what's w/my vet?!!!

[baby tyson]

my vet is just terrible! she drove me insane today. i brought tyson in for his recheck skin scraping for mange (neg., thank god!) after lecturing me for 10 minutes about getting him neutered (which she does EVERY TIME i go there)my vet asks how he's doing and i say he's great, just switched his food to cannidae and he LOVES it! she had never heard of it. she then goes to lecture me for 20 minutes (not kidding) about "hill's" food and how wonderful it is and, of course, they sell it there. and i said i was much happier with cannidae because his puppy food was science diet, which was a waste of money for me to buy after doing research about food. blah blah blah...she keeps going and going. her assistant comes in later to give me a pamphlet on this "hill's" food i had never heard of and it is none other than HILL'S SCIENCE DIET! did she NOT hear me say i was unhappy with science diet!!! why would she preach to me about how it's no. 1. just had to get that out. i need to look for another vet, immediatly. also...i told her he was taking yogurt and she had never even heard of giving dogs yogurt. shouldn't a vet know about yogurt? and cannidae?

sorry for the long vent...

 

[Ronin1]

You'd think she would know about at least the yogurt? Maybe not about the Canidae - but you'd think she would at least have heard of it. A lot of Vet's push Science Diet. Although it's not the greatest food out there, most of them sell it. But it's one thing to sell it, and another to go on a 20+ minute lecture about how great it is, when you have already mentioned that you do not like it! I'm with you, I would find a new Vet ASAP! You should have all of Tyson's records from this (soon to be past) Vet office sent to the new Vet you find. That way they'll at least have some history on him. Good luck in your search for a new doggie doctor

 

[Poohsmom]

I wholeheartedly agree with Ronin1! I'd be looking for a new vet-like yesterday You sure don't need a vet that won't listen to what you have to say. We did that when Pooh was younger. I didn't want our old vet to use a particular medication on her, and would prefer something else.The vet tech came in with a shot and I asked what it was-it was specifically what I said no too-not 5 minutes before! I grabbed Pooh's leash-stopped at the desk,got copies of her records and told them I wouldn't be back-ever. Geesh!! Now I have a great vet that listens to our concerns and works with us on what's best for our "kids"

Sue and the kids,Pooh,Bownser,Dozer & Cissy

 

[Scrapper's Mom]

Aside from the lecturing about neutering, (which is more healthy for your pup) if you aren't happy with your vet, you should look around. You could ask your local Boxer club members who they like to use.

 

[baby tyson]

i definately will work on finding a new vet. now that his mange is completely gone, i am ready to switch. it's too bad because the location was GREAT! about a 7 block walk! it's just hard because no matter how much i dislike somehting, i feel so bad leaving them! i feel like they'll hate me but it's business, right? my baby! scrapper's mom, i will be putting a post out there for a san diego vet very soon! thanks for making me feel like i wasn't freaking out on my vet for nothing!

thanks!
-di

 

[boxer]

Well, vets are GPs, not nutritionists Nutrition isn't necessarily even a part of the courses taken by vets in training. They know about general animal welfare and they know about common ailments. But a GP can't be an expert on everything, and to be an expert on anything they need to have either encountered it in practice or to have a particular interest in that area.

For some stuff, you need to visit a specialist. We're used to that with "serious" ailments like heart problems, but in fact it applies to things like nutrition and psychology as well

 

[baby tyson]

BOXER - that's a very good point and point well taken! the research i do on my own through books, written by those who specialize in the field of nutrition is and more "natural" diets seem like such common sense, i guess it just surprises me that my vet wouldn't have heard of such things. however...that is not why i hate her. it disappoints me that she cares more about pushing a product than her patient, my dog.

what kind of vet should i be looking for? i would like one that can further enhance my knowledge of a natural diet and nutritional needs for tyson. you said to visit a specialist. a "dog nutritionalist?" is there such a thing? these may seem like dumb questions, but i would really appreciate any help in learning what i need to know and ask a potential vet! thanks!

 

[deesboxers]

my vet has boxers

makes you jelous , I would be to. This was the principal reason I choose him for my dogs. That and he was more than happy to sit and talk with me, he knew I was interviewing him, and we agreed on almost all issues. We both agreed we have the best breed out there and would do our very best to take care of them. The vets office was rather close, less than 10 miles, but I do pass 4 other vets on the way there, all of which, either didn't like boxers, or demanded I would always have to sedate those vicious dogs before they would treat them. Also they wanted me to use thier products ONLY!!! When I found our vet, I thanked god for a good and reasonable vet! Good luck, good vets are out ther, just look for the boxer riding to work with them.