Jayne I.
Google
i am writing regarding my recent visit to modern animal pet hospital with my cat on 01/14/2026. during this visit, my cat presented with hacking, sneezing, congestion, dry heaving, and labored breathing. i expressed my concerns about a possible respiratory infection and the difficulty she was having breathing.
during the visit, i was recommended a series of extensive tests, including a respiratory infection test, that totaled around $2,000. i asked the vet assistant for guidance on what she would personally recommend, and she suggested internal testing of blood, urine, and stool at $523 but did let us know she was unsure and it could be a respiratory infection. trusting their professional guidance as i am not a veterinarian but aware we could be wrong, we proceeded with that, and my cat was sent home with only an immune system supplement, with no treatment or relief for her clear respiratory symptoms. i was told the supplement “might help,” but nothing was done to address her breathing difficulties. additionally, i did make staff aware that she had gotten worse overnight, showing additional symptoms like hiding and appetite loss.
in retrospect, i now see that my cat had clear signs of an upper respiratory infection, and a different test or approach might have been more appropriate. however, i also feel that i should not have been expected to make that medical decision on my own, given my limited knowledge, and that the staff should have clearly guided me toward the most urgent and relevant care for her symptoms.
i do want to note that everyone at the clinic was very friendly, kind, and attentive to me and my cat, luna, and i truly appreciated the care and compassion shown during the visit. this makes it even harder to reconcile that the urgent symptoms were not addressed appropriately, despite their kindness.
shortly after, my cat’s condition worsened, and i had to take her to an emergency vet, where she was diagnosed with a respiratory infection and feline herpes—conditions that clearly required immediate attention. it was very distressing to realize that the symptoms i had been reporting were serious and needed treatment, rather than simply internal testing and supplements.
as a young adult, i am not in a financial position to spend $500 or more freely, especially when the testing did not address the immediate and obvious symptoms my cat was experiencing. while internal tests can be useful in some cases, they did not address the visible signs of respiratory distress in this situation and delayed appropriate care. although i am appreciative of these tests and know they are still good to be done, after visiting another vet, it now seems very obvious by her worsening symptoms.
i am requesting a formal review of my case, as well as clarification on why treatment for obvious respiratory symptoms was not initiated despite my concerns and following the guidance of your staff, and how future patients in similar situations can receive timely and appropriate care without being expected to make complex medical decisions on their own.
thank you for your time and consideration. i look forward to your response.