d0omkitty t1_j6anqwd wrote on January 28, 2023 at 11:37 PM

SNAPS are accurate and positive tests are usually repeated 2-3 times in clinic AT NO CHARGE TO YOU. Just to make sure it's not a false positive. Cats with FeLV can lead normal lives, but can infect other cats. Thier lives are often shorter than healthy cats. It's likely based on the severity of the URI in combination of FeLV euthanasia was presented as an option. Many kittens pass in the night because of this, it's fairly common and FeLV complicates everything.

This whole exchange has you sounding like a huge AH. Hope the clinic refuses to work with you should you use this attitude with them. People like you make our job so much harder. Also sounds like you called an unloaded on the first person who answered which would have been a receptionist. Huge AH. That clinic won't be paying for anything with your attitude. Maybe an additional SNAP, IF you're polite. Welcome to taking in sick animals! They cost money and can have long term illness!

15+ years licensed veterinary technician

TSZod t1_j6aqdc5 wrote on January 28, 2023 at 11:57 PM

I think it's just my verbiage written here. Hard to provide the inflection used in tone via writing. Albeit, I am pissed but it's because the in person interaction had such a "We don't give a damn, just put it down!" attitude. Could be due to compassion burnout or overwork I couldn't say but none-the-less their attitude is what prompted my response. Your practice might be much better, and I don't mean to say that all Vet offices behave in such a manner. I'm sorry if you felt this was a personal attack on the industry as a whole.

The standard IDEXX SNAP panel test (which was what was used here) has an extremely high rate of false positives and was not repeated nor followed up with the typical IFV test, as they full stopped after the In-House test with a recommendation of euthanizing which I declined of course. I'd understand if they ran both tests and came upon a discordant result or True Positive but they outright declined to even discuss it as an avenue.

The kitten is less than 12 weeks old and too my understanding at this point (if positive) could result in a Abortive infection and allow the little guy to kick it. As I said, he is now healthy, gained a bunch of weight, URI gone and is a little menace.

My actions of coming at them in such a manner was the complete unwillingness to even have such a discussion to begin with as the kitten was not "Knocking on heaven's door" by any measure at the time of initial diagnostics by their own account. It's not so much I am asking for free service, I am asking they do what they should have done from the get-go.

Edit: Forgot to address one point, putting the kitten down was not presented as an option, it was forcefully recommended as the only choice. Which had I done that, this now-healthy kitten would have lost it's life in vain.