Your Vet, Your Pet, You

[iadybug423]

I have no idea why I am writing this. Believe it or not I feel guilty and in a way disloyal to my long time veternarian of 119 years. He, himself is a good person and awesome vet. A 3 hour wait time and time again, year after year has just warn me down. Out of loyalty to him and his services I stayed. He has always treated my animals well and healed their many illnesses and wounds.
This has been a rough couple of years for vet bills with Shyann's spinal surgery, two seperate, huge cystic tumor removals just a month apart, several intestinal infections, skin infections, eye issues, stiches, etc. With five dogs, two cats and other exotics in this family, pack, flock and humans we need our health at the top of our game. We take our vitamins, our heart worm, our flea preventive, and yes we all exercise and try hard to watch our diet-all of us!
I have had vets over my lifetime and have liked each one. I hate to give this one up but I can't keep up the loyalty of long, exhausting waiting room times with my already uncomfortable pet around other injured or sick animals over and over and over. I have talked with him, and we made an arrangement when Jet Li was a pup-a wee pup, just coming home with a cold. I would call, they would pull my record, and he would see us at six. That was great for a time. Over time it becomes overwhelming with one pet after another needing more than 6 month check-ups, and 2-3 are having issues back to back, not to mention just one having a majorly rough (ruff) year.
My husband and I discussed it, many times, in fact every time one of us returned after a long, hot irritable vet visit.
Finally, this week when two just had to go, we changed over.

I think I feel bad in part because this person has spent a few pets lifetime, healing, nursing and caring for their many issues, including life and death.
It isn't easy. I suppose only longtime pet lovers can understand the decisions and heart put into choosing our vets. I choose my vets like I did for my daughter. Careful and cautious.
Ugh--I don't know why I wrote this...perhaps venting would make the disarray feel a little better. Not so.

I know this new Vet will serve my family well. Just a new journey changing paths.

I would like to give Kudos to all the Vets...You have made a world of difference in my life, regardless of this issue. Great things are done for our furry, scaled and feathered family nowadays, thanks to modern medicine and the souls who dedicate their lives to making others better.

[iadybug423]

That's awesome to hear. Let me know how it goes when you take Pepper back. Sounds like you and Pepper will be just fine.
Hopefully the passing worms around is over since this NEW VET treated all my dogs. We just kept going to the other vet vet for "stomach infections." Hopefully this is it for all that mess.
Not to be gross but some worms are from dogs sniffing poo and worm eggs get on their nose and they ingest them by licking their nose.
Stay in touch about the vet. If I could have 10 dogs I would but because of vet bills I have to stay here :( Otherwise I would have a ranch with 100.
Take care.

[Schnauzer]

Thanks! She's working out wonderfully for me so far. I don't have to go back until October though, for more Heartguard and K9 Advantix, and rabies shot for Pepper. I've only had her for about 5 months and I really wish I made the switch earlier. I hear you about passing those worms around... Never had that problem here but I've heard about how it's an endless cycle! Good luck! I only wish I had 5 dogs!

[iadybug423]

I sure hope your new vet is still working out great for you. We really have had good vets over the years. We are still at our new vet and low and behold Jet Li had 3 different worms while I was on vacation and so hubby took him because of severe gas and diarrhea and she found the worms, gave him meds and he is doing awesome. ALL 5 dogs got meds for these worms. We just kept passing around worms from one to the other because only one was getting treated at a time...so we'll see. Jet gets a 2nd dose on the 21st.
Best of luck to you and yours.

[Schnauzer]

I haven't had as good of luck as you with vets I don't guess. My previous vet would always try to sell horrible foods (Purina brands) to Pepper whenever he had problems... and come to find out by my OWN research, that he was very allergic to the ingredients!! But that vet never looked into his problems... He just gave him a steroid shot, offered really expensive tests and sent him home. The last time, I told him my findings and he didn't care... and even tried to sell prescription Purina EN diet again even though he KNEW (I'm sure...) that the food I now feed is actually good for him. I tried to explain nutrition to him and that's when his attitude came out and I knew for certain that he was just a money grabber. I found a new vet... She happens to be with Banfield in PetSmart, so I didn't expect the best, but there was a coupon for a free visit so I went. It turns out, she's GREAT!! And she understands nutrition, even supporting the BARF diet. She actually knows that carnivores are supposed to eat meat, and she has even found cheaper ways for me to help Titan with his stomach problems... opting to try probiotics and various things before doing any expensive testing. Plus, she's ever so respectful and actually LISTENS!! She even supports my decision to not vaccinate the dogs anymore except for rabies because their immune systems work just like ours and yearly vaccinations are a waste of money and a strain on the liver! I'm very glad to have found her as a vet because she actually knows what she's talking about (or at least we're on the same page), and she's very nice to me.