Which Veterinary Surgeon?
How many times have I been asked that question? Well, it will depend on where in the world you live.
For some of you, the choice will be very limited. In the town where I live there is only a choice of two, after that the nearest one is a one and a half hours drive away. So the decision is simple.
So how do we choose?
The Top Ten
- Don’t delay. Regardless of the species of your pet, don’t wait until you need one; it could be fatal. Some conditions won’t wait. To deliver the best treatment, a detailed history of your dog can be invaluable. It should be noted that in some parts of the world, both doctors and veterinary surgeons rely on the individual to keep their own records. If that is the case, as it is where I live, you are well advised to keep your own record. It is quite simple, take a notebook and list the following. The date and time of each visit to the clinic and the name of the vet.
- The symptoms that you described.
- The diagnosis and treatment indicated. Plus prognosis and your pet’s reaction to the treatment.
- Keep any x-ray or blood test results that you are given.
- All pertinent information regarding your pet, including vaccinations, worm and parasite treatment.
If you haven’t got one, start checking out your options and ensure you have contact details to hand, including out-of-hours emergency numbers.
- Your vet should be as close as possible. In an emergency situation, particularly at night, it is just plain stupid to have to drive a journey of an hour. Some conditions need immediate surgery. Example: If you are the owner of a large dog with torsion of the stomach, this won’t wait. Your dog will die in agony.
- Most vets will have a fairly good knowledge of treating, vaccinating and offering advice on day-to-day matters regarding cats and dogs, but if you are the owner of some of the more exotic or rare animals like birds, reptiles etc, you should find out where the nearest specialist vet clinic. For those of you who have both a cat or a dog but also have the more rare pets, you might need two vets. Farmers will need a specialist. Likewise, those with horses require an equine specialist.
- When searching, a personal recommendation is a good indicator, but please don’t rely on one source only.
- Equipment is an essential part of a modern veterinary clinic, particularly in a busy city. X-ray equipment is essential, as is the ability to do basic blood tests.
- In large clinics, it can be customary to see a different vet each time you attend, sadly this is becoming the norm. If, however you prefer to see the same vet as a regular client, you may have to consider a smaller practice or one that operates on a rota basis, ensuring as much as possible that certain vets take the clinic on certain days.
- If you are enthusiastic about alternative medicine, then find out if this is something that the clinic embraces. Some vets are very enthusiastic about alternative medicine, just as some doctors are. However, in my personal experience, it is important to keep an open mind, and if your pet needs a surgical procedure and or drugs, then so be it.
- For those of you in isolated communities, particularly abroad, where even the appearance of a vet is welcome, you may have to accept that the vet won’t tick every box. You just can’t have the same requirements. For years there wasn’t even a resident vet where I live. In my town, it is not unusual to drive past the vet’s clinic to see him in the back of a pickup truck doing an internal examination on a goat!! This indicates that he has to be an all-purpose vet to cater for all needs of all animals. Is this desirable? No, but it’s a big improvement on no vet at all.
- Availability. Can you see your veterinary surgeon at times to suit your commitments? What are his surgery hours? In England, it is mandatory for veterinary surgeons to operate a 24-hour service. This is not the case worldwide, so please check what is available.
- Bedside manner. How approachable?
When I was growing up, my mother, a nurse, was asked why her family was registered with a certain doctor. For fans of the British comedy-drama Doc Martin our family practitioner was fairly similar. He rarely smiled and had a decidedly curt manner. I have sometimes wondered if our GP was the inspiration for Doc Martin. My mother’s reply was always the same. “He is by far the best doctor in this city, which is why virtually all medical staff go to him. Ask yourself if your priority is a smiley face or the best doctor”.This was reinforced by my working with a charity veterinary surgeon who is known by the sobriquet, The Other One. Volatile, unpredictable, highly temperamental and definitely not a people person, she was, however, one of the finest surgeons that I have had the privilege of assisting. She would walk through fire for her animal patients but was no more than cordial when it came to humans. We all hope that the vet, like the doctor, is a very approachable individual, but we need to understand that as long as the vet treats our animals with kindness and compassion and is good at their trade, then that is the vet for us.
And for those of you who are regular readers, you will be aware of The First one and The Extra One, and at a later date, I will tell you all about The Other One!!
“Life without dogs is like a night sky without stars.”
Anon