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Vet issue
KatieMoo
Posts: 16 Forumite
Looking for some advice RE a recent vet incident with my bearded dragon.
3 and a half weeks ago he banged his leg while diving around the place as he does and was limping. I duly took him to the vet he's registered at the next day with an appointment with one of their vets who sees exotics.
She couldn't feel any break in his leg and suggested it was probably soft tissue damage and prescribed an anti inflammatory and booked him in for x rays the next day.
After the x rays the same vet phoned and said that there was no break in his leg anywhere and to keep on with the anti inflammatories and to return after 3 weeks or so if he didn't get any better and that was that.
Fast forward to Friday there and I made an appointment to go back as the swelling had not reduced and I actually felt like it may have been more inflamed. I visited with the same vet and she said that there was nothing she could do as she is not a reptile specialist and referred me to a practice half an hour away. I was charged 12 quid for her to tell me she couldn't do anything but I honestly was too worried to argue this with the receptionist in front of a waiting room full of other punters.
On Saturday there I visited this other vets practice, the vet took him right in for an x Ray where it became apparent that an infection was present and had eaten his ankle joint away to nothing with the end result being that he had to have his leg amputated yesterday as there was nothing to be done for it.
I feel so awful that it came to this. I had no idea that someone who didn't really know how to deal with reptiles could see them in practice and not knowing any better I followed her advice and waited the 3 weeks in which time a horrendous infection set in and now my little pal has lost a leg and I'm over £700 down in costs (I would have paid this twice over to save him).
I feel so angry that this practice sees reptiles but do not have anyone with enough know how to actually help them. It was suggested at the time of the x rays that gout could be a possible suspect but no blood test or other diagnostics were offered they just assumed it was soft tissue damage and left it at that, and I just didn't know any better because I thought he was in the hands of someone who knew what they were doing.
Am I unreasonable to be angry and consider complaining? With the benefit of hindsight and having been to the new practice where diagnostics such as blood tests are standard I feel that if something had been done at the time of the first visit this whole mess could have been avoided. Part of me also thinks its just been really bad luck that it escalated like this and that it is also partly my fault for not knowing any better.
My judgement is clouded by the fact that I'm so upset so I'm just looking for some outside clarity. Sorry for it being a bit of a saga
3 and a half weeks ago he banged his leg while diving around the place as he does and was limping. I duly took him to the vet he's registered at the next day with an appointment with one of their vets who sees exotics.
She couldn't feel any break in his leg and suggested it was probably soft tissue damage and prescribed an anti inflammatory and booked him in for x rays the next day.
After the x rays the same vet phoned and said that there was no break in his leg anywhere and to keep on with the anti inflammatories and to return after 3 weeks or so if he didn't get any better and that was that.
Fast forward to Friday there and I made an appointment to go back as the swelling had not reduced and I actually felt like it may have been more inflamed. I visited with the same vet and she said that there was nothing she could do as she is not a reptile specialist and referred me to a practice half an hour away. I was charged 12 quid for her to tell me she couldn't do anything but I honestly was too worried to argue this with the receptionist in front of a waiting room full of other punters.
On Saturday there I visited this other vets practice, the vet took him right in for an x Ray where it became apparent that an infection was present and had eaten his ankle joint away to nothing with the end result being that he had to have his leg amputated yesterday as there was nothing to be done for it.
I feel so awful that it came to this. I had no idea that someone who didn't really know how to deal with reptiles could see them in practice and not knowing any better I followed her advice and waited the 3 weeks in which time a horrendous infection set in and now my little pal has lost a leg and I'm over £700 down in costs (I would have paid this twice over to save him).
I feel so angry that this practice sees reptiles but do not have anyone with enough know how to actually help them. It was suggested at the time of the x rays that gout could be a possible suspect but no blood test or other diagnostics were offered they just assumed it was soft tissue damage and left it at that, and I just didn't know any better because I thought he was in the hands of someone who knew what they were doing.
Am I unreasonable to be angry and consider complaining? With the benefit of hindsight and having been to the new practice where diagnostics such as blood tests are standard I feel that if something had been done at the time of the first visit this whole mess could have been avoided. Part of me also thinks its just been really bad luck that it escalated like this and that it is also partly my fault for not knowing any better.
My judgement is clouded by the fact that I'm so upset so I'm just looking for some outside clarity. Sorry for it being a bit of a saga
0
Comments
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I think you have every right to be upset and every right to complain.
I'd ask for a review of the original x ray images, to see if the issue did develop in those three weeks, or whether something was missed and was present the whole time.0 -
Am I unreasonable to be angry and consider complaining? With the benefit of hindsight and having been to the new practice where diagnostics such as blood tests are standard I feel that if something had been done at the time of the first visit this whole mess could have been avoided. Part of me also thinks its just been really bad luck that it escalated like this and that it is also partly my fault for not knowing any better.
My judgement is clouded by the fact that I'm so upset so I'm just looking for some outside clarity. Sorry for it being a bit of a saga
Nope, imo you have every right to. As you said they don't have someone that knows enough about the animal to treat them properly. You took your pet there trusting that they would know what was wrong and be able to treat him. I think you should log a complaint, they didn't do a thorough enough job0 -
I would also be angry and upset in this situation! I agree with the suggestion to ask the first practice to review the X-Rays and meet with you to answer your questions about the treatment/advice they gave. Then I would decide whether I wanted to take this further.
I hope your little beardie heals well.It's not difficult!
'Wander' - to walk or move in a leisurely manner.
'Wonder' - to feel curious.0
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