Darla - I'm so sorry to hear it. i can't imagine what happened. I know when you wrote the last post that things seemed pretty tough to me but apparently they were even worse? When you get a chance let us know and I'm thinking of you.:grouphug:
Hi there...thanks for the group hug.
Just an fyi, Buckeye has been great since his procedure, he's being a real trooper and I just want this to be over for him so that he can get back to himself. I feel sorry for him because he doesn't know why he's feeling this way, etc, why he has that stupid thing around his neck..but he's being a real trooper so no problems there.
Speaking of collars, let me get on with my story. I almost feel like I should start a new thread on this for all to see but here it goes. As I mentioned yesterday, I thought he "might" be able to get to his stitches...I wasn't sure, it just seemed like he got close on the one ocassion I saw him try to get to the area (late Tuesday night after he started to recover from the anesthesia, etc.). Thought I might be over reacting too, I mean, what did I know...had never been this way before, I mean, he does have a collar on....but my instincts kept nagging at me so I called the vet's office on my way to work yesterday morning to express my concern. Found out that the docs aren't in on Wednesdays so the front desk person suggested that I put "panties" on him so he can't get to them. I took it further thinking a diaper might work better, until I could get him in for checking. So, I went home on my lunch hour (left around 12:30pm) and stopped on the way to pick up the diapers at the pet store just down the street from my house. When you go up to my door, I have a window pane that you can see back to the kitchen, where Buckeye's x-pen, etc. is located. So as usual, I can see him and his reaction once he hears us put the key in the door. True to fashion, he hears me and jumps up staring at the front door. He sees me and gets excited...I go to pick him up to "check on things" and to my horror...he had removed his stitches!!!! I began to panic on the inside...almost to anxiety attack level because I couldn't believe it. The only thing that made me calm down a little was the fact that he was looking at me like nothing in the world was wrong...he was perfectly calm, and there was no blood or anything. I could just see where they were gone and now there's this small opening. My panic then turned to sheer anger!!! I got on the phone to call the vet's office to advise them of what happened. Well, remember, no doc is in on Wednesdays so the receptionist asked me if I wanted to go to another location, well duh! Yes! She just couldn't understand how he was able to get to his stitches!!! Really??!!
I took him in and as soon as I walked in the door to the front desk, the young lady looked at Buckeye and said, "his e-collar is too short, why would they put that on him!" The assistant, and finally the vet all said the same thing when they both saw him, separately. So this is why my Buckeye was able to get his stitches out...the collar was too short!!! One person saw it and said it was like putting a paper plate around his neck, just something to irritate him, but not really keeping him from the area! As I now know, it's supposed to be like a cone extending out from his face...on this one...his nose was about even with the edge of the cone. Thankfully, he had not gotten to the inner layer of the stitches, as they were still in tact and they glued the outer layer back together (they determined that they didn't have to put him under or stitch him again..thank God). They said he didn't even whimper, just laid there in there arms like nothing was going on. He also had to be put on antibiotics due to the inflammation of the area because of all the licking, etc. I opted for the shot that does the trick over a 2-day period instead of having to feed him add'l pills (they also gave me pain pills for him since his last liquid dose from the initial procedure was this morning..he'll start those tomorrow).
So, now my baby is in the correct collar and I can now see exactly why the first one was inadequate!!!! I was so livid that I had to stop my car in the parking lot and pray before going in....I asked God to please give me some peace because I didn't want to go in acting the fool that I can be, because they had nothing to do with this stupid error (they are independently owned...like a franchise)!! So Buckeye was back home all fixed up and resting as of 7pm last night. I can not believe this happened over something as simple as putting the correct collar on him!!! Idiots!! I have a call into the vet who owns this particular franchise, and who also happens to be Buckeye's doctor to advise her of this situation and demand reimbursement of the $100 I had to spend to make things right for Buckeye. I am also transferring to the location I went to yesterday as the staff/vet there was so very attentive and thorough, plus it's in a better location and closer to me. The vet also decided to do a check on him since she had him there, and checked his teeth, etc. She showed me tartar buildup on two of Buckeye's teeth in the back!!! What!!!! Why was this not brought to my attention prior to this? Not to mention that you JUST checked him on Monday when I brought him in and marked on the report that his teeth were "normal." Everyone knows that this breed are prone to dental problems so how do you miss that....because you aren't really being that thorough are you??!!! She carefully showed me what to do, how to introduce him gradually to things, give him a treat when he allows me to work in his mouth and move from there. He was such a good boy for her!
I really had no problem with the other office until now, and until I actually went somewhere to see a "better way." They are very nice people, but obviously, moving too quickly and overlooking things that should not be overlooked. Now that I look back, I think they have too much on their hands with only two docs on staff (this one has 4). This vet also expressed her concern of the response I received from the staff member regarding putting "panties" on him...she couldn't really understand that at all. And what I liked also was that she wasn't speaking ill of them or trying to make them look bad, she chose her words carefully while at the same time, letting me know that it wasn't a response that she would have expected. I personally don't like it when professionals bad mouth another, no matter the situation, so I appreciated that about her.
Okay, I'm done venting....as you can see I get "reheated" when I talk about it. I just can't imagine what might have been the case, had I not gone home to check on him when I did. He would have been home for a few more hours and he could have kept on ripping at those stitches and things could have been far worse!! I'm so thankful to God that I didn't come home and find him in pain, bleeding, or worse! I was told of a dog who did that and he bled to death (owner found him). I would not have been able to handle any more than what I saw! Also, as of today, he is in his crate...the vet says he needs to be there because from what I've explained, he's too active (jumping on his hind legs when he sees us, etc.). So that is where he'll be as opposed to the x-pen where he could roam around, etc.
I'm done everyone...again...thanks for the hugs.
P.S. Did I fail to mention that a coworker referred me to this particular office, which again, I had no issues with until now. She came to me about a month ago and said she took her cat to get spayed and at some point during the night, she slipped out of her collar and removed all her stitches...all of them!!! Obviously, at the time I thought it was just aweful but thought maybe it was an isolated incident and I told her she should fight having to pay them all over again to fix her (they gave her a hard time...saying someone must have taken it off...really?!) I just couldn't believe I was experiencing this except Buckeye didn't have to slip out of his...he could just have easy access..no problem!!! ugh!!!!!!!!
