had a real eye opener experience today!
I will quantify firstly by saying that my own vet has been fantastic to me for over 20 years now.....i can watch any surgery on my hounds...and help if I want..... he knows I am very knowledgable and talks in detail about anything "we" (not he!) decides we will do, and he accepts on some subjects I actually have more experience than him yikes!
Anyway..... the new baby was due for his 1st pup jab today and rather than take him on 100 mile around-trip to my own vets, decided to call in to the town vets (12 miles) where my SIL is a nurse.....saving fuel into the bargain.
This mere child of a vet appeared at the table and despite him knowing why i was there....started on about his "symptoms" and did he have D&S etc??? I reminded him he was there just for a 1st jab and nothing more.....so then he started telling me when I needed to get him castrated :0 and sell me some insurance and wormer!!!! My poor SIL was in the back room awaiting my explosion and having a giggling fit at the sight of my face!! needless to say once we have our 2nd jab we wont be setting foot inside his door again!!! Is this really how normal pet owners get treated at vets? makes me apprecaite mine much much more than ever now!

There's a mixture at our practice. Some are excellent and I have every faith in them.  A couple not so much as they say things that don't make sense.  One told me that pedigree dogs are, of course, much more susceptible to illness than crossbreeds.

I think alot are like this and worse!  You hear so many stories and I met a lady recently who was upset about her poodle having a hernia, I finished of her sentance of the vet saying "have it removed wen you neutur at 6 months" This lady had brought a poodle from a reputable breeder (I saw paperwork) and was planning on lightly showing and having a litter.  Wen I told her it is what alot of vets say she was shocked and will be going back to her breeder for advise on what to do with the situation.

I think it also explains Sam, why you have a 100 mile round trip, sounds like you found one of those sensible vets who know that on some subjects, other people may know more!

I suppose to be fair we know that generally people do not buy a dog to breed from it so should get it neutered.  It's one of those things that if the vet doesn't prompt, the owner might never get around to it and before you know it you've got another poorly bred litter, which around here is likely to be part staffie.  Same with the wormer and insurance.  If you think about these things before you buy a pup then it's already organised, if it hasn't been done by the time the vet asks then perhaps the owner should be prompted.

I can remember our vet (or should I say our dog's vet) asking about insurance but they will not recommend a company, just remind you that you should get some which we already had - thank goodness as it turns out.

My own vets are now running a DVD in the waiting room recommending, among other things, early neutering and listing all the evil fatalities and temperament problems that will befall those who ignore such *essential procedures*.  Likewise monthly worming, splattering chemicals on the back of the neck on a regular basis that kill all known germs/parasites inside and out (a particular pet hate of mine can't you just tell!)

Sadly I think thise is becoming more normal practice as my previous vets also have a similarly scary DVD on show too!

Thankfully they never ask me about neutering, worming, et al and I find them very informative when any of the dogs need a check over.  They discuss what my own feelings are about the dogs' symptoms, knowing that I'll be far more aware than them of subtle behavioural changes etc but equally I'm respectful of the fact they have the professional expertise and so between us I find we work well together :) 

I do appreciate my own vets for how they are with me and mine but suspect that I'd be very peeved if a new staff member joined and gave me the sermon preached as per the DVD!

When I bought my first dog I took her to a vet.  I knew nothing about dogs.  Within two weeks my 14 week old puppy was near death - her body was full of worms.  The vet had told me nothing about worms or dog care - if he had it all could have been avoided.

As it turned out, the dog's breeder was hospitalized shortly after the bitch gave birth and the breeder's mother was left to care for the puppies - and she knew nothing about dogs.  Hence, the pups had never been wormed.

I cannot fault a vet that is new to me telling me the basics - I would not get insulted.  I would be seriously annoyed at being forced to listen to a DVD most likely supplied by some drug company plugging their products.

>Within two weeks my 14 week old puppy was near death - her body was full of worms

True, lots of folks will get pups from sources where basic care from the breeder was lacking never mind new owners' knowledge of after care so TBF worming should be discussed with new owners.

I hate the spot on type treatments and the regularity with which some quite powerful products are now recommended - IMO it's OTT and cannot be good for my dogs.

Teri

> I cannot fault a vet that is new to me telling me the basics - I would not get insulted.  I would be seriously annoyed at being forced to listen to a DVD most likely supplied by some drug company plugging their products.

Isn't it the same message through two different media?  The worming product that the vet suggests is a product from a drug company too :-) 
I can understand people not wishing to use these products, that is up to them, but I don't really understand why they would object to being informed about them and if you agree information is useful why not get it from a video while you are waiting for your consultation. 
Infact, for those that feel pressured if their vet brings these subjects up during consultation all the better be informed away from that position.

In general my vets are good and I am satisfied with the service I get, no DVD as yet but when I had one of my lads hip scored they said "and you would like us to castrate at the same time" :-O No, said I, one of the reasons I am having him scored is because should he do well in the ring I may wish to use him at stud, ok, they say with a smile.

Very worried took him in next day and said you are under no circumstances to do anything but take x rays to hip score, that's right, they said, you will have him castrated once you get the scores, not I said unless he has a health problem that demands it. Spent a few hour worrying in case despite my efforts he had his promissing career loped off and chucked in the yellow bin, the phone rang, we have found a chip on the inside of an incisors expect you would like us to remove the tooth,  NO THANK YOU just bring him round please.

Now, some years later my vets know me and do not make un-requested suggestions, and the tooth is still in this 7 year olds head and his testicals are sill tucked neatly where they belong.

Isabel,

Getting information from a DVD playing in the vet's waiting room is an extremely poor means of educating anyone - not only is there no guarantee that the people that might learn something from it will listen - or if they do listen that they will understand - but part of the vet's role or the nurse's role is to inform their clients. If the vet is relying on a DVD to educate his or her clients - he/she is a lousy and/or lazy vet. 

If the DVD playing was supplied by a drug company - IMO it's there primarily for the benefit of the vet and the drug company - I do not go to the vet with my dogs to listen to advertising messages.   There are enough free pamphlets in my vet's office supplied by the drug companies as it is - the last thing I want is to be forced to listen to something I neither need or want to hear.

You can't ask questions of a DVD.

> Getting information from a DVD playing in the vet's waiting room is an extremely poor means of educating anyone

Is it?  I would think it would depend on how well it is produced. It's a medium used a lot in education.
I don't see why this indicates a lazy vet.  I am sure the vet would be happy to answer any question arising.

> If the DVD playing was supplied by a drug company - IMO it's there primarily for the benefit of the vet and the drug company

It may sell products but if the consumer benefits as well I don't see why they shouldn't make them aware of what is available.  I always browse through any new product information when I am in the waiting room so I think I would be happy to see that information displayed by another media.
If I have got this right, you seem to be saying these DVDs are not enough you should get all this from your vet during consultation but other posters are objecting to that so it seems they cannot win :-)

I do not overly flea/tick my dogs, as we have no deer or sources o fticks in our area. I did previously do them more often as we lived near a lot of deer. I do worm regularly though, as they often drink maky water and are fed raw.

I think it is responsible of vets to discuss worming at the first vaccination, TBH. My previous vet would routinely check if owners knew about worming etc. Several of the pups I sold would not have had worming continued if I hadn't have said something, as people hadn't read their puppy packs and their vets hadn't mentioned worming at their first vacc.

I don't really have a problem with vets discussing neutering/spaying either, but I disliek them 'pushing' it and wish they'd discuss the cons as well as the pros so people can make an informed choice.

I must say after my recent experiences with my vet I feel rather disillusioned..

The last vet was very good, she read up on my breed, and made enqs with specialists when it came to liver-shunt testing the pups... sadly she left to go on a sabatical to New Zealand (lucky her)

the vet we have now seems rather clueless, though a very nice lass

After Leah was taken in last Fri, all they seem to have done is kept her on fluids, she has developed pressure sores on both elbows and both hocks as they only had her on one piece of vet-bed..and they were about to take a liver biopsy when they decided to refer her to Chester - the whole reason her liver enzymes were to cock was because of the steroids they gave her!!

I've always trusted vets to do what's best for my dogs, but now I feel I have to have some knowledge myself so I don't feel bamboozled (which is no bad thing I guess)

at least the vets know I show my dogs, so have never lectured me about neutering etc, and when they try and sell me food etc I just tell them I feed raw or prepare my own food, so now they don't try any more.....   

I'm debating whether to stay with these vets, the surgery near to me is handy (10-15 min walk) but anything other that basic jabs requires a trip to the Hull branch 20 miles away...

there's another vet about 9 miles which does everything in-house, or another one about 7 miles away near where I work....I might try them out and see if they have any experience of sighthounds, but then maybe I should stick with my vet because they will learn something too???

I'm really confused about it at the moment, so sorry if this post rambles a little :( 

Why don't you ask around other show people and see if any particular vet is recommended. I only have 2 spayed bitches, who are usually pretty healthy so they go to the local practice if necessary, but we don't use them for our horses, preferring one that is about 30 miles away. My neighbour, who does show and breed dogs, tried our local vet when she first moved here, but wasn't very happy, and she asked other show people for a good vet that understood breeders. She goes about 25 miles, but is very happy with the service she gets.

I remember when Henry got a tiny little fatty lump on the inside of his leg, I rang my breeder in a panic, and the best advice she gave was not to let the vet talk me into a 'wait and see' in case it grew larger and left a nasty scar when removed. Armed with this, I managed to withstand that advice, which was indeed what they said at first. Then they said 'shall we castrate him while he's under?' and I said 'you take anything like that off and his breeder will kill us both!' as he'd just won 2 BOB back to back after coming out of puppy. 2 months later he won the CC at Windsor! At 6 years he still has his bits and will keep them unless medically necessary to remove! My puppy info pack says if you feel you must castrate your dog to wait until at least 18 months or 2 years. :-)

I recently had my jack russell spayed she is 5 yrs old and has had 2 litters.  I never saw vet when I took her or collected her it was all done by the receptionist.

Hubby took her for her check up a couple of days later and came home fuming and saying he is never going back to that surgery. The vet wanted to know why we had waited till she was 5 before spaying. He briefly explained but didnt think he had to go into details as her attute was all wrong. She was not impressed. Then we wanted to know why the dog wasnt wearing the bucket on her head to stop her getting at the stitches so he exlained that she hadnt even looked at them and we were with her constantly. She never let him finish and told him he was  irrisponsible and it should be on all the time and basically tough if the dog didnt like it.  He came out of the surgery feeling like a bad owner.

I took her back a week later all ready for a fight lol and it was a different vet. She said how good the stitches looked and asked if she wore the bucket to which I replied no she has never looked at them and I didnt see any point in stressing her out wearing it when we were with her all the time. I was able to go on and say that me and hubby had organised our work ect to make sure she was never left. She said this was great and agreed about not stressing her.   She went on to say what excellent condition my dog was in and how nice it was to see a dog so fit. We talked about exercise and I was able to ask questions, We had a laugh and it was a really nice relaxed atmosper which would of benifited he dog to. 

I saw this same vet when I took my whippet with a suspected pyro, It wasnt I was totally wrong she had a enteritis bug. She asked at the time if i had thought about spaying as it eliminate the risk of pyros and I said yes but Im not sure yet if I will be having a litter from her so want to keep my options open as she is still young. She adviced me if i was going to have a litter the best time was when she was about 2.5 yrs old. She is 2 now. I was really pleased as she didnt lecture me or make me feel bad.

We wont be seeing the other vet again if we can help it. But there really was no need for her attitude.

I'm always very pleased with my vet :) When I took my pup for his first check up the vet asked me if I was planning on castrating him or not!!! The vet knows I don't breed or show and that my dogs are just pets.
They have fact sheets on neutering and this is small part regarding castration :

".... if you have a dog who is well behaved and you are prepared to keep him under control, there is no particular reason to neuter." :)

Regarding the dvd, i doubt it is there as a primary place for information. Its probably playing in the backround to give clients something to look at whilst waiting - IF they choose too, i doubt anyone is sat down and forced to watch it. It is a way of raising awareness of some problems just like posters are, which then means that they can then ask the vet questions when they go in. Don't forget not everyone is as knowledgeable as you are, infact how little people know can be quite shocking. I'll never forget the time someone brought their bitch in because they thought she was dying and actually she was having her first season. They knew nothing about seasons at all!

We recently changed vets, wasn't happy with previous surgery, just felt very business like, but we are really happy with new vets very informative and  without being patronising, and cheaper which is a bonus :)

Sometimes I get shocked with the vets.  I love the one, as she is great, but the other ones, seem to be "lets test for this and that".  Instead of like the vet I like, says "ok what symptoms, how long, ok, this is what I am thinking". 

There was one vet here, that when Cher needed a tooth pulled, I called up cos he had a dental xray machine.  My vet did not.  SO I called up, explained that I wanted the tooth pulled, and that I needed dental xrays as well.  When the vet found out, that I had an intact bitch, he was like "well if you spay her, it will be 300 dollars cheaper than just getting the tooth pulled".  I said no, that I was showing her, and I wasnt going to spay her.  (teeth are a bad issue in the breed, almost always have to get teeth pulled when they are teething).  Well, he said "Fine I wont do the surgery unless you either agree to spay her, or sign a contract saying you wont breed her".  EXCUSE ME?  Needless to say I didnt go to that vet!  I was scared he would have spayed her, even though I didnt wish it.

The vet I took her too, out of town, was great!  He pulled the tooth, fixed her jaw (she had a splinter from a cooked bone as well, lodged between a tooth and the gum).  And it was cheaper than he quoted!  Very nice office staff, very clean place, and I didnt feel like a dip when talking to him (sometimes, I feel like they are trying to make me feel stupid).

Now I know, what I will use some vets for, and not others. 

That's ridiculous.  I am pretty sure there is not a mandatory spay/neuter by-law in any Ontario municipality.  If he said that to me I would report him to the OVMA.  That is out of his jurisdiction.  Maybe you would like to enter that Vet practice on THIS website?

Will check out the site you left, as I was quite upset about it.  He basically was trying to bully me into a spay of my show dog.  I talked to my vet, and said I wanted to report him to the Ontario College of Vets, but she said it was for malpractice, like removing the wrong body part or something, and that since Cher didnt go there, and nothing wrong was removed, that there was no recourse.  But I did call the college, and talked to them, and I also called the CKC. 

He was a dip, that vet! 

Went to the site, and posted about him.  Thanks for letting me know about that site, as it helps when I move in the near future, so I can see what vets are recommended in the area I am wanting to move to!

(was gonna just edit my post, but it wouldnt let me, something about time expiring - so I had to reply again!)

I'm kind of torn in my opinion of my vets, there are 3 in the surgery, and all seem prety good. I admit, my boy was neutered far too early on the vets advice. Hindsight is a wonderful thing eh!

My boy has digestive problems, and now that the vets know I take my dogs health very seriously and want to learn more, they seem very happy to dicuss ideas / alternative diets etc with me, and as he may need to go in for an op soon, my usual vet has been excellent about answering all of my questions and making sure I'm fully aware of what will happen.

However, a friend of mine uses the same vets and she has an 18 month old entire Lab male. She has (misguided) plans to use him at stud to 'earn some money' and I have tried my hardest to put her off, talking about poss. temperament change, costs of health tests, showing etc, and I thought she had been put off. Then she took him into the vets for his booster and mentioned to them about breeding, and they said it shouldn't be a problem, he seems like a friendly dog so his temp. won't change. She asked about health tests and they looked him over and said Yes, he's healthy!!! :-( So now she has decided to use him at stud becuase the vet said it would be fine.

I think my vet will get a flea in his ear from me next time I'm in - she's a great friend to me, but not the most responsible dog owner, and I'm kind of angry that the vet has pretty much advised her to breed from her dog.

Claire

Remimded me of a Doctor he had a fit when I took my son to see him nothing wrong except a cold, next day I took him to my usual Doctor who hospitalised him with pnuemonia. I only take our dogs to one of the vets who has always impressed me. In an emergency i would go to the other vet but for routine I stick with Finn.

I went to our usual vet practice for pre mating check & vac.  Saw a new Vet ,He was a youngster but it was him who said about vac's not being needed yearly especially for our older girl etc. Think it depends if you get a vet in it for the animals well being or for the money

That Dr thing happend to me to I went and told him I had a bad dose of the flu and think I had cracked a rib coughing. I was really ill and in agony. He agreed with me gave me some pain killers and basically told me to get on with it. Two days later I was very ill in hospital with pneoumonia and a clapsed lung.

Came across this at my vets office.  It was a picture of a vet, with a dog.  Under the pic it said "the most respectable doctor is the vet.  His patients cant tell him whats wrong, he just has to know."

Thought I would share that. 

And thats why vets have an extra 2 years of education then doctors!  At least in the UK we do!

well I'm not happy with my vet's at all at the mo!
I phoned for an appointment for Alfie's 2 year 'check up' and booster jab.  Told the receptionist on the phone that because of possible emigration to Australia, Alf would not require the lepto part of the booster, the lady said she would make a note of it for the veterinary surgeon.
Just came back from the appointment £35 lighter, after Alf had NOTHING done.  The only booster he actually needed was the lepto part, so I still got charged for the consult fee!!
I'm really mad about it!

>Just came back from the appointment £35 lighter, after Alf had NOTHING done.  The only booster he actually needed was the lepto part, so I still got charged for the consult fee!!

You made the appointment for the consultation, and you received the consultation, so why on earth shouldn't you pay for it? The vet can't use that time again for someone else - you still had the check-up!

Maybe she didn't have the check up either as no booster was required?  £35 for just attending does seem a bit heavy to me, depending on how much time was actually spent there.  Just goes to show though that it does pay to know the vaccination booster timescales so you don't book an appointment which isn't necessary. ;)

Usually check-ups are annual affairs, so if it's been two years since the last one it'd be sensible to have the dog checked over while you were there.

I got charged a check up fee, when I was going into get jabs and they said they wouldnt give Cher her jabs since she was in season.  They knew ahead of time that she was in season, and I was a bit mad at that - so I can see why ppl would be upset about a consult fee when nothing was done

woah woah woah...
It is ONE year since Alf's last 'annual' / regular check up, he is 2 years old now, this check up was for his booster and as I originally stated, he had NOTHING else done.  He is an otherwise healthy dog, good weight, good heart, regularly wormed, flea treated and so on...

I have no problem with paying my vet's fees if substantiated, but as I also said, I had already explained to the receptionist that he did not require the lepto part of the booster, and as that was all he was due to have, then she could have told me that over the phone and I wouldn't have made the appointment in the first place...
Thanks JG for jumping down ones throat :-)

depending on how much time was actually spent there

less than 5 minutes, as I explained the situation re: lepto immediately to the vet...

it does pay to know the vaccination booster timescales
Yes - I wish I had!

To be honest i would have thought the nurse would have told you that on the phone when you made the appointment-that would have saved time AND money

>I phoned for an appointment for Alfie's 2 year 'check up' and booster jab.

In my defence I'll justp point out the ambiguity of the above post - I read it as meaning that it had been two years since his last check up! So I apologise for any confusion about that. :-)

Tessie's Tracy - when you went into the consultation room did the vet check Alfie over at all (teeth, eyes, ears, heart, ruffle the coat near the tail to check for fleas, etc? If Alfie just stayed on the floor and the vet never touched him, then I agree that charging for a consult was a bit harsh.

In answer to Fred's Mum - as I'm the bod (not the one in this case but at our practice) who answers the phone and makes the appointments, we rely on owners telling us what the appointment is for, not for us to check up what might or might not be needed.

Hi JG, well in my own defence, when I typed 2 year check up, what I meant was 2 years old check up...
So I can see the confusion that may have caused you...

In answer to your other question.  No, the vet did not do anything else to Alfie other than pet him and compliment his lovely shiny coat in the couple of minutes we were in the room... :-)
The conversation was so short, I could probably relay it verbatim...
So you can see my point now about the consult fee....

Where ever the mixup occurred he could not have then sold that consultation time to anyone else.

Receptionists can't do everything! We are usually very busy, sometimes i can have 2 phones on the go with a queue going out the door, i can't be expected to check everyones vaccination status when they make an appointment, that part i'm afraid is up to the vet, imagine if we got it wrong and told you you didn't need to come in and actually you did, client and vet would not be happy!

Where ever the mixup occurred he could not have then sold that consultation time to anyone else.

Indeed he could not, but the mixup was a mistake on the part of the receptionist that needn't have happened in the first place, had I been given the correct information.
I'm not the person who works in a veterinary surgery after all :-)
If I made these kind of mixups in my job, I'd be for the chop...

imagine if we got it wrong
The advice given to me was wrong...
As I said, if I made these sort of errors in my job.. I wouldn't have one..
Fully understand though that mistakes, mishaps, errors can happen..

>the mixup was a mistake on the part of the receptionist

The receptionist's job is to book appointments for clients when they ask for them, not to find out what the client should be asking for. If you asked for an appointment for a check-up and a booster, then that's what the receptionist will book. When you were in the consulting room, why didn't you ask the vet to give Alfie his annual check?

This is very normal in the US.  Vets use scare tactics and attempt to alter everything at 6 months or sooner.  I've read way to many horror stories lately of people leaving the vets office spending 400$(USD) for just a checkup and boosters.

I doubt that its very common anywhere to go for a check up and boosters and end up with a bill the equivalent of $400. 

The situation in the U.S. with regard to overpopulation of unwanted dogs and cats is *very* different to the U.K.    The pressure to spay and neuter companion animals there is warranted; if less than effective.  

The receptionist's job is to book appointments for clients when they ask for them, not to find out what the client should be asking for. If you asked for an appointment for a check-up and a booster, then that's what the receptionist will book. When you were in the consulting room, why didn't you ask the vet to give Alfie his annual check?

Do you ever get the feeling you're going round in circles? :-)
I was sent a reminder card that Alfie was due for his booster by my veterinary surgery.
I did as I was asked by that card and phoned to make an appointment for the booster.  As I said, verbatim, I said: ' I have received a card to make an appointment for Alfie's booster, please can I do so, oh and by the way he does not need the Leptospirosis part of the booster as we are emigrating shortly'.
Receptionist made the appointment, and said she would make a note of the Lepto request for the vet.

Bearing in mind, I took my bitch for herbooster only a fortnight ago or so, whereby she was given an injection booster still, BUT without the Lepto part of the booster.  I assumed (as I said, not being of the medical/veterinary persuasion) that Alf would be the same.

No mention of check-ups at the time of making the appointment, only boosters.

I didn't ask for a check-up whilst in the room because the vet had said how healthy and fit he looked, that he didn't need an injection at all, and he would see him at another time, once we knew more abuot our visa being issued and so on.  (The Lepto vaccine cannot be given within 6 months of the animal travelling to Australia).  As I said before, I was in that room a matter of minutes.

The receptionist's job is to book appointments for clients when they ask for them, not to find out what the client should be asking for

Hence, I suppose, why people are discussing vet bill charges?  If I - being the client, is unsure what to ask for, then who is supposed to be telling me?
I feel that I did as much as I could by telling the receptionist that my dog would not require that part of his booster, I was not to know (and perhaps neither was she, but I expect her to know more than I) that he was only due to be having that part of the booster.
Perhaps I should have rephrased my conversation with the receptionist -
'My dog is due his booster, he does not require the Lepto part, should he still come in?'
BUT, as Tess had just had her boosters, and I had said the same thing to the same receptionist, and she then still had the 'other' part of the vaccine, I think I can be forgiven for not knowing that Alf might be different.....

What I fail to understand is why the 'other' part of the usual 12 mth booster was not felt necessary to be given, especially as your other dog went in under the same conditions and had these 'other' booster parts. Is the vet saying your dog was not ready for the remaining booster bits, if so why were you called in for boosters at all? Did you ask the vet? Do you have to go back to have these parts of the booster at another time, and if so, why? I would be more interested in why the vet didnt do the booster as requested on the reminder, rather than put any blame on the receptionist who seemed to have been doing her job, which she did with your other dog. The receptionist, telepathic as they may be :) cannot assume what the vet will advise or do. I also can't understand why he didnt do the usual health check, looking is ok but hardly accurate, the 12 mth vaccination is the time they have a bit of a 'medical' which is all included in the price. So, I can't understand why that was not done and would have asked why, and asked why I would be expected to pay when it was a fools errand, and nothing had been done when it was the surgery who had called me in anyway!

Consultation prices are what we know we have to pay once we walk through the door. 5 mins or twenty five mins the consultation fee is the same, so really I think its swings and round- a- bouts, some times it seems pricey for the time, but we don't complain when the vet spends ages talking, explaining things to us and the options/meds/whatever or the time they will spend if something needs explaining on the phone to us, which is 'free of charge'.

No mention of check-ups at the time of making the appointment, only boosters.

Our vet always does a health check before giving an injection - it is a standard part of the booster system as they should only be given to dogs that are fit and healthy. My dogs are a picture of health but he always checks heart, eyes, teeth, ears, general body etc as a standard procedure.