The worst vet ever

[Sydney'sMom]

Sydney got spayed yesterday

We both dropped her off at the vet...she cried the whole car trip there b/c any car trip that involves both mommy and daddy...must be bad. Plus she was hungry and I wouldn't let her have her breakfast no matter how much she begged. We got to the vet and I gave the technician a towel to put in her cage and a chew toy to keep her from being bored. As the technician carried her away she just looked pathetically at us over her sholder as if to say "I won't be bad ever again if you just take me home".

We were allowed to go back to get her at 5:30...I wasn't about to let her stay overnight especially after they told me that the only purpose of that is so that they can check her stitches in the morning. She was groggy but she still recognized us and seemed very happy to see us. She looked awful. Her hair was all tangled and matted. Her face was crusty (she drools when she is nervous). All in all she just looked so sad and unkept. The technician gave me back the towel and chew toy obviously un-used. I mean how hard is it to put a towel in the bottom of her cage. She has never slept on the hard floor of her cage and I didn't want this to be any more of a bad experience than it already was.

We were told that she could only have small amounts of water that night and that we couldn't feed her until morning. She kept dry-heaving all night...sick from the gas they used to make her go to sleep. Finally she fell asleep in her crate and slept until morning. I felt better that she was at least in her own home safe even if she was in pain.

So this morning when I got her up she was soooo weak from not eating that she was shaking all over. This didn't improve until about a half hour after she ate her breakfast. Poor thing. Then my fiance took her back to the vet because they had to check her stitches. I'm still steaming mad about this...the vet who saw her for her stitches is one that I have had before and really dislike (I made sure that he was not performing her surgery). He looked at the stitches and said they looked good. And then took them between his fingers and started pinching her stitches.

Of course she screamed and cried and tried to bite the Doc. (personally I wish that she had bit him). My fiance was soooo mad that he didn't even know what to say. I can't imagine any reason for that to be medically necessary. The poor thing is already in enough pain. If their was someone I could report him too I would. I am just so angry.

[kp&nala]

that does sound like a bad experience. nala just got spayed 2 weeks ago, luckily we didn't have any problems. i like you wouldn't let her stay the night just so they could check on her in the morning. they didn't tell me not to give her any food, they just said give her a small amoutn of water and food and if she keeps it down then go ahead and feed her normally. she did fine and didn't get sick so didn't have to worry about that. i don't understand why he would pinch her stictches like that??

[wollfy]

That is TERRIBLE! He piched at the stitches, that must have hurt. I hope she is ok. If the vet have had that to Jane when was spayed I would have been pissed.I think you should report him.

[red98vett]

I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience and I don't know why he would do that to such a new wound - I have a feeling you'll be looking for a new vet and I would say exactly why when you do...That's a shame that they were so insensitive and the bedside manner sounded awful for your baby...Most vets know how much we love them and wouldn't be that careless and insensitive....I'm glad your baby is home with you and hope she gets to feeling better soon ...

[Hickey007]

I'm so sorry for your experience. When Reagan was spayed, about a month and a half ago they didn't even mention her staying over night. He also said to give her food and if she ate it and did ok give her more and mainly to just find a dark calm cozy place and let her sleep. She really didn't eat much though. I love my vet and I guess you never realize the importance of a good one til you hear or go through something like this.
Even the staff is great, when I went to pick her up the lady up from had her in her lap wrapped in a blanket.

[eensor]

How cruel! I never heard of pinching stitches! I'd call the vet who did her surgery and tell him/her what ahppened and why you'll be going elsewhere!

[eensor]

How is the baby feeling?

[bettyeanne]

I'm glad Sydney is feeling a little better! Sorry you had such an awful vet ... there's no excuse for what he did! I would consider this as a lesson learned and begin interviewing new vets. We have found a wonderful, knowledgeable, caring vet here in Grand Junction and are so thankful! I made an appointment and Toto and I went over and we all got acquainted. He is so great ... would make a wonderful Yorkie owner. I hope you will find one like this!
Toto says, "Sydney, snuggle with your Mommy and that will make you all better! My Mommy makes me feel better than any medicine! Mind your Mommy and give her lots of kisses!"

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

I am so glad that's over for you! I am agonizing over when that time omes for princess Chai.

[Lady of Yorkies]

I would imagine he was pinching the stitches to see if there was any infection/pus or any leakage. But I can't see any reason for him to be pinching the day after she had been spayed, there wasn't time for enough pus to form to ooze out. Didn't he bother to read her chart? Didn't anyone tell him "It was done just yesterday?" This doesn't excuse him in any way, shape or form. That hurt your baby and if you already don't like that particular vet, change in a hurry! Even if the other vet/vets at that office are ok, there are times when you will still get that one. Go ahead and start a search for a new vet. Sylvia

[Biddy's Mom]

In my experience, it seems like some vets don't know how to handle little dogs. They think that all dogs are big and tough & don't realize how delicate own little Yorkies are. It's frustrating because if you can't trust your vet who can you trust? Well, I hope Sydney is doing well & I wish you all the best of luck!

[Sydney'sMom]

Thank you all for your caring and encouraging remarks.

I have considered switching vets. The vet that is actually my vet is wonderful. I can't stress enough how much both Sydney and I love this guy. But as many of you said...the problem is that if we are in an emergency situation I may get stuck with this bad vet again.

Syd is doing better. She ate bunches yesterday and this morning and she seems to be getting her strength back. She is still sleeping a ton and just wants to be on our laps. But that is kind of good because it is keeping her from being too active. We had to get her the cone-collar yesterday to keep her from licking her stitches. She seems to think that this is an insult and she has seemed kind of depressed since we put it on her. But it's for her own good. Poor baby. Hopefully she cheers up soon.

[Sydney'sMom]

Sydney isn't showing much improvement and I am worried. She seems excessively stressed about her cone-collar.

When I got home from work yesterday she seemed to have developed a severe case of seperation anxiety. She was super-glued to my leg. when I would stand still she would put her little cone-head (face first) against my leg and just keep it there until I moved and then she would do the same thing all over again. She just wanted to be touching me at all times even if it was just my leg. She seems very sad (I haven't seen her tail up once since the surgery). If there is a loud noise (like if I sneeze) she shakes and acts afraid. This is totally NOT like her at all...she is usually such a brave little killer dog.

I really think that she thinks that the cone-collar is some kind of punishment...and I feel horrid about it. But it is for her own good and so I can't take it off for about a week. She is so sad. The only time she seemed happy at all yesterday was when her Daddy came home from work. She makes me want to cry every time I look at her.

[Bitsy]

Oh, that is so sad. I read in another thread that someone recommeded putting a baby onesie on the pup so that she couldn't get to her stitches. But, that would only work if you were home with her because she has to have it off and then back on again after she goes potty. Maybe you can try that this weekend though?

I'm sorry she isn't feeling well. Sending love her way.....

[Carolina girl]

You can buy her a newborn onesie like a baby wears and that will keep her from licking without the stress of the collor. Sounds like she has been through enought without worrying about that. hth