Thread: Didn't like the vet today

we moved house 12 months ago - first time I took my cat met this new male vet - he seemed very standoffish and really didn't seem to warm to my cat - my cat hates anyone other than a member of our family - he's such a sweetie.

a few weeks ago had to take the dog to the vet and saw a female vet - she was lovely and was real lovely to my elderly dog - he's 13 now. Today we had to take him back and we had the male vet again and again he was very standoffish - quite rough with my dogs paws (asked him to cut his claws) - and really not very nice.

Can you specifically ask to see a certain vet (like you can with a doctor) do you think? My dog has been really down tonight - I'm sure it's because he was manhandled so roughly.

Originally Posted by time2bslim

we moved house 12 months ago - first time I took my cat met this new male vet - he seemed very standoffish and really didn't seem to warm to my cat - my cat hates anyone other than a member of our family - he's such a sweetie.

a few weeks ago had to take the dog to the vet and saw a female vet - she was lovely and was real lovely to my elderly dog - he's 13 now. Today we had to take him back and we had the male vet again and again he was very standoffish - quite rough with my dogs paws (asked him to cut his claws) - and really not very nice.

Can you specifically ask to see a certain vet (like you can with a doctor) do you think? My dog has been really down tonight - I'm sure it's because he was manhandled so roughly.

Yep I do! We had a great vet who specialised in exotic pets and was an expert on rats so I always asked for him. You are a paying customer hun!

Yep I agree, your entitled to ask to see a specific vet. I imagine there are other people at your vets that have experianced the same as you so hopefully he will be spoken to about his manner.

How awful for him to be like that with a poor innocent animal. I think you should report him for his behaviour.

You are not only a paying customer, you are the steward of your animal. Ask to see the vet you want, knowing you can take your business elsewhere and also that by getting the right vet, you will help your dog trust your decisions.

I have experienced something very similar. If I ever get booked in with a certain vet there I will refuse to be seen by them. Not only did she not want to handle my dog (acting like he was some kind of diseased creature) she wasted my time with her lack of knowledge and not to forget, she also wasted my money. I had to pay for the appointment and left feeling more frustrated afterwards than when I went in.

I've only just seen this thread but I would like to defend the veterinary community! You can ask to see a specific vet, it happens all the time and most of us arnt generally offended by it, it usually doesn't get back to us to be honest!

Certain vets work in certain ways, and while what tou described isn't my way, I know of other vets who work like that and it suits some people. Some vets have a better bedside manor than others and can read people to adapt to what ppl want from them.

What the general public see as rough at times is usually just restraining, it can seem rough but with the amount of aggressive dogs (even if they are as soft as my two dogs at home, they can snap in a second at the vets) we see, its a matter of safety for us to handle correctly. If we get bitten or scratched too badly we can't work (it happens) or need surgery, that means we don't get payed, and believe me it is not as much as people think! The average vet working 5 years in practice earns £28k. Bear in mind we all have to pay £300 a year to be able to work, plus defence money and insurances, and most of us have student loans to repay of £20k plus, it doesn't leave you much, all these still have to be payed if you are off work due to illness or injury.

I'm not saying all vets are perfect by any means, and if you are genuinely unhappy with the way your vet is with you and your pets, you can always request a nurse to be in your consultation with you as nurses just have a way with animals. And don't forget, there's always management to talk to, just call and ask to talk to the practice manager as your not happy with your level of care. It should be dealt with in a professional manor and the vet in question should be spoken to.

Please don't forget vets are people too. We have a limited social life, and the majority of the time have been working 2 weeks straight with no weekends and little sleep due to being up most the night with sick pets. We have all gone through 5 years or more of training with the idea of animal welfare at the heart of our lives. We get a lot of grief from clients which 9 times out of 10 isn't our fault, so just talk to us if your not happy. Don't just take it if your not happy, but be nice about it, any decent vet will listen to you and take your point, and if they don't, go one up and complain.