Twenty one.
That’s how many times we went to the vet last year, according to my year-end credit card statement. Twenty-one times.
Now, I don’t have any idea how many times most (normal?) people see their vet in a year. And I know our twenty-one visits are spread over two dogs, three starting in December. But when I tallied it up, that just seemed like a lot.
Their annual exams were in there, of course. Plus all of Emmett’s cancer checks. Then all his liver stuff (still ongoing). Then there was the time Lucas got kicked by a horse. And Cooper has mange. And so on. (And, no. Sigh. We don’t have pet insurance. I think it’s probably too late for Emmett, but the other guys… maybe! As long as no insurer reads this post. Ha!)
So, ultimately, we went to the vet 21 times in 2010.
But here’s the thing: I actually don’t mind.
I want the boys to be healthy, of course. I want them to have their annual checks, and I want to have every lump checked out – we’ve become very sensitive about lumps around here.
And on top of that, we have a rockstar vet. Seriously. Rockstar.
Here’s why you need a rockstar vet: You never know what might happen. We never could have predicted Emmett’s cancer situation. We never could have predicted the horse thing or that we’d adopt a puppy who started losing his fur a couple weeks later.
And if the unexpected happens, isn’t it better to have a rockstar in your corner than someone whose office is convenient to your work or whatever?
I know I can call over there and get my boys in right away, and I know when I get there, it’ll be fun for them. They actually enjoy going to the vet! How great is that?
I know she’ll call me with test results and explain them really, really clearly. And I know she answers my emails and all my questions. And most importantly, I know she takes great, great care of my guys.
We’ve already been twice in 2011; Cooper got his last round of shots, and Emmett is still having tests done to determine what’s going on with his liver/urine situation. But I know that no matter what comes up, they’re going to be well taken care of.
What’s your relationship with your vet like? Do you have a rockstar in your corner?
John says
01•06•11 at 7:33 amIt’s so unbelievably reassuring having the vet we do. Everyone at that practice, from the front desk staff to the vet techs to Dr. Rockstar herself, is absolutely amazing. What’s even better than how much we adore her, is how much the boys LOVE her. As soon as she pops out of the back to call us into an exam room, Emmett just about explodes. Everyone should think about whether or not they’ve actually taken the time to simply thank their vet for everything that they do. Great post, Maggie!
roughit says
01•06•11 at 9:30 amWe have a rockstar cat vet… which is not helpful with our Beast. It’s so hard to find a clinic where I love the vet (#1 importance), the techs, and the reception staff. You *have* to love all them because you deal with the reception staff for about half of the interactions, and you have to trust the techs because they’re the ones dealing with your pet in back. Once, I tried out a new clinic and the techs had no idea how to handle my nervous dog, resulting in her panicking and expressing her anal glands *on me*. Ew.
Hooray for having someone you love!
Maggie says
01•06•11 at 9:47 amExcellent point! It’s incredibly important to love the techs and staff, too, since they have so much hands-on contact. Thanks for making that point!
mayziegal says
01•06•11 at 9:52 amI LOVE our vet. We never, ever feel rushed when we go in there. He always takes time to answer questions thoroughly and if we have to have a procedure done, he presents us with all the facts so that we can make an informed decision. On top of it, he is just very kind and gentle with our pets. I wouldn’t say they love going there but he makes it as stress-free and painless as possible. Yep – he’s a rockstar!
Maggie says
01•06•11 at 10:00 amAnother excellent point! It’s wonderful to not feel rushed and to be able to go through every question, especially if you have to make a treatment decision!
aleksandra says
01•06•11 at 12:55 pmwe have THREE rockstar vets– how lucky are we? we really love our regular vet for our own dog Chick’s normal business. we also love our emergency vet (because Chick always seems to eat a pair of socks or an entire pan of brownies in the middle of the night). we also love our foster dog Lollie’s vet, who is at a different clinic than Chick because they offer big discounts for our shelter’s foster dogs. it’s spectacular! we are especially grateful to our foster’s vet clinic. they treat her like royalty. every time she walks in, the staff drops everything and chants, almost in unison, “lollie wonderdog!” it’s a beautiful thing.
aleksandra
follow our foster: loveandaleash.wordpress.com
Amy@GoPetFriendly says
01•06•11 at 1:05 pmWe do have a rockstar vet! He’s a great guy – answers all of my (sometimes obsessive) questions, researches options, understands my concerns, and never makes us feel rushed. When we moved, we tried another vet and that didn’t go well at all. They were more concerned with their policies than the comfort of the dogs! They wanted to take the dogs into the back to draw blood and were annoyed when I asked if we could do it in an exam room so that I could be there. They insisted that I could not hold the boys for the needle stick – that the vet techs had to do it because of their insurance policy. Ty is really nervous around strangers and was upset with having one so close to him. We never went back. Driving two hours to see our rockstar vet is well worth the trip!
Kristine says
01•06•11 at 1:34 pmI am actually thinking about switching to a new vet. The one we have now we chose because they are so close to our house, close enough to walk. While I love the staff, the vet himself isn’t so rockstar. He makes me feel silly for asking questions and has made a few comments about rescues that I don’t appreciate. Since we’ve only been once a year for Shiva’s annual exam, I haven’t made it a priority. But one day I am sure this will change and if it does, I should be ready.
Lori @ According to Gus says
01•06•11 at 3:08 pmFirst off, we’ll continue to send good thoughts Emmett’s way! Waiting for results is agonizing and I’m sure it’s been very stressful on your family.
We are also lucky enough to have a rockstar vet! Our first one was less than spectacular and I wish we would’ve switched sooner. The entire office knows Gus (we had one awful health year) and the entire staff is so friendly. I’m super paranoid (and anal) and our vet takes a very long time to explain and answer any questions we have. He once spent 20 minutes on the phone with me after I called in with a question!
Yay for rockstar vets and staff!
Ann says
01•06•11 at 3:11 pmI love our vet – definite rock star. She’s done things that I can’t imagine other doctors doing – not just sitting on the floor with them but really making them super comfortable. She explains everything, takes all the time I need, answers everything, shows me xrays and explains them, let’s me look through her instruments into ears and such and just allows me to be very involved. Staff is great. I feel lucky we have her.
Maggie says
01•06•11 at 3:18 pmWow! It sounds like everyone has found – or is looking for – a vet they love! It definitely takes some trial and error, like with picking a people doctor, but equally as important!
Jessica says
01•06•11 at 3:53 pmI love our vet and the reception staff, but some of the techs have irked me. A couple have made not-so-well-informed comments about Airlie and her potential breed makeup. Disappointing. But we’ll probably keep going there! The vet herself is just too good to pass up! And I know Airlie Bear might just change a few of those narrow minds!
Maggie says
01•06•11 at 3:58 pmOh no, that’s too bad about the techs. I’m sure Airlie will help change their minds! 🙂
Amanda & the Mutts says
01•06•11 at 3:58 pmI think I’ve been in a vet’s office 3 times this year, which is actually kinda a lot for us. My old man is getting sore and has been started on some maintenance pain/anti-inflammatory meds so that alone accounts for 2 visits.
We don’t have *a* vet, we have many-a-vet. One in the area I really like is an excellent nutritionist, feeds raw herself, and is an excellent person to go to for alternative medicines. Another couple are vets I’ve worked with and are willing to get me the drugs I need to handle a situation myself (a certain bond is formed on the floor of a surgical studio after losing a particularly special case, etc), but they’re not as up on the alternative medicine stuff as I’d like and not as open minded. A referral vet a half hour south of me is who I would go to with an orthopedic issue in a heartbeat. My puppy’s breeder is a vet and a friend of mine and I use her as a sounding board when I need one, but she is a state away so I only get things from her at shows or if she sends it to me.
The vet I’ve ultimately settled on for our general care (and Bailey’s joint maintenance) is very pragmatic and open minded. He’s been a trail vet for the Iditarod and other races (which kinda automatically makes me like him) and he’ll give it to you straight no matter what.
I think it’s very different for people who have worked at clinics or who have studied more in the veterinary field because there are so many things I can handle myself that others would have to take their dogs in for.
Maggie says
01•06•11 at 4:00 pmThat’s a really interesting perspective, Amanda, particularly about the alternative vs. traditional medicine. It seems like more vets are starting to offer or at least answer questions about alternative treatments. But I think specialists are worth their weight in gold.
Heather says
01•06•11 at 5:44 pmSo very true. We had an absolute ROCK STAR when we lived on the East Coast and while I have so far had no complaints about our current vet, I miss our old one. He literally was the best vet I have ever had and everything you said about yours – I felt about him. It’s so important to have someone you can trust, especially if you have a ‘special needs’ pet. 🙂
Heather says
01•06•11 at 5:45 pmOh, and let me know if you want a recommendation for a pet insurance company. I know of a great one. 😉
Maggie says
01•06•11 at 6:12 pmHaha! Heather, as I was hitting publish, I actually thought of you! We SHOULD talk, considering our record! 🙂
Jana Rade says
01•06•11 at 7:39 pmHow many times have seen the vet last year? Boy, once a week on average? At least …
Yes, you do need a rockstart vet! And it is not so easy to find one. We’ve been through quite a few before we found the one we have now.
He’s not exactly in our corner, it is an hour drive to get there, which sometimes does make things more difficult. But it is worth it. We love our vet, he is a rockstar. He even puts up with me, and believe me, that’s not an easy thing to do.
He used to have a little welcome video on his home page, in which he said: “… we encourage the public to be as involved as they wish in their pet’s health information management.” (or something like that). The video isn’t there any more … be careful what you wish for LOL
Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart says
01•06•11 at 10:15 pmI think the “average” is like 2.1 times or something per pet. I’d have to look it up.
Rick says
01•08•11 at 10:04 pmWe have a great vet as well. He actually grew up down the street from us and has been seeing our animals since he graduated and started at the practice he works for. He is awesome. He’s compassionate and has a great “bed side manner”.
Maggie says
01•09•11 at 1:23 pmThat’s awesome, Rick! How great to know your vet as a friend, too!
Bella the Boxer says
01•10•11 at 1:09 amMy vet is such a rockstar that my human Dad asked him if he’d become his primary physician! (Unfortunately, he declined…)
Wags and woofs,
Bella the Boxer
Shawn Finch, DVM says
01•11•11 at 12:18 pmI LOVE this post Maggie! It is so good to hear about awesome vets out there – unless people have been through crises with their pets (My heart goes out to you and Jana!) or have had a bad experience, they don’t always think to “hug” their vet team! Make sure you show your vet this post! I wish you a much more “boring” 2011. Anxious to hear that all of your pets are ok!
Maggie says
01•11•11 at 12:22 pmAwww! Thanks for the comment, and I hope you and your team get all the kudos that you deserve, too!!
AmyDVM says
01•11•11 at 10:26 pmI felt compelled to finally comment on Maggie’s–oops, Emmett, Lucas, and Cooper’s–blog. Being their primary vet, I must say that I am honored to know and care for them…and to know Maggie and John. I also appreciate their trust in caring for them. They are two of the most awesome clients that I have dealt with in 12 years. And of course, I LOVE all three of the dogs. I can’t mention how important it is from a veterinarian’s perspective to develop an incredible three-tiered relationship with owner’s and their dogs. It is as special to us as it is to you. I was so glad to hear that most everyone has a good relationship with your veterinarian. I love reading everyone’s stories!
Maggie says
01•11•11 at 10:29 pmYay, Amy! I’m so glad you commented because you deserve major kudos. You keep my boys happy and healthy… and with our track record, that’s no easy feat!