Foothill Felines My Storm Ina Teacup (see why she was named Teacup?)
Feel free to browse through this entire page; or, click on any of the following topics:
Why Veterinarians Are Important to Cats and Their Owners; What to Look For in a Veterinarian; What Questions to Ask Before Making Your Decision; What Vets Look For in Their Clients
WHY VETERINARIANS ARE IMPORTANT
TO CATS AND THEIR OWNERSDid you know that the latest statistics show that cats have now replaced dogs as the pet of choice in America?? And, over half the families who do have a cat, have more than one!! All family members, whether 2 or 4-legged, fur or no fur, need professional care when they get sick. Many veterinarians also perform extra work above and beyond their own practices to help animals which are not so fortunate in the community as to already have a loving home. Just like humans can not expect to get through their lives without the need for a good doctor at certain times to help them get over or through an illness, the same is true with our beloved pets. And statistics support that this philosophy is working. The average lifespan of a kitty today, who is kept safely indoors and given the proper vaccinations and vet check-ups, is now 16 to 17 years, with many felines living much longer than that.
Unfortunately, however, the reverse is true for the kitties who are kept outdoors, or indoor/outdoors and allowed to roam freely when outdoors -- these felines now live an average of only 2 to 3 years. This is due to a multitude of reasons, including contact with other outdoor cats who carry and can spread deadly diseases such as feline leukemia and feline aids; infections from cat fights with other outdoor cats; being attacked, maimed or killed by other natural predators such as coyotes, big dogs, wolfes and even hawks; freezing or overheating in a too-harsh climate without protection; being run over by automobiles; being tortured or killed by ignorant people who think this is fun; purebred cats can get stolen for all kinds of purposes; the cat can ingest all kinds of parasites and deadly bacterias and poisons from catching an infected rodent or bird; even plain soil can contain toxoplasmosis and giardia. Please, keep your cats inside, and please, take your cat to a veterinarian regularly to maintain his/her health and quality of life.
Let's say you've just relocated to a new area, or have never had pets before. How does one go about finding a good veterinarian?? A good place to start is to find your neighbors, family or co-workers who live close to you, and who have pets. Ask them about their veterinarians, and take notes. Don't just find out if they "like" their vets; find out what they like and don't like about the office as a whole, and ask for examples of situations that have happened to them with this vet that would help give you a good feel for how this office operates. If you work with a breeder, be sure to ask them if they know of or have heard of a great vet in your area. If you are not currently in contact with a breeder, something to consider is to see if there will be any major cat shows coming up in your area. That's an excellent way to find a whole group of cat professionals in one place, and be prepared to take plenty of notes as you make the rounds and talk to all the breeders!! Another place to look is in the telephone book -- pay attention to the advertisement and what it says, and make some calls. Explain that you are looking for a good veterinarian, one who will hopefully be there for a long time to help you care for your new kitty. And yes, it is perfectly okay to ask if they have some customer references that you might call who have a similar pet to yours, to hear from them about their experiences at this office.
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While you will be mainly concerned with the veterinarian himself or herself, the way the veterinary office is run is also something for you to take a good hard look at. Is the office location fairly close to you?? Are they open on Saturdays?? What about weekends and after hours?? If they are not open then, what is their policy for emergencies?? How is the office staff?? Do they greet you cheerfully when you come in, or do they ignore you and make you wait?? Is the waiting area clean or does it have a strong odor of animals?? Are the people in the waiting area fairly calm, or do they seem put out, or angry?? What sort of a practice does the office have?? Is it primarily small animals and cats, or does it include just about any type of animal?? How many veterinarians cover the office?? Do they work together on difficult cases?? Are they willing to refer out to specialists when needed?? How available are the vet techs?? Will they discuss concerns with you on the phone, and give recommendations to you about whether or not this situation requires an immediate trip to the vet?? And, how is the vet with animals?? Does s/he handle the animal with respect and with compassion, or is s/he rough and seemingly uncaring to the animal?? Does s/he share information with the pet owner willingly and create the sense that you are working as a team on behalf of your kitty, or does s/he speak in medical jargon only and make little or no effort to be sure you understand your kitty's condition and the treatment options??
If you have strong feelings about certain surgeries such as declaw amputations, or use of certain anesthesia or other medications/vaccines (just as a couple of examples) , it's certainly not only appropriate but essential that you ask the vet and their vet techs about their philosophy on the subject. Do they suggest alternatives to declawing before agreeing to perform the surgery just because a customer has requested it?? What do they do if they see an animal that is obviously being abused or not given appropriate care?? Do they keep good records on all their animal patients -- do they send out reminder cards when a patient has a vaccine that is due?? If you are a breeder, ask the vet and his staff how they feel about working with a breeder. The ideal scenario is to find a vet with whom you can develop a mutual respect and trust in that the vet has the medical training and expertise, and you should be able to trust and rely upon him/her for that; but you know your kitty(ies) far better than anyone else, and this also makes you an important part of the team on the behalf of your pet.
BEFORE MAKING YOUR DECISIONSome of these questions we've already mentioned above. Another important question is to discuss their vaccination protocol, and to be sure you are in agreement with this. Also to be sure they understand that there is a fairly new protocol being followed to help avoid the incidence of vaccine-related sarcomas, by vaccinating in different parts of the body, and not giving all the needed vaccinations at one time. Ask your vet what their policy is if a kitty has a vaccine reaction. As your vet what they do in an after-hours emergency. Ask your vet how they feel about referring their clients to a specialist when there is nothing more that can be done for the animal under their own care. What about pet insurance?? Does their office offer any kinds of insurance on pets to help defray some of the costs of regular treatment?? Does their office accept credit cards and/or are they willing to come up with payment plans for an unforseen emergency that might come up for which you are not able to pay the full amount up front?? Do they ever make house calls, or know of a vet they work with who does make house calls??
Just as pet owners place a very high value on a veterinarian who is attentive, reassuring, gentle with both animals and people, up on the current procedures and treatments.... vets also place a very high value on their best clients. What makes a good client to a vet?? Well, a client who pays their bills on time, of course, and a client who keeps the vet updated on their pets so that the vet has a chance to intervene in a situation before the kitty becomes too ill for effective treatment. It doesn't happen very often, so you can be sure that a client who does take the time and effort to say "Thank You!" to their vet is very much appreciated by the entire office. Most of us know the wonderful feeling we get when someone takes the time to admire our pet, or express a genuine interest in our furry feline friend. Just imagine how it must feel to the veterinarians who treat our animals -- and who often only see them when they are in distress or need of help -- to hear from their owners a follow-up or to receive a brief note or picture letting them know the animal is doing well because of their intervention. And, people ARE human, so thanking the office staff or vet tech for something they did that made things easier for you or your pet is also a gesture of kindness and thoughtfulness that will be well remembered.
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