I cried all the way home from our appointment. Not just cried, body convulsing, wailing, runny mascara, runny nose bawling. Both dogs were staring at me with great concern.
Never in my life had I experienced such a lack of cooth from a professional – especially someone in the medical profession. Someone, who, in my opinion should be a caring individual and receive ‘compassion’ training or at least have learned empathy during their time in practice. Veterinarians will inevitably have to share devastating news with clients about their animal companions. Most of us consider our companions family and to learn of an illness – especially one that may end their already too short lives even earlier is devastating. This is a VERY delicate situation and how this news is delivered is the first step in treatment.
My husband arrived home a few hours after we did, and it took him another hour to calm me down. I was in shock and the way our vet handled the situation caused all three of us (Reese, Henry and me) unnecessary stress. I admit, I shared my anxiety with the dogs – our companions pick up on our energy.
I don’t even remember why we had gone to the vet; I think it was a routine checkup. Our DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) had a Veterinary Technician training at their clinic. After looking at Henry, the Vet also gave Reese the ‘once over.’ He made a comment about her heart murmur – I’m not sure what, exactly he said, I was still digesting ‘heart murmur.’ We knew she was special needs – more due to bladder weakness and fearfulness. She was in pretty bad shape when rescued from the Puppy Mill at only eighteen months old. Reese was a cage chewer – reacting out of fear and nervousness she would grind her teeth on the metal surround of her confinement (common among Mill dogs). Grinding and the complete lack of dental (or other) care provided for this type of ‘livestock,’ resulted in several of Reese’s teeth being removed when she was finally vetted at the rescue organization.
Still reeling from the initial blow, I barely had time to catch my breath and drift back into the moment, when I was dealt another punch in the gut. The vet said to the technician
Let’s get them both on the table. I want you to listen to a ‘good’ heart and then listen to a ‘bad’ heart so you can compare the two
“HELLO……MOTHER OF DEFECTIVE DOG STANDING RIGHT HERE!!!”
MY heart sank further from my chest down into the pit of my stomach. ‘A bad heart?’ Hearing my beautiful, sweet little girl spoken about as if she were nothing more than a training tool for this clinic was incredibly upsetting. I don’t remember any discussion that followed. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. We never went back.
Since then, we have been clients at two incredible clinics. After such a negative experience, we didn’t know where to start when considering other options. We asked friends from the area to share their opinions and experiences. That turned out to be the best way to find a ‘good’ Veterinarian. We moved a few years ago, and one of the most difficult things about relocating was the need to find a new clinic. For the longest time, we made the three-hour round trip to visit our trusted Veterinarian. We realized it was unrealistic and once again reached out to people in the area for their advice. Since then we have received more difficult news. The difference between the two experiences being that our current Veterinarian delivered the news in a sensitive manner and assured us by suggesting a treatment plan and outlining various options. We did not feel as overwhelmed and were not left to deal with the news alone. In fact, our clinic followed up with phone calls to check on the status of their patient – Henry.
As for Reese, she is completely unaware of her condition. We have to give her ‘time outs’ from Fetch regularly as she builds up quite a (sweat) pant from running after her toys. Our current Veterinarian has assured us that Reese’s heart, although with murmur, is quite fine. Together we will monitor her and address any change as and when we need to.
We spoke with clinic patrons to find out what they like and dislike about the service they receive. We also found out from one of our trusted Veterinary clinics what you should look for when deciding on a clinic and what questions you should ask.
Thank you to patrons and the team at the Barrie Veterinary Hospital for sharing the following:
PATRONS
- We take our pets to a holistic vet. She combines eastern and western medical techniques. The atmosphere is relaxed and the pets can wander around the room. They play soothing music and examine the pets on a little yoga mat on the floor
- Look for an AAHA accredited veterinarian. I discovered only two of our city’s vets were accredited. I also look for friendly staff, personal service and a doctor that takes time to listen and understand
- Open to and ideally experience in alternative therapies (holistic, east/west), raw diet, reduced vaccination schedule, non-pesticide preventatives
- Has the animal’s best interests in mind (avoids unnecessary procedures and treatments)
- Welcomes questions (whether or not you may have”googled” them), answers fully in non-judgmental and open manner
- Open office – allows you to accompany patient to any area of office (barring surgery, etc). This has vastly increased in importance for me
- Proactive and “non-alarmist”
- Searches for solutions that don’t always cost us a fortune (when possible)
- Our vet is an excellent listener and never rushes us. He often calls US without us having to call him to check in on whatever might be going on with either of our pets. He also gave me his cell phone number YEARS ago, when my Angel Bobo was in the last stages of heart disease. I have used the number since but I ALWAYS am respectful and ONLY use it in a situation that warrants it. I also try to text instead of call whenever possible. He gives us the feeling that he loves and cares about our “boys” as much as we do. He laughs at them, enjoys them, talks to them…..I had the misfortune of seeing a vet (once) when I first moved to Michigan who literally manhandled my Angel Bobo and treated him like a number. I never went back
- We, too, had a terrible experience at the vet we used to go to. They almost killed CK performing an unnecessary blood test. The vet we go to now will not do a procedure that is unnecessary and I can e-mail/FB PM her doctor anytime and it saves CK the stress of having to go to their office. She answers any question I have and will even follow up with a call. This vet practice was referred to us through the woman we work with at our rescue. Incidentally, we had used this vet with our first cat years ago and only switched because the other vet was closer and we had adopted both Autumn and CK through them. We will never go back there under any circumstances
- I think one of the best ways to find a good vet is through the referral of a friend or co-worker, which is how I found my current vet
- He or she must love cats. I often look for cat-friendly practices from the AAFP, but that is not always possible. My current vet has three cats who live at the office/clinic, all street rescues — her husband is allergic to cats. She, and all of her vet techs, are certified for low-stress handling. She is also a consultant for veterinary behavior — she helped me teach Parker Prettycat that 2:30 am is not playtime. And every year, around the first of the year, she holds a memorial service for those of us who have lost our furriends, whether it was in the past year or earlier. There are some vets who consider cats as something they have to do to get the dog or large animal business.
THE TEAM AT THE BARRIE VETERINARY HOSPITAL
- Does the clinic provide overnight/emergency care?
- Are they a cat-friendly practice? Some clinics offer separate cat doors/cat rooms as well as dog doors and dog rooms
it should always be about the pet
- What species have they studied?
- What are their specialties; exotics, felines, equestrian, do they specialize in surgery or specific conditions (i.e. Megaesophagus, Addison’s disease and cancer)
- How many vets are on staff? What are their accreditations? Do they attend continuing education workshops? When did they graduate; are they receptive to new ideas? For example a holistic approach
- Are the vet techs registered? Have they taken exams, which means they are qualified to do more and are held in higher esteem
- Are they personable? Team member Janet shares her personal experience of a time when she visited a clinic and was emotional and in tearsThe staff at the clinic didn’t even offer me a tissue
- Staff confidence; retention/turnover
- Hospital cleanliness
- Hospital reputation/personal reference/word of mouth
- Cinic hours/location/convenience
- Technology available; digital x-rays, laser treatment, etc.
- Does the clinic refer to specialists i.e. ophthalmologist/dermatologist
- Does the vet speak in layman’s terms? Team member Janet gives another example of a DVM that drew a diagram of a liver as part of their explanation to her (as a client)
- Pricing – where does the clinic fall within the CVO (College of Veterinarians of Ontario)/OVMA (The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association) range?
- Is the clinic independently owned and operated? Sometimes this makes a difference to DVM’s being money motivated. If they are owned by a corporation there may be less pressure and they might not be as inclined to upsell
- Price should not be indicative. For example; lower cost should not mean less time spent with a patient
- Does the clinic have an on-site pharmacy?
- Does the clinic have a pain management protocol; do they monitor patients closely and provide adequate aftercare? For example, pain medication following surgery
- Is the clinic involved/connected with the community; does it provide support for shelters and rescue organizations? For example food banks, spay & neuter programs/clinics and adoption or support for rehoming of surrendered animal companions
- Does the clinic make good moral choices? Do they declaw cats and will they euthanize for no good reason? Sadie: I once learned a dog that was the innocent victim in a divorce – neither parent could agree on who would have guardianship of the dog, so they chose to have the dog put to sleep. Thankfully, the DVM refused and offered to find another home for the dog
we do what we do so we can sleep at night
- Does the clinic offer a loyalty, referral or reward program i.e. food, complimentary service (waived consultation fee)
Please comment sharing your experiences and suggestions with us. Thank you.
http://www.barrievet.com/Home/tabid/56/Default.aspx
https:/www.aaha.org/pet_owner/about_aaha/
https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/programs/ahtvtpac/colleges-with-accredited-programs
Mainly used as sarcasm.
And by yer granny.
Me; yer so cooth aint ye?
you; …aye
I am sorry you had such a bad experience. Having had bad experiences with vets in the past, I am so thankful to have found our current vet, who cares about all the animals who come into her clinic. This is a great list of suggestions.
PAm recently posted…#LightDoneRight with Okie & Cat’s Pride +Giveaway
Thank you Pam. I hope this list will help others when making such an important decision.
We are so sorry that you had to experience such awful treatment but are thrilled you now have a vet whom you love!
I know all too well how hard it is to find a good vet when you move, I went through a similar experience (which was in one of your quotes above, thank you for including us)
This post will be most helpful to those who may have acquired their first pet or who have an uneasy feeling about their current vet, or who have to move as you and I did and must start all over again!
Caren Gittleman recently posted…Happy Birthday Dakota!!!!
Thanks Caren and thank you again for sharing your suggestions.
I’m so sorry that vet was so insensitive!! I’m glad you have a more caring one now.
This is a great post with excellent qualities to look for in a vet and great questions to ask a new vet. I’m currently seeking a new vet, so I’ll bookmark this post to be sure to ask all sorts of questions of him/her.
Fur Everywhere recently posted…Mancat Monday: Carmine and Milita Updates
Thank you. I hope this information helps with your search.
An experience like that can certainly do a number on us. I remember having my nearly 9 year old Boxer in for a prescreening before dental surgery. It was a teaching hospital and unlike last year’s resident, this year’s doctor handled my girl in a clinical, almost rough manner. Then he informed me that she has an arrhythmia and he was concerned about putting her under anesthesia. He encouraged me to get a very expensive additional test prior to surgery. After consulting with some knowledgable friends and my regular vet, I opted against the test. Heart monitoring was standard procedure during surgery and I knew the anesthesia tech who would be overseeing her surgery, so I felt reasonably comfortable with my choice (as much as you can after being scared by the vet!)
Xena got through the procedure just fine and they reported back that her heart had been normal during the entire surgery. Someone (I can’t recall who) had mentioned that hearts can sound “off” when a dog is stressed out. Xena was a gentle girl and vets were usually gentle in kind. Given that an arrhythmia was never heard before or after this incident, and the way this vet handled her like an object, I am certain that the case.
Thank goodness for the good vets that so many of us have been able to find!
Julia recently posted…Situational Dominance
I’m sorry to hear you also had such an experience Julia. Thank you for sharing.
I think most pet parents have had a similar experience and it’s absolutely horrible. My first dog was acting out of the ordinary so off to our vet we went. I had SIX vets in a two month time period tell me I needed to train my dog and there was nothing medically wrong. He passed away not too long after. That’s a weird emotion of rage, pain, and shock you simply can’t control.
It’s Dog or Nothing recently posted…What I’ve Learned from My Great Pyrenees
I’m sorry it took so many tries! Wow, that says a lot!
It was horrible of that first veterinarian to treat you like an experiment for the sake of his student. I’m glad that you were able to find a better veterinarian. Those are excellent tips for finding a great vet!
Robin recently posted…Holistic Nutrition Consult Worldwide Giveaway
Thanks Robin. It was a group effort and I’m grateful to everyone who contributed.
Awww….so very sorry. There are clueless folks in every profession, and I hate that you had to experience this. Thanks so much for sharing your story–it will help others and hopefully open some eyes. “Bedside manner” isn’t just for human docs!
Amy Shojai, CABC recently posted…How to Crate Train Puppies & Kittens to Create #CrateHappyPets
Very true! Thanks Amy
Given our experience, expertise is the most important aspect to me. Second is to listen to what the owner is saying. Because no good diagnosis can be made without a proper history (and nothing is irrelevant) and no good treatment can be done without considering all aspects of the animal. Whether or not the vet has good bedside manners doesn’t really affect either the diagnosis nor the treatment.
Jana Rade recently posted…Bladder Stone Diagnosis and Removal
Thanks Jana, yes, history is very important. A good point in rescue is to be respectful of those surrendering their companions so they will take the time to provide information at time of surrender and not ‘dump and dash.’ It’s helpful to adoptive families taking over the responsibility for the care of that animal to have as much information as possible.
I’m sorry you had a bad vet experience, but so glad it led you to a wonderful holistic vet. Great questions, too.
Val recently posted…Rescue Me Wins DWAA Awards
Thank you Val.
I’m glad to know you ended up with a good vet after all. I can’t say for sure how I would have reacted in your situation with the “bad heart” & “murmur” comments but I think it would have been pretty similar. It surprises me that so many human doctors & vets seem so dispassionate & cold; those are things that would probably make 99% of us uncomfortable when it comes to making big decisions.
Jen Gabbard recently posted…Can Olive Oil Help Your Dogs Dry Skin?
Good point Jen! Being able to ‘relate’ to the customer is a huge factor in gaining the trust of the customer. Even if it doesn’t really affect the diagnosis or treatment plan. Our companions pick up on whatever energy is floating around so, adding stress to the situation could affect the outcome.
I’m sorry you had to go through such an insensitive experience with your prior Vet, but I’m glad you got rid of him and found exceptional care. Yours are great questions to ask a potential Vet. Most of the Vets I’ve been to over the years have been excellent, I’ve only encountered two that I considered sub-par. The story about the divorcing couple who wanted their dog euthanized because they couldn’t decide who should keep him?! What awful people! Thank DOG for the Vet who refused to do it!
Cathy armato recently posted…Your Dog Can Be Your Best Travel Buddy
Thank you Cathy – group effort on the questions.
Yes, I truly can not believe some people think euthanizing a pet is the solution!
Oh man this happened to us once with 2 of the cats. I raged and raged and contacted the owners. I even filed a complaint with the state but got nowhere. Now when we move I am planning to interview vets before I ever take a cat in even if I have to pay a full office visit to do so. I am really sorry this happened to you!
Michelle Wolff recently posted…Self-care? What self-care? Self-care for Advocates series part 1
Sorry to hear that Michelle. I should also have mentioned that it may be possible to post an online review based on our negative and positive experiences.
I’m sorry you had such an unfortunate experience, but glad you moved on to find better ones! After finding out our vet doesn’t have one in the office for afterhour care for surgery patients, I’m thinking I need to find a new vet. I like the ones I have except for that part.
Beth | Daily Dog Tag recently posted…Happy Tails: Bunny and Flattery
I am so sorry you had to experience such a traumatic trip to the vet. As a former veterinary assistance, I completely agree with you, the doctor should have in no way, shape, or form, said that your dog had a bad heart. Additionally, he should have told you outright (not in passing) about the murmur, and explained what grade it was, the grading scale, and the possible implications before moving forward. Dogs can live with heart murmurs for a long time and they can have little affect on their lives, but it can sound so scary. On behalf of veterinary professionals everywhere, I apologize for what this vet said. – Rachel & Rooney
Rachel SHEPPARD recently posted…The Femalization of Veterinary Medicine and Why it Matters
Awwww, thank you Rachel. I’m sure you were an amazing assistant. You’re right, having the ‘issue’ explained calmly, and in detail made such a difference.
I am sorry about your experience with that first vet. In the medical profession to treat their patients as guinea pigs are not only insensitive but also speaks volumes about the incompetency of the vet. Word of mouth is always the best way to find a good vet and I am glad that since then you have found a better vet and also now better educated on how to choose a good vet and questions to be asked to them.
Aca Baranton recently posted…Managing your Pet’s Thunderstorm and Noise Phobias
Thank you, Aca. Yes, there is so much to learn, part of the reason I started this site.