After my longtime veterinarian closed in November 2025, I needed to find a new vet. Around that…read moretime, my 4-year-old cat, Pannapita, developed a small, hard lump on her thigh. I first took her to an urgent care veterinarian, where she was examined and X-rayed. Because the lump was so small, they explained that a fine needle aspirate (FNA) likely wouldn't be useful yet. They discussed several possible causes, including scar tissue, a lipoma, or a reaction related to a previous vaccine, and recommended either biopsying it or monitoring it. I chose to monitor it.
A few months later, I established care with Dr. Jarrod Moss at At Your Service Vet. During one visit, I brought both of my cats. My appointment primarily became focused on my male cat, but when the technician took Pannapita back for her vaccines, I specifically asked that they not vaccinate her in the leg with the existing lump. I planned to schedule a separate appointment to have the lump examined.
About two months later, the lump suddenly became much larger, and I immediately scheduled an appointment. I explained the entire history, including that the lump had been present months before the vaccines at this clinic. Dr. Moss suggested it could be an inflammatory response to the vaccine his clinic had administered. When I explained that I had specifically requested they avoid that leg because the lump already existed, he stated that they "always" vaccinate in the left thigh and that the chart reflected that. I reiterated that the lump predated the vaccines at his clinic and that my primary concern was simply determining what the lump actually was.
The discussion became uncomfortable. I mentioned that the previous veterinarian had discussed the possibility of a vaccine-related tissue reaction, and Dr. Moss responded that "there's no such thing as a vaccine injury." At that point, I was simply trying to understand whether the lump could be cancerous and asked if it was finally large enough for an FNA. They performed the test, but I left the appointment in tears because the conversation felt unnecessarily combative during a very stressful situation.
When I got home, I started researching what the previous veterinarian may have been referring to. I came across feline injection-site fibrosarcoma (FISS), a rare cancer that has been associated with inflammation at the site of an injection in some cats. At that moment, I realized that what I had been trying to describe during the appointment was very similar to what I had found. I wasn't trying to diagnose my cat or suggest that anyone had caused it--I was simply trying to understand whether this lump could be cancerous. When the previous veterinarian mentioned a possible vaccine-related tissue reaction months earlier, I had assumed she meant harmless scar tissue. By the time I saw Dr. Moss, my only concern was finding out what the lump was and whether my cat had cancer.
Two days later, Dr. Moss called while I missed the call by only a few seconds. I immediately called back but was placed on hold for 9 minutes and then told he was with a patient and would call me back. That call never came. Over the next several days, I repeatedly called the office asking for the results. Each time I was told he was busy or that there were no results in the chart yet, despite the fact that he had already called saying he had information.
By Monday, after nearly five days of waiting, my husband went to the office in person. Dr. Moss then informed him that my cat had cancer. My husband had to call and tell me the diagnosis.
We initially scheduled surgery there because we felt we had little choice, but after reflecting on our experience--and after learning from the client who referred me that she had also had a negative experience--I decided to seek treatment elsewhere.
Pannapita underwent surgery with another veterinarian and is now doing well, for which I am incredibly grateful.
I understand that every veterinarian has different communication styles, and I know medicine isn't always straightforward. My concern was never that the diagnosis wasn't made months earlier, nor am I suggesting anyone caused my cat's cancer. My concern was the communication throughout the process. I felt dismissed when I was trying to understand what was happening, and waiting nearly five days to receive a cancer diagnosis after multiple phone calls was heartbreaking and added unnecessary stress during one of the most difficult experiences I've had as a pet owner.
This was my personal experience, i wish it could have been different, i have loved every vet i had had since being a pet owner so this was a huge bummer, i have 2 cats and im such a loyal client.
