Thanks for the suggestion.  In fact I think the vet was making a big
thing of that smell issue.   I let the cat  (perhaps unwisely)  lick my
head quite  often and I never smell anything problematic.   I wish I
hadnt rushed  to that vet.  As a  result of his ordeal there with  that
semi botched  antibiotic injection  (of  dubious neccesity)  and rough
handling he is not having any food  this evening and is very subdued.
And as he is a nervy cat it was a catastrophe.   Tomorrow, I am keeping
the cat in for the first part of the day, and hopefully might observe
defamation and voiding   (sounds a bit strange perhaps)  but it seems
it might be worthwhile .   I  won't seek a 2nd opinion unless there is
any evident  cause for concern.   The 3  vomiting episodes  in an 8 day
period  with 5  days of no vomiting and normal eating was probably
premature for going to that psycho vet in the first place.

This is the text of my complaint which I am drafting.  I am trying to
be reasonable and firm

Complaint,  concerning consultation

Thursday, 14 September 2006

I am writing to both explain my complaint  and request your  response.
Before doing so, I must say I regret to write to anyone in these
terms.  Especially, as  I have received a very agreeable service from
your female colleagues, who showed  compassion to the animals I have
brought to your premises in the past.    I believe one might describe
your practice as a "no frills" one, in which the pluses are that
the local community has access to low cost vet care.  I continue to
recognise and admire  such an approach as it encourages more people to
seek care for their pets.    But my experience today has left me rather
shocked and shaken,  I feel I have no option but to spell out my
concerns, and ask for your prompt  response.

This afternoon I attended your surgery with my cat Bella.    I
explained the following

History    Approximately one week ago he was sick after his evening
meal of 1/4  tin of cat food.    The following night he was  sick but
only  after 3  hours.  For several days I was unaware of any further
vomiting in the evening or night.
Early this morning, he was  sick again.

I explained that  both of my cats eat 1/4  tin meat in the evening, and
the rest of the time have access to dried  food  and fresh water.

Examination   Prior to your physical examination of Bella, you sought
to advise me about the disadvantages of a dried food  diet.  You asked
about the other cat, whether or not she was experiencing similar
problems, which she was not.

You did not ask about his general medical history, nor enquire about
his vaccination or worming status.  You were unable to find any notes
in the system relating to him, although I had bought him previously and
received treatment.

You palpated his abdomen and suggested that I smell his breath, and
proposed the opinion that it was a clinical indication of a kidney
problem which you also claimed to identify from the palpation of the
kidneys.

You suggested that you would give him an injection and you asked me to
hold him which  did.   He was  certainly  distressed during your
examination and your handling was rough and attitude to the animal
detached and callous.   In administering the injection, he struggled
and cried  and during this your needle became detached from the
syringe.   As he struggled and  cried you removed the needle.

You stated you needed to repeat the process.  I was left to hold him
whilst you prepared a repeat attempt, and I noted the window in your
consultation room was wide open which in my view means your patients
could easily escape and become lost, injured or killed, as the surgery
is actually on a main road.  I asked you to close the window and you
muttered something about not being concerned with the window but
worried about the cat.  However you  did  close the window,  and then I
asked you what was the particular function of the drug being
administered.  You retorted that it was "to make him better"
This was a patronising response to a legitimate question from a
concerned owner.   It should have been obvious I wanted to know exactly
what you were treating,  what was the strategy.     During the
injection and as  the cat struggled and cried, you were urging it to
shut up and be quiet.  This was an absolutely incredible way to behave.

I had bought with me,  a bag containing the vomit  which the cat
produced in the early morning and which I had kept in a refrigerator.
I had  thought it might be relevant for you to see and thought I was
acting as a responsible owner.     But you said

" I have no need to see some cats vomit  please put it in the bin."

It struck me as somewhat dismissive.  I considered it to be one element
which might assist you in diagnosis.

Having administered this injection you provided some tablets in a
envelope on which you wrote the dose.  There was no note on the
envelope describing the name of the drug,  and you did not describe it
specifically.   I can only assume it was an oral antibiotic.

My complaints in summary are as follows

1.   Your handling of the cat was  rough and lacked any attempt to show
compassion for the animal, or for me, the customer and owner.   It
ought to be evident that the owner/customer is anxious about their
pet's health, and  that requires both frankness  with a
compassionate approach.

2.  This was aggravated and illustrated by the fact that the
examination room was not a secure environment, regarding the wide open
window.    It ought to be obvious that felines are fast and dexterous
in the matter of escape.    I could hardly believe that a vet with
decades of practice  would leave his consultation area so vulnerable.

3.   You  conclusions  concerning kidney problems were ambiguous are
not well supported by the history.  There were no complaints of
excessive drinking, nor of loss of weight.  The vomiting was not
consistent or prolonged.  You had not proposed other  diagnostic tests
in relation to that.   And you did not ask about parasites,
preventative or therapeutic treatment for such,  and you actively
declined to examine the vomitus.

You did not listen to the animals chest, nor take his temperature.

Furthermore,  since returning home  following an essentially arbitrary
dosage of intravenous antibiotic   ( no attempt being made to assess
the actual amount administered, you just drew  another dose and started
again)   Bella has been more lethargic than I have ever known.  In
fact he could hardly walk.

4.  It is clear that your record keeping and prescription notation
leaves a great deal to be desired.  Cash is handed over, no receipts
are provided.  Tablets are issued in envelopes without any drug name
written.   How can this be competent practice,  ?

I  wish to secure your response to my complaint  without delay.  I am
deeply concerned about this.

Yours  sincerely,