We brought our 6-year-old male cat to the North Kingston Animal Hospital due to no urinary output in the past 24 hours, and the associated symptoms of increased sedentary behaviors and decreased oral ... Read More
We brought our 6-year-old male cat to the North Kingston Animal Hospital due to no urinary output in the past 24 hours, and the associated symptoms of increased sedentary behaviors and decreased oral intake. These were similar symptoms that he exhibited when he was diagnosed with a lower urinary tract obstruction, a few months ago at a different animal hospital. During that previous hospitalization, work up done, showed bladder obstruction.He was catheterized and in a couple days he urinated without a catheter and we brought him home. We were aware that given this occurrence he was at risk for future episodes. We received a call Monday night from Dr.C and she expressed that she thought Perineal Urethrostomy surgery was needed and wanted to transfer him to another hospital. Limited medical studies per my review, and I did not know if our cat would be one that would have a beneficial outcome or not, as intraoperative complications, post-op complications and overall mortality could always occur. I thought about what the surgery involved and for "our cat" I did not feel this procedure was the right choice. Mon-Thursday, Dr. C provided updates on our cat and his small improvements, with increase urinary outflow and increase appetite, and informed us that we should be able to take him home on Friday. However we received a call from a vet tech at Friday at 8:30am, to discuss a re blockage of lower urinary tract. This was discussed as the clinic had a surgeon on that day to perform the procedure that we did not want. As we wanted to discuss this with a surgeon rather than a staff member, I went to the clinic. On Friday when I went to the hospital, I was brought into an office room by an individual who did not introduce herself or state her role at the clinic. While the door was open to the public rooms, this person started to speak to me and explained that our cat needed the surgery and that it would be inhumane to not have it. I expressed my concerns about the surgery explaining I had reviewed risks vs. benefits, and as his owners we decided we wanted optimal non-invasive measures done but not surgery. This person, who after reviewing their website, was one of the veterinarians, a Dr. Mary Beth A. I explained we wanted to pursue a palliative approach to his care if the only medical option was surgery. The doctor looked at me with disgust, explaining what I was doing was cruel.. But I continued to discuss what we wanted to do for our cat, which was to bring him home with medication and provide him with his familiar environment and family. Since his prognosis was poor, we wanted his last days to be with us and not strangers. She said again, that what I was doing was inhumane and that if I took him home it would not be long for "his bladder to explode". She did not elaborate as to whether medication would prevent this, an outcome that we had been questioning. She then looked to the open doorway toward the workstation where other staff were passing back and forth. A male individual (per website review was Dr. David M), who also did not identify himself, glared and said, "What's going on here?" She explained I did not want the surgery. I then discussed again, this time explaining I was geriatric medicine physician and very familiar with palliative care/hospice approach to care in adults. While we realize that our cat is an animal, he is still a vital part of our family and we wished for the best scenario for his last days. The male individual chuckled and gave a look of surprise, "You're a doctor...well, I am not going to put a gun to your head". There was a notable lack of regard for our point of view or our intense review of past outcomes of this procedure. At this point, I asked if I could please see my cat. I found our cat in the cage, wet, mattered, and smelling of urine. I had a brief visit and then advised the front desk my husband would pick him up after work at 3pm. Someone called Lorie(Practice Manager)later called my husband and said "Why don't you sign the cat over to us, we will find him a forever home." My husband picked him up and brought him home where he immediately used the litter box. I asked if they reviewed meds/instructions. He said they didn't give medications. At that point I called the animal hospital, and inquired about the meds, and they said, "Oh, the Vet didn't think you wanted them". A prime example of the lack of hearing and understanding that permeated this entire experience. I went back to the animal hospital; they provided me with the 2 pain medications and 1 medication to keep the urinary tract open. The weekend he slowly started to be back to himself. He was voiding regularly, eating and drinking. At this time, he does not appear to be in pain, nor has his "bladder burst" which the doctor so nicely stated to me, would occur within hours of taking him home. As a fellow health care professional,I was deeply disturbed and upset by the unprofessional behaviors and events that occurred. Read Less