Not happy with the vet we saw today(vent)
 

I took Scarlett in for her 4 month check up today. My normal vet wasn't there so we were seen by the new partner. Normally, that's not a bad thing, I like getting to know all the vets in a practice because you never know who's going to be on call in an emergency.

My vet, and the 2 other partners, know my feelings on vaccines and have the vaccine protocol we agreed upon in the front of our charts (which includes NOT giving the rabies vaccine with anything else).

The new vet either didn't read the notes, or didn't think there would be any problems with doing things her way. When they took Scarlett to the back to weigh her, she was given 2 shots (DHPP and Rabies) before they brought her back out to me. The practice has never, ever given immunizations without me present before. If I had been there, I could have stopped them from giving Scarlett the rabies this time. Instead, when the vet came back in with her and did a quick exam, she started to send us on our way. I asked about her getting her shot and she said, Oh, we all ready gave both of them". I was livid. And now at home, I am obsessively watching Scarlett to make sure she's ok. I came home and gave her a dose of benadryl right away. She seems fine, but after seeing all the vaccine reactions we've had on the board recently, I'm just freaked out.

Sigh. Not much I can do about it right now other than to watch her. But I will be calling my regular vet on Monday and letting her know I am unhappy with this new partner. And I'll only go for appointments when either Dr Sue or Dr Candace is there from now on!

Sorry for the rant. Just a reminder for everyone to insist that everything is done in front of you and that you and the examining vet are on the same page about everything!

Oh my gosh I would be livid too. I happened to be in the room when Gina was getting her vaccine and they had two needles. They were getting ready to stick her with the second one when I asked, "What's that?" It's her rabies shot. STOP!!! The needle was almost in her skin. I had gotten a rabies 6 mos before at a clinic and Gina's chart CLEARLY shows that she had the shot. I hate it when they don't give the shots in front of you.
I hope little Scarlett will not have any bad effects from the two shots. You were smart giving her the benadryl right away.
Cherie

Boy that really sucks! She should be okay... sometimes smaller dogs just get really knocked out when they get both vaccs at the same time for anywhere from 3 - 7 days. She may be lethargic and go off her feed for a few days also.

The really bad thing though, if they don't have an immediate reaction, is that the vaccines can't do as good a job when given together as they do when given separately. Their immune system can't make as many antibodies because it's busy trying to handle both vaccs instead of just one. That is what causes them to be lethargic too. I think it's more the Rabies though, cause even given separately mine are always a bit more 'off' for a few days after getting it.

Thanks for sharing though... my new rule is: dogs stay in the room with me for everything except surgery! :D

And I'm doing titers from now on too.

Wow. I can't believe they did that without telling you what they were doing. I'm with you - all shots are given in front of me. The vet prefers it that way and so do I.

Probably Scarlett will be fine but I would be pi$$ed too.

That's a good rule of thumb, too. They just go off and nobody seems to read the charts anymore and do whatever. It's frustrating!

I hope Scarlett will be ok.

can you refuse to pay since you didn't ask for the services? I'd be mad too.

Me too and I would be livid as well. There is NO Excuse for a Vet not reading a chart before administering one little thing!

I stay in the room with the vet as well. Last time, I caught my vet with two vials in their hands when she re-entered the room. I said whooaah why two vials? Then we went over yet again Dr Jean Dodds vaccination protocols.

So now I too am in the market for a new vet.

These kinds of stories are far to common. I do believe there are far too many bad vets and not nearly enough good ones these days. I would deff not have paid for Anything I did not ask for as I am the owner and I say what gets done.

I would blow my top. We just took our yorkie Zach for his checkup and the first thing my vet said was that they never give a puppy two shots at once. We have an appointment in three weeks for his baby booster and then two weeks later for his rabies shot. No vet ever gives a puppy two shots at a time. I would really investigate this vet because I don't think she knows what she's doing