Urgent: Is my vet allowed to charge me for a botched operation?

Pipon

26/09/2019, 11:54

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Hi everyone, I had my 5-month-old kitten spayed yesterday and she came home the same evening.

The vet warned me that she should avoid moving around for two or three days. I told him that she's a young cat who only wants to play, so it would be difficult to keep her still.

I was told that normally everything would be fine.

However, this morning she wouldn't stop grooming her scar, to the point that she opened it back up.

On the way back to the vet, I've found out that normally medication is prescribed after this operation, sometimes along with a buster collar or a dressing. Also, in the photos of the procedure, the stitches are clearly visible, but I couldn't see any on my cat at all.

I rushed her straight to the vet and the first thing the receptionist said was: "Oh, didn't she have a cone?"

I was then told she would be operated on again during the day and that this time she would have a cone.

Then they handed me a form for about £85 for the anaesthesia. Is it normal to have to pay again when the vet has messed up?

And above all, can I really trust this vet who nearly killed my cat? (I was luckily at home today, but if I hadn't been, I'm certain my cat would be dead.)

Translated from French

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

26/09/2019, 13:03

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If I’m going to pay nearly £90 anyway, I’d go to a different practice just to spite him...

Around £85 is far too much considering it’s for a neutering follow-up. We know that fixing a complication costs money, but he should really be reasonable and only charge a fee to cover the materials.

He wasn't trying to kill your cat; it’s just a post-op mishap. Plenty of cats get through this stage without a cone or anything...

Morally, he’s responsible for the cat and its health, but legally he can charge—it’s up to you how you handle it.

(He’s making it very clear here that he’s just a money-grabber first and foremost)

Best regards

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Kikaah

26/09/2019, 12:57

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Was it for a spay then? Why is the vet talking about another operation? A risk of death, but why exactly? When my girls were spayed, they didn't need a cone or any tablets, just a dressing that stayed on for two days (luckily no stitches were pulled out, phew!). Regarding the stitches, do you think your cat might have pulled them out? Or were they internal stitches? (Apparently that's an option).

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Gigi397

26/09/2019, 12:21

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Errrr, Pipon, did you already know this vet before the surgery?

Usually, spaying is done at 6 months. Who told you she’d be going back into surgery later today?

The receptionist isn’t a vet nurse; in some practices they do both, in others they don’t. Didn't the vet put a dressing on her? With a kitten that young, it’s not very wise. She’s probably just pulled it off herself.

When a person has to have two operations for the same problem, they have to pay the fees again too. The vet should have put a bandage on, but he isn't the one who reopened the wound; your little rascal was just following her instincts, she didn't know she wasn't allowed to do that. Ask for a cone to be included with the cost of the anaesthetic.

If you went to this vet without knowing them and let them operate on your cat, you're very quick to trust strangers. I hope your nameless little kitten has a speedy recovery, and hang in there.

Keep us updated on how the little one is getting on. Thanks, gigi397

Translated from French

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