vets - do you think its ok to ask that a vet at the practice doesnt see to my pets

rustyboy21

You have no reason to even question whether it is ok to ask that you only see particular vets in the practice, I would feel the same myself in your circumstances.


We have a great Vet, who saw to Rusty from the day we rescued him, to the day we had to have him PTS, in all 16 years. We worked out quite early on that he didn't like one of the male vets. He had a manner about him and Rusty used to have to have a muzzle put on, even to take his temperature. I couldn't even get near him with this vet.


I used to ask for any of the female vets or the head one Brian, who is well known and does radio talk shows locally. When we saw them, there was no muzzle, they could check his teeth, I used to have his head in the crook of my neck if they were doing his claws and he always came out happy and content, not stressed at all.


With Tibsey the cat, we have been a couple of times, she has seen 2 of the female vets and is fine too. Brian the head one, saved Rusty's life, after he came out of kennels with Parvo when he was 14. We got him back 3 days later acting like a big puppy.


You pay for their services, you should have some choice on who you and most importantly your pets feel ok with. If they don't like it, find another vet.

emmita

rustyboy21 wrote: »

You have no reason to even question whether it is ok to ask that you only see particular vets in the practice, I would feel the same myself in your circumstances.


We have a great Vet, who saw to Rusty from the day we rescued him, to the day we had to have him PTS, in all 16 years. We worked out quite early on that he didn't like one of the male vets. He had a manner about him and Rusty used to have to have a muzzle put on, even to take his temperature. I couldn't even get near him with this vet.


I used to ask for any of the female vets or the head one Brian, who is well known and does radio talk shows locally. When we saw them, there was no muzzle, they could check his teeth, I used to have his head in the crook of my neck if they were doing his claws and he always came out happy and content, not stressed at all.


With Tibsey the cat, we have been a couple of times, she has seen 2 of the female vets and is fine too. Brian the head one, saved Rusty's life, after he came out of kennels with Parvo when he was 14. We got him back 3 days later acting like a big puppy.


You pay for their services, you should have some choice on who you and most importantly your pets feel ok with. If they don't like it, find another vet.

Thank you for your advice and its good to know that people have very positive things to say about their vets.

I'm going to be more pro active in future and request a certain vet.

gettingready

Really sorry about your rabbit, poor little one

I, like most people on here make appointment with a named vet and not just an appointment as such when I do not know which vet I will be seeing.

There is few vets where I take my lot (4 cats and a dog) and I know which vet is good/better for what issue.

I never make appointments for weekends as I know they use locum vets at the weekends and continuity of care for my pets (per condition) is very important to me.

For example there are 2 ortho vets and those are the ones I take Zara (dog) to see what it is anything ortho related, there is a dermatologist vet whom we see if any of my lot got any skin issues.

There is also one vet who is such clearly a cat person and best with cats that I see her with my cats.

2 of mine went for dental recently and I specifically requested for this vet to do the procedure - and she did on one of the cats as other one turned out to have kidney issues so dental could not be done at the time but he is booked now for the 7th July and again THIS vet will do his dental.

When you call - ask for a specific vet. Simples. You are the customer, you pay the bills and you have every right to request to see who you want to see and who you are comfortable with.

My vets always do it and once when the vet I requested an appointment with had a family emergency and was not going to be in - reception called me asking if I am happy to see someone else or do I want to reschedule. And I did reschedule.

All the best

xx

Shoshannah

emmita wrote: »

Vet B said when i took her in that rabbits often have problem with sinus after having the teeth rasped. When I took her back the rabbit wasn't eating or drinking, also had problem breathing. I was given medicine for the rabbit which actually it was Mum who said she had the same medicine for the dog loxicom and it was a painkiller.

When I took the rabbit back tonight she had lost too much weight to even fight for her life.

I can understand that these things happen and that's partly why I don't want to complain about vet b. Am sure vets do a very good job, taking care of our sick animals. Just feel she was practising as my rabbit had had this procedure done twice before with no return visits.

What a shame.

For the record - the prescription of Loxicom is normal and acceptable. There are no rabbit painkillers available, so vets must use dog or cat ones. It's good that your bunny had pain relief prescribed at all as it often gets forgotten for the poor little guys.

The difficulty with rabbit anaesthetics, and particularly dental procedures, is that they are not ideal when repeated often. I have known of rabbits who have had their teeth done every couple of months for two or three years and then - suddenly - one procedure is just too much for them.

Other rabbits hit difficulty with the very first anaesthetic, get through it - and yet are fine if they are forced to undergo a second.

They've found in studies that a significant proportion of rabbits have subclinical (ie showing no detectable outward symptoms) respiratory disease when they are admitted for anaesthesia. The procedure can be enough to decompensate them.

I know none of this will be of any help with your poor bunny.

It might help to speak to the practice manager about your concerns. Sometimes, sad as it is, it really is just one of these things. But at least it will give them the opportunity to review their procedures and protocols and ensure nothing else can be done to prevent similar incidences in the future.

When you make an appointment, just request a certain vet. Most practices will be able to accommodate you. Just be prepared that you may not always be able to see your first choice of vet in an emergency or at weekends etc.

Big love xx

trolleyrun

There are 4 vets at the practice where I take Pipsqueak to. I've only ever seen two of them. Vet X did her spaying and vet Y did the post OP check-up. Vet Y gave me a spiel about needing to put Pipsqueak under anaesthetic to sort her teeth out, but gave me toothpaste etc in the meantime. I then went to see vet X about something or other and mentioned the teeth situation. He showed me how to deal with it and adviced me to try that method first, as he doesn't like to put any anymal under if he can help it. Pipsqueak's teeth are now fine without any other intervention. Vet X's advice saved me worry, money and has ensured I always ask for him when I book an appointment. The receptionists don't bat an eyelid when I ask for vet X, so I'd definitely ask for a vet by name.

emmita

Thanks shoshannah! You really know your stuff .

And thanks to gettingready and trolleyrun

I will tomorrow print off a list of the partners, vets and nurses and put with my pets files and start requesting a vet by name. Seems a good way to go.

Pressumably if your pet needs a procedure and you request to see vet z you also request vet z does the op?

Shoshannah

emmita wrote: »

Thanks shoshannah! You really know your stuff .

And thanks to gettingready and trolleyrun

I will tomorrow print off a list of the partners, vets and nurses and put with my pets files and start requesting a vet by name. Seems a good way to go.

Pressumably if your pet needs a procedure and you request to see vet z you also request vet z does the op?

Yeah, you can request that too. It's fine to ask for a certain vet for anything, just might mean a bit more flexibility on your part and, as I said, worth having a think about whether you're happy to see anyone in an emergency, weekend appointments etc.

KxMx

There is a Vet where I take my cat whom we both prefer... so I always ask for him when booking an appointment and this has never been an issue.

reehsetin

I'm so sorry I haven't read all posts but I wanted to respond anyway. It's so tricky to get the right vet for your bunny as so many are not trained (unless they specialise in exotic animals they get very very minimal training on rabbits). Luckily after I found out how little most vets know I managed to find alternative vets before any permanent damage and I now have fab vets who are amazing with bunnies. I would certainly let the practice know you'd like an alternative vet. I recommend taking a look at the RWAF's vet info if you haven't already - http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/?section=veterinary.html

lostinrates

Shoshannah wrote: »

Yeah, you can request that too. It's fine to ask for a certain vet for anything, just might mean a bit more flexibility on your part and, as I said, worth having a think about whether you're happy to see anyone in an emergency, weekend appointments etc.

This was going to be my point too.

If I want emergency care I want to know I can have faith in whoever is the vet on call.

We left our horse practise because they assured us a particular locum would not be listed to see us after making an error and I felt if I needed an emergency vet I wanted to know the vet on call was a vet I could trust.

Our current small animal vets are not the closest by far, but we can get to them in fair time in an emergency and they are all people I trust. Mistakes? Occasionally, but they put them right. ( had a med issueing error and a couple of billing ones)