Zoe and I are both extremely unhappy campers at the moment. :(
Zoe was due for a rabies shot and my vet is over an hour drive away so I decided to go to a shot clinic nearby. It was just one shot and it shouldn't have been a big deal. Right? Nope, wrong. We get there and fill out the paperwork and after waiting for our turn, we get up to the vet and I let her know that I used to work for a vet clinic and that Zoe is used to being handled. What do they do? They take the dog from me and completely man handle her for one shot. Seriously? My dog needs a bear hug on the ground for a rabies shot? I asked them to stop and tried to tell them that she was good and didn't need to be held down but they would not listen to me. They treated me like I was "one of those (know it all) owners". They caused Zoe to freak out and flail around and traumatized her. Apparently these vet techs have never heard of "low stress handling".
In four years, I've never been so agitated for a simple procedure. I've never seen any of the vet techs that I used to work with ever restrain a dog like what was done to my dog and it was extremely upsetting. It's also dangerous to restrain a dog like that. I called the hotline and complained.
I don't think we are going to be doing any more shot clinics since we had a bad experience the last time, too. It was a different shot clinic but we still had issues with them not listening to us and drawing blood from the wrong area. We asked them to draw blood from Zoe's neck or back leg and they put a needle in her front leg which is way more painful than the other two locations causing her to yelp. The people at the shot clinics seem very rushed and like they just don't care. Next time I'm just going to drive across town to the place I used to work at. No Cesar Millan death rolls required. :(
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| I took this a couple of hours after the "incident" and she was still upset. |
Knowing my dog, Zoe is going to be so freaked out now that she probably won't even care when she sees vet techs she knows. Which makes me really sad and worries me about future vet visits. So thanks for that, shot clinic techs!
I guess the moral of the story is to always go to the place you are comfortable at and if you're going somewhere new to check them out before you commit to anything.
Oh gosh, how horrible. :-(
ReplyDeleteNever gone to a shot clinic as Mom is not sure about those and we like to keep everything in one place if possible. That sounds like a really bad experience. Poor pup.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm pretty sure we won't be doing that again! :(
DeleteWow what a horrible experience. I'd call or write and let them know. No one should make you or your dog feel that way. A vet should know that more than anyone!
ReplyDeleteI called the hotline as soon as I got home and was somewhat calm. Even then, staying calm was an issue. The lady on the phone apologized profusely but the damage was already done.
DeleteWOW!!! I am so sorry!!! What an awful experience for both you and sweet Zoe! Just wow...
ReplyDeleteღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Thank you! I had the same reaction when it happened.. WOW. :(
DeleteWell that certainly sucked. I imagine those clinics see a lot of unsocialized dogs and more than their share of biters, but they certainly should treat each case as an individual.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely! I was really surprised at how the whole thing went. Their non-communication and absolute refusal to listen to me was so frustrating. If they had just listened to me, she would of stood there for them! No problem. They caused a serious problem and had it been another dog, they could of been bitten. If that's how they handle their dogs, I wouldn't be surprised if they were bitten all the time! Zoe used to go to work with me every day when I worked at the vet clinic and she's totally used to crappy procedures being done. It was just a shot! So much drama for a shot. It was ridiculous.
DeleteI have heard negative things about Low Cost Vet Clinics. Sadly, there were all kinds of horror stories that have proven to be true. I am a client of my local Vet service who is open 24/7. They have a complete staff there every single day of the year. Yes, it costs a tad more but the results are worth 10X what I pay. And every single person at my Vet cares about my animals. I wish everyone had such a good Vet practice to use!! So sorry that you and Zoe had such a traumatic experience. Rant on! It helps us all to do better.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you have an amazing vet and staff that you trust! Next time we will be going back to the clinic that I used to work at where I know everyone.
DeleteI have had that very same experience, OMG no wonder dogs bite and have anxiety at vet offices!
ReplyDeleteDante had a terrible experience almost the same as yours where the vet techs attempted to man handle him, freaked him out, caused him to panic, and then they had the gall to tell me he needed a muzzle! Under no circumstances I told them, would they be muzzling my dog. After that experience we switched clinics, and I made it VERY clear that I would be handling my dog during exams. And now we have to problem, I bring treats, I handle Dante and he remains very calm, I hold him, move him, and if he's staying calm I'll back out and let them work with him if they are doing a good job. At this point we've figured out which nurses we like and I ask for them specifically.
Sorry your experience was so bad, a good vet is certainly a treasure.
Awe poor Dante! :( Normally, I do handle them and it was really weird that they wouldn't allow me to or even listen to me. I get why because everyone is sue happy and you can sue them if your own dog bites you but still. She didn't even need them to hold her down like that. She would of stood there for them.
DeleteI don't think muzzles are a bad thing when they are absolutely necessary and I have trained both of my dogs to wear muzzles, just in case they ever need to but I definitely agree with you that had they not pushed him he would not have needed it. Gentle handling and everything would of been fine.
Man, that is really a bummer. My Chow mix Lasya started out great at the vet's office when we were still in Fort Collins - one bad experience and she was a difficult patient ever after. I usually asked for her to be muzzled. Boca is a perfect patient, Ruby is super nervous and wiggly. I hope Zoe remembers all of her good experiences.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a total bummer and Zoe is so sensitive that I'm sure she's probably going to be really freaked out next time. :(
DeletePoor Zoe! What a tough lesson to learn. What I'm afraid of most is if these are low cost clinics for people that can't afford to go to a vet and this is the kind of treatment they get. So unfair. Love Dolly
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree! It's scary!
DeleteOh, poor girl :( We had a similar experience with Kaeto. I worked and worked so he would be comfortable only for some vet techs to basically sit on him (he was only 50 pounds). After that he growled at the vets and techs and had to be muzzled. He was terrified of them.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Poor Kaeto! In the two years that I worked at the vet, I have never seen my co-workers handle a dog like what was done to Zoe so I was shocked. It was ridiculous. :( They only needed to hold her by the collar and she would of stood there for them. Feed her cookies and stick the needle in was all we ever had to do in the past.
DeletePoor Zoe! That's just horrid. Reminds me of when Pike got his microchip (at a "normal" office), where they spilled glue on his back and left him with gouges that took weeks to heal. Ever since then he shut down at the vet (new one, of course), no matter how much CC I do.
ReplyDeletePoor Pike! That was truly horrific. I still remember the wounds he had!
DeleteYeah, that's pretty much my fear about the next time we go in. She's so sensitive that I know she's going to remember it.
Wow! That's terrible. Unfortunately there seem to be quite a few people out there that are supposed professionals but don't really understand.
ReplyDeleteYeah and it makes me so sad!
Deleteomg, I thought inhumane treatment was reserved for humans around here. Sheesh. I am good and sick of vets and techs blowing me off too. I've had nearly 14 years to observe Cole's reactions, and have learned what he needs. For Petes sake. Poor Zoe and you. LeeAnna
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I have an appointment for Rita at a rabies shot clinic next week (because her rabies is due by 8/31 but she's not due back at her regular - and pricey! - vet until Oct. I guess I should reconsider!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that happened. That's awful.
Thought I'd let you know, I did end up cancelling my shot clinic appointment. We are going to her regular vet later this week instead!
DeleteThat's good! I'm glad you're going to her regular vet!
DeletePoor Zoe. I hope she has recovered! Maybe try the one that I talked about.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we always take the 45 min drive to our favorite vet. She gets down on the floor, and with no drama, she gives the shot without me even knowing that she did it. She's awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you had this experience. There is nothing worse than vets and techs who don't listen to knowledgable owners. I hate it, and I'd be as mad as you are.
I'm sorry you had that experience. I would be furious. It's true, going where you are comfortable makes all the difference. Hopefully she will be alright and bounce back just fine.
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible experience. Folks that do this at a 'clinic' should know better.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awful experience. I'd be FUMING if anyone handled Bain like that. We had a bad experience with the vet that is open until 12am here, it's convenient with the hours, but the vet there does not know how to handle dogs properly, and Bain ended up growling at him to a point where they wanted to muzzle him.
ReplyDeleteYou don't need an appointment there, so I was able to go in right away. I won't be doing that again. It makes such a difference going to your actual vet. I hope you guys don't go through anything like that again.
Oh no! Poor Bain! I'm sorry that happened to him! :(
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