Isn’t.
What a bloody game, and we have come away angry but at least with our wallet intact.
When I made the appointment yesterday, I explained what the problem was and asked if Hubby could go in with Maggie for her appointment because she was so nervous.
We pulled up outside with about twenty minutes to spare thinking it would give them plenty of time to take Maggie’s full details, weigh her, log in her microchip number and check her vaccination card which we’d taken with us.
What a waste of time and effort.
Hubby was not allowed in, and was asked had we notified our existing vet to send Maggie’s details on to them. Patiently, he explained that we wanted to see how she got on with the vet first before we committed ourselves to their care. He had all her medication details in a wallet, but get this………….. sorry, we’re not accepting any paper into the surgery.
We came away, Maggie squirming to get back into the car.
The discharge is still there, so we rang our vet for a repeat prescription.
No go, they needed to see her again in case something stronger was needed, so I’ve made an appointment for tomorrow morning, even though it goes very much against the grain bearing in mind what happened last week.
We rang the local vet here, and the receptionists are the same, as are two of the vets we know. They were really kind and understanding, but again, Hubby couldn’t go in with her.
Luckily they still have our records on their files.
Back home, Hubby rang our vets again and had a chat with the receptionist.
Yes, they are aware of what happened, and yes, he can go in with her this time. HURRAH!
If she needs an ultrasound, that can be done without anesthetic. DOUBLE HURRAH!
Sadly, the lady vet and her husband are no longer there, so it will either be the vet Maggie reacted to or the new guy who looks about twelve.
Whilst we understand the need for caution and respect procedures, this coronavirus is really pissing me off more than ever now.
My sympathies to you and to Miss Maggie. The animals, once again, suffer the most because humans are dim-witted and have once again messed up the world. If one has a sensitive or nervous pet (a clinger or anxious – Ziggy has huge separation anxiety), handing them over to a stranger (even a professional) while the human has to wait in the car (which is safe behavior granted), is like torture to the pet (in my opinion). That whole ‘no paper’ thing is ridiculous – did the vets ever hear of ziplock or sealable baggies. They could provide the baggie (and would know it was ‘safe’), use gloves and put the paper into the baggie and then view it under their own protocols for safety. I feel for you and am empathic perhaps because of the Pudge debacle. Sadly my wallet didn’t walk away intact. A LOT of money for no result. Where are the competent and compassionate vets? We need some (apparently) on both sides of that big pond. Take care sweetie and make sure your hubby masks and gloves up when he goes to the vet. I’m sure he will.
We both do, and at least he can go in with her tomorrow.
Melanie, I agree that in so many instances the humans make it so much worse. It is so hard to find a good vet and then if they retire or go out of business….Ugh, I don’t want to think about it.
We thought we’d found a good one. We had one before when we were in Lincolnshire but they are now over 50 miles away, and we had an excellent one when we were in Poole and also on the boat. Maggie comes first.
I understand your frustration. I went through this with Mollie. Couldn’t see the new vet and had no idea what they were doing to her. In the end the care she got was subpar and she passed. Won’t go back there again ever. Wish you better luck with her majesty. Sorry to hear the discharge is back. They are missing something. Maybe they should culture the discharge.
Hopefully they will take a swab this time. At least they won’t have to sedate her for an ultrasound.
Mollie had an ultrasound. They shave the area where they put the device. Mollie was not happy. She had a shaved belly! It’s non-invasive so although the pet doesn’t understand what’s going one and may be fearful, you don’t have to worry that there will be any discomfort.
Thanks Kate. I appreciate this.
Nothing is simple right now, fingers crossed for Maggie 💜
Thank you. It’s just so frustrating………….
Tell me I do empathize 💜
You would think that a vet, of all people, would understand the anxiety that can be caused taking an animal into a different room away from it’s mom and dad. My friend went to a training class with her mastiff when he was just a puppy. Part of the training was to take the dog in a different room for a few minutes so that he knew that he wasn’t getting abandoned. Well, Mary went back in and for some reason her dog was all wrapped up in this rope lead. Apparently he had on the lead but started freaking out and between needing some restraint and all the agitation he was “hog-tied”. Well, Mary got so upset she grabbed the dog and headed out to her car. On the way out he had diarrhea all over their front steps from being so upset. She left it and drove off! I couldn’t blame her.
Maggie is old, going blind, deaf, arthritic, and anxious when away from us. All the training and compassion in the world of veterinarian staff won’t help her at this stage in her life.
I don’t blame Mary for walking out with her puppy. I would have too, and made it known to other members of the class exactly what they’d done to my dog.
I feel for you. We recently changed vets because all the doctors we liked had left the practice and the one that was still there was a woman with attitude, whom even Cody did not like. Lucky for us, Cody’s favorite vet had relocated to a different practice within just a couple of miles of our new home, so it worked out well. Also, thankfully, Cody is ok with being take into the building and being treated without us. I can understand how hard it must be for you and Maggie under the circumstances.
Thank you. Hubby was able to go in with her for the ultrasound today. She wasn’t happy but there wasn’t a problem doing it.
Is Maggie intact (not spayed)? I hope she is spayed, otherwise it sounds like a pyometra. Good luck with the exam. The ultrasound is painless as Kate mentioned and usually they can do it with little to no stress. If she objects to being on her side they can sometimes do the ultrasound while she is standing.
Yes, we didn’t have her spayed and the pyometra was mentioned. I am not looking forward to today
Update: you’re a veterinary nurse, yes?
Opinion please:
The ultrasound was fine and there is a sac in the uterus which is full of gunk. The vet has given her an injection, the second tomorrow and final of the three next Tuesday. Over the weekend we can expect a massive discharge as her body hopefully expels the sac in a ‘season’ or forced heat. If this works, there is no guarantee it won’t come back. If it doesn’t, the option is surgery and having her spayed. She is an otherwise healthy dog, but 15 and a half. We think she is too old so hoping the injections do their stuff. I;m looking it up on the internet but would appreciate your thoughts if I’m not being too rude.
For me the hardest part of coronavirus is how much more complicated everything has become so I totally understand what you’re feeling. I needed a new power cord for my computer last week and you have no idea what I went through to get it. In your case the “no paperwork” issue is ridiculous. And the Vets here are the same — you have to hand your pet over to someone outside on the street. I understand the need for precaution but it is just so unnerving — especially when they are fools everywhere without masks hanging out in large crowds — making it unsafe for the rest of us. Very happy the Vet finally relented and let your hubby in. Hope these injections work.❤️
Thanks Fransi. We’ll soon know.
I hope that things go well. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Maggie
thank you