Monday, December 28, 2009

Changing Vets

This week I am changing the dogs' vet. Gulp.

I am really nervous about this. I think I am nervous because I am worried that I won't be happy with this vet and will need to change AGAIN.

The reason for the change is that since my beloved vet left the practice the boys are currently at (more than 2 years ago now), I have "butted" heads more than a few times with my new primary vet and the practice owner. I do not feel like we have a partnership of any sort and I often feel like my opinion and/or thoughts are discounted. For someone like myself who takes the care of her dogs so seriously this is very hard to swallow.

I have been thinking about making this change for at least six months (longer really). The final push is that Bug needs to have a follow-up C6 (six-month follow-up), and in fact I think he is displaying signs of an active lyme infection again. The past week he has looked off to me - not stiff but not right. He has also been extremely noise sensitive. I could be wrong. To that end I am also scheduling a chiro appointment this week. He could very well be out of alignment. I am also going to call Sterling and ask them about acupuncture. I know multiple people who use Dr. Kris in Stoughton and are very happy with her. However, given Bug is already being seen at Sterling, if they can do the acupuncture too I think it would be a good idea to keep him there.

In addition, Ike is coming up on his Rabies vaccine (1/9/10). Gah! I do not want to vaccinate him. We will see what Dr. M says. The other option is to go down to CT to see our homeopathic vet Dr. F. I am seriously considering this. Given Ike's recent reactivity about T I don't really feel like a rabies vaccine is the best thing for him, but I am unclear that there are any other options. Hopefully Dr. M will have some thoughts.

Wish us well. I have heard lots of good about this vet and the bonus is that she is very familiar with corgis.

12 comments:

Sara said...

Good luck on your vet change. Sounds like you've done your homework, so hopefully you'll be happy.

I'm curious about the rabies vaccination. I titer my dogs for all their vaccinations except rabies, because I thought rabies was required by law. I'd love to titer them for rabies too, as I'm sure they have plenty of antiboties built up.

Katrin said...

Yeah unfortunately in MA unless your dog has a rabies vax reaction that nearly kills them and your vet writes a note to the state medical board saying such, you pretty much can't get out of it. Luckily though I believe that rabies challenge study is still going on and hopefully that will have good results and will help efforts to make the time between rabies boosters longer so dogs that have adverse reactions that aren't life threatening will be better off.

Jules said...

Yup, rabies is required by law.:-(

There is only one lab in the country that tests for rabies titer, Kansas State University: http://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/dmp/service/rabies/

Diana said...

Do you all get 3 yr. rabies vaccines in Ma.? Diana

Jules said...

Yup. The first one is a 1 year booster and then after that it is every three years.

Nancy and Stewie JRT said...

Good luck with your vet change, I hope there will be a better fit with your new vet.

manymuddypaws said...

good luck with the change! i changed vets a few months ago and have been pretty happy. the new clinic is pretty good and are getting to know me and my bossiness pretty well. :o) It was a bit of a struggle at first though- i insisted pixel come home after her spay, and they wanted to keep her overnight. With much persistence and arguing I did get to bring her home and since then they have been really great. I really like my new vet and she is very knowledgeable. it is nice to be able to trust what a vet has to say.

penni said...

I hope the new vet is permanent. I'm on my 3rd general practice vet, and have the repro and xray vets and the eye vet as well. Maybe my way isn't best -- but it's how I want my dogs treated. Finding a vet that gives a darn about what I think/want for the dogs is difficult

Natasha said...

Good luck with the vet, always great to hear when a vet is familiar with your breed! Let us know how it works out.

~Nat

Michele said...

I can tell you Anne Murphy who has done the acupuncture at Sterling is wonderful. I took my 4 cardigans to her 2x a month for 3 years before I moved to KY in Sept 2008. ALL of them benefited. If you want more info, you can email me privately at trescor_cardis@yahoo.com.

Blue said...

Good luck with the vet change. Keeping fingers and paws crossed for you. It is easy to find a good vet, it is HARD to find a great vet! Acupuncture next week might prompt a vet change for Iris too. Her regular vet is now an hour away.

Cat, Tessie, & Strata said...

I don't know if it's any closer to you than your second option (CT) but I have been pleased as punch with Dr. Rogers at Slade Veterinary Hospital. She takes all of my concerns seriously; she doesn't think you're crazy when you say "I can just -tell- that something isn't right!" She does chiropractic -- she actually took lessons from the woman at Road to Health. In addition, Dr. Leonard is wonderful and he does acupuncture.

Slade's hours are great, I rarely have trouble getting an appointment and I NEVER sit in the waiting room for more than 10 minutes, which was a major issue with my last vet (as Tessie stressedstressedstressed in the waiting room).

Regardless of who you end up going to, I hope you have success finding someone. I remember being so frustrated with my hometown veterinarian after Tessie's tooth-pulling catastrophe. The difference between the way I was treated there and the way I was treated at Slade is like night and day.