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Choosing a Veterinarian

12K views 51 replies 49 participants last post by  gsdsar 
#1 ·
How did you chose the vet you have?

We all need a vet for our dogs. Some vets are very good and some vets are not the greatest. Do you just go to any vet or did you search for (and find) a really good vet? Share with us all how you found the vet you use.
 
#27 ·
I chose my vet because they were the first ones to call me back (I left messages at 3 vets), when my cat became ill on a sunday and couldnt get up. They are awesome, and explain everything in language you can understand. They are more expensive than some of the other vets here, but not enormously so. They are also very caring. One of the vets here went to my freinds house to put her old dog down, and even buried the dog for her, but he didnt charge her anything at all!
 
#28 ·
I have always made a list of the clinics closest to me, and then stopped by and let them know I am looking for a new vet, and would they mind if I asked some questions of the staff if they are not busy, and also if they can give me a list of some routine procedures, like office visits and vaccines, and what prices they charge for them.

I drive 45 minutes to base to see the vet there for routine checkups, fecal and heartworm tests, and (if needed) vaccines. The civilian vet who sees us is an AHVMA holistic practitioner and very supportive of raw/grain free diets, keeping dogs thin, keeping vaccines to a minimum.

My emergency vet is 30 minutes north of me, it's a big new clinic with 7 vets that provides 24-7 care for everything from hamsters to cattle. Three of their vets are older and have been in this area making farm calls for most of their careers before they got together and started this new practice. Everyone here with livestock knows them and has nothing but good things to say about them.
 
#29 ·
There's 4 Vets in one clinic where we go. I will only ask for one doctor though, he's the most understanding, open minded, no bs kinda Vet. Although he's heard of BARF diet, he hasn't actually seen an actual pet that's fed BARF exclusively until he met Zeus and I remember he kept saying over and over "wow".
He was crying with us the day we had to put Zeus down, he sent us a very nice handwritten letter a few days later.

The other Vets in the clinic I don't really care for. I love that this office is open 6 days a week and closes at 9 so I don't have to leave early from work to take the kids there.
 
#30 ·
we started at 1 clinic when we moved to AR. It was decent, but when they added a new vet, the woman's attitude turned me off so much that I walked out on my appt. I went home and asked DH what vet the Sheriff's office used for Shady. I went there and have been nothing but happy with them ever since.
One member of the staff is always on call, they are willing to admit when they don't have the answers (our bunny with a broken leg), they research the options and accept my input and research.
 
#31 ·
The first dog that my wife and I got as a rescue was a beautiful belgian groenendael named Rocky. We went to the vet that was recommended for our area. (Rocky had been found chained to a tree at a regional park with severe head traume. It appeared someonee had tied him there and tried to beat him to death) When we explained his history to this vet, he said that he would return the dog and have it put down because this breed is prone to seizures and with the head trauma it was a given he would be a problem dog. Needless to say, we left that second. It happened that 3 days later we went to a different adoption event at a Petco to talk to the fosters about who they used. Everyone pointed out their volunteer vet who just happened to be about 20 minutes from our house. When went to introduce ourselves and talk to her, she had a shirt that said I heart my GSD. SOLD. Whenever we go there now, she always makes a point to come out and greet "her" dogs. That was 15 years and many many dogs ago.
Both times we've had to have dogs put down, she stayed in the room with us and cried. Couldn't ask for any more.
I know I would drive quite a ways for that kind of care.
 
#32 ·
We go to the one that no one else seems to like around here. I do, though. They are great with the animals, answer all my questions and love Charlie!

I guess they are the most expensive here, too, but I think what they charge is acceptable.
 
#33 ·
I chose the vet practice we use by "word of mouth" from other dog & cat owners in the area. I was very happy with the original doctors, but wasn't sure I liked the doctor who took over the practice at first, but he has earned my trust & my respect many times over. One thing I really appreciate is that the practice has a group discount for those of us with sizeable "herds". They've also done a really good job coordinating with the specialist at the U of Penn who's been treating one of my cats for advanced heart disease - no "territoriality" & they willingly consult whenever there are issues.
 
#34 ·
My vet is about 2 minutes away and lives on the premesis of her clinic. That is the reason I chose to go to her.
She helped me once with an emergency( a woodpecker my dogs caught, I needed some vetwrap) before I even was a client.
My old vet was 30 minutes away and cheap, I didn't like some things that happened thru the 20+ years I went there(misdiagnosis of Pano for one)
So I decided after fighting with the old vet about the raw diet I was feeding to change to my "neighbor". She has been excellent, costs are higher, but she also didn't have me bring Onyx in once for an emergency, rather provided consult over the phone to save Onyx stress and me $$,so money isn't the driving factor of her practice.
 
#35 ·
I would look for a vet who listens to your concerns and spends time with the pet in the exam room, not just runs in and runs out. Next would be price- although I am not saying to find the cheapest. Find a vet who charges reasonable prices. Another good thing to consider is how willing are they to work with you, in terms of sending prescriptions to a human pharmacy ( when able.)
 
#36 ·
The vet I had for the horses retired and I wasn't thrilled with his partner. I was still using the people that bought his practice for my dogs. When the new vet actually went over my dogs with a flea comb right after I told her that I don't have issues with fleas, I decided to check out my new horse vet. He does all animals. I have used him ever since (wow it has been 18 years). I like that he is not afraid of my dogs. Is very open to my bringing in research when he is faced with something he has little experience with (like when I had a dog with PF) and has worked with a number of other breeders. He is excellent for hip/elbow x-rays, isn't trying to make a living off of just my dogs and has never questioned the fact that I do minimal vaccinations.
 
#37 ·
Oh, and I go into the room during exams, can be there when we must euthanize an old dog (he will actually come to the house) and I can be there with my dog when we do x-rays (though I have to leave the room during the actual x-ray).

There is another vet a bit farther south of me that I also like though they are more expensive. I was actually able to help prep Treue when she had emergency abdominal surgery and be there to watch the surgery. They are very good about coming in for emergencies also if called. It is also a clinic that does large and small animals.
 
#38 ·
When Onyx had to have a hematoma e-surgery, I assisted my vet. It was a Saturday and Onyx is much better off with me at her head, so it was easier on her for me to help with the sedation(she was gassed as well as had an injection, could't IV her because she fights so much). The respect I have for my vet was increased after that, trust is a big deal and I'm lucky that I do trust my vet.
 
#41 ·
Hi! I've recently got a puppy, and now I'm looking for a good vet. I've looked through many reviews (Animal Services Reviews @ Pissed Consumer), but still can't make a right choice. What does a good vet mean? What qualities should this specialist have? Please help!
"The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones" William Shakespeare


I must ask, what the heck did you think you were going to read on a sight that is labeled such???

Since my momma taught me not to use that word, peed-on consumers are unlikely to tell you how their vet had respect for them and their pet, and discussed everything knowledgeably. But whatever.
 
#42 ·
I had been using this one vet for a few years. I had a cat and house rabbits at the time and it is hard to find a vet who knows rabbits. I got my first German Shepherd and it had endless stomach issues from the beginning. After numerous trips to the vet with no results, the vet informed me that the only problem with the dog was me. So I buy another bag of Low Residue kibble and go to leave. The receptionist insists on helping me carry the food to the car (it was only a five pound bag). In the parking lot she tells me to take the dog to another vet and gives me his name. They get me in the next day. The dog had twisted its intestine at the mesentaric root. New vet did surgery and the dog lived to be 11.
 
#44 ·
When I was looking for a vet in my area, I asked around. Most recommended one particular clinic which was only about 15 minutes from me. There were several practicing there. The first one seemed a little rushed and I was sort of turned off by it. But when Sweet Pea's hip dislocated and we took her in, the man that saw us that time was WONDERFUL. So sweet with animals and very thorough. At her second hip reduction follow-up, he was all, "Oh here's my beautiful Sweet Pea. You look so good. Let's see you walk sweetheart!" Then he has me walk her up and down the hallway... all the while shouting, "Look at you go Sweet Pea! Work it girl!"

In other words, huge difference between vets under one roof. Needless to say, we requested him from that point forward. Proof is in the pudding because he's always booked up compared to the others.

Unfortunately we've moved an extra 10 miles away. I still want to use him but we're now looking for one that's closer just in case. I don't wanna have an emergency and take her into the first one up the street without knowing what I'm getting into. You know?


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#45 ·
I first chose my vet practice because they were really close to my house. Then my cat had urinary tract issues and I picked a random doctor there and she turned out to be one fantastic lady! She treated my Nightshade so thoroughly and effectively and even didn't charge me once because I had to wait 45 minutes for my appointment (due to another pet having an emergency)! The rescue group I got Ralphie from used a different place that wasn't too far from my house either and I got a free coupon for an initial check-up (plus I had to take Ralphie back there after the first week to get his neuter stitches out). I went there once and only once. The doctor I got was very impersonal and even though Ralphie was emaciated, he told me that he was at a perfect weight (ummm, pretty sure you're not supposed to be able to SEE ribs and hips/pelvic bones sticking out) so I seriously doubted his professional opinion and took Ralphie to my cat vet who again, has done a wonderful job with Ralphie, too. My advice would be to go to someone you're comfortable with. If you go to one place and they just don't do it for you, go somewhere else.
 
#46 ·
Chose the Vet I have now because they use Alternative therapies in addition to all the regular ones. They are a 2 vet practice so I get to know them and they get to know my dog first hand. Close so I can walk the dog there. They are both University of Penn Vet School grads....
 
#47 ·
I generally start with word of mouth, and then judge based on my own experience. I can deal with a vet being slightly not *perfect* (in the people handling department) if the vet techs are decent, good vet techs do a LOT of the day to day stuff anyway.

I want my vets to be open to ME making the choices on what I'm doing with my animals. In other words, if a vet isn't going to let me be with my animal for the entire visit, there'd better be an excellent reason. Or if a vet is going to push me really hard toward a certain treatment (must speuter RIGHTNOW), a certain food (Science Diet is the BESTEVER), a certain method of training (better ALPHAROLL that dog), etc, I'm probably not going to like them.

I like a vet that is willing to listen and respect my learnings about my dogs, and who pays attention to things I notice about them, like my gut instinct. I especially love it when a vet treats my animals with respect.

It's fairly important to me that their office be clean and neat. It doesn't have to be all shiny and new, but if they aren't willing to keep the place clean, then I'm not likely to go back. Along those lines, I prefer it if the place is organized. If they keep losing records and such, and can't keep track of when appointments are etc, that's gonna bother me.
 
#48 ·
Vets Afraid of Big Dogs

I've bounced around among vets recently and had a bad experience.

We stupidly left our regular vet behind when my Zeus had an ear infection because they've gotten so picky about when they'll see a dog and what they're willing to do when they see him. This started happening when they changed their name from Veterinary Office to Animal Hospital. It's as hard to get an appointment with them now as it sometimes is to get an appointment with my primary care physician.

Anyway, my GSD is not fond of vets. And, the new vet AND HIS AGING STAFF, recommended by a friend, took one look at Zeus' size and his nervousness at the vet's office and looked like frightened deer. I actually saw the vet himself cringe.

Regrettably, so too did Zeus notice. That reinforced his own fear-base aggression and it was a rodeo after that.

I read a quote on this board recently that said something like vets are medically trained and not necessarily trained as dog-handlers. I'm sure that goes particularly for large breed dogs.

The new vet said at the end of the visit that he had never successfully treated a large breed dog that had had protection training. I guess his record in that regard remains unblemished.

I've returned to my old vet now and they did some nice work on Zeus at his one year physical and for his ear infection. They had to sedate him. And, I hated that. But everything was done properly and without injury (mental of physical) to the dog or the staff.

So, here's my recommendation. Use the vet that can has no fear of big and potentially aggressive dogs and has an attitude that they'll find a way to treat the animal no matter what, rather than a vet that establishes an unadvertised red line against some dogs or the training that some dogs receive.

That one bad vet visit can have lasting negative effects.

LF
 
#49 ·
I have moved around quite a bit.
In one case: liked the vet well enough but his staff acted like producing a receipt for insurance was a lot of bother. Then I had a dog about to go into shock appear in my back yard. I went to the vet that could see him right then. That relationship lasted until she retired and moved. Her staff was terrific. I stayed with the vet that bought her practice and liked her a lot.
Next stop: Found vet that was OK with titers but my dog came out of one appointment needing an adjustment. Had in the meantime pulled a dog from the pound - they had a list of vets that would perform their exam and neuter surgery. Ran that list through people at the office and went with the one they recommended. Nice guy but not the best vet. Left after they had scheduled an xray (which was unnecessary and not a good xray) on a Saturday, they were off schedule and got her in late & acted like it was my fault she was still groggy when they wanted to close. As I sat in the room with her as she was coming out of anesthesia, I said to myself over and over "I need a new vet." Until, that is, I remembered - I HAD another vet - the one that was doing adjustments & accupuncture. So FINALLY I got the RIGHT vet! Then Karen (best vet I have ever seen) moved. I stayed with the clinic and was pretty happy with the first runner up for best vet I have ever seen. Went there until I moved across the country this summer.
Here - I went with the vet that had a mobile accupuncture/chiro/holeistic vet that worked out of the clinic. She's good. I did have to urge her not to coo at my dogs. I like the clinic "owner" too but I'm not sure this is our ultimate clinic. They're expensive but they've been good with my dogs - still on the fence about a horse vet.

Horse vet in Arkansas was wonderful. I chose him by talking to people at the barn that had a lot of experience with horses. When it was time for vaccines, he was coming to the barn so I just put my horse on his schedule. Too bad he doesn't want to move! Gotta get on that because the horse will need his teeth floated soon. If I need to, I can give shots myself.

This is what I hate about moving as much as the physical packing it up and getting out of Dodge -- finding new vets, finding new drs., finding new dentists. A ten mile drive would be nothing gas hog or not. (It's a little over 5 to get to town here). The old ones are 2000 miles away...
 
#50 ·
I have learned over the years in my moves that the problem with asking other regular dog owners for recommendations is that they don't always have a good sense of how good their vet really is, unless they've been with that vet many years, through end-of-life issues in multiple dogs. I really believe that unless they've been through major health problems with a vet, you don't really know how good your vet is. Being nice and friendly during wellness exams isn't the same thing as being able to pull a dog in critical condition back from death's door when minutes count.

IMHO, you need to think carefully about what the person giving the rec really knows, and how experienced he or she is as a judge of professional excellence beyond just annual wellness visits-- good handling of big dogs, good outcomes, fair pricing relative to the community, open dialogue about supplements and nutrition, diligent investigation of uncommon/rare problems, willingness to reach out to specialists/universities for advice, etc....

I think one of the best sources of recommendations is a reputable rescue in your community: they tend to be "repeat customers" with difficult medical issues, and they know which vets they can trust. They know the vets that stay past closing to help patients instead of transferring them to expensive e-vets, the ones who think outside the box when conditions are unusual or hard to treat, the ones who don't recommend unnecessary procedures to pad the bill and cheerfully call in the RX to a local pharmacy to save clients money, the ones who are smart and compassionate and highly skilled.

Even if you didn't adopt from a local rescue, you can always send them a friendly email and ask them if they would help you with a recommendation of their favorite vet to treat GSDs. You'll likely get the name of a super-star vet who loves working with GSDs.
 
#51 ·
I have gone though several vet's.
First off I call and ask questions. First and most important question is how do they greet and treat my pet when we have to visit. Why? because it tells me a lot about the type of people working for that office. I had one vet tell me that any large breed dog HAD to be muzzled before it entered their offices. Seriously? Before they even met my pet? No way. That would make my animals more fearful then just walking in and then maybe having to muzzle to treat.
I ask about payment options, because we all know that at some point if we aren't lucky we will have a HUGE bill. And I would want an office that will help me, to help my pet, without being all about the MONEY IMMEDIATELY UP FRONT. Yes, I do understand that medicines, doctors time and expertise is costly. But not all of us have platinum credit cards.
Then we meet them. My dog will tell me all I need to know about the people. Yes of course any dog will be afraid of the vet's office. It stinks, with sick or injured animals, and that scares anyone. But if your dog cowers extremely when greeted with a vet or technicians... Hey they know people.
And from then it goes with treatment options, the pressure they put on me to do what ever or the options they give and how they interact with me, my choices and my animals. Some vet's will push you to do every test in the book, others will be sparingly and do what they feel is most important first.
I like a vet who can remember that it is MY animal and ultimately MY choice, so long as I am not directly or purposefully endangering my animals life they let ME make the choice to best fit my animals life style.
 
#52 ·
This has been a good positive thread.

Working as a Vet Tech for 20 years, I have worked with good and bad vets. Mostly good though. I have been very lucky.

My advice, when shopping for a vet,

1. Stop in the office. Talk to the front desk staff. Ask for a tour. Sometimes we can accommodate, sometimes not.

2. If they can't accommodate with a drop in, schedule an appointment with a Dr. Make it clear you want a tour. Sit down, without your dog, and just talk to the vet. Yes, you will need to pay for their time. But being able to discuss philosophy and your pet, without a freaking out dog, will be good.

3. Take your dog in. Just to hang out for a bit. See how they like the vibe. Does the staff interact with you? Do they ask to meet and give treats to your dog? Do they seem happy to have you there? Do they respect the dogs space if nervous?

4. On your first appointment, go early, and not for anything major. No shots, no emergency. Let your dog relax in the waiting room for a bit. If you are stressed, they get stressed.

5. Go with your gut. If you don't like a Dr, try a different one, if it's a multiple Dr practice. Vets are people, they react and interact differently. No Vet I know gets offended if client prefers another Vet.

6. Don't expect us to say we will make payment arrangements with you if you are not a regular client, we don't know you from Adam, why on earth are we going to trust you to pay us? Emergencies happen. It is up to YOU to be as prepared as possible. Get insurance. Preapply for Care Credit. Vets offices do not work the same way as human Dr. It is really really unfair to blame a veterinarian for your inability to pay for your pet. I can't tell you how many times my Vets have been told they are "killing" a clients dog, because the client can't pay for treatment. It's a horrible and manipulative thing to do. Don't be that client.

7. Teach your dog, at home, to accept the things a Vet does. Feel their belly, lift their lip, open their mouth, pinch their skin, hold their feet. This goes a long way to them being comfortable. If your dog HATES the vet, teach them to accept a muzzle. Make it a game at home, buy your own and bring it. Please don't make me manhandle your dog to get one on. I really hate stressing dogs like that.

8. Please understand that I don't know your pet. He may be a talkative grisly boy that would never bite. But I don't know that. I don't know you, or your ability as a handler/trainer. I see you once a year. And your dog growls and barks threateningly to me each time. So if I ask if can put " a party hat" on him. Don't take that to mean I think you have a bad dog. It just means that I need to be calm and comfortable handling your pup.

9. If you are working on a specific behavior, let me know, so I don't reward your puppy for jumping on me by giving him love. And tell me how you want me to react if he gets mouthy.

10. If your dog is known to get offended by certain behaviors, tell me!!! I would much prefer an owner say, he may snap when you do his anal glands, then let me find out when he is hanging off my face.

This board is very anti-vet. It's frustrating as a vet professional. But we really are there to help your pet live a long and healthy life. No matter how much they hate us. I want to work with you and your dog. I want us to be partners, no matter what. But you need to trust me. If you don't. Find another vet. No offense taken.


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