My recent experience with Snickers and Lap of Love had me thinking about finding a new veterinarian for Wiggles. My current vet has done nothing wrong. It’s a busy practice with two locations, 6 vets and an ever-changing staff of vet techs.
It’s only a few minutes away from me and was convenient to take Snickers to for her monthly anal gland expression, nail trim and medications.
But when it came time to put Snickers down, I did not want to do it there. I have no relationship with any of the vets. I always saw whoever was available. I recognize some of the staff who have been there over 6 months, but none of them ever recognize me or Snickers, every though we visited monthly for 4 years.
When I had occasional urgent needs for dog injuries, it usually took up to a day for an appointment and getting a prompt call back from a vet was hit or miss.
I get it – it’s a busy place.
What I liked about Lap Of Love was the personal touch. The local team was just 3 vets. I spoke to one person on the phone who handled my application and scheduling. A second person replied promptly to an email. The vet herself showed kindness, gentleness and patience.
It made me think it’s time to find a new vet. Someone with a smaller practice who can get to know my dog and me. Someone whom I trust. I’ve had vets like this before.
I like small businesses that are family owned. I like continuity of staff. I like where everybody knows my name.
So unfortunately, I think Wiggles injured her declaw last night. She was licking it and screamed in pain twice when I happened to touch her foot. That has never happened before. She’s normally a happy go lucky chill dog.
I called the new vet to make an appointment and am waiting for a call back.
I called my current vet and accepted a “drop off” for tomorrow – which means I drop the dog off, they squeeze her in between appointments, and the vet calls me with a diagnosis/treatments plan afterward.
I am hoping the new vet gets back to me today and can see her first. If so, I’ll try her out and cancel my drop off.
If not, I’ll at least get an idea of her availability and if it will work for me.
I can’t believe I have to see a vet just a week after Snickers died. What a bummer.
I’m not overly concerned about Wiggles. She’s acting pretty normal but I want her foot checked out just in case to avoid further complications.
Epilogue:
The ‘new’ vet I wanted to try couldn’t see until late the next day so I made an appointment with my current vet, who was able to squeeze me in first thing in the morning. I had to wait for about 30 minutes to see the vet who was working, but I really liked his gentleness, his demeanor and his conservative approach. Wiggles has a painful, but not “worst case” dew claw injury. The treatment is pain medication for a few days. No surgery or amputation of the nail or toe is required. We won’t need antibiotics unless it gets infected.
I had some questions about her ideal weight and monthly flea/heartworm prevention that he answered. I liked him so much I decided to stick with this practice and request him for any visits, when possible.
Things took a turn for the worse for Wiggles as her nail literally rotated 180 degrees from the normal position over the next 12 hours. I had to run out to Petsmart at 8PM to find an inflatable donut collar to keep her from licking it (the vet said licking would cause an infection). I was worried because the nail was now hanging by a thread and I was concerned about infection. Plus Wiggles was a wreck from the e-collar and the injury, as was I. Neither of us slept well.
The next morning was Saturday when the vet’s have limited hours. I called first thing in the AM and they squeezed me in again. I saw a longtime tech and the same vet. Based on what I’d seen online, I figured they might need to sedate her to cut the injured nail off. Instead, they were able to grab it with a hemostat and it came right off! I was sent home with a week worth of antibiotics and told the injury will heal in about a week and the nail will grow back in a month or so.
I am relieved and am seeing my “old vet” with a fresh perspective. I’ll be sticking around.
Healthy…just not too happy about the donut collar. I don’t blame her.