Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
What Makes Your Vet Great....Or Not?
We brought Murphy to his second vet visit this week (more shots), and I was thinking about how lucky we are to have her. So, here's my list of what makes my vet great. It would be interesting for others to add to this list. When complete, I think it might help others who are in the process of selecting a new vet.
-It is clear from the way that our vet interacts with Guinness and Murphy that she truly LOVES dogs. She is excited every time she sees them. She spends the first five minutes kissing and hugging them and telling them how awesome they are. They love her too! She is a big believer in building trust. She has always asked me to bring them in (even when they don't have an appointment) so they can learn that her office is a fun place. They get treats every time and get to play with the Vet Techs (and her when she's running room to room). Guinness loves going there!
-She is a great communicator. She spends whatever time necessary to be sure I understand and that I have no questions. When we were talking this week, I mentioned that I was nervous about Murphy's neutering. Guinness was neutered before we got him, and I just couldn't remember the experience with our other dogs (too long ago). She sat me down and went through the procedure with me. She told me that they had "state of the art" surgical monitoring equipment, and that his incision would be very small. She assured me that they would be sure he was totally comfortable post surgery. I felt so much better.
-The office staff is amazingly helpful. When I call with any question, they will get the answer and get back to me within the hour. Sometimes she calls herself.
-She is very open to new ideas...my home cooking is a great example of that. She's extremely interested in the Labradoodle "breed". She has a few others in her practice, but always asks me questions to further her knowledge about breed specific characteristics. She's blown away by their temperament.
-She is very into preventative care, e.g. weight/body mass management, oral/dental care, exercise. Always asks about this.
-She stays current. She was telling me this week that her background focus was on parasitology research, and that there continues to be new data being developed all the time on this. That tells me that she is continuing to educate herself.
Having the right Vet is so important...so please add to this list.
-It is clear from the way that our vet interacts with Guinness and Murphy that she truly LOVES dogs. She is excited every time she sees them. She spends the first five minutes kissing and hugging them and telling them how awesome they are. They love her too! She is a big believer in building trust. She has always asked me to bring them in (even when they don't have an appointment) so they can learn that her office is a fun place. They get treats every time and get to play with the Vet Techs (and her when she's running room to room). Guinness loves going there!
-She is a great communicator. She spends whatever time necessary to be sure I understand and that I have no questions. When we were talking this week, I mentioned that I was nervous about Murphy's neutering. Guinness was neutered before we got him, and I just couldn't remember the experience with our other dogs (too long ago). She sat me down and went through the procedure with me. She told me that they had "state of the art" surgical monitoring equipment, and that his incision would be very small. She assured me that they would be sure he was totally comfortable post surgery. I felt so much better.
-The office staff is amazingly helpful. When I call with any question, they will get the answer and get back to me within the hour. Sometimes she calls herself.
-She is very open to new ideas...my home cooking is a great example of that. She's extremely interested in the Labradoodle "breed". She has a few others in her practice, but always asks me questions to further her knowledge about breed specific characteristics. She's blown away by their temperament.
-She is very into preventative care, e.g. weight/body mass management, oral/dental care, exercise. Always asks about this.
-She stays current. She was telling me this week that her background focus was on parasitology research, and that there continues to be new data being developed all the time on this. That tells me that she is continuing to educate herself.
Having the right Vet is so important...so please add to this list.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Natasha on
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That's really great! I'm so glad to see people getting involved in bettering the food industry.Congratulations on raising such a great and caring person!
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Permalink Reply by Jane, Guinness and Murphy on
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You must be very proud of your daughter.....and how nice to have a Vet in the family!
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Permalink Reply by Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*() on
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Glad you started this Jane as I was about to post about my vet and my conversation yesterday about foods but this made me look at the other things about her I do like. The situation is that Murphy had giardia and was on Flagyl for 2 rounds and still has soft but formed stools. Fecal test showed neg. now for Giardia, and that's a good thing,but now she feels his soft stool is a "food allergy". She suggested he go on i/d or Royal Canine, and ofcourse Science Diet!!! All of which they sell. When I politely told her this would NOT be happening and that I can adjust his foods that I am cooking for him she went on and on about amino acids and protiens and minerals and turine and he couldn;t be getting all that, and how dangerous raw bones of ANY type are and that they splinter and break and cause blockage. When I mentioned that I have researched this for well over a year now and read several books, she said "Yes, but those people arent' VETS!!!!!" Sorry Dr Pitcairns, you don't count obviously!
I told her he does get Orijen also and she was RELIEVED that he gets some dog food at least and then went on to say some dogs have a hard time with going back and forth between dog food and real food and that could be the problem. Oye! I explained he has been feeding this way for almost a year!
We politely agreeded to disagree on this and we both said we can come to some agreement as long as Murphy is doing well and that I would like blood tests with his annual next month to see where we are at with protiens, or even anemia as she needs to see for herself how well Murphy is doing so that she may be better educated. (I didnt say all that ofcourse,) But I do feel 100% certain she will be impressed with his blood work and maybe will be more open minded. Although I am NOT open minded about those suggested foods. Other than that, her bedside manner is wonderful, the staff is so sweet and informed, they call to check up on him after every visit and the vet herself will call back if there is any questions or concerns I may have. SHe has gotten us thru a very chronic case of ear infections where 2 other vets could not, so I do feel she is very competent. But the food issue is a biggie for me and I've only met on holistic vet and he was wonderful about homecooking but he is in fla and we are now in Az.
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Permalink Reply by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on
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As you know from the Food Group, most general practice vets know very little about canine nutrition, or nutrition in general. To wit, all animal proteins are complete proteins which contain all of the essential amino acids including Taurine, lol. (Taurine is of great importance in the diets of cats, BTW, not dogs.) It has nothing to do with whether the food comes from a bag, a can, or your stew pot, chicken is chicken, and all chicken is protein.
Your vet, like most general practice vets, also knows almost nothing about canine allergies. Digestive symptoms such as soft stools, diarrhea, etc. are NEVER symptoms of food allergies. NEVER. Food allergies manifest the exact same way that inhalant allergies do...with itching and other skin disorders. You might want to tell your vet that the next time you see her.
If you like everything else about her, we can forgive her on the food issue. You have us for that, and maybe you can teach her a thing or two in the future!
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That is what I am hoping to accomplish with Murphy's blood work next month. Lets hope for "off the chart" healthy numbers to impress her. Either way, I am so grateful I have this group, because I feel very sure of what his is fed and the proof is in an athletic, healthy, fit and trim, shiney coat, clean white teeth, clear sparkle eyes, sweet doggie breath Doodle. You probably have read more about canine nutrition in one week than she has in her whole college career. But I am hoping some good will come of it as she has a long career ahead of her and she may come around and influence others once she does.
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Permalink Reply by Maryann,Roo and Tigger on
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At the top of my good vet list is one who offers options when talking about treatment/s. For example VCA does "routine" blood testing every year for $400+ ( in CA). My vet likes an initial blood screen, another at two or three years as a baseline, and then as needed until 7-9 for another. He will, of course, do one yearly, but is not put out if you opt out and agrees that with a healthy dog it is a reasonable option. Same for dogs with severe health problems, options, choices, suggestions, but not judgemental if you do not go for the $3000 MRI. At the same time he is willing to come in the very next morning early to squeeze your dog in for a cancer surgery that gave a 12 year old dog 5 more quality years of life. Additionally his office staff and techs always recognize me and my dogs. Better than some of my own doctors!
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Permalink Reply by F, Calla & Luca on
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Wouldn't it be wonderful if more vets joined DK and dialogued with us about foods, allergies etc. Maybe we should encourage our vets to join!
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Permalink Reply by Joanne ~ Spud* on
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My vet has a doodle. I never knew this until November. :) He loves them. Maybe I will tell him about DK.
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Great--we all like him already!
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Permalink Reply by Adrianne Matzkin on
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I must find a new vet when we get back to NJ. My vet was really pissed off when I refused to give Charli whatever food he sells because she had struvite crystals (not stones) in her urine. I did my research and found that puppies can have struvite crystals when they have a UTI. He did not do a urine culture - just prescribed Hills s/d for life. Needless to say that didn't happen. He told me his cats have been on it their entire lives and they are healthy. G-d bless them but not for my doodles.
No discount for anything with a rescue. Charged $50.00 to microchip Charli. DIdn't even take out a stethescope - just gave her the shots she was due. I had to ask to check her ears.
So - any NJ doodles want to share the name of a vet that they love? I have a vet that I would use in a true emergency but they charge an arm and a leg just to walk in the door for each one!
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I love my vet but she's in Franklin Lakes: Cheryl Welch.
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Adrianne,
I think the vets in NJ should be bidding for all of your services. There are so many of you. Why don't you make them fill out applications? Sounds silly, but not far fetched.
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