There is nothing more special than a good veterinarian.
Mistakes can happen--what matters how and why. I've had veterinarians make mistakes because of lack of focus and listening disabilities. I could share stories.
For me, the worst offense is to not take the my concerns seriously. If that happens, I'm gone. Everything else I can forgive, at least once.
It gets tricky when one thinks they're dealing with one issue while something else is going on. That's how we discovered my dog's splenic tumor. She had chronic diarrhea which everybody thought was triggered by long-term antibiotics for what everybody thought was a nail bed infection. After some time of getting nowhere, I started to feel that we were missing the forest for the trees.
Got to the vet and told them straight up we were not leaving until they do some imaging. They were not impressed--had a busy day. However, we were NOT leaving. They agreed to do a quick ultrasound. (I thought we were looking for obstruction or something.) And what do you know, that's how the splenic tumor was discovered.
They offered "making her comfortable." I said plainly, no, it's coming out. I even turned down offer for referral to a specialist. It was Winter, it could take a while to get in, it could be a snow storm and we might have not been able to make the trip--let's do this ASAP, and let's do this here.
One emergency veterinarian took that on. The tumor was benign but already leaking.
It is indeed an important relationship and if done right can bring alot of comfort to both pet parent and pet… if done poorly can bring anxt and doubt! Personalities don’t always mesh… that matters!
When my cat, Lou, was still alive, I found that he did best with older veterinarians that wouldn't take any grief from him. Unfortunately, the older vets that he did so well with, kept retiring! As a result, I got really good at interviewing new vets & vet staff, by way of 'happy visits' with that old man cat (he was one of those cats who was an old soul, even as a younger cat). Because it's important that everyone in the situation, be they the owner, the pet, the vet, and/or the vet staff, be comfortable with each other.
Well, the older vets I met, were more willing to punt, but also knew when to stop. I guess that comes with experience. Also, they had better animal handling skills (important when you are dealing with an opinionated cat, as my Lou was). The younger vets may be better acquainted with the more modern treatments available, though.
Yes. this is a very interesting subject. A few years ago I switched vets because one of my dog's veterinary needs could not be met by the vet we were seeing. I wrote them a letter telling them why I was switching and thanking them for years of good service. Now I have to switch vets again because I'm moving and my current vet, while I love her, will be too far away, is already too far away from where I am now, and a vet practice that I used before when I adopted Sprite and the rescue org was paying for her heartworm treatment but only from their own vet. This vet is 5 minutes away from my new house, and my current vet will be an hour away.
Thanks for this very important post. I've had to change vets for prescribing a dtug that had no sucessful studies available online to treat what he prescribed it for, but did have studies showing it caused liver and kidney problems.
That’s a good list! I’ve run into all of those red-flag situations over the years. I have stuck with my dog’s current vet because my (now deceased) usually difficult, reactive dog was calm and happy around her.
I once had a vet’s office charge a fee to transfer my dog’s records to another vet! At the time I didn’t know that it was not okay to demand payment. Some vets are just d*cks.
A good vet is worth its weight in gold!
There is nothing more special than a good veterinarian.
Mistakes can happen--what matters how and why. I've had veterinarians make mistakes because of lack of focus and listening disabilities. I could share stories.
For me, the worst offense is to not take the my concerns seriously. If that happens, I'm gone. Everything else I can forgive, at least once.
It gets tricky when one thinks they're dealing with one issue while something else is going on. That's how we discovered my dog's splenic tumor. She had chronic diarrhea which everybody thought was triggered by long-term antibiotics for what everybody thought was a nail bed infection. After some time of getting nowhere, I started to feel that we were missing the forest for the trees.
Got to the vet and told them straight up we were not leaving until they do some imaging. They were not impressed--had a busy day. However, we were NOT leaving. They agreed to do a quick ultrasound. (I thought we were looking for obstruction or something.) And what do you know, that's how the splenic tumor was discovered.
They offered "making her comfortable." I said plainly, no, it's coming out. I even turned down offer for referral to a specialist. It was Winter, it could take a while to get in, it could be a snow storm and we might have not been able to make the trip--let's do this ASAP, and let's do this here.
One emergency veterinarian took that on. The tumor was benign but already leaking.
Way to be an excellent medical advocate for your pup!
It is indeed an important relationship and if done right can bring alot of comfort to both pet parent and pet… if done poorly can bring anxt and doubt! Personalities don’t always mesh… that matters!
When my cat, Lou, was still alive, I found that he did best with older veterinarians that wouldn't take any grief from him. Unfortunately, the older vets that he did so well with, kept retiring! As a result, I got really good at interviewing new vets & vet staff, by way of 'happy visits' with that old man cat (he was one of those cats who was an old soul, even as a younger cat). Because it's important that everyone in the situation, be they the owner, the pet, the vet, and/or the vet staff, be comfortable with each other.
Thanks for this comment! Please say more about the differences you perceive between older veterinarians and newer generations.
Well, the older vets I met, were more willing to punt, but also knew when to stop. I guess that comes with experience. Also, they had better animal handling skills (important when you are dealing with an opinionated cat, as my Lou was). The younger vets may be better acquainted with the more modern treatments available, though.
Yes. this is a very interesting subject. A few years ago I switched vets because one of my dog's veterinary needs could not be met by the vet we were seeing. I wrote them a letter telling them why I was switching and thanking them for years of good service. Now I have to switch vets again because I'm moving and my current vet, while I love her, will be too far away, is already too far away from where I am now, and a vet practice that I used before when I adopted Sprite and the rescue org was paying for her heartworm treatment but only from their own vet. This vet is 5 minutes away from my new house, and my current vet will be an hour away.
Convenience definitely plays a role, especially for pets who dislike car rides.
Thanks for this very important post. I've had to change vets for prescribing a dtug that had no sucessful studies available online to treat what he prescribed it for, but did have studies showing it caused liver and kidney problems.
Oh dear.... glad you figured this out.
That’s a good list! I’ve run into all of those red-flag situations over the years. I have stuck with my dog’s current vet because my (now deceased) usually difficult, reactive dog was calm and happy around her.
I once had a vet’s office charge a fee to transfer my dog’s records to another vet! At the time I didn’t know that it was not okay to demand payment. Some vets are just d*cks.