They started to walk out and
I asked
about the exam. The man told us that to "have
a doctor come in and do an exam would cost
$10.00 Did I want to do that?" I stated that
I had been told it was included in the
$33.50, as the man just stared at me I
thought for a moment I knew I didn't want to
put Suzanna through another trip to the vet.
So I agreed to having the doctor come in and
do the exam for $10.00 When we left
the exam room, there where alot of animals
and owners at the desk, the waiting room was
full including several large dogs. Since
Suzanna is a very timid cat and was scared, I was very frustrated about the "exam" she had gotten, we just walked through the waiting room and left the clinic.
About 5 hours later Suzanna
was paralyzed in the hind legs and tail. The vaccine given had gotten into her spine, causing it to swell and put pressure on the nerves that controlled her hind legs and tail.
At which time she was taken to Woodland Animal
Hospital.....this was late on an Sunday nite.
Two days later { while
Suzanna was in the
hospital} I received a bill for $16.50 [not $10.00]for the "exam" by Dr. W.!! Less than a month later
I was turned over to a collection agency for
the $16.50!!! This only added insult to injury.....
***The "Clinic" was inside the PetSmart building. At the time of her injury it was owned by a private Vet. A few months later, it appeared to be owned by PetSmart. However I learned later that it was owned by a group called "VetSmart". Interesting, huh? No where in the PetSmarts in my town, nor the phone book does it list the name VetSmart.*** The above information is strickly my account of the event as preceived by myself, my mom, and Miss Suzanna.
I took Suzanna on 9/14/97 to get her
annual vaccinations and exam. I had called various animal Vet clinics/ offices around town. I finally settled on PetSmart***. (will explain this later)
When I had called the "clinic" on the phone, I was told she would get her annual vaccinations of: rabies, FELV, PRCP, and FIP as well as an exam for $33.50.
I know I asked about the exam because
it is such an ordeal for Suzanna to go to the
Vet that I wanted her to get it all done at
one time. The reason I chose to go to this
"clinic" instead of my regular vet was the
cost $20.00 less and my Vet of many years had
retired. My mother came with me that day. We
got to the "clinic" close to noon. I paid the
$33.50 then we were led into an exam room.
Two people came in, a man and a woman. The
woman tried to give Suzanna the shot. She
stabbed the needle about 3 times, and then man
corrected her on how she was holding the
syringe. Told her she should not have her
finger on the plunger and corrected how she
was pulling up the tissue. Then he took the
syringe from her and showed her how to hold
it, then picking up the back of Suzanna's fur
around the upper shoulder blades he stuck the
syringe in and told the girl she would feel /
hear the skin "pop" when the syringe went in.
**At this point, had I known anything about what could happen to my baby, I would have grabbed Suzanna and ran out of this "clinic". I had been spoiled by an excellent Vet that took great care of my kitties for years.**
The girl then took the second syringe grabbed
the fur lower than the man did, and again
stabbed Suzanna several times before getting
the syringe in. The man then gave her the
vaccination that is a liquid put up the nose.
Then Dr. W came
in. She asked about any problems Suzanna had
been having. She had none. She was a healthy,
active cat. She took Suzanna's temperature.
Dr. W. felt her belly for a moment {not
thoroughly at all} just looked at her teeth
and said she needed her teeth cleaned. She
said my cat was fine, even though she did not
listen to her heart or lungs, or look into
her ears. Dr. W turned to walk out, I
inquired bout having her nails trimmed. {this
was always done in any other exam my cats
have received as well as listening to the
heart, lungs and feeling around on the
internal organs}
Dr.
W. clipped one paw
with the nail trimmers that I had brought with
me . The she handed the trimers to me to clip
the other 3 paws. Suzanna has one nail that
is very think and Dr. W did clip that one. As
she again turned to walk out I asked if
Suzanna could be weighed. She said she would
get a scale. She did and Suzanna was weighed.
I got the feeling Dr. W. was irritated with
my requests. Then she showed me a piece of
paper that had a list of procedures and cost
on it. She said that Suzanna should have some
blood work with her vaccinations next years.
Then Dr. W. left the room.
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