Need advice, my cat is not ok.

[kadi]

Hello,
I took my kitty to the vet yesterday morning for her usual yearly checkup & shots. The visit did not go well.

The vet had an emergency case come in, so they reversed the appt so she would get her "soft paws" first, then have the exam & shots. The vet came in a few minutes later, told me he'd made a mistake & given her a shot she wasn't due for for 3 years, but "it's not a problem".

He said he'd examined her in the other room & already given her the shot she did need.
He put her back in the carrier, then remembered he'd forgotten to give her another shot, so dragged her out for the shot.
Then he didn't like how she was scratching her ear, got her out again & took an ear swab ($20), said nothing was wrong, but I need to rinse her ears ($7 solution) every 2-4 weeks.
Then dragged her out of the box again to show me how to rinse her ears. At this point, she's hissing & wailing, which she's never done to this degree.
He told me the staff gave me the wrong cat food when I came in last time.
I'm really not sure how many shots she had, since he didn't examine her in front of me.

This is what worries me. Last night she wasn't herself, curled up on a chair, didn't eat or drink, or use the litter box. She felt hot when I put my hand on her. This morning she did get up to use the box, but walked away from her food & water. Does this seem right after getting her shots?
I've had her 3 times to vets for yearly exams & shots & this has not happened before.

I don't think I'll see that vet again. The visit was disorganized & traumatic, the charges higher than I've ever seen (she's only 3 years old), and I don't like that she's now not right. He also said she needed a $500 surgical dental cleaning, which I postponed. I have been pretty happy with the other vets there. Should I mention this to the vet in charge of the practice?

At what point do I take her back in? The vet is not open on weekends. I can take her to the emergency clinic if needed. She's not running a fever now, she's not vomiting, no diarrhea, she's just not eating... (She's skipped 2 meals, which is very unlike her, she loves food).

[Katrina]

They screwed up big time...they should have done something free for you to make up for it. Do you know what the shot was that she got that she wasn't supposed to? I would call and ask if you don't ....you need to know to help her get better. If you do I would research it online. http://www.catchow.com/ you can ask questions to their mentor program. I think we have a member that is a vet http://www.ic-network.com/forum/member.php?u=3348 Misery...might be worth trying to ask her.
I do think you should ask the vet in charge. Have you ever force fed a cat? I have kittens when sick...but not cats...anyway I hope your cat gets better soon.

[MainCoon]

Sorry to hear :( I have a dog, she is 9 months old, and after being to a few vets in San Mateo, I was shocked by their lack of general knowledge. I would definitelly find another vet if I were you. Also, your kitty is probably just fine, most animals get very groggy and lack interest in everything after their shots. I bet she'll recover in a couple of days! Let me know how she it! :kissing:

[Sarojini]

My Maine Coon, Paddington, gets very groggy and feverish after his shots, and he usually doesn't want to do anything but sleep for about 24-36 hours. Generally this passes and he gets back to his usual frisky self... my vet tells me it's quite a normal reaction to vaccinations.

However, you definitely should mention this to the head vet at that practice... the way you and kitty were treated was absolutely unacceptable!! Finding a new vet is probably a good idea.

[ICNDonna]

I don't have any cats, but if our dog was refusing food and water I would at least call a vet to ask about it. It may be just a reaction to the shots, but you definitely need to know. Did your receipt show what was given? Our vet always writes on a sheet exactly what he does and gives it to me.

Donna

[kadi]

I called the emergency clinic tonight. They said of course without seeing her, they couldn't be sure, but sometimes cats won't eat for a day after a trauma. Well, yesterday was definitely traumatic. If she hasn't eaten by tomorrow noon, I'll take her in to the emerg. clinic, since where I usually take her isn't open on weekends...

Yes, the shots were listed on the bill. She got a rabies booster, a "FELV booster in combo", and then the "FVRCP Adult Booster" (3yr), which was the one she didn't need for another 2 years.

Thank you for your answers. I've never had a pet before--this is kind of new to me.
This little animal has been such a comfort to me this past year & a half I've been sick, I just feel really bad for her.... (and a little scared-maybe it's good I'm not a parent, this is hard enough)

[Stephanie2004]

I don't know about cats, but over-vaccination is a big issue in dogs. I believe some states are working on changing legislation so as to require less frequent vaccinations. My dog had a reaction to his shots last time, becoming swollen and lethargic. When I took him back in, the vet determined that it was not life-threatening and gave him a pain reliever to ease the discomfort.


I hope she's feeling better soon. Worrying about our loving, helpless, vulnerable pets when they aren't feeling well is natural. (When my dog had his reaction, I yanked my nephews out of their tennis lesson an hour early, told them Otto was deathly ill, and raced to the vet - only to end up with the doggy equivalent of "take an aspirin and call in the morning.")

[kadi]

Just a thank you to all of you who eased my mind when my kitty was under the weather yesterday:)
She is now back to her tail-waving, following-me-all-over-the-house, begging-for-food-self and I'm so happy!

[traceann]

Oh Kadi, you have no idea how relieved I was to hear that she's doing fine now!! :)Thank goodness, I was really worried reading the posts, since I lost one of my "kids" a few weeks ago, still a bit touchy about any animal not feeling well!!

Hugs!
Tracey :)

[Katrina]

:woohoo: My cats get me through life...as does the internet... always there!