A Rescue Dilemma

[bettyeanne]

I am so sorry I didn't have news earlier and don't have details yet. They were supposed to call FM when the surgery was over and she waited and waited and they never called. She was frantic and when she called them they were rude & short with her. The only thing they would tell her was that he was out of surgery, awake but groggy! They wouldn't tell her details of the surgery and she was so upset she got in her car and started down there ... her car quit!! I feel so sorry for her ... she is so in love with this sweet little boy! When Trish talked to her she was still waiting for the tow truck. If, by some miracle, we can find out the details tonight I will update. Otherwise, looks like another sleepless night and we will know in the AM. Grrrrrr

We appreciate all your help and especially your prayers! I just know that everything is fine and that he will be OK but I hope this baby isn't too scared and feeling like he has been abandoned. I won't quit worrying until he is safe back with FM and on the road to recovery!

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

I am so sorry I didn't have news earlier and don't have details yet. They were supposed to call FM when the surgery was over and she waited and waited and they never called. She was frantic and when she called them they were rude & short with her. The only thing they would tell her was that he was out of surgery, awake but groggy! They wouldn't tell her details of the surgery and she was so upset she got in her car and started down there ... her car quit!! I feel so sorry for her ... she is so in love with this sweet little boy! When Trish talked to her she was still waiting for the tow truck. If, by some miracle, we can find out the details tonight I will update. Otherwise, looks like another sleepless night and we will know in the AM. Grrrrrr

We appreciate all your help and especially your prayers! I just know that everything is fine and that he will be OK but I hope this baby isn't too scared and feeling like he has been abandoned. I won't quit worrying until he is safe back with FM and on the road to recovery!

That's BS!!! that surgeon should have called the minute he was out of surgery to tell FM ALL about what he did and how the surgery went. IF he was not able to do so because he had to go right into another surgery then he should have told the tech to call to say he was out of surgery and the doctor would call her as soon as he could. Owners should always get an update after their animal has had surgery. ridiculous.... i know sometimes things are INSANE, really really insane, but we always call to say the patient is out of surgery and waking up, without an attitude...

i'm sorry bettye hopefully the doctor will call FM soon and tell her what happened.

[lovmyyorkie]

Hi,

I was just wondering if theres any update on this lil boy?

Best Wishes to all.

[bettyeanne]

First, I would like to apologize for the delay. This has been one of the worse days I can remember in a while! Please bear with me ... this may be long. Here goes, there was no more news last night. This AM when FM called about Reese, she was told that he was doing fine but still in surgery. She was quite taken aback and said what do you mean still in surgery, what's happened??? It seems that when they saw the wrap on his leg [from Thanksgiving] they assumed he had already had his surgery! Realizing their mistake, they did the surgery today! By this time she was hysterical and evidently a tad out of control [understandable!] ... they were very rude and told her not to take that tone with them, they were doing her a favor by doing the surgery!!! I am totally stunned! The surgery is not free, just less than all the others charge and they came highly recommened!

I can't remember if they told her or if it was Trish but one of them called and demanded to speak with the doctor who did the surgery. He said it was more complicated because of the age of the break and he had to cut and scrape the bone & the marrow? [I hope I got all this straight]. He used a "wire" to attach the bones and he has 4 pins. On the outside he has what sounds like a "halo" thing and his recovery will be 10 weeks!! He is to stay off it and can't use the doggy door, etc. There were sorta "heated" exchanges with the girls she spoke with before she spoke with the dr. and she said he sounded like an a-hole too! OMG! I just want to hold that poor little guy and tell him how terribly sorry we are. If we could just go back, we would take him where we would be certain that he would be treated well and loved through this ordeal. They can't pick him up until between 2-3 tomorrow afternoon. So I hope we will have better news then. I'm sure he's probably OK, but they just sound like such grouches!

I haven't heard any more but will update you all the minute we hear.

On top of everything else, Trish & her hubby went out of town yesterday and bad weather has them stranded ... last night and they couldn't get home today! I hope she can get home tomorrow!

I want to thank Kellie [kalina82] for her kindness and for all the information she shared regarding things that FM can do to help this little man when she brings him home. We don't feel that this will be supplied from this vet and she desperately needs advice. We appreciate you all so much!! Geeezzzz ... this sounds like an idiot wrote it ... I will try to make more sense tomorrow.

[kalina82]

i can't wait to hear how reese is tomorrow when FM picks him up. I hope they are nicer to her tomorrow. Again i'm so sorry you had to go thru this with that hospital. I'm embarrassed for them...it gives all us referral hospitals a bad name....

I'm glad to offer anything i can, and remember you can email me at any time.

[yorkiesmiles]

Prayers continue for Reese. I am heartbroken to hear about the problems with the vet & staff. But hoping they did the very best for this sweet guy. Praying that the FM will have peace when she has him back in her home

[Tatiana11]

This vet should be reported for animal mistreatment. Who assumes a lil guy already had surgery and doesn do it? What in the world did they think he was doing there. For the past couple of days I have been so paranoid with Armani I am watching him like a hawk, I am so scared he will break his leg. I do this everytime I hear a story of a yorkie hurting themselves. Its unbelievable all the things that can happen to these babies. Reese sweetie, you are in our prayers. Heres to a healthy and happy recovery.

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by Tatiana11

This vet should be reported for animal mistreatment. Who assumes a lil guy already had surgery and doesn do it? What in the world did they think he was doing there. For the past couple of days I have been so paranoid with Armani I am watching him like a hawk, I am so scared he will break his leg. I do this everytime I hear a story of a yorkie hurting themselves. Its unbelievable all the things that can happen to these babies. Reese sweetie, you are in our prayers. Heres to a healthy and happy recovery.

Whoa, I don't think you can assume animal mistreatment but what I think you can assume is a large break down in communication between the client, the staff and the vet(s). Maybe short cuts were made and an a x-ray was not taken, or another vet was doing the surgery and not the vet the client saw or the vet doing the surgery didn't look at the file. Anyway you look at it, this vet(s) and staff really sound like they are in it for the $$$ and not customer satisfaction or concern. It is also almost like a bait and switch and why I will always pay higher prices for a good vet if I have to. I know what I am getting upfront and they show a geniune concern for the pet. Now having said I don't think we can assume animal mistreatment, I sure wouldn't want those people around my pets if they treat humans this badly. It is almost like they have a "God-Like" mentality and they can do what they want because they are the doctors and they have all the answers. Doctors attitude will always reflect in the staff.

It is very sad but surveys have been done in the past with vets on why they entered into this vocation and a high and I mean high majority choose to be vets because of the amount of $$$ they can make. Very low numbers on why they became vets - because they loved animals.

It is also sad but every pet owner has to be well informed and take control at the vet, same as we do with our own doctors or the vet/doctor has all the control. We have to ask all sorts of questions and be ready to walk if we are not comfortable with how everything is being handled.

I feel bad for everyone who got involved with this vet office and as someone who lives in Denver I would hope you would publish who this vet office is so we can warn people away from them.

My fingers are crossed that at least this vet office knows how to do surgery and that Reese will be healed, given time.

[kalina82]

Just thought of something. Didn't FM have to sign an estimate when she dropped of Reese? a signed 'contract' of estimated costs of what they are going to do to reese

[bettyeanne]

What a relief! She picked him up this afternoon and said he was soooo happy to see her. Trish couldn't give me all the details because they were trying to get home after being stranded due to bad weather. She will call me when she gets home and learns all the details from FM [her cell phone kept breaking up]. She said she did understand her to say he looks good and she could see a pin in the lower leg and one in the thigh. I may not have that straight ... I was just soooo relieved that he was home with FM and happy!! Please bear with me until I can get all the information and hopefully in a day or two pics to post.

Thank you all soooo much for your patience. I will try to read back over the thread and answer all your questions as soon as I have answers.

[daisy mae06]

Bettyeanne Thank you for all the updates..
I am so Glad Reese is doing well.
Not sure if is the same with Vet surgeons as with people ones.... But I have learned some of the (Best) do not have great bed side manors. I hope this is the case with Reese..
I will continue to keep him in my Prayers...

[SophieRose]

Thank you for the update on Reese. It sounds like either the vet had an off day or didn't read Reese's file. Either way, I am glad he is home and recovering.

The staff have forgotten who pays their salaries, and it isn't the doctor but the patients.

Warmly, Deborah

[Fuzzywug]

Update on Reese
Dec 9th, 2007

Reese's orthopedic surgery was performed on Dec. 7th. He had an oblique fracture and has four pins in his leg. There will be a follow-up done in two weeks and if everything is healing well, the pins will be removed then. There will also be more follow-up over the next 6 - 10 weeks. His foster Mom is giving him pain meds and antibiotics. This happy little boy is pain free, but doesn't like being crated. (Sorry, Reese, but that's the way it has to be for now.)

Foster Mom is arranging to have Lacey spend time with Reese on a regular basis, so the bond they have is not broken. Although we were all hoping that they would be reunited by Christmas, sadly this is not the case. I'm certain that Lacey will be thrilled to have her little Reese's pieces home with her when the time is right for him. Lacey and her Dad have also been invited to a Yorkie party and have accepted the invitation. Reese will be there too - in his crate!

Your kindess and the kindness of others is overwhleming and to date amounts to $1,037.00 being donated to help Reese! Reese thanks you! We thank you! Yorkie Rescue Colorado thanks you!

Trish
Yorkie Rescue Colorado

[chattiesmom]

Thank you for the update. What fantastic news. This is a Yorkie Fairy Tale Tail come true.

So..... if some of us wanted to send a little something to this party for Reese, can we send items to the Rescue? or would you pm me an address .

[daisy mae06]

Originally Posted by Fuzzywug

Update on Reese
Dec 9th, 2007

Reese's orthopedic surgery was performed on Dec. 7th. He had an oblique fracture and has four pins in his leg. There will be a follow-up done in two weeks and if everything is healing well, the pins will be removed then. There will also be more follow-up over the next 6 - 10 weeks. His foster Mom is giving him pain meds and antibiotics. This happy little boy is pain free, but doesn't like being crated. (Sorry, Reese, but that's the way it has to be for now.)

Foster Mom is arranging to have Lacey spend time with Reese on a regular basis, so the bond they have is not broken. Although we were all hoping that they would be reunited by Christmas, sadly this is not the case. I'm certain that Lacey will be thrilled to have her little Reese's pieces home with her when the time is right for him. Lacey and her Dad have also been invited to a Yorkie party and have accepted the invitation. Reese will be there too - in his crate!

Your kindess and the kindness of others is overwhleming and to date amounts to $1,037.00 being donated to help Reese! Reese thanks you! We thank you! Yorkie Rescue Colorado thanks you!

Trish
Yorkie Rescue Colorado

Trish I am so happy all is going well For Reece and you made it home ok to..