got her out of her carrier in the vets room he went straight to listening to her heart with stethoscope and took ages about it and started telling me that she has a heart murmur (this was the 1st time I have been told this).
he went into great detail about how it was quite a bad murmur and that it can affect the kidneys,thyroid and general health of the cat and about having medication to give her every day to prevent this.
He then went on to give her vaccination without further examining her-last year a different vet checked weight and temperature amongst other things before doing this. :O(
The vet then went onto to tell me about having blood tests to check for thyroid problem particularly as it quite common with heart murmurs or a more comprehensive blood test to check kidney function etc.
I felt very put on the spot and a bit shocked as my cat as been absoultely fine health wise and for him to be talking heart,kidney,and lung problems was a bit upsetting.
i decided to have the blood test for thyroid and I was told they would ring me in 7-10 days with results. they hadn't rang so after 2+ weeks i rang them and was told the vet would ring me back in 2 working days time because he was busy til then. :O( and then i still never received a call. I had to chase them again and finally a month later I heard from the vet that my cat's thyroid function was fine. He never mentioned the heart murmur and the medication he was previously telling me about.
It all felt a bit wrong,from the way he didn't thoroughly check her,the way he was listening to heart straight away without giving her a minute to settle,getting me to pay for a blood test and then not being bothered to ring me with result and not following up with any advice after scaring me at the initial appointment. It all feels a bit like I have been conned.
What do you think?...Am I over reacting? would you make a complaint?...

[murraymints]

I would go to another vet for second opinion...don't mention what first one said 'till after second one gives an opinion though !!

[Jenarry]

What would you book the appointment for murraymints as she is not showing any symptoms of ill health at all ,thankfully.
can you book just to have a check over?

[Daffy6543]

A lot of vets have been suspected of performing unnecessary tests on pets in recent years. I have also heard of unusual and unexpected diagnosis of certain conditions that require daily drugs of one type or another, further vet checks at different vets have then said the animal does not have whichever condition they have been medicated for.

I would definitely take the cat to a different surgery for a check-up if I were you.

[Prudie]

Yes I would make a complaint, even if the heart and thyroid problems mentioned are an issue. The lack of customer care to you and understanding of how worried you'd be show a total lack of empathy and professionalism expected. I'd certainly never go there again, however inconvenient the journey and I'd make sure they know why I left.

[woofgang]

You certainly can Jenarry, but if it was me. i would be fairly honest with the new vet, say that you want a second opinion on your cat's health because you weren't happy with what the first vet said. Try and be a bit objective so you don't come over as "difficult" I know you aren't but first impressions and all that.

[sinderella]

find a vet who values your custom

[boxtops]

Swap to another vet, jenarry. I had a very similar experience before. The vet I was at originally was a training practice and took in a lot of newly-qualified vets (many from abroad) so you rarely saw the same vet twice, and some were far more keen to show off their "expertise" than others, and were keen to perform tests etc (which I usually refused as the pets were well). I changed vets - the one I go to now, my cats always see one of two vets who know my animals well, and certainly keep me well informed.

I wouldn't bother complaining, if your cat continues to be healthy - but when you write to tell the vets that you are leaving, and that your new vet will be asking for pet records to be transferred, they may well ask you why you are departing - that's when you tell 'em.

[Jenarry]

My hubby works with a guy whose family has run a dog kennels for a lot of years and he was saying the same thing. That he often hears owners whose pets have been diagnosed with a heart murmur or skin conditons is another common thing and go on to expensive everyday medication and when going to another vet are told that it was a load of rubbish they had been told and been having an unnecessary expense.
It's a horrible thing to do to people and their pets. :O(

[murraymints]

I would just ask for check over !!

[Jenarry]

Yes I am definitely not going back there again.
There is a very good vets which I have used a few yrs ago which unfortunately is a bit further away for my cat to travel to but she is very good and I will be returning there from now on.
Woofgang that is a good idea as the vet I would be going to has been in the job a long time and doesn't miss much so it would be best to be upfront with her about it. and boxtops I think I will do that let them know I am moving and if they ask why i will be sure to tell them.

[Jenarry]

murraymints she will see that she has just had annual jabs so has been checked over recently and is not in poor health so will wonder why I'm there if don't explain. :O(

[viv38]

I had an experience like this once. I took my elderly, but fit dog for his annual boosters and was told by the vet that she'd like to keep him in to do blood tests for this, that and the other. I protested and said, but he's fine and if I was worried about anything, then I would let him have tests. I stood firm and she didn't mention it again. He is now 16 and still in good health, but of course if he wasn't, I wouldn't hesitate to take him in for help. I just feel that she did this because he was elderly and she thought I'd comply and therefore make more money! As for complaining, that will probably get you nowhere, I know from bitter experience! We need vets of course, but sometimes we just have to trust our own judgement. And no, I don't think you are overreacting.

[Sqad]

You have a healthy cat with normal thyroid function and a heart murmur which even if it were there, is not significant.
Leave it and the Vet there.