Animal kind--too many tests?

Rose wrote: I think I posted this before, but it still annoys me every time I think about it . . . . My cat needed to have his teeth cleaned. I made an appointment at Animal Kind. When we got there, they said they had to do bloodwork before they could put him under anesthesia. So, okay, they did the bloodwork and they gave him a physical exam.

After the bloodwork came back fine, I made another appointment to get his teeth cleaned. This time they said they could not do it until all his shots were up-to-date (something they had not mentioned in the previous appointment). So they gave him shots and another full exam. They told me he could get his teeth cleaned a month after he had his shots.

So, a month later, I took him back to get his teeth cleaned. This time, the vet said the blood work was "too old" and that new blood tests were needed. She mentioned something about examining him and I said that he had been examined during each of the last two appointments and he did not need yet another full examination. So she did not do a full exam but simply ran her hands over him. More blood was taken.

I went out to pay and found that they had (for the third time) charged me for a full physical examination. I argued about this but they would not take it off the bill or reduce the charge. At this point, I asked for his medical records and told them I would not be bringing him back. I really felt like I'd been scammed.

After that, I switched all my pets to Prospect Park Animal Clinic and have been very happy with them for the past seven years or so.

:shock:

on the pet insurance, the only thing I know is that they don't cover animals that are anticipated to have medical needs, like some pure breds. My (rescue) dog is too fancy for insurance . . . :roll:
we visit out-of-state relatives when the dog needs surgery, since it's a fraction of the cost

kensingtonmom wrote: Well my cat is home and failing quickly. The vet thinks he might now be in end stage kidney failure. So between the fluids, the insulin, the antibiotics we are poking and prodding him and he is falling over, stumbling and dragging his hind legs around the house.

It is hard to watch him suffering here. We talk about quality end of life for humans but we put our pets through this nightmare. But it is hard because of course I wanted him to get blood tests in case it was something that could be fixed. But then when is enough enough? When do we just accept they had a long life and let them go?

I will say the vet I have been dealing with the last two days is absolutely a wonderful person and has been great. But the place has a different philosophy then I do and I don't want my older cat to be suffering anymore. Now do I leave him here for a day or so

my friend had a dog that lived to be 16
towards the end, the dog could hardly walk. became incontinent. didn't wish to eat.
i think the not wishing to eat part is the most important indicator for quality of life
if an animal doesn't even wanna eat
then it's time.

but we all make our own choices

kensingtonmom wrote: Anyone know where I can donate a big box of needles and a new vial of insulin for cats? I left a message with Brooklyn Foster but haven't back. Anyone know of another cat organization that could use those things?

Kmom you should post this in the pets section. There are alot of animal rescue volunteers who check there and may be able to take them off your hands.

Rose wrote: I think I posted this before, but it still annoys me every time I think about it . . . . My cat needed to have his teeth cleaned. I made an appointment at Animal Kind. When we got there, they said they had to do bloodwork before they could put him under anesthesia. So, okay, they did the bloodwork and they gave him a physical exam.

After the bloodwork came back fine, I made another appointment to get his teeth cleaned. This time they said they could not do it until all his shots were up-to-date (something they had not mentioned in the previous appointment). So they gave him shots and another full exam. They told me he could get his teeth cleaned a month after he had his shots.

So, a month later, I took him back to get his teeth cleaned. This time, the vet said the blood work was "too old" and that new blood tests were needed. She mentioned something about examining him and I said that he had been examined during each of the last two appointments and he did not need yet another full examination. So she did not do a full exam but simply ran her hands over him. More blood was taken.

I went out to pay and found that they had (for the third time) charged me for a full physical examination. I argued about this but they would not take it off the bill or reduce the charge. At this point, I asked for his medical records and told them I would not be bringing him back. I really felt like I'd been scammed.

After that, I switched all my pets to Prospect Park Animal Clinic and have been very happy with them for the past seven years or so.

I was thinking about this recently because my dog just got his teeth cleaned at Prospect Park Animal Clinic. He's getting to be an old dog, so they said he needed bloodwork first. I took him in in the morning, they checked his blood, and then they did the teeth cleaning, all in the same day. Animal Kind used this as an opportunity to charge for two separate visits, PPAC did not. Also, my dog had his yearly check-up at PPAC recently, and they did not charge me again for a full physical examination -- again, unlike Animal Kind, which charged me three times for an exam. It really confirmed my impression that Animal Kind milked the situation for every last penny they could get.

kensingtonmom wrote:
Don't feel bad about not bringing your cat in. I read a study recently that for indoor cats, booster vaccines (after the initial immunization) can actually be detrimental.

this is a tremendously hot topic in vet med right now, and i won't bore you folks with the all the back-and-forth (i've even professionally lectured on the subject myself).

however, i do wish to offer up some important but practical advice re: immunizations. this is not directed at anyone here on the thread, just some good ol' free vet med advice from me to you

first, all cat (and dog) owners are obligated by law to keep up with rabies vaccines, regardless of their pets' indoor/outdoor status. rabies is not only a fatal disease to our pets, but it is a fatal disease to HUMANS as well. there has been exactly ONE documented case of all the human rabies cases ever presented in the world of the victim surviving the disease (and there was some serious residual damage, let me tell you). and rabies is a very real threat here in NYC, having turned up in our sister boroughs of Staten Island and the Bronx in recent years. it has not shown its ugly head in Fair Brooklyn for a loooong time. let's keep it that way by obeying the law and vaccinate against rabies, please.

next, brooklynpotter was correct in saying it's a real risk everyone has to weigh for themselves. i'm not going to offer my opinion. but my advice is this. if you have a cat(s) that is exclusively indoor, that never, ever goes outside, that doesn't make contact with other cats through the screens in the windows (no, this isn't overkill. can't begin to tell you how many cats come in sick to vet hospitals because they were exposed to a disease by socializing with other cats through screen doors/windows. it's like the common cold on the subway, folks. if i'm sick and sneeze on the F train, some of the droplets expelled thru my mouth may land on the handrail. 12 hours later brooklynpotter is holding said rail, touches the rhiniovirus, catches the cold. viola!), then you may consider not doing boosters. now, here's where the advice comes in. if YOU work in a place that has a cat (deli cats, the cat at Hallmark on PPW are a couple of examples off the top of my head) then YOU could potentially bring home a disease to your unvaccinated kitty on your shoes, clothes, etc. also, if YOU often visit a home (friends, family, you get the picture) that has cats, same thing. my point is, most of us are verrrrrrry caring towards our pets, and that is to be commended. but just remember that diseases are contracted in many ways and you could be the vector. so before you cease vaccinating your cats ('cept for rabies of course), just stop and think about how many cats YOU come into contact with on a regular basis, because you have absolutely no control over THOSE animals and you can't be sure where they've been

humans can bring in things like FIP, which is a corona virus, and deadly.

i know of two people, myself included, who brought home other corona viruses that our cats got. luckily, not FIP, but she basically had a fluish thing for a few days, had one night in the cat ICU getting sub-q fluids, and was really lethargic for days.

i also, once, brought in fleas. which gave my cat a tapeworm. that was a pleasant experience, let me tell you.

i tend to pet a lot of stray/store cats, and i make an effort to wash my hands when i come through the door after i've done this.

kmom, be sure your kitten has been tested for everything possible before bringing her into your home. better safe than sorry.

kensingtonmom wrote: What I read is that some of the immunizations actually last longer then originally thought (in addition to that injection site tumor thing).

yep, this is the conclusion that they seem to be coming to.

also, the AAFP (American Association of Feline Practicioners) came up with some wonderful guidelines.

and everything that BP just said in the post above mine is very true, and good advice to you, so i've no need to repeat it

Please, New kitty, don't go there under any circumstances! You can read about my experience (complete with dead cat) on the thread that KM linked to.

I can't even bring myself to walk past there office a year and a half later. I'm not convinced I could stop myself from going in there and losing my shit.

I've switched to Prospect Park Animal Clinic (?) on PPW btw. 5th/6th. No complaints and definitely a huge step up from a personality perspective. I was more than a bit nervous leaving my new kitten there for spaying after the past vet experience, but the doctor was very kind and patient with me.

They also participate in the Muffins Certificate program, so you can get spaying/neutering done at reduced cost.

One of the reasons I will never go back to Animal Kind is because of Dr. Gibson. Years ago I brought my older dog Cheech there to get neutered, I got him at 8 months old but he was badly abused before I got him. When I brought Cheech into the exam room he was understandably nervous and when he would get nervous he would pee. Well, he peed on the exam room floor and the way Dr. Gibson reacted was ridiculous. Instead of attempting to calm Cheech down or show any kind of compassion whatsoever, he ordered a vet tech to clean it up immediately. He was very upset about it and did not act like someone who cares for animals.

I also had a Friends of Animals certificate that they accepted but they tried to tack on all kinds of other charges on top of that. After seeing how Dr. Gibson treated Cheech I got him the hell out of there and took him to Dr. Maddon at Prospect Park Animal Clinic. When I brought Cheech in I explained his history to Dr. Maddon and warned him that Cheech might pee. Dr. Maddon's reaction? He said, "why do you think I dress like this at work?" And immediately set about making Cheech feel more comfortable.

I now take my animals to Drs. Maddon and Parker at the Park Slope Veterinary Clinic on 5th Ave. When I brought my old dog Rasputen there (before we had to put him to sleep) Dr. Maddon would kiss him on the top of his head and pet him. My animals have always been treated well there. Dr. Maddon was wonderful about finding out what was wrong with Rasputen and eventually discovered he had a tumor the size of an orange next to his heart. Dr. Maddon helped me let Rasputen go and made it easier for me.

Dr. Parker was the one who took care of my 3-legger kitty Caseopia when she had to have her leg amputated. He didn't even discuss money, he said it needed to be done right away and we could figure out payment later. He ended up charging me 1/2 of what it would have costed.

To sum up my post, I want a vet who loves animals as much as I do and will treat mine like their own. Not a vet like Dr. Gibson who made me feel like my dog was a filthy mongrel who wandered in off the street and destroyed his exam room. I'm so happy I found Drs. Maddon and Parker, I wouldn't go anywhere else.