Update on the Fuzzinator

[britpoptarts]

It's been mostly good here. Woozle had two surgeries this week, though. I spent almost $900 on the little old guy. Let me see if I can summarize. You know me, long-winded!

I noticed early last week that a collar I bought online looked "wrinkly" and examined him. It had shrunk, or he had grown, because his little neck had chafing. I felt like a

Comments

[kittenspeaks]

Names? Who is the good vet and who is the bad?
Is Mimi Shepherd still in business? She had a plce called "For Pets Sake" that dealt almost entirely in exotics. When I worked at Emory Animal Hospital we referred allot of people to her and always got god reviews.

Glad the Woozle is better!!!

[britpoptarts]

Mimi Shepherd is in Decatur, and I used her when I lived in Atlanta. She was my rabbit and cat vet, for two different rabbits and several cats (and roommate pets), and had given my ferrets checkups, too. I liked her a lot and I agree with your assessment of her. I have no idea if she is still in business, but she was as of a year or so ago. I'd be surprised if her clinic was no longer open

[black_mariah]

god babe. i know. just what you mean. my family are fucking taxidermists, for christ's sake, and just- nothing comes before our animals. nothing. i was just hurting for you when that jackass of a vet was being a dick. it's so hard to see your pet hurting. it's weird how they get the same kind of things their owners do- my cat, who's like, he just means so much to me, he has horrible stomach problems, like i do. i know i told you that before, but, just. i know what it's like, not being able to sleep and holding them and just wanting everything to be better, and knowing just what they're feeling.

i hope everything is okay with woozles. he sounds rad. <3

[britpoptarts]

Thank you.

I think the worst part was that his omentum (I finally got tired of not remembering the proper term and looked it up) was hanging out of the incision!

The greater omentum loosely drapes over the intestinal tract and separates the intestinal mass from the abdominal wall.

It does not belong on the OUTSIDE of a ferret. Christ almighty. >.Woozle is asleep on my chest as I write, content and relaxed (but still too skinny!). It's not the most ergonomic typing position for me, and I couldn't do it at all without a lapdesk and laptop! He's due for another dose of Nasty Meds in about an hour, and I just got him to eat and drink some more a little while ago. He slept so long this morning that I had to wake him up to get him to eat and drink twice already. Two hours without food is a long time for a ferret, and he was sleeping for five and six hour stretches. He may need rest, but he needs food, too

[sisterite]

Ah, I'm so glad to hear that Woozle is doing better! ^__^

You know though, if it was me, I'd go back to the bad doctor and give him and his techs an earful. They way he treated Woozle, not to mention you, is completely ridiculous and rude and HORRIBLE. What kind of vet wouldn't give someone's pet pain medication after having a surgery? And wouldn't really care when the animals insides are on the outside?! That's completely insane. :(

[britpoptarts]

My original impulse was to go back and give him the courtesy of explaining why I was no longer going to be bringing my animal in to him, but the new vet already alerted them by requesting FAXed medical records on Saturday.

I'm sure they got the hint.

I honestly don't have enough free time to go driving out there just to yell at him, and if I did, chances are, he wouldn't even be there. He was hardly ever there when I went there with my animal in tow. Not worth my time.

Getting good care for my animal is my priority, along with grad school stuff. Yelling at rejects is not. Even though it would be satisfying in the short term.

[wonderbink]

You don't necessarily have to drive all the way out there and yell. I think a strongly worded letter stating all the aggravation you had to go through--particularly the INSIDE PARTS HANGING OUTSIDE THE BODY--will get the message across.

If you were feeling really bitchy, you could make it a demand letter for the amount of money you had to spend to undo all the damage they did, and if they don't pay you back, threaten to take 'em to court.

I know, I know, I can hear the protest from here--you can't afford the aggravation of a lawsuit on top of everything else on your plate. But, still, I'd at least send them a letter taking them to task, in the hopes that future customers (even if you won't be one of them) might benefit.

I'm glad to hear that Mr. Woozle is better. Give him extra cuddles from Auntie Sheila for me.

[wonderbink]

Actually, if you write it as a demand letter, you're not necessarily obligated to follow through with a lawsuit. Just end it with something like "If I am not reimbursed for these expenses, I am prepared to take legal action as necessary."

The worst thing that could happen is they don't pay up. If they don't, you have the option to sue, but you can decide that it isn't necessary.

Go to Nolo.com and search on 'demand letter' and 'small claims'. It's how I figured out everything I needed to do to sue The Crazy Ex-Roomie to get my deposit back after I moved out.

[t_rex]

I want to go kick the ass of the bad vet, and all his staff, too. Why be a vet if you don't genuinely like animals? And it sounds like this doctor doesn't. Grrrr...

I'm glad Woozle is better, and that you found out what was wrong in time to fix it.

[britpoptarts]

It's not exactly "fixed," unfortunately. I just chose the solution that would have a longer period of wellness before the next episode. From what I've read, drug therapy extends their life by about nine months, on average. Surgery can buy you a year and a half. I may luck out and have him longer than that, or be able to afford another surgery in a year and a half. I'll have to see what the vet recommends

[libgirl]

I'm glad that he's feeling better--sorry for the terrible vet the first time around though!

I'm glad you've got a good local vet now ~hugs~.

[britpoptarts]

We're both glad, too!

Dr Sparks is quite good with him.