Thank You, Broadway Animal Clinic
Sep. 28th, 2009 05:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pameladlloydToday, Muffin, one of my sons' cats, came home (to my sons' house) from the Broadway Animal Clinic, where he spent nearly three weeks following surgery to prevent him from being blocked by kidney stones. Although Muffin is only three years old, we've had to rush him off to vets twice, because he's developed blockages. The care Muffin received at the Broadway Animal Clinic far exceeded my expectations, as we received a substantial discount on the surgery and free boarding for the entire duration of his stay. This was not his usual vet, btw; we were referred by Feline Ltd. when they couldn't schedule an emergency appointment at the time we called.
Muffin had a difficult time while he was there. He had an emergency treatment to remove the blockage, without which he would not have survived, then had to wait a few days for his vitals to stabilize before the surgery. Shortly after his surgery, he managed, despite the plastic cone around his head, to reach back and pull his stitches loose, necessitating a blood transfusion. There was another transfusion, too, which I think was related to internal bleeding, and a second operation. For several days he wavered, developing an infection and with high levels of the toxins that indicate a failing kidney. Dr Mueller was forced to put him on antibiotics, despite fears that his kidneys might not be able to handle the medicine. Finally, he began to recover, but he didn't return to eating solid food and had to be hand fed. In my experience, most vets would have sent him home at this point with instructions on how do use a syringe to feed him, but Dr. Mueller never suggested that, preferring to make sure he was eating on his own again and "out of the woods."
When I thanked Dr. Mueller and told her how much I appreciated the care Muffin had received, she shrugged off my thanks and my offer to help in some way, since I couldn't afford to pay her usual fees, with one exception: she and the staff enjoy gifts of chocolate baked goods. Especially chocolate. Especially gooey, fudge-y brownies.
They will get some.
Muffin had a difficult time while he was there. He had an emergency treatment to remove the blockage, without which he would not have survived, then had to wait a few days for his vitals to stabilize before the surgery. Shortly after his surgery, he managed, despite the plastic cone around his head, to reach back and pull his stitches loose, necessitating a blood transfusion. There was another transfusion, too, which I think was related to internal bleeding, and a second operation. For several days he wavered, developing an infection and with high levels of the toxins that indicate a failing kidney. Dr Mueller was forced to put him on antibiotics, despite fears that his kidneys might not be able to handle the medicine. Finally, he began to recover, but he didn't return to eating solid food and had to be hand fed. In my experience, most vets would have sent him home at this point with instructions on how do use a syringe to feed him, but Dr. Mueller never suggested that, preferring to make sure he was eating on his own again and "out of the woods."
When I thanked Dr. Mueller and told her how much I appreciated the care Muffin had received, she shrugged off my thanks and my offer to help in some way, since I couldn't afford to pay her usual fees, with one exception: she and the staff enjoy gifts of chocolate baked goods. Especially chocolate. Especially gooey, fudge-y brownies.
They will get some.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-29 12:51 pm (UTC)I have friends who live in Wilmington, DE. They've got 11 cats currently, and have had as many as 14. Their vet has never given them a discount for a damned thing, despite the sheer volume of care they've paid for over the years. Never a break during an emergency, never a consideration for their difficult financial state. (Mind you, I blame the plentitude of cats for leading to their financial distress, but that's another tale).
Poor Muffin. I suspect he's going to have a difficult life.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-29 07:04 pm (UTC)I've dealt with many vets in this town, as they all seem to refer to each other when they're unable to deal with an urgent situation. Few of them offer discounts, so it's rare, but I've never seen anything like the exceptional care that Muffin received.
It's my hope that Muffin will be okay, now that he's gone through this. The vet told us that the operation should prevent any further blockages, which have been the source of his difficulties.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-29 02:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-29 07:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-29 09:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-29 09:33 pm (UTC)