veterinarian rant

[trof]

Just put this in the mail to Discover Card.

Discover Card
PO Box 15192
Wilmington, DE 19850-5192

RE: disputed charge Aug 26 REHM ANIMAL CLINIC, LOXLEY AL $ 362.10
Discover card # xxxxxxx
Issued to: Mrs. trof

On Monday, August 11, I left our cat, Ace, and our 12 year old German Shepherd, Nasha, at Rehm Animal Clinic at TIMBER RUN (12481 County Road 64, Loxley, AL 36551, 251/964-7501) for boarding and medication for two weeks. Nasha should get 1/2 Deramaxx tablet each morning UPON ARISING, for her arthritis. In her morning food she gets a multi-vitamin. In her evening food she gets a Phenylpropan for incontinence, a scoop of Synovi-MSM for her joints, and a multi-vitamin.

I explained this to the person on the desk when I brought them in. There were 2 or 3 other customers there and she seemed distracted. I told her all the instructions about meds were in the med box that I gave her. I picked our pets up late Tuesday afternoon on the 26th. We brought in an aged, but fairly healthy and functioning dog, and we got back a physical wreck. When we had to take her to our vet the next day, he asked what had “happened” to her.

She was brought out with her hindquarters supported by an attendant with a rolled up towel, unable to walk on her own. We later learned that she had not been given her Deramaxx for the entire two weeks she was there. No wonder she couldn’t walk. She looked emaciated and just generally bad and uncared for. When we got her home, we discovered a large, open, running sore on her left hip. It is about 2 inches in diameter and we are still treating it several times a day, 2 weeks later. It is the ugliest wound (on animal or human) I have ever seen. So far, the vet and med bills come to over $50. Our vet says a sore of this kind will take a very long time to heal, especially in a dog her age. He told us it's like a bed sore, and comes from lying on a hard surface for several days. When enough of the rotten epidermis has sloughed off, and the wound has healed enough, it will require stitches to close. I left a large quilt there, for her to lie on. I doubt she ever got it and it was not returned to me. I was so upset with her condition I forgot to ask, and just wanted to get her back home.

Nasha has always been a finicky eater, but not for the first week after we got her home. Instead of her normal twice a day, she ate anything we'd put in front of her 3 or 4 times a day. She was starved, literally wolfing her food down. She had NO bowel movement until the third day she was back home. Nothing in the gut to expel? This has never happened before. I left 3 containers of a special diet that I cook for her, and written instructions as to how much to add to her dry food. I got one empty container back, so I have serious doubts about whether she even got the other two containers of food.

What happened to our faithful pet was neglect, at the very least, and really amounts to animal cruelty. A veterinarian and boarding kennel is the last place I would expect such treatment. I am canceling payment of the bill on my Discover card. Frankly, I have not yet decided whether to pursue further redress. Quality of life is very important to Nasha and to us, especially now at the end of her life. I hope what little time she has left hasn‘t been destroyed.



Mrs. trof
c.c. Rhem Animal Clinic

Note to DUers: We are kicking ass and taking names.
:grr:

[GOPisEvil]

1. Vets are licensed...file a complaint there!

I hope you took pictures of their condition.

I'm sorry your animals went through that. I hope they recover fully.

:grouphug:

Here's a starting point: http://www.adeca.alabama.gov/content/wdd/acins/LicOcc/vet.html

[trof]

4. Have photos

Even if I had a scanner, they're too gross to post here. I have to spray the medicine on because Mrs. t. upchucks every time she sees it.
goddam I'm mad.

[GOPisEvil]

10. Not to deflect your anger, but when I first read the subject line...

...I saw "Vegetarian Rant"...I thought, "Uh oh, ol' trof's broken out the flamethrower."



I wish you had been talking about vegetarians though. :-(

[Lizz612]

2. Get your vet

to write all this down, make sure you have solid documentation.


I hope your babies get better.

[radwriter0555]

3. Small Claims court is your only recourse. What a HORRIBLE thing to have

happen to your beloved pets! How awful! Take the assholes to court for the full amount compensable under your local laws. File the papers TODAY and take photos and include ALL vet bills.

[molly]

5. Was this your regular vet?

when I board Desma, I board her at the Vet's. I have never had a problem. Your story is heartbreaking and I would call the licensing board immediately.

[rock]

6. Poor baby

I am an extreme animal lover. This is a really sad story. Are you planning to take action (I hope).

[demnan]

7. That makes me so mad

[trof]

8. A few more details

We usually board her with our regular vet, who is a prince. Some friends with 3 old dogs highly recommended this other place, strictly for the boarding and TLC their pets got. What none of us knew is that it changed hands 3 months ago.

Not surprisingly, the new owner is a large chain of vet clinics/boarding kennels.

[BiggJawn]

9. Report them for Cruelty.

My parents used to own a boarding kemnnel. we treated everybody's pet like they were our own. How many places you know of where the owner's kids play with the boarders?

Of course, that's changed since they retired and sold the place years ago, not unlike your experience...

This is disgusting. Report them, to the SPCA, Humane Society, Animal Control, BBB, everybody.

And bill them for the loss of the quilt.

And Litigatius Illegitimi (Sue the Bastards!)

[trof]

15. e-mailed a copy of letter to my s-i-l

the famous Boston lawyer.
Awaiting his counsel.

[Raven]

11. I feel so bad for you!

Report these bastards and if the credit card company insists on paying them, take them to small claims court and call the press!

[Richardo]

12. Trofs: Sorry Natasha was treated so badly...

...hope she gets better soon.

What a sorry excuse for a vet - not to mention it's the worst nightmare we all have when we board our family members at a kennel. (I never fully relax on vacation when I think about the dogs.)

Go Mrs. Trof - no mercy!

[FlaGranny]

13. About that wound.

I recently had an infection on my leg, actually a boil, that turned into an open ulcer. I didn't go to the doctor (although I kept that option in mind if it was necessary). I hate to take antibiotics unless I have to. I researched and found a medicinal grade honey which I ordered and had overnighted to me. By the time I received the honey the wound in my leg had an area 3/4 inch across that was BLACK. I applied that stuff to a bandage and applied it over the wound. I changed it every day. The second day, the blackness started to fade away. The ulcer took two weeks to heal completely and without any obvious scar. Get some of that honey and try it. It's called Manuka honey and it comes from New Zealand. You can find it with an internet search. It costs about $17 plus delivery. I'll never be without it again.

P.S. It also keeps the wound and edges very soft so that a crust does not form that can be ripped off to reopen the wound. If you get it, let us know how it works. I'm very excited about this "new" remedy that has been used by armies for thousands of years until the discovery of antibiotics.

Edit: By the way, the honey does not burn and is not uncomfortable in any way, but you do have to keep it bandaged in place.

[trof]

14. many thanks

I'll check it out.
The first thing our vet did was put her on antibiotics.

[trof]

16. Aha!

1. Found the online complaint form for Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, AND
2. Found out the president of the board is a vet whose office is about 30 minutes from me.
GANGWAY!

[GOPisEvil]

17. Give 'em hell!

Damn the torpedoes!

[TEXASYANKEE]

18. Ugh!

How could any sane person sit idly by while your beloved old dog wasn't eating, getting his medicine, or being exercised?? I would be absolutely sick if this happened to one of my cats.

The next time you need pet care, you might check into a pet sitting service. Check out www.petsitters.com and see if there is someone in your area who will do in-home care for your furry family.

And now -- GIVE 'EM HELL!

[Don_G]

19. Burn The F**ker....

At the very least, your Vet had a contractual obligation to take care of your cat in the manner in the manner you described with an unlimited line of credit.

"He" didn't fufill the contract to the point that your pet was severely neglected and you are investing time, money and effort to get your pet healthy again....