Look what came in the mail — a package from Maxie!
It’s the “Miracles for Maxie” bracelets that we ordered, and a photo of him. You may recall that a couple of months ago, Maxie suffered complications after a dental procedure. He vomited while still under anesthesia and his esophagus was so severely damaged that his survival was in doubt. Through the help of a different vet and healing purrs from the Cat Blogosphere, Maxie managed to pull through. The bracelets are meant to help pay for some of the vet bills, and my human got one for each of us kitties.
Which meant we all had to pose with them.
Even though Maxie is much better, his food choices are limited and his ordeal has taken a toll on the whole family — the other two kitties, Lilly Lu and Iris were clearly stressed out by everything Maxie has been going through, and his human spent thousands of dollars saving his life. Even though the clinic where the dental was done has refunded that money and made some restitution, Maxie’s human, Laura, has spent many more thousands of dollars than the amount received. There is an auction going on through July 31 to help her out. I suggest you go by and see if you would like to bid something!
The sad part about what happened to Maxie is that while it is not common, vets and their staff do make mistakes, and pets suffer. Another member of the Cat Blogosphere, a Sphynx kitten named Neala, died when a tech fed her the wrong food after surgery to correct a persistent right aortic arch. When something goes wrong during a veterinary procedure, it’s a complex issue; this article from MSNBC a few months ago explains why. The problem is that if the true worth of a pet begins to be taken into consideration, the resulting increase in insurance costs to the vets is bound to raise already-high rates for pet care. The best thing humans can do is to educate themselves about our health so they know when something is wrong, and so that they can articulate any problems to their vet. Clear communication won’t solve everything, but it helps. And humans also should be willing to get a second opinion if they do not believe that something being done is in their pet’s best interest. Most veterinary personnel want to do what’s best for your pet and the sort of things that happened to Maxie and Neala don’t happen very often. But it never hurts to ask questions, and to be willing to learn about what makes us tick!
See all of Summer’s merch at her Designercat Shop, available on Zazzle.
Those are great bracelets!! The CB is a pretty special place!!
Oh how sad! But mistakes do happen, with people and animals alike. We’re sending Momma over to see what we can do to help out.
We got our bracelet from Maxie too. We’re so glad Maxie is doing better, but we’re sad about what happened to him and to Neala.
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids
Pawsome bracelets! We’re so glad Maxie is doing better now!
It is sad about what happened to Maxie and Neala. We’re glad Maxie is doing better. We got a bracelet too…but we only got one that we hafta share…like that’s gonna happen….
Those bracelets are terrific. Glad everyone got one. It was horrible what happened to Neala. And we are thrilled that Maxie seems to be doing so much better.
Hope you have a great week .
What a great cause. We have two bracelets too. We haven’t posted our pics yet. Great photos and great post about Maxie.
We’re so sorry about what happened to those lovely ladies. The bracelets are very nice.
We are so sorry about the accidents that hurt Maxie and killed poor Neala; the added pain of all this is that is was so preventable…Wishing comfort to their families…The bracelets are a nice way to help…Happy week sweet girls…xoxo…Calle, Halle, Sukki
We agree that it’s critical for our People to learn as much as they can about us Cats…after all, they Can talk people-ese to the vet and we can’t.
Mistakes happen, true enough, but mostly because people aren’t paying attention.
Great post about vets making mistakes – they do and we lost our cat Manny to a good vet – he felt really bad but it happens.We got a bracelet too – reminds Mommy to do a post about ours.
We think those are super groovy bracelets and we were furry sad for Maxie too…
We’re sorry to hear what happened to Maxie but so glad he made it and is doing okay. Our mommy worries so much about mistakes being made with our care so we’re glad you reminded everyone that mistakes do happen but our humans need to be vigilant and ask lots of questions.
Wow those are great bracelets! We donated a bit to Maxie before they made them – but mom would have probably said that they could keep it anyway so they could get even more donations that way by having them to give! And we donated to the auction too – we know Maxie’s bills are giant, and he will need special food for the rest of his life – which will hopefully be a very long one! And oh, lilttle Neala just makes mom cry any time she thinks about her (she is tearing up as she types this for us even). It is so hard because we know that they weren’t being malicious but we wish they could admit they made mistakes. It is good that you are making sure everyone knows to really be on top of this stuff!
Such a sad story with a hopeful ending, at least! I’ve always been right “with” my vets and work to develope excellent rapport so that when things go wrong, they know me and my critters…and it has saved the lives of Dakota (poison) and Mariah (extreme allergy) recently and Raoul (spinal issue) and Fresno (wolverine attack) while living elsewhere. I think I like my vets better than my human doctors…at least right now! sometimes I wish I had become a vet…but I’m too softhearted!
Those were pawsome!
We know how tragic those situations were for both Neala and Maxie and their families.
fortunately one resulted in a pretty good outcome and the other did not. It is true, no matter what mistakes will happen. But, if it happens to be your loving furfamily, there is no amount of restitution that can ease the suffering. There is no easy answer, everyone just trying to do the best that they can.
We purr for Neala’s Mom….and we hope it all makes a difference for the next Neala.
purrin
Abby
Thanks for highlighting my story. My mama feels so bad about the whole thing and guilty. she almost called off the whole thing the day early becuse LL was going to have an ulrta sound the day after but dr c gave the go a head and said do it so mama did it.
Maxie will never be the same cat again in his mind he is he just dose not under stand why he has to get locked up every night to eat he alos dose not understand why there no curuchies when he so whats them.
Due to the stree Iris licks he self to the point of sores and is on prozc LL stoped eating for a while becuse she missed haveing Maxie not around all the time.
if maxie eat any curnchies he could do more damage burn his epouougs again chock are biggest fear is a hair ball. But a cats got to groom so he brushed with a zoom groom all the time.
I knew when i picked him up somthing was wrong i even asked them to keep him an extra copple of hours till he was more awake. i had no idea at the time how much pain he was in. I went to Dr C and she gave us some meds and maxie just layed around all weekend.
Finaly on monday she called Dr c was on vaction and it was Dr stone. I always wonder what i would do if maxie was hospiized as he not the type of cat anyone can control. This made the whole thing worst he thow fits bagging his little furry head into the cage. I knew he was sick when i droped him off the last time and he said he looked quit. if the one thing i know about Maxie that not the type of cat he is.
He likes to cuddle on his trems your in his world to searve him and meet his needs if he dose not need you then he go off and find what he dose need.. I switched vets but i dont know if i can every full trust a new vet like i do dr C.
The old vet gave me back the 300 they charged for the dental and they said they write a 1,000 cheek out however so far nothing. They are upset I have refused there offer of his follow up care be done there and if they can not meet his needs then I can go else were. I wont do this to maxie I will not take him to that place that hurt him so have that dr even look at him.
I did get the I am sorry no one ment to hurt maxie form the office manger I got nothing from the dr who would not say he was sorry or did anything wrong. The fact is the anstishia he used on Maxie was recalled he did vomit becuse he was out so long. he said he prayed for maxie I told him not to every think about him.
The sad thing is I had stoped useing this man along time ago after he igrored LL symotms that turned out to be Blatter stones and kidney probelms. Thats how i landed up at Dr C again and the fact i had Named Lilly after her , Dr c Frist name is Lillan and Lilly real name is Lillan after Dr C becuse she did so much for kayla.
It funny Dr C still brags about it and tells all the vet students to treat her girl like a queen.
Thank you for praying for Maxie
Laura Lilly Lu, Iris and Maxie
It’s so sad what happened to Maxie but at least he is getting better slowly. Those bracelets are a great idea.
Horay for Maxie! A moment of silence for Neala……………………..kitty power!