I need some support and kindness. Our cat Storm passed away last night and I feel the vet has taken advantage of us...
Tues 2/5 we took our cat to a new vet because our previous vet was out of town - He waw very sick - was just acting strange for 2 days then WHAM!. Lethagic, not eating/not drinking, stinky breath our apt was at 5:15pm.. the vet was not sure what was wrong. Storm (our cat) was dehydrated. Storm's temp was normal. The vet "thought" it might be renal failure. They gave us an "estimate" of $480 to keep him for 2 nights and start treatment based on renal failuer, he advised us that if it was his cat he would excpect it to die if we didn't get him iv fluids immediately and he'd treat him like his own. We had to prepay before they would keep him, we paid $480 and left him there. We asked if we could come see him the following day and they told us no it wasn't good for our pet so they don't allow visitiors. I also asked if we could call for updates and they said that all the nurses could tell us is that he is resting, the vet wil call us with updates. We were in our car driving home at 5:40pm
The $480 estimate/quote:
Office call, $28
Bio Hazard disposal, $2.65
Complete Blood count, $53.90
Profile, $92.40
IV Setup, 70.68
2 Hospitalization, $84,12
4 Penicillin injections, $37.40
4 Antriobe Injections, $52.80
1 Metronidazole Injection, $27.98
4 Famotidine injections, $30.24
Wed 2/6 I did not hear from the vet all day. I called him at 5:00pm. I had to describe my cat as Gray/White short haired neutered male before he could identify our pet. He said that even with fluids Strom was not improving, Blood work was not done yet. He said he called me at 9 or 10 am but didn't leave a message on my machine.. i asked what number he called he said your home phone number (we only left one ph number, my cell phone, inwhich there were no missed incomming calls and I double checked with AT&T, no calls from him) I confrimed my ph number and advised him to call me with any updates at any time of the day or night.
Thurs 12:51am - the Vet called, Storm just passed away. He said he didn't have lab work back but should in the morning and would call to let me know. I said I would pick him up to bring him back home for burial. (I was in a sound sleep, didn't talk much just thanked him numberous times for calling)
11:45am - Vet called. Labs back poistive for Feline Leukemia. He said - Storm Perked up after we gave him fluids but never fully recovered - (see 5:00pm phone call) Anemia in bone marrow, elevated white blood count, elevated liver enzymes, etc..
12:30pm I stopped to pick up Storm :( I was also given a print out of the bloodwork. I asked "We need to settle the estimate" She said "we aren't going to charge you additional for the feline HIV test we ran" - I then said "so the estimate I we were given is the treatment that was done prior to his passing at 12:50 this morning?" She said "Oh yes"
Based on the Estimate - In Storm's 19 hours of care (all previous to receiving lab work) He was given 9 antibiotic injections (antirobe is only oral pill or liquid not availabe in injection) and 4 doses of Famotidine (pepcid) and cost $480 (actually more since they were generous enough to not charge us for the FIV test)
I feel like we were taken advantage of... We are really upset by Storm's passing. Hind Sight is always 20/20 but I'm bothererd that we were not permitted to come back to visit our sick (dying) kitty, which our previous vet encouraged. I don't know anything about feline medications but I do know that antibiotics are to treat infections.. and adminstering 9 doses in 19 hours without any sign of infection is bothering me too.
What are your thoughts?