Seeking opinions to settle a disagreement between myself and husband:
One of our cats has IBD. She has to get her anal glands expressed monthly and it’s difficult to schedule the next one at checkout because they only have one tech who can manage our cat. Also, she needs prescription food and this is the second time in a row I’ve waited a week and the online pharmacy request still hasn’t been approved. Last time I had to call and then wait another 3 days. Is dropping this vet overreacting?
Last time we were there, we saw three different techs. One was unable to draw blood from our cat (not the IBD cat) and had to go get someone more experienced to do it, and another had to be reminded by the doctor about how to hold a cat down during the physical examination. So it seems like they’re having issues with retaining skilled technicians.
I’d probably speak to them directly (w/truth but not anger) & then decide (to move on). I almost always try to have that heart to heart feedback.
In a recent rare situation a doc pulled me aside & suggested the best way to get care requests thru was not their portal but a direct phone call. She was proactively acknowledging their staffing problems & that they were working on it. And in the last few months, they’ve righted their ship & are doing fine. Frankness can be motivational.
@lemontart but it may not be easy to find a better one.
@lemontart i'd tell them what issues you are having & see how they respond first, but no, you are not overreacting.
i'm moving my cats from the vet practice i've used for 30 years to my large animal vet's practice, because my vet retired & the vet taking over is not good with cats (and doesn't do exotics at all)
@lemontart i do need to ask the large animal vet directly if she will take on the tortoises, because her office person said no... but mostly all i need are fecals & she can send those out to Tufts or Cornell.
@redenigma I thought about this but all they’ll do realistically is apologize and then it will likely continue to be a problem. It’s a shame, because I do like our usual doctor, but the doctor I liked the best is long gone.
They care for our dog and two other cats as well and we haven’t had any problems with their care, but they are all in good health. I did notice that they seem to have significant turnover in techs and desk staff. And the most competent tech is now the office manager instead.