Poor PicklePig, butchered at the vets.

[Germgirl]

I feel so guilty. Like proper full on gulpy-tears and snot crying guilty.
Saw an offer on the telly, £25 for a "Senior Cat Check Up" at Vets 4 Pets.
Our normal vet is v expensive.
PicklePig has been drinking a bit more than usual recently and I had decided to take him to the vet to get checked out. He's 12 now and could be starting something like diabetes etc so I wanted him looked at.
Being a tightfisted arse, I saw this "offer" and decided to go there rather than our usual place.
So we went yesterday.
Vet seemed lovely, checked him all over and said his heart rate was very fast
Said that he may have hyperthyroidism or diabetes and that a blood test was needed. He also needs a blood pressure check.
So she took him away in his little pink carry box to have his blood taken.
15 minutes later she beckons me back in & says that they haven't managed to take his blood because he fought them too much.
Now PicklePig is the softest, daftest cat around, I've never seen him get even slightly het up at the vets, he accepts treatment with barely a murmur.
So I was surprised when she said they hadn't managed it. But thought, "ok, they know what they're doing"
I had to book him in for a day so that he can have his BP taken and they can have another go at taking blood, sedating him if necessary.
So he's booked in for Wednesday.
Anyway, I took him home and got him out of the box.
Oh. My. Goodness.
He's been butchered! They've shaved his neck, which is fine, but he has big bloody wounds on both sides of his neck, they were still dripping blood all over him (and me!). This morning, the wounds are now scabby bruises which look so sore!
I feel so guilty. After causing those wounds they still didn't get any blood out & he was so upset last night, crying and moping about.
I've decided to cancel Wednesday (and attempt to get back the £160 we've paid in advance for the tests!), let him heal a bit and then take him to our usual vet. Where I will have to shamefacedly admit what I've done.
Poor poor PicklePig. I'm a terrible cat-mother :(

[Thecontentedcat]

Oh poor picklepig! for you and 🐟 for him you are not a bad cat mother though, you expect a certain level of service from any vet. I will remember this and make sure we only go to our regular vets, so thank you for sharing.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Oh no, poor pickle pig. Try not to beat yourself up, we've all done it.

Asbo was neutered at a different vets to normal because his wanted to wait till 6 months & they were mean to him.

The vet nurse said she was glad she hadn't been in there with him during the procedure and I was handed back one very traumatised kitten. I felt so guilty that I'd taken him there.

I hope they have the decency to refund you.

[Thecontentedcat]

Oh and take some photos and write a complaint!

[Germgirl]

I'm being a wimp and making DH phone them and cancel Wednesday (and get a refund) because I'll either shout or cry, probably both.
Will take pics today. He wouldn't let me near it yesterday & I need to hold his head up to take the photos.

[Wolfiefan]

They made you pay in advance?
They sent him home dripping with blood?
That's bloody awful. Who was holding him and why did they not do something different if the first attempt left him butchered? Why do exactly the same the other side?
Poor baby.
You weren't to know. You were just trying to get all the tests you thought he could possibly need.

[AngelBlue12]

We went to pets at home because one of ours had third eyelids showing, really bad stomach and lost loads of weight and were given (human) eye drops and a probiotic. And was told to come back in three weeks if she wasn't better.

I wasn't impressed booked her in at another vets, she had a virus (main symptom is the eyelids and upset stomach) with a bacterial infection, 7 days of antibiotics later and she is back to her normal self.

I won't be going near pets at home vets again...

Really hope your kitty is ok and isn't too traumatised by his ordeal

[monkeywithacowface]

They sound crap. Poor old thing. When monkeycat needed blood tests it took our vet quite a while and a few attempts (and two nurses to hold her) because she's a feisty fecker and the whole waiting room could here her kicking off but other than a shaved patch there was no evidence of needle marks.

[Germgirl]

Look at this! Surely that's not right?

[Germgirl]

Yes we paid in advance. Something to do with vouchers and money off. I feel bloody awful. This is my fault for being tight. Im not usually tight!
He seems ok this morning. I've had to leave his collar off but the cat flap works on his chip so that's ok (last flap worked on a magnet on his collar so that would have been a nightmare).
He's getting lots of treats and fuss today (if he wants it) and his absolute favourite Whiskas Creamy Soup for breakfast.

[TheGonnagle]

That looks like it's been done with the clippers to me.

[TheGonnagle]

And no, it's not right. It's bloody awful.

[Germgirl]

I'll be filling this in later too.
Yes you're right, they've nicked him with the clippers as well as completely ballsing up the blood collection.

[MyBeloved]

Poor you and poor pickle! I agree with PP in that this looks like the wound has been caused by the clippers.

I've never heard of having to pay up front, even for a V4P offer. You normally pay when you collect your pet at the end of treatment. I would be speaking to the JVP (head vet) about this. If you're still not happy, call their head office.

[GRW]

My elderly cat has hyperthyroidism and the first vet who tried to take blood from her failed, and told me she would need to come back for a blood test under sedation. I didn't want her to be sedated just for a blood test, so I took her to a different vet at Pets at Home. He puts her in a zip up bag with a hole for one leg to poke through, and he always manages to get the blood from her with one nurse holding her. Sometimes he uses a blindfold too as that causes her to struggle less. Not very pleasant but it's over quickly and she is always fine afterwards. My vet agrees to minimise blood tests as she hates them so much. I'm sorry your cat was hurt and I hope the next vet will be better. A fast heart rate does sound like a symptom of hyperthyroidism .

[RubbishMantra]

Oh no! Poor PicklePig, and how awful for you. I'd be in bits too.

I use Vets4Pets, and am now seriously thinking about changing practices.

I hope he recovers quickly from his ordeal. They should most certainly refund you. And you are NOT a terrible cat mother.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Just as a bit of advice if PicklePig turns out to have diabetes. Certain varieties of insulin are what we humans use.

My old girl had diabetes. The insulin from the vets cost £56, was many years again. I used to get a private prescription from the vets for £5 and went to Boots pharmacy and paid £26 for the insulin. In total £25 saving each time

[Germgirl]

Thank you everyone. He's still very subdued, wants lots of cuddles, which isn't that unusual but he's even more clingy than usual. He's being totally spoiled, soft pillow to nap on, treats and his favourite food.
DH called the vets & he's got to go back there tonight to get the money put back on his card. Hopefully they won't be daft about it.
Rubbish if V4P is working for you then stick with them, I'm not condemning the whole chain but I certainly won't be going back to that particular one again!

[JanetWeb2812]

i always stay with old boy when he is having a blood sample taken. But generally he is very well behaved and takes a thermometer up the hoop like a trooper.

[RubbishMantra]

Germgirl, I don't like their up-sell methods. When ddDH used to come with bagfulls of stuff they'd 'given' him, and wonder why the bill was so high.

Poor Little Pickle. He looks like such a gentle little soul in his photographs. I'm and on his behalf. Give him a snuggle from me and the Mantracats. They wave a comforting paw.

[Germgirl]

I shall up the cuddles Rubbish. :)
The hard sell annoyed me too. I'm kind of expecting my normal vet to tell me that PP's heart isn't fast at all. He always checks it when we take him for his vaccinations and it's always fine. It's has only been a couple of months since it's been checked.
I wish I'd never seen that bloody 'offer' & had just taken him to our normal place.
The vet at V4P was trying to get me to book PP in to have his teeth scaled too. I'm glad I said I'd wait. They do seem a bit money-grabbing.
Pickle usually very well behaved too Janet never flinches when he has injections, doesn't even seem to notice the thermometer! So I was very surprised when they said he'd fought too much. I dread to think what went on & feel incredibly guilty that I didn't insist on holding him. His poor neck is purple the whole way round, it looks like he's been strangled!
Anyway, hopefully DH can get the money back no problem later.
I'm wondering if I should post the pics on the V4P FB page or just leave it. Part of me wants an explanation and to show other people. Another part realises that nothing I do now will heal PicklePig any faster.

[Vinorosso74]

Ooh that does look sore. You could put arnica cream on him, if he'll let you. Vinocat had her umpteenth blood test on Friday and our vet was worried she might bruise so put arnica on her but she was absolutely fine. She did bruise a tiny bit once after a blood test (they had trouble getting the vein) but nothing like that and it went within a day.
I think Vets4Pets and the large chains are always trying to make as much profit so things start out cheap and they try and sell you anything. Not used them myself but only from what others have said. I think they owe you an explanation as to what happened for him to bruise so badly. If they cannot or you are not happy with their response post the pictures. They must have a proper complaints handling procedure.
Don't feel bad vet bills can be high so trying a cheaper option seemed wise. I hope your regular vets can get him sorted out.

[Germgirl]

Arnica cream is a great idea, I'll get some tomorrow. It still looks sore although not as angry as yesterday. He tolerates me gently touching it.
I'm going to investigate the complaints procedure. Pickle isn't a feisty cat, but even if he was there shouldn't be any need to inflict those injuries on any cat. He's got two big ragged holes where they've put the needle in and then not held him properly so it's been dragged out again. But it's the other bruising that is so awful. It looks like he's had him a hair ripped out rather than clipped properly. What on earth did they do to him to cause bruising all round his neck?
It makes me shudder when I think of it, my poor baby being treated like that! Why didn't they come to get me to hold him?

[Vinorosso74]

Poor Pickle. I've seen them do blood tests twice and a nurse kind of holds the head up firmly with one arm so the neck is exposed and vein taut and hugs cat with the other. It doesn't look too stressful for the cat.They can use a numbing gel, not sure if it's an anaesthetic.
I agree your poor Pickle.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I think it's a lesson learned for all of us. Stay with the animal for as long as possible.

It's really not your fault, it's theirs. I don't think some of our vets really like cats. Pretty sure one of them is a dog person.

[TroysMammy]

I'm sorry you and pusskins have had a terrible experience. I have used Vets4Pets and have had no complaints. However the same vet has been there since Pets at Home, Companion Care opened in Swansea about 20 years ago. I found all the staff lovely and caring from treating cats, rats and a rabbit I have owned.

When my darling cat Troy was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, they couldn't have done anymore for him, from treatment to referral to Bristol until he sadly died aged 5. All the staff signed a sympathy card.

They are genuinely animal lovers and although probably a bit pricey, based on how they are with animals and the way I was treated too I wouldn't have changed vets for the world and if/when I get another kitty I will continue to use them.