I fear I may be losing my Puddy.

[Poo]

Glad to hear Puddy is feeling better.. I hope she continues to improve. Prayer still on their way to you both.

Nicki x

[Medusa]

I called the hospital while I was at the convention and they put a tech on the phone. I've never talked to this one before; they're always so nice and compassionate. But this one! I said "I'm calling to check on Puddy." She said "Puddy's fine. Is there anything else you want to know?" I was stunned! I said "Uh, yeah! The results of her tests for starters." She said "Dr. Davey is in a room right now. She'll have to call you back." And that was the end of the conversation. I was sick w/worry and anger, too. I waited 2 hrs.! Finally, they were due to close in 30 min., so I called back and this time Dr. Davey answered and I told her what transpired and she was shocked. She said "I'm so sorry. I'll definitely find out what that was all about."

Sooo...she did tell me that all of Puddy's levels came down, which is excellent news. And she's still eating, which is also good news. But she said that they did an in-house blood test and it showed her to be anemic. And yet, Dr. Lee told me that the blood work that was sent to the lab showed her to not be anemic. So Dr. Davey said that she was going to send another test to the lab to verify it.

Ok, now I'm wondering...why, if the lab showed her to not be anemic, did she feel the necessity to do an in-house blood test? Are they padding my bill? Dr. Lee should be in on Monday when I go to pick up Puddy and I'm going to talk to him and tell him that they didn't ask me if they could do another blood test, which they always do. They just did it. And I didn't like the treatment I got either. I was sick w/worry the entire drive there, which was over 2 hours and then I waited all that time to be treated so rudely. I have never experienced anything but true professionalism and compassion from Dr. Lee and his staff. This really set me back and, if I were nearby, I'd have gone in there and raised holy hell.

Am I over reacting?

Blessings,
Mary

[Craftlady]

I would ask Dr. Davey (not Dr. Lee since he wasnt there over the weekend to observe etc) on Monday for an explaination why she felt it was necessary to do another inhouse blood test. Maybe Puddy was showing signs of anemia and they did another test since the first one came back negative. I would think they are "not padding" your bill. You sign a consent form for them to perform treatment etc. They have to account for everything they do and charge. Heck, she may not charge you for the this test. It could just be a follow-up to clarify conflicting results. It would of been nice if she explained that to you on the phone today. Your use to Dr. Lee being so open and forth right with information, this Dr. Davey has a very different style of delivery information.

As far as the vet tech, thats an issue for them to address. You've voiced your opinion and they duely noted.

Glad Puddy is feeling better

[Medusa]

Well, it's Dr. Lee's clinic; he's the head honcho. And they always ask me ahead of time if it's ok to perform certain tests. I certainly want the best for my Puddy, that's for sure. But I do intend to ask Dr. Davey and Dr. Lee both why it was necessary to do the other in-house blood test. I asked her if Puddy's gums were white and she said that no, they were pink, just as they were yesterday. She was eating just as well, drinking and was feisty. I think Dr. Davey is new. I've never dealt w/her before and I've never seen her name on the roster. And, I agree, they do need to address the issue w/the vet tech. And I intend to find out exactly how they did deal w/it. I have a good rapport w/Dr. Lee, Dr. Feeman and Dr. Kaufmann and I trust them. But there's no excuse for disregard for someone's feelings, esp. when that person is hundreds of miles away, worried sick and is paying thousands of dollars for health care for her cat. I've given them nearly $10,000.00 in the last year. I think I deserve better treatment than that. But the important thing is that Puddy is doing better.

Blessings,
M

[TopCat3]

Well, it's Dr. Lee's clinic; he's the head honcho. And they always ask me ahead of time if it's ok to perform certain tests. I certainly want the best for my Puddy, that's for sure. But I do intend to ask Dr. Davey and Dr. Lee both why it was necessary to do the other in-house blood test. I asked her if Puddy's gums were white and she said that no, they were pink, just as they were yesterday. She was eating just as well, drinking and was feisty. I think Dr. Davey is new. I've never dealt w/her before and I've never seen her name on the roster. And, I agree, they do need to address the issue w/the vet tech. And I intend to find out exactly how they did deal w/it. I have a good rapport w/Dr. Lee, Dr. Feeman and Dr. Kaufmann and I trust them. But there's no excuse for disregard for someone's feelings, esp. when that person is hundreds of miles away, worried sick and is paying thousands of dollars for health care for her cat. I've given them nearly $10,000.00 in the last year. I think I deserve better treatment than that. But the important thing is that Puddy is doing better.

Blessings,
M

NO, I don't think you were overreacting.
Looking from outside the situation, where I can be less emotionally caught up in it than you can, at the end of the day you are a customer, you're a good and valuable customer, from a commercial point of view you have several cats one of which is chronically sick and you are committed to them. That makes you one of the "A" list, from a commercial point of view. YOu should have been treated as such.

Please don't get me wrong, anyone, all cats are equal (only "ours" are more equal than others, of course ) and vets are generally compassionate as well as commercially minded. But if you cut out the compassion/emotion element, Medusa is a top customer and should be treated like gold.

When you add in the fact that a top customer "mother" of a sick cat is beside herself she should be treated with kid gloves. Medusa, you were treated shabbily and my first reaction was - this vet nurse or whatever she was, was being smart-ass and enjoying rubbing a little salt in the wound, cruel in fact. At the very least, unfeeling.

I'd be putting in a formal complaint, no question.

But then, that's me, and I don't put up with sh*t from anyone.

[TopCat3]

I didn't want to mix up Puddy in my last thread - gosh, I was getting angry for you!

I am so glad to hear Puddy is better, and hopefully can come home with you soon. Give her lots of cuddles from the TopCats (if she will permit) and maybe with your Thanksgiving not too far away you can take an extra day or two and give yourself and her some loving healing time together? You sound like you need it. My best wishes to you all.-TC

[Barbara]

I don't feel you are overreacting. Of course whatever treatment they propose or tests or whatever they have to agree that with you. (In a legal sense you are the "owner" of Puddy- ok we all know it's the other way round.)

On the other hadn you should sort it out with them quietly Monday when you pick Puddy up- maybe there was a reason. And the question whether Puddy is anemic or not should be discussed.

And the best thing: Puddy is better