Chip & Dale's Vet Visit Disaster

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Well I took my boys to the vet tonight. Chip had to have his yearly shots and Dale needed his rabies. This young boy and girl came into the room we were in and they put Chip on the table and started to draw blood for the heartworm test. The boy missed the vein and Chip was shaking all over. About that time, the vet came in and I told her that he wasn't drawing blood right and she said that is ok he is just learning and Chip wasn't being hurt. I said That is my dog! She told him to stop and that she would do it. I was furious. Chip got his shots, she checked him out thoroughly and said his weight was excellent - 24 lbs. She didn't draw blood and said she would do it next year. I don't think she wanted to press her luck. Anyway, Dale got his rabies shot, growled at her each time she went to look at his teeth (4 attempts) and she gave up. She couldn't believe the difference in personalities. She said that she thought Dale was protecting me because I was standing beside him. I think he got my vibes of being totally stressed to the max. Anyway, He will be neutered next Friday and weighs 18 lbs. I have a splitting headache and do I sound frustrated. :ARG:

[Crazy Cardis]

Bonnie
I'm so sorry to hear about your bad vet experience. We actually had a similar one with Dudley yesterday. He growled at the vet and actually showed his teeth when she came anywhere near his feet and hid under my legs and refused to come out. He's never done anything like that before. After she got him off the table and gave him a few treats, they were the best of friends though. I just don't know what I'm going to do with that boy!

[MrsGrace]

OMG!!! That is SO NOT okay!!! Are your guys okay now?? :REALLYMAD:

That is total and complete incompetance!!! I would at the LEAST write them a letter documenting the entire incident, the vet techs blase' attitude etc.

Funny (NOT in a ha ha way.) that you mentioned the 2 kids drawing blood. Maybe it's different in your area, but my Vet was the one that had to do all the blood draws, urine draws etc. She SPECIFICALLY mentioned that her techs are not allowed to do ANYTHING with a needle, that you had to have the Vet DR. for that or it had to ONLY be under direct Dr supervision.

Poor Chip .. you give your babies BIG hugs for me and tell them my family is incensed on your behalf too!!!

[sutulu]

Poor guys!

Were the young boy and girl interns? My Vet Clinic has a young man from Mexico who is here (has been for awhile now/2 + years???) to learn about practice management, he already is a certified Vet tech in Mexico. They brought him in, introduced him, and even though he wasn't touching the dogs, they wanted you to know he was in training.

You would have thought the least your vet would have done was tell you in advance if they were interns.

******

When they take blood from Tuck at his last 2 physicals, they always take him from the exam room to draw blood. Always wondered why. Maybe they are used to people stressing out over it.

Anyway, both times, they opened the door, Tucker trots back in with this huge grin on his face and a bright collored bandage where they drew blood that he was terribly proud of! What a hoot.

Do you ever just pop into the vets w/ your dogs? They say that's a good idea to get them used to everyone.

I do that every few months on a Saturday morning. We pop in, I throw them on the scales, the staff make a fuss over them and give them cookies, then we are out the door. Five minutes tops.

Our Vets also sponsor and participate in a lot of activities in the area so Tuck and Lulu see the staff outside the clinic. They have never growled or barked at the Vet staff.

I need to make a tough decision over the summer. Tuck and Lu's very favorite vet left the practice to start her own. She won't have the resources the clinic has but they just love her!!! She lives nearby and we run into her all the time and Tucker is ga ga when he sees her.

Lulu is sue for a physical in another month or so.

[CorgiMum]

This young boy and girl came into the room we were in and they put Chip on the table and started to draw blood for the heartworm test. The boy missed the vein and Chip was shaking all over. About that time, the vet came in and I told her that he wasn't drawing blood right and she said that is ok he is just learning and Chip wasn't being hurt. I said That is my dog! She told him to stop and that she would do it. I was furious.
Poor Chip! I would have been furious too!


She said that she thought Dale was protecting me because I was standing beside him. I think he got my vibes of being totally stressed to the max. I have a splitting headache and do I sound frustrated. :ARG:

How unsettling for you & Chip Bonnie. +SAD+ Is this the regular Vet that you go to? And was the person taking the blood a Vet Tech?

[Jespah]

It's a shame you had to go through that Bonnie and the boys too. 2 years ago, I was holding Rupert and he flung his head so hard away from the tech trying to take blood we though he broke my cheekbone. I had to sit in the waiting room with ice on my face - had a partial black eye and big bruise for a week. We found that if he went in the back and wasn't around me - he was fine. I wasn't stressed - it something about their attachment to you I think. He's the same with his nail trimmings - Riley was like that too.

Our vet techs are like nurses, they take blood, do the initial quick check before the vet does her work - she administers the shots though. I know my clinic has very high standards beyond what is called for, and I have no issues with any of our techs taking blood from any of my animals.

Susan - I say stay with the vet you like - you can always go back to the other place if there was an emergency or something you didn't think she could handle.

Hugs to the boys!!

Deb

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

I don't think he is a "Vet Tech" I think he is just someone she has hired as an assistant. Maybe I am wrong in both areas but imo if someone is in training then they should be supervised while learning to draw blood or do any invasive procedures. I am so glad that I was right there with Chip otherwise who knows how long he would have been moving that needle around in Chip's leg to find the vein. Chip loves to go to the Vet's and visits with all the staff, gets treats and he really likes the vet. To give her the benefit of the doubt, she may not have known he was going to do this but I am really not happy about it and I may look for a different vet's office. I don't think I will ever let my dog's out of my sight at a vet's office again. Although Dale has to get neutered next week. Dale has always been ok with the Vet's and the people there. Debbie (Glencorgi) checked out his mouth and I don't think he gave her a hard time other then moving his face away from her hand. I do believe he knew that Chip got hurt and I was upset so he figured he would voice his opinion on the matter. Dale is a funny little boy. Poor Chip has gone to bed without his supper. +SAD+

[dcole]

It is NOT OK for someone to "practice" on your dog! Especially some assistant who is not even a Tech. Like Mrs. Grace, in our area, only the vets can draw blood or urine. Oooo... I would be furious!!! :ARG:

[corgimom]

Bonnie,

The vet should have informed you prior to them doing anything to Chip that they were in training and asked if "were you okay with that" - you should have been given a choice.

When Cody got his annual shots, the vet gave them to him along with drawing his blood for his heartworm test. However, I will say that certain Techs there can give shots and draw blood. The techs have been giving antibiotic shots to my cat each time I have brought him in this week, but I was aware of that ahead of time and was fine with it because I know them.

[Dillydoodle]

UNACCEPTABLE!!! I would be furious as well! There is no reason that 1) someone other than the vet should be taking blood and 2) no reason the vet should have been condesending or trivialize the fact that you were upset about the situation. Your dog is not there for her people to practice, i would be looking for a new vet, i dont put up with that crap. I had a vet do that to my clinton cat, he was SCREAMING at the top of his lungs and was poked about 4 times i said let him go, you are hurting him, and the vet said, no he is just being dramatic... i said, NO HE IS NOT- let him go... and they did , i scooped him up and NEVER went to that vet again... i will not let someone hurt my pet... my vet now takes blood from gus and he never even flinches, they are good and comforting to him , he never seems upset by it. and with dogs, honestly, a bad experience can stay with them... so i would try to make the vet a fun place again, if you find a new vet , take chip there and give him lots of praise and treats, and leave... no real visit, just erasing that bad visit.

so sorry bonnie, that is terrible.

Emilie

[MVons]

I need to make a tough decision over the summer. Tuck and Lu's very favorite vet left the practice to start her own. She won't have the resources the clinic has but they just love her!!! She lives nearby and we run into her all the time and Tucker is ga ga when he sees her.Our Vet is the same way, not the fancy equipment, so we know on a diagnosis, we may have to go to the hospital, but in the ideal world, we will never need to.

Chip wasn't being hurt??? My husband would beg to differ. He is a jogger all his life and has those deep, hard to find veins and having to put up with the beginner Navy blood drawers raised his blood pressure. It may not be extremely painful, but it isn't fun being poked around. Just wanted to give his point of view, I don't have that problem, their hard time is choosing which vein in my pale skin.

Merrie

[bunnybutts]

:MAD: That Vet needed set straight and I'm glad you spoke up Bonnie! Let the tech practice on himself :ARG:

Poor Chip - give him ((hugs)) from Em and Chloe. Hope he is feeling better 2day with no lasting memories of the visit.

Brave little Dale telling the Vet off too :REALLYMAD: "dont mess with my family" such a good little brother!

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Thanks everyone for the support. Chip is doing fine this morning and he ate his breakfast. I still get very aggravated when I think of it. Dale is scheduled to be neutered next Friday and I am wondering what to do. His bottom canines are growing fast and need to be pulled otherwise I would postpone it for a little while and search for another vet.

[mtoy]

Thanks everyone for the support. Chip is doing fine this morning and he ate his breakfast. I still get very aggravated when I think of it. Dale is scheduled to be neutered next Friday and I am wondering what to do. His bottom canines are growing fast and need to be pulled otherwise I would postpone it for a little while and search for another vet.

Thank goodness he's ok. Don't you just hate looking for a new vet? :ARG:
The office we go to is ok, as long as we get the one good vet, otherwise it's nearly worthless. I'd like to go the holistic route, but it's much more $$ and much further to drive. Decisions, decisions....

[corgimom]

Thanks everyone for the support. Chip is doing fine this morning and he ate his breakfast. I still get very aggravated when I think of it. Dale is scheduled to be neutered next Friday and I am wondering what to do. His bottom canines are growing fast and need to be pulled otherwise I would postpone it for a little while and search for another vet.

Bonnie,

Is this the same vet that neutered Chip? I have to wonder through the years, how many beginning techs practiced on my fur kids when I had to leave them there for the day or overnight.

[Crazy Cardis]

Bonnie,

Is this the same vet that neutered Chip? I have to wonder through the years, how many beginning techs practiced on my fur kids when I had to leave them there for the day or overnight.

Linda, That's a very scary thought!

Bonnie, glad to hear Chip is eating again. Poor guy.

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Yes she neutered Chip and he did just fine. She did say that Dale would have alot of pain for the first 24 hours from getting his teeth pulled. She took excellent care of Chip when he was there and he had an excellent recovery rate. I do wonder about Dale though.

[glencorgi]

Debbie (Glencorgi) checked out his mouth and I don't think he gave her a hard time other then moving his face away from her hand. I do believe he knew that Chip got hurt and I was upset so he figured he would voice his opinion on the matter. Dale is a funny little boy. Poor Chip has gone to bed without his supper. +SAD+

Other than the initial who is this weirdo trying to put her hands in my mouth initial reaction,:CUTE: Dale didn't give me any trouble at all. His reaction I believe was to the situation with Chip which escalated to a lot of stress, tension, emotions and upset very quickly. He was reading on everybody in the room. Nope, not handled well at all by the staff at the vet clinic. <imho>

Debbie

[Fluffypants]

OMG Bonnie! Poor Chip! At the VERY LEAST, they should have asked you before they turned him into a canine pin cushion! :ARG: I don't know how it is for dogs, but I have had people miss my veins and poke around in my arms, and I can tell you that it WAS painful . . . and left many painful bruises too! (so be careful touching that area today, it might be a little tender) I am sending some extra snuggles to Chip (poor baby) and Dale (protective little brother) today.+WUBCLUB+

Susan - if you & Tuck like that vet so much, you should continue with her (I think). If something comes up where you need more heavy equipment, you can always go back to the clinic. Plus, I am sure she will have a plan for those instances. If she's that good of a vet, I doubt she would leave you hanging. :SMILE:

[corgimom]

Yes she neutered Chip and he did just fine. She did say that Dale would have alot of pain for the first 24 hours from getting his teeth pulled. She took excellent care of Chip when he was there and he had an excellent recovery rate. I do wonder about Dale though.


It's hard enough to put them through surgery and the worry that goes with it; one should not have to worry about the competency of the person/persons performing the procedure or what is going on when you are not there.

So if you feel in your heart that you still like this vet and trust her and can leave Dale there without hesitation, then you know your answer.

By the way, I can't remember, I know you took Chip somewhere else to have his teeth pulled right? - now is there a reason why your regular vet is doing Dales or am I missing something?

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Thanks Deb for confirming what I suspected about Dale. I am going to think about it this weekend and decide if I want to find another vet prior to having Dale neutered and teeth pulling. I am just really nervous about this.

Susan - I too would stay with the vet that you are happy with and if advanced equipment is needed, you could cross that bridge when and if you came to it. Good luck

[ZdogZ]

Bonnie ~ That is so awful! Poor Chip and Dale and you, too. It would have irked me to no end. After reading what some others have said about their "past" vets, I am so thankful that we have a wonderful vet. Especially one who has 3 corgis of his own.

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Linda:

Sorry I didn't answer you sooner but the story for Chip is when I found out his tooth was almost through the roof of his mouth, my vet was out of town and the other vet in this practice is not for my dogs. So I researched and found a vet dentist in Knoxville and Chip had a root canal done on that tooth. It cost me $1,000 and was very hard on my little Chip. When I got Dale, I had both of his baby bottom canines pulled and decided to have both of his adult canines pulled. It is a lot less expensive and with them gone, (once he is healed) there will never be a worry about those teeth causing him any pain or discomfort. If Chip's root canal goes bad, he will have to have another one at $1,000 and alot more discomfort. So it is a catch 22 situation. I am seriously thinking about calling another vet in Virginia that has dental experience for a consult as I am not really confident any more. Sorry for explaining this helter skelter. Hope you can understand it. I just am not sure what to do.

[corgimom]

Linda:

Sorry I didn't answer you sooner but the story for Chip is when I found out his tooth was almost through the roof of his mouth, my vet was out of town and the other vet in this practice is not for my dogs. So I researched and found a vet dentist in Knoxville and Chip had a root canal done on that tooth. It cost me $1,000 and was very hard on my little Chip. When I got Dale, I had both of his baby bottom canines pulled and decided to have both of his adult canines pulled. It is a lot less expensive and with them gone, (once he is healed) there will never be a worry about those teeth causing him any pain or discomfort. If Chip's root canal goes bad, he will have to have another one at $1,000 and alot more discomfort. So it is a catch 22 situation. I am seriously thinking about calling another vet in Virginia that has dental experience for a consult as I am not really confident any more. Sorry for explaining this helter skelter. Hope you can understand it. I just am not sure what to do.

Okay, I understand, I remembered you going to a specialist for Chip but was a bit confused as to why your regular vet would be pulling Dales and didn't work on Chip, but she was out of down when you had to deal with Chips.

I am sure you are struggling with what to do; not always an easy decision. How far is this other vet from you?

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Probably about 30 miles but the distance doesn't bother me if she is a good vet.

[Dillydoodle]

I would do what feels right... i am in a similar dilemma right now... I have had three vets this last year, two that i still use, one that i wont go to ever again... the two i use are great - one I take my cats to the other one i take the dogs but i am seriously thinking i may take the dogs to the "cat vet" as they are so much closer. My corgi vet is 1 hour away from me, she knows corgis, but she is by appt only, usually booked up and hard to get in quickly, she also works out of a home so she doesnt have a ton of super high tech equipment. The cats vet (he does cat and dog- not specializing in one or the other) is very high tech, the guy is great, very logical in his thinking, young enough to be willing to research new ideas and try things rather than sticking to the 20 yr old protocol that many of the old school vets stick to, even with all the new discoveries... right or wrong as their advice may be... so i am thinking seriously of going to see him as he tends to be a bit more cutting edge... another benefit, they are only 20 minutes away....

Bonnie, i would probably go check out the other vet, call them and "intervew" them .. see how you feel and maybe go for a visit... keep the other vet who is closer as you emergency vet, the one you could go to if you had to get there really fast....

Emilie

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

DILLYDOODLE made a wonderful point, I think that many of our "favorite" vets are getting older, some are lots older, and aren't as progressive in their thinking as the younger vets are. There have been so many breakthroughs in training and treatment, and there are a lot more natural routes to take, the older vets do seem to be stuck in a rut. In my situation, I use three vets, one is much older(and I love and trust this man!) but the other two are young, one is rather new, so I get all opinions, and I feel that everything gets covered. Just food for thought for all of us, and kudos to DILLYDOODLE for pointing that out.