VENT..Negligent vet...our poor cat!

[smacky1]

Last week our 2 year old cat started acting really weird. She was meowing like crazy and started urinating on our carpets. I suspected she might have a UTI so I called our vet to bring her in for a check up. The said they thought she was in heat but I told them that she had been spayed when we adopted her a year ago so that shouldnt be the problem. They then suggested the vet that spayed her left some ovarian tissue that was now causing her to release hormones and go into heat. They had to do exploratory surgery on her and guess what.....BOTH ovaries were still there! The first vet never removed them. They only removed her uterus. It makes me so mad to see my poor cat with an even bigger incision tenderly walking around our house. The shelter we adopted her from paid for the surgery, but I think the Vet that spayed her the first time is the one that should cover the costs. I want to write a letter to who ever monitors the licensing of Vets to let them know about this incident. Has anyone ever sent a letter like this? I wouldnt even know where to send it.

 

[vroomagain]

Do you know the name of the vet who did the first surgery? If you do you can file a with the state licensing agency: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/complaint.htm

If not you could contact the shelter and see if they still have the records. I would then tell the shelter what happened so they can use a new vet!

 

[MyMagicKingdom]

I've never had to do such a thing, but I don't blame you for wanting to write that letter! Your poor cat!! I have three cats (definitely a cat lover!) so I can sympathize with your irritation. Good luck with finding out where to send the letter, could your current vet possibly shed some light on the situation?

 

[smacky1]

Do you know the name of the vet who did the first surgery? If you do you can file a with the state licensing agency: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/complaint.htm

If not you could contact the shelter and see if they still have the records. I would then tell the shelter what happened so they can use a new vet!

yes, I do know which vet originally spayed her. I saved all of her paperwork from the adoption and I have the date she was spayed. Thanks for the link!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

OMG your poor little girl!!

 

[andysgirl360]

This is my story from just a couple of months ago. We adopted a rescued cat back in Sept, from a family that graciously paid for all medical issues prior to the adoption (including spaying) at their hometown vet. Fast forward to January, our cat is acting weird and howling all night - also suspected a UTI or bowel problems.

Took her to our vet first time around, no one thought it was heat since she was spayed (we also have the records). Cat still acting weird in Feb, finally diagnosed as being in heat, and to make a very long story short we also had to go with exploratory surgery, and our poor kitty had HUGE ovarian cysts, probably from a tiny bit of tissue that was left behind.

Unfortunately, since we went to our own vet (quite frankly didn't trust the previous one) we were on the hook for the whole bill. It was worth it though, since DD LOVES our cat and she is the friendliest, cuddliest cat you could ever meet.

So I can totally understand your frustrations! Apparently a botched spay is more common than you'd think.

 

[klacey1]

Lucky she wasn't exposed to any male cats-- could have been a traumatic incident for her! My cousin's dog got "spayed" and still wound up pregnant. I don't remember the exact details of what was left behind, but I do know they had to bring the vet office to small claims court because they refused to admit responsibility. They got the cost of all pregnancy-related vet visits back, fortunately.
OP, I'd definitely call the vet directly before filing a complaint. Maybe he'll be willing to work with you on costs if you threaten to take it to the next level.

 

[ShannonMB]

OMG, how bizarre!!! Just when I thought I'd heard it all! A spayed kitty in heat! I'm glad you have the info you need, definitely follow up as that vet is probably getting rich doing kitty malpractice!

 

[Colinsmom]

We adopted an older yellow Lab several years ago who went into heat a year after being spayed - bleeding and all! She ended up with breast cancer, probably exacerbated by the hormones still in her system, and had some other yucky side effects. She lost her battle with breast cancer, unfortunately. I was soooo angry with the vet who spayed her (not our regular vet)!!

I'm glad that your kitty is on the mend!!

 

[PA Princess]

Stories like these really make you wonder about quality control and vets!

Here is my sister's story. She adopted a bunny from a shelter. She took it to her vet (same one she used for her first bunny), and they told her it was a type of dwarf bunny and it was X amount of months old and she should have it spayed.

She has the surgery and they come back and tell her - gee, bunny must have already been spayed by a previous owner, because no parts inside. They tatooed her so this would never happen again. Okay...

A few months later, sister notices something strange poking out on the under side of the bunny....is that what she thinks it is? Yep, turns out the bunny is a boy!!!! Vet was wrong on type of bunny - not a dwarf and lucky bunny did not die from first unnecessary for whish he was too young.

The really awful part? That vet actually charged her for a second spaying for a male version on the same bunny!!!!! How terrible is that!!?!?!?!?!?

 

[Colinsmom]

Stories like these really make you wonder about quality control and vets!

Here is my sister's story. She adopted a bunny from a shelter. She took it to her vet (same one she used for her first bunny), and they told her it was a type of dwarf bunny and it was X amount of months old and she should have it spayed.

She has the surgery and they come back and tell her - gee, bunny must have already been spayed by a previous owner, because no parts inside. They tatooed her so this would never happen again. Okay...

A few months later, sister notices something strange poking out on the under side of the bunny....is that what she thinks it is? Yep, turns out the bunny is a boy!!!! Vet was wrong on type of bunny - not a dwarf and lucky bunny did not die from first unnecessary for whish he was too young.

The really awful part? That vet actually charged her for a second spaying for a male version on the same bunny!!!!! How terrible is that!!?!?!?!?!?

We had a guinea pig that won a trophy in the male guinea pig category at our 4-H fair one year. The judge was a vet. Less than a year later, that "male" guinea pig popped out a baby, fathered by her (obviously male) cagemate. Never thought that our story would be topped, but "spaying" a male rabbit takes the cake!!

 

[smacky1]

Stories like these really make you wonder about quality control and vets!

Here is my sister's story. She adopted a bunny from a shelter. She took it to her vet (same one she used for her first bunny), and they told her it was a type of dwarf bunny and it was X amount of months old and she should have it spayed.

She has the surgery and they come back and tell her - gee, bunny must have already been spayed by a previous owner, because no parts inside. They tatooed her so this would never happen again. Okay...

A few months later, sister notices something strange poking out on the under side of the bunny....is that what she thinks it is? Yep, turns out the bunny is a boy!!!! Vet was wrong on type of bunny - not a dwarf and lucky bunny did not die from first unnecessary for whish he was too young.

The really awful part? That vet actually charged her for a second spaying for a male version on the same bunny!!!!! How terrible is that!!?!?!?!?!?

WOW! That is a horrible story! I am sorry to everyone who has had to go through this as well. I am gratefully that my cat is recovering very well and should live a long happy life. Its sad to hear of animals that lose their life because of a careless Vet. I have a follow up with our vet next week and I am going to talk with him about who I should send a letter to and if I should address the original vet myself.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

You should definately follow up. That's sick, it was probably a cost saving move of some sort