Hi there.  Smokey is home again.  He was very stressed of course when I picked him up.  I have to say that I am not thrilled with this hospital. My vet does not do this type of surgery and I couldn't even check in with him because they had to shut down temporarily because of a covid outbreak.

His first choice recommendation happened to be on vacation the week that Smokey broke his leg and he thought it best to not wait because of the pain.

Before I made any decision on a future procedure I would definitely seek a second opinion.

I don't believe that I ever told the story of the initial visit to this hospital so here it is.  It has an excellent reputation but I would never recommend after this experience.

Morning, Smokey was diagnosed with broken elbow by x-ray under anesthesia.

Immediately called for consult with orthopedic surgeon.  Was told that first available appointment would be in 4 weeks and that I would need to come in through emergency room even though my vet had already sent records he could not go directly to surgery unit. They told me to come right over.

2pm - arrive at hospital and call from car because of covid. They tell me it will be 2 hours before he can be seen and to wait in parking lot.  I explain that he is pain, I did not bring water for him and that I live 10 minutes away.  Can I go home and then come back in 1 1/2 hours? No, you lose your place and start over.

I get a friend to bring water, a bowl and his meds for pain.  We wait. They finally took him in at 5pm and told me it would be 2 hours before ER doc would see him.  Go home and we will call you.  

7pm. I call and he has not been seen yet.  9pm the same.  11pm the same.  I am beyond frustrated, upset but feel trapped, no other choice. 

2am.  ER doc calls.  Broken leg. No kidding!!!  He will need to be transferred to surgery dept.  (Really!!!)  Then I am told that I need to leave a deposit for treatment, now, even though I don't know what treatment will be because he needs to see a surgeon!

Transferred to billing.  Deposit is for repair of broken leg.  Estimate is $5600-7400.  I must give them the $5600 immediately or he loses his place and we start over in the morning.  It is 2am.  I can pay $3000 right then and asked if I could call at 6am to pay balance.  They said no. Now the surgery team does not even come in until 8am!  Nothing will be done before 6am and he hasn't even seen a surgeon!  $3000 was not enough to hold his place for treatment until the morning. I had to wake my son to borrow money.  

Next day or should I say later that day, I was not able to talk to the surgeon until 3pm.  They did not look at him for hours!  I was told that repair was not viable, 70% chance of failure and would most likely end up being amputated.  I had 30 minutes to decide or he would sit in a cage for another night without treatment. 

I decided on amputation because I did not want him to go through a failed attempt at repair, the pain only to have to have another surgery. I quickly googled as much info as I could, called my vet and he agreed with my decision.  Not the way to make such a tough decision.

So, that was me experience with this hospital.  They leave you on hold for 20 minutes or more, they are rude if you question their procedures. When I said that I did not understand why he had to wait overnight to see the ER doc when we knew the problem, knew he need to see a surgeon and why couldn't I take him home, come back in the morning and go directly to surgeon I was told that I was not listening. It just made me crazy to have him sit all night in a cage because they have some screwy method and lack compassion.

He is home now.  He has a bandage, antibiotics, gabapentin, trazadon, and rimadyl.  He had some pureed chicken, eaten off my fingers and is sleeping soundly.  

They did charge me for the debridement surgery...$1200.  They told me it was a discount.  

He needs to go back in 5 days for change of bandage and it may need to be done with anesthesia.  Wish my vet was open!

I did look at the requirements for the $500 assistance.  Since I did work last January and part of February I made $4000 over the income limit in 2020.  I won't even come close this year but by then it will be too late to qualify.  Hopefully by then I will be healed and working and won't need it!

Again, thank you for the support and the place to vent.

Nancy

Good morning Benny,

They did send out a tissue sample for MRSA when they did the incision revision.  I just called and left a message, waiting for someone to call back.  When I picked him up yesterday the brought him out with a filthy cone and a spare.  I looked and his eyes were filled with a thick yellow discharge.  I cleaned him as soon as we got home but it keeps returning and his eye looks very red. I hope he does not have an eye infection now too.

I am just disgusted with the care from this hospital. I will definitely see if there is some sort of oversight of vet hospitals once we are through the worst of it.  I will also discuss with my family vet once they are back on site.

If it is an eye infection I hope the antibiotic he is on will cover it.  Now I just have to wait.

Hi Jerry,  I did not know that there are no oversight of vets.  I will read your article.

Smokey is eating, drinking. As far as energy, I would say that it is more anxiety fueling him at the moment.  He did pass out for a few hours this afternoon but he was up at 4am whimpering and then howling even when I had him cuddled up next to me.  It's been a long day.

I will call my vet in the morning.  Besides his eyes I would like to ask if they can do the bandage changes.  The hospital says I must drop him off and it will be done under sedation.  I really don't want to leave him there again.