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08-08-2006, 06:52 AM | #1 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,275
| I Am Sooo Mad! Some of you may remember I posted on the weekend about little Ruthie possibly having an eye infection - I took her to the ER vet that day, spent about 2 hrs there, we were in the exam room for all of 5 minutes during which time she simply looked at her eye the same way I would and diagnosed it as an infection and prescribed Tobrex eye drops for it. I went away feeling relieved that that was all it was and thinking these eye drops would clear it all up. Later that day Ruthie was playing and running around like her old self again and opening the eye more - the drops seemed to be doing the trick. The next morning (I also posted about this) her eye was clouded over. I thought, maybe it's just the eye drops coating/protecting her eye... who knows, the eye didn't seem to be bothering her though and since it was a holiday I couldn't take her to the vet anyways. I went in first thing this morning because her eye was still cloudy and I knew something wasn't right. MY vet stained her eye to reveal a corneal laceration - which is much more serious. The vet is concerned that the laceration will work it's way down into deeper layers of the eye, etc. etc. - and the way we treat it is important because she's so young and still developing. She called into the opthomologist to get his opinion as far as treatment but until we hear back we are to use two different types of eye drops. Based on his recommendation we may or may not have to go back later today to get MORE eyedrops. I then have to take her back in on Thursday to get a re-check to see if she's healing - otherwise I will be referred to the opthomologist to discuss our 'options'. I am SO angry that the ER vet didn't take the time to properly check her eye - I thought that staining the eye was pretty much common practice when presented with her symptoms. Now it's been left untreated for 2 days so who knows how much it has progressed in that time. I've already paid $300 dollars for this and it's going to end up costing me much much more. Unfortunately I don't think this is going to be covered under the PetCare insurance I got for her a couple weeks ago... Sorry this is so long... just needed to vent...
__________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog." |
Welcome Guest! | |
08-08-2006, 07:04 AM | #2 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida
Posts: 8,577
| eye I hope you will go back to the ER and inform the vet of the problem the missed. I would ask fo rmy ER fee back..don't hold your breath getting it. My Isabel got oen from rough housing with her littermates at 4 months...the vet stitched teh 3rd lid shut..used drops..within a couple weeks it was okay..you might notice a white speck that remains..a small scar. Best wishes |
08-08-2006, 07:08 AM | #3 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| Janice, I did read you post regarding Ruthie eye and I agree with you that the ER should have done a better job with their exam. After all it is the eye! I would wait until you get the results of what is going on now and after Ruthie is taken care of I would write or call and tell them if they had done a bettter job you would have saved two days in her treatment. Your pet insurance may cover it. My insurance for Buddy said I had to wait 7 days before it would become active. Check out your contract. It if is 7 days also I would submit the bills. I have VIP. Good luck to Ruthie and I hope the drops heal her eye. |
08-08-2006, 07:09 AM | #4 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,275
| Quote:
__________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog." | |
08-08-2006, 07:13 AM | #5 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,275
| Quote:
I have PetCare insurance and I got a pretty extensive plan for both of my little ones. There was a 30 day waiting period for ILLNESS coverage, and ACCIDENT coverage was immediate after I signed them up. So I don't know which category this falls under. I'm not too worried about the bills up to this point, it's more the 'fear of the unknown' - wondering if this is going to end up costing me a great deal more. Really I just want Ruthie's beautiful little eyes to be ok again!
__________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog." | |
08-08-2006, 07:21 AM | #6 |
Donating YT 8000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 9,339
| Oh poor baby ruthie . . . I do hope you can get some reimbursment from your pet insurance . . .is it VPI? |
08-08-2006, 07:27 AM | #7 |
Princess Bella Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: virginia
Posts: 2,186
| That's slightly irresponsible on your vet's part. Actually it's extremely irresponsible on his part. By him not following simple procedure, your Ruthie's eye could possible be more damaged, then it had to be. As a vet it's his duty to cross every T and dot every I. Major mistakes (like this one), can profoundly affect an animals quality of life, and in turn affect the lives of their owners. You should bring his misstep to his attention, and he shouldn't charge you full price, since he didn't fully do his job! Please give Ruthie and Oscars big hugs from me
__________________ I miss you two more then words can express, but I still have hope that I'll find you and hold you again! Tucker and Teddy always say: "If I want it, it's mine and if I put it in my mouth, it's food." |
08-08-2006, 07:55 AM | #8 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,275
| Quote:
That's the way I feel too - I'M not the expert, so I have to completely rely on them to know what's best and DO whatever is necessary - or at least explain the possibilities to me. This lady seriously seemed so incompetent to me and my bf just thought I was being silly for thinking so (I always want the best for my babies, you know). If she had even said "it COULD be a laceration, and we COULD test for that" then I would have said YES, PLEASE DO - it's her DAMN EYES we're talking about here! I understand that mistakes are made (even our doctor's make them) but when I got home and did some research EVERY site I found said it was common practice when presented with Ruthie's symptoms to flush the eye, stain the eye to check for lacerations, etc. When all is said and done, I will be writing a letter to this clinic to inform them of this 'missed' diagnosis. Just because they are an ER vet, they should still take the same time, care and consideration with each and every pet - How else can they justify such outrageous fees just to step into an examination room ($115)???
__________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog." | |
08-08-2006, 07:55 AM | #9 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama
Posts: 11,432
| Quote:
(Hey, being an opthalmic tech paid off some... ) | |
08-08-2006, 07:58 AM | #10 |
Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa
Posts: 12,552
| I can appreciate your anger. The dye seems like a simple enough test it should have been routine. |
08-08-2006, 08:05 AM | #11 | |
Princess Bella Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: virginia
Posts: 2,186
| Quote:
__________________ I miss you two more then words can express, but I still have hope that I'll find you and hold you again! Tucker and Teddy always say: "If I want it, it's mine and if I put it in my mouth, it's food." | |
08-08-2006, 08:07 AM | #12 |
Luv my Angel, too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 9,333
| I also would wait until you know exactly what damage, if any and what other eye drops you may need. Then, if the ones you paid for through the ER vet were not appropriate - I would at least demand $ back for these since they were unnecessary. I would also ask to speak to the chief vet of the ER clinic and explain what had happened, that you feel your baby was not fully treated and that you want your money back and the physician reprimanded. I've got to believe that their is malpractice for animals just like their is for people. If Ruthie's eye has any type of permanent damage, you might want to think of pursuing this. Hope Ruthie is better soon. Glad you trusted your mommy instincts.
__________________ Sissy & Angel |
08-08-2006, 08:33 AM | #13 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Janice, My first Yorkie Karma had a severely lacerated cornea from trying to get under a chain link fence. The vet thought that I might have to take him downstate to the University vet clinic but he was able to treat him and he was fine. No cloudiness no problems and that was 35 years ago. So hopefully the vet can fix baby Ruthie up with no lasting memories.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
08-08-2006, 10:39 AM | #14 |
I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 7,149
| I would definately think that this would be covered under "accident" insurance. I mean, more than likely she got it while playing with Oscar. That would definately be considered an "accident" in my opinion! Hope it isn't too serious and that Ruthie is all well real soon. |
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