I was just home in Ireland for a few days. There, I have a cat, who is at least ten years old (We're not entirely sure of her age as we found her when she was an old kitten). Her name is Puschkeen, or just Puss. My family take care of her, but she really is my cat, and when I'm home she sleeps in my bed, and sits in my lap as soon as I'm still for 10 seconds.

About 2 years ago, she started to drool from her mouth, and started to loose weight. He mouth was sore and red, and she was having difficulty eating. We brought her to our vet who diagnosed severe gum disease. He gave her a course of antibiotics, as well as one dose of steroids, and we went home. Her mouth improved, and she could eat again, but she still drooled. Soon though, after about a month, she began to have problems eating again. She went back to the vet and he told us that the problem was incurable and that all we could do was treat the flare ups. I thought this sounded plausible, as there is a virus that will cause problems in the mouth that can flare up from time to time but never go away. We decided to get her teeth cleaned, just to help, and then continue to bring her in when she had problems. The vet said it would probably be about every six months.

At the same time she was urinating in the house. Which was very unusual for her. Sometimes we saw her do it. Anyone who owns a cat knows they get in these wild insane moods sometimes, and go running around for no particular reason. During these hyper phases, she would sometimes stop, shiver and run off again. Only when she'd run off would you realise she had pee-ed on to the floor. For the times we didn't see her, we assumed she was too lazy to go out, something frightened her, or she was locked in by accident.

Soon, her mouth was getting worse. Even after a course of antibiotics, her mouth would stay raw, and though she could eat, she would drool terribly. She was dirty on her legs where she would rest her head, and there was a bad smell from her mouth. She was going to the vet and staying in for 2 nights at a time, to have antibiotics, and to help her build up, then home for about 2 months. I found this a little strange that she needed to be kept in so much. She's a very nervous cat, and hates the vets. It really stresses her out. But I was here in England, and so I presumed that every one was doing their best at home.

But the last 6 months, I've really been getting worried. The more I thought about things the more I didn't like them. The vet never took mouth swabs, or anything to confirm what the problem was. Why did he take her in so much? Her left eye had started to weep constantly, and he seemed to do nothing about it. And now he was talking about pulling out her teeth. Her teeth were perfectly healthy, the problem was the mucous membranes and the gums. Why take her teeth out? My parents and myself and decided not to do that, but one day my father rang me and told me to ring the vet straight away, as Puss was in, and they were going to remove some teeth. He wanted me to ring up to find out why they were pulling them and which ones they were pulling. I also felt that the cat, at 10, and in not great condition, would be unduly stressed by the anesthetic. I also knew this vet didn't use gas,(Just an injection, which meant that the level of anesthetic was extremely hard to control, and that no oxygen would be given) and didn't have anyone with him during ops to watch the pulse and breathing, so I felt it was too risky. When I rang up, I didn't speak to the vet just a secretary acting as a nurse (She has no training). She was rude, and when I asked why the Vet was going to do the procedure, she told me she was sure he was doing what was best and I shouldn't question him. I was quiet pissed at her attitude, and told her to tell the vet I had serious problems with him doing anything to my cat and to ring me before he did anything. I got no phone call, but my parents did, telling them to pick her up, that nothing would be done. They had looked at the cat and decided it wouldn't be in her best interests.

So, I went home last Wednesday. My mother and myself had heard of a vet in a nearby town who had a fantastic reputation with small animals. We decided a 2nd opinion was needed.

On Thursday night we drove there. I had been told the small animal clinic was on between 7 and 8. We originally drove past as there was no sign outside advertising it. When we got there, there was 2 doors. I knocked on the right hand door and looked in. I saw a filthy dirty office, covered in dust, with a plump, worn man in his 50's sitting at a cluttered desk. I asked him if the clinic was open and he said it was, but to go in the other door.

I went into the left hand door, expecting to walk into a reception. But instead it opened into a long room, with an operating table at the top. The table was gleaming, but the room was not! It was a plain concrete floor and walls, with a fine layer of dust pointing out the rarely used items. A lot of large animal contraptions were lying around, many in various states of cleanliness. There was vet paraphernalia thrown everywhere. A large window over looked a path way between two other buildings. There was an old bath there, thrown on the ground. I balked. I wondered if I was mad, leaving the clean modern specialist small animal vet for a messy large animal vet, for whom small animals were obviously not the main business.

The man I had seen in the office came in and asked us to put Puss on the operating table/examining table. (I could tell it was used for ops by the bucket underneath filled with bloodied scrubs and drapes) I have never seen her so calm. I held her lightly, ready to clamp down if she lashed out with claws, as she usually did. But she sat there quietly. I have seen large animal vets deal with cats and dogs before, and it's usually awkwardly done, and rough. This large, rough looking man with the calloused hands, I was sure, would be no different. But he was so gentle. He showed an obvious like for cats. He looked in her mouth, her eyes and her ears, and felt her belly. He stepped back.

"Does she ever have accidents where she pees?"
Myself and my mother looked at each other. We explained her behaviour.
He immediately knew what was wrong.
"It's her kidneys, they're failing."

I was gobsmacked. How did sore gums lead to this? But he explained everything. I won't go into it here, but basically, the things, like Urea, the kidneys now can't filter were coming out through the mucous membranes. I asked for a blood test. Partly, because I couldn't believe it, and because partly I wanted to know the extent. he got the blood quickly and easily, and I think Puss didn't even notice. He did the test in front of us. Her Urea and glucose levels were sky high. Diabetes being a side effect of her kidneys failing.

So now, he has started treatment with her. Also, given us advice on how to slow, but not stop, the damage. Her kidneys will fail completely some day, but we can't tell how long. How he knew was from the smell (Which was urea) and he could also feel her kidneys. That's all he needed to make the diagnosis. We have started her on the medication, and already she is like a different cat. Although the diagnosis is bad, now we know what it is, we can finally help, and do something about it.

But how did the other vet miss so much? Had he never done a blood test in all that time she was in? Never recognised the smell? (I didn't know it, neither did my family, but we're not vets) Did he never palpitate her stomach, and feel her diseased kidneys? My father believes we were easy money, about 100 Euros each time Puss saw him. Could a vet really do that? I know his reputation is that he has no passion or love for animals. But I didn't think that would mean he would deliberately harm an animal. I'm very upset. I also feel I should say something to him. Puss will still be getting her wormer tablets and boosters from him, as the other vet is so far away, but I want to tell him before I see him for that. I want to confront him about this. But my parents believe I shouldn't do that.

I just feel he should know that he has shortened the life of a cat he knows is very important to me. He knows me well, as I used to work for him (for free) every Saturday when I was 16 and 17, and during the summer ran the clinics every day. So I also feel betrayed. I think there is no way he could have missed the signs. Would he have unnecessarily taken out her teeth if he'd thought he could get away with it, if we'd not said anything? Put her life more at risk? (Now that we know the state of her kidneys, the new vet has said there is no way she'd survive an op) I'm also angry at myself that I didn't know what was happening, cop on to it. I felt awful when the cat was snuggling up the night after the vets, I feel I've really let her down.

Anyway, I needed to vent and tell this to people. If you read all the way to the end, have a cookie!

This story made me cry. Yes, some vets are just out for a buck and it's hard to tell when you are there and concerned about your pet.

I'm glad you finally got the right diagnosis and can treat her properly. I'm sorry it's not a very good prognosis but now that you can treat her she may survive all expectations.

I had a cat that lived for years with feline leukemia. He caught it even after he was supposedly inoculated by an uncaring vet.

I wish you and Puss a long and happy time together.

Thank you.

(((Marz)))

I went through something similar with my cat Fluffy. She would have lived longer had the vet caught it sooner. We were there every month (literally) with her and he didn't run the tests soon enough.

It sucks.

Often, it's not a matter of not caring, it's just a matter of symptoms that could be the result of several ailments. Vets tend to go with the most likely cause first.

Hope she continues to improve.

That really reminds me of what happened with the vet that we used to take our animals to for a long time. I don't really remember what exactly was wrong with my mom's cat, but our vet told my mother that it was something that we would have to keep taking him up there to treat. They gave him something, and it didn't really clear him up, so she decided to take him to another vet and they found the cause and treated it simply.

That was a whole vague story, I know, but the way that it happened really made me feel betrayed.

I know the feeling, I lost a ferret because our vet didn't know a thing about them (despite his many claims to the contrary)

It's good you went and got a second opinion.

One thing I have learned, I question my vet to death. My horse has had alot of health issues, and I have the greatest equine vet but when Boomer got very sick 3 years ago, he was stumped. I took Boomer to Virginia to a large equine Med Center. Long story short, we believe they made a misdiagnosis. They have an excellent reputation and did Boomer's tumor surgery several years ago, so I do trust them. They did a full body ultrasound, lung x-rays, belly tap, tracheal wash and diagnosed him with internal malignant melanoma from the fluid tests but never found a tumor on the ultrasounds or lung x-rays. They gave him a few months to live. That was 3 years ago this coming Oct. It ended up being a large abscess that was festering in his chest. My vet did call them and ask them questions once we realized what the real problem had been and they didn't have much to say about their possible misdiagnosis.

ETA: I spent 3 months and $3,000 on a misdiagnosis.

Sometimes it just happens.

My last cat I had put to sleep for kidney failure. She was 20 years old and it came on quickly.

I hope Puss is feeling better.

He probably should know about it. From what you've said, it's unlikely that compassion will have much bearing on his opinion, but if you tell him you've taken the money he was getting for Puss to another vet that might make him think.

And as you've other animals too the threat that he might lose their treatment fees is one that might really get to him.

But probably more than that is to tell people in his catchment area.

There's an adage in business that applies to him just as much as anyone else. If you give good service, the customer will tell one person. If you give bad service that customer will tell five.

I'm not suggesting that this guy is some sort of animal Harold Shipman (or even a Matthew Chinnery), just that he is complacent. And if people knew about the impact of that complacency they may well think twice about giving him his fee for his second rate service.

Once the patients start drying up* then he may well be forced to change his ways.


*Obviously with the exception of cases of proliferative ileitis aka wet tail. When those patients start drying up it means that treatment has been successful.

That's so sad :(
Like in every profession there are bad vets. There was someone down the road from us who had pure bred Rottweilers and she brought new pups to a vet to get their tails docked but they all ended up bleeding to death. The vet then refused to answer her calls and she arrived at his house to find him hiding behind his car!! He didn't even like animals, don't know why he even became a vet.
However, most vets are very passionate about animals and will do everything in their power to make the animals in their care better.

What. an. Ass.

No kidding. We also brought a dog to him once that we thought had eaten some poison or something and he gave her an injection and she died on the spot.
Last I heard he was no longer treating animals, he had a government job checking carcasses in a meat factory. At least he can't do any more harm to animals there.

Here's ye an upvote simply for the first sentence, lass.

Maven, I do understand that. But after 2 years he never did a blood test or a mouth swab. I feel like he went for the obvious, but never did enough to even make that diagnosis. He was just.... Lazy.

Bluefrog, exactly, betrayal.

Horsefeathers, I would normally question, question, question. I spend a lot of time with doctors, and normally ask about everything. But as this vet was considered a bit of a friend, I had worked for him, his sister was a close friend of mine, I believed he would do his best. Naive, really, I suppose. I'm glad Boomer is ok, and it wasn't cancer.

Pocksucket, good idea about making sure others know. My parents are all "hush hush", don't make a fuss, but I think I should let other pet owners I know who use him of my experiences.

Kitsune, Unbelievable!!

Reboot, Go raibh maith agut!

To everyone, it's great to read so many kind comments. I did think I'd get a host of "It's just a cat, get over it!" It's really helped to get so much support.

just a cat? bulls**t. i've had two cats dissappear completely, one cat found dead by the road, and another cat die from an animal attack, as well as a dog hit and killed by a speeding car in front of my whole family. let alone all the cage animals i've kept for myself.

there's no such thing as 'it's just an animal.'

your first vet is a business. if they want to be a good business, they should care about both positive and negative feedback. they really need to know how they've failed your cat, so give them your feedback. if they don't like it, then that vet can piss off. take your pets to somebody who knows how to find the root of an ailment.

We're all bleeding hearts here lol... I still feel sad about my fishy that died.

Thanks Chicken, I know that to me she's not just a cat, but I do know some people don't really think like that about animals. Which is fine, but I really never thought I'd get the reaction I have got.

I have decided I'm going to go ahead and talk to the vet. It won't be for a few weeks, as I won't be in Ireland till then. I won't tell my parents, as I know they'll object. From now on everything except picking up boosters and worm tablets, will be done with the new vet. We already use a different vet for the horses and the cows, so no worries there.