Originally Posted by Elli

Terrible experiences with a few vets in various places. Have pretty much sworn off them now except in obvious emergencies. The vet I DID trust and liked has retired and I very much distrust his replacement.

cat de-claw in Tucson, AZ: NEVER again for various reasons. Found out after that a vet tech did the operation, not the vet. Applied the tourniquet too tight and my kitty's paw swelled up, skin sloughed off, and I had to apply daily ointment for a month and give him painkillers. Took about 3 years for the fur to kind of grow back. Asked for a refund or explanation, got NO sympathy. Cat lived to a ripe old age despite later developing the bladder crystals.

puppy spay: SHOULD have price-shopped, but didn't know there was such a variance in pricing (between $80 and $400 in my area). After the dog was out cold, vet calls and says she's in heat, so will be a "slightly revised price." no other details. I'm against waking the dog back up to try again later, so tell her to go ahead. Final bill: $600.

aftercare for puppy spay: stitches look infected, so went to a new vet who said NO CHARGE if not infected. Well, of course she said "it looks like it COULD BE a touch" so yes, there's a charge. Ointment $37, cone collar $18, vet visit $40. I asked if I could apply Polysporin instead, she said no, dogs are much different than humans. Bullshits, I say.

puppy emergency poisoning: took to 24 hour clinic downtown because she had eaten a frog and was experiencing severe drunkeness symptoms. Full blood work, full toxicology, 4 hours later, no results. "probably a frog, not sure." One $3 shot of charcoal suspension down her throat on the way out the door, dog barfs everything up on the waiting room floor. INSTANTLY BETTER. Total fees: $900.

puppy "red" mange: she got a slight touch of it and started losing hair around her eyes and ears. Read about how toxic the vet 'dips' are and how mange usually comes back regardless. Gave her an extra E vitamin a day and did the hydrogen peroxide + borax home dip four times. Mange completely gone in a month.

additional gripe: my dog is raw fed (RMB diet) and NO vet has ever accepted this. One went so far as to tell me I should not have any children in my house or around the animal. One tech looked at my pup and said "oh, I don't want any kisses from you, then". It's like a doctor refusing to treat a patient who's vegan or vegetarian or because they don't eat Kraft products or something. Ridiculous.

Conclusion: no vets unless absolutely neccessary.