Lydford Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Hi, I have recently started work for a local vet who is wanting to increase customers. There are a number of other vets in close proximity to the one I work for. Being very naive and as someone who has never had much contact with vets before, except for yearly boosters for my dog (fortunately I have a healthy dog), I did tell tell them that although they are supposed to love animals most vets are seen as being mercenary (although I appreciate they have a business to run), and most appear dull, functional and cold. But maybe that is just my experience! (and maybe I wont have my job for long!!) but I thought I would ask you Fugees: 1) what makes one vet practice stand out from another and 2) what would make you consider changing vets I have the following points to consider: A) Convenience - location and opening times B) Sense of caring C) Links with Animal Charities D) Parking availability E) Cheap prices F) Friendliness of staff G) In house facilities for operations H) The same vets I) Ability of vets J) Attracitiveness of waiting rooms K) Community Interest - i.e talks at shools etc. Are any of those in your top 3 for choosing or staying with your vet? If so which 3? (Just the letter will do) Also are you able to say what would attrect you to move from the vet you currently use? Thank you for taking part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobleronie Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Sense of caring would be my first tick of the list, but also as a Rescue then the co-operation with that Rescue. A lot of vets will not bill direct to the rescue in charge of the dogs and that makes it very hard for a foster home to have to to pay the bills then wait for it to be claimed back. We are very lucky and a few vets that our dedicated foster homes use will deal directly with us and are happy to bill us rather than take immediate payment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whizzie Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 B, H & I would be my top 3 The vet I use is not nearest, cheapest, most convenient or anything flash in terms of premises but I have faith in the vets & their teams. They do happen to be the vets for a local rescue which is why we chose initially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zico's mum Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 (edited) A;I;B A oddly enough first because of a journey across town during rush hour once with a very sick Zico was an utter nightmare.BUT that would only be the case if I and B were true.I do however think 24 hour cover is very important. You missed out vets who own Border Terriers so have only wonderful things to say when my dogs visit I did change vets once with Zico as I did not think they were taking his colitis seriously and doing enough to cure him.ETA neither were my current vet Another point is that my two absolutely adore going to the vet.If we are walking past they will pull to go in and are very disappointed if not allowed to (may of course have a lot to do with the big jar of treats on the counter) My surgery is one of two,the other being a rural practice so we don't always see the same vets but they all work the same day so if it's Monday it's the cute Irish vet with the soppy lab etc.... Another factor for me is the efficiency of auxiliary staff,the nurses and receptionists at mine are brilliant,really really caring and interested in all the animals that come in.They are also a goldmine of information re boarding kennels,dog walkers,groomers etc.There are 2 very big notice boards with lots of different ads on them - lost dogs,rescue dogs,holidays etc - as well as animals for sale too but guess that's to be expected.Oh and they have NEVER pushed any of the various foods they sell,will discuss when asked but even when Daisy was going to be weighed weekly - a service offered by nurses - did they try to persuade me to buy specialist foods. My vets practice is superb Edited January 17, 2009 by zico's mum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 My top requirement would be willingness to learn, but that's based more on my experience with the rabbits being treated than the dogs. I last changed practises to find one with more rabbit-specific knowledge which I guess would be I on your list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safneo Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 B, G, and I Only if something at my current vets upset me would I move or if they put up their prices an unreasonable level (or if they opened a more local branch). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpole Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 B) SENSE OF CARING plus being listened to and not dismissed as knowing nothing, i walk into my vets and say this is happening and i think it may be this and they listen to what i have to say. sometimes you take your dog to the vets because something just isnt right i dont want to be sent away with antibiotics i want to be interrogated about habits feeding and recent changes in health or behaviour to get to the root of the problem not fobbed off with anti b's H) I want to build a relationship with my vet and for them to build a relationship with my dog so that they can detect changes in health because it was they who saw the dog last time too. I) ability or enthusiasm i want a vet who either knows enough to detect a problem or who makes it their business to find out and doesnt give up. friendliness is also important its nice if your vet seems to remember you (even if they dont) something as simple as hello mrs smith and how is tiddles today are the tablets helping at all, found by checking the records before the patient enters can make people feel better than having to remind the vet why you are there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khanu Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 First and foremost - I. With the addition that they must be willing to listen to me and take me seriously when I say somethings wrong but I don't know what. My vet does that he's brilliant (well they all are at the practice actually). Then G - I live in the country and the ability for them to do operations on site is fairly important as it would be a long journey otherwise. Then B and F, I want people who care about my animals (and me when I'm worried or upset) who take their time in consultations, who listen and appreciate my opinions (whether they agree or not) who are happy to tell me why they think something is (I'm annoying I need to understand things). My vet is fab, they all are, and they hit everyone of the above as do the nursing staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophie Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I'd say B, F and I. The other thing, which may come under A I suppose, is out of hours cover. My vet uses vets now, who are based out of a surgery completely the other side of Reading from where we are (and where all 3 branches of the vets practices are). I am considering switching to the other local vet because they do their own out of hours cover - considering anything out of hours is going to be an emergency, I don't like the idea that I would have to drive for 40 minutes to get the dog to the vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslass Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 B F and I here too. I left two previous practices before I found the one we're with now, because I found the staff at the previous ones (including reception staff and nurses) to be cold, formal, patronising and not particularly good with animals. I don't expect vets to coo over my pets - though that is a bonus - but I do expect them to be sensitive in their handling of them, and to be sensitive to me when necessary, too. I am delighted with the service we have now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Grose Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 1) what makes one vet practice stand out from another and 2) what would make you consider changing vets I have the following points to consider: A) Convenience - location and opening times B) Sense of caring C) Links with Animal Charities D) Parking availability E) Cheap prices F) Friendliness of staff G) In house facilities for operations H) The same vets I) Ability of vets J) Attracitiveness of waiting rooms K) Community Interest - i.e talks at shools etc. Are any of those in your top 3 for choosing or staying with your vet? If so which 3? (Just the letter will do) Also are you able to say what would attrect you to move from the vet you currently use? Thank you for taking part. Hi Kate, I drive for 40 minutes to get to the vet I use so convenience is not a factor for me. I go to this particular vet because they have a holistic approach to treating animals. They offer acupuncture and some homeopathic advice and support me in the way I wish to treat my animals. There are two main vets who I see at the practice and they are very experienced and also are what I call intuitive vets. They have the ability to really get to the bottom of what is wrong. So of your list I guess I is at the top of my list with B and H in there too. The only thing that would cause me to change vets would be if a fantastically experienced homeopathic vet opened up in my village or if the two vets I use left the practice (but seeing as they are partners that is unlikely). I think what really makes one practice stand out from another are the vets that are at the practice, how they treat the animals and how they treat owners. What really makes me p****d off is when a vet thinks I am some dumb owner who doesn't have a clue and wants to hand out pain killers and antibiotics without knowing what is wrong with my dog and won't listen to my thoughts and suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redditchlady Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Hmmm a difficult one. If I can just say I changed vets 3 years ago. The main reason was my own vets dropped their 24 hour call out and used an "out of town" vets who had no access to my dogs records. My vets now are open 24/7 for emergencies and also allow a "tab" for foster dogs. They have been fantastic, caring and I could not wish for a better vets. Going back to the question A, B I Kazz x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizz Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 B F and G I negoitated a good discount we have 48 animals registered although 4 haven't visited cause they won't go in a trap - outside ferals I took 3 months to find a vet I liked when we moved 2 years ago and met with the owning partner who showed me round and gave me the same discount I had at my previus vets They order program injection s for the cats for us and have been wonderful through our losses and always treated our ferals with the same care as our domestic cats even at the end of their lives and let us visit any of the kids if they are in the hospital overnight or longer Ours are a country practice but treat all the animals and owners with respect and dignity and also allow us to have a CP account so that they get double discount on any CP cats we have at that time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Being a non-driver in a small town with only one vet practice I'm a bit of a captive audience. Luckily I'm very happy with my vets - it's a small practice with three vets and I know them all well by now. The staff are friendly and helpful and they've been very co-operative about setting up accounts for my foster dogs. They aren't cheap - but hey, you can't have everything. They are also open until quite late in the evening and on Sunday mornings, which is great because it cuts down the times when I might need to use the emergency vets in the nearest town. I've only been there once - it was very smart with fantastic facilities but extremely impersonal (and extremely expensive). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 First a caring attitude,( from all the staff), willing to spend a couple of minutes putting my animal at ease, if necessary. Listens to me and values my views of my animal's condition, is willing to discuss things with me and explain everything fully to me, including expected recovery time etc. In other words keeps me very much in the picture and makes me feel my animal is more than another number. Easy access to the surgery/ advice. My last vet had appointments up to 7pm and on a Saturday morning. My current vet- only one for 100 miles- is open during office hours Monday to Friday. They do however provide their own 24 hour cover. convenient and reliable access to out of hours cover. Value for money in charges. We all want cheap but good facilities and service come at a cost. I would change vets if I felt that another vet could offer me something that I valued that my current vet didn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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