Is it Time for a new Vet?

Ron Atkinson

Ron Atkinson

Premium Member
It has been a long week that I have used it to process this before I decided to write anything.
On Saturday evening while brushing Teddy, I found a bump on his left rear flank. Did not think to much about it. Got our the hydrogen peroxide and a Q-tip and treated the spot.
Checked on it regularly and as the weekend progressed it seemed to get slightly bigger.
Had many discussions with my wife about calling the emergency vet contact. She said he is acting normal and there is no need.So to keep peace I didn't but wanted to. (ie wife won.)
Called vet office first thing Monday morning, receptionist decided it could wait 2 weeks I said no it wont and the best I could get was Thursday.( On Thursday the clinic was empty )
It was the size of a rasin on Thursday and had a scab on it. When poked with a needle pus spewed out. Today it's the size of a grain of sand and they have me putting on a cream 2 times a day.
When the Doctor saw him he did a wonderful job and Teddy was treated good and was ok with this Doctor.
I guess my frustration is that they couldn't fit him in earlier or give me at home care instructions until he was seen.
Through our it all it never seemed to bother Teddy nor did he try to bother it. But it bothers me that after being a client for 23 years that was the best they could do.
I suppose I should be glad it was minor and will heal fine but I was very frustrated and disappointed.
Thanks all for letting me rant a little and yes I do feel better after typing this.
 
You know what Ron, sadly this is happening everywhere. My vet hospital had 3 vets out on medical leave at the same time, out of 5. It's been a challenge and a half sometimes getting in. In my case, I have my vet's cell number, so I do text her directly if it's something really important (like when Meadow had her seizure). She will call the office and squeeze me in somehow if she can. Good for you saying it couldn't wait 2 weeks. If something is growing daily it needs attention soon!

You might ask if your vet has a drop off policy. If they don't have any appointments, my vets will take drop offs and squeeze them in, or have the vet doing surgeries that day examine them. It's an option although your dog may be there all day.

Glad it was just a little abscess and easily treated.
 
They know me too well, Any time they have had any surgery situations. I bring a novel and sit in the waiting room until they are awake LoL.
I just want it to finish healing, then I will relax.
I did get a chuckle, As we were walking in the Sally Doors. There must be a pee-mail spot because Teddy had to stop and smell a few messages :)
 
I agree with Sharon (actually I would’ve said exactly what she said lol)…back in the early summer when I had to take Piper in for his UTI not only could I not get him in to see our regular vet but they initially wouldn’t have been able to see him for a week (they ended up kinda making up the time for an appointment at the end of the day) and then they fortunately had a cancellation. At the time our vet was on holidays and they had only 2 vets working in a 5 vet practice.
Unfortunately we have to deal with the front staff in order to make that appointment…I think it’s great for those that can text their vet directly (I wish I had my vet’s phone number!) because sometimes that office staff can make life very difficult.
I can understand your frustration, we’ve all been there! Good on you for standing your ground and not waiting 2 weeks!
 
I am glad Teddy is healing up. I would speak openly to your vet about it - not the receptionist - and listen to her response prior to ending a 20 year relationship.

I know in our area Covid and all the folks who got dogs who never had them before plus a lack of vets has put a strain on the entire system.

In September, I took the boys for a shot, I had the option of seeing a PA for it so I got right in. The woman next to me had been waiting and waiting, but she was okay with it - the reason for her delay was an emergency. The owner was pacing and crying outside - it didn't seem good.

When Deacon had his swollen muzzle, I did the drop in thing and they saw him in between stuff as they could. He spent the greater part of a day with them, but I am okay with that.
 
Everyone here has pretty much nailed it, Ron. I've been with my vet for more than 20 years too, and although if I call and say I need to get in TODAY they know it's serious and make it happen, regular appointments take a month to get where it used to be no more than a week.

My vet's office has lost several vets and tons of vet techs since Covid and they are all having real problems hiring new people. Any vet will tell you this is a nation-wide situation now. It's really sad, but human doctors are the same! You can't get in to them either quickly.

I agree that your best course is to have a direct conversation with your vet. It may not change things, but it's good to go on record that there's a problem. Meanwhile, I'm glad Teddy is healing well and you were able to get him treated. Keep us posted on how he's doing and give him a pat for us!
 
We have a single practitioner vet so it is the vet or the emergency Vet. I will say the office has been amazing working around emergencies and being honest when they just can't and telling us to go to the emergency vet even though in our area that has meant they can lose customers as the local emergency also has a regular vet program. She does put the needs of the animals over her loss of client if it means the animal is seen when she legitimately has no openings.

I agree with Sandy there has been a huge increase in new dog and pet owners in general and it has put a strain on vet services. I haven't seen a matching surge in new vets in the area despite a large increase in the local animal population. In fact one large animal vet retired and the land is now a development sadly. That Vet office had been there since I was a kid. From what I understand they couldn't find anyone to buy the practice and ultimately the family just decided to cash in on the land.

It is not unlike regular medical care in this area. My primary care office went to concierge model where you have to pay to belong to the practice on top of your insurance and copays. That was not optimal for me so I went looking for another primary in the same medical system and the earliest new patient appt I could get was May. This was August. Not a physical just an appt that makes you an established patient so if you get sick you can make an appt with someone in the practice. Thankfully I found an independent practice still associated with the system but I'm assigned primarily to a NP not the main doc. You take what is available. We have huge medical shortages in all areas of care human and animals.

I agree with Sheep of the Blue it is one thing to research what is available in the area. However, you may find that what you while frustrating is the result of the changing industry. Before chucking the vet I'd work with the Vet and do some research into what's around in the area. It used to be quite common in this area for people to vet shop. Every few years they'd feel they needed something different, they'd heard about a better vet, newer techniques, etc.

Sometimes they were right. I have our current Vet because my parents left a vet they'd used forever when they realized it was primarily a well dog vet. A place you could go for yearly exams and shots but the first time they had a dog with a chronic illness the Vet completely missed it because they did shots and basics. If the dog wasn't bleeding or limping it must be fine. They moved to the vet we have today and when DH and I got our first Sheltie we started using her. She has been amazing with our dogs.

Since COVID the people who used to switch regularly are now only switching when the vet closes because its getting harder to find a regular vet and they don't perhaps want to go back to one they burnt a bridge with in a prior situation. There aren't that many "new" options.
 
I have always been a client of 2 different Veterinary practices. One that is 10 miles away with 2 very good Doctors and years ago sold out to a large group and1 local that just recently did the same. So they are going through growing pains.
This is the first time that the reception person didn't have a Vet Tech decide how soon he should be seen.
So that in a nutshell is my frustration. And yes I did talk to the Doctor about it and have an agreed upon plan for the next time their services are needed
 
It's hard when practices sell out because even when they retain staff the rules of operation aren't always what you had before when the practice was run by the person you went to because you liked the practice. Obviously we've had the same Vet so it hasn't been an issue with the dogs but I've experienced this with human care. Hopefully it shakes out but as I've learned with my human practices changing hands sometimes they lack the freedom to operate the way they did previously when they come under new management.

I had to laugh when you said you're vet was 10 miles away and then there was a local vet. That is so awesome that you have so many close options. There is a Vet in town but I've yet to find anyone who recommends them. Clearly someone must use them or they'd have gone out of business years ago but it's still a decent drive across town to get to the "local vet." Our Vet is the next town over. Even when the older dogs were struggling it was never much of an issue. Teddy, still has a bit of an issue with motion sickness that we are still hoping he'll outgrow. There is a Vet or more in most of the local towns around but I can't imagine a local vet closer than 10 miles.:)
 
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