Complaint Review: Cat Hospital of Orlando

An older kitty who had health issues time had come to cross Rainbow Bridge (be euthanized)  - a very difficult and heart wrenching decision.  After a night of the kitty thowing up, I called the Cat Hospital of Orlando, whom I had used several times before for this very very difficult situation.  The staff is very good and was sympathetic telling me to come in at 4 pm and they would work me in.  I was accompanied  - we got there a little befroe 4 pm. 

We were kindly taken in to an exam room where we waited an anguishing hour and 15 minutes (this never happened before - to have to wait)  The very young vetenarian came in and started examining my cat - poking and palpatating.  I told her we are not here for an exam.  Poor kitty did not need to be poked when not feeling very good.  The shocking exchange began of her telling me she wanted to know if the cat was ok.  She was told the decision to be here for euthanization would never have been made if all was well.  She continued to keep poking and palpatating my kitty.  I asked the vet to stop it.  She totally ignored me!! Continuing to say she wanted to determine the quality of the cat's life.  I asked her if she was refusing to put my kitty to sleep - that it was my decsion, not hers.  She could refuse - that was her right. I actually said I was not on trail! I was grilled so about 'Quality-of-life" for the cat. 

I KNEW it was time! It was so stressful on the poor cat to have to ride in the car, be in this strange place with all kinds cat smells, I was so upset to begin with and then to have her refuse to stop examing the cat and tell me she would decide if I had made the right and proper decision was almost more than a human could tolerate and the poor cat, too.  The cat is incontinent and her quality of life, thanks to this young inexperienced vet, would be to live in a crate!!  I NEVER had such an experience there before. 

Dr Basso (no longer there) was so great and supportive and understanding without grilling me.  The whole experience was outrageous for the poor cat, myself and my companion! When you ask any physician to STOP doing what they are doing, they are obligated to STOP.  I asked several times if she (the vet) was going to do the procedure I came in for, and she continued the exam that I asked to be halted and stopped!  If you want any say in the treatment of your cat or difficult end-of-life decision, stay away from this awful and anguishing place.  A draining experience filled with grief and anger that what you paid for would not be carried out. 

I scooped kitty up, put her back in the crate, had my companion get a refund - all the emotion of preparing for such loss, the angusihing time waitng and then to not have it done was just overwhelming