‘This feels like malpractice’: Cat parent suspects vet error after they go for a post-op checkup to find no bill, no records, and no answers

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 23, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Eventually, we all have to take our pets to the vet for one reason or another.

Sometimes, it's for something serious, and other times, it's because your cat had to go #2 and just didn't want to. That was $600 down the drain.

Every time you go, though, you want to think that the vet has your best interest at heart. They are meowdical professionals. They went through 8 years of grueling studies in order to get their license. They are still human, however. They can also make mistakes. You just have to hope it doesn't happen to you or your purrfect pet. 

When it does happen, though, it tends to be expensive. The cat mom in this post was told her kitty needed to have dental surgery, and when they went in for a post-op checkup, a different vet said that the surgery shouldn't have been done in the first place! On top of that, they have no record of the surgery happening, even though it clearly did. Read more below!

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    Cheezburger Image 10532539904
    via salduchi1785
  • 02
    Two months ago, my 12 year old Manx had a lot of teeth removed from his lower jaw including his canines. He healed a bit, but now he's unable to close his mouth all the way because his top canines are coming down on his swollen gums/lips and he's drooling like crazy but still eating well.
    via salduchi1785
  • 03
    I was pretty concerned so we took him to the vets office on Friday. My regular vet was out so we saw another vet here and she told us that this oral surgery should not have been done and that there is a 99% chance that
    via salduchi1785
  • 04
    he has bone cancer in his lower jaw but it's also possible it could be extremely bad inflammation. He also has a small ulcer under his tongue that the vet says could be related to a cancer.
    via salduchi1785
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    Cheezburger Image 10532540672
    via salduchi1785

  • Oh, this poor baby! The good news is that he's eating normally and he seems, other than his sore gums, healthy. Someone made a big “uh oh” here, and we just hope she and her cat get paid back for what they had to go through.

  • 06
    She went on to say that pulling his teeth should not have been done and that they would talk about refunding at least some of the money for the surgery. I find it wild that the vet would say
    via salduchi1785
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    this. We were not charged for this appointment or the medication and there is no record of it on PetDesk. To me it sounds like they knew they messed up by pulling his teeth and don't want to get sued.
    via salduchi1785

  • This sounds sneakily suspicious. It looks like someone tried to cover their tracks. We definitely support them getting a second opinion before going forward with any decision. Of course, we want what's best for the cat.

  • 08
    They looked at an x-ray and saw no signs of metastasis. We discussed doing a biopsy to confirm this cancer suspicion but a biopsy is risky because it could fracture his jaw since he's already missing a lot of bone from his dental problems. I don't want to put him through that.
    via salduchi1785
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    7
    via salduchi1785
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    He was prescribed Prednisolone and 100mg Gabapentin. The vet was saying things like I don't know how much time he has left and we need to make him as comfortable as possible.
    via salduchi1785
  • 11
    I don't know what to do here... I really don't wanna put my cat through anymore. If the vet was serious about refunding the surgery cost of $1900, I would use that money to get a second opinion from another vet
    via salduchi1785
  • 12
    somewhere else. I really don't believe this is bone cancer. The swelling didn't start until after his teeth were pulled. His two front canines couldn't even be fully extracted because they had fused to his jaw. They pretty much just cut the tooth down to the gum line and let the gum heal over the tooth. I feel like my cat will never be the same. His poor mouth!
    via salduchi1785
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    whogivesash e2 • 8h ago Insist on the full refund, and get a second opinion, that's what I would do for sure. If he does have cancer, at that point you can keep him comfortable and avoid any more procedures. I really hope for the best for you!
    via whogivesash**e2
  • 14
    Extension-Passage363 · 8h ago . I would recommend going to a board certified veterinary dentistry specialist for your second opinion. Call around to specialty hospitals and ask where the nearest one is. The letter credentials behind the name to indicate board certification is AVDC.
    via Extension-Passage363
  • 15
    thebla... 8h ago Edited 8h ago • . I had a cat that also had to have his one of his upper canines removed. The dental specialist that did the surgery has done a lot of work on many of my cats and he explained that in order
    via theblazedace
  • 16
    for this to be successful and the cat to live comfortably he would need to file down the lower canine on the side where the upper one was removed (see my pic), to prevent the issue that you are running into right now, where it catches on the gum/lip.
    via theblazedace
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    I can't remember exactly what he said but he explained that if he didn't do this, it will create long-term health issues for my cat and it's extremely painful.
    via theblazedace
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    The dental specialist you went to should have done that for your cat too. This feels like malpractice, to be honest. They should have known to do this.
    via theblazedace
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    Also as someone else has mentioned, you need to go to a veterinary dental specialist. This is not something a normal vet can do.
    via theblazedace
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    saratogadreamer • 8h ago How absolutely terrible for you and your kitty! Definitely get a second opinion! It really sounds like the surgery has caused the problem. Two months after surgery, your
    via saratogadreamer
  • 21
    kitty should not be swollen like that, not at all. I had a kitty with stomatitis, years ago, who had to have all her teeth removed, and she had practically no swelling at all. She was fine in a week.
    via saratogadreamer
  • 22
    It sounds to me like the vet who pulled your poor cat's teeth really messed up. I'd get that second opinion, and I'd also give serious thought to suing the vet who did the surgery, for the pain and
    via saratogadreamer
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    suffering your kitty and you are going through. Something is very wrong here. I wonder if this vet was even qualified to do this extensive surgery?
    via saratogadreamer
  • 24
    I'm so very sorry for what has happened to your kitty. I hope he'll be okay. I sure wouldn't accept a cancer diagnosis without the opinion of an expert vet, either. I agree with you, it sounds like the problem didn't exist until the teeth were pulled. I see no reason to think your poor kitty has cancer.
    via saratogadreamer
  • 25
    Also, your kitty might need to be on pain medication; cats are very good at hiding pain, but this condition looks painful. I'm not sure why vets always prescribe Neurotin, it seems virtually useless in many cases. I've taken the medication also, and it didn't help nerve pain in my case, either. The Pred should help your kitty.
    via saratogadreamer
  • 26
    Good luck to you and your kitty. What an absolutely dreadful experience for both of you. I would sue that vet; a refund is hardly enough in this case. Your poor kitty is going through h l; it has to be just awful for him not being able to close his mouth, and he'll develop more jaw problems if this isn't remedied!!
    via saratogadreamer

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