Thinking of changing my vets.

[ChickenPaws]

I have three beloved kitties. One of them is on cystease as she’s bad with her nerves and gets cystitis. She’s doing really well on it and I get a repeat prescription from the vets each month. The thing is, they’re so incompetent and every month seem to screw the order up. It’s either not ready, not put up, lost, missing, out the back, whatever. It’s been a bit of a joke up til now, but they screwed the pre xmas request up the other day and I ended up very stressed and a bit upset.

One time the receptionist told me that my bill came to £289.00. This was more than the estimate (dental work) and I spent ages getting her to check it over and over. Eventually, I saw the piece of paper with the amount on and it was £200.89 !!! Not £289. She wasn’t pronouncing the amount properly and couldn’t understand what I was meaning when I corrected her

They’re so sloppy and casual about everything and just don’t seem professional anymore. The actual vets are fine, it’s just the reception and nursing staff who don’t seem to be very organised.

I’ve been with this practice for 18 years now and they’ve been taken over by some company.

Dh ordered some cystease online which arrived okay so at least I have some. There is a cats only practice a few miles away from me so I was thinking of going to see them instead.

I'd prefer a cat only vet, we took ours to one in Salisbury they were brilliant, completely set up just for cats. Unfortunately they are a bit far away to use for routine stuff

Normal vets can stress out cats with dogs/other animals- so an already stressful event made even worse.

But that's just my opinion!

I would like a cat only vets or for the idiot dog owners to realise not everyone wants their dog all over them. Keep the bloody thing next to you, not near my cat!

Sorry, I got a bit carried away there! From what you’ve said I would definitely look to change, whether it’s to a cat only practice or not as they sound incompetent at best.

I'm so sorry you have experienced this. I am a svn and worked as a veterinary receptionist for many years. This is totally unacceptable and I would raise this with the practice manager as a formal complaint.

Mistakes happen. The "send" button doesn't get hit because you might be on the order screen and the phone rings etc. No one is perfect but this is happening repeatedly. I would be absolutely mortified if i were responsible fir this catalogue of errors.

Also have they investigated the cause of repeated cystitis? May I ask what your cat eats? Retention cystitis is common but repeated episodes warrant further investigation.

Finally I would look at getting a written prescription from your vet and purchase the cystease online (just make sure the online pharmacy is registered with the veterinary medicines directorate). You'll have to pay for the prescription but you'll potentially save £££s

Yes she’s had the cystitis investigated and I keep it under control with special food, cat soup (to increase fluid intake), cystease and a feliway plug in. If I stop the cystease or let the plug in run out she becomes stressed again. Her coat is a lot better with the special urinary care biscuits and I also have a ceramic water fountain.

I’m feeling sad about leaving this practice, but I just can’t stand it anymore what if the medication was for a heart problem or something? It could lead to something really bad happening.

Ah ok. I think you can get the diets online also. The practice are bound to give you a prescription but won't advertise the fact. Worth checking.

Do raise this with the management though as it sound like they need better system in place to prevent these cock ups.

I think I’ll speak to the practice manager.

Will I be able to transfer their medical records to the new Vets?

Yes you will. When you register at a new practice just give them details of this one and they will call them and ask them to email the history over . X

I'd love a cat only vet. Took my girls for a claw club and there was a horrible yappy jack Russell. My PFP's (precious first Persians) were terrified, despite separate waiting areas.

Chicken transferring practice is really straight forward and happens all the time. Usually your new practice would contact your old practice the notes would be emailed over and attached to the new clinical record.
Cystease is not a prescription only medicine so you do not need a prescription from the vet to buy on line.
The relationship between vet practice and client is all about trust if that has been lost for any reason then it is time to find another practice.

It’s good to know that I can transfer easily. Thank you.

My cats are registered with two vets. One is for routine things and the other is a hospital that I use for out of hours stuff. As the cheaper vets don't do 24 hours. And I found the logistics of their out of hours provider a bit awkward.

I am about to do this for my dog. My problem is with the vet not the nurses or support staff. We had a bill I assumed was being taken care of by the insurance and I was never once sent an invoice or asked for the payment until I went to take them a Xmas present last year, and got loudly cornered in front a full waiting room with her shouting THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH YOUR ACCOUNT! She is also very judgemental when my dog has a flare up of his long term condition, despite me having him on the recommended daily medication!

It's taken me a full year to get the courage to leave and tbh I'm very nervous about it! Have found a wonderful more local vet though, who took excellent care of our recently pts older dog and even sent a handwritten sympathy card. Good luck with your switch OP.