Sophie, the vet killer :(

[lizzielou742]

I took Sophie to the vet to get her sutures out from her spay today. She is always notoriously badly behaved at the vet's.

Today, she was a terror the whole time. She even hissed at me when I tried to get her out of her carrier! She growled and hissed and tried to scratch and bite the poor vet and the vet tech. It took two people to hold her down, with a towel over her head, long enough so the vet could take out the sutures (about 10 seconds). She was such a brat!

The vet said now that she's getting older, the next time she comes in for an appointment (when she turns 1 year old in April) I will have to give her a tranquilizer pill beforehand to calm her down.

Does anyone else have to do that? Should I try a different vet, or do you think she'll do this no matter what vet sees her?

I don't get it. She's sweet as sugar at home, but the minute we get in the vet's office, she's awful. I'm embarrassed - I hope the vet believes me when I tell him she's not like this at home. Mainly though, I feel bad for Sophie. At least she doesn't have to go back again until April.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I am so sorry you and Sophie had to go through all of that. When I worked at the vet, MANY cats came in upset. Almost all animals hate the vets, because they dont think we are helping, they think we are being mean to them. I would just try talking to the vet, and having him maybe give her another chance. I do not like the pills that makes them calm down, to me it is unnecessary. If he does not want to give her another chance, I would try searching for a more understanding vet.Only give meds for last option.*kiss kiss * to Sophie and *hug hug* to you. I hope this helps, Katie.

[smokey the elder]

There is a flower extract called Bach's Rescue Remedy which may be preferable. I've never used it but some people in my rescue group have. I think you rub some in the cat's ears.

[Barbara]

Ask Sara when she is settled again. I am afraidady Edwina is also most unladylike at the vet's

[lizzielou742]

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to ask the vet to let us try Rescue Remedy or something else before I have to pill her. If that doesn't work...I don't know. And if the vet says no - we'll be finding a new vet!

[Christiansmommy]

My (and sasvermont's), RB cat, Gabe, had to be sedated to see the vet. He was a mess at the vets. Although, i don't think SAS had quite as much trouble with him as I did. ANyway, my feeling is, if it is only once a year (hopefully) that they need to see the vet, a little tranqulizer won't hurt. Many humans take these sort of meds before flying on planes, etc. I know, being in your shoes, that it is no fun being the human, either, when you have to bring an unhappy animal to the vet's. But i am sure they see several unhappy cats and dogs, as well, quite often. There is a sign in our vets office, and it says " Pets often act like wild animals when placed into a strange situation...so please leash and cage them while in the office", and it has a pic of wild tigers and so forth...so i am sure it happens often enough, for that sign to be up Anyway, do what you think is right, but i dont see anything wrong with giving the animal something to make it calm down, especially if it is only like once a year or so...

[sasha the cat]

Re your Sophie who hates the Vet ... If this veterinarian can't handle your cat without medication to calm her first, then select a new veterinarian who specializes in treating cats only.

Sophie is afraid and nervous; she needs gentle handling, not drugs.

Best to you & Sophie.

[krazyaboutkatz]

My cat Cirrus is now known as "killer"at my vets. He's semi-feral and becomes a wild animal when I take him to the vets. I have to chase him into his carrier and he hisses and growls at me because he gets so scared. After he had his surgery, my vet was trying to give him some meds and he managed to get his e-collar off and he bit my vet on his upper inner thigh. The whole staff is very afraid of him so now he'll only be going to the vets if he's sick. I can't even pill him to sedate him and I've tried the cream stuff which didn't work. Good luck with Sophie.

[lizzielou742]

Originally posted by sasha the cat
Re your Sophie who hates the Vet ... If this veterinarian can't handle your cat without medication to calm her first, then select a new veterinarian who specializes in treating cats only.

Unfortunately, I do take her to a cat-only veterinarian's office already! It's the only cat-only vet's office in my county. There are two vets there - she usually sees the male vet, so what I'm going to do is try the female vet next time and see if that goes any better, and see what her advice is.

Thank you all so much for your advice. I'm glad she doesn't have to go back again until her birthday in April.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I wish I could give you some "battleground" experence, but Remus is so laid back anywhere I can't say that I've had a problem. When he got his first round of shots the vet picked him up and he did his jello kitty rutine on him lol. The vet said that if he didn't see the cat breathing he would have sworn he was dead (the doofus even fell asleep when he was getting his blood drawn ) Bout the only time he had a problem was when they pulled out the thermomiter but then he only gave a bit of an irritated meow hehe.

Some kitties really have a problem with the vets. I compare it to the problem I have with hospitals and doctors offices. They reek of icky smells like sick kitties, and trust me I know cats can tell when one of thier own is ill. Immagine if you could smell sick people! In a cats brain, I think they think "uh oh, there are sick kitties here, will I end up this way?" and freak out. I would definatly try other methods before drugging Sophie. She sounds like such a sweet kitty, and pilling her might make her more agitated. I hope your vet can understand where Sophie is coming from!

[BigCharles]

Sorry that Sophie had two bad experiences at the vet. Two? Yes. The reason that she was so bad having the stitches out was that she remembered being there before.

Ever been around a child that has had a bad doctor visit or had to go to the Emergency Room (Truama Center)? The next doctor visit is going to take a lot of hand-holding and kind hugging.

You can't easily explain things to cats. I have a tough time explaining things to my two. (A long story - so I'll skip it.)

Our vet was so good. He talked to the cat as though he was human. He used the same tone of voice when talking to my wife and me. He showed respect to the cat on the first visit and greeted our cat in the right way.

This vet taught me much of what I know. Unfortunately he gave up private practice in order to go teach at a university.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Edwina is a terror at the vet. She hisses, growls and bit my husband. She would scratch and claw if she could.

When we took her to get her stitches out she also needed her work up (first vet visit after we brought her home from the shelter.) She was so horrible. WHen we got home I noticed they had been so busy fighting her they forgot to take out the stitches. Poor everyone... we had to take her BACK!

When I picked up her records to bring with us the technican (after saying "Ohhhhh....Edwina...I know that one!) told me to be sure and point out the W on her chart. I asked my sister-in-law, who is a vet on the East Coast the significance of W. SHe said..."take your pick...Wild or fangs" just watch out!"

There isn't much you can do except perhaps a bag over your head so you won't be recognized (at least that is what I always feel like doing! )

[Killearn Kitties]

I must admit that I would not be happy with a vet who told me to tranquilise my cat before bringing her in, although you may not be able to do much about that if it is the only surgery available to you.

None of our cats like the vet. Sam and Daisy are well behaved, if frightened, and you do have to drive there with all the car windows open. Jessica has the worst reputation. She was feral for around three years and raised litters outside before we got her. She takes no nonsense from anybody. We selected our vet because they didn't operate an appointments system, because we didn't know when we would catch them and had to be able to take them to the vet right away. When they were getting their injections for the first time, the vet put them into what she called a crush pen. It doesn't crush the cat! It is like a carrier, but the sides and the top move in so that the cat can be held in position while getting injections. They only used that the first time we went, since then we have always taken Jessica's own towel with us to wrap her up and try to make her feel safer.

Even so, there has been much growling and the odd chase round the surgery. There was one spectacular occasion when a newly qualified vet was on. I have no doubt she was very good, but she lacked the experience and authority of the regular vets. Jessica had the measure of her very quickly and realised the vet was nervous of her. In one beautiful flowing movement of her head, Jessica managed to bite all three of us. To this day I don't know how she did it.

So after waffling for several paragraphs, I don't really have any advice. Take her own towel, stay calm yourself (because cats can read your mind) and hope she calms down in a couple of years. A good vet is really important though.

[MommaCat]

Hi all,
Sorry I haven't been around in awhile. Clayton is much better.. thank y ou for your prayers.

I have been spending alot of time at our local SPCA. it is a NO KILL shelter. THat is where all of our fur children have been adopted from. it is small but filled with so much love.

As to Sophie..... Well bless her heart.
My Shadow... is 14 and a calico.. HATES the vet. When I took her in January for her shots she bit Dr. K on the finger... went all the way thru. Dr. K bandaged her finger and talked softly to Shadow and continued with her exam and gave her her shots. I called back the next day and spoke with Dr. K... she said wasn't the first time won't be the last. She went to see HER MD and was put on some antibiotics in case of in fection. She never blinked. it hurt like hell as Shadow nailed her but good.....but she said after she cam eback in the exam room.. it goes with the territory and knows that Shadow is a Calico who has issues and is easily spooked. She never raised her voice.. just bandaged her throbbing finger and kept on talking softly to Shadow.

Now Clayton....Clayton was dumped off at the SPCA with his MOmma and sister in a Rubbermaid container and left overnight in the cold. He CANNOT go inside a carrier....he FREAKS OUT. He screams blue bloody murder. I made him a solemn promise that I would try an dnever put him a carrier ever again but he had to be good and behave when we go to the vet.So when we go to the vet he sees Dr. G....I have his collar on him and leash. He sits next to me in the waiting room like a little man. When a dog comes in... he just moves closer against my leg or climbs on my lap. He never budges. he is the most well behaved cat. He never moves. Never says a word. When he is examined he usually falls asleep.

So.. I Have a screaming biter and one that is so laid back that he is almost in a coma.. if NOT in a carrier. I have oppisite ends of the spectrum.
As we all know animals sense of smell is very sensitive.... I Am sure that they smell the disinfectant.. the other smells of the animals etc. The vets should expect to have some animals that are NOT good as gold... but to suggest to sedate an animals before a visit... I'd think about getting another vet. WOULD they sedate their child before a visit to the pediatrician? Hardly. There is no difference. THey are Fur Children.They are shoved into a carrier.. they don't know where they are going.. they arrive and have unfamiliar smells to deal with.. barking dogs... howling cats... they can pick up peoples vibrations as well.... No WONDER they get upset.
Next time you take sophie.. YOU hold her tight against you. You are her MOmma... HOLD her good and snug against you.. see if that helps.

BLessings,
Mommacat... Deb






Blessings,
Deb