Dr Trapani was out today 4/23/19, when I took my 16 yo cat in to see him. The receptionist forgot to tell me when I made the appt. that he would be replaced by a lady vet, whose name is not on the receipt. Her last name began with a 'd', so I'll refer to her as Dr. D.
I believed that my cat was suffering from a compromised kidney, as he's been drinking copious amounts of water and urinating about the same. The last time I saw Dr Trapani, I recall him telling told me that most cats over 13 were likely suffering from this common condition, and I seem to remember his telling me this because Nino was presenting with it at that point in time. Nino is on a raw food diet I've made for him his whole life. His coat is gorgeous, but beginning to show some oils, which again, is indicative of kidney disease. He was also presenting a pretty raunchy smelling mouth, and has lately been drooling on one side. He was in obvious pain a couple of nights ago, and I figured he had an infection in his mouth. Dr. D discovered an ulcer on his tongue, which she told me is very likely caused by the excessive uric acid from the kidneys under-functioning. She did not recommend antibiotics, but told me to continue to feed him soft food with a lot of water. She offered me pain killers, but he doesn't seem to be in pain any more, and she offered to give him subcutaneous fluids, as he's a bit dehydrated. As I'm very tight on money right now, and he looks to be normalizing, I forewent those treatments.
I'd read that boosting vitamins C.E, A, probiotics, and omega fatty acids would boost his immune system and were indicated as useful supplements for renal failure. When I asked about this, and any other diet recommendations, Dr. D back-peddled and told me that without doing blood work, she could not tell me for certain that he had a compromised kidney. Then she said that renal diets are low-protein, but would not elaborate any further. Her expression was one of arrogance.
I am planning a trip across country in the coming months and inquired about traveling in a car with my cats. She told me she would not certify him, as he is an 'unhealthy cat'. I asked if she wouldn't certify any older cat, since as Dr Trapani noted most cats over 13 were likely suffering from compromised kidneys, to which she answered, "I've seen an older cat who did not suffer from kidney disease, and we don't know that's what he has."
I admit that I may be naive and I absolutely do not know everything. I have also been healing myself, my horse and two cats by my own hand after researching from multiple books and online sources I've studied for the last 35 years. I am not one to run to the vet unless an issue is beyond my scope of understanding or abilities.
Perhaps I'm silly, but I thought that health certificates were used to assure that an animal is not carrying a contagious disease, like upper respiratory, or such? I brought Nino into the USA from Mexico 15 years ago. He was given a health certificate there after a simple physical examination. I will research whether a blood test is required in order for a vet to issue one in this country. I was taken aback by Dr D's sudden authoritarian pose. She also said he had lost weight since last time I brought him in, as if this was a major concern. I asked how much weight, and the sweet assistant told me 6/10ths of a lb! For a 13.31 lb cat, that did not seem significant. He continues to have an appetite, ate more than his dish of food this evening, and seems to have a pretty muscular frame still. He was a little overweight at one point and looks about right to my untrained eye.
Thankfully, Dr. Trapani respects customers who ask questions and do their own research. He brings a professional light to our meetings, corrects any misunderstandings, and I appreciate his great wisdom. I always learn a lot from him.
My observation is that Dr D became self important, and condescending when I told her I am in a difficult financial position and couldn't afford blood work at this time, and importantly, I felt we both knew what we were looking at.
Nino has been improving in the last two days, to the point that he looked bright eyed and curled up purring at the vet! I believe his ulcer may be resolving on its own. I would like to have my question about diet addressed for the $65 I paid, but this vet decided that without my paying for the blood-work, she was going to withhold that information. She would not answer questions about a probiotic supplement that I'd read about either. The assistant offered me more information than the doc did. Dr D acted as if I was not caring for my cat, and that kind of guilt trip has no place in a healing environment, imho.
I felt that Nino's presenting symptoms made pretty obvious what we were dealing with, and she was more interested in making money than helping me with my cat. I'd really like a refund, or to have a proper visit with Dr. Trapani. read more