10 Tips to Choose a Vet

[RedGlitter]

From Peta Newsletter:



Do you know what happens in your veterinarian’s back room? Unfortunately, not every vet is a dog’s best friend. During a PETA investigation into a veterinary office, an undercover investigator videotaped veterinarian Howard Baker, who was generally well liked and trusted by his clients, as he punched and choked the cats and dogs in his care. To ensure that this will not happen to your dog or cat, you must know your veterinarian, observe your animal companion, and be familiar with your rights. Here are 10 things that you can do to ensure that your dog or cat is being treated well behind the scenes:

1 Ask to see a copy of the veterinarian’s license. It should be posted in the public area of the clinic.

2 Check with the Better Business Bureau and your local state veterinary board to see if there have been any complaints or disciplinary actions against or investigations into the veterinarian in question.

3 Ask for a tour of the clinic; if you are refused, take your animal elsewhere. The clinic should be clean and orderly. Animals should be housed comfortably in clean cages or kennels.

4 Ask friends and family for referrals. Recommendations for trusted veterinarians can be invaluable.

5 Observe your animal. Is your companion handshy around the veterinarian, as though expecting a slap or a blow? Does he or she cower or urinate when the veterinarian enters the room?

6 Observe the veterinarian. Is he or she nervous or irritable? Does he or she go into the back room for even simple procedures? Are the technicians rough when handling your animal?

7 Always exercise your right to be with your animal at all times. If the veterinarian or technicians want to take your companion to another room, insist on going along. If they refuse, don't hesitate—take your animal and leave.

8 If your animal must stay overnight (and always question this), make sure someone is going to be there to monitor him or her at all times. If not, take your animal home where there will be constant supervision.

9 Ask questions. A good veterinarian should explain what he or she is doing—and why—at all times.

10 For any major medical concerns, seek a second or third opinion. You are entitled to copies of your animal companion’s medical records and x-rays.



If you believe that an animal has been mistreated, take him or her to another veterinarian for a thorough examination. If you have evidence of malpractice, you can file a complaint with the veterinary licensing board in your area. Contact local law-enforcement officials if you witness outright cruelty. Always keep records and take photographs.

[chonsigirl]

Very good advice.

I am lucky to have a very nice vet, my bunnies and kitty go for their regular checkups and he is good. He always tells me everything he he is checking, why he is, what he will look at next, etc.

You choose a vet like you would a family doctor, because your pet is a family member.

[valerie]

While I don't like PETA as an organisation on the whole, these are
pretty good tips. I want to present a bit of an opposing viewpoint
on some of them.

3. Tours of clinics: Make sure you don't just blast in a vet's office
and demand a tour. A refusal to let you tour might have very good
reasons behind it. There are animals who could become overly
excited and cause some harm to themselves or the vet staff. Some
procedures might involve the use of needles, and a dog who jumps
upon seeing a tour come in the room could pull out an IV. There
also could be some animals in conditions that the average person
shouldn't see. I would not have liked to have a tour go through
when Tamsen was lying there after her amputation.

Make an appointment to tour if you feel you must, and accept what
time you're given. I personally haven't felt the need, but it DOES
involve trust.

5. Animals hand shy with vet: This is a point to watch only if your
animal doesn't exhibit that behavior any other time. Puppies in
particular will experience submissive urination, it doesn't mean that
at some other point the vet or staff has harmed your animal. The
sights, smells, and sounds of a vet's office can make your animal
react in ways it wouldn't ordinarily. Most vets will agree to having
you bring your pet in even when you don't have an appt., spend a
little time in the waiting room, or put your dog on the scale if it's
in the main office area. Get your pet accustomed to the place
without having to endure shots or procedures. Tamsen says "Cookies
help".

7. Insisting on being with your animal at all times: This is probably the
one that bothers me the most. I have so much experience with
animals who do need to be taken out of the owner's presence. Dogs
in particular can behave very differently when you are there. They
can be a lot harder for staff to handle, they feel stronger having
their person with them. Take them out of sight, and they completely
change their tune. So I would not insist on being with them if they
need to be taken out. There are the same considerations about going
into a room with other animals, and the same trust issues. But I am
confident with Tamsen's care and would let her "go in the back" ANY
time it was needed.

(An aside, my vet and her staff are so caring that the last time Tamsen
needed a check-up, they CAME OUT TO THE CAR.)

8.Monitoring overnight stays and taking your animal home: I was wrong
with Number 7... THIS is the one that bothers me the most. Please
DO NOT try to take your animal home. Find a qualified place to take
your pet. Are you a vet tech yourself, would you know what to do in all
cases... your animal loses an IV? (happened to Tamsen) Spikes a temp?
Starts bleeding from a wound? It's a disaster waiting to happen. Let
somebody stay with your pet who knows exactly what to do in an
emergency. There isn't a 911 to call to take your pet to help if they
need it. (Except in some rare cases!)

Finally, I did all the above thinking that BR might not get on and
see this for a few days. She might very well have other things to
say on the subject. She has been a vet tech and can speak from
that point of view. Please consider she might even have an opposite
viewpoint to mine.
(Edited to add: Sorry, Cheshire Cat!! The same thing applies:
She KNOWS. I'd be interested in seeing what she has to say!)

Thanks for reading, it's all for the animals!!

[RedGlitter]

They forgot Number 11: Gut Feeling. Being in rescue I have worked with a lot of vets and there have been some that I couldn't "stomach " for unknown reasons and I took my animal elsewhere.

[valerie]

Originally Posted by RedGlitter

They forgot Number 11: Gut Feeling. Being in rescue I have worked with a lot of vets and there have been some that I couldn't "stomach " for unknown reasons and I took my animal elsewhere.

Very good point.

On the whole, I really admire vets. Think about what they have to go
through in school. Studying systems of different animals. Human M.D.s
only study the human system.

I had an experience with an animal hospital that wasn't because of the
vets there, it was because of the office practices, which were TERRIBLE.
I'd call to get a prescription filled, and they'd want me to come in DAYS
later. Heck, even Longs only asks you to call 24 hours in advance.

Only one vet did I think wasn't good, and that one didn't even look in
Tamsen's ears when I brought her in with a complaint about infection.

He must have been the one who got all C's in school!

[daBunnyWendy7]

I live in crafting bunnyopolis! Three bunnies,2 swet,friendly guinea pigs ,2 kitties and asilly pug.My pet go to a great vet that specializes in unusual animals,exotics.The only thing we had a problem w was Squeakers' repeat infections in his sutures after being snipped.We bought a female guinea pig.They said G.Pigs have a prdilliction or infections down the road after being altered.Felt bad doing it but not everyone takes care of their animals & hubby said no way were we going to risk Chunkymonkey getting pregnant.Anyone have exotics?They're just part of the family