Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Suzanna's Injury


 




Narrative Of the day Suzanna's Injury





I took Suzanna on 9/14/97 to get her annual vaccinations and exam. I had called various animal Vet clinics/ offices around town. I finally settled on PetSmart***. (will explain this later) When I had called the "clinic" on the phone, I was told she would get her annual vaccinations of: rabies, FELV, PRCP, and FIP as well as an exam for $33.50. I know I asked about the exam because it is such an ordeal for Suzanna to go to the Vet that I wanted her to get it all done at one time. The reason I chose to go to this "clinic" instead of my regular vet was the cost $20.00 less and my Vet of many years had retired. My mother came with me that day. We got to the "clinic" close to noon. I paid the $33.50 then we were led into an exam room.


  Two people came in, a man and a woman. The woman tried to give Suzanna the shot. She stabbed the needle about 3 times, and then man corrected her on how she was holding the syringe. Told her she should not have her finger on the plunger and corrected how she was pulling up the tissue. Then he took the syringe from her and showed her how to hold it, then picking up the back of Suzanna's fur around the upper shoulder blades he stuck the syringe in and told the girl she would feel / hear the skin "pop" when the syringe went in.

**At this point, had I known anything about what could happen to my baby, I would have grabbed Suzanna and ran out of this "clinic". I had been spoiled by an excellent Vet that took great care of my kitties for years.**
The girl then took the second syringe grabbed the fur lower than the man did, and again stabbed Suzanna several times before getting the syringe in. The man then gave her the vaccination that is a liquid put up the nose.


 

They started to walk out and I asked about the exam. The man told us that to "have a doctor come in and do an exam would cost $10.00 Did I want to do that?" I stated that I had been told it was included in the $33.50, as the man just stared at me I thought for a moment I knew I didn't want to put Suzanna through another trip to the vet. So I agreed to having the doctor come in and do the exam for $10.00





  Then Dr. W came in. She asked about any problems Suzanna had been having. She had none. She was a healthy, active cat. She took Suzanna's temperature. Dr. W. felt her belly for a moment {not thoroughly at all} just looked at her teeth and said she needed her teeth cleaned. She said my cat was fine, even though she did not listen to her heart or lungs, or look into her ears. Dr. W turned to walk out, I inquired bout having her nails trimmed. {this was always done in any other exam my cats have received as well as listening to the heart, lungs and feeling around on the internal organs}



 
  Dr. W. clipped one paw with the nail trimmers that I had brought with me . The she handed the trimers to me to clip the other 3 paws. Suzanna has one nail that is very think and Dr. W did clip that one. As she again turned to walk out I asked if Suzanna could be weighed. She said she would get a scale. She did and Suzanna was weighed. I got the feeling Dr. W. was irritated with my requests. Then she showed me a piece of paper that had a list of procedures and cost on it. She said that Suzanna should have some blood work with her vaccinations next years. Then Dr. W. left the room.


 

When we left the exam room, there where alot of animals and owners at the desk, the waiting room was full including several large dogs. Since Suzanna is a very timid cat and was scared, I was very frustrated about the "exam" she had gotten, we just walked through the waiting room and left the clinic.

About 5 hours later Suzanna was paralyzed in the hind legs and tail. The vaccine given had gotten into her spine, causing it to swell and put pressure on the nerves that controlled her hind legs and tail. At which time she was taken to Woodland Animal Hospital.....this was late on an Sunday nite.
 

Two days later { while Suzanna was in the hospital} I received a bill for $16.50 [not $10.00]for the "exam" by Dr. W.!!   Less than a month later I was turned over to a collection agency for the $16.50!!! This only added insult to injury.....


 

***The "Clinic" was inside the PetSmart building. At the time of her injury it was owned by a private Vet. A few months later, it appeared to be owned by PetSmart. However I learned later that it was owned by a group called "VetSmart". Interesting, huh? No where in the PetSmarts in my town, nor the phone book does it list the name VetSmart.***

 

The above information is strickly my account of the event as preceived by myself, my mom, and Miss Suzanna.


 



 

Suzanna Southpaw's Main Page: return to Suzana's page
Suzanna's Story Page : contents index