Veterinary Over-charge?

[unioncowgal.livejournal.com]

A long-time Somerville resident (Union Square area), I am a first-time poster with a pet-related question for the DSLJ:

Recently, one of my two indoor cats developed hair mats that I can't groom out or clip out on my own.  Because he is very skittish (although affectionate when he knows you), he would be traumatized by being held down, even by me.  One solution is to have him mildly sedated and get the mats shaved off.  Yet when I called the vet's office, they said my cat would need an appointment for a "full exam" before he could have a later appointment for a "grooming procedure" with sedation. Meaning, of course,  that I would have to pay for two appointments, plus a battery of shots and other "care" that my cat doesn't need.  A groomer I talked to can't/won't sedate a cat, so I'm now facing a bill of over $300 just to get my very healthy young cat trimmed. 

This seems like a scam -- almost a bait-and-switch. If I had outdoor cats, I would be scrupulous about vaccinations and similar preventive treatments, but this is a different situation.   All of my pets, past and present, have been long-lived. When they have had problems, ranging from asthma to cancer, I have not hesitated to invest in medication and even surgery to keep them healthy and comfortable.

I just resent being forced into paying for more care than necessary.
 
Can anyone offer a referral to a trusted vet? Other constructive comments or suggestions?

Comments

[ionicaq.livejournal.com]

Pretty much any vet I've ever run into requires animals to be up-to-date on all vaccines before they will do any other work to them. It's a bit of cya for them, they have no way of knowing for sure that your cat is indoor-only, etc.

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

Sedation isn't a perfectly safe thing, either, so part of that exam will be to check for heart, liver or kidney problems or other things that might mean he can't survive the sedation.

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

this is exactly right. my cats have always had to have a check-up including blood work before any procedures they've had done, to make sure they can metabolize the anesthesia OK. 3 cats and many vets over the years, and it's always been the same requirement.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Sedation is generally most the dangerous part of any medical procedure, for humans or other animals. No trustworthy vet will sedate a cat without making sure they don't have any other issues that might be a problem.

If you can find some other way to deal with the mats, I'd highly recommend it. Maybe getting your cat stones on cat nip, then wrapping him in a towel (except for the matty area)....

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

it's probably a good idea to get your cat up to date on shots, anyway, even if he is an indoor cat (several friends of mine with indoor cats have had those cats escape outside for one to several days, and if that happened to your cat, it'd be a good idea if he already had shots).

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Are you saying that you have lived in town for a long time (presumably with the cats) and still don't have a regular vet for your pets? You might want to consider a standard checkup for both your critters. It's always sad when people wait until their critters are at death's door before their first ever visit to the vet.

Also, from a business perspective, is it really worth a vet's time to risk you suing them if something goes wrong because you were too "thrifty" to check if your cat has some sort of undisclosed, invisible reason (easily detected by a standard checkup)? One easy example would be heartworm, if you sedate a critter with heartworm you may be signing it's death certificate. That would be irresponsible on the vet's part. Remember, at this point, you are paying for a Professional person's time for a procedure (grooming) that optimally should be done by the owner.

[aki.livejournal.com]

I'm not arguing, I'm just curious - why is it dangerous to sedate an animal with heartworm?

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I don't know all the medical details, but I am on a keeshond rescue list that occasionally has the conversation come up. Basically, heartworm is very difficult on a dog's system, and it weakens their cardiac and their respiratory systems. It is also very difficult to sedate a small animal, since extremely minor adjustments have to be made to account for the animal's personal sensitivity to the sedation as well as account for their weight, etc. It's not like you give them a drop of sedation and know instantly how they will respond. You have to give an amount, and if you feel you have to give more you risk a fatal overdose in 5-10 minutes. But if you don't give enough they may not even look like they are sedated. If they have heartworm, sometimes the sedated slowdown of their respiratory and cardiac systems is all that is needed to kill them.

vet

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I've used Porter Square Veterinarian for years for my cats. My experience is that they are reliable, caring, and their prices are okay. If they confirm what the other vet had to say, and their price is about the same, then that'll tell you something.

About indoor-cat vaccinations - you never know when a rodent will get into the house (I recently had bats!) and your kitty will play with it, eat it, or get bitten by it. It's best to keep up with rabies shots, even though you have indoor cats.

Porter Square Veterinarian is actually in Davis Square on Summer Street. There are metered parking spaces out front.

Re: vet

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

One warning about Porter Square Vet (I use them too.) they're just a collection of vets, some good, some bad, so you might want to check out specific recommendations for each vet there (there is a thread some where in this community about it, I might go try to find it.)

Also, I recently learned that feline distemper can come in on people's shoes. So you don't even need vermin to transmit it. So I'd also agree that indoor cats should be up on their shots. My vet does adapt my vaccinations for the fact they're indoor cats (like the 3-yr rabies, for instance.)

Re: vet

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I recommend Dr. Grosser!

Re: vet

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I always ask for Dr. Bujalski at Porter Sq Vet. He's a cat person (has four of them himself), and takes occasional trips to Africa to work on the big kitties! He's given my cats great care over the years.

Re: vet

[hoppzor.livejournal.com]

dr parker there is awesome! but one time i forgot to ask for him and i got some lady who didn't seem to give half a crap about my cat (while dr parker is awesome with giving him attention).

Re: vet

[aki.livejournal.com]

I wonder if that's the woman I have... she always seems a bit cursory. Granted, I have a trim, young, indoor cat, so not much to worry about.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

No responsible vet is going to sedate an animal without previously examining it. It's not an overcharge, it's to insure that your pet doesn't die under anesthesia.

Also, honestly, even if your pets are indoor only you should keep their shots up to date.

[whodameg.livejournal.com]

I second this post with all my heart. I lost my beloved rabbit because he was not properly examined by the vet before a routine procedure (For what little its worth, the vet admitted his "staff's" error). It's not worth your pet's life. Pony up the money and make sure you have regular care for you pets.

Vet Overcharge?

[unioncowgal.livejournal.com]

Thanks for ref. to Porter Sq. vet, I'll check them out. Some of the observations about inadvertant exposure to disease were helpful too.

To the shocked poster who interpreted my post to mean that I didn't have a vet, not so. I've been a ten year client of a local vet practice. The vet I had been seeing moved on last year, and a new vet has the practice who I am not impressed with. Maybe that colored my reaction to requiring that my cat come in for two visits. Glad I posted the question on DSLJ - some of the comments have been very sensible re shots and I'll probably follow them (gulp, $$$$).

Also to the same shocked poster who lectured me about suing a vet. Don't know where you got that from. I've never sued anyone in my life, and take fully responsibility for the lifetime care of all of my pets. As I wrote in my earlier post, my pets live long and happy lives, and I've had pets for over twenty years.

Re: Vet Overcharge?

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

Here's another example of why you should keep the shots up to date. Our cat caught a bat that found it's way into our house. The bat tested positive to rabies. If our indoor-only kitty hadn't been up to date on her shots, we would have had to put her in quarentine for something like 2 months.

Could you just cut the clumps out one at a time while kitty is sleeping?

Re: Vet Overcharge?

[grateful1311.livejournal.com]

The quarantine period for an unvaccinated animal with a possible exposure to rabies is 6 months. The quarantine period for a vaccinated animal is 45 days.

Re: Vet Overcharge?

[docorion.livejournal.com]

I hope your kitty has an uneventful 'grooming procedure'. My partners also go to the Porter Sq. vet for their kitty, and like their vet, although I'm not sure which one of the many vets there is 'their' vet. I've been with a few times, and liked the staff and the vet I met.

Regarding lawsuits: The vet has no way of knowing you're a nice person-they must proceed under the assumption that you *might* sue them, and take appropriate precautions (there's a military adage which is apropos: don't plan for what you *think* the enemy will do, plan for the worst they *can* do). And as the risk management people at one of my prior employers told me: "The best defense against a malpractice suit is to practice good medicine." As a result, I suspect (like others above) that no vet will sedate your cat for any reason until they've had a chance to examine it. I do people medicine, and I certainly wouldn't sedate anyone unless I'd examined them. I don't think the veterinary standards are any lower.

Re: Vet Overcharge?

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

Just because you've been lucky and have had cats live long lives doesn't mean that what others are saying won't happen. Cats getting out and rodents coming in, etc. Are all common occurrences and can happen to anyone at any time.

Myself and most of my friends go to Porter Square vet. I understand that all your cat needs is a good shaving but you do have a cat that from the sounds of it, needs to be sedated since your cat can't be held down. It is standard for animals and even humans unless it is a dire emergency, to have an exam before being sedated. Any vet who will risk sedating an animal without an exam first, I'd stay clear away from. Call around the vets that others have suggested and see if any are more cost effective. Sedation is expensive so you are going to have to "pony up" as someone else put it. Maybe other groomers and vets might offer you other options.

I hope your cat has a stress free removal of this.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Jane O'Donnell at Winter Hill Vet is very good and conservative about doing costly procedures.

I think though that what other people said about vets wanting to do a workup first is true - and I would like to believe that it is in the interest of you pet and not a scam.

Good luck

[suzybuzz.livejournal.com]

it is true that you usually need to get the cat a check up first. you could, however, try a pet store that does grooming (like petsmart in Alewife) to see if they'll do that service without a full exam. I also know that the MSCPA offers financial aid.

[melodiousjoy.livejournal.com]

Groomers (at least Petsmart) require an up to date rabies certificate before they will perform any services. Of course to get this you need a full exam from a vet...

[suzybuzz.livejournal.com]

mmmnnn doesn't pet smart act as a vet as well?

there's also a harness you can buy to hold kitty's head still while you clip his or her nails. could you use it for the furmats?

[redcolumbine.livejournal.com]

Dr. Bujalski at Porter Square Vet is AWESOME. However, when my cat needed help, he was booked, and they gave me Dr. Adam Parker who was TERRIBLE. So now I use Winter Hill Vet Clinic, and both Dr. O'Donnell and Dr. Gilbert are great.

I do agree that actually getting your cat - erm - "vetted" is a good idea. Just waiting until health problems strike is not only inhumane, but can end up costing a whole lot more money in the long run. I took Smudge in because of an allergy problem, but it turns out he had much worse health problems because he was eating the wrong food. Now he's threatening (in his adorable way) to outlive me. He already has better hair.

[volata.livejournal.com]

Just had to add my .02 that I've had a great experience with Dr. Parker. I haven't tried the others at Porter Sq. Vet, but every one there seems friendly and patient. :)

Even more .02 cents

[lizzyclean.livejournal.com]

I agree. My cat has been going to Dr. Parker for over a year now and he's the best vet that we've dealt with in years. My cat has diabetes and Dr. Parker has been thorough, listened to all my questions and sometimes complaints, patiently explained everything to me (sometimes twice) and has taken extra time to come out (when we were there for a quick blood sugar measurement) and ask how my cat is doing even when we didn't have an appointment with him specifically. I have been known to utter the phrase "I love my vet!" after seeing him.

[audioboy.livejournal.com]

We recently had to have our Turkish Van de-matted at Porter Square Vet (Dr. Parker has been our vet for several years now and he's been absolutely terrific). Due to her age and possible heart murmur, sedation was out. The alternative was a handful of short visits, each running about $20, where the technicians tackled various problem areas.

(Tech visits at Porter Sq. Vet, as opposed to doctor visits, cost less. Your cat's initial visit and checkup would be a doctor visit, but the subsequent de-matting would be tech visits. At least that was our experience.)

Now, in our case, Vanna was matted over 90% or her body (she had gotten to where she just wouldn't groom herself anymore and she would constantly fight us when we tried to do it for her -- it turned out she had a treatable thyroid condition that contributed a lot to her lack of self-care and she is now doing much better). If your cat's matting is considerably less, it should take fewer visits.

[frederic.livejournal.com]

When faced with a similar dilemma a few years ago, we opted for shaving him ourselves. We do it over a few sessions with clippers and one person holding/petting, and the other clipping. Maybe not the answer for all people and all cats, but it can be a DiY job.

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

It's standard to examine a cat before doing sedation. Some medical conditions react very badly to sedation, so it is better to know the lay of the land before sedating them rather than after.

That being said, you can refuse any shots you don't want your cat to get.