Vets - What Do You Think - Feedback Please?

[lil_angel]

I chose my vets due to them specialising in small animals and exotics and also due to its location as at the time I didnt drive. I find the staff caring and give good medical advice for the animals I have taken there. Also I can get appointments which fit in with work. I have faith in my vet so intend to keep going to the same one. The out of hours service is also based at the same practise which is handy.

[DanishPastry]

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.

those things are important to me. We have found a great vet practice here, our vet is Belgian and very chatty! He always explains things very thoroughly, and he always listen to us as we "know our animals best" (his words), and is never afraid to reveal "traid secrets" etc .

We see the same vet, unless an emergency where he may not be in, but the other vet is also good.

He is calm and friendly to the animals, and the dogs know where he keeps the treats!

All the nurses and receptionists are very friendly, always a smile and friendly chat.

I get a 10% discount via my job, which is nice, but not a deciding factor.

We have had 2 dogs in for surgery, and both have come out of it really well, with great after care and check ups.

[chickentikka]

The vets I used to use had a wonderful vet, who never dismissed me if i took a dog in 'cos it's just not right', he trusted my judgement. He would take time to explain x rays, drew me pictures of a dogs ear canal, moved heaven and earth to get Laika to a specialist when she was ill and cried with me when she died as a result of a bad reaction to the procedure the specialist did. He even drove over to collect her body so she was looked after until she was cremated. He left to return home to New Zealand and the vets pratice became part of a chain. At first his replacement was very good, she diagnosed Barney's cancer and fought through the very tough early part of his illness until we got him on an even keel. We had to go away for a week and I didn't want to put Barney in kennels, so he stayed at the vets in the day (usually helping out at reception) and she took him home at night. Prior to Barney being ill we fostered puppies and the vets had an unofficial rota as to who would see our new arrivals and give them the once over.

 

Everything suddenly seemed to change - the prices went sky high, if you went in for anything, just boosters, they'd recommend a dental. They did a stupid annoying triage system, where you told a receptionist what was wrong, a vet nurse would then come in and ask practically the same questions, then you'd see a vet - oh and they took a photo of your dog - kerchung.

 

Daisy had to have a tooth out as it was broken. She had got picky eating, I felt inside her mouth and could feel a rough edge to a back tooth. It took 2 visits for them to get that right even though I had told them that was the problem. Then the nightmare began. Daisy was never right after her tooth extraction. I was taking her back every other day, Daisy was losing weight rapidly and wasn't herself at all but they treated me as if I was making it all up. They eventually admitted her and after a few days, when we had been visiting and questioning with no answers, they rang and just said they couldn't do anymore for her we'd best bring er home. Ex went and got her - they sent her home with her drip needle still in, no vet spoke to him and she was covered in her own sh*t. We immediately took her to another practice who said she needed urgent specialist treatment and we then had to get our vets to refer her. Ex took her down to the specialists, Daisy was riddled with infections, her body was shutting down, she held on until I could join her then went to the bridge in my arms.

 

So that's why I changed vets.

 

I want a vet who will listen. tell me the truth, take time to explain things and if you have to leave your dog there overnight there will be someone qualified to check up on them.

[Wendbert]

I) Ability of vets

G) In house facilities for operations

B) Sense of caring

 

 

I've got great vets - a consulting branch down the road and the main hospital 15-20 minutes away. I was recommended them by a friend when I had rabbits, so 10 years BD (before Dogs ). The service has always been excellent, I see the same vets and they have 24 hour nursing cover at the hospital.

 

As they are a large practise, they have different specialists plus in house lab facilities which speeds up time waiting for blood results. As well as their specialists, they have access to specialists in different area's of veterinary medicine and having had what feels like so many ill dogs, knowing that they can recommend the best vet for us to be referred to makes the world of difference.

 

They run their own out of hours service and when I have needed to use it, the vet on call phones back and makes arrangements to meet me at the hospital where they of course have access to my dogs records. I'm very glad I don't have to phone a generic number where the person who deals with me has no history etc.

 

Each morning they have an update meeting, so if I've taken a dog in and the overnight vet has gone off duty, the other staff are fully aware of what's going on etc, which is very reassuring for me.

 

When Dolly was poorly, Malcolm, our favourite vet, was calling and updating when he was on holiday and emailing me in the evenings with info etc as he received it, so its great to have a vet that goes the extra mile when I've got a sick dog.

[reds]

The one thing I love about my vets is that they are a 24 hr hospital so even though they charge the earth for out of hours I know that they are right on my doorstep any time, any day.

 

The one thing that I really don't like is that it's not easy to get continuity of care unless you specifically ask for the same vet and they're on at the same time you want the appt. for.

 

Caring definitely. There is a vet nurse there who is the main receptionist and she has been at the same practice even longer than I have. She recognises me by voice on the phone and has been absolutely fantastic sorting out all the foster animals and our own and is always genuinely sympathetic, friendly and helpful. If the vets could be like that I would think them 100% golden!

 

For instance, I've had two dogs with them (one was Princess Twiggy) who had terminal illnesses and who therefore saw the vets a lot and they knew everything that we were going through. It's actually built up a good relationship now with the one vet as he knows me so well BUT not one of the two vets ever said they were sorry, either at the time, or when I was next in, when they sadly passed away. Just a little card, a note, a word, anything would have made such a big difference and shown that they cared.

 

Ease of access is another. The horse branch of the same practice is a nightmare to get to and a right faff, so I just ask for everything to be sent to the small animal branch and I collect from there.

 

Oh and please lets not always have about 10 frequently rotating newly qualified or very inexperienced vets on at once - with vets experience really does make the world of difference.

[lots of lurchers]

I think B, H and I would be the top of my list. (And F, I need a choice of 4 )

 

I changed vets a number of times before I found the wonderful vets that we go to now.

 

The first one I left because they were inflexible towards the needs of my dog. I wanted to take her in for a skin scrape as I was not sure if she had a flea allergy or something else. I rang up and was told I would have to take her in at 8am and leave her there all morning. When I explained that I really did not want to do that because we had only had her a week and she was a nervous dog in poor condition that we were feeding 4/5 times a day. She said they would feed her. I asked if there was any possible way that I could bring her in later, no. I asked when the skin scrape would be done and she said after surgery. I even offered to take her in for the last consultation and stay while they took her to do the job. She said "Hold on a minute I will go and ask". She came back too soon to have asked anyone and said no! So I changed vets there and then. They were not interested in the welfare of my dog at all.

 

The next vet I left because he would not listen to what I was telling him about my dog. He handled my dog roughly and had a really unpleasant attitude towards me.

 

My vets are wonderful they are on a par cost wise with the other two vets, but the two vets are lovely and caring. They are good communicators and ring you after ops and will ring you back if you have had a problem or a concern after an operation. With there only being two of them you know there is some consistency in care. The nurses have been there years and are very helpful and gentle with the dogs. Ditto the two receptionists. The only downside for me is that two years ago they changed who is their emergency cover - it is the practice I left first!

[khanu]

Just a little card, a note, a word, anything would have made such a big difference and shown that they cared.

 

Yes, when we had Kayla put to sleep my vet was wonderful, as was the nurse. They held my hand, handed me tissues, let me stay with Kayla as long as i wanted. When I went to pay afterward he told me not to be silly and we would sort it out later. Two days later we got a hand written letter from him which meant the world. He knew I was struggling with my decision and so wrote that he thought I had done the right thing, that Kayla had had a wonderful year with us and that he was very sorry for our loss. My vet Bill is wonderful

[billydog]

B, G & I

 

not in that order.

 

I want to take my boys to the best vets possible, and for me the best vets are the ones who treat them correctly and with the best techniques. I also want the dogs to be comfortable with the vets, and I also count an ability to handle animals calmly and confidently as part of this ability.

I do however think that a caring attitude is very important too - I like to think that my vet will do his or her damndest to treat my boys because they actually care. Also think nurses and other staff should have this attitude.

 

I like my vets to have as many in house facilities as possible so treatment can be carried out quickly and efficiently if necessary. Not as bothered about non-emergency things like hydro on site.

[celeste]

B, G & I

 

not in that order.

 

I want to take my boys to the best vets possible, and for me the best vets are the ones who treat them correctly and with the best techniques. I also want the dogs to be comfortable with the vets, and I also count an ability to handle animals calmly and confidently as part of this ability.

I do however think that a caring attitude is very important too - I like to think that my vet will do his or her damndest to treat my boys because they actually care. Also think nurses and other staff should have this attitude.

 

I like my vets to have as many in house facilities as possible so treatment can be carried out quickly and efficiently if necessary. Not as bothered about non-emergency things like hydro on site.

 

Says it all for me

Edited January 17, 2009 by celeste

[gremlin22]

Think it depends what it's for..in general, for cats at least, i use my local vet who was chosen becuase he's open 7 days a week.I suspect I have paid over the odds but the vet is so friendly and helpfull and he remembers me and my pets which is always a good sign, saves a lot of time explaining previous visits, and i trust him. Also when i've had fosters before straight from the pound he used to see them and do routine things like flea or worm for free for me as he knew it was for rescue.recently however he took on a second vet, and although he is friendly, he doesn't listen very well and only half remebers things. last time i took a dog to him he said " this dog was 12kg's last visit, it's losing weight what are you doing"..i said no..it was 11 kg last visit you said 12 was a target weight for this one week checkup.he re read his notes and relised it was his mistake. Anyway i try and avoid the new vet now, also my vets are trying to charge £37 quid for a cat booster..not a kitten course..just the booster..i have 3 cats all due on the same day and last year after the new vet started they charged a £20 appointment fee too..so my cats will be going elsewhere for routine vaccs, it's a 20 mile drive but will save around £60.For emergency stuff in hours i will still go to my usual vets becuase they do know my cats at least and i wouldn't make my animals go further than necessary when ill or in pain.My dog goes to the vets in the same building i work in so she can come with me for the day and stay in one of their kennels if need be but i can be with her for the appointment.

[Jasmine]

Very interesting thread and even though I'm very emotional at the moment I changed my vets 15 months ago and am so glad I did so even though my last vet had hospital status and I thought he was actually a good vet but no feelings whatsoever. He was also very arrogant and thought he knew best and never listened to what you had to say. In fact he treated you like a imbecile, I've heard this view since from several of his ex customers. No wonder they keep ringing me up offering discounts as I had four dogs.

 

He was very expensive and I had the impression that he'd do anything to earn him more money. The vet I changed to was a young vet just starting out who was a lot nearer. But he got to know Rosie so well and really bonded with her, he'd also never rush you and would ring and explain things that took him 1/2 hour or so. He has a good reputation and would listen to you, he'd never seen a case of Masticatory Muscle Myositis but took on board the information I'd got online, said it was better than his vet book and could he keep it.

 

I feel he and his staff really felt for Rosie and the difference in them coming to put her to sleep ie: taking their time and not rushing and also not asking for payment there and then, they were here over 30 minutes. Our last vet came out to put Cleo to sleep (and made a hash of that), came in did the deed and asked for payment and left, 5 minutes tops. I knew they cared for Rosie and that made so much difference no matter what the cost although they are cheaper than the hospital status vets.

 

Just my experience but I'd go for caring for your loved one every time (expense immaterial).

[merledogs]

B, G and I for me too.

 

Additionally, the willingness of the veterinary practice to claim direct from my insurance company as I know some vets insist you pay first and then claim it back yourself.

 

Also, some vets charge for prescriptions so it would be a bonus if the vet didn't.

[BillyMalc]

B, H and I for me, with A and F as 'runners up'.

 

There aren't that many vets practices where I live (Manchester, funnily enough - you'd think 'big city - lots of everything', but that isn't so when it comes to animal facilities), so at first I registered with the 'vet up the road' when Mal came over. The first visit was horrible, the guy was very arrogant, didn't even so much acknowledge that Malcolm was in the room, and just gave me a load of completely wrong info and dreadful prognosis ("you're gonna have to have him on weekly injections, that's gonna set you back about £1000 and I wouldn't count on a life expectancy of more than 2 years"!) which I knew from my own experience was just a load of complete and utter b0ll0x! Needless to say, we never went back, Mal never had them injections and we're a good 7 years on now.

Mal was, at the time, suspected to have leishmaniasis, but 3 tests came back negative and the disease laid dormant for 6 years, until he finally got diagnosed with it last year. He's been on very cheap allopurinol ever since and who ever has met him can testify that he is the chirpiest, bounciest boy for his age.

 

I then registered with a vet who was closer to home, as I didn't drive, but had a couple of less good experiences with them as well, and then found a vet who wasn't exactly close, but who did homeopathy as well. Preferring more natural stuff to chemicals, I registered with them. There were 2 vets in that practice and the odd locum, and they were all very nice and caring, listened to my concerns and didn't treat me like I was a numpty who would just have to do as she was told. However, I didn't feel that the homeopathic remedies that were prescribed ever did any good, so stopped asking for them.

They were brilliant when Mal was diagnosed with lymphoma, although I would have preferred them to make a stronger case for a referral to L'pool hospital. I didn't want Mal ending his life being poked and prodded, so resisted the idea for quite a while, and the vets never really mentioned it. As it turned out, L'pool hospital was the absolutely ideal practice, which apart from the distance, has got absolutely everything: all the knowledge and equipment, as well as a really friendly and professional attitude. Mal was in for his lymphoma, but hte treating oncologist didn't like the condition of Mal's skin and involved a dermatologist, who finally knew about leishmania, and had some "proper" tests done: result! It's that kind of involvement and own initiative that I really liked

 

Meanwhile, the homeopathic vet and the other vet both left the practice to work elsewhere, and I was not at all impressed withthe vets who replaced them. I didn't think they had a lot of knowledge about anything 'outside the box' and in Mal's case it seemed like they needed to be told what to do by the hospital

I also found their attitude a lot less professional than I would like, so changed back to the practice we were before, after I heard good things from other dog owners in the park - those who I know care about their dogs, and know a thing or 2. We're back there now and so far so good - they've been friendly, interested and caring enough, although Mal's had 2 courses of anti-b's now for his 'snotty-nose-itis' and his cough that did absolutely nothing for him, and they do charge! But it seems that they're the best we can get atm, so we're sticking with them.

[melissa]

The initial contact with the staff is important to me - all the nurses at the vet I use are really friendly & you can ring for advice at anytime. They go out of their way to give you a convenient appointment, which is important to me as I work fulltime. You do often see a different vet but all of them so far have been very good and explained things in detail to me. They give free prescriptions (which I think some vets charge for?) & have a good 24 hour rota with other local vets so you can always see someone in an emergency.

[Ruby1Nic]

A) Convenience - location and opening times & D) Parking availability (I kind of group these together as feel parking is linked with convenience - I hope that's allowed )

 

G) In house facilities for operations

 

I) Ability of vets

 

I am very lucky in that for the last 6 yrs+ we've had a healthy 2 dogs. Ruby, who has been with us for the last 5 yrs had been to the Vets when she was a pup with a poorly leg, but since she was about 6mths we've only been to the Vets for boosters and the odd 'gunky ears' complaint.

 

A & D. However, when we had our previous elderly dogs I was so relieved that our Vet's is literally a few mins drive away and that the car park for it is easily accessible at the back of the building and so you can park quickly, easily and get your pet inside the Vet door within minutes. We had to do this numerous times with our elderly Poodle, and to be stuck in traffic or having to park far away and transport a sick pet would have just added to both our distress.

 

G. They are a Veterinary Hospital and have 24 hrs staffing following operations etc. Comforting to know you can call anytime to enquire after your animal.

 

I. I think that's a given really.

 

We very rarely see the same Vet unless we ask for a certain one. Funnily enough the chap who we used to see for Ruby's booster and her ears has moved on to cover large animals now so we didn't see him earlier this month and saw a new lady who was fine.