In April of this year I had to have my elderly cat euthanized. Aside from the feeling of loss from Buddy dying I was not happy with the vet or his new partner and the way I felt rushed thru the entire procedure.I said nothing, but it has bothered me for awhile and I passed my dislike on to my kids and neighbors. Last week on Facebook I got a request to review them. I did. From the waiting 45 minutes in the exam room after they took Buddy to be checked out with no one coming to let me (us, I had a friend with me) know what was going on. Finally a tech comes in followed by someone I presume was the vet. She (the vet) never introduced herself, all she did was read from his chart what was wrong and told me she could give him a few more months but it would be painful to him. And left.I mentioned that when I made the decision to go ahead and let him go, this told to the tech, the vet was long gone. She went and got my bill and asked for my payment method. I had been going to this vet or at least the original vet for 15 years, but I suppose it's best to collect upfront. So I gave her my card and she came back and told me she had saved me some money because they didn't charge me for the pedicure they gave him. I had never in all my visits gotten him a pedicure and this was the last thing on my mind that day.After the bill was payed the shot was given and Buddy was gone. Then for 10 minutes I was asked about burial,different costs of cremation and such.I put all of this and more detail in my review on Facebook along with one star. Yesterday I got a response on Facebook and today a call from my old vet. I told him he can delete the review if he wants but what I typed was fact. I understand it's a business but if they wanted a review, take the good with the bad. Still miss my old cat and still think the way this vet handled his death was poorly done.End of rant. Travel Safe.

As a lifetime owner of pets, and lots of dealings with vets, I DO believe you have a valid complaint. If they don't like it, they can change their procedures. I'm so sorry for the loss of your pet....that's so hard.BTW -- we are in a town other than our longtime vet's town....took our cat in for an emergency. We were treated as if we'd been coming to them for 100 yrs....I'd say there is something seriously wrong with the clinic and maybe the old vet will do some checking.

Sorry for your loss, it's never easy. I would have given the same rating. When my wife's 16 yo American Eskimo passed, it was in her arms, not at the vet. It was at night, and we called the night time number. The vet returned from a function he was attending at 9 pm to help us out. He was kind and understanding. This vet has a customer for life.

First, sorry for your loss... the loss of your baby is hard enough without the inconsiderate way it was handled. When I had to put my spaniel down in January, it was with a gentle, caring attitude and with dignity. I would have done the same thing you did. Maybe the doctor will review his practice.

I agree with the other posters - putting both of my elderly dogs down was done with gentle love towards the pet and myself. EVERYONE was sympathetic; and the whole process was handled as the death of a dearly beloved should be. If I had wanted to sit and stroke the fur for an hour, they would have let me.Sorry such a painful decision was handled in such a "businesslike" manner.

I'm a veterinarian and I would have rated (ranted) just as you did. There is no excuse for the lack of communication. The situation was obviously filled with tension and stress and the way it was handled only made it worse. Sorry for your loss.Doug, DVM

Veternarians | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

rwj146
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
" At our regular vet's office, euthanasia is the only procedure that is paid for upfront"

Thank you Pulsar, I guess it's standard operating procedure.

Bob J.
pulsar
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
Very sorry for your loss - even when it is time it isn't easy.

Your criticism of the way you were treated is valid. Hopefully it will help your vet "clean up" the procedures in his office.

We have had the task of putting down many dogs - the price we pay for the joy we have shared with them. In all but one instance, we were treated with loving concern and consideration. At our regular vet's office, euthanasia is the only procedure that is paid for upfront, if there are two people with the animal. (For us, there always has been - I don't know what the procedure is with only one person.) We are taking to a room, one of us, depending on who has trained and handled the dog, stays with the dog and the other deals with the paperwork, which includes cremation, paw print and paying.

We spend as much time as we want with our pet. When we are ready, the vet comes in. He, sometimes she, no longer explains the procedure to us. They are aware that it's not our first time. It's not a happy time, the vet knows us and the dog and is truly saddened.

After it over, we can spend as much time as we want and then leave without having to deal with the paperwork.

Tom
raindove
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
I too, am very sorry for your loss. It's difficult enough, without the staff adding to the anxiety.

One time I had to use a vet that was not my own. That was a clinical, cold experience. No sympathy or emotion from the vet in attendance. I still remember that to this day, even though it was probably ten years or more ago.

The vet I use is very empathetic. Handles it with care and concern. He's great.

We, too, have an ER vet. About 6 years ago, I had to take one down there at midnight. It was time to let go. It was handled very nicely - they have a separate room with a sofa I could sit on and hold her. It was more like a home euthanasia would be -- not in the clinical environment.

But even in the clinical setting, which is what most vets have, it can be done in a caring way.

You are right to be upset by the way your situation was handled.
Murphsmom
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. We had to say goodbye to both of our beloved dogs earlier this year. Both times our vet was just about as upset about it as we were. When Murphy crossed the Bridge, she had tears streaming down her face, just the same as we did.

Needless to say, when our Ollie came into our lives a couple of months ago, we took him right in to meet the vets. We have wonderful interactions with all of the staff and the vets at the office. Everyone came out to meet Ollie and ooh and aah over him. He loves going there, and we wouldn't want to take him anywhere else.
Uppercrust
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
Sorry for your loss and how it was handled. The vet I go to has always treated us with respect when we put a much loved furbaby down. They gave us time before to say goodbye and afterwards we were allowed to stay as long as needed.
rwj146
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
Thanks for everyones kind words. My rant was not a blanket condemnation of his practice, I had gone there for 15 years and been treated professionally.

When the Vet that owns the practice called I told him what happened and he denied that Buddy was left unattended on the exam table while under anesthesia. I emailed him two pictures twelve minutes apart of my cat laying there. He told me that was against his rules and he would check on it.

He's a good, smart vet who has always treated my grouchy old cat with respect and humor. Maybe we all just had a bad day.

My health is not so great so I am looking for a senior dog or cat, a man needs good company.

Thanks to all.
BCSnob
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
I am sorry for your loss.

The E-Vet by us is just as you described. The worst is how long it takes them to prepare an estimate for the bill; they will not start treatment until after they have shown us the estimate and we prepaid. I understand the risk for them not getting paid but to take 45+min to prepare an estimate delaying treatment at an e-vet is appalling. Our regular vet (no after hrs service and much farther away than the e-vet) is not like this.

A friend of ours is a mixed practice vet (lives 5+ hrs away) and has started a mobile vet business; we have been using her services lately. She was kind enough to drive up to ease the passing of my Gyp at home. This is a great service since she also attends sheepherding events and will be providing her services at those events.
Pawz4me
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
Naio wrote:
I'm so sorry that their callous attitude made your hard time worse.

In the city where my S&B is, there is a vet whose entire practice consists of housecall euthanasia. I know, this sounds really weird. But she is a super nice lady. She is never in a hurry, lets you and your pet take your time to say goodbye. The process is gentle and unstressful for the animal. It's the best way I have ever seen.

We have a vet here who does nothing but home euthanasia. I've only used her once, but she was one of the kindest, gentlest people I've ever met. I couldn't do what she does, but for her it seems to be a calling.

And that's not any kind of slam on regular vets -- I love the vet group I use. So much that I've been with them for 35 years. But having to say that final goodbye in a clinical setting is just too difficult for me, and not how I want a pet's final time spent. Home is better.

I don't blame you for the bad review. IME paying first before a euthanasia is standard practice and understandable (people are rightly upset afterwards, and it would seem even worse to have to deal with payment then). But there's no excuse for the rest of it.
KarenS144
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
I'm so sorry for the loss of Buddy and the treatment you received from the veterinarian. Vets are people too and perhaps there was something else going on with the vet you saw. The situation could have and should have been handled differently though.
Oaklevel
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
So sorry for your loss.

I must say all our dogs have passed at home except our son's Boxer Ally she had cancer & the time had come to say goodbye..... Our Vet has two patient rooms. We brought her in he left her with us until we were ready, there was no rush he walked us through the entire process and told us to stay as long as we needed. His office was busy but we never felt rushed even though we had half of his office tied up.

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Veternarians

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