Which vet?

[Kristi]

Okay I have sort of been bouncing around vet practices lately because I go wherever its cheapest for whatever needs to be done. I really want to pick just ONE though, to simplify things...so here are my options...


Vet #1-->
Pros
-She thinks the rabies vaccination is optional, lmbo.
-The dogs love her.
-She doesn't push vaccines down my throat.
-Mainly its just the vaccine thing.
-Most of our dogs are already on file there, so that makes that easy.

Cons
-She has no clue about nutrition.
-They are expensive.
-They are mass-run, so, rules govern their policies and procedures.
-They assume I know nothing.
-They think greenies are the answer to clean teeth...that and $500 dentals 2x a year!
-They do not titer test, "because it does not tell you anything".
[/td][/tr]

Vet #2-->
Pros
-they are local, easy to get to.
-their prices are more reasonable
-they have cheap titer tests ($35 for reg. titer, and $50 rabies titer)
-they don't try to convince me to spay/neuter my show dogs
-tooth extractions are the most reasonable in the area
-they don't even ask what vaccines my dogs have had lol

Cons
-there isn't a vet there that I really like yet, I think I've seen them all now.
-they like to keep the dogs forever for stupid things, like Ivy had to be there all day getting a single baby incisor pulled (seriously!!??), and Leah had to stay over 2 hours to get a urine sample
-the vets don't seem to really care about the animals


Vet 3-->
Pros
-She is a problem solver and a do-er. If something needs doing it gets done.
-C-sections are $500 during business hours, up to around $1000 if extra stuff is needed.
-She does immaculate surgical work. My dogs walk out like nothing ever happened.
-She doesn't immediately assume I am an idiot.
-She isn't against a raw diet, just does not understand it. She promotes RMB's for dental health and believes they prevent the need for dentals.
-She will open her office any hour any time for a c-section, b'c she lives in a house right behind it.
-She will make time for you if you need your dog seen, whether it means opening early or staying a bit late.

Cons
-She's very surgery happy. I think I offended her by having Oakley's knee done by a specialist.
-She's expensive for general office visits, it costs over $50 to walk thru the door
-She has openly said my dogs are the smallest in her practice
-She also is an equine vet, which means she has additional training in horses but not so much little dogs (basically the opposite).
-She does not believe vaccines are harmful.
-Titer tests are expensive.


So I really don't know who to go with...I hate bouncing between the 3, but don't know who to really make "my vet". I think I like #3 the best in that she saved Bryco's life as a puppy and that she has always done clean, careful work on each of my dogs and does fix a problem if one exists.

I guess technically the vet we go to the most is Vet #1 but I wouldn't feel comfortable dealing with them as far as breeding and c-sections go. So that right there to me should tell me they are out but I love that both my girls are close to 8 months old and neither has had their rabies LOL.

What would you do?

[Sarah]

Id go between 1 and 3 personally if one cant do it all for you mix it up

[Lowenchi]

The most pros you have are for vet 3 and most of the pros are about breeding, so your probably safe to stick with her as you will soon be breeding. But there nothing wrong with switching between them if your getting what you need from all 3.

[Chloe]

I'd probably go with Vet 3... i found it difficult trying to use different vets, i did at one point when mine was really expensive for vaccs and microchips etc but after getting a lecture from the receptionist at the cheaper vets about just using them for vaccs etc i decided to stick with my original vet

[Lucy]

I understand what you're saying as far as having just one vet, but I think if you've found things that you really like with each vet, I'd carry on what you're doing. So when you're breeding, go to number 3. When you have minor things and puppy vaccs, go to number 2. Number 1 seems like she's just good to stay registered with so you can get a rabies exemption?

I don't really seem the problem bouncing between the three. At the moment, I'm bouncing between two but if I lived closer, I'd definitely stick with Sarah's vet as I was incredibly impressed with him with Chaos' surgery! But for now, if there are any little things, I will go to my local vet for convenience, even if he is incredibly expensive for absolutely no reason! lol

[Paula]

I would probably go with Vet 3.

[Paula]

Jul 8, 2011 9:30:29 GMT Lucy said:

I understand what you're saying as far as having just one vet, but I think if you've found things that you really like with each vet, I'd carry on what you're doing. So when you're breeding, go to number 3. When you have minor things and puppy vaccs, go to number 2. Number 1 seems like she's just good to stay registered with so you can get a rabies exemption?

I don't really seem the problem bouncing between the three.

I agree with this too, but for myself I personally prefer finding one vet that I really like, and the dogs like, and having them be really familiar with my dogs and any issues they have, knowing their history well etc. I think there's something to be said for that too.
I'd definitely rule vet 2 out though. The fact that you don't like them and they don't seem to care about the animals is terrible. I wouldn't go to them for anything personally.

[Lucy]

Just my opinion