Bad experience at Vet Clinic - Where exactly do responsibilities end?

[Carrey_Bazil]

Hi all. I just got back from the vet clinic after what was the most horrible visit till date.

<Following paragraph my gross out some people>

My boxer stopped eating on Saturday and when he went without food for two days i decided to take him to the vet. So apparently he has contracted an intestinal infection. The vet prescribed some medicines and informed me that my dog will have to take drip infusions for some days.

Now yesterday was his first infusion. Near the end, my dog began to pass loose stools right there on the bed. Because it was a small amount there was no problem as such and I managed to get him off the bed cleanly. Today, however was a different story. His stools started a little after the drip was attached, and continued right to the end, with gaps in between. I had to sit there for a good hour and frankly it was all very gross. There were two other beds with dogs on them and about 6 people in that room. I could see other people getting uncomfortable. Did I mention that these 'new' stools are super stinky? Anyways an indecent amount of these stools managed to deposit themselves on his hips. To make things worse, my dog began to feel uncomfortable after a while and tried to get up. In the process he managed to get some stool on his legs.

So, now you see, I have a really *dirty* dog an hour later when the drip is taken out. The medical personnel casually tells me that I can go home now and the bed is needed by another patient. I ask him if he or someone else can help me clean my dog. His reply was "We cannot help you with that." and he left. So I borrowed some of the sterilised cotton they had there and cleaned up for a good 10 minutes. Only problem was that his stools started again and I wasnt sure when they'd stop. All this while the assistant was getting impatient as my dog was still on the bed. I cleaned up quickly and borrowed more cotton and left, on the way to my car I had to clean him once again and he still managed to get some shit on the back seats.

As you can guess I am very pissed. But I am not sure if I should be angry.

Now my question is this, was the assistant right in asking me to clean my dog and not helping at all ? Also was it right to ask me to vacate the bed when my dog was still passing his stools?

To me all of this appeared very unproffesional and unscientific. What the person seemed to be implying was that his responsibility started and ended with the drip infusion. I have been thinking about this and I am still pretty confused. Since said person is a medical personnel I think it was his responsibility to ensure that there was minimum risk of infection or disease. On the other hand maybe he thought wiping shit off a dog is not a fitting task for a graduate.

I would like to know what other people think about this, and if someone has had a similar experince, please share.

-Abhijit

 

[kpowell]

I can't believe they didn't offer to help you clean him up!! Yes, I'd be upset and very angry, too. I'd probably talk to the vet about this and find out why you couldn't at least be given some appropriate clean up material. It's not like he's having a normal BM that just happened to be in the vet clinic.

 

[lisasentous]

Your poor baby, I really hope this clears up fast for you.
The only experience similar to yours is that Lisa pees alot at the vets when she gets nervous. I have never had to clean up after her, I have offered and apologised but the assitant would not let me clean.

I really think that your poor baby should have been left where he was for a while after the drip was removed, I´m sure it was not a nice experience for him either. Speak to your vet and complain about been treated that way.

 

[ELubas]

Both you and your dog deserved a lot more respect and compassion than that :( I would be very upset and I would talk to the vet. If I did not get an explanation and an apology that would be the last they would see of me. Hope your pup is feeling better very soon

 

[kassa]

That was totally out of line on the vet's part. Aside from the obvious (part of charging for procedures is that you return the animal basically in the same condition it arrived in -- after surgery will they wipe the blood off? Expect you to remove the breathing tube?), the fact is that if nothing else it was really unsanitary to just let you do the best you can, especially if it's a potentially contagious condition. Were they going to scrub down the crate/room/table after you left so the next dog wouldn't be exposed? Scrub down the ground between where you left and your car?

I'd definitely change vets over that -- aside from the rudeness of it, it doesn't sound like they take cleanliness very seriously.

 

[Biff]

I think this totally unacceptable too - apart from the indignity you and your poor dog were subjected too, I too am concerned for the next dog who was to be put on that bed.

Change vets.

PS/ I hope your baby is all better soon (((Hugs)))

 

[winn dixie]

i agree wih all of you....you certainly should have been offered help..did the vet look at the stools? hey,it ain't pretty,but with a dog with an intestinal infection,i think that would be important..and i so agree that the area,where your baby was lying,should have been cleaned properly,by the staff,what if the next dog had an open wound? sending get well wishes to your baby..oh and another thing,insisting that your dog,who is in distess ,be removed for another dog,is not acceptable...

 

[Gruntsmom]

Sending lots of healing thoughts for your baby boy, and I hope he gets over this infection and feels better soon. I am so very sorry you and your baby had to go through this VERY unpleasant experience. I am upset as I read your post, and so saddened by the lack of compassion shown to your boy and you. I would also be concerned with why an IV drip would cause loose stools, and just how clean the clinic really is. I would find another vet.