Rose Valley Vet recognition

I wanted to speak of my exceptional above and beyond service I received from Rose Valley Vet. I believe Dr. Oz and his team need to be recognized for it. There is so much bad news and selfish corporations out there that I think everyone could use a story that restores your faith in humanity.
 
My ferret became ill Thursday October 11th, he was fine in the morning when I went to work but when I came home he was struggling to go to the washroom and crying. At 7pm I called a local vet and was sent to the emergency vet line. I was told that no vet would see him since he was a ferret. I said he was in distress and needed care I was told there was nothing they could do but euthanize the pet. I then said he was not even near the point of being euthanized and could they at least give me advice on what to do until the vets in Kelowna opened in the morning and maybe could see him. You can imagine what that is like being told they will not take an xray or examine your pet but they are more than willing to put it down. 

I then called Rose Valley vets remember there was a story about Dr. Oz helping baby raccoons. He unfortunately was out of cell range but the receptionist said they would keep paging him. I called the office again first thing in the morning and they told me yes they would see Cooper and get him there as fast as I could and they would fit him in so I packed up cooper and went. 

Everyone so so friendly reassuring and took my problem very serious when I went in the office. Dr. Oz was very caring and let me know he didn’t have a lot of experience with ferrets but he would try his best. I was called a few hours later to come in and talk about the results. Dr. Oz was very honest with me and let me know the results were not good, Cooper had many bladder stones. He showed me the xrays and said he would try his best to do the surgery he had done it many times on cats and wanting to give my Cooper a chance. He said it would not be an easy surgery or cheap one, but he was willing to donate his time to cut the cost. I said go ahead with the surgery since Cooper was so young and so full of life still. He said they would get started right away and again stressed it might not have a good outcome but he would try his best.

I got a call that evening directly from Dr. Oz and he let me know that the surgery went well. Cooper was not out of the dark but he was going to stay at the clinic and monitor him through the night. Again donating his time to do this. I got a call first thing in the morning that cooper had made it through the night and was doing well. They were going to monitor him for the day and I could come visit him that afternoon. Unfortunately I got a phone call an hour later that his kidneys started filling up with fluid and it was a 99 percent chance he would pass. I immediately left to see cooper, everyone in the office again was so loving they put me in a private room and let me have time with Cooper. I got hugs from the staff including Dr. Oz, he sat with me and made sure I was okay. You could tell he had full empathy for me and Cooper and was truly hurt that Cooper didn’t make it. The office took a footprint of Cooper for me in clay and said I could pick it up in a few weeks.

Dr. Oz even asked me to call him when I got home to make sure I made it home okay. They also let me know they would do any future medical care on my other ferret. The next day Dr Oz called me personally to make sure I was okay and reassured me it was not my fault what happened to Cooper (I was feeling guilty that I did not notice he was in pain earlier) and let me know I could call him 24/7 if I needed to talk ever or was feeling overly upset about the situation.

So many vets have turned me away because I have a ferret. I feel this is an inhumane act and that there should be a duty to at least try. What does it matter that it is a ferret and not a dog or cat?  I'm sure the x-ray machine and needles work just the same, as Dr. Oz office proved they do. Its an injustice that local pet stores sell Ferrets with no vets willing to do medical care on them. It never crossed my mind when I rescued our one ferret and purchased the other that in an emergency I would be told I’m sorry there is nothing we can do. 

The care that Dr Oz and his staff showed me made the losing of Cooper so much more bearable. I know he was in the best place he could have been. I only wonder if the emergency vets would have been willing to see Cooper he would still be here today with us. It was simply a case of Cooper being seen too late.

Cheryl Nason