The importance of good communication with your vet

Kirby had surgery yesterday. Kirby is an older dog. He needed a few cysts removed and a dental and his owner was very anxious about his having anesthesia.

The greatest fear was he would not be able to tolerate sedation and not wake up.

Kirby’s vet tried to remove one cyst under local but poor Kirby could not tolerate it. The vet called the owner and said “It’s not going well. We really need to sedate the little guy.” So it was jointly decided to sedate him and do everything at once.

Kirby did fine and is home now. He has two very large shaved areas on his body with black stitches that have to be removed in ten days and is on pain medication.  But he ate some food when he got home and drank a little water, which is a very good sign.

Kirby is a therapy dog but will not be able to work until the stitches are out but he will be able to work before his hair grows back in about three months. He will be a good example to the clients that he visits about resilience and that it’s important to continue your life even while healing. He is wearing a tee shirt to protect his shaved areas and looks adorable.

Without trust for the vet’s opinion and knowledge, the decision to put Kirby under anesthesia would not have been a comfortable one. He had the two cysts removed and his teeth cleaned.

When choosing a vet consider how well you can communicate, how well the vet respects and understands your concerns and whether he/she has empathy for you and your pet. They see hundreds if not thousands of animals but your animal is your beloved and you want a vet who can understand how important your pet is to you while at the same time be professional and distant enough to make tough decisions.

Here is a simple checklist when choosing your veterinarian:

1. Hours of operation. Check if the practice has full hours preferably seven days a week and some evenings if not 24 hours
2. Night time care. Check to see if the practice has humans on staff overnight, preferably vet techs not just “babysitters”; your pet should never be left alone whether recovering from a procedure or being boarded
3. Veterinarian’s background: are they board certified in any specialties. If you have a senior pet you may want a practices that has cancer or senior care specialists; is this a single doctor practice or are there several doctors on staff
4. Communication: a good rapport between you and your vet is critical so meet and see if your philosophies dovetail and this is someone you can speak frankly with should emergencies or tough decisions arise
5. Staff : is the front office staff patient and welcoming, do they handle your concerns with respect; are the vet techs licensed and is there knowledgeable staff with little turnover
6. Location: this may seem important but don’t let this be your deciding factor. Better to drive a bit farther to find everything else you need
7. Environment: does your animal feel comfortable there; do they take their time with a nervous animal; do they handle your senior or fragile pet with care and kindness
8. Reputation and personal references: the best way to find a stellar vet is to speak with others; when someone is happy with their doctor they share it and the best practices are built on reputation and referrals
9. Services: Do you need boarding or grooming? Do you want holistic services available to you such as acupuncture? Do you need a specialist such as dental or heart on staff?
10. Trust: and most important is your trust in the care your animal is receiving.

We all agree that Kirby may be a little old man but he is also one tough little dog!