Mellenee
Savannah Teenager
I am a small breeder of later generation SV in the Cincinnati, OH area. Since I got my first SV 4 years ago I have visited many vet clinics. I found only one whose knowledge and experience was what I was looking for, and have been taking my animals there.
I have lived in many areas of the US and have had excellent vet relationships in the past but I find many Cinci area vets more like glorified vaccine sellers with attitude, especially when it comes to breeders. Maybe it's the area? I don't want this post to go into the various deficiencies with individual vets but would like advice on establishing a more positive relationship with the one vet I found who is up to date on the science of vetting and uses what I consider good practices with my animals.
The vet I like for treatment is great with my cats. She was the vet at Jack Hanna's Columbus Zoo, and cared for the servals there. This has both positive and negative trickle down to her practice and my relationship with her. Easy examples of the plusses...Without me telling her, she immediately told me NO ketamine for my cats, recommended against certain vaccines, and gave other advice that falls right in line with every recommendation good SV breeders use in daily practice. She grins from ear to ear when I bring my cats to her, calls other office people in to enjoy them, and my cats love her. They get on her shoulder, give her head butts and many kisses. They fall all over her.
Now we get to my problem. She hasn't stated it but her comments lead me to believe she is adamantly opposed to hybridization. In one kitten visit, after playing with my highly socialized F5 kittens, she dropped the comment 'Oh I advise my clients who inquire DO NOT GET A SV'. Keep in mind i am a breeder, and one who would like to be able to tell my new owners feel free to call my vet. She makes comments about their generally predatory nature, talks about an F1 she treats who is unsocialized, and generally has a little horror story about SV for me every visit, usually delivered WHILE MY CATS ARE LOVING ALL OVER HER. (Caps indicating my frustration at the irony of the situation)
Disturbed about this, I started again to visit other vets in the area. Nobody even comes close to her skill and knowledge base with my cats. After these other dismally disappointing visits I convinced myself I can put up with her attitude since she offers the highest level of care for my loves. So I made a paying appointment with no animals in tow to discuss a resolution as it is difficult for me to engage in this discussion in the midst of an exam because at that time my first priority is the animal, not her attitude. We discussed that all cats are predatory, F5 and F6 SV no more than any other. We talked about responsible breeders, vetting your buyer, i agreed wholeheartedly SV are not good cats for every household; just like any cat or dog you must match the pet's needs to the availability of an owner to meet those needs in any situation, be it Yorkie or serval. It was a productive visit although I found her a little defensive. But I stated my case nicely, listened to her objections and did what I could to educate her, and let her educate me in some areas. Thought we had a meeting of the minds. She is actually a very nice person and except for this sticky spot I trust her implicitly. The discussion appointment was several months ago. This has been going on for a while. Since then I vetted with her for a litter of 5 with no incident.
Then I visit again yesterday, and I leave her office absolutely shaking with anger.
I got a new boy for my cattery. He is a very healthy bundle of high energy love, a creamy gold boy all wrapped up in delightful spots and punctuated with a lovely black nose. He needed his rabies shot so I took him in. Like the rest of my babies, he loved her. Chewed on her nose, climbed on her shoulder, was a total cutie. Very well behaved but a bit high energy, like any F6 14 week old kitten. In the midst of the exam she asked me if I had heard of the SV loose in Detroit. When she asked, she cut her eyes sideways at me like she knew her stand on SV had just made a score. I answered her with the facts surrounding the sad situation. Told her of the involvement of SV Rescue and Paws, and of the media hype after the fact. She averted her eyes so I knew she had an opinion that didnt gel with mine. OK. We all have different opinions, right? Her experience base might give her a different perspective. I'm not happy with the outcome either but I wasn't involved and I refuse to play Monday morning quarterback with the could have should have people who all have opinions but no solution. End of that discussion. Next thing out of her mouth was...'Did you know about the personality of this little guy before you got him?' Definitely not meant in a positive way.
I am not looking for a fight with her. Anything but! I love the way she is knowledgeable and adoring with my cats. It's the constant pinging about SV I don't like. With human physicians I have always gone by the adage 'go for the knowledge not the bedside manner' when looking for doctors. I don't need validation for my love of these cats, but as a breeder I do need non judgemental support for my breeding program. I don't just haphazardly throw cats out there; I am trying to carefully build a quality program to produce 2-3 litters per year. I have stated my intentions, goals, methods etc to her. Is there a way I haven't tried to make this a workable situation? Do I just grin and bear her comments, keep trying to find a different vet, or does anyone have suggestions for helping me overcome this one negative in an otherwise great vet relationship?
I have lived in many areas of the US and have had excellent vet relationships in the past but I find many Cinci area vets more like glorified vaccine sellers with attitude, especially when it comes to breeders. Maybe it's the area? I don't want this post to go into the various deficiencies with individual vets but would like advice on establishing a more positive relationship with the one vet I found who is up to date on the science of vetting and uses what I consider good practices with my animals.
The vet I like for treatment is great with my cats. She was the vet at Jack Hanna's Columbus Zoo, and cared for the servals there. This has both positive and negative trickle down to her practice and my relationship with her. Easy examples of the plusses...Without me telling her, she immediately told me NO ketamine for my cats, recommended against certain vaccines, and gave other advice that falls right in line with every recommendation good SV breeders use in daily practice. She grins from ear to ear when I bring my cats to her, calls other office people in to enjoy them, and my cats love her. They get on her shoulder, give her head butts and many kisses. They fall all over her.
Now we get to my problem. She hasn't stated it but her comments lead me to believe she is adamantly opposed to hybridization. In one kitten visit, after playing with my highly socialized F5 kittens, she dropped the comment 'Oh I advise my clients who inquire DO NOT GET A SV'. Keep in mind i am a breeder, and one who would like to be able to tell my new owners feel free to call my vet. She makes comments about their generally predatory nature, talks about an F1 she treats who is unsocialized, and generally has a little horror story about SV for me every visit, usually delivered WHILE MY CATS ARE LOVING ALL OVER HER. (Caps indicating my frustration at the irony of the situation)
Disturbed about this, I started again to visit other vets in the area. Nobody even comes close to her skill and knowledge base with my cats. After these other dismally disappointing visits I convinced myself I can put up with her attitude since she offers the highest level of care for my loves. So I made a paying appointment with no animals in tow to discuss a resolution as it is difficult for me to engage in this discussion in the midst of an exam because at that time my first priority is the animal, not her attitude. We discussed that all cats are predatory, F5 and F6 SV no more than any other. We talked about responsible breeders, vetting your buyer, i agreed wholeheartedly SV are not good cats for every household; just like any cat or dog you must match the pet's needs to the availability of an owner to meet those needs in any situation, be it Yorkie or serval. It was a productive visit although I found her a little defensive. But I stated my case nicely, listened to her objections and did what I could to educate her, and let her educate me in some areas. Thought we had a meeting of the minds. She is actually a very nice person and except for this sticky spot I trust her implicitly. The discussion appointment was several months ago. This has been going on for a while. Since then I vetted with her for a litter of 5 with no incident.
Then I visit again yesterday, and I leave her office absolutely shaking with anger.
I got a new boy for my cattery. He is a very healthy bundle of high energy love, a creamy gold boy all wrapped up in delightful spots and punctuated with a lovely black nose. He needed his rabies shot so I took him in. Like the rest of my babies, he loved her. Chewed on her nose, climbed on her shoulder, was a total cutie. Very well behaved but a bit high energy, like any F6 14 week old kitten. In the midst of the exam she asked me if I had heard of the SV loose in Detroit. When she asked, she cut her eyes sideways at me like she knew her stand on SV had just made a score. I answered her with the facts surrounding the sad situation. Told her of the involvement of SV Rescue and Paws, and of the media hype after the fact. She averted her eyes so I knew she had an opinion that didnt gel with mine. OK. We all have different opinions, right? Her experience base might give her a different perspective. I'm not happy with the outcome either but I wasn't involved and I refuse to play Monday morning quarterback with the could have should have people who all have opinions but no solution. End of that discussion. Next thing out of her mouth was...'Did you know about the personality of this little guy before you got him?' Definitely not meant in a positive way.
I am not looking for a fight with her. Anything but! I love the way she is knowledgeable and adoring with my cats. It's the constant pinging about SV I don't like. With human physicians I have always gone by the adage 'go for the knowledge not the bedside manner' when looking for doctors. I don't need validation for my love of these cats, but as a breeder I do need non judgemental support for my breeding program. I don't just haphazardly throw cats out there; I am trying to carefully build a quality program to produce 2-3 litters per year. I have stated my intentions, goals, methods etc to her. Is there a way I haven't tried to make this a workable situation? Do I just grin and bear her comments, keep trying to find a different vet, or does anyone have suggestions for helping me overcome this one negative in an otherwise great vet relationship?