My vet is pushing my limits.. What would you do?

So, as some may already know, both my buns were diagnosed with E. Cuniculi a few weeks ago. I have all the medication sitting in my fridge ready to be used. All I need is for my vet to tell me what the dosage is for these meds. I have called and gone back a couple times because of other pets (sick snake) and need to go back again Saturday because of a wellness check for my African Grey. Everytime I go or call, I ask "Have you got the dosage yet?". and the answer is always "not yet, we may have it by tomorrow" and so on..

It almost seems that if I stop asking, they will just forget altogether. After all the money I have spent getting my buns tested for a myriad of things, it comes down to this and I'm really a little tired of it. 6 weeks have passed and I still haven't been given any direction from my vet.

The problem, tho, is that I like my vet. They are nice people and I have been going to them since 1999 for my exotics. I already have the name and number of another vet that *Does* know how to treat using these meds I have, but skipping out on them might seem like an insult to them and I don't want to piss them off. What do you guys think I should do about this ?

Wow, I find it ridiculous that they haven't given you a dosage. My vet always has it ready to go before I even get the meds, and honestly it's quite irresponsible of them to give you the meds without giving you directions.

Personally, I would go somewhere else.

:yeahthat:

There really is no good excuse for not having the dosage and giving it to you. They should give it to you when they give you the medication. Even if they have to look up what the proper dose is, that should not take too long (like a few minutes maybe since they should have the right sources for it).
Call them again and tell them that if they cannot give your the dosage in the next 24 hours, you will go to another vet for it. This gives them one more chance and if they don't do it, they are losing your business. Since you go there for other animals, then consider taking them to another vet if you can (even cancel the appointment if you have to). You need to show you mean business as they don't seem to. Some people don't respond well until you hit them in the bank account.

I absolutely agree with Kate. You shouldn't even have left without the proper dosage known.(Not saying it's your fault, I am saying a proper vet would have armed you with what you need to know.) Absolutely ridiculous. Meanwhile, the buns aren't getting treated and any vet that is fine by that cannot be all that serious about their patient. :expressionless

(Takes a deep breath).

I've gone through this too. I was with my vet for 8 years. Then my dog Troy broke his leg and they pushed my limits with his follow up care. He had numerous infections and difficulties; he almost died.

The breaking point was one day I arranged 1 week in advance being able to leave work early to pick him up from a procedure that I dropped him off for in the morning. I got a call 30 minutes before I was supposed to leave (it was a 45 minutes drive from work to vet, by the way) saying that he was ready but they were closing early for a staff meeting. I had to come in *right now* to get him, or they were keeping him for the night and I was expected to pay for it.

Now, my dog hates the vet. He actually gets worse if he has to stay the night. They'd been treating him since he was knee-high to a grasshopper and knew it. Plus, hadn't I already arranged this a week ago, within their normal business hours? Why suddenly are you closing more than an hour early for a staff meeting? Haven't I been a dedicated patron for almost a decade? Why can't someone pop out of the staff meeting to discharge him?

I ended up having to leave work earlier than I thought, ticking my boss off royally, and by the time I got there they were locked up with shades down. I had told them I was coming. They knew to expect me. Knew the drive would take 45 minutes. I banged on the door for I don't know how long till a tech came out and looked at me like I was crazy. I had to push past her into the office and demand the vet release him.

All of this for a routine procedure that took them 20 minutes? Maybe 15? Sorry I spent $9,000.00* (not an exaggeration) on the actual surgery alone and paid in CASH from my SAVINGS ACCOUNT and can't afford a $200.00 board for the night because you're all being flaming dou*he bags. After that, I spoke to the vet I loved so dearly and was told that his wife is the manager and it was up to her to call the shots.

I never went back, and they fought me on releasing his records too. I eventually got them, but for crying out loud. Were they all on drugs??

I've now spent the last 3 years looking for a vet, trying new vets. Nothing compares to having built that foundation and having it destroyed so completely. We have a new vet now, that are nice enough and knowledgeable, but I feel like I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I just can't get over it.

I wish you the best of luck. Decisions like this suck.

My vets have been super bad lately. My parents used them for over 30years, me for 5, and they sit yhere and say a good owner would test their dog for worms right now...well so glad they have $ for that but i had him tested 3 months before. Their pushy and rude now.

I didn't include important information about the circumstances surrounding this issue and I apologize for that.

But I should have included that I bought the medication on my own. Not because my vet told me to. And they have never treated any animals with this medication before. The head vet said she was going to talk to another veterinarian last week, but *still* has not got back to me regarding the dosage.

Really, even tho they have no experience with this medication, it shouldn't be all that difficult to consult with a colleague and get back to me on dosage, kwim?

So for 6 weeks they have been telling me that they're going to "get back to me", but they don't. I really have a urge to not go back and take my African Grey somewhere else. I dunno...

My other alternative is to go to an avian vet 45 minutes north of me. Would you go to the new vet? or give the old vet one last chance but stating that I need the dosage by end of the week or I'm going elsewhere... ??

Oh I see. How about you take the medicine with you when you go and make sure that they check it with you before you leave?

The meds need to be refrigerated, but I think what I'll do is take a picture of them. show them that I have them. See what they say. I did tell them that I had it already, but maybe that information didn't register? I will give them another week and express my need for this info or I'm going elsewhere. We'll see if that gets them in gear.

You could always take the meds along in a cooler.

I really hate the "we'll do it soon" people that never deliver. It seems passive-aggressive to me, but maybe it's early-onset dementia.

If you're giving them another week, tell them that, not saying you'll go elsewhere, just "I MUST have the information by __________". If it doesn't happen, see another vet. Then you can compare the experiences & see which vet you want to use from then on.

I can understand the vet's hesitance, especially if he hasn't found another vet who can confirm the course of treatment/dosage he wants to try. Didn't you say in another post that this was cutting edge...somethingnew?If that is the case, then you might have a hard time finding another vet willing to try what your vet will try.If you know this is new 'territory'then letting him know thatyou won't hold it against him if it doesn't work, might help.If it doesn't, then start calling other vets. Just a thought.

HI Vicki,

It's new treatment, but not cutting edge. I am on the local house rabbits society mailing list and have been talking to a couple people with rabbits that have head tilt issues due to e. cuniculi. They have told me they see vets near me that use this medication. I think if shouldn't be too difficult to find a vet that has experience with it.

Orlena, Thanks. That's great advice!

Wishing you luck. I would have been to another vet after the first time they said, we'll get back with you. Don't care how much I really like my VET or how long I've been with them. Don't care if it's a "new treatment". My animals come first.Believe me, stepped on a lot of toes in my days, and don't care. They would get one chance and then "adios amigos, got sick buns here."


K

ZRabbits wrote:

adios amigos, got sick buns here."

Click to expand...

:agree

It's never smart to burn your bridges before you know how well the new one works.

I think the vet burned any bridge I had with them, personally.

I know of a great vet down south that does exotics, but it might be a drive.
His name is Dr. Joel Murphy
http://www.pethealing.org/
http://www.dogcatbirdvet.org/

Yeah...looked up the distance...way too far. Hope you can find someone to help. ray:

yea.. way too far..

I probably have no choice but to go back on saturday for a cag wellness exam. I will ask again then and give them another week. After that, I'm going with another vet...

sux...