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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2005Stitches Out Today!
Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches taken out (wish me luck holding her down and *away* from the vet during that!!!). She seems much better, but still acting a little depressed - I don't know whether that's from the sorry condition she looks (this is a *very* prideful cat and having a "buzz cut" and scars over 30% of her body is very demoralizing to her), or because she's still in pain and no longer being given the pain meds, or because she's coming down off of the painkillers that she's been on for 2 solid weeks (maybe a bit of withdrawal???). I'll take pictures of all her wounds when I get her home this afternoon so you can see how they're healing (the one on her belly has almost disappeared!!!). Hugs, CatNipped > Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches taken out > (wish me luck holding her down and *away* from the vet during that!!!). She [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > you can see how they're healing (the one on her belly has almost > disappeared!!!). All wonderful, looking forward to seeing the healing pics! > Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches taken out > (wish me luck holding her down and *away* from the vet during that!!!). She [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > you can see how they're healing (the one on her belly has almost > disappeared!!!). I'm happy Bandit is recovering well. I'm sorry I haven't commented, but I just don't believe your vet. I don't understand how heated bags could have been hot enough to cause third degree burns yet not injure the person placing them on Bandit. Even if the person wore gloves or used tongs - s/he still would have felt the heat. And then she missed the second burn! The vet's story just doesn't ring true. I hope she continues to recover uneventfully. Best of luck, Phil > I'm happy Bandit is recovering well. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Phil From what I've read, these bags had rice in them and were heated in the microwave. If you've ever used a microwave, you know that parts of what you're heating can get very hot while other parts stay cool. Doesn't food continue to cook for a bit even after the microwave is turned off? That's why food packages recommend stirring what you're cooking, and letting it sit for a couple of minutes before eating the food so the heat can even out. Seems like if people followed the same instructions for these bags, the burns wouldn't have happened. They probably just heated the bag up and put it on the cat. -- Liz >>I'm happy Bandit is recovering well. >> [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > -- > Liz Either way, staff at that clinic should be aware of that and compensate accordingly. I too, have a difficult time with an animal coming back from the vet more injured that it was before going in. If it was me, I'd drop the vet and clinic in a heartbeat without giving it a second though. I have my own bad experience, not with a vet but with an outfit that keeps pets in their facility if one has to be away. I took my cat there, a very gentle and sweet Ragdoll, in her rather small carry cage. This cage is just meant for very short transport situations, she can barely stand up in it. I discovered this place left my cat inside the carry cage for the duration of my trip. When I came back the blanket at the bottom of the cage was soaked in urine, there were stools at the back that she tried to cover up, she could barely walk. I was furious. Would I go back? Hell no! > > Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches taken > out [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Phil Well, this vet is not the only one it happened to. This link Elizabeth posted shows a burn very similar to Bandit's from a similar rice filled, "organic" heating bag. http://www.vasg.org/supplemental_heat.htm So I tend to believe her. My understanding is that heat conduction is variable within these "organic" heating devices - they keep heating up even after they're removed from the microwave, so the heat builds up - and it builds up in some spots more than others. The vet has discarded the devices, and all her subsequent treatment of Bandit has been impeccable and caring. If every doctor or vet who ever made a mistake (or in this case employed a vet tech who made a mistake) were not used again, there wouldn't be any doctors or any vets left in practice. Unlike Joe's experience, this wasn't done deliberately, and everything in their power was done to make it right. I think she deserves a second chance. Hugs, CatNipped > > > Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches taken > > out [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > The vet has discarded the devices, and all her subsequent treatment of > Bandit has been impeccable and caring. Of course it has. She fully realizes she's treading on very thin ice and can't afford another accident. Ever notice how carefully people drive after a near miss or seeing an accident and then go back to their normal driving habits a few hours or days later. If every doctor or vet who ever made > a mistake (or in this case employed a vet tech who made a mistake) were not > used again, there wouldn't be any doctors or any vets left in practice. I think this is much more serious than an innocent accident. I don't understand how she could miss the second burn while treating the first burn - it wasn't a simple burn - it was a third degree burn that required surgery. > Unlike Joe's experience, this wasn't done deliberately, and everything in > their power was done to make it right. I think she deserves a second > chance. I might have, although I doubt it, given her a second chance if not for missing the second burn while treating the first burn. That means she didn't even think to examine Bandit for other burns. I guess I'm just not as forgiving when it comes to vets. I'm just thankful Bandit is ok! Phil > > > > Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches > taken [quoted text clipped - 73 lines] > missing the second burn while treating the first burn. That means she > didn't even think to examine Bandit for other burns. I don't understand how *I* missed the first burn until it was gangrenous. Part of the reason is Bandit's extremely thick Maine Coon-like hair. Even when you look closely it's hard to see skin under it. It was only after the hair fell out that the burn became apparent. I was looking at her closely and didn't see the second burn either - *OR* the third one. I'm not a vet, but I'm not totally ignorant, I would have been at least as qualified to determine there were other burn as the vet was - I'm was with her 24 hours a day (I've taken off two weeks of work to take care of her - the frist week half days when I only had to medicate, but the second week full days when I was having to do the hydrotherapy every 4 hours). After I found the second burn I was checking closely and constantly for any other burns and I missed the third one. I'm glad the vet caught it when she did the surgery for the second burn. > I guess I'm just not as forgiving when it comes to vets. Believe it or not, neither am I - I forgive things done to *ME* before I forgive things done to my babies. But I've been working with this vet *very* closely since this happened (she has called me twice a day, every day since it happened - every night from her home). This wasn't even the vet who did the original dental, yet she still felt horrible about all this (and not just because it might hurt her business - she hasn't come across like that). I don't know, this is just a gut feeling I get from her from all the interaction that I guess I'm not conveying well through these posts. > I'm just thankful Bandit is ok! Thank you, Phil, I am too! Now I just need to get *my* Bandit-inflicted wounds well!!! ;> Hugs, CatNipped > Phil > She fully realizes she's treading on very thin ice and > can't afford another accident. Yeesh. Maybe she cares. It sounds to me like she does.  Signaturehttp://www.slywy.com/ > > She fully realizes she's treading on very thin ice and > > can't afford another accident. > > Yeesh. Maybe she cares. It sounds to me like she does. She probably does care and feels badly. Hopefully this tragedy will teach her to be more careful with other cats... Given the severity and cause of the injuries, I couldn't give the vet another chance. But that's me. > > > She fully realizes she's treading on very thin ice and > > > can't afford another accident. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Given the severity and cause of the injuries, I couldn't give the vet > another chance. But that's me. I am so close to feeling this way, but not quite there. I think if this had actually happened to *my* cat I would not react as well as Lori has. > I am so close to feeling this way, but not quite there. I think if > this had actually happened to *my* cat I would not react as > well as Lori has. Well, at first I was ready to kill somebody, then I calmed down after talking to the vet. Then I found the second burn and thought about evisceration and burning her living bowels. However, and maybe this is just a "you had to be there" kind of thing, talking to the vet makes me feel this isn't just a "cover your a.s" reaction (I was prepared for that). For one thing, I let them know from the get-go that I was *NOT* interested in litigation over this. Money was not going to take away Bandit's pain. The *ONLY* thing I was interested in was getting Bandit well. After a couple of weeks of not hearing from my lawyer, and after talking to me, I'm sure they know that I have no intention of suing them, but they are *still* bending over backwards to do everything in their power to help Bandit, they are expressing extreme regret to the point that there are tears in the vets voice at times, and they never *ONCE* denied culpability or tried to make excuses - just the opposite, *they* told *me*, before I could even bring it up, that they were completely at fault in the matter. All of that makes me think that they really care, that they are honest, and that they are willing to take responsibility for their actions (the best indicator of a mature human being that I know of). That combined with their excellent reputation, their immaculate clinic, the knowledge they exhibit about cats (this is a "cats only" clinic), and the efficiency of the office staff, makes me willing to continue taking my cats there. I really don't think that I could find a better vet - I might find one who hasn't made a mistake with *MY* cat, but I don't think I'll find one that never made a mistake. I certainly don't think I would find one who would be so upfront and honest about a mistake they made and so willing to do anything they could to make it better. And, just to show you that I'm not a saint and there is *some* self-interest (or at least interest in the well-being of my cats) I have to say that I've considered the fact that after *this* fiasco I'd be willing to bet that from this point onwards *MY* cats will be given extra special care just because I've been understanding and they would not want a repeat of this incident (because if anything does ever happen again, that's their a.s!!!). Hugs, CatNipped > > I am so close to feeling this way, but not quite there. I think if > > this had actually happened to *my* cat I would not react as [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > want a repeat of this incident (because if anything does ever happen again, > that's their a.s!!!). I think you have behaved reasonably and admirably. However, I am not at all sure that I have the wherewithal to do the same. I agree! She sounds like a good egg, a very caring egg. I know of vets who have made mistakes and never admitted it, even one who stitched up a rabbit after a HUGE mistake during a surgery, and never told the owner. I think I would have been very suspicious of your vet after all of this happened, but you are the one working with her and best able to judge her reactions and intentions. From what you've said, she has gone overboard to help poor Bandit get better. I'm incredibly happy that Bandit is feeling feisty again, but sorry you had to take the brunt of it! She is a stinker. With eyes like that though, she can get away with anything. Rhonda > Unlike Joe's experience, this wasn't done deliberately, and everything in > their power was done to make it right. I think she deserves a second > chance. YAY Bandit!!! Let us know how the little angel is. Signature.oO rach Oo. > Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches taken > out (wish me luck holding her down and *away* from the vet during [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > CatNipped > YAY Bandit!!! > > Let us know how the little angel is. Little angel my a.s!!! Did you *SEE* my wounds??!!! There's a reason her nickname is "Bitch Cat From Hell"!!! ;> LOL - the doctor called out Augmentin 500mg for me for the bites and scratches (which is Clavamox - the same thing I had to shove down Bandit's throat for over a week, so I guess she's getting her revenge in spades!!!) ;> Hugs, CatNipped > .oO rach Oo. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> >> CatNipped >> YAY Bandit!!! >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > CatNipped LOL My mother always says that I could justify murder if I liked someone OR if it was a cat. I saw the bites and the scratch but then when you look at that beautiful face, it doesn't quite fit. I am sure she was just a bit upset and didn't mean it at all. :) rach > >> YAY Bandit!!! > >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > rach ROTFLMAO! Yep, each of the numerous scars on my body she left there because her teeth or claws just accidentally found their way into my flesh somehow!!! ;> Here, maybe these picture will help you interpret her true personality... ;> http://www.possibleplaces.com/CatNipped/Bandit5/ Hugs, CatNipped > (wish me luck holding her down and *away* from the vet during that!!!). Too late -- I already saw your finger. OWWW. You'd better have that looked at. Signaturehttp://www.slywy.com/ >Bandit is going back to the vet today at 5:30 to get her stitches taken out >(wish me luck holding her down and *away* from the vet during that!!!). She [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >CatNipped That would have been a real fright for BANDIT as well. I hope the wounds are healing well and the scarring not too bad. Good thing about being furry is these will eventually cover up. Iain.H >o< Rescued Cats & Kittens Needing Homes >o< >o< www.celiahammond.org >o< >o< www.cat77.org.uk >o< |
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