Should I Switch Vets?

I'm not sure if this should be in Health or Care & Grooming. Mods, feel free to move the thread if needed!

The veterinary clinic that I bring my cats to is a cat only clinic and my cats are very comfortable with the veterinarians during wellness exams. (Please note that their "comfortableness" is very important because I have brought them to another vet that Malibu would not cooperate with and she was never able to properly give him an exam, check his teeth, etc.) The vets and staff are super nice to me and my cats but I am thinking about leaving because we don't see eye-to-eye on two issues:

1 - Diet

• My cats are now on a raw food diet but my vet does not approve. He literally said that what I am doing is very unsafe and I could be doing major damage by feeding a possibly unbalanced diet. (While this is a possibility of course, I have done a lot of research and have run my menu by a holistic veterinarian who has given me her opinion and blessing that I am on the right course)
  • My traditional vet suggests that I put Malibu on a Science Diet Senior Cat diet since he is 8 years old and is now a "senior". This is not happening. 

2 - Vaccines

• I have always brought my cats (now 8 and 3 years old) in to the vet for their annual vaccines. I have recently decided that I do not want them to have vaccines anymore. I have to do the rabies annually because Louisiana law requires it but I believe the annual feline herpes and calicivirus vaccine is excessive and I want to discontinue vaccinating them for health reasons.
  • My traditional vet said that not giving the vaccines is ultimately my decision but he wanted me to know that he does not agree with me and that he strongly promotes annual vaccinations.

I have never brought my cats to the holistic veterinarian's office so I do not know if they would be comfortable with her or not or if the smell of dogs in the building would completely stress them out and make them turn practically feral during the exam like when I brought them to their last vet (before the cat-only clinic).

I do not think that I am smarter than my traditional vet, I just want my cats on a species appropriate diet and to not over-vaccinate them. Whenever I go there now, I feel embarrassed or ashamed that I'm not being a good cat parent and following doctor's orders. So the question is: Do I switch vets and take the chance that Malibu hates the holistic vet or stay with my current vet and be uncomfortable myself?

In my opinion, were I faced with a similar situation (and, to a lesser degree, I am): I would change to a holistic vet or a vet who at least is open to the idea of (a) raw diet and (b) vaccinosis. That your vet is pushing Science Diet to me sends up a red flag.
There are three vets in the practice I take Ritz to. The one who does have an excellent bedside manner with Ritz doesn't like my feeding Ritz prey model raw ('where are the carbohydrates?" he asked....) and another vet is open to not vaccinating Ritz because Ritz' FHS symptoms increase dramatically when vaccinated. I want a vet who doesn't automatically assume the reason Ritz is ill is because I fed raw.
I just learned of a holistic vet who is located close to me; I was considering taking Ritz to one much further away. Still considering it.
I'd look for a holistic vet who also has knowledge of homepathic and holistic supplements. Make sure the new vet's credentials check out; 'holistic' is a buzz word these days and some vets have minimal training in this area. If I had a choice, I'd chose the vet who has cats as pets.
Malibu may like the new vet... she may not. You could make an appointment with the vet(s) you're considering taking Malibu to in order to get a sense on how his practice operates and how he and his staff interact with the patients/clients. (Get to the appointment early.....)

Abby2932 said:

 
I'm not sure if this should be in Health or Care & Grooming. Mods, feel free to move the thread if needed!

The veterinary clinic that I bring my cats to is a cat only clinic and my cats are very comfortable with the veterinarians during wellness exams. (Please note that their "comfortableness" is very important because I have brought them to another vet that Malibu would not cooperate with and she was never able to properly give him an exam, check his teeth, etc.) The vets and staff are super nice to me and my cats but I am thinking about leaving because we don't see eye-to-eye on two issues:

1 - Diet

• My cats are now on a raw food diet but my vet does not approve. He literally said that what I am doing is very unsafe and I could be doing major damage by feeding a possibly unbalanced diet. (While this is a possibility of course, I have done a lot of research and have run my menu by a holistic veterinarian who has given me her opinion and blessing that I am on the right course)
  • My traditional vet suggests that I put Malibu on a Science Diet Senior Cat diet since he is 8 years old and is now a "senior". This is not happening. 

2 - Vaccines

• I have always brought my cats (now 8 and 3 years old) in to the vet for their annual vaccines. I have recently decided that I do not want them to have vaccines anymore. I have to do the rabies annually because Louisiana law requires it but I believe the annual feline herpes and calicivirus vaccine is excessive and I want to discontinue vaccinating them for health reasons.
  • My traditional vet said that not giving the vaccines is ultimately my decision but he wanted me to know that he does not agree with me and that he strongly promotes annual vaccinations.

I have never brought my cats to the holistic veterinarian's office so I do not know if they would be comfortable with her or not or if the smell of dogs in the building would completely stress them out and make them turn practically feral during the exam like when I brought them to their last vet (before the cat-only clinic).

I do not think that I am smarter than my traditional vet, I just want my cats on a species appropriate diet and to not over-vaccinate them. Whenever I go there now, I feel embarrassed or ashamed that I'm not being a good cat parent and following doctor's orders. So the question is: Do I switch vets and take the chance that Malibu hates the holistic vet or stay with my current vet and be uncomfortable myself?

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A lot of times, vets are against raw diets not for bad reasons, as reported by some.  Many do so wrong and this is a fact.  They get bad advice online and run with it.  The main concerns with vets are over or under supplementing and the bacteria from leaving it out too long or not in the right conditions.  These are both very harmful to your cat.  So it isn't that they don't agree with it, it's these issues alone that keep them from advising people on a raw diet on their own.  Many will suggest the raw or semi raw diets you can get at pet specialty stores, though. 

As for vaccinations, many agree that it is not as necessary if your cats are indoor only and not exposed to most of the things they are for.  However, if you have them groomed or boarded at any time, up-to-date vaccination records are almost always required. 

If you are comfortable with your vet, and your pets are, I say stay.  However there is no harm in looking around and having a second opinion vet or second option... I do. 

I probably would stick with this vet as well if you and the kitties like him.  Most traditional vets and some holistic vets for that matter don't like the raw diet, too many things that are beyond their control can go wrong.  Vets are indoctrinated about Hills starting in vet school, many people don't follow the vets recommendations about diet.  He is behind the times now as far as annual vaccines but if he isn't trying to force the issue you can simply refuse the vaccines.  I am much more concerned about trusting a vet with an ill kitty and getting comprehensive medical exams then their opinions about diet.

I wouldn't switch unless he gets too pushy. But you have to be comfortable so it really depends on how uncomfortable he makes you.

If you ever want to start a big discussion with him, print out the AAHA's/AVMA's chart of recommended cat vaccines and point out where it says "no more often than every 3 years" for the FVCRP vaccine. Ask why he recommends giving it annually if the vet associations don't. I've always wanted to do that but have never worked up the courage .

Willowy said:

If you ever want to start a big discussion with him, print out the AAHA's/AVMA's chart of recommended cat vaccines and point out where it says "no more often than every 3 years" for the FVCRP vaccine. Ask why he recommends giving it annually if the vet associations don't. I've always wanted to do that but have never worked up the courage

.

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As most of you know I acquired a new stray kitty.  When at the vet he asked how my other cats were doing and checked their charts to see if anything needed updating.  I said they were doing great and I'm not doing any more vaccinations other than Rabies unless I'm faced with having to do them (boarding, etc).  I went on to say that I absolutely agree with vaccinations, I didn't see the need to over vaccinate my indoor cats.  Now, the vet tech in the room had a good point about having to evacuate if a hurricane came, which is a very valid point.  I wasn't defensive and neither were they, we simply discussed pro's and con's.  My point is that the vet and vet tech were not trying to force vaccinations on my other cats that weren't even present at the office at that time, they were genuinely just trying to help me help my animals.  If your vet is talking at you instead of with you, there's something wrong.  Yes, he went to vet school and went through necessary licensing.  But that doesn't automatically label you as an idiot because you didn't.  I agree that an unbalanced raw diet is deadly.  I'm not worried about the bacteria though, but unbalanced I am very concerned about.  But you've done your research and he should be doing the same.  Not necessarily into raw feeding, but into better nutrition as a whole.  Promoting Hill's tells me otherwise, especially "senior" foods.  Thyroid, hypoallergenic, diabetic diets...I could understand that.  But this?  Nah.  I would keep this guy on my list of folks to call but I'd probably try the holistic vet too.  You never know when there's an emergency and you NEED help from the old vet.

I haven't read all the replies yet, but wanted to respond because we faced a similar decision over several issues:

• Cisapride: We wanted to try weaning Tim off cisapride because we made significant changes that we felt addressed the reasons for Tim's two constipation episodes. The vet told us Tim would have to be on it for life, without considering Tim's diet changes or considering anything else for constipation. They were not willing to help try to take him off this medication.
• Dietary guidance and non-drug or -surgery approaches: In early February when Tim was so sick and each medication created a new problem, our veterinarians ran out of ideas. When I mentioned wanting to address what seemed like inflammation and make a diet change, their response was essentially: "It's hard to change a cat's diet. Good luck."
• Vaccines: They still push annual vaccines every year, even though Tim has had trouble with his every year. I don't trust that if I say "no vaccines" they won't vaccinate him, anyway.

I found a holistic veterinarian and took Tim for a consultation. We did not commit to switching even after that visit. Instead, as time went on and this veterinarian returned phone calls and provided good support for me, as well as Tim, during the stressful process to wean Tim off cisapride, we started shifting more of Tim's care to her. He had his annual exam and lab work there, as did Abby, and we have arranged an appointment with a veterinarian cardiologist through her office for next week.

I would suggest you take the cats for a consultation. See how the cats do and, importantly, how the vet and his or her staff treat your cats. That will probably give you your answer.

One thing that helped sway me: When we took Tim to our old vet, Abby would always hiss and growl at him for hours. It got to the point where we started taking her along for "moral support". Abby does not hiss or growl at Tim after visiting this new vet. Not sure why, but it doesn't happen.

Finally, one other thing: We have not "broken up" with the old vet. They are skilled medical practitioners and surgeons and we have a history with them. I am trying to decide, however, how to best handle this because I do have respect for them and second opinions are never a bad thing.

 you guys are amazing

I seriously changed my mind after reading each post! I was thinking...

*Hmm she has a really good point, I'm definitely switching...*

*Wow, but that makes a lot of sense, I need to stay...*

*That is so true though, I need to try it out!...*

Thank you all so very much for your opinions and experiences, I truly appreciate you all taking the time to answer 

I will of course keep everyone updated as we go along and make decisions.

Thanks again,

Abby

You will find some different opinions here and that's okay.  We all just try to do the best that we can for our kitties.

I didn't read the responses you got so this might have been said. You don't have to agree with your vet on everything. Just don't talk about the raw diet when you are there. I understand your vets concerns and they are valid ones, but what you feed your cat is up to you. The thing that concerns me is his opinion on vaccines. It is stated now as a fact that cats and dogs vaccinations last for 3 years at least once they have completed the initial series and have one booster at one year of age or older. Unless the cat is at high risk of infection as in going outside etc. What the state does is up to the state sadly. Other than that if you are happy with the care the cats receive just agree to disagree with the vet and don't mention it again. Has the holistic vet ever seen your cats?

I didn't read the responses you got so this might have been said. You don't have to agree with your vet on everything. Just don't talk about the raw diet when you are there. I understand your vets concerns and they are valid ones, but what you feed your cat is up to you. The thing that concerns me is his opinion on vaccines. It is stated now as a fact that cats and dogs vaccinations last for 3 years at least once they have completed the initial series and have one booster at one year of age or older. Unless the cat is at high risk of infection as in going outside etc. What the state does is up to the state sadly. Other than that if you are happy with the care the cats receive just agree to disagree with the vet and don't mention it again. Has the holistic vet ever seen your cats?