From a customer point of view:  Please,  don’t choose a Vet simply because they are convenient for your dogs.  Research, ask fellow dog breeders and owners; ask local (if your lucky enough to have one) Vet School for recommendations. The retired Dean of Purdue told me the Vet I used in Indiana was the most talented student he had while associated with the Vet School.  Based on my experience, I would agree with him!

I have a Vet’s office that is 1 1/2 blocks from my apartment.  I won’t go near them.  Their rates are exorbitant; they are a training ground for “fresh out of school” doctors.  Am often torn on the new Vets … the lack experience but presumably have been taught the “latest methods”.Their value to me depends on how much I trust their “mentoring Vet”.  The Vet I do use is some distance away; experienced; a breeder/exhibitor; and more than willing to discuss the situation at hand offering alternatives and advising why she make a specific recommendation.  Somehow, that makes sense to me.

From a veterinarians point of view:  My FAVORITE clients are those that do their own research.  Ask me lots of questions!  Debate me! Give me better ideas! Show me info on someone who did it differently! Question my opinions and decisions!  My staff is invited to do all this any time, also.  Keeps me on my toes and I learn every day from it!  However, to keep that favorite status, we want them to come to us with their questions, concerns, info, and allow us to do our own research into the matters.  We then discuss their thoughts, my Medical findings, my experience, their experience, and come to a conclusion together.  Those that come to me with “my dog has this” or “I want this medication” or “betcha didn’t know this” are educated the best we can, but if my opinion and experience don’t count, they are invited to find a vet who they can trust.  Believe me, I am the first to admit I don’t know everything, and I have learned quite a bit from many of my clients. But ultimately, I am the one with the degree, the education, and experience in this.  Yes,there are many breeders I work with that have more experience in some things than I do, and we work together with them so I can learn from that experience. But at the end of the day, I am the one with 8 years of education and 17 years of experience in the medical aspects of the care of your pets, and that needs to be recognized.

It is very important that you can find a vet with the same philosophy of care you believe in, one that keeps up on the newest developments, and one that is open to listen to concerns, and the partnership will be wonderful.

If your vet is “too busy” to do research on concerns you have or to keep up to date on the latest and greatest therapies, diseases, etc, doesn’t that concern you that something new may show up that is missed if you aren’t doing the research for them?  With so many veterinary networks out there, it should not take more than a little bit of time to look into something for you.

photo credit: Tobyotter

Finding A Good Veterinarian
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