cycas Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 I) Ability of vets is most important for me. I don't feel that my current 'normal' vet is any good with rabbits, and the nearest vet I can find who is, is a good hours drive away in Newquay. But I feel that going there is the only way I can get advice I can trust on rabbits. My 'normal' vet is OK for vaccinations and wound treatments on cats and dogs, but they haven't yet convinced me that they'd be good on anything more complex. After that, B) Sense of caring A) Convenience - location and opening times - I'm in a rural area and everything is a long way away, even by car. Having to drive for miles along pitch-dark country lanes with a severely injured pet is something I dread. And after that, H) The same vets - I don't currently get this, but would prefer it F) Friendliness of staff - my 'normal' vet has great staff, whereas my specialist Newquay vets staff are not so great on the old people skills. But I can live with that because the vets know their stuff. HOWEVER - I should mention that although I probably wouldn't go out looking for C) Links with Animal Charities specifically, I think I would tend to take C) as supporting evidence for both I) and E). I don't have a rescue-recommended vet here as there aren't that many rescues here, but when we lived in Cheshire we went to the vet recommended by the CPL branch from which we adopted, and he was great: I've also been to a rescue-recommended vet in South Devon for my rabbits (I'd go there again, but Newquay is closer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 I haven't been able to fault my vets, they do care about the animals they treat and it shows, the vet nurses kiss and cuddle the animals as much as they can and the dogs are taken for short walks several times a dog when they are in. Ellie was in for a week and needed a tracheotmy, she doesn't do crates so most of the time she was out mixing with the staff who were getting lots of Staffy kisses and cuddles and were playing with her. Quite a few have taken on animals that had been brought in to be pts for one reason or another. The vet who deals with Ellie has 4 dogs, 2 with a leg missing and 1 with a tracheotmy in, 6 cats and 2 chickens, all taken from work. My first priority for a vet is they care and they love animals. After that is their knowledge and they keep up to date with new things. If your dog is insured they price isn't as important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydford Posted January 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Hi everyone, Thanks for all the interesting and valuable replies....never expected to get so much So any last minute thoughts or comments before I close my 'poll'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LurcherGirl Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 I have a fantastic vet and all the vets he employes seem to be of the same mind as him. He is very knowledgeable, but with it prepared to learn and very co-operative when I have suggestions or have done my own research! I wouldn't change him for the world. 1) what makes one vet practice stand out from another and - friendly staff, knowledgeable vets, CO-OPERATIVE VETS 2) what would make you consider changing vets - horrible staff, a vet not treating my animals kindly, a vet that doesn't like certain animals (and shows it), a vet that isn't prepared to work with me or doesn't want to listen when I feel that something is wrong with my animals I have the following points to consider: A) Convenience - location and opening times - important, as if you can't get to a vet, it is of no use B) Sense of caring - very important, I have so many different animals, from mice to giant dogs. I need my vets to care about all of them, regardless of the species! C) Links with Animal Charities - it's nice, but not vital D) Parking availability - important as we have large dogs and couldn't get them to a surgery if we couldn't use a car E) Cheap prices - useful, but not vital, most of it is paid by insurance anyway. F) Friendliness of staff - important, particularly the vet needs to be friendly and helpful! G) In house facilities for operations - very useful, but I guess not absolutely vital if they can and do refer easily. H) The same vets - useful, not vital, though I'd want to have the possibility to ask for a particular vet if necessary! I) Ability of vets - of course important, but as long as a vet is prepared to learn and research, I can live with a less experienced, but keen to learn vet. J) Attracitiveness of waiting rooms - not important, though it helps if it is roomy, airy and warm K) Community Interest - i.e talks at shools etc. - helps, but not vital Are any of those in your top 3 for choosing or staying with your vet? If so which 3? (Just the letter will do) B, F, H and I (I know that's 4... ). Also are you able to say what would attrect you to move from the vet you currently use? - Nothing will make me move from my current vet as he is fab - unless there were some drastic changes that would mean that my animals wouldn't get the care they need from them or they would not be interested anymore in what I have to say! Vera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 ... actually, something not mentioned above, but which I think does build confidence and might be helpful if you are looking at marketing a particular practice: I find it reassuring to find out a bit about the vets own pets and find it helps convince me on points b) and i) if they refer to other animals they have owned themselves or have known with similar problems. For example, there is one vet at my current practice who told me all about her lurchers, and brings them to work with her (not in the surgery, they have a bed out the back) - as a result I'd be particularly keen to see that vet if I have any problems with my own dogs, as I felt she had a connection with similar dogs as an owner as well as as a vet. And another vet talked to me about a problem he'd had with his guineapig, and I feel much happier about talking to that vet about my rabbits as a result, because I know that vet is happy dealing with small mammals and really cares about them. This might be a good way of demonstrating b) in a convincing manner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 I think it also helps to know who is who in the practice, so pictures of the staff and a note of their name and position. A leaflet that can be given out with some practice information such as surgery times, facilities available etc. A website with all the above information. An open day to show people round the surgery. A waiting area with enough space to give pets some breathing space, rather than having to sit right next to each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 I've read this through several times and looked at the replies and I think I would consider these as my "top three": I) Ability of vets - I want to know that they are capable of providing the right care for my dogs and able to research further if they're not sure what to do. B) Sense of caring. You do hear about some vets that just don't seem to give a stuff about the animals they treat. I find it baffling, it must be a stressful job and you must surely care about animals to become a vet in the first place? I want to see vets that care very much about how my dogs are and do all they can to help them. A) Convenience - location/access is important should emergency treatment be required. We originally chose our vets because when we first lived in the area, the vet was a five minute walk down the road. We have since moved so it is now a drive but still pretty convenient. G) In house facilities for operations - I would prefer this where possible. Something that is very important (essential) to me is that the vets respect me and realise that although I am not a vet, I am knowledgeable about health and that I know my dogs better than anyone. I do ask a lot of questions, especially if drugs are being prescribed, so that I can be sure I'm happy for the dogs to have what the vet is suggesting. The vets I have seen at this practice have in the main been pretty good with this and have not seemed in a rush to get me out of the door. Although we may look at things from a different perspective, generally they have always been very polite and respectful about this, which I appreciate. I've not been registered with another general practice since I've had these dogs so I can't compare them to another that these dogs have seen. There are quite a few vets at our practice so we don't necessarily see the same one, although I do tend to request a female vet for the boys as I think that's preferable. Saying that, Sno saw a female vet who was quite clearly nervous of him. She didn't say hello to him before she started examining him and after she'd been looking in his mouth and he licked his lip, she lept back as though he was about to bite her Maybe she'd had a bad experience with a collie/dog - I'd have had more respect for her if she'd explained that though. We've had a few times in the past too where my dogs were being considered for operations - one vet advised against one because he felt it wouldn't help the dog and said he wouldn't put his dog through it. Another time Max was due to have a lump removed from a toe, on one of the vet's advice. He got as far as being taken in and sedated* and we left him there, only to find out later that a different vet, who was due to operate, felt the op wasn't a good idea. He took a further opinion, which agreed, so they left the op feeling it was not a great place to heal and that the lump was likely to go away on its own - it did! *talking of sedation, when my dogs have been in for ops, they've let me sit with the dog while they have the initial sedation and then let me take the dog through to the cage at the back to settle the dog. I'm not sure if this is something they all do but they've been great with this. They were lovely when we had to have Sweetie pts. They came out to the home, they waited outside afterwards so that I could bring the other dogs in in case they wanted to see her. There was no mention of money until her ashes were ready to collect. They're not too bad at promoting sale of Hills etc. They have tried in the past to sell me special foods after ops but I explain mine have Naturediet and I will continue using that during recovery, they're fine. They do neuter for a local rescue, which is good but not why I chose them. What would make me change my general vet practice - my holistic vet opening up a general vet practice! My holistic vet is fabulous. On my wavelength healthwise, so I don't feel there's any battle for them to see where I'm coming from. It would be great to see a holistic vet at the general practice, but only if they were a really great holistic vet and not a conventional one that had just done a quick course to further their earning potential. Sorry, that was rather long and rambling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydford Posted January 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thank you all for taking the time to give me so much detailed feedback and so many very valid viewpoints. You can be sure I shall be passing them on. I knew I could rely on you Fugees to tell it 'like it is'....... Thank you x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyboy Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 (edited) I and B are the biggies for me. Until I moved out of area (sorry but even for the fantastic vets there a 400 mile round trip is a little bit out of the way) I was with the same practise 20 years. They were recommended when I moved to the area, and I did not matter which vet I saw as they were all very compassionate, listened to what I said (even if it was just "there is something not right" they would run full tests and take notice of me). As I moved around that area I stayed with them even though in the end it was a 12 mile trip each way. They had the facility for on-site surgery, and when Bud had to be referred to the specialists they explained fully the processes, and when I went in with any of the others they asked how he was getting on. Many years ago Ben had a tumour in his testicles, these were the days when surgery for the over 10s could be dodgy so we decided against it. They insisted I brought him in every month to be checked, and most of the time I was not charged for the visit - they just wanted to be sure he was ok. They rotated out of hours cover with another vet who was in about 5 miles from them and I had to use them twice - once when Toastie had his throat ripped open on Bank Holiday and once for Lucy's final injection - and both times they were as caring and compassionate. I seem to have found a decent surgery here as well, they certainly have a lot to live up to. Edited January 21, 2009 by buddyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 (edited) In short I think you just want a vet who when it really matters cares as much for your pet as you do and ideally cures them (though obviously I realise it's sometimes not possible) so I think I'd say B) Sense of caring I) Ability of vets H) The same vets but would also be influenced by these where necessary / appropriate to my dogs condition & my own interests / leanings G) In house facilities for operations C) Links with Animal Charities I previously, for example, found my self unimpressed with a vet when just two days after Jo left for the bridge & as I was preparing to bury her their bill dropped on my doorstep (my sister had been there & had actually offered to sort the bill out there & then so that I didn't have to think about it whilst sobbing my heart out but they said no, they would forward it as he hadn't sorted it out yet. To me this would have meant in a couple of weeks when I'd had a little time to get over her loss not posting it within hours & to me was the total antithises of B! When I made my feelings known when sending the cheque there was no reply / apology either. I already hadn't been particularly impressed that when I had seen a different vet for the first time we got the wrong option. It was of a 50/50 call to be fair but had I gone with my own feelings rather than trust his experience / training I'd have gone the other way & of course I was paying for it regardless of whether they were right or wrong. More importantly, when I later saw him again, this time with Joyce I viewed him as "cold" - ie I noticed that unlike my preferred vet who was on sick he didn't at any point use my, or more importantly her name! When we visited the next vet / practice (recommended by my sister) they were on completely the wrong side of town but they did seem as interested, caring & friendly as she had found them. Things like parking, their prices, fuels costs etc weren't even questions though in fact they do also appear to be a little cheaper too. A friendly vet is obviously desirable but we don't have to become bosom buddies, just on the same page. It's basically more important to me that they are "friendly" / good with my dogs than that we become drinking pals for example Edited January 21, 2009 by Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reds Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 (edited) ... actually, something not mentioned above, but which I think does build confidence and might be helpful if you are looking at marketing a particular practice: I find it reassuring to find out a bit about the vets own pets and find it helps convince me on points b) and i) if they refer to other animals they have owned themselves or have known with similar problems. For example, there is one vet at my current practice who told me all about her lurchers, and brings them to work with her (not in the surgery, they have a bed out the back) - as a result I'd be particularly keen to see that vet if I have any problems with my own dogs, as I felt she had a connection with similar dogs as an owner as well as as a vet. And another vet talked to me about a problem he'd had with his guineapig, and I feel much happier about talking to that vet about my rabbits as a result, because I know that vet is happy dealing with small mammals and really cares about them. This might be a good way of demonstrating b) in a convincing manner? Good point! When Nancy died in the fire the vet who saw Jack and Ted at 3am in the morning described how he had lost one of his own dogs in a house fire and to this day I have never been more confident that my animals have ever been in the best possible hands as they were right then, solely because the vet himself had been through the same thing, I couldn't have trusted him to care any more because of that (my Dad took them, I was being tranquillised at the time ). We also have a 'collie' vet, not because he is necessarily a collie expert but because he loves collies, he grew up on a sheep farm, his own collie is the practise dog, and every collie owner in Lichfield will tell you about him! It's just nice to know he has that 'special connection' with your own dogs, more so than any other of the vets. They have a staff pet board with photos of all their pets and that just helps make it feel a little friendlier -or at least that they are making the effort. Edited January 21, 2009 by reds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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