You and your vet: How's it going?

[Wienergal]

I need some advice about vets because I'm in kind of a pickle. I've been going to the same vet for 11 years. She was a new vet at my old animal hospital and she saw us when I took Peaches in for an emergency (one of many... http://dachsie.org/ubb/frown.gif). I liked her, and a year later, when she left to open her own animal hospital, I followed her. I think I'm patient number 000003.

At first, it was just Marla and another vet. They set themselves up in a very yuppified neighborhood that has become even MORE yuppified. Her hospital now boasts EIGHT vets, they've expanded the building, and they have zillions of patients. The staff has also grown.

Every January, they increase their rates, to the point that last year, the annual exams for my two dogs cost me more than $400. That included exams, heartworm tests, yearly vaccines (but not rabies), and heartworm meds. Period. Nothing unusual, no medicine for Peaches, no flea meds. I thought that was ridiculously high, and then, this December, there was a big sign saying, "New rates in effect January 1 2000." And they didn't mean they were lowering the rates.

Also, many of the new staff are not terribly competent, and their manners leave a LOT to be desired. And ALSO it gets harder and harder to get an appointment. When I call for an appointment with Marla, they're always trying to foist me off on one of the new vets. It bugs me, since I was one of her original patients and I have brought many, many other patients to her.

So I decided to try a new vet. I did some price research and found that a smaller vet hospital that I had used years ago would have saved me about $150 on that bill. They don't seem to have the urge to expand that Marla and her partners have.

But it's hard to leave a doctor you've been with for so many years. I worry that no vet can be as good as Marla--even though I have no evidence for that. When I took Peaches to the new vet for her annual exam in January, the vet seemed competent, and he was very nice, although he didn't coo and sigh over Peaches the way Marla always has... http://dachsie.org/ubb/frown.gif

So I'm wondering how you all choose your vets, what you look for, whether you've ever switched, and whether you think the price I was paying was too high. (Remember, it's a city. Things cost more here.)

Thanks for the advice. I'm still on the fence and Farfel is just about due for HIS annual exam.

[pluto'slanie]

Hi Pam, I've used the same vet through all my pet years and although at one point, before I started driving, it was terribly iconvenient. My vet, a dachsie owner, has also expanded her practice and cut down her days. I schedule regular check up appointment for Pluto far enough in advance so that I always see Linda. When Pluto has an emergency, if she's in, she always sees me -- if she's not in I use one of the associates. I had a problem with one of her office staff a long time ago and told the doctor and she had the person call and apologize, but that's a whole other boring story. The fees seem like the fees I pay, but as you know I also live in a city. Can you schedule regular appts. in advance? It seems as though that would solve the overcrowding problem. Let your vet know (if you haven't already done so)that the staff tries to steer you to another doctor. She may put a stop to it. Just my thoughts.

[MaverickMom]

THe vet thing has been bothering me for a while now too. The one we use currently seems competent and knowledgeable. My hubby is pretty loyal to him because he saved a black lab of his years ago after a horrible fight.

My concern is mainly the back issue thing. Is there a need to find a vet who is really experienced with dachshunds because of the back thing? I know that all vets have some experience with all breeds of dogs, but some have more than others with specific breeds. Since becoming a dachshund owner, I have seen several stories of dogs who had to be put down because of a back problem and in some cases it all came down to the fact that the vet just wasn't very experienced with dachshunds and the dog was not treated the way it was suppose to be treated or it could have been saved. This scares me. This is rural Georgia. Vet Specialists of any kind are hard to come by. If a back problem ever does arise, I know that time is of the essence. Should I have a plan? Do any of you ever worry about this? http://dachsie.org/ubb/confused.gif

Oh, and Wienergal, the last visit I had at the vet was for Sasha's third round of puppy shots. It cost me $79 and that included a six month supply of Heartguard(for heartworms) and they charged me $7 to clip her nails which I thought was a rip off! LOL
Again, this is rural Georgia, not the city at all. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[Wienergal]

Some of the original replies to this post were lost in the changeover. Would those of you who were kind enough to respond but whose messages got lost re-reply, with a condensed version, perhaps? I didn't get to read them--but I did see that there were four or five responses.

T H A N K S!!!

[Wienergal]

Wow. $79. I am filled with envy, MavMom!!

Here's what I think about the issue you raised. One of the things I like about my very expen$ive and ambitiou$ vet is that, like some doctors, she stays up to date on everything. This woman reads vet med journals for FUN! I don't think it's necessary to have a vet who specializes in dachshunds or in back problems, but it IS necessary to have a vet who continues to educate her/himself and has a broad range of knowledge.

I also appreciate that, in dealing with Peaches allergies over the years, Marla has done research to try to find better approaches to treating her. I wouldn't trust a vet who said, "Oh, she's itchy? Give her some Benadryl." And MavMom, you're knowledgeable enough to know that, if a vet looked at a dog with a back problem and said, "Time to euthanize," you would run as fast as you could to another vet, right? http://dachsie.org/ubb/wink.gif

[Mark]

MavMom,

No, I don't think the Vet needs to be schooled in the IDD problem our babies have . . . but I do urge that you become aware of the closest specialist (Neurosurgeon) in your area AND bcome aware of the symptoms. Should any of our kids have those symptoms, don't waste life threatening time going to the regular Vet . . . go straight to the emergency clinic. Anyone in the MI or nearby areas could use ours, Dr. Wolf www.ovrs.com (http://www.ovrs.com)

He saved Duck Butter with surgery and Masse without. A very reknowned specialist in, specifically, IDD.

Pamela,

My post simply said we tried changing vets because we moved, but ended up going back even with the hour drive because we couldn't match the quality of care, follow up and free phone consultations. We're near enough to Detroit to experience the very same pricing you have.

Mark

[MaverickMom]

Oh, Wienergal, you KNOW I would! And you make a good point about having a vet that stays current on the lastest issues and treatments. It does sound like you have a great vet but I understand your frustration with the staff trying to pine you off on someone else. I have had that problem with ours recently too. Half the time when I go there is someone else there that we end up seeing. I have made it a point to start asking to see him when I make the appointment instead of anyone else.

About the $$, well that was just the third round. Remember, she'd had two more before that that were about the same cost. I'm not sure what a yearly visit will run me. Mavericks first yearly check up will be in July and I guess I'll find out then.

Mark, you also make a good point about going straight to an emergency clinic. I'm going to have to do some research to find out what's available around here.

And of course, speaking of places staying current, we also have the AWESOME Vet School at the University of Georgia. They helped us with a horse of ours once and I have never met a more caring, knowledgeable group of doctors in my life. We lost the horse anyway but I believe in my heart that they honestly did everything humanly possible to prevent it. It is a 3 hour drive from here though. I will do some research to see what else is avaliable.

Thanks for all the great advice, y'all!
Sonya

[This message has been edited by MaverickMom (edited April 14, 2000).]

[Penny's Aunt]

Weinergal, your original post had a lot concerns in it. And if they're a problem to you, they're a problem to a lot of other people. Some vets are extremely ambitious -- FACT.

You know what I would be tempted to do? I would print out your post & take it in & hand it to the vet in question (DON'T ask one of the girls to pass it on). Tell her that you are thinking of changing vets. If the loss of her clientele is a concern to her, she may sit back & reconsider. If retiring in 5 years is her only concern, well...

I used to go to a vet who seemed pretty good. Then his exams began to be nonexistant (but he still charged for them). He had a staff that seemed to change weekly. He misdiagnosed my old cat & did unnecessary surgery on her. He missed her main problem.

He was still bright & personable, but I changed vets to one who suited me & my animals. I feel that I am getting what I pay for.

Sue

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Once again we seem to have country vs city.Waaaay out here in cow land we have our "town" vets and our "country" vets. I've been lucky to find a vet that specializes in smaller animals at the country clinic. Since I also have a horse, I use one of the partners to do her.

I one took Diva,as a pup, to see a down-towner when she broke her toe. First he took many X-rays,made her stay over nite b/c he couldn't do rays w/o putting her under. Then he fixed an elabortate cast on her leg(which she ripped off the moment my eyes were off of her), I took her back where he put ANOTHER cast on her leg (I had my doubts by then-but this was the first dog) and after I got her home and that cast, too was torn off-he advised surgery to install a gold pin!
I never went back-Diva doesn't even have a crooked toe .

Prices are high-but you should get the best care you are able with out it being ridiculous. I think Marla the Vet does have a high degree of professionalism, but part of being a success is to expand,expand and expand.Too bad for the original clients like you Wienergal. Penny's Aunt has good advice. Let her know how much her services have meant to you,Peaches and Farf. I do think $400 is waaay to much for what you got...

[Pam C]

My old vet decided cows and horses were much better. I noticed the prices keep going up for less services. The final straw was when I took my cat in to get his teeth cleaned (15yrs old) I told them if you have to pull all his teeth put him down. (He had other problems and lived with 2 other younger toms, in the house of course) They came out with a $150 bill and a cat with only 1 tooth. I took him back in later to be put down, he wasn't doing well. The vet then said oh he also has failing kidneys! Let's get more money and make the cat suffer! And they charged me to put the cat down.
I talk to other people who use the same vet and they noticed the change also.
I now go to a new vet (new to the area) She is very nice to my pets and I was shocked at the price difference (pleasantly) and she always calls the next day to see how the vistor is doing! The little things make the difference! She also doesn't do horses or cows.

[doxielover]

Pamela,

I posted to this a few days ago, but it was deleted during the change-over, and to be perfectly honest, I was too lazy & tired to re-post, as it was long! I basically said I was changing Vets, blah blah! Well, I took Freddie to his new Vet today (yes, on a Sunday, they're open 7 days!) for his annual shots, and I really like Dr. Gahring! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smile.gif I was recommended to this Veterinary Hospital. Here's their Webpage in case you wanna take a peek. www.sancarlosvet.com (http://www.sancarlosvet.com)
I was pleasantly surprised at their fees (I didn't think to ask when I checked them out..DUH!). Here's what Freddie got and the fee: Exam-annual health chk - $22.43, DA2PPv vaccination - $18.94, Bordetella vaccine (kennel cough) - $17.70. Total fee -$59.07! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smile.gif No Rabies for 2 more years. And they didn't charge me an Office Visit fee like my other Vet did! Freddie got a clean bill of health! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smile.gif Oh man, when we were done and walked back out to the waiting room, there stood a huge Rottie! http://dachsie.org/ubb/eek.gif He started acting a little aggresive, and Freddie acted both scared & tough! LOL.

Susan

[Wienergal]

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and advice. I've been thinking it over and I've decided that I'm going to call Marla, my vet, and have a talk with her. She really is a terrific doctor, and a terrific person too. She's another one who calls to check up on how things are going after a treatment, and she definitely knows her stuff. I think that it hasn't been so much the price increases that have been bothering me, but the juxtaposition of those high prices and the problems I've had with her staff.

You all really helped me clarify my thinking. Thanks a bunch!