What do you WANT & EXPECT from a vet?

snowman2_2

As a vet I think I know what my clients want but surveys have shown this is not always the case. I would be very interested to hear the three things that you want from your vet, whether we are doing it already or there is something we can do better / differently. Your comments can then help me improve my practice (and those of the other vets who read this forum) and improve your veterinary experience. Thanks.

Fridaycat

I would like a quick and accurate diagnosis (which I get from my vet 95% of the time); suitable medication or other treatment to quickly alleviate any pain or suffering that my cats might be going through; the two previous things to be provided at a fair and reasonable cost - which I honestly think my vet provides, especially after reading some posts on this board recently.

Overall, I am completely satisfied with my vet. They have been there whenever I've needed them at any time of day or night and I can't think of anything I would change about them.

Sorry if this does not help you in your quest for information, snowman2.

gettingready

I live near a 24/7 Animal Hospital so can be seen (my pets I mean not myself) pretty much at any time in any emergency - opening hours/contact for out of hours service is very important for me.

I often come across a problem with Zara - with her size no cab will take her so... would like the Vets to provide details of available pet taxis. If I call and say I need to get my dog to them and have no transport, they should be able to provide information on who may provide this kind of transport. My local mini cabs even have problems taking cats in baskets into their boot....

I would like to be told if there is an alternative meds to those perscribed - by alternative I mean something that may work as well and I can get elsewhere without having to pay the vet's prices. Example - Seraquin was over £35 per box at the vets but a fraction of that cost elsewhere and available without a prescription. I am paying for a consultation - I would like to be offered that information.

Ah...was that 3 things?

gettingready

Snowy Owl - feel for you.

Zara was recommended Rimadyl - I refused. Then Metacam - made her worse or no different. Arthritis and hips displasia.

Someone on here hinted Ester C for me - Zara has been on 2-3 tablets of Ester C (8.99 for 60 tablets from boots and 3 for the price of 2) and she is not limping, can have a good walk.

When I mentioned this to my vet - he never heard of it. Yes, not common knowledge but pls........if people on pet forums know - a vet should know too. Ah - and a bioflow collar - she is off Metacam since May and never looked/acted/felt better.

gettingready

A man runs into the vet's office carrying his dog, screaming for help. The vet rushes him back to an examination room and has him put his dog down on the examination table. The vet examines the still, limp body and after a few moments tells the man that his dog, regrettably, is dead.
The man, clearly agitated and not willing to accept this, demands a second opinion. The vet goes into the back room and comes out with a cat and puts the cat down next to the dog's body. The cat sniffs the body, walks from head to tail poking and sniffing the dog's body and finally looks at the vet and meows. The vet looks at the man and says, "I'm sorry, but the cat thinks that your dog is dead too."
The man is still unwilling to accept that his dog is dead. The vet brings in a black Labrador. The lab sniffs the body, walks from head to tail, and finally looks at the vet and barks. The vet looks at the man and says, "I'm sorry, but the lab thinks your dog is dead too."
The man, finally resigned to the diagnosis, thanks the vet and asks how much he owes. The vet answers, "$650." "$650 to tell me my dog is dead?" exclaimed the man.... "Well," the vet replies, "I would only have charged you $50 for my initial diagnosis. The additional $600 was for the cat scan and lab tests."

thegirlintheattic

Not to be patronised! This is my biggest problem with vets! I am fully aware of what will happen when my pet is put to sleep I don't need to be talked to like a 5-year old nor do I need to be referred to as my cat's sister!

To be given full information about the diagnosis. My parents recently took my cat to the vet and was told he had cancer of the liver, kidney and lymph nodes. I noticed when I saw him a week later that one eye was not reflecting and asked if the vet had mentioned cancer of the eye, parents said no. When we went to have him put down I read the notes which clearly said that my cat had had cancer in his eye and most likely his brain.

My vet however does always offer all the options and talks through them, even though sometimes I think it's not right to offer treatments that will only make the pet feel worse and not cure them (that is another matter).

Oliver14

Well I'd like vets not to be patronising. Not to give really stupid advice (some vets can be clueless) and some honesty.

bacardi66

Pretty much as other posters have said, I just want the vet I see to be honest and not to patronise me.

I was mortified when I went to pick one of my cats up from the vet after an op, the vet came into the (packed) waiting room and called out "Where is Sylvester's mummy?" I am my cats owner not their mummy!

Also some vets seem to give differing advice, about ten years ago I was told that one of my cats really needed to have a dental as a matter of urgency. I didn't get it done (mainly because I had recently lost another cat as a result of a general anaesthetic) since then and even at his most recent check up (he is 17 now) I get told what fantastic teeth he has and no one has ever again suggested any dental work!

The main problem about my vets is that it is a busy practice with staff who come and go so you never get to build up a relationship with one vet.

What its great about my vets is that they have open surgery at various times, every day of the week, mornings and evenings including Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings which is great when you have outdoor cats who take some catching and would be pointless making appointments for. They are also linked up to a very good (if very expensive) out of hours vet who can access all your pets records from their surgery.

Froglet

The vets I have used in the past(don't have any pets at present except lots of fish) have ,on the whole been good.What i would like to see now is a vet's practice treat wildlife for free,unless the person bringing them in is willing to pay.

I am a member of a hedghog forum,and help out at a hoggie hospital.There are a number of people who ask for help and tell us that their vet is not interested,or want to charge an absolute fortune,just for examining and giving life saving treatment to an injured creature,any wildlife,in fact.Or end it's suffering if that is the best outcome.

Members of the public are put off rescuing and helping wildlife(and by that i don't mean deer,badgers or foxes,as they should only be handled by experts at wildlife centres) because of the expense..But birds,hedgehogs,rabbits,etc could esily be helped.I have rescued quite a few in the past and my lovely local vets will take them in,and do their best for them ,at no charge.

Thanks for asking people's opinions,Snowman.What is your policy on this? Do you think it only right that wildife,who are at the mercy of humans(and sometimes,it is they who have caused the suffering in the first place) should be given a helping hand?

martinthebandit

Honesty above all else

Oh and why do all treatments seem to end up just below the threshold for claiming off my pet insurance?

That always seems a bit disreputable to me.

hotcookie101

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Not to be patronised! This is my biggest problem with vets! I am fully aware of what will happen when my pet is put to sleep I don't need to be talked to like a 5-year old nor do I need to be referred to as my cat's sister!
I don't like to patronise people, but I ALWAYS explain what will happen when a pet is PTS-and discuss what can sometimes happen, either before, during or after the injection (vocalisation, gasping, urinating, twitching etc) as owners can be VERY upset by these, and they are unfortunately not something we can predict or prevent) I'm sorry if this is patronising
To be given full information about the diagnosis. My parents recently took my cat to the vet and was told he had cancer of the liver, kidney and lymph nodes. I noticed when I saw him a week later that one eye was not reflecting and asked if the vet had mentioned cancer of the eye, parents said no. When we went to have him put down I read the notes which clearly said that my cat had had cancer in his eye and most likely his brain. Could that have just been a miscommunication? To be fair-we often have to go through things about 3 times with people to explain everything, especially find we spend 10 minutes explaining to Mr X, only have to go through it all again with Mrs X half an hour later....

My vet however does always offer all the options and talks through them, even though sometimes I think it's not right to offer treatments that will only make the pet feel worse and not cure them (that is another matter).I agree-but I have to offer it, as some people want to do that, will read online about what can be done and then complain we haven't discussed all possibilities

gettingready wrote: »

Snowy Owl - feel for you.

Zara was recommended Rimadyl - I refused. Then Metacam - made her worse or no different. Arthritis and hips displasia.

Someone on here hinted Ester C for me - Zara has been on 2-3 tablets of Ester C (8.99 for 60 tablets from boots and 3 for the price of 2) and she is not limping, can have a good walk.

When I mentioned this to my vet - he never heard of it. Yes, not common knowledge but pls........if people on pet forums know - a vet should know too. Ah - and a bioflow collar - she is off Metacam since May and never looked/acted/felt better. I have heard of ester c purely from posts on here. I have not read any peer-reviewed articles on its use, so I would not recommend it to a client. I am not anti-alternative treatments, I do acupuncture and feel physio and hydro can make a massive difference, but find a lot of my clients do not/cannot afford the costs associated with these

Froglet wrote: »

The vets I have used in the past(don't have any pets at present except lots of fish) have ,on the whole been good.What i would like to see now is a vet's practice treat wildlife for free,unless the person bringing them in is willing to pay.

I am a member of a hedghog forum,and help out at a hoggie hospital.There are a number of people who ask for help and tell us that their vet is not interested,or want to charge an absolute fortune,just for examining and giving life saving treatment to an injured creature,any wildlife,in fact.Or end it's suffering if that is the best outcome.

Members of the public are put off rescuing and helping wildlife(and by that i don't mean deer,badgers or foxes,as they should only be handled by experts at wildlife centres) because of the expense..But birds,hedgehogs,rabbits,etc could esily be helped.I have rescued quite a few in the past and my lovely local vets will take them in,and do their best for them ,at no charge.

Thanks for asking people's opinions,Snowman.What is your policy on this? Do you think it only right that wildife,who are at the mercy of humans(and sometimes,it is they who have caused the suffering in the first place) should be given a helping hand? All vets should provide emergency treatment of wildlife free of charge (its in our guide to prof conduct) However-that emergency treatment can include euthanasia. We work with local wildlife rehab places, so if something is viable, we will treat and send it on. However, if someone wants something done that is not in the best interest of the wildlife then I would charge for that (and that is only if they are taking on the responsibility for it-and I strongly advise against it, but some people seem to think pigeons can be happy with one wing :mad:)

Just a few points put in above, to try and clarify things. Its a damn hard job being a vet, sometimes I wish I'd done something else that would give me a much better quality of life, work-life balance (&lower suicide rate!) , but most of the time I really enjoy what I do.