I wish I had never taken our 13 year old cat here for what I thought would be a routine checkup, nail clipping and shots. He was not happy to be handled and became very upset, fighting, crying, strugg... Read More
I wish I had never taken our 13 year old cat here for what I thought would be a routine checkup, nail clipping and shots. He was not happy to be handled and became very upset, fighting, crying, struggling, trying to bite and claw the technicians when they tried to cut his nails. After 5 minutes and only 1 nail cut, I told them to just forget it, that he is too upset and I didn't want him to hurt them and I didn't want to put him through that. When the doctor came in, we talked and he was fairly calm. Then it was time to take his blood pressure. Why? I have never had a vet do this. He went crazy again and this time the doctor and tech held him down (mainly the doctor while the tech tried to attach the blood pressure "cuff" to his back leg) -- under a towel, completely covering him and he cried and twisted and howled and eventually peed all over. I was very upset seeing him like this. They seemed so rough and, honestly, I worried he'd have a heart attack or a stroke.Finally, using brute strength to hold him down, they got his blood pressure. Then came a rabies shot and nasal distemper. He fought and fought and cried and she held the towel down tighter and tighter. Then she took him out of the room to draw blood. Why not there in front of me? 10-15 minutes later she came in carrying him, not even wrapped in a towel and he was a different cat--no struggling. I asked her if she sedated him. She said, "no, I know how to handle cats. His nails are cut too." I left with a very bad feeling, but I also felt badly he had clawed and bitten her and the techs. I told myself they had no choice, that he was fine. Well, that was 3 days ago and now he can't jump up on our bed and even when walking he is obviously in pain. His back leg or legs seem to be the issue. He's walking with a limp and his back legs have actually given out on him! He was just fine in this regard prior to this visit. He had NO mobility issues whatsoever. He is a different cat and I am very afraid that this is the beginning of a downturn in his health -- all because I was trying to do the right thing by getting him a well check up. $300 on blood pressure, 2 vaccines, a senior blood panel and nail clipping would have been okay if after it all he was the same healthy cat as before. I will not return. I feel so guilty for putting him through that. They could have sedated him (she led me to believe she would do so to take the blood since he was so upset). Why would you choose to put an elderly cat, especially, though that -- pinning him down forcefully with a towel over his entire body, including his head? I should have stopped her like I stopped the techs. I keep talking to him and apologizing. I am so upset with myself for choosing this place and for not being assertive and insisting on sedation. I just hope that his issues are temporary and a result of sore muscles from the exertion of struggling so hard and so long and that with some rest he'll return to normal. Read Less