DO NOT GO TO VETCO IN KISSIMMEE. STAY AWAY FROM DR. SOTO. ONE OF THE WORST VETERINARY EXPERIENCES I…read moreHAVE EVER HAD.
I am absolutely FURIOUS about what happened to my four-year-old cat, Maverick, at Vetco in Kissimmee. I have never been this disappointed and angry with a veterinarian in my life. The way Dr. Soto treated my cat and treated me as a customer was completely unacceptable. IF YOU LOVE YOUR PET, DO NOT GO TO DR. SOTO. I would not trust him with my cat again after this experience, and I want other pet owners to know exactly why.
Maverick is four years old. He has been a healthy cat, and before this experience, he had never had the problems I am now dealing with. I brought him in because I wanted him to receive veterinary care. Dr. Soto told me Maverick needed a rabies vaccination before he could be seen, so I proceeded with the vaccination and bloodwork. After that appointment, Maverick started LIMPING. Let that sink in. I took my cat in for veterinary care, and afterward, I was dealing with a problem that had not been there before. Naturally, I wanted answers and expected the veterinarian to take my concerns seriously.
Instead, I felt like I was dealing with someone who cared more about being right than helping my cat. When I tried to explain what was happening, I felt dismissed, rushed, and disrespected. I was looking for answers about my cat's health, not an attitude from someone who is supposed to be a medical professional.
And the way Dr. Soto behaved was absolutely outrageous. HE WAS SLAMMING HIS HANDS DOWN AGGRESSIVELY ON THE TABLE RIGHT NEXT TO MY CAT because he apparently thought I was blaming him for what happened. What kind of professional behaves like that around someone's pet? Your ego is not more important than an animal's safety. If you cannot handle a customer questioning what happened to their animal without becoming aggressive, you need to seriously reconsider how you interact with people.
Then he had the nerve to tell me, "Well, if you are with him 24/7, you tell me what's the problem with your own cat."
EXCUSE ME, DR. SOTO? THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT HIM TO YOU! I am not a veterinarian. I brought my cat to you because I expected professional knowledge, an examination, answers, and guidance. Telling a concerned owner to figure out what's wrong with their own cat is unbelievably disrespectful and arrogant. What exactly am I supposed to be paying you for if you are going to throw an attitude at me for asking questions about my animal's health?
I know my cat. I know his normal behavior. I know when something is wrong. I brought Maverick to you because I needed help, and instead, I felt like you treated me as if I were the problem. A VETERINARIAN WHO CANNOT LISTEN TO A PET OWNER WITHOUT GETTING DEFENSIVE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
It gets worse. When Dr. Soto picked up Maverick, he nearly caused him to fall. The careless handling I witnessed was unacceptable. This is a four-year-old cat who depends on people to handle him safely. I expect a veterinarian to know how to pick up and handle an animal properly, not leave an owner frightened by what they are witnessing.
I also have serious concerns about the diagnosis and medication Maverick received. Dr. Soto repeatedly told me that Maverick had feline herpes and prescribed medication that I later had reason to question. I finally took my cat somewhere else, and the new veterinarian told me Maverick did not have feline herpes and gave me different guidance about his care.
THANK GOODNESS I WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
The difference was unbelievable. I finally had someone who listened, explained things, and helped me understand what Maverick needed. I should never have had to go through this much frustration just to feel that my cat's health concerns were being taken seriously.
I am not claiming to know exactly what caused Maverick's limp, but the fact that it began after the vaccination and bloodwork appointment was concerning, and I expected Dr. Soto to help investigate it. Instead, I felt that my concerns were brushed aside. I cannot accept being treated this way when I am trying to get help for an animal who cannot speak for himself.
Throughout this experience, Dr. Soto came across to me as impatient, dismissive, and unwilling to hear anything that challenged his opinion. He seemed more interested in rushing through interactions than listening to what I was saying. Pet owners should never feel intimidated or disrespected for asking questions about medication, diagnosis, symptoms, or treatment.
AND THEN, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED, MY APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELED AND I WAS TOLD I COULD NO LONGER RECEIVE SERVICES AT PETCO.
So I am left trying to get answers for my cat, feeling completely dismissed, and having to find another provider. I went somewhere else, and thankfully, I received the help and guidance I was looking for. That is exactly what I should have been able to expect when I first sought veterinary care.
As a veteran, I take
