(no subject)
May. 5th, 2011 12:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pktechgirlbackupDear veterinary receptionist:
If you deem it not worth your effort to speak calmly and nicely to worried pet owners, find a new job. Also, time with your vet, the emergency vet, or any other vet is not a magic salve. I am calling because I am worried about a specific thing (mostly that my cat's bloody feces, but also his lethargy). If the vet has made an informed opinion that waiting a day will not make this worse, that is okay. If the vet has made an informed opinion that he needs to be seen NOW and she can't do it, necessitating a trip to the emergency vet, that is okay too. Saying the doctor has looked as his file but not rendered a verdict, but definitely won't be seeing me today because she's booked, is not helpful. Telling me that "if [I] feel he needs to be seen right away, [I] can take him to an emergency vet" is also not helpful. Taking him to the vet isn't magic ritual to make me feel better, it's an attempt to get him specific medical care for specific medical issues. All I want from you is an informed medical opinion on what the range of possible causes are and what the likelihood he needs to be treated NOW is.
Thanks,
-pktechgirl
In other words, my cat's shit is thick blood, he's not eating, he's able to move but clearly doesn't want to, he pursues cuddles but doesn't purr during them, and my admittedly crappy scale indicates he's down another half pound, to 60% of his ideal weight. I am really scared for him.
Vet called while I was writing this (and if they'd told me she'd read the file and knew she would get back to me in a manner timely to the illness, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE. I just need the receptionist to SAY THAT rather than tell me she's get back to me when she gets back to me). What do you know, she does want him the office TODAY for fluids and antibiotics?
If you deem it not worth your effort to speak calmly and nicely to worried pet owners, find a new job. Also, time with your vet, the emergency vet, or any other vet is not a magic salve. I am calling because I am worried about a specific thing (mostly that my cat's bloody feces, but also his lethargy). If the vet has made an informed opinion that waiting a day will not make this worse, that is okay. If the vet has made an informed opinion that he needs to be seen NOW and she can't do it, necessitating a trip to the emergency vet, that is okay too. Saying the doctor has looked as his file but not rendered a verdict, but definitely won't be seeing me today because she's booked, is not helpful. Telling me that "if [I] feel he needs to be seen right away, [I] can take him to an emergency vet" is also not helpful. Taking him to the vet isn't magic ritual to make me feel better, it's an attempt to get him specific medical care for specific medical issues. All I want from you is an informed medical opinion on what the range of possible causes are and what the likelihood he needs to be treated NOW is.
Thanks,
-pktechgirl
In other words, my cat's shit is thick blood, he's not eating, he's able to move but clearly doesn't want to, he pursues cuddles but doesn't purr during them, and my admittedly crappy scale indicates he's down another half pound, to 60% of his ideal weight. I am really scared for him.
Vet called while I was writing this (and if they'd told me she'd read the file and knew she would get back to me in a manner timely to the illness, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE. I just need the receptionist to SAY THAT rather than tell me she's get back to me when she gets back to me). What do you know, she does want him the office TODAY for fluids and antibiotics?
