Lessons from the Emergency Vet Clinic
Posted on 08 October 2008 by Jenni Hammitt
I made the trek back to Toledo earlier this week, and I brought all five of my birds with me. The plan was to go to lunch and then return to the house to work on a few projects. However, when we returned home, the Chloe was sitting at the bottom of her cage looking very sad. I had just rescued Chloe from a very bad situation ten days before this. Since I brought her home she had been very happy and energetic.
The listless parakeet really made me worry. I got her out of the cage and she perked up and little as she sat with me. Then I thought she might be hungry. She did not like the pellet I fed her, and maybe that was the issue. I gave her some millet and once again she perked up, but that only lasted a minute. Then it happed…she had a seizure. I’m guessing she had one while I was gone, and that is why she was at the bottom of the cage. She couldn’t stand on her own and she was becoming non responsive.
Had I been at home I would have rushed her to my vet. My mom and I had to find an avian vet that was open after four in Toledo. The Emergency Vet said they would see her, and we took off. She had another seizure in the car and then two more at the clinic. At that point in time, I wish the vet had just been honest with me. She told me that Chloe did perk back up after the last seizure and there were some treatments she could try. If I went that route she would have to keep her for at least an hour to see if they worked. Actually, she had already started the treatments. Based off that statement, I agreed to hospitalize her.
Now I wasn’t thrilled that she had started the treatments without my authorization, but since she had I figured maybe there was some hope and I really did need to do everything I could to save Chloe. My mom and I went to the Starbucks down the street (they do not live in Toledo proper so we were not driving all the way home) for an hour and then I called the clinic. The receptionist told me Chloe was fine, she hadn’t had any other seizures and she was sleeping.
As soon as I hung up, I knew something was wrong. I told my mom to take me back to the clinic. I wanted to talk to the doctor. Once we got back, I had to wait another half an hour before the doctor came out to see me. I asked her about Chloe’s actual condition. She told me Chloe was sleeping and hadn’t had another seizure, but really there had not been a change in her condition and she was still in bad shape. That statement set off red flags. If she perked back up after the last seizure, why was she in such bad shape? That is when the doctor admitted she really didn’t come back around after the last seizure, and she was pretty much unresponsive.
They had given her a valium shot to keep her comfortable (treatment I had not authorized), but that could wear off at any minute and she would probably have a seizure again. Actually, it was quite probable she wasn’t going to make it through the night. I knew what I had to do. I had to have my little baby girl put down. When I said good bye, I knew she was suffering and I couldn’t let that keep happening. She was happy with me and I know she knew she was loved.
This brought up two interesting points about human nature. As I sat in that animal clinic, people kept streaming in with their pets. One family had even driven from farther away that we had to get their pet treatment. Each pet had a different story, some were puppies while some had been with their owners for years. No matter how long they owned their animal, that bond was there. They loved their pet so much they were willing to bring them to this clinic and do all they could to make him or her feel better. They loved their animals like children, and I think that is appropriate. Since I rescue birds, I often times just get to see the bad side of pet owners. It was refreshing to see the good side.
The other point was the extent of human greed. I’m sorry, but I can’t totally stand behind the fact that that doctor did what was in Chloe’s best interest. If she knew that the damage was done and my Chloe was pretty much gone, she should have told me. She should not have said she perked back up after that last seizure. She should not have given her treatments I did not authorize. When I got my bill, I looked at my charges.
The exam really wasn’t that much. She did run a couple tests that normally would have been included in the price of the exam that I did not authorize, but I could forgive those because we needed to know if Chloe was contagious. However, had she just been honest with me and not started the additional treatments with out my okay, the bill would have been at least $100 cheaper.
Some people might contend they she was just trying to give Chloe every chance, but the fact remains that she lied to me. Had she told me the truth I never would have hospitalized her and I would have contested the treatment she started. It just is suspicious to me. When they tell you upfront that they will give you an estimate for any treatment beyond the exam, and then fail to do so, that seems a little fishy.
If Chloe was suffering and would most likely die in pain, the only reason the doctor would have lied to me is to get me to pay for additional procedures and her hospitalization. That is unforgivable.
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I’m so sorry that happened to your bird. Did you ever find out why she was having seizures? Coincidentally, I took my mini-macaw to the vet yesterday because she wasn’t eating and acting listless, but all the tests came back that she was ok and she is doing better now.
That kind of behavior on the part of your vet was not cool. They should’ve consulted with you every step of the way.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I am so glad your mini-macaw is feeling better! HAving a sick fid is never fun! Thanks. Yes I’m still heartbroken about losing Chloe, but we did recently adopt a new little girl named Mina (well she picked me…but that is another story), and I can’t wait to get her out of quarantine so she can meet the rest of the flock. I did file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, but the clinic has yet to respond. Plus the lady working my case seems to be on the clinic’s side since they are “an accredited member and have not had any complaints in 36 months,” but least I know I tried do right by Chloe.