r/cats • u/AmphibianFew2060 • 21h ago
Advice Should I change vets or was just unlucky?
Background
In late September, I took my healthy 13-year-old cat to the vet for occasional wheezing and sneezing. By early November, he has an eye problem, respiratory issues, and lost a nail. Although the eye issue likely developed over months, it's been a difficult and confusing journey.
I need to know if my cat is being well-treated and if his symptoms are normal. I'm losing confidence in this vet, who isn't my regular one, because I knew my cat would need X-rays and other stuff my small clinc vet didnt have, so I took him to a vet hospital. I apologize if my English isn't perfect . Now, I have to do a toxoplasmosis test and am unsure if I should look for another place.
Initial Symptoms and Vet Visits
My 13-year-old neutered male cat with FIV started showing respiratory/flu-like symptoms on and off. I decided to take him to the vet. Despite scheduling the appointment, we still waited for 30 minutes upon arrival. I noticed his pupil was dilated. The vet took an X-ray of his lungs, diagnosed a respiratory infection/inflammation, and prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for two weeks. They said to call if his eye didn't improve within two days.
The eye didn't improve, so I called the vet. They advised continuing the anti-inflammatories and scheduled a follow-up in two weeks. At the follow-up, a different doctor attended us after a 50-minute wait. They took another chest X-ray, noted slight improvement, and extended the anti-inflammatory treatment by another week. They also scheduled an ophthalmologist appointment.
Eye Examination and Issues
At the ophthalmologist appointment, in the same clinic with their ophtamologist after a 30-minute delay, they performed an ultrasound and diagnosed a growth/tumor under the eye. They suggested either leaving it or removing the eye but recommended leaving it for now. They mentioned needing an iris biopsy but said they knew no one in the country who performed it, but they could check for me.
Further Complications
Returning for the respiratory issue, I was told the previous doctor was in surgery but I could wait or see another doctor, I went with the new one. This doctor, after a 20-minute wait, checked the eye, noted improvement, and took a photo. However, he wasn't aware it was an appointment for the respiratory issue. Untill I asked when he was sending us off the room. Its like there was no comunication with the staff. He checked the records and noted no need for another X-ray because "the second one was much better" I said "it was the other doctor said slightly" he showed the pc were it said "xray shows improvment" and shrugged. He extended the anti-inflammatory treatment and mentioned possibly needing an inhaler if symptoms persisted. I asked if the anti inflamaotry and antibiotics could harm since he took them for like half a month, or weaken is imune system and he said antibiotics didnt do that ( I thought yes?) but the inhaler would be best even thou it can hurt the mouth...but didnt elaborrate further.
Incident and Further Consultation
Later, the ophthalmologist called, mentioning a nearby clinic for the biopsy. At a follow-up appointment with the ophtomologist (now the correct follow up for the eye) and after like 4 visits in 1 month I let my cat roam the examination room, they always said I could but I kept him close in the table, this time since it would be a quick ultrasound and go home I let him go to see if he calmed down, then her face goes white and says sorrry because he went under the tables that are usually covered but this time they werent...she goes to pull him out and he comes back without a nail and foor bleeding from it. The vet treated the wound and performed another ultrasound. Said sorry and send us on our way. Now my cat that went in for respiratory problems and had been doing meds for 3/4 of a month, was found to have a "growth" in the eye and lost a whole nail and had to use a cone for 1 week ....this all happedn in 1month. After 13 years! of nothing...
Specialist Clinic Visit
I then visited a specialty eye clinic in a nearby town. The specialist noted that the lens of the eye was detaching, likely due to toxoplasmosis. They mentioned needing to wait for it to fully detach before deciding on further action. I asked about the growth and he said "what growth" I told him the other diagnosed and asked if they didnt send the ultrasound, but they just sent "some notes on him" not is file or age or FIV status or ultrasound or possble tumor??! he cheecked a second time and said "I can be wrong, but im very very sure hteres no tumor, but Ill call them, straightem it out and theyll call you" .....they didnt call. I called them 2 weeks later and she said "hey so how is he doing"....he asked about the growth and she was like "yeah it looked like it was a growth but we werent sure but what the doctor said is probably right" ....I asked if the respiratory problems could be from the toxiplasmose, if the test comes out positive and she said "thats an interesting thing to check for sure".....(I SHOUDLNT BE HAVING TO THINK OF THIS WTF?!)
Current Situation and Concerns
Now, my cat has eye drops (Adrocil and Hidratop) twice a day.