Shtupid Vet Clinic
 

Let me first say this is about a dog initially, but the cats reaped the
benefits as well. If I had been active on the board, I would have shared
this. This was the biggest vet issue we had in two years. And the short
version. :)

Mutt (my 10 year old err... mutt) had been with her vet for seven years
before this happened. We were happy but the clinic changed. The main vet
sold her half to go home and use her professional career to specialize in
equine fertility (breeding horses, her own and clients). The junior vet
bought her half and continued to practice in the clinic. However he had a
very noticable preference towards livestock. And this was fine while there
were two vets in and out of the clinic. My father has horses and this
remaining vet is a FANTASTIC equine vet. However it was no longer fantastic
when the clinic operated without a vet in house 90% of the time.

The last straw was when I let Mutt out one morning and 10 minutes later when
she came inside I noticed a faint green wet spot on the limestone driveway
beside my front tire... I wasn't quite awake the first time I was at the
door.

Oh... No...

Now I didn't panic because 1) Mutt always runs off to the bushes and never
bothers with near the door which was where my truck was. And I watched her
run from where my truck was not. 2) Her muzzle was not wet or sticky and 3)
even if she had it was literally seconds ago if she did.

I called the vet. I knew there was something they could do if antifreeze
poisoning is detected within moments of ingestion. And yes there is, liquid
charcoal. I admitted I didn't think she had but antifreeze was on the ground
and she was outside unsupervised for a few moments. And she's worth it to me
that if it we can, I'd like to treat her on the assumption she may have. Of
course they said bring her on in.

25 minutes after she possibly but not probable licked antifreeze I was
holding my dog in the vet's office listening to the receptionist ask me
"didn't the tech tell you? The vet's not here and we can't do anything. He
should be here in an hour."

An hour...

Let's review the facts. Antifreeze, long-time client and you're refusing to
help me until the vet can look at the dog properly. Oh of course, sure I'd
like to leave my dog here so the doctor can look at her "when he gets a
chance". NOT!

Suffice to say, she did not. And we found a new vet by the recommendation of
one of the local animal rescue's board members. And we love the clinic. His
office is less than 25 yards from his house, the entire property is fenced
in and on-site is a pet cemetary that they keep immaculate. When he has a
sick animal, he literally checks on them all night long.

But the funny part, the part that I can't wrap my mind around is the fact
that I've gotten three phone calls on my answering machine from the first
clinic worried why I haven't brought my animals in for their annuals. You
would think they'd remember the stink I had to raise to get their records to
bring to my new vet. The cats weren't an issue, they were young and healthy.
He wanted Mutts as she has had surgery in the past. That took two requests
from his clinic and three of my phone calls plus going up there to get.

But they're concerned because we haven't come in for vaccines.

*snort*

I guess I should pull the vet aside and explain just why I'm not there
anymore. He was fantastic when he was in. He just wasn't in and his staff
went to pot. But ya know, it's not worth it. We're happy and for the first
time ever Mutt doesn't panic when she sees TED.

Grace

Shtupid Vet Clinic
 

"gracecat" wrote in message
...
snip
I guess I should pull the vet aside and explain just why I'm not there
anymore. He was fantastic when he was in. He just wasn't in and his staff
went to pot. But ya know, it's not worth it. We're happy and for the first
time ever Mutt doesn't panic when she sees TED.

Grace



I think it *would* be a good idea to inform the vet if you can talk to him
*personally* (not to the techs that added to the problem in the first
place). You might be doing other clients a great favor, and possible also
help the vet if you share this perspective with him.

MaryL

Shtupid Vet Clinic
 

MaryL wrote:
"gracecat" wrote in message
...
snip
I guess I should pull the vet aside and explain just why I'm not
there anymore. He was fantastic when he was in. He just wasn't in
and his staff went to pot. But ya know, it's not worth it. We're
happy and for the first time ever Mutt doesn't panic when she sees
TED.

Grace



I think it *would* be a good idea to inform the vet if you can talk
to him *personally* (not to the techs that added to the problem in
the first place). You might be doing other clients a great favor,
and possible also help the vet if you share this perspective with him.

MaryL

I agree, or at least write a letter patiently explaining the situation and
mark the envelope "personal and confidential" so some flunky at the front
desk won't open it before passing it along to the vet. The vet probably
doesn't realize how much of a problem he/she going off to do "housecalls"
creates for people with non-livestock type pets.

Jill

Shtupid Vet Clinic
 

On Fri, 6 Oct 2006 21:37:37 -0500, "gracecat"
wrote:


I guess I should pull the vet aside and explain just why I'm not there
anymore. He was fantastic when he was in. He just wasn't in and his staff
went to pot. But ya know, it's not worth it. We're happy and for the first
time ever Mutt doesn't panic when she sees TED.

Grace

I am so glad you now have a really good vet that is dedicated to small
animals. I had to change vets for much the same reason. And I am very
happy with the new one and so are my cats. Our pets Know.

--
CATherine

Shtupid Vet Clinic
 

"CATherine" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 6 Oct 2006 21:37:37 -0500, "gracecat"
wrote:


I guess I should pull the vet aside and explain just why I'm not there
anymore. He was fantastic when he was in. He just wasn't in and his staff
went to pot. But ya know, it's not worth it. We're happy and for the first
time ever Mutt doesn't panic when she sees TED.

Grace

I am so glad you now have a really good vet that is dedicated to small
animals. I had to change vets for much the same reason. And I am very
happy with the new one and so are my cats. Our pets Know.

--
CATherine

Thanks Catherine. That was the extent of our vet stories for the months that
I was gone.

The telling factor was when we went on vacation the week after Christmas.
She bummed her knee on Tuesday, she had surgery on Wednesday and she came
home Christmas Eve, a day earlier than he normally would have let her come
home. Since I had promised to bring her back two days after Christmas to
board, and we'd have zero family come by (other than my parents) he was ok
with it.

I worried the entire time we were gone. She's old and loosing weight is hard
because it takes so long to put it back on. She's 12 pounds, a perfect
weight so she doesn't have alot of fat to play with. She always lost when
she was boarded at the other place. This time she came home a fat and sassy
10.8 pounds. She lost a pound and half due to the surgery but that was
expected.

Sending my baby home fed and happy made a very big impression on me. I still
don't like to board her but I hate depending on my parents to come by twice
a day even more. She likes it at home, but I don't like the idea she's alone
since she's old.

Grace

Shtupid Vet Clinic
 

On Sat, 7 Oct 2006 22:53:45 -0500, "gracecat"
wrote:


"CATherine" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 6 Oct 2006 21:37:37 -0500, "gracecat"
wrote:


I guess I should pull the vet aside and explain just why I'm not there
anymore. He was fantastic when he was in. He just wasn't in and his staff
went to pot. But ya know, it's not worth it. We're happy and for the first
time ever Mutt doesn't panic when she sees TED.

Grace

I am so glad you now have a really good vet that is dedicated to small
animals. I had to change vets for much the same reason. And I am very
happy with the new one and so are my cats. Our pets Know.

--
CATherine

Thanks Catherine. That was the extent of our vet stories for the months that
I was gone.

The telling factor was when we went on vacation the week after Christmas.
She bummed her knee on Tuesday, she had surgery on Wednesday and she came
home Christmas Eve, a day earlier than he normally would have let her come
home. Since I had promised to bring her back two days after Christmas to
board, and we'd have zero family come by (other than my parents) he was ok
with it.

I worried the entire time we were gone. She's old and loosing weight is hard
because it takes so long to put it back on. She's 12 pounds, a perfect
weight so she doesn't have alot of fat to play with. She always lost when
she was boarded at the other place. This time she came home a fat and sassy
10.8 pounds. She lost a pound and half due to the surgery but that was
expected.

Sending my baby home fed and happy made a very big impression on me. I still
don't like to board her but I hate depending on my parents to come by twice
a day even more. She likes it at home, but I don't like the idea she's alone
since she's old.

Grace

That kind of treatment would make a big impression on me, too. And for
Mutt to actually be happy! She probably got a lot of attention to make
herso happy. And that would be make her eat good, too.

--
CATherine

Shtupid Vet Clinic
 

gracecat wrote:

Let me first say this is about a dog initially, but the cats reaped the
benefits as well. If I had been active on the board, I would have shared
this. This was the biggest vet issue we had in two years. And the short
version. :)

Mutt (my 10 year old err... mutt) had been with her vet for seven years
before this happened. We were happy but the clinic changed. The main vet
sold her half to go home and use her professional career to specialize in
equine fertility (breeding horses, her own and clients). The junior vet
bought her half and continued to practice in the clinic. However he had a
very noticable preference towards livestock. And this was fine while there
were two vets in and out of the clinic. My father has horses and this
remaining vet is a FANTASTIC equine vet. However it was no longer fantastic
when the clinic operated without a vet in house 90% of the time.

The last straw was when I let Mutt out one morning and 10 minutes later when
she came inside I noticed a faint green wet spot on the limestone driveway
beside my front tire... I wasn't quite awake the first time I was at the
door.

Oh... No...

Now I didn't panic because 1) Mutt always runs off to the bushes and never
bothers with near the door which was where my truck was. And I watched her
run from where my truck was not. 2) Her muzzle was not wet or sticky and 3)
even if she had it was literally seconds ago if she did.

I called the vet. I knew there was something they could do if antifreeze
poisoning is detected within moments of ingestion. And yes there is, liquid
charcoal. I admitted I didn't think she had but antifreeze was on the ground
and she was outside unsupervised for a few moments. And she's worth it to me
that if it we can, I'd like to treat her on the assumption she may have. Of
course they said bring her on in.

25 minutes after she possibly but not probable licked antifreeze I was
holding my dog in the vet's office listening to the receptionist ask me
"didn't the tech tell you? The vet's not here and we can't do anything. He
should be here in an hour."

An hour...

Let's review the facts. Antifreeze, long-time client and you're refusing to
help me until the vet can look at the dog properly. Oh of course, sure I'd
like to leave my dog here so the doctor can look at her "when he gets a
chance". NOT!

Suffice to say, she did not. And we found a new vet by the recommendation of
one of the local animal rescue's board members. And we love the clinic. His
office is less than 25 yards from his house, the entire property is fenced
in and on-site is a pet cemetary that they keep immaculate. When he has a
sick animal, he literally checks on them all night long.
snip

I'm glad you found a vet that is there for you.
Best wishes,
Polonca and Soncek