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Question About Choosing A Vet


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We go to a vet that has been in practice for about 20 years. I can honestly say that he has never overcharged us...in fact quite the opposite but that may be because DH helped his son with school projects in the past. But this isn't all about money.

 

I have had to take the pups in for emergencies and I've been impressed with how he treats the wound. For example, when Bailey had a limp I told him about my worries about OS and he took me seriously. When he checks out the pups he carefully listens to their breathing patterns, etc. for signs of ?? I'm not sure but I think he determines if they're in pain if their breathing patterns change.

 

3 of my coworkers also go to him, one has 2 greys so she goes because I recommended him. One guy who goes has a lab but goes to him because of someone else's recommendation, not mine. He recommended this vet to another coworker who has a miniature dauschaund (sp?).

 

There is another vet across the street who most of our group goes to so she is very grey savvy. She even went to hear Dr. Couto last week so obviously she is interested in learning more. I faxed a flyer to my vet but no one in his office attended. It could be they all had another seminar, etc. but I assumed they didn't care about learning more about greys.

 

He spayed Bailey and extracted a lot of teeth so she's been under anaesthesia 3 times without problems.

 

Last week I learned that a lot of greys are bleeders and I wonder if we have just been lucky or that our vet is aware of this. When we first took Bailey in to him, I had an article about greys and medical information but he wasn't interested in reading it.

 

I trust him but the other vet is grey savvy. However, she missed OS in a pup and that concerns me. When our vet was checking Bailey's limp he explained to me everything he was doing and why he felt it was a soft tissue injury.

 

See why I'm confused? DH doesn't want to switch vets? Any advice?

 

Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field.  Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

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You could give your vet a copy of the latest edition of "Care of the Racing Greyhound" so he'd have it as a handy reference. ;) As you probably know, besides anesthesia reactions, greys are a little different in bloodwork, reactions to chemicals, heart sounds, and such. I think you have to weigh the competancy of your vet with other options, and you may not know enough about his knowledge base with greyhounds to make an informed decision. :blink:

Jeanne with Remington & Scooter the cat
....and Beloved Bridge Angels Sandee, Shari, Wells, Derby, Phoenix, Jerry Lee and Finnian.....
If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven
and bring you home again.

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Guest luckydog

Sounds like you have the ideal situation: a regular vet who takes very good care of your dog and a very grey-savvy vet who you can use in case you need a second opinion.

 

See?--no problems!

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Sounds like you have the ideal situation: a regular vet who takes very good care of your dog and a very grey-savvy vet who you can use in case you need a second opinion.

 

See?--no problems!

 

Thanks...I never thought of that!

Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field.  Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

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Guest sheila
Sounds like you have the ideal situation: a regular vet who takes very good care of your dog and a very grey-savvy vet who you can use in case you need a second opinion.

 

See?--no problems!

same here. I have been taking my pets to the same vet for yrs. My Kiowa was the first grey he ever had in his practice and I don't think he has ever had any other greys besides mine. However he has been there for me at all hrs of the day and night, his fees are reasonable and he's always willing to learn new things. He also has a contact with a vet that treats racing greys and has consulted with him when I have discussed certain treatments that he isn't familar with. Keep in mind that while there are some instances where having a specialist might be warranted, greys are still dogs after all and ordinary care and feeding is just fine.

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Guest Pat2003
Sounds like you have the ideal situation: a regular vet who takes very good care of your dog and a very grey-savvy vet who you can use in case you need a second opinion.

 

See?--no problems!

 

 

Good advice. Also, remember vets are human beings and none of us knows everything or is perfect - food for thought. I guess we all wish that our vets and human docs knew everything and were perfect, but they don't. We all make mistakes.

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Guest multiplicity

I know your dilemma...because I left "vet A" and went to "vet B". My choice was due to personality conflict with the other vet in the clinic while vet A was out of the country, not because of his ability or lack thereof.

Vet A is a very caring, generous man who has a natural way with animals.

Vet B goes beyond the norm to help the animal and the client, she truly does give 110%.

They are both excellent vets. They have both misdiagnosed one of my greys.

When it comes down to it, it is up to you to research and speak up for your greys. If you do not think a vet is treating your grey right, talk to him/her and if your concerns are not address go to a vet that you are able to communicate with and feel better about the situation.

 

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Given your description, I wouldn't switch. Your vet has done a good job for you and is careful with the dogs. I'd keep educating yourself about greyhound idiosyncrasies, but unless you have a huge problem, I wouldn't obsess about it. In most respect, greyhounds are dogs plain and simple.

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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I know your dilemma...because I left "vet A" and went to "vet B". My choice was due to personality conflict with the other vet in the clinic while vet A was out of the country, not because of his ability or lack thereof.

Vet A is a very caring, generous man who has a natural way with animals.

Vet B goes beyond the norm to help the animal and the client, she truly does give 110%.

They are both excellent vets. They have both misdiagnosed one of my greys.

When it comes down to it, it is up to you to research and speak up for your greys. If you do not think a vet is treating your grey right, talk to him/her and if your concerns are not address go to a vet that you are able to communicate with and feel better about the situation.

 

Thanks Sheri...I know you are reading between the lines here.

Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field.  Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

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Guest MySkye

How lucky you are to have not one but two wonderful vets who are so caring to you and your pups.

 

I have a wonderful vet that all my greys have seen right close to me (7 miles) and another more recently discovered jewel that is very grey savvy but about 45 miles away.

 

I still use my local and historical vet for everything, but I know that if I needed a "second opinion" or my vet couldn't see me (never has this happened in 9 years) I know I have a "back up". We use this grey savvy vet for a lot of our fosters so I am constantly in and out of her office and have a good rapport with her and her caring staff.

 

I was honest with my first vet when I had copies of all my hounds records faxed to the grey savvy office and he completely supported me and my decision to have a "grey savvy" vet have my pups records. I felt awkward and almost like I was betraying him, but he was gracious and didn't make it into something it wasn't.

 

In the end, it is whatever you and the pups are most comfortable with.

 

Warmly,

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