A healthy cat was mistakenly operated on, leaving her with mobility issues and the owner seeking answers.
Heidi expected to pick up Ivy after the scan. Instead, the clinic called with shocking news, informing her that Ivy had already undergone surgery. Heidi was devastated by this revelation.
Ivy went from Balham to Surbiton for her scan, but paperwork somehow got lost during transport. The hospital staff mistook Ivy for another cat who was meant for hip surgery that day.
Two cats were brought in at once, creating chaos. Consent forms weren’t with their correct animals, and Heidi explained that this mix-up began the whole problem. The mistake was only noticed after surgery.
Ivy underwent a femoral head and neck excision, permanently altering her hip joint. Although the vet noticed the hip looked wrong on the X-ray, the surgery still continued anyway.
Heidi wondered how no one stopped the error sooner. Months later, Ivy is still suffering. Basic movements seem very hard for her, and she can’t run, jump, or climb properly anymore.
Ivy used to leap into Heidi’s arms easily. Now, Ivy can barely even get onto a chair. When she runs, she lifts her leg high and moves using just the other three legs. She stays inside now.
Voo Vets admitted to the mistake they made with Ivy, but they won’t cover Ivy’s ongoing treatment. They want Heidi to bring Ivy back to their clinics, but Heidi says she cannot trust them again.
Heidi thinks many people messed up at Voo Vets and that multiple people could have stopped this mix-up. Sadly, nobody actually intervened to help, and this situation has made Heidi question protocols.
Heidi also wants stricter safety measures for animals. She suggests mandatory microchip scans before any procedure starts at vet clinics.
Microchipping became a UK law last year for cats, and Heidi wonders why vets don’t use this safeguard. Voo Vets had an internal investigation about Ivy, but Heidi feels she got no clear explanation.
Heidi says she has already spent over £2,000 on Ivy. She worries this issue will affect Ivy’s whole life, as Ivy was healthy before the surgery. Heidi finds the whole thing heartbreaking.