Absolutely horrible experience!! I took my little Jack Russell into the vets today as he has managed to scratch just below his left eye... After speaking to the Receptionist Kim twice I made the decis... Read More
Absolutely horrible experience!! I took my little Jack Russell into the vets today as he has managed to scratch just below his left eye... After speaking to the Receptionist Kim twice I made the decision to take him to get checked. Alfie gets very very stressed by going to the vets anyway, a situation I explain EVERY TIME I CALL! Apparently I do not get taken seriously as the trigger points I mention, continue to be forced upon us. We were seen by Nicoletta, a locum vet. She was awful with Alfie, was very nervous around him, making him stressed. I had told her that Alfie gets very nervous before I even shut the door, suggesting that muzzling him would be the only way she could examine his eye. She ignored me and tried to examine his anyway, whilst repeating "He's not going to bite me is he?"
She eventually came back with two muzzles because she was unsure which size he needed. She was very nervous around Alfie, to the point where she would not put the muzzle on him, even with me holding him tight and securing his head. Nicoletta then asked me to try and put the muzzle on € not the easiest thing to do when the dog is trying to pull away and climb into your coat as he is now terrified. After a few failed attempts, Nicoletta went to get a nurse, Kimberley Bradshaw, and came back with a towel €to wrap him in€. I repeatedly stated that Alfie did not like towels, but was ignored as they tried to wrap it around him. By this stage, I€m now shaking and upset, the dog was traumatised and had relieved himself on the examination table.
I managed to get the muzzle onto his jaw but the strap had not been loosened and so I continually asked for help to secure the muzzle as I was trying to hold the dog, his lead and half the muzzle to make sure he did not manage to bite someone. Kim eventually came to my aid, and nervously loosened the strap in order for us to secure it. Kim then took Alfie from me and held him very tightly against her for the vet, Nicoletta to have a look at his eye. Alfie was terrified, trying to get back to me and growling in warning. He did try and snap, but was muzzled so unsuccessful. Kim then yanked him into her, quite harshly as Nicoletta was flapping because she was frightened. Alfie relieved himself again on the table, to which the response I received was a tut from Kim and a giggle from Nicoletta.
She concluded that Alfie could have the eye ointment I already had, and let us go. I had to remove the muzzle myself, the dog then jumped into my arms with his head buried in my coat, shaking.
I carried Alfie out to the reception desk and asked whether she was new, explained what had just happened, that I was very upset with the whole experience and was still charged for the privilege!
I left with Alfie a quivering wreck and myself in tears.
This is not the first time this has happened when bringing Alfie in, again with a locum vet. I take the time to clearly state on the phone when booking an appointment that Alfie is a very nervous dog when it comes to the vet, and that he will get very stressed by the ordeal. I have asked for this to be put on his record, but repeat it with every call I make.
I am very disappointed in the service I received today, and will not be returning as I do not have any trust that my dog will be cared for in a way he deserves. This hardly helped with the reaction he has when going to the vet anyway, which I have spent years trying to teach him that it is not a bad, scary place. This experience has set us back months as he is now quivering in his bed, refusing to eat or play. Read Less