Veterinary Standards of Care?
I took my newly adopted dog to a neighborhood vet for an initial checkup and to get her kennel cough checked out. The vet only really listened to her cough and gave me a cough suppressant (she was already on an antibiotic). I think the dosage was way high, too - the dog was laid out for a day afterwards and some light googling suggested that she got a dosage appropriate for pain, not for cough.
There was no discussion of flea control, heartworm meds, etc. No oral exam or discussion of her weight (despite the fact that the one-page medical history I brought in from the rescue's vet noted that she was WAY overweight at the time of that exam and that she had a tartar problem).
So basically I feel like I paid $100 for nothing ($60 for the seemingly subpar exam, $40 for the meds I don't feel comfortable giving her). This is my first dog as an adult and I guess I was wondering - do you more experienced folks think I got a bad exam or is it my fault for not being more proactive with questions and the like? I was kind of caught off guard at the end of the visit when the vet left the exam room "to go get her meds together" and the tech came in to tell me to go wait in the lobby - I wasn't expecting the exam to be over so soon.
I guess I'm used to more...friendly vets who seemingly love your pets more than you do and check them out nose to tail, especially when it is an initial visit for a pound puppy. But maybe that's not the norm around here these days...?
Her kennel cough is all cleared up now but I think my dog has another issue that needs medical attention now (and probably a prescription) and I'm wondering if I should give this vet another chance or take her elsewhere... All thoughts welcome. Thanks!
There was no discussion of flea control, heartworm meds, etc. No oral exam or discussion of her weight (despite the fact that the one-page medical history I brought in from the rescue's vet noted that she was WAY overweight at the time of that exam and that she had a tartar problem).
So basically I feel like I paid $100 for nothing ($60 for the seemingly subpar exam, $40 for the meds I don't feel comfortable giving her). This is my first dog as an adult and I guess I was wondering - do you more experienced folks think I got a bad exam or is it my fault for not being more proactive with questions and the like? I was kind of caught off guard at the end of the visit when the vet left the exam room "to go get her meds together" and the tech came in to tell me to go wait in the lobby - I wasn't expecting the exam to be over so soon.
I guess I'm used to more...friendly vets who seemingly love your pets more than you do and check them out nose to tail, especially when it is an initial visit for a pound puppy. But maybe that's not the norm around here these days...?
Her kennel cough is all cleared up now but I think my dog has another issue that needs medical attention now (and probably a prescription) and I'm wondering if I should give this vet another chance or take her elsewhere... All thoughts welcome. Thanks!
Comments
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I've had good luck at AnimalKind on 7th Ave bet 10 & 11. There are lots of vets there and I've never asked for a specific one. Everyone I've seen, for both cat and dog, has always been nice and thorough.
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It's not just Brooklyn, it's not just vets. For any medical problem, if you have time, research, recommendations, and a list of questions that you create to ask the doctor or vet MIGHT help.
In an emergency, Animal Kind helped me in the middle of the night for $300. I'm not sure if Animal Kind saved my pet's life, but I don't gamble with things like that -- better to be safe and pay rather than be sorry.
Overall, I find most local vets to be dog doctors, and not oriented towards cats and other animals. -
Sounds like the vet got focused on the cough and neglected the general exam.
Sorry for the unsatisfying experience.
<edited cause my previous post didn't make sense> -
Although you may have booked the appointment for a full check up, you also were going in to check on the cough.
It sounds like they could have done a more thorough exam, but I would start with "I just adopted this dog from the shelter. I'd like to get her totally checked out to make sure she's healthy....on top of that, she seems to have a kennel cough...." -
I think that is completely wrong. And I would also be very frustrated. That is their job to thoroughly examine the animal in question. And when it has been newly adopted it should be even more thorough. I would not go back and research to find a more suitable vet (online perhaps)
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