Conference misery::feline_v1

    What vet did you take her to??  Reason being, I just moved to Grafton
    with my two kitties and they haven't been to the vet yet in this
    town either.
    
    I swear by Dr. Nord of the Framingham Animal Hospital; however,
    they highly recommended the Tufts Vetinary School of Medicine on
    Route 30 in Grafton.  Perhaps if you give Tufts a call and relay
    your experience, they can help you out.  Tufts has a small animal
    hospital right on the campus and I have heard excellent things about
    them.
    
    By the way, I have cat named Nikki  - is your Niki's name pronounced
    the same way?
    
    /Roberta
    
    P.S.  If I couldn't find a vet I liked in Grafton, I would have
    no qualms about driving the distance to see Dr. Nord in Framingham
    (about 1/2 hour from N. Grafton).
    

    
    Hmmm, this is kinda coincidental....
    
    I took the advice of a fellow FELINER to go to Nashoba Valley Hospital
    and had a horrible experience.  I had foolishly assumed that all
    vets at the hospital would be of equal skill, I was very wrong.
    I have since gotten the name of a particular vet at that hospital
    that the noter recommends.  Maybe Conni would like to post her
    recommendation here?
    
    My experience also had to do with needles, both in giving shots
    and taking blood.  None of the vets have ever taken blood from the
    neck, this one included.   Her problem in taking blood was that
    
    1) the blood in one of my cat's veins bubbled (in the vein), she
    now has a huge blood mark under the skin, the vet said this was
    normal
    
    2) no pressure was applied to the needle hole after removal of the
    needle, they both bled all over the place
    
    She did a few other things I did not like, I won't bother with details.
    Needless to say I have learned that not all vets are equal.
    
    Sharon

    ps: Nashoba Valley Vet Hospital is in Westford/Littleton near Kimballs 
    (near LKG)
 

    Re .1
    
    Believe it or not, the vet was referred to us.  His name is Richard
    F. Rodger D.V.M. located on Rte. 30.  
    
    I have also heard that Tufts if great, but extremely expensive (my
    Niki is worth it).  We used them once when my neighbors little dog 
    got hit by a car and killed.  It was winter time and the ground was
    frozen...I'll spare you the rest of the story, but they were very 
    sympathetic and caring.  Tufts originally was strickly a large animal
    hospital.  It wasn't until recently that they have opened up to
    small animals.  
    
    Yes, my Niki is pronounced the same way.
    
    Thanks for your insight.  I wouldn't mind driving to Framingham
    if the vet is great there.
    
    Barbara
    
    
    

    Yes, my vet takes blood samples from the neck (the jugular vein),
    if he can't get enough blood from a fore(paw?).  The key to success
    is to make sure the cat doesn't move an inch so the sample can be
    got on the first try.  That's why I'm always in the room with my
    cats participating in the "hold-down".  Have you ever given blood
    or a blood sample?  It really isn't very painful, is it?  I can
    understand your concern in repeat trys, it can be very stressful
    for the cat.  The other alternative to getting a blood sample is
    to put the cat under with anesthesia.  The decision should be up
    to us owners.  I for one, feel that anesthesia is unnecessary.
    
    
    Good luck in your search!
    
    Pam

    I second the previous suggestion that you go to the Tufts Vet Hospital.
     My cats are more traumatized by the car ride to the vet than by
    visiting the vet himself.  I don't take my animals (3 cats + 1 dog)
    to Tufts regularly, because its too far for me.  However, I took
    my last dog there when he was dying of cancer, and was impressed
    by all they did for him.  Also, I would feel comfortable knowing
    that my regular vet had the resources that Tufts has immediately
    at hand.
    

    I'm curious to know which doctor you took your kitty to at the Nashoba
    Valley Vet cause I just took my new baby there and the doctor we
    had was fabulous!  He answered all my questions and gave me a complete
    run down on all the things I should know about being a new mom.
    More importantly, Mittens liked him  :-)  Whew, I'm glad for that!
     
    Judy
    

    Re: .0
    
    I know how you feel about the guilt.  I had unfortunate experiences
    taking my first cat Pussycat to vets -- one turkey left the thermometer
    in place while he took a phone call about a golf game, and I was
    trying to keep Pussycat from jumping off the table during the
    interminable phone call, etc.  I didn't know much about cats or
    vets at that stage.  Now I'm really hardnosed (and fortunately the
    vet I take my cats to now is great).  
    

    re .6
    
    I don't know the vet's last name but I believe her first name is Jessie.
    At least that's what Conni said when I told her of the incident,
    I guess this Jessie is the only female vet there.
 
    I asked her if she was full time, she said yes, for at least 2 more
    weeks.  I don't know whether she's leaving or being told to leave
    or what.   
	
    Sharon
    

Re:   1384.0   (Help, I need a vet!)

    < Has anybody ever seen a vet take a blood test by sticking a needle
    < into the side of a cat's neck?

    Also a yes.  Dr. Dana MacNamme, Angell Memorial Hospital, had to
    draw a blood sample from Tasha and used the jugular vein.  I held
    Tasha and it took the good doctor almost ten minutes.  But it
    didn't appear to hurt Tasha and he was quiet the entire time.

    Also, one doesn't usually put pressure on a jugular vein -- the
    cat (or human) can pass out.  Tasha did bleed a little afterwards, 
    but we just wiped it up.  Dr. MacNamme is a superior vet, but he
    was at Angell for a year's refresher (he had his own practice).  
    I miss him a lot. 

				Julie

    I think that the jugular is used because it's a larger vein - veins
    in the arms & legs are usually smaller.  Sorry - paws!  I'm a
    phlebotomist - I am more used to drawing from humans and saying
    arms & legs!  I never have and never will draw from an animal!
    I can't even watch when the Vet give my babies shots!  Last
    night I couldn't even stay in the room when he did it - I
    can't stand seeing an animal being hurt even for its own good.

    The questionable vet at Nashoba Veterinary Hospital is Dr. Shavitz,
    and yes, I think her first name is Jessie.  The other two vets,
    Drs. Damitz and Lennon, are both wonderful.  We've been using them
    for years.  There's also a young man named Steve who's not a vet
    but who helps out quite a lot and has a very nice way with animals
    and people too.

         When Bigfoot had to have blood drawn for the FeLV test, Tufts
    took it from his neck as his skin is very dark and difficult to
    find veins through.  We thought the people at Tufts were very good
    but, unfortunately, expensive.  I would always go to them for last
    resort stuff, but not routine visits.
    
         Bigfoot, Fluffy and Loki go to the Shrewsbury Animal Hospital.
    They are north of SHR, going towards Rt. 9.  Reasonable prices,
    good service and very good vets.  I particularly like Dr. Barnes,
    but so far all of the doctors and technicians have been great.
    

         Maybe that's better???
    

	 Dr. Jessie Shayevitz is leaving the NVVM practice at the end of
     the  month.  It  is her choice to leave. She is moving to Syracuse,
     N.Y..

    My parents have lived in Westford (MA) for over 20 years, and have
    always had pets.  They have gone to Nashoba Valley Vet since Dr.
    Damitz opened the place -- I think he was the only vet there for
    a while.  I agree that he is great, with both dogs and cats.  He's
    always patient and caring, whether your "baby" is there for routine
    shots, or something more serious.
    

    I have found it to be much easier on my cats to let the vet take
    the blood from the jugular instead of having to try several times
    to get it out of their legs.  Leg viens are small and hard to find
    under all of that hair.
    
    I have heard of vets using a nail clipper to slightly nick the quick
    to get a drop of blood for a felv test, but have never had this
    done to any of my cats.  I think for a full blood panel, they require
    more than just a drop of blood.
    
    Are all of you noters located in MA or is it my imagination?
    
    Jo