How do you choose a new vet?

[MisfitBrian]

Just Googling I found Acres North Veterinary Hospital. 5 of their 7 Vets are Aggies. They also get good reviews on Yelp. You might ask around to see if anyone you know has used them. You can also go check it out before you take your pup there & get a feel for the place.

 

[Silaria]

Word of mouth is often the best advertisement for a service, including veterinary services. You've gotten some great advice on how to find your new vet. Personally, if you find someone you are interested, call and schedule a time to sit and talk to them, no animals, so you can ask questions and, essentially, interview them.

Personally, I go to a national chain but the vets I work with are highly competent, great "bedside" manner, not quick to euthanize, are open to alternative treatments like laser therapy and chiropractic, and don't push vaccinations (lyme, kennel cough, K9 flu, etc.) or foods on you.

The two vets I see there graduated from Ohio State University and University of Pennsylvania.

 

[Ann]

I went to the "vet everybody used in town" for years when we moved here, until my first Sheltie died in one day from a cancer he failed to diagnose, when I'd had her in the week before. I saw the warning signs...he required yearly vaccines, assembly line five-minute visits, no interest in listening to me, etc., but he was convenient, and local. My fault, and my dogs suffered.

I did a consult visit to the vet 40 minutes from me that everyone left this guy for with Pixie, who had seizures from puppyhood. First vet wanted to just put her on phenobarb at six months of age. I refused, and made the consult appointment.

I've been with the second vet now for years, and he is more than worth the drive. He practices both mainstream and holistic medicine, and he cured Pixie with holistic medications. We use traditional medicine most of the time, unless holistic is an option. Frequently, it isnt, but he's always willing to consider other options, and offer every treatment available. He will also refer me to specialists if the problem is out of his area of expertise.

You want a vet who will treat you as a partner in your dogs' care, not as someone on the end of the leash who writes the checks. S/he should be willing to discuss treatments with you, if more than one is available. S/he should be available for questions by phone...everything does not require a visit, or an office fee. My vet solves 50 percent of my issues over the phone, with no fee. It's a good thing...his prices are some of the highest in the area. But he's worth it, and so are my dogs..

Finally, I think it's very important that you can relate to your vet. If you don't like the person and don't feel you can talk to him/her, it's a bad fit. If the vet is cursory or insensitive to your concerns and questions, it's a bad fit. The only way to determine this is to go and talk with the vet and ask the questions. It doesn't have to take long, just a few minutes will give you an idea. Then do a consult with your dog and see how they handle your pet.

It's a process, but well worth the time for a vet who will be there when you really need him, with the care you want for your precious pooch. It's a lesson I learned the hard way.

 

[JLSOhio51]

... You've gotten some great advice on how to find your new vet. Personally, if you find someone you are interested, call and schedule a time to sit and talk to them, no animals, so you can ask questions and, essentially, interview them.

Personally, I go to a national chain but the vets I work with are highly competent, great "bedside" manner, not quick to euthanize, are open to alternative treatments like laser therapy and chiropractic, and don't push vaccinations (lyme, kennel cough, K9 flu, etc.) or foods on you...

Thank you Salaria. That is exactly what I was saying. Choose how you choose - but do your own research based upon all the facts available to you.

 

[missjenneygirl]

JLSOhio51....

Holy Toledo! What I wrote was only my own opinion. In no way is it meant to be the Holy Grail.

Common sense should be the first and foremost guide.

With the number of dogs that I have, and have been breeding for many, many years, I feel I have some insight into the subject. I would say, I am not the average client.

I think everyone here will make the right decision for themselves. That goes without saying.

I found your post to my response particularly nit-picking.

 

[JLSOhio51]

JLSOhio51....

Holy Toledo! What I wrote was only my own opinion...
I found your post to my response particularly nit-picking.

I'm sorry that you feel that way, but expressing my opinion was all I was doing. The reason I removed your screen name from the quotes that I selected was because I have no issue with you. I did have issue with your point of view (one that seems to be widely held here, so I responded). Moving forward, I will try not to comment on your posts. Again, I am sorry that you took my comments personally.

 

[The Quahog]

, and yearly vaccine after yearly vaccine. They offer "health plans" to offset those yearly vaccine costs, of course.

To return to the original poster's query - I think this is a decent way to get a bit of a feel for a place without the third degree. 'I'm changing veterinarians right now and not sure what my dogs are due for. Can you tell me what your standard vaccine schedules are ?'
I think you can get a good impression by not only the answer they give but the way they give it.
I also agree with the second part of the above quote. Personally i would avoid gimmicks. In Florida, for example, it is not uncommon for veterinarians to have coupons you can clip from the Yellow Pages for a free exam. Aggressive marketing is a bit of an alarm bell for me.

 

[PatC]

I prefer old time vets, preferably that also deal in something else. Of the two vets I see regularly, one is also a large animal vet, and the other also deals in birds and reptiles. It shows a bit of variety. My debark vet also does large animal. I find these types are much more reasonable and less prone to go straight to the worst possible outcome.

I find it really interesting that you said that--the vet I finally landed with sees birds and other "exotics," including reptiles and bunnies; the practice is 100 years old and also sees large animals, and farm animals. (There was a chicken coming in for an appointment last time I was there.) And the vet has zero bedside manner--if she thinks you're an idiot, you know this very quickly. But she has three Corgis and a Sheltie and an abundance of parrots, and if she thinks you take good care of your anmals, then she is endlessly helpful. And she told me she brings her own animals to this practice--that clinched it.

 

[Tabitha]

I find it really interesting that you said that--the vet I finally landed with sees birds and other "exotics," including reptiles and bunnies; the practice is 100 years old and also sees large animals, and farm animals. (There was a chicken coming in for an appointment last time I was there.) And the vet has zero bedside manner--if she thinks you're an idiot, you know this very quickly. But she has three Corgis and a Sheltie and an abundance of parrots, and if she thinks you take good care of your anmals, then she is endlessly helpful. And she told me she brings her own animals to this practice--that clinched it.

This made me laugh! Your vet sounds like me!

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

And the vet has zero bedside manner--if she thinks you're an idiot, you know this very quickly.

Oh yes. My favorite vet falls right into this. I've heard her scathe people for their animals being obese. No holds barred. Also one of the finest surgeons I've known. I told the owner that I was terrified she would retire, then where would I be? He said he's more worried about her getting kicked by a horse.