[Posted in 3 parts... combined into one here. BIG] I just read what Sandi Ackerman posted about me. #1 When Rasta started with these symptoms, I asked Liane and several other WFA members who a good,experienced, ferret vet was. I had been going to a vet that I had problems getting an appointment with because he is so busy, so I decided to give Dr. Deeb a try. Rasta was having very runny stools (almost black), was sleeping alot and had a very bloated tummy. #2 Having had no direct experience with insulinoma, I did not have a clue as to what was going on with him. Dr. Deeb's offices are a very long drive for me (from south Bellevue). When I took him there, she examined him, asked about symptoms, felt his belly and said that he has "irritable bowel syndrome". Since I am not a vet, I took her word for it. She sent him home with some meds to treat this. #3 Rasta did not improve after a few days, so I took him in again. This was when I had to see a different vet who no longer works there (she was very nice). She read what Deeb wrote and decided to do some stool tests. Nothing abnormal showed up (no strange bacteria,etc..). Since Rasta was six (all vets recommend bloodwork at this age), I told her that the stomach bloat was concerning me and shouldn't a blood test be done to see if he has kidney failure or something? She said that we should do x-rays to see if there was a blockage or obstruction. Deeb was not in that day and this vet had over six patients waiting. She did the x-rays but we had to have someone come in from outside to read them and determine what could be wrong. It took over an hour for this person to show up, so my hubby and I walked to Burger King and ate. I suggested we pick up lunch for her, since she obviously would not get a chance to eat and was scrambling to help all the patients. She was doing her best, Deeb was not scheduled to come in. #4 X-rays were normal and she sent me home with other meds including one that would hopefully stimulate his appetite (he was not eating). I tried the "new advice" but still no improvement. I could dig through the file to find out names of meds, but it would be time consuming. #5 Rasta still did not improve. I had a huge client meeting so my hubby took Rasta back up to see Deeb. I told my husband to insist on a blood panel. He did and Dr. Deeb told him that "it is very difficult to get blood from a ferret". She felt his abdomen again, and diagnosed the same treatment as previously. I was very upset when my hubby returned home thatday. #6 The very next morning, Rasta took a major turn for the worse. I called Deeb's office and asked to speak with her, stating it was an emergency (Rasta was having a seizure). The receptionist refused to interupt her (she was performing an exam on a rabbit) was what I was told. Again I stated "this is an emergency". The receptionist then told me that "if it is an emergency, I should go to an emergency clinic". I could not believe that I was being treated this way. Yes, I certainly could understand if she was in surgery or involved with a life or death situation, but a "routine exam"? I know that if my current vet were seeing a patient for a "routine exam" and someone called in with an emergency, I would want him to take the call. Is that unreasonable? #7 I ended up taking Rasta to a vet in Kirkland that another FML person recommended and the first thing he did was a blood panel. He did not understand why the vet had not done this and told me that this should have been part of the first visit to her since Rasta was six years old. Rasta almost died. He was diagnosed with insulinoma and put on pred which extended his life (not for long enough though). Every vet I have spoken with since, has told me that at that age, ferrets are geriatric and that it is recommended blood work be done every six months, especially if there are symptoms. #8 I felt it necessary to contact Deeb and let her know how I was treated, what the other vet told me, and ask her why she did not do a blood panel. Her response was "I am glad you got a second opinion". I had spent well over $300 in her clinic and I asked if she would refund any of it because I had requested a blood panel and her clinic would not perform one, instead, putting Rasta on meds that could have cost him his life. She misdiagnosed the situation, did not do accurate tests (even requested ones) and then did not even apologize or admit she made a mistake. She would not issue any type of refund. Simply put, an apology would have made me less upset, and I would have felt that she had some compassion for what she did. She told me that what her receptionist did was wrong and that she would address the issue. Did I get an apology for that? NO! This is why I felt that she has a large ego and very little compassion. Stating that the receptionist was wrong, is simply displacing the situation. I don't care who it was at HER clinic, an apology was in order. I also feel that I am entitled to tell others my experience, as you are entitled to tell yours. It would be best, though, if you could at least get the story straight since what you stated had nothing to do with my situation. I don't know why Deeb told you these things, perhaps it was a different patient she was thinking of? I don't know but I AM TELLING THE TRUTH on what happened to me. My husband, my mom and my other vet plus several previous ferret enthusiasts I associated with at the time, could tell you the same. I have NO qualms about spending money on my animals. I don't pick a vet based on charges, I pick a vet based on experience and how pleasant they are to deal with. Fortunately, even though my current vet made an error, he has more than made up for it, apologized, admitted error. He has called to check up on my ferrets from his home, etc... I feel confident in someone like this who is treating my animals and I with respect, not making me feel like they are a business trying to make a buck. Also, Sandi, the vet I went to after Deeb, was not who you refer to as "Dr. Death". I am disturbed that you feel you can say rude things about Dr. Nelson and label him to several people as "Dr. Death", yet you do not entitle me to tell my story and you make up false information about it. Did I call Dr. Deeb, "Dr. Death" or any other name? NO! Practice what you preach. YOU were not present for what happened, so who are you to judge? Also, the second time I was in Deeb's offices, one of your cohorts dropped off three ferrets in carriers for shots. NONE of the carriers had food or water in them and the vet staff did not have room to unload them into a larger, clinic cage. I insisted they give the ferrets water and food after finding out that they would probably be waiting for shots for over two hours (because it was so busy with emergencies). Do you make it a habit to transport ferrets without food or water? I was upset to see this, since you run a shelter. Then again, you probably wont believe anything I say since you are such good friends with the vet. She sees all of your rabbits and other animals, plus I have heard that Deeb has given you discounts. Hmmm...who is concerned with money? Please get your stories straight. Thank you to the Weezils of Doom for not jumping to conclusions or making up a different story. I am not trying to bash anyone, just telling my experience. I will be calling Deeb to find out where Sandi got this story from. Most likely, Deeb was thinking of another patient and got confused. If anyone cares to see the charts on file from Rasta, I would be happy to sign a release enabling people to do so. Rasta is no longer here(physically). Thank you to BIG for allowing people to post both sides. I just wish that Sandi would post accurate information. Then again, she is not at fault if this is the information Deeb told her, which was also an obvious mistake. Thank you to all. I am sorry it escalated to this point but it is only fair that I get to tell the whole story. If you feel I am wrong in being upset, you are certainly entitled. I don't really have further concerns, since my ferrets are now seeing such a humane and caring vet. I chalk it up to a bad experience. No vets are perfect but apologies and admittance of misdiagnosis are very important. I respect a vet for stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing. Unfortunately, certain vets cannot do this for fear of? I have no idea, but I am inclined to think this because others have shared similar stories with me and there might be fear of court costs? Small claims court was an option, but I want Rasta's memory preserved in a positive way. Money was not the concern here for me, teaching that vet some etiquette on how to deal with people and learn from her mistakes was. I did not pursue it any further. My hubby is extremely level-headed and it takes alot to get him upset - she managed to accomplish this and he was actually considering a lawsuit. Again, Rasta is gone and a lawsuit wont change that fact. I just hope Deeb has learned something from this experience and nobody ever has to go through the same. It would certainly be interesting to see how Sandi would feel about her if this were to happen to one of her "personal" pets. I appreciate that Deeb has been good to other patients and I may have caught her on a bad day. There is NO EXCUSE for her lack of compassion or lack of apology. [Posted in FML issue 3275]