Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry
I'm pretty clueless about standards of veterinary care. Our cat had been sick for a while. Took it to our vet at PetsMart. They found an abcess probably caused by a cat bite. They drained it and gave antibiotics. Cat improved for about half a day and steadily went downhill. Took back to Petsmart vet a couple of days later. Gave more antibiotics and pain killers. Wednesday evening she couldn't stand up. Took her back to vet about 8pm. Vet diagnosted hematic encephalopathy and said without immediate treatment she would die. Recommended we take her to the 24 hr emergency hospital they use. Got there about 9 and authorized treatment. Got a call at 1130pm saying blood tests had come back and she was anemic. Blood count should be 24 but it was at 8. We authorized blood transfusion. Vet called at 7am next morning. Transfused and blood count was 12. Vet called back at 4pm said blood count had dropped to 10 and she needed another transfusion. We authorized the transfusion. Vet called back at 7am today said they hadn't done the transfusion since they didn't have any blood. They would look for some today. Cat died while being transfused at 10am.
So, my question is, is it reasonable to expect that an extremely sick cat in need of a transfusion, get the blood sooner than 16 hours later? Vet said she died of cardiac arrest as a result of lack of oxygen to the brain caused by the low blood count. This is a vet hospital with veterinarian surgeons on duty 24 hours.
So, before I raise a stink about the delay I need to know whether it's standard procedure for emergency vet hospitals to have blood on hand or readily accessible.
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I know there is only because I recently came across a case against a local vet brought by an acquaintance in the death of their dog. They ruled against the vet due to several policies/procedures that weren't followed. I don't remember what I was searching for but I'll see if I can find that. Each state is probably different, though.
I do know that we had a persistent urinary tract crystal (think passing stones) issue with one of our male cats. Rather than take him to the cats-only clinic a few towns over I brought him to a (different) local multi-critter one that was close by. A couple shots and some prescription cat food we were sent on our way.
A few days later, I noticed he was still having issues peeing and called the vet. She told me it could take a few days for everything to get into the system and correct itself. Fast forward a few more days and he was doing worse so I brought him to the cats-only place. I don't recall the prescriptions but I do remember the second vet saying that the shots he was given wouldn't clear up the infection and the food I was given was for crystal prevention rather than the crystal reduction formula he needed. The right shot and the right food cleared him up by the next day.
A *****ing session to the first vet made me feel better but got me no where. Had the cat passed away I would have no doubt escalated it to the legal level.