Rusty update

[RustysMom]

I felt like I just wanted to post about Rusty :) he's doing quite well since back surgery (had a year ago May). Still doing hydrotherapy & acupuncture every 3 weeks. Our new vet is amazing but I am getting annoyed at one thing. For his hydrotherapy appt, we would do 20-30 minutes of stretching of the legs doing stuff like working on a peanut ball (like a yoga ball) and a teeter totter like thing and treadmill walking then he would swim 20-30 min. The tech that did this with him was awesome. She since moved to go to college and another tech took over. Its been a couple months but when we had our appt with the new tech she was ready to get right in the pool. I said "what about his exercises?" she said "well I dont know what he does, can you show me how? I haven't been trained on that" WHAT!?! I'm paying for them to do it, not me do it. Anywhoo.... I don't like confrontation LOL! so every appointment since has only been 15-20 min of swimming, no price change either :( I'm about to talk to the main vet about it. I think Rusty really benefits from doing those. I have done it with him at home but, I'm just guessing at what to do, I'm not a specialist. Not only is he not getting his exercising, the new tech keeps canceling our appointments and rescheduling (she is calling and letting me know this.) Is just getting annoying. He goes tonight at 5pm. It was supposed to be last friday at 5pm which changed to Monday at 10am which was perfect because I was off work, to today at 5pm. I just called to make sure we truly had this appointment this evening. I want to talk to the vet too, because of this annoyance, I want to stop hydrotherapy even though I think it helps him. Acupuncture appointments are never a problem because the vet herself does this for him.

Now to the reason I was typing but I just had to vent for a minute ;-) Rusty is starting to slow down. He cant quite get up the ramp to the couch right now. He gets his front paws on it and gives himself this push to try to get the back legs to get on and go up with the front. Coming inside the back door he never had a problem, its a 2 inch step up. Now hes having trouble lifting his leg up on it it get in. Maybe its arthritis setting in or the change in weather. I will talk to her about that tonight too. Just send good thoughts his way that its just a small setback and nothing too serious. Thanks!

[lotsadox]

I would definitely talk to the vet about the hydrotherapy tech. Not doing the things he needs done and then on top of that changing appts constantly is not acceptable to me. I would express that Rusty was doing much better when he got the full therapy (stretching and whatever exercises) and not just a quick swim in the pool. If you aren't going to get the full therapy appt, you should get a discounted rate. And, if the tech is not trained in the exercises, she doesn't belong there. I would probably tell the vet that she wasn't trained to do all the therapy. Don't feel bad about talking to the vet about her inadequacies. While she won't be happy about it, the vet may not know and you will be doing him/her a favor by letting them know what the tech is not doing.

[LexieLuvr]

I would definitely talk to the vet about the hydrotherapy tech. Not doing the things he needs done and then on top of that changing appts constantly is not acceptable to me. I would express that Rusty was doing much better when he got the full therapy (stretching and whatever exercises) and not just a quick swim in the pool. If you aren't going to get the full therapy appt, you should get a discounted rate. And, if the tech is not trained in the exercises, she doesn't belong there. I would probably tell the vet that she wasn't trained to do all the therapy. Don't feel bad about talking to the vet about her inadequacies. While she won't be happy about it, the vet may not know and you will be doing him/her a favor by letting them know what the tech is not doing.

Absolutely right on! Keep us posted.

[RustysMom]

On the days we do hydrotherapy I don't get a chance to see the vet we only see the tech who does the swimming. So I showed up tonight and she was super frustrated because they were so busy which I understand but she says "were so busy today I don't even have time do this so we're just gonna do 15 minutes" I want happy about that.

We go back in 2 weeks for acupuncture, that's when I see the vet and I'm going to have a talk with her to discuss doing the hydrotherapy and that we don't do but just 15 min swim when we used to do more. I'm paying $70 for 15 min swim when we used to do swim and stretching (an hour visit) I will update again after or visit Jan 6. He did well though but is still stiff and hesitates going up the ramp.


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[Lisa]

You should not be paying for services you are not receiving. My recommendation, talk to the vet and Rusty needs to be on restricted movement until he is 100%. I am not thinking crate rest, but zero stairs, minimum movement. Lots of rayz for your boy. :bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz:

[Alex's Mom]

ITA with Lisa. I'm sure you're paying a pretty penny for what you're not receiving, and I rather suspect that Rusty's decline may be related to him not getting the therapy and exercises. If it was me, I'd flat out refuse to pay, and cause rather a stink about this. Rusty's health is at stake! I hope your vet makes good on this Angela. in the meantime, what Lisa said and a ton of :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz:.

[lotsadox]

I agree with Lisa and Paula. It's not your fault they are busy and you shouldn't be shorted on Rusty's hydrotherapy and exercise time just because they are. If they are overbooking the tech, she needs to talk to them about it not short you on Rusty's time.

I also agree with Paula that his decline may be related to this. If you are more comfortable with it and don't want to wait until your next appt with the vet, give them a call. Tell them what is going on and that you are unhappy about it. As Paula said, it's Rusty's health you're dealing with.

[bittyup]

I thought I posted here yesterday but i guess it didn't go through. Everyone had pretty much said what I said. lots of hospitals are busy but you are paying for health services. It is not really the techs call to say Rusty's therapy time is being cut.:dunno:

[Rae]

Give em hell Angela. That is not right - not right for Rusty's health, but good for your pocketbook, and not good for the vet practice.

[oceangirls]

On the days we do hydrotherapy I don't get a chance to see the vet we only see the tech who does the swimming. So I showed up tonight and she was super frustrated because they were so busy which I understand but she says "were so busy today I don't even have time do this so we're just gonna do 15 minutes"



NOPE.

Where's Rae's Nope Button when I need it?

Sounds to me like she is feeling like she's overworked, and taking it out on the customers... possibly hoping they will complain and her workload will be modified. I don't know if she is justified in that or not. I think they could certainly teach you the exercises they use and you could do them at home... that's a pretty typical transition for physical therapy. But they've not done that, and you're not getting the services you're paying for.

[LexieLuvr]

You and Rusty are totally being ripped off! Complain!

[RustysMom]

Im sorry, I forgot to post back. Tomorrow is our acupuncture appointment. I am going to talk to the vet about how I might want to cancel hydro (although I really dont) because his visit is always being shortened and what not. I'll let you all know what she says.

Thanks for your input!