Vet care

I apologize if this turns out offensive. But every time I go to a vet I am disappointed. I haven't have a 'real' vet in so many years.

I took Peanut Butter in for his yearly check up. I could have done what the vet did at home. Why pay that twit to practice? Are they not suppose to know something?

22.00 for a poop check. Sure it is great to know he doesn't have worms. But what about the rest of the diseases out there? If a cat goes in yearly then someone should check for those life threatening diseases, shouldn't they?

He recieved a rabies shot and sent along his way. I had to force the poop check, I needed to know about the worms.

I should have forced the blood test, but I was too annoyed and wanted a new vet by then. They simply did not care.

Originally posted by MeuzettesMom

If a cat goes in yearly then someone should check for those life threatening diseases, shouldn't they?

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I'm very interested, which particular life threatening diseases are you thinking of?

Also, besides rabies, do you vaccinate for anything else besides feline distemper, feline leukemia, for instance?

Since you wanted to test for worms I assume your kitties are not strictly indoor, right?

(Our hospital always sends out a reminder to have a stool sample tested if kitties go outside. That test is part of the routine yearly checkup for kitties that are not strictly indoor.)

Mine (strictly indoor)  have a complete chemistry profile and CBC once a year when they are young and perfectly healthy and more than once a year when they become elderly. Sometimes several times a year if we're keeping a close eye on a particular health problem.

Edit:  by "our hospital" I mean the hospital we always go to. 

My vet weighs my cats, checks their teeth, ears, eyes, feels their tummy, checks they don't have fleas and innoculates them and gives them a wormer (Milbemax).  They will often have a short chat as well.  Routine checking of stools for worms is pretty much unheard of in the UK.  Cost I believe is about £40 per cat, including the wormer.  My vets are quite cheap in UK terms.

Violet said:

I'm very interested, which particular life threatening diseases are you thinking of?

Also, besides rabies, do you vaccinate for anything else besides feline distemper, feline leukemia, for instance?

Since you wanted to test for worms I assume your kitties are not strictly indoor, right?

(Our hospital always sends out a reminder to have a stool sample tested if kitties go outside. That test is part of the routine yearly checkup for kitties that are not strictly indoor.)

Mine (strictly indoor)  have a complete chemistry profile and CBC once a year when they are young and perfectly healthy and more than once a year when they become elderly. Sometimes several times a year if we're keeping a close eye on a particular health problem.

Edit:  by "our hospital" I mean the hospital we always go to. 

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My cats stay in now.

They did have like two hours out in the wee hours Sunday morning. But my heart can't take it anymore. I worry.

I was seeking a more interest in the teeth. Have vaccinations, the two you mentioned would have been helpful.

That is why I thought a blood test would have been helpful too. See what we are up against, if anything.

OrientalSlave said:

My vet weighs my cats, checks their teeth, ears, eyes, feels their tummy, checks they don't have fleas and innoculates them and gives them a wormer (Milbemax).  They will often have a short chat as well.  Routine checking of stools for worms is pretty much unheard of in the UK.  Cost I believe is about £40 per cat, including the wormer.  My vets are quite cheap in UK terms.

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Yes my thoughts exactly. she didn't even touch the cat but to give the shot. I just think I need to find someone else. Other than a pill pusher

So, what did the visit cost you (total)?  I am going to be starting a thread about this as soon as I can find the time. I want to post some startling findings I've made that may interest everyone on this board.  Let me just say that I made a recent visit which cost me $2,500 (yes, that's not a typo).  I brought her in because she was acting distressed and I thought she may have swallowed something.  Turns out she didn't, but they gave her every test in the book, kept her overnight (less than 24 hours), and went so far as to recommend surgery based on a negative X-Ray, i.e., since they couldn't see anything on the x-ray, they wanted to open her up and take a look!  Of course, I said no!  I will provide many more details in the new thread, but I couldn't agree with you more - the state of veterinary medicine in this country SUCKS.  It is big business, and it is getting bigger!

MeuzettesMom,

Keep in mind, wherever you go for vet care you can always ask for tests, especially complete blood work. And in special situations, if the vet doesn't offer, you can also ask for/insist on X-rays and even an ultrasound. And, of course, you can also always ask for a very thorough oral exam (which is vitally important). Don't ever hesitate to speak up.

When you find someone else, if you become a regular client, your new vet will get to know you and become familiar with your preferences, the kind of vet care you want for your babies. And tests will be offered, you won't even have to ask for them. 

I hope you'll find an excellent vet with whom you can have a very good, close, relaxed relationship. 

Presto said:

So, what did the visit cost you (total)?  I am going to be starting a thread about this as soon as I can find the time. I want to post some startling findings I've made that may interest everyone on this board.  Let me just say that I made a recent visit which cost me $2,500 (yes, that's not a typo).  I brought her in because she was acting distressed and I thought she may have swallowed something.  Turns out she didn't, but they gave her every test in the book, kept her overnight (less than 24 hours), and went so far as to recommend surgery based on a negative X-Ray, i.e., since they couldn't see anything on the x-ray, they wanted to open her up and take a look!  Of course, I said no!  I will provide many more details in the new thread, but I couldn't agree with you more - the state of veterinary medicine in this country SUCKS.  It is big business, and it is getting bigger!

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My vet visit cost 45.00

Seems your vet is in the same standing as mine. Oh I will changing. As soon as I recover in finances enough to explore what is out there. They don't like it when you try them out for free..

I really don't want to pay someone to practice medicine. I want someone who KNOWS medicine.

Jill.

For my cat that doesn't have health issues she looks in her eyes and ears with a light, looks at her teeth, listens to her heart and feels her tummy.  She uses the one year rabies shot so she gets that at each annual exam the other vaccinations are every three years. She is more expensive than your vet though. Her exam and shot is just under $100. My other cat who does have health issues goes every six months. He gets the same exam, no vaccines, and blood work annually.

 I feel my vet gives a pretty thorough yearly for all of my cats and my dogs.  I'm not so worried about the stool sample check.  My cats are all indoor and I'm not concerned about worms so much.  All in all I am very happy with my vet.  I get a 20% discount when I take in 3 or more of my animals at once.  It's a hassle for me but worth the bucks The exam consists of eye, ear, nose check. He does a thorough check of the stomach and abdomen.  Clips their nails if needed.  Gives the shots.  If you can, find another vet if you aren't happy with the one you have now. 

Yes, forgot to mention the vet listens to my cats hearts. 

It took a while, but after having an awful vet, who only followed protocol, charged me an arm and a leg, and probably would have recommended to euthanize Bugsy by now - yep he was that awful , I found an AMAZING vet :bigthumb:
It makes all the difference in the World, to me, having someone you trust..... He is not cheap though. I was there with Lucky today - the exam costs $59. The first x-ray cost $96, and the second view $68. A shot of Cerenia, I believe $35.... and after the Cerenia to take home, my total bill was $279.
He checks he mouth, listens to her heart, checks her belly, her ears, eyes and nose, takes her temperature, weight, goes through her history..... discusses in length everything that happened leading to the reason why I am there.... Discusses diet - right now she is on raw, and he is pro-raw, and was able to figure out what was wrong with her..... Depending on what is wrong, he will run the tests the situation warrants - today was x-rays.
When he can't figure out right away, he will research it, get with his peers, and call me.
When Bugsy was sick, he would call me about 2x a week, and would be with me on the phone for a long time every time - discussing treatments, next steps, following up, etc. He is open for different treatments, natural and traditional..... and just an amazing, caring vet, who puts our babies first.
As parents though, we do play a very active role in the whole thing..... I am not one that will do things just because the vet said. I will discuss things, treatments plans, etc. I ask for tests, and if I don't agree with something, I speak up.
If I am not happy with a vet, as I was not happy with the other one, I walk out - no way I stay. When it became clear to me that he was just taking my money and following protocol.... and this protocol when followed over and over could potentially harm Bugsy.... There is no way I would just keep going to the same place. I started talking to people, asking for referrals, and that is how I found my new vet.
I trust him with my babies' care so much, that to me it is hard to even think about moving cities - even though I could with my profession, move anywhere..... Having him taking care of them brings me a great peace of mind...... especially when it comes to Bugsy and all his issues.
I believe there are great great vets out there...... we need to look for them though.... And I believe that having a great relationship with your vet is of great importance too..... My vet has complete files on all the babies, from everywhere they have been, complete with new diets, medications I refuse to give, and he knows me quite well....
If I am out of town Kelly has an open door to take any of my babies in, and I take care of the bill when I come back - they know Kelly too (my pet sitter) - and that is tested, as it has happened with Gracie when she was diagnosed with CHF... I was in Florida at the time.....
Anyways.... Hope you find a vet that makes you as happy as I am with mine