Another mini-rant: Establish yourself with a vet!

Lorina

I work at a very busy veterinary clinic. Our schedule for normal appointments is typically backed up about three weeks, but we do squeeze in emergencies and not-quite-emergencies-but-can't-wait-that-long appointments for our regular clients, and sometimes for new clients. Often we get calls from people who don't have a regular vet and/or have never taken any animal to a vet, and we can't help them all.

I became a vet tech because I love animals and want to make a difference in their lives. It hurts to not be able to do that, but there are only so many hours in a day. It's frustrating because so many people lay guilt trips on us, when it's not our fault they never bothered to establish themselves with a vet. They'll say stuff like "can't you just fit us in at the end?" without realizing that we have often already put in a ten to twelve hour day, and are tired and hungry. We're human. At the end of the day, we just want to go home and spend time with our own family and pets.

Also, it's annoying when we do try to squeeze someone in, and "that time just doesn't work," and, again, expect us to stay open even later to get them in at the end of the day. If this was your sick child, you'd make it work. If you needed to get to a store before they closed, you wouldn't call them up and expect them to stay open an hour later just for you.

To make a what-was-supposed-to-be-a-short-rant short, develop a good relationship with your vet before problems arise. Don't wait for an emergency to happen. It doesn't take much to be seen as a good client in the doctor's eyes. Show up on time, preferably a little early. Keep scheduled appointments. Don't cancel at the last minute or fail to show. Pay your bills and don't bounce checks. Just be respectful and responsible.



(Just so no one thinks we're totally cold-hearted, there is a local emergency clinic that's open 24/7 with no appointments necessary. If we can't get someone in, we always give them the number for the emergency clinic. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't want to bother going there because it's about 20 miles [mostly major interstate] from the clinic where I work. To some people, that's like asking them to fly to the moon. )

Tamara

I completely agree.
We have used the same vet (for our two and a cat) since Lula was a pup (she is now almost 8 years)
1. We like our vet
2. She understands our dogs and even studied up on basset hounds
3. To be honest she does always squeeze us in (at the time that suits her schedule) because she knows us so well and if we feel it is somewhat important she will make sure we are seen that day as she trusts our judgement.
4. Our vet does have an emergency vets
Unfortunately it is quite a bit further away but Isabel had a pinched nerve once out of office hours and we knew where to take her.

If one cannot be bothered (for starters -where do these people get their animals' vaccinatons?) to register at a vet they will have to suffer some consequences and know where the closest emergency clinic is.

nrhareiner

I actually have 4 vets that I can use. Works well if you have any emergencee and can not get into the one you can always call the other.

Heidi

eilenej1

Here, here. I go to a practice that actually has 2 clinics. One smaller one about a mile from my house and a larger one with more vets that is about 15 miles away. Makes it very convenient. At the one by my house they know me by name because they love my diabetic Maine Coon cat.

I have noticed so many people demanding so much of ANY small business that it just disgusts me. People need to learn to either be better prepared regarding their needs / wants or to accept no for an answer and move on.

Eilene

skunkstripe

The shelter where I got Zircon from gave me a certificate for a free visit to a vet of my choice. We picked the one that my husband had taken his past dog to. I thought that was a super idea! You go in and it is totally stress-free, the dog is not scared at all, and the vet gave me the best advice. For example, he said to handle my dog's paws and ears while playing to get him used to it. That makes it so much easier to trim claws and check ears now that he is full-grown. Now that I have another dog and a cat I practically have my own parking space there. j/k

sobreeze

i have a farm and 9 dogs now just rescued boston puppy mill breeder friday she goes to my vet wed. for her check up so the adoption can be final before i got to rescue this little girl they had to have references from my vets and three personal references i sent them my vets names there are 3 in the clinic when they called to check me out my vets could not say enough good things about me i do a lot of my shots and meds myself but with there office doing small and large animals it makes it easy on them but i am there once a week anyways picking up meds or taking someone in so it is very inportant to have a good relationship with your vet. maybe more important than your own doc. any way it is for me because my animals are my kids and my life