Question About Vets

chrisj2006

Can I just ask a brief question about vets. I had a problem with my previous vets in where I never want to go back there again for the way they treated one of my cats.

I think my cat's been scratching himself and he now has a raw area under his chin and is feeling very sorry for himself, he is a bit hot, is overgrooming himself and understandably I am concerned about him.

I went to my local vets (not the previous vet) to see if they could see him. They then told me they couldn't see him or even give advice without his notes from my previous vets. I was slightly aghast about this but agreed to them getting the notes before I could get an appointment with them as they are local to me whereas my previous vets was not.

I have now just had a phone call from them saying that the notes are incomplete, they are concerned because no booster jabs have been given recently and the earliest possible appointment would be Thursday night. No advice can be given over the telephone until they were registered.


Obviously I accepted the appointment, but in the meantime, I have a poorly cat at home who I am worried about, who might have an infection and who won't be seen for a couple of days. I am now putting antibacterial powder on his chin just to try and dry the area up a little

Is this a normal thing to happen when cats are switched from one vet to another ?.

Thanks for replying

Froglet

Well,i've never heard of it before,and have moved a few times,when moving ou of area, or been unhappy with a vet for whatever reason.It's not as if you are asking for a vaccination,and even if you were ,you would know when it was last done.

Is there a possible third option,even if it means travelling further,just to get in quicker? It does sound very odd.

cinderellacomplex

I have been with my new vets for 6 months now and they still have not received the notes from my previous vets despite requesting them several times. They still see my pets happily and just ask me if they have any questions about the history. Coincidentally one of my cats went through almost the exact same thing, first on his chin then on his legs and back and that was to do with food allergies but I was just able to tell my new vet this.

Assuming your cat doesn't have a very long medical history with allergies etc then I don't see why they can't just treat it like a newly adopted stray with no history to be honest.

Sooz00

Not in my experience. I changed vets after a problem with an old vet. Having arranged visits at about 4 different ones I'd heard were reasonable, I then went into the one I preferred, went to reception and registered my cats, dogs and rabbits without any problems. Of course, they requested a history from previous vets (and I also took a huge file from a specialist vet for one of my pets) but they were happy to see my pets in the meantime.

Also, whether you vaccinate your pet or not should not stop them treating him/her. You may well have valid reasons and I wouldn't expect them to judge without prior discussion. Any vaccine, like treatment should only given after a thorough risk assessment of your pet and it's lifestyle.

Personally, I'd look at other vets if possible. You might like to take a look on the Cat Chat forum too. I hope your kitty is ok and there is no infection.

chrisj2006

Thanks so much for your replies, no my mog has no problems at all, has no allergies at all, has no past medical history, he had a problem about 3 years ago where we think he was kicked by somebody and had to have some teeth out because of it (this is why I will not go back to the old vets - he treated my cat appallingly, left him with blood everywhere, we had to pick him up still practically "out" from the anaesthetic and he was groggy and very strange for a few days afterwards) nothing prior to that or since. He is neutered, doesn't roam at all. he was registered at the old vets for 6 years, prior to that was registered at a vets in Leeds as from birth.

I don't really know if the new vets are just being cautious or what but they asked about the boosters and then about microchipping (he's not had either), made me feel guilty about the boosters and then said that the vet would talk to me at the registration consultation about both of these.

At the moment, I've put some antibacterial powder on his chin and just hope that will at least help until he can be seen.

Can I just ask where the cat forum is just to see if I can do anything else for him, he's 13 and I just want him to be OK

Many thanks

Sooz00

Hope this lets me post links. Cat chat forum covers loads of things cat related:

http://www.catchat.org/forum/discus/discus.cgi?pg=topics

frivolous_fay

chrisj2006 wrote: »

At the moment, I've put some antibacterial powder on his chin and just hope that will at least help until he can be seen.s

It's worth thoroughly cleaning all food / water bowls too - cats can pick up bacteria that way.

purplelotus

it is normal for the new vets to seek a history from the old vets, usually they'll see the animal while they're waiting. If the closest appt they can get you is a few days time, I'd look elsewhere, it sounds like they are stretched beyond their resources (unless it's because you can only do specific times on each day).
the cat might have developed a new allergy, or it could be stress related, so de-flea-ing (if due) and a calm environment will not do any harm while you wait. If the skin is broken (rather than just pink) tell the vets he has an open wound and you'd like it seen "now" and they'd be ridiculous not to fit you in within the day.
It is a good idea to check the RCVS website to make sure the vets is regulated by them

chrisj2006

Thank you very much to everybody who replied. The antibacterial powder worked just fine, I have spoken to a few friends of mine all of them said what the vets did was wrong, one of them actually went to this particular vets and was taken quite aback by their money making techniques.

Anyhow, the vets phoned later that afternoon and said Tiggy could be fitted in on the Thursday morning. I said no thanks and phoned another vets, not quite as close but recommended by a couple of my friends. They saw Tigs in the morning, told me it was a flea allergy and possibly the Frontline wasn't working as it should. They've changed his flea treatment, said keep on with the powder and if any further problems come back.

I registered with them the same day so things worked out - eventually.

As said before, many thanks to everybody who took the time to reply xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx