Horrible vet visit - extremely frustrated!

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The vet just called ... she never came out of it ... she died while under anesthesia. I don't even know what to say ... I feel like my whole world just collapsed.
 
I am so sorry you had to go through this, chins usually do well being put under with gas but there can be complications, rare but it can happen. RIP little girl and please take care Mom.
 
Penelope88 - I am so sorry for your loss. No words can console you but know that there are people on this forum who truly understand your frustration and your loss. Please take care. RIP little one!
 
They didn't gas her they used an injection. The vet yelled at me on the phone to stop crying and let her know if I wanted to come pick Penelope up. I got there, she basically implied it was my fault because she was sick, she did the xrays anyway but her teeth were perfect (I don't know I didn't get to see them I had to walk out before I punched her) they kept my $150 deposit and handed me the carrier with her almost propped against the door "we figured you would want to see her." Not a single I'm sorry, nothing.
 
jeebus!!!! what a cold hearted money hungry vet! i would have had to really restrain my fist if i'd been in your position.
 
WT&*%*$$!?! They used a injection?? And they think its YOUR FAULT???? HTH would they be able to tell if the x-rays are normal or not if they did not know you only use gas on chins! OMG I am so sorry for you that that vet was a complete and utter a$$$$@@.
 
Where can you go to get a necropsy done? Is there any way to find out if it was something they did? I just find it hard to believe she was to sick to be put under (yet they did it anyway.) Is there any research to prove that injections are worse than using gas?
 
I'm so sorry for your loss.

:flowers6:

I can imagine how angry, hurt, and sad you must feel right now. You did the best you could for your little one.

I'm sorry.
 
I honestly have not researched IV or IM drugs for chinchillas for filings since the normal anesthesia is either isoflourane or servoflourane gas, both normally very safe and the chin wakes up shortly after the procedure with few side effects. Ketamine injectable can be used pre-op prior to a actual invasive surgery but I have not heard of it being used for a simple oral exam, x-ray and filing. As far a necropsy goes, it may be too late now unless the chin was properly prepared right after passing. For a gross necropsy I use my vet, for a advanced necropsy I use the services of the local vet university, UC Davis.
 
Wow, my heart goes out to you, and I am so sorry for your loss. I can't even fathom dealing with such unkind and non-empathetic people who are supposed to be the ones taking care of our furry loved ones....
 
I'm so sorry that your incompetent vet caused you to lose your chin! My heart goes out to you for your loss.
 
It's not necessarily the vet's fault. Things like this happen. Sometimes a chin's heart just stops. It can happen with the gas, too. You probably need to think about things for a day or so and figure out what you want to do later. I'd talk to the vet very calmly about the whole situation.

I've had this happen before. Sometimes they just don't come out of the anesthesia or they have a reaction. Chinchillas are very delicate.

As far as the necropsy goes, you can call and ask any exotics vet who they send the animals to for necropsies. Here they send the birds and small exotics to the U of A agricultural facility. Most of the time unless there is something blaringly obvious or there was something very toxic going on with the chin the necropsies show very little or nothing. You probably should have a necropsy done, but don't feel bad if it comes back as inconclusive or with very little information.
 
If the vet felt the chin was too sick to be put under the vet should not have put the chin under, to blame the owner for bringing in a sick chin and then going ahead with the procedure is just not right. With the chins I have had that have been put under that were medically compromised and may not make it I always had to sign a consent form releasing the vet from liability-that is what would have been the right thing to do, give the owner the power to have the chin put under or not and make sure the owner knew the chin may not make it so she could have said her goodbyes before it was done.

I just think the vet handled this situation horribly and I feel so bad for the OP.
 
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ticklechin said:
With the chins I have had that have been put under that were medically compromised and may not make it I always had to sign a consent form releasing the vet from liability-that is what would have been the right thing to do, give the owner the power to have the chin put under or not and make sure the owner knew the chin may not make it so she could have said her goodbyes before it was done.

I just think the vet handled this situation horribly and I feel so bad for the OP.
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I highly doubt this vet did not have the OP sign a consent form. It's a universal procedure to cover the vet's butt.

Ketamine only causes catalepsy and amnesia, it's an oddball anesthetic. I doubt that would have been used but it's possible. It's possible the chin was just given a sedative injection or injectable anesthesia like propofol.

We only have one side of the story. And anything can happen when drugs are involved, especially ones that can cause CNS depression. It's an unfortunate loss, and if you really want a necropsy then I'd try calling a nearby vet school to see if they'll do it or can recommend where you can send the chin.
 
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