Wondering about my vet...

Hmm the more i read i wonder about how good my vet has been. I am actually switching vets because I've moved but now i am curious... I had an internship with a vet when i was in highschool.. about 8 years ago.. when i thought about studying to become one myself. My memories of spays were that they made a very small inscision just big enough for a finger to fit in and a hookish instrument to bring up the ovaries. The inscisions on both of my girls was so long i was shocked. Around 2 inches long! and they left really long ends on the stiches which i ended up having to cut shorter because they were chewing and pulling on them. They also insisted they had to be 6 months old before the surgery. My other thought is.. Professor was diagnosed with Asthma at around 3 months old. She has a very "gurgly" sounding chest which sometimes is suddenly loud until she coughs and then its better. She gets a cortizone pill every other day and it does seem to keep her "gurgle" down to a minimum. What thoughts do you all have on this? Sound reasonable, or should i bring this up with the new vet when they go for their yearlies later this month?

Anjya, Tipper and Proffy's mum

I always do my initial interviews with prospective new vets without an animal with me. I take a long list of questions instead. It's the price of an office call but worth it to me to get a feel for how they think, how open they are to new therapies and outside opinions, getting a tour of the facilitiy, and looking over their support staff.

Some you rule out immediately because you just don't jibe, some have filthy facilities, some make you feel rushed, others are closed minded- there are a million criteria and I just find that I can better assess them without an amimal with me.

Originally Posted by Cearbhaill

I always do my initial interviews with prospective new vets without an animal with me. I take a long list of questions instead. It's the price of an office call but worth it to me to get a feel for how they think, how open they are to new therapies and outside opinions, getting a tour of the facilitiy, and looking over their support staff.

Some you rule out immediately because you just don't jibe, some have filthy facilities, some make you feel rushed, others are closed minded- there are a million criteria and I just find that I can better assess them without an amimal with me.

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What a fantastoc thing to do!
Cearbhaill,
I don't want to hijack this thread, but would you consider starting a thread with how you go about this and what criteria you use?

I would consider it a very helpful thread that sould possibly even be a sticky.

Originally Posted by tru

What a fantastoc thing to do!
Cearbhaill,
I don't want to hijack this thread, but would you consider starting a thread with how you go about this and what criteria you use?

I would consider it a very helpful thread that sould possibly even be a sticky.

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Well- it's been nearly 10 years since I switched vets, and even then I eventually went back to my older one who had moved further away. But I suppose I could compile a list of questions and things to look for- it's a good project for a rainy day.... someday

Originally Posted by anjya

Hmm the more i read i wonder about how good my vet has been. I am actually switching vets because I've moved but now i am curious... I had an internship with a vet when i was in highschool.. about 8 years ago.. when i thought about studying to become one myself. My memories of spays were that they made a very small inscision just big enough for a finger to fit in and a hookish instrument to bring up the ovaries. The inscisions on both of my girls was so long i was shocked. Around 2 inches long! and they left really long ends on the stiches which i ended up having to cut shorter because they were chewing and pulling on them. They also insisted they had to be 6 months old before the surgery. My other thought is.. Professor was diagnosed with Asthma at around 3 months old. She has a very "gurgly" sounding chest which sometimes is suddenly loud until she coughs and then its better. She gets a cortizone pill every other day and it does seem to keep her "gurgle" down to a minimum. What thoughts do you all have on this? Sound reasonable, or should i bring this up with the new vet when they go for their yearlies later this month?

Anjya, Tipper and Proffy's mum

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Hi, We changed vets last year and didn't realize how unprofessional our vet was until we got to the new one. I interviewed my vet first as well. If you have any doubts, my suggestion is to consider changing. You should trust your vet as much as you trust your family doctor, imo.

The item in your post that compelled me to respond was the asthma. We have a cat with asthma who was also diagnosed around 3 years old. Our old vet put her on cortisone every other day as well. The new vet said she isn't comfortable with that much cortisone because of potential side effects and suggested I only give it to Ginger as needed, for example, in the springtime when her asthma is worse. I'm not sure specifically what side effects she meant, but it might be worth looking into.
Good luck!

some make you feel rushed,

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I hate that feeling! That is the most dis-respectful thing a vet can do...you would think they would act somewhat interested in a paying client, lol.

Coming at it from the other side, I would absolutely love it if more people would "interview" perspective veterinary offices, etc.

I take a lot of pride my job and in the clinic that I work at, and I love giving people tours and showing them the "behind the scenes" look.

Hmm.. I have a couple of thoughts for you. I didn't like my first vet so much because they offered declawing as a would you like fries with that kinda thing. The new vet didn't do that. Though the old vet did help me a lot with Rocky, who also has asthma. Rocky was also on the pills in the beginning. (prednisone) and he was weaned off of them.
Now, he gets a steroid shot as needed, which isn't quite as bad, but also has the same side effects. I would talk to your vet about the minimum amount of steriods you should be getting.

I switched vets this year after what I felt was a missed diagnosis of FeLV in my 2 year old tuxedo and wish I had the forethought to go through an interview process as suggested in prior posts before I lost my dear Gateway. As a result of this experience, I realized that you really have to be an advocate for your animal when dealing with a vet, just as you would for yourself when talking with a doctor. All questions are worth asking and above all, you've got to have confidence and a comfort level with the the vet, his staff, and the facility. I learned this the hard way but am glad we found a vet who is now taking very good care of my Carmen and Voodoo.

I'd look at changing, especially if yearly shots are due. Gives you a good chance to check out a new vet before something major is wrong.

I love the vet we've taken our kitties to. When you adopt from the shelter, you get a free vet check. The first time was with Stumpy who was still healing from the car accident, and she spent so long with us giving a really thorough examination, answering all of our questions, and doting on our kitty Our kitty wouldn't stop purring during the examination.

We took in our new kitten this evening to the same vet, and she didn't spend as long with her because she didn't need to since she's a perfectly healthy kitten, but answered all of my questions again without making me feel rushed. Lily was quite scared at first, but the vet is just so gentle and kind, that she'd calmed down so much by the end that she was falling asleep

Given that these were free visits, I got awesome service. I think THAT'S the sort of vet you need. One that your cat's like, who does a thorough exam, and who obviously loves animals.

If that's not your vet, then go and find one that fits your criteria!

Right now I am using two vets. I loved my first vet until I realized that he wasn't all that great, after using this site. So I went to newer clinic where all the vets are young, just out of school, and interested in making a buck, so I feel they take advantage and it doesn't have the feel where you can call and get an answer to a question. My cat just had cystitis, and I felt more comfortable taking back to my first vet, well that office, not him but the partner, because I figured cystitis is so common that they should be able to handle it. But with more complex issues, I don't trust them. For example, I learned form this site that cats should be weaned off the prednisone. I had no idea, I just knew that it stopped the diarhea and my vet said to give it for three days and then stop and give it again when needed which was probably about in a week. The young vet told me how to give it, with decreasing doses over a span of ten days and to feed fang stomach sensitive food and guess what, the diarehea has stopped for months. I think we've beat it. Now why didn't my first guy know that? Is it a new procedure and since he has been out of school for 20+ years he didn't know about it? He has put down two senior cats for me and I can't stop wondering if they could have had longer lives, but because of him, they had inadequate care. And guess what, if I would have interviewed him, I would have chosen him because he takes time and explains, he is personable, and he is compassionate and will give a break every once and a while. But he didn't know about the prednisone, it is hard to pick a good one.

Well i will see how it is with the new vet. A friend has recommended them for us. They've been taking their cats there for years and now their new dog which has had rough beginnings... three year old huskey that has been shut indoors almost its whole life. Anyway they think they are good so we'll see.
Thanks,

Tipper and Professorn's mum,
Anjya