First a recommendation. Read this blog entry regarding euthanasia. It suggests that only the most cold-hearted veterinarians that lack compassion use a single injection method to euthanize animals. ... Read More
First a recommendation. Read this blog entry regarding euthanasia. It suggests that only the most cold-hearted veterinarians that lack compassion use a single injection method to euthanize animals. All others use at least a two injection process, first inducing deep anesthesia and slumber in the pet.petmd.com/blogs/dailyvet…I just read a similar 1-star post from earlier this month. Unfortunately, I went to see this vet today, and would not have had I seen this post. I was in the same position as the other poster, Sarah P. when I went to this vet for the first time in 2014 when I had a cat that had some neurological issues and was almost fully paralyzed. The vet agreed that putting the cat to sleep was the right decision. I had done this with another cat about 12 years prior at different clinic. At that time, the process involved two injections. The first injection caused the cat to go to sleep. After that, the second injection stopped its heart. That process seemed about as humane as our current lethal injection process.When I saw this vet with my distressed cat last year, like the other reviewer, I was barely in a position to make decisions as the whole event is highly traumatic. However, it was the humane decision. Yet, what this cold-hearted vet did was a single injection to stop the heart, and my cat died looking at me with its eyes wide open. This image has haunted me now for more than a year. I always wanted to question the vet about this and went back to them today with the sister of the other cat. She is 14 1/2 and very sweet. However, she's dropped some weight despite eating quite a bit, so my thought was hyperthyroidism...something I experienced with a previous cat.I called to make an appointment and asked what the thyroid blood test would run. I was told about $70. I showed up with my cat today and was told, "What you really want is a senior cat physical." I was not told how much this is, but since we were already doing blood work, how much more could it be? ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY DOLLARS MORE!!! Total bill for three basic blood tests, and for the vet to paw at my cat was $236. What a racket. I formerly took my pets to the Animal Clinic of Farmers Branch which was easily half the price. However, after having my fill of rude front office staff and veterinarians that led me to believe you get what you pay for, I decided my pets were worth more than finding the best vet bargain.So, back to today with RVC. The vet did not seem to think I, a pet owner, knew squat about caring for pets. His conversations with me were incredibly patronizing. I could handle that if the care was good. However, the care was awful. They needed to take blood, and decided they needed to go to the back to take my 9lb cat's blood. Interestingly, they invited my back. (I bet they don't make that same decision again.) The vet shaved my cat's neck, grabbed a syringe, and proceeded to bend the heck out of it without getting into the vein. It was as if he was hitting bone or it was a dull needle. He kept trying, causing my cat significant discomfort. I asked, "What's going on?" He dismissed me and proceeded to grab another needle. He got that one into her skin easily. However, he tried and tried and tried for 60-90 seconds, with the needle in her neck, pointed up towards her chin, and never really got the vein. He got another needle, shaved the other side of her neck, and got the blood on the first try over there. Seeing my tiny, sweet cat in such discomfort broke my heart. I asked if going through the neck was the best way to get their blood? He said, patronizingly, "How else would you do it?" I said I thought that every vet I'd seen take blood did it through the leg. He said, again very patronizingly, "I don't know where you saw blood being taken from a cat, but taking it from the neck is far and away the quickest." I validated this to be true online, but it wasn't what I had seen previously, and if this cold, rude, incompetent vet had gotten the blood in the first or second try, instead of the 8th or 9th, I would not have had an issue.They even brought out a leather muzzle. They didn't use it, but I would wager they don't clean that thing. It's leather, how can you disinfect that?Back to the question of euthanizing, I asked the vet before I left about what happened with my Buddy. I said I had put a cat down years prior, they used two injections, and it passed with its eyes closed. This pompous, arrogant individual said that it doesn't matter if they use one or two shots, that in neither scenario will the pet's eyes close. This is where I say the guy thinks we're all idiots. Is he saying I forgot that detail of one of those few life moments that I remember very clearly?There are MANY other highly rated vets in Carrollton. Save yourself and your fur baby the anguish and use one of them. Read Less