Vet didn't do much...cat still unwell

KatieDee

My gorgeous two year old Bengal had been a tad unwell since his boosters just over a week ago. His third eyelids are showing and although he is playing, eating and grooming as per usual, I am slightly worried.

I took him to the vet yesterday and for the grand total of £28, was told he was fine. She took his temperature (ouch), checked his eyes for damage, his gums for colour and...well, that's it really.

I explained that he had been sick a few times (although I suspect this is down to him eating quickly), his eyes weren't getting better and she just chuckled and said it was normal and to wait 2-3 weeks.

Today his eyes are slightly worse (although better than they were). I'd like to go back to the vets but I felt like she was almost laughing at me for being concerned about his health. There are many things this could be and a third eyelid showing is generally a sign of illness in cats, but she really didn't seem to carry out that many checks on him.

Is this me being a worried owner or her being a bit lax about the situation? At £28+ a pop (and she reduced this from the usual fee as I was in for literally three minutes), I'm reluctant to go in again for her just to give him a stroke and say he's fine. However, I don't want my cat to be uncomfortable or unwell :mad:

Carrot007

Hard to say, probably a bit of both?

Can you not see a different vet there. My vet I never get the same one. And while for a bit after the old vets left they were a bit poor they have got better over time!

And at £28 i would not be complaining. £28 get me about half a vist at my vets.


Be thankful that you do not have a vet like many I know that will suggest 1000's (or 10 of 1000's) worth of tests just to see what is going on!


However they should be prepared to scale to you spen allowance and need to know more.


Do you have a medical (people) background atall? If so talk to the vets and get more technical details, or even if you want to know things to look up have a go, but do tell them that they can tell you why you are wrong about something. Unfortunatly they have to deal with confrontational people at times, tell them if you are not going to be that way.

KatieDee

Carrot007 wrote: »

Hard to say, probably a bit of both?

Can you not see a different vet there. My vet I never get the same one. And while for a bit after the old vets left they were a bit poor they have got better over time!

And at £28 i would not be complaining. £28 get me about half a vist at my vets.


Be thankful that you do not have a vet like many I know that will suggest 1000's (or 10 of 1000's) worth of tests just to see what is going on!


However they should be prepared to scale to you spen allowance and need to know more.


Do you have a medical (people) background atall? If so talk to the vets and get more technical details, or even if you want to know things to look up have a go, but do tell them that they can tell you why you are wrong about something. Unfortunatly they have to deal with confrontational people at times, tell them if you are not going to be that way.

I don't want to complain as such, I'd just like to know whether I should take a step back and see how gets on, or whether I should take him back in ASAP.

It's usually £38 for a consultation but I think she felt uncomfortable charging this as I was only in for a few minutes. I have no issues spending money on my cat as he is my responsibility and his health is top priority. I just didn't like the fact that she seemed to brush it off as though it was just a simple virus.

If this is the case and I'm fine to leave him to recover, I'm more than happy to do this. However, my friends cat was unwell, the vet told them it was cystitis and he died a few hours later from kidney failure.

Carrot007

KatieDee wrote: »

If this is the case and I'm fine to leave him to recover, I'm more than happy to do this. However, my friends cat was unwell, the vet told them it was cystitis and he died a few hours later from kidney failure.

UTI's in cats are often serious. Just because it is not in human's does not make it so in cats.


If the vet told me a cat had cyctitis I would be very worried. (I am assuming they provided treatment)




And on the other bits sounds good, but the key is to keep an eye on them and take them in if things appear to be getting worse. Yes we worry about them but no harm in taking them in again if needed!

sooty&sweep

Hi
I've always believed that a pet owner knows their pet best so their concerns should not be ignored. So if you are still concerned then seek a second opinion.
However I do also have some sympathy for the vet because your cat isn't showing any symptoms to indicate that they are ill other than the eyelid, which could be nothing.
So they could run a range of tests and not find anything. This could be distressing for your cat & expensive for you.
If it was me I'd be keeping a close eye on your cat & if he's not showing any improvement then ring the vet in a few days & express your concerns. Obviously if he deteriorates ring immediately !
Jen

suki1964

I would go back, either to your own Vet or another and voice your concerns

Your vet could well be right, there possibly is nothing seriously wrong and its just his body reacting to the inoculations

But

You are not convinced

And its you that needs the reassurance

I have had a vet tell me my cat had conjunctivitis when in fact he had serious eye ulcers, due to Herpes. If I had listened to that vet, my cat would have lost his eyes, and perhaps his life if I didn't have the funds for the extensive treatment he needed. I took my cat back the following day, same practice , different vet, and he's now fine after 3 months of treatment and a bill that would supply food to a 3rd world country for a year

But vets can only go on what they can see, and what we report, they do get it wrong

Go seek a second opinion, just to set your own mind at rest. its worth checking out practices and see who specialises in cats

RosesInTheHospital

I have bengals and one did suffer a reaction from boosters this year. Started a few days after the booster and she was off her food and lethargic and the injection site was lumpy for weeks.

As long as the cat is drinking and eating a little I'd give a couple of days before going back and see another vet. Bengals are known to react to vaccinations and i wouldn't worry to much regarding the third eyelid.

If your cat stops eating or drinking completely then take back to the vet asap.