I'm a first-time kitten owner looking for advice because I'm honestly not sure what to do after a very concerning Vetco Total Care appointment.
I rescued two feral kittens several weeks ago and signed up for Petco Perks Premiere because they needed all of their initial veterinary care. Their first Vetco appointment went great, though they were diagnosed with roundworms, giardia, and coccidia. They completed treatment, and their fecal retest came back negative. The staff at that first visit handled them calmly and professionally, even though one kitten is very shy and scared around strangers. I got a lot of great advice with feeding because one kitten was underweight and one was almost underweight, likely due to the parasites.
Yesterday's second appointment was a completely different experience.
We waited for long periods in a loud exam room (with fur on the table) between the Petco and Vetco entrances while my kittens became increasingly stressed. The already fearful kitten just freezes and hides if handled calmly, but the technician struggled to get him out of his carrier, stared directly at him while reaching toward his face until he hissed, and eventually dumped him onto the table instead of gently lifting him out with his blanket like the previous staff had done.
When the veterinarian finally came in, they never introduced themselves or really performed what I'd consider a normal exam. They listened to each kitten's heart, gave dewormer and vaccines, but didn't check their eyes, ears, mouth/teeth, body condition, temperature, or discuss the cough video I'd brought to ask about.
The most concerning part was the vaccine administration. One kitten spilled a noticeable amount of dewormer because the vet wasn't watching while administering it. A syringe was dropped on the floor (they got a replacement), another injection appeared to spill partially onto her fur and the exam table, and so she had to be injected a second time with that one because so much seemed to miss. Even the technician pointed out that the vaccine was on the table. Nobody really explained whether the kitten actually received the proper doses.
By the end I was so overwhelmed that I forgot most of the questions I'd come to ask. The only thing I managed to ask was whether I should look for any side effects from the vaccines "no, kittens don't really react to these" (...) and about when they should be spayed/neutered, and I was told 6-9 months, even though I've read many veterinarians recommend around 4-5 months before sexual maturity. Idk if this person had any idea what they were doing and seemed half out of it and so awkward in general, like they just found themselves here.
I left feeling really shaken and sat in my car crying because I wasn't sure if I had just witnessed an unusually bad appointment, should be worried about my kittens, or if I'm overreacting. I have been closely monitoring for any weird side effects in the poorly injected kitten especially and she's been sleepy/lethargic vs her brother who is seemingly the same as usual. I brought her food to her window perch that evening when she is normally jumping at the door and she did slowly eat most of it. She will make her way to the litter box, eat, drink, and play lightly/observe, but wants to rest a lot and is moving more slowly than usual (I read this seems normal).
My questions are:
Should I be concerned that my kitten may not have received full vaccine or dewormer doses? Or the injection sites in general?
Would you continue care at this location, ask to never see that veterinarian again, or find a completely different clinic?
If this happened to you, would you contact Vetco management to report the appointment, and how do you even do that?
I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble unnecessarily. I just want to make sure my kittens receive proper care, and after yesterday I honestly don't know whether I can trust that they did or how to even handle this. I have my third appointment for them set for 3 weeks ahead right now.
