Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hi, I posted recently about my little black cat Nellie, we were told that her skin problem was probably cancer. Here's the next part of the story.

When I calmed down and thought about it properly it made no sense to me that cancer would appear then go away and come back two years later so on the Monday I rang the PDSA and cancelled the biopsy, asking for a second opinion.

We were seen by a lovely lady (coincidentally named Cat) who did some skin scrapes and almost immediately diagnosed harvest mites. Had to buy some special Frontline and Nell had another injection to calm down inflamed skin and is now absolutely fine. Her hair is growing back and all the lesions have healed.

Question is should I complain about the first vet I saw? He wasn't sympathetic or gentle when he said he thought it was cancer and even when I questioned him and asked him to do skin scrapes he refused. He was very rough when handling Nellie as well, I could tell she was a bit alarmed by him as she's not used to being grabbed and squeezed, and his examination of her was cursory to say the least. Why would he want to put a cat under anaesthetic and worry the owner unneccessarily? He should at the very least have investigated other possibilities first.

I worry that because they are a charity I might be classed as a trouble maker and barred from using the service. Also because they are a charity I feel that I can't criticise the service without seeming ungrateful. I'm not ungrateful - in fact just the opposite - I really really appreciate that I can use them. But, at the same time, I don't think I should have to accept a sub-standard service when the health of 3 very much loved pets is at stake.

So I'm left feeling dissatisfied and not knowing what to do. But very very glad that Nellie doesn't have a serious illness.

I'm really glad to hear that Nellie is on the mend and that it wasn't as bad as you were led to believe.

As for complaining, I agree it is a difficult position to be in. It is different at a private vetinary practice, you can always ask to see a particular vet (or just avoid the less sympathetic). Perhaps if you have to go again, you could ask to see Cat. You could always say Nellie is much happier with a lady vet.

I do understand what you mean. When we used to go to our local vets, my heart always sank if I got to see the owner. He is a lovely man but he is used to treating cows and can be rough and clumsy with small animals. It doesn't help (or inspire confidence) that he has his finger-ends missing on one hand - the result of a cardinal error, drummed into us on the stable yard, that you do NOT EVER, under any circumstances wrap a lead rope around your fingers.

Personally, I would leave it - at least there is now a record of the second opinion and what the problem actually turned out to be. As Bobby's girl says, just try to make sure you see her in future - your cat disliking men is a good excuse.