I wouldn't be able to go there ever again. And my opinion of everyone involved just dropped 100 degrees.

I don't even know what to say

What a shocking lack of compassion! I would never go back.

I not only would never set foot in that practice again, but I would let them know why as well.

That is horrible. I would find a new vet. He may feel that way privately but he shouldn't talk about his patients that way, especially to other patients.

I have been to many vets during my cat ownership and I cannot imagine any reacting like that. I have seen emergencies come in and they drop everything and take the animal back immediately. My current vet is the most compassionate vet I've ever seen - he has spent hours of his own time (no charge) checking up and talking to me about my Monkey who is battling cancer.

new vet.

That's reprehensible. When we had to put one of our cats down due to cancer, our vet had tears in her eyes. She is very compassionate, unlike your vet. I would be finding a new one immediately.

Professionalism and proper care is one thing of course, but so is compassion. He doesn't love his job.

I agree with what previous posters have written. I would NOT go to that vet again.

I had an experience similar to what happed with that woman and her cat except mine was a night emergency so no staff. Just the vet and there was no indication from him in any way that he considered it urgent. Not one word of condolence. Just an off-hand comment at the end that the bill would be sent by office staff.

Consider yourself lucky that you now know with your own eyes and ears how you and your cat may be treated in the future if you continue to have him as your cat's vet.

Even if they didn't have a good manner with the woman, they should have hopped to tend the cat. That's what you do when an emergency walks in. Also, they should have training and procedures in place so that the staff know how to handle emergent patients and distraught clients. I don't think I would have known what to do in that situation when I was young, but if I'd been trained, I know I could have and would have followed the training.

Ditto all the above comments. Shocking indeed, and most unfortunate.

Agree with all the above..that vet and staff are too cold hearted to understand the pain that woman was going through, I'd never go back either....

I'm not sure what "additional education for felines" means. There's no such thing as a "major" in Vet school. Once out in practice, all vets need to take periodic courses to renew their licenses, and dog and cat vets take dog and cat classes.

What did you find more disturbing, the lack of compassion or the unprofessionalism of talking to you about another client? No excuse for either.

Don't have the same experience yourself. Find another vet.

Many "professionals" don't belong in the business they're in. After this past week I'm a little too close to this one to even comment more except to say no way would I return to that vet and I'd spread the word as best I could.

Snidely - the "additional education" refers to individual specialties the vets have. Of course they all have a DVM. As an example, there is one vet who specializes in oncology. This vet is the one other vets refer difficult cases to. Several years ago I had a cat with a cancer that the vet I was seeing needed a consultation on. He contacted the oncology-specialist vet and discussed a treatment protocol. There are a couple of other vets in the practice who have other specializations. Check out Washington State University's veterinary teaching hospital "Clinical Specialties and Services." There's cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, etc. Each of these unique specialties require additional education/training beyond a DVM degree. And yes, I find both disturbing - the lack of compassion and that he took the time to talk to about the upset woman.

What a horrible thing to see, am so sorry for the cat, the owner and you. Many do not get a chance to see how some medical professionals respond during a crisis, you got a rare glimpse. Agree with other posters, would absolutely find another vet.

Having volunteered doing animal rescue/shelter work I have seen some very scary veterinary practice. If they are AAHA accredited you may want to write a letter to the accrediting agency (contact info below). You can also send a letter to your states department of professional regulation (the governmental department that grants vets their license to practice). If you need help determining who they are, let me know what state you are in.

AAHA, 12575 Bayaud Ave., Lakewood, CO 80228, Phone: 303-986-2800, Toll-free: 800-252-2242, Fax: 303-986-1700

mdln - I'm in Washington state. Thank you for the information. I'm still rather shocked at what I witnessed and am contemplating what I want to do about it.

"To ignore, is to condone." Even those of us who work in medical facilities sometimes are very grateful when patients complain, as it then allows us to take action that we feel is needed.

http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/630106.pdf

http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/Veterinarian

OK. I know what you're referring to, we have a veterinary specialist in the extended family. It's 4 or more years of internships and residencies after vet school, it's a path that few vets take so there are relatively few specialists. But the specialties are clinical areas, divided only by large animal (usually focuses on horses) and small animals (dogs and cats), not species related. I may have taken what you said too literally, sorry.

In the world of vets, just as with medical doctors, the pathway to get in was historically more focused on grades, test scores, academic prowess than anything else. I've heard from several sources in health care that that's slowly changing. While pure academic prowess is essential, schools and programs are now trying to pay more attention to applicants' personalities and interpersonal skills.

@snidely, vets can complete feline residencies, fellowships, and can be board certified in feline medicine. http://www.abvp.com/veterinary-specialties

American Association of Feline Practitioners http://www.catvets.com/

@snidely - no, board certification is available specifically for feline species

I'm curious as to what the vet's manner has been with you and your cat in the past and even that day? Is his manner generally like this or was this something that would really surprise you thinking about it?

Since the entire office reacted the same way I am wondering if they have some bad history with this client and hysterical outbursts from her.

I am obviously playing devils advocate here but perhaps she is some crazy cat lady who lives with twelve half dead elderly cat that she "saved" and brings in, always in crisis mode and one that doesn't follow any advice given regarding their care. If a bad history was the case then even the vet's comment would be taken as low information and protecting her privacy. You commented and he responded with an observation.

mdlin, the designations granted by this organization are not remotely comparable to the specialty designations I referred to before. What I was talking about were the mainstream multiyear specialty training programs. They're available in similar areas in parallel to what medical doctors specialize in, some of which sephia mentioned. The difference is that almost all physicians do internships and residencies, while the vast majority of vets don't.

The mainstream residencies are conducted almost exclusively at vet schools (ie, academic institutions), supervised by the experts most have on their faculties, subject to accreditation, and highly selective as to who is accepted as residents. Achieving diplomate status requires passing difficult, often multi-year exam sequences that are considered to be very hard.

I'm not going to say that the ABVP is a professional trade organization but it's more like that than not. For small animal vets, those with ABVP designations are viewed as general practitioners, not specialists. Think of your realtor or insurance agent who may have several two or three letter designations after their name.

I'm not besmirching GP vets, many are very talented and very good. But as with general dentists, their licenses do allow them to do most things even when their training and knowledge don't. Too many cross the line. Often, being self-taught or inadequately taught, they don't know where the lines are. These are the dangerous ones, and the ones clients have trouble identifying.

That would have been extremely upsetting to me also and I don't think I could have stood by and watched the staff do nothing without saying something. I can't imagine being in that kind of practice and being so uncaring. I can tell you I would not go back and I would let them know why. I have been in situations where I had to rush my animal to the vet in an emergency situation and absolutely expected them to jump to attention, that is exactly what did happen. If it had not happened it would be the end of our business together. I am currently in a situation where I feel the need to move to a new vet, my excellent vet was murdered and going back to the office is just so painful, all of the staff I knew have left, they could not stand to stay there either. Terrible situation for everyone involved.

That's horrible. I was a receptionist at a vet's office. When an emergency came thru the door, I would swoop the owner and pet into a room (or surgery if all the rooms were full) immediately and interrupt the vet and he would drop what he was involved in and work on the emergency while I explained to other clients that we had an emergency. Everyone always understood and no one complained about the wait.

Yes, staying calm was important, but we never expected the owner to be calm. We did our jobs efficiently in hopes that it would ease the owner's anxiety.

I'd be looking for a new vet.

I, too, would be searching for a new vet. You can be calm and caring, too.

I work in rescue and have been to a LOT of vets. Most of them are very compassionate and would have handled that emergency situation very differently. I have noticed, though, that many of these vets don't have great people skills, and I've often assumed they relate better to pets than people. I've also seen many situations like what watchmelol described - the vet has a history with someone who doesn't take care of their pets until it's an emergency or who are always crying wolf. What I find inexcusable is them showing no sense of urgency and the comment the vet made to you. They should never disparage a client to another client. I'm with those who say you should find another vet, and be sure to let the current vet know why.

New vet....your lucky to have seen this...it may have saved your cat.

Not to get all preachy, but I believe we're sent glimpses of things to learn from the experience and help enrich our own lives. Don't brush this under the table.

I heard of a Maine Coon cat that died from too much anesthesia when having it's teeth cleaned. I'd still have my cats teeth cleaned, but not by that vet.

Past history or not, clients and their critters deserve courtesy and help from a vet and from the office staff. The office should not simply sit and stare.

Horrible behavior, no matter what the history. Poor kitty, poor owner. No compassion, when some was obviously needed.

I was shocked at reading this! I would expect the office staff to drop everything to attend to her. And I could not believe the vet said she was "over the top" This would not happen with my vet. She is so compassionate and so are all her employees. She even sends a tasteful (not religious) condolence card after putting a pet to sleep. If this had happened to me, I would leave the office and never come back!

new vet.

Wow! That is horrible! I wonder if there is a place online where people can review Vets? I don't even have a pet and I feel so sad for this poor woman and angry at that Vet.

My neighbor has two cats, one of whom recently had a stroke. The other is diabetic. Those cats are her children. We often go overnight to a mountain resort with them, and she will leave them only for one night. She will be a mess when one of them dies. They are old, and that will happen, and I hope her vet is kinder than yours. I hope you find a very compassionate vet in the future.

I called the vet this morning and cancelled Tuesday's dental surgery appointment. I gave no reason or explanation, just that I needed to cancel. When asked if I wanted to reschedule, I just said no. I found another vet that I'm going to visit next week. The new vet can request my two cat's medical records. I do intend to talk to my vet about his and his staff's response to this woman's pain. Letting her leave the office with a dead cat in a white box was incredibly insensitive.

Letting her leave and drive, knowing her distressed mental state, was professionally irresponsible. When we deliver bad news in the ED, we ask if there is someone they can call to pick them up or keep the family member in the "grieving room" until they have calmed down.

Good luck with your new vet!

I am glad that you found a new vet. That was terrible the way that woman was treated.

Sad to say but compassion is one of the first casualty's of veterinary practice. The stress /responsibility of practice ownership, business responsibility dealing with employees. You can not ever fully prepare students for the reality of what it takes to own and run a practice, they learn how to do surgery read an xray not how to deal with the stress of the practice or the exact way to handle the varied emotional needs clients. Some people are better suited to it then others. Many students who started off wanting to care for animals and be great vets become jaded to the expectations of clients. From clients who do all for their pets pay their bills the smallest percentage of clients by the way, to those who literately pitch a fit in the office at the receptionist about the bill, to those who are sent to collections, to those who only come into the vet in emergency with very sick animals which could have been prevented, or refuse to get necessary medications but still expect the vet to fix the problem, or when people not necessarily a client come in unexpectedly not even a phone call for an emergency what they believe is an emergency and demand a vet. Often this this is after hours when their is no vet in the clinic. Clients who can't believe the office is open and no vet is there, how dare the vet leave, or ones that can't understand why they have to pay for treatment at the time of treatment, or the clients who don't stop to consider that there are two sides to every situation and perhaps what was said was only the tip of what could be said. At the end of the day these are vets people too they run a business with the goal to keep pets as healthy and happy as long as possible pay their bills and make a profit. They are not your family your councilor your pastor, although you wouldn't believe what some clients will say. Most vets try their very best to do their best for clients, but even the best are not going to get it right every single time. Ultimately there is no way to not become jaded and burned by some clients and some days some times their behavior may reflect that. This is how I feel as someone who worked for many years in clinic (not a vet) As a client I also understand that some vets have put the business of practice in front of reasonable expectations of clients. But like all businesses out their if you don't like the way they work take your business elsewhere. Please remember before you badmouth any business was this typical did you get this same vibe every time you were there or just this one time could there be more to clinic then just this one incident be sure before you damage someones reputation.

" Please remember before you badmouth any business was this typical did you get this same vibe every time you were there or just this one time could there be more to clinic then just this one incident be sure before you damage someones reputation."

Telling the truth is not damaging someone's reputation, they damaged it themselves by their words and actions. Don't blame the victims.

And I don't believe in quietly slipping off and not saying anything, either to the vet or to others. For one thing, if it was NOT a one time thing, telling friends is a favor to their critters.

We all have bad days, but at the end of the day we are responsible for what we say or do, especially when we are caregivers for those who cannot help themselves, both the critters and the owners. There was simply no excuse for what happened.

Ditto with what lucillle said!

The OP stated that there were 3 people behind the counter, 2 women and a vet tech. The fact that all three acted in the same manner is beyond alarming and the vet himself states the woman's reaction was "over the top". He had no right saying that to another client. I am sorry, but his is not the result of someone having a bad day, remember 3 other employees were involved as well.

Sephia I am glad you found another vet and I do think it is important that you communicate your feelings to the vet you are leaving.

I'm glad you've found a new vet. We've been using the same practice for years and they are not jaded. We had one frail elderly cat who we used to board at the vet's when we travelled and when she passed away in her sleep while we were on a trip the vets were almost as distressed as we were when they called to let us know, and they sent a lovely card. When our last cat passed away they not only sent a card but a very nice plant as well.
When I was in the reception waiting for an appointment once an owner came in with a dog who had eaten a large amount of chocolate. The dog was rushed into an exam room and attended to while the reception staff apologised to me for the delay to me, due to this emergency. I wasn't bothered and would expect similar treatment if I raced in with one of our cats.

frogged, you said:

1) "But like all businesses out their if you don't like the way they work take your business elsewhere.... 2) Please remember before you badmouth any business."

1. This is exactly what I'm going to do - take my business elsewhere because I don't like the way they work.

2. Hmmm...interesting perception of what I wrote. Quote where I badmouthed the business. Do you know who the vet is I'm referring to? Do you know the name of the veterinarian hospital? Do you even know where I live? Yes, I'mloudly badmouthing the situation I witnessed. If my current vet has become "jaded" or "burned out," then he's the wrong vet for me.

I'm glad you found another vet. I know they are human and have grumpy days like the rest of us, but not the entire reception staff plus the vet on the same day! Now that's over the top IMO.

I've been going to the same vet for 27 years, and I only had one "I was not happy with the way my pet was treated" incident (and it wasn't even close to the one you described). The vet called me the next day (I didn't say anything about it to anyone during the visit) and apologized. I found out later his wife of 35 years had suddenly filed for divorce, so I cut him a little slack :-)

I'm new to the Kitchen Table forum, (spend most of my time in decor) but as an avid lover of animals I couldn't agree more with the voices here to change vets and I'm glad you did. The profession of medicine be it for humans or animals leaves no room for personal feelings (or judgement) towards a patient, a patient's owner or an individual's circumstances. If a Vet or his staff can't show compassion or a sense of urgency to save life in an emergency situation, I would question their level of competency and compassion in general.

Sephia-WA: I am pleased you have immediately canceled your appointment next week and have found a different veterinarian to try.

I never went back to the one who was so uncaring, cold, and acted so inconvenienced by our emergency call. We have a wonderful vet now!

I would consider writing a Yelp review.

How horrible. I'm sad for that woman and her beloved cat. I'm glad that you have a new vet, and I hope all is well for you and your cats.

wow, I wouldn't be going to a vet that didn't immediately react and might have saved the cat, who knows. And to say she was over the top, grrrrrr, that is uncalled for as you are panicked in what to do and can't someone do something for the cat and then attitude like who cares and that says it all when no one reacted fast.

I was at our vets one time and had to wait for an emergency as this dog got hit was brought in, and they immediately reacted and brought the dog back to be looked at and tended too.

I would be screaming too, someone look at my cat its choking, do something, don't just sit there.

And to just hand the cat over in a white box, oh, and I wonder what they will charge her amount??????