Hey, gang:
I just had the worst experience of my life.  We had a beautiful 6 month old 
kitten, who acted like a Ragdoll.  She was a lover beyond any cat I've ever 
seen, just the most calm and affectionate thing ever.  Well, she started 
getting a little sick, so we took her to what was supposed to be one of the 
better places in town.  It's called "Tacoma Cat Hospital" in Tacoma, WA.
Well, the vet checked her out, saying she had an infection of some sort.  He 
didn't want to do a blood work-up on her, but we finally got one by insisting 
repeatedly  (why he balked we don't know).  It was inconclusive about what 
was wrong, even on the specific major fatal diseases that have obvious signs. 
 He started going on about how she might have FIP, but if so it was the 
strangest case of it he'd ever seen.  So he retested her and it was positive 
for FIP.
Now, all along he kept mentioning this disease and graphic discriptions on 
what she'd go thru'.  This before he was even halfway sure she had it (note 
my comment earlier about it being "weird symptoms.)  We waited all weekend 
for a call that never came, and you all can guess how upset we were and 
unable to think straight or sleep.  After all, our cats/pets are very special 
to us.  Sure, he had mentioned that she might get better, but there was VERY 
little "let's be sure before we act further" attitude on his part.
So yesterday we were finally told the test came back positive for FIP.  Now, 
all along when he kept mentioning this bug, he kept mentioning that it was 
best that we put her down due to how terrible this bug was.  So we were so 
grief-stricken about this that we did so, wanting to save her the agony of 
the disease's progression.  He did not ask if we were very positive about the 
decision to put her down--no second opinion, no retesting, etc.
Well, today I spoke to several other vets in detail about this, as well as 
doing some extensive research on my own.  While my kitten may have had FIP, 
it has similar simptoms to that of other diseases, and if suspected should 
ALWAYS be retested for, preferably by another vet.  So while my baby may have 
indeed had FIP, he WAS NOT CERTAIN and still pushed us into putting her down! 
 And what infuriates me even more was that we were supposed to have been able 
to visit and hold her for as long as we wished, yet they brought her to us, 
and without letting US decide that it was time, just barged in on us and got 
to the matter.  I didn't want to be there or see it and had said so clearly.  
Yet without knocking, they just walked in; I looked up to see who it was and 
found myself staring right at the means of doing the matter.  Needless to 
say, I was beyond freaked out.
I am just devestated by all this, because we felt like they took advantage of 
our fears and grief.  I spoke to them today about what I learned, and the vet 
acted like he didn't want to end her life and how dare we question his 
training!  All I did was tell him what I had learned.  He never showed the 
slightest feelings for how we feel now, and made me feel like I was at fault! 
 His "bedside manner" was atrocious.  We feel like we may very likely have 
put Diana kitten down for nothing more than a curable infection!!
The reason for this story is partially to help ease my grief, and also as a 
word of caution to all you cat (and pet) lovers.  Please, PLEASE!! get your 
cats vacinated for FIP if you haven't already!  I wasn't aware of this deadly 
disease!  And if any tests on your cat even HINTS at this bug or another of 
the fatal ones, PLEASE get a second opinion!!  If this guy hadn't mentioned 
this bug before he even had any certainty, we would've done so, and maybe 
she'd be alive today, recovering from something far less severe and 
treatable. As it is, my partner and I will never know for sure, and we will 
never be able to ease the feeling that a beautiful kitten was put down 
because some young vet jumped the gun and didn't try to save her.
And if you live in my area of Tacoma, WA, I strongly advise you to never, 
ever take your feline companion to this vet (Tacoma Cat Hospital).  Maybe 
other customers have had better luck, but they should listen to what we just 
experienced.  Please don't go to this place.  And for everyone, please check 
out a vet thoroughly before trusting your beloved pets to them.  If my 
experience saves one cat from being put down needlessly (FIP if often 
misdiagnosed), then maybe my kitten can rest a bit easier.
-- DS
                                                     Darkstarr of Elfhame
                                                  Virtual Adept Archdeacon &
                                                    Shadow Court Instigator
--- CNet/3
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