Kenny: forever in our hearts

This is a story about my beloved cat, Kenny, who was more than just a pet; he was a family member. We lost him, and our hearts ache every day without him. Kenny brought so much joy and love into our lives, and his absence is deeply felt.

The information and opinions expressed in this review are based on my personal experience and observations. They are intended solely for informational purposes and are not meant to defame, discredit, or harm the reputation of “MedVet Chicago” or any of its employees. I have provided this account to share my story and help others who may be in a similar situation. This website reflects my genuine feelings and experiences and is not influenced by any third party. If you have concerns about the content of this review, please contact me directly for further discussion.

Background: What Happened

Kenny stopped eating. He started sleeping more and only used the litter box for urination over three days. He showed interest in his favorite treats and food but only ate a little before losing interest. For 2-3 days, we tried different foods, hoping he would eat something. On Friday (05.10.24), we scheduled an appointment at our local veterinary clinic for the closest available time, which was Tuesday (05.14.24). However, we decided not to wait, as not eating properly can lead to severe consequences. We went to “MedVet Chicago” (3305 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618)

Day 1, Monday: visit to "MedVet Chicago"

We arrived at MedVet Chicago by 3 PM and left by 11:30 PM. During this visit, they performed vitals, bloodwork, and an X-ray. The doctor informed us that Kenny needed an ultrasound, but the specialist who performs it was only available from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. They mentioned that Kenny had inflammation in his liver and recommended hospitalization, which was too pricey and unexpected since Kenny’s vitals was good he didn’t seem to be in such bad condition.

We opted for fluids to support him and planned to treat him at home with the prescribed medication. It was suspicious to me when the doctor, without knowing the underlying conditions, suggested trying different treatments and medications to see how Kenny would respond. They received automated blood results and provided standard prescriptions without asking specific questions about Kenny.

We specifically requested that they avoid giving him a sedative unless absolutely necessary during fluids and tests. They assured us they hadn’t given him a sedative, but after the visit, Kenny’s back leg was turned inward, and he was barely able to walk.

Day 2, Tuesday: visit to our local veterinary

By 9 AM the next day, we went to our local veterinary clinic. The doctors checked Kenny’s vitals, which were good. They prescribed an appetite activation cream and gave him some supportive shots, including anti-vomiting medication. They advised us to continue with the prescribed treatment and to get an ultrasound. The doctors also told us that if Kenny didn’t eat within the next 24 hours, we should take him back to the ER.

Evening Improvement. Later that same day, at 6 PM, Kenny urinated. By 8:20 PM, he started to eat and returned to his bowl three times afterward. To prevent him from overeating after such a long period of not eating, we hid his food for an hour. His legs returned to normal, and he was walking and behaving as usual.

Day 3 and 4: home treatment

Administering pills to Kenny was challenging as he clearly disliked it, but we adhered strictly to the prescribed medication schedule. If the antibiotic was to be given every 12 hours, we ensured it was done exactly every 12 hours, regardless of whether it was day or night.

We set up a 24/7 camera focused on Kenny’s food and water to monitor how often he ate and drank. Unfortunately, he didn’t eat again but did drink water and urinate once more on Wednesday evening.

Day 5, Friday: second visit to "MedVet Chicago"

We arrived at the clinic at 6 AM to ensure we could get an ultrasound and consult about Kenny’s treatment, as the prescribed antibiotics were not helping. The ultrasound results showed that Kenny had triaditis, not cancer, but his blood results had worsened. The doctor initially offered euthanasia, but we refused and asked for a home treatment option, similar to hospice care for people.

They advised us to insert a feeding tube to manage his treatment and nutrition, and we agreed. I raised my concerns about anesthesia and its risks for animals, but unfortunately, the doctor did not caution us.

After spending 17 hours in the clinic, we brought Kenny home. He was unable to walk at all.

Day 6, Saturday: third visit to "MedVet Chicago"

We completely reorganized the room for Kenny, removing the bed frame. My husband or I stayed with Kenny constantly, 24/7. At 7 AM, we started giving him new medication and steroids. The first dose of steroids was administered at the clinic on Friday. We fed him through the tube, but by 11 AM, Kenny became lethargic.

I panicked, and my husband called MedVet, but they dismissed him, saying the doctor was unavailable. I then called and asked to speak with another doctor, seeking guidance on whether to give the second dose of steroids since the medication is potent and can’t be abruptly stopped. The front-desk lady refused to let me speak to a doctor, stating they were all busy, and the doctor who inserted the feeding tube was not on shift. She insisted we bring Kenny in and said we should give him the medication. She also argued that they hadn’t given the first dose of steroids at the clinic, despite my having video and photo evidence showing they did after the feeding tube surgery, demonstrating how to care for the tube.

The front-desk lady also mentioned that the visit would be free since we had left the clinic less than 12 hours ago. At 11 am we rushed to MedVet, and I had never seen Kenny in such a state before. They administered a shot to raise his blood pressure. After that, we were invited to speak to a doctor—the fifth young doctor we had seen—and were taken to the “death room,” a room for euthanasia.

The doctor suggested euthanasia as the best option. I asked if there were any older doctors I could speak with. I know it may have seemed rude, but I wanted to talk to someone with more experience, at least over 35-40 years old, who could provide the answers that only an experienced doctor could offer.

After I asked my question, the doctor immediately left, and the clinic manager appeared. We talked to the manager. I wasn’t arguing; we just needed help—not euthanasia. Then we received a call from someone, possibly a doctor, who definitely knew what to say. We initially agreed to euthanasia, but when we saw Kenny prepared for the procedure, his eyes were clear, and he showed interest, trying to escape the blankets over him. We couldn’t go through with it. My husband said no, so we took Kenny home. I’m thankful to my husband because we had more time with Kenny.

When we brought Kenny home, he was curious, even though he couldn’t walk, back legs were weak. He showed interest in the birds on the balcony and moved actively with our help. Despite not being able to walk, he was engaged with his surroundings and kept his interest in life.

Day 7, Sanday: tremendous loss

During the day, Kenny was slightly more active, but we continued his prescribed treatment and feeding through the tube. At 6:30 p.m. Kenny started panting, and 15 minutes later, we lost our beloved family member. It’s a tremendous loss for me and my family.

I cannot forgive myself for being naive and relying on doctors and a clinic that was clearly not the right place for treatment but seemed perfect for euthanasia. Many questions have arisen about the state of medicine, not just for pets but in general. The prices are exorbitant for tests where doctors, in our case, don’t think, don’t ask the questions, don’t consider other aspects but simply follow standard protocols they receive from machines.

We miss Kenny deeply, and his absence is a constant reminder of the joy and love he brought into our lives.

Summary

Here I want write my opinion about “MedVet Chicago” , hope this will help others to make the right choice and don’t repeat our mistakes.

Pros:

Excellent parking facilities
Comfortable waiting area with water, coffee, and TVs
Well-trained staff
Social support girls who visit the waiting hall every 6-7 hours to ask, “How are you, how can I help?”

Cons:

All five doctors we interacted with were very young; there were no experienced doctors on shift who could provide more detailed answers based on experience.
Case handovers between doctors are not thorough. The patient is considered a shared responsibility, which means no one is fully accountable.
Communication and follow-up are lacking. If complications or questions arise, calling the clinic is not an option. You will either be told to bring your pet in, or informed that the doctor who treated your pet yesterday is no longer available, and all the doctors are either unavailable or busy.

I wouldn’t mention the points below if they truly wanted to help us, but it seems they assume that since this is an emergency department, we won’t be back tomorrow. Therefore, it’s worth noting:

The long waiting times (6 hrs minimum if your pet in stable condition)
High prices (the cost of the ultrasound machine could be paid off in a month with their pricing policy, yet there is no specialist on a permanent basis. The prices are extremely high for diagnostics, which isn’t even treatment)