Trish Allearz
Moderator
So I'm curious- what type of relationship do you and your SV have with your vet? What type of relationship do you want/expect?
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What type of relationship do you have with your vet?
- Thread starter Trish Allearz
- Start date
When I got Taj, my vet had never seen a Savannah and was delighted to see Taj...he was 3 months old at that time. My vet held taj and whispered that this would probably be the last time he could hold him...I love my vet!!! Also, my vet is cats only!
Taj became ill at about 10 months and spent more time at the vet than he would have liked...but he always made himself at home in his exam room, taking over the entire room
My vet does not believe in restraining cats if at all possible, so lets me hold taj and comfort him for exams and procedures...
I can call my vet at home or on his cell, I can text and email him and he answers me. The two vets who work with him are awesome as well, but I do not have the same relationship with them...the vet techs are wonderful and caring...
I am receiving the care and treatment and respect that I expect from a vet...I would not have it any other way...when I moved, I tried a holistic vet close to me in proximity, but was not happy with the facility, staff or vet(s). They took my rocky off his thyroid meds and I do believe that is what killed him. They were not cat specific and geared more towards dogs...so even though I drive about 40 minutes w/o traffic to my vet, i wouldn't have it any other way...
Taj became ill at about 10 months and spent more time at the vet than he would have liked...but he always made himself at home in his exam room, taking over the entire room
My vet does not believe in restraining cats if at all possible, so lets me hold taj and comfort him for exams and procedures...I can call my vet at home or on his cell, I can text and email him and he answers me. The two vets who work with him are awesome as well, but I do not have the same relationship with them...the vet techs are wonderful and caring...
I am receiving the care and treatment and respect that I expect from a vet...I would not have it any other way...when I moved, I tried a holistic vet close to me in proximity, but was not happy with the facility, staff or vet(s). They took my rocky off his thyroid meds and I do believe that is what killed him. They were not cat specific and geared more towards dogs...so even though I drive about 40 minutes w/o traffic to my vet, i wouldn't have it any other way...
Rylie
Diorcats
So far, its not been good here locally. I could not find one that would treat Nailah any differently from a domestic cat and when I finally did, I was delighted. This past weekend I took Nailah to the one that had been so nice in saying they would follow the anesthesia guidelines to meet them and to get a simple nail trim. I introduced a very nervous Nailah to the tech who came to get her and explained that she was a different breed than a regular domestic and might be a little more nervous. I also went to show her how Nailah could be held to where she wouldn't struggle as much. She shrugged me off. Half and hour later the tech came back and looked totally RATTLED. Her hair was all messed up and she was breathing heavily.
''THAT WAS NOT A REGULAR NAIL TRIM. NEXT TIME IT TAKES 4 TECHS TO HOLD DOWN A CAT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHARGE MORE. OH AND WE NIPPED A FEW QUICKS. SHE WAS BLEEDING QUITE A BIT IS THE REASON IT TOOK SO LONG."'
You should have seen my eyes. I never knew finding a vet would be such a challenge. I understand that some vets are not represented well by the techs. I keep getting this feeling like I'm a snob and want extra special care for my cat. Well, I do. But I don't think that it's too much to ask especially if she needs it. Nailah was licking her toes all weekend. I am struggling now with finding her the care she needs, without feeling like I'm giving the breed a bad name. I have never seen a tech so frazzled and I know she wasn't THAT bad...
''THAT WAS NOT A REGULAR NAIL TRIM. NEXT TIME IT TAKES 4 TECHS TO HOLD DOWN A CAT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHARGE MORE. OH AND WE NIPPED A FEW QUICKS. SHE WAS BLEEDING QUITE A BIT IS THE REASON IT TOOK SO LONG."'
You should have seen my eyes. I never knew finding a vet would be such a challenge. I understand that some vets are not represented well by the techs. I keep getting this feeling like I'm a snob and want extra special care for my cat. Well, I do. But I don't think that it's too much to ask especially if she needs it. Nailah was licking her toes all weekend. I am struggling now with finding her the care she needs, without feeling like I'm giving the breed a bad name. I have never seen a tech so frazzled and I know she wasn't THAT bad...
Trish Allearz
Moderator
See- I'm the exact opposite, Rylie. I have worked as a vet tech before and I think if a vet is good with normal cats- they should do just fine with the Savannahs. Why? Because cats are cats and a cat can be a very big challenge to any vet We used to have this one guy who was a holy terror- normal domestic short hair- and he needed to be gassed down in a tank before he could be touched. It was actually quite hilarious when you consider- it was just an 8 pound cat!
For me- I love my vet. She has never dealt with Savannahs before she met my crew, but she handled my Sphynx with aplomb and actually has one of my Sphynx babies as her personal pets She is respectful of the Savannahs- but I'm positive if need be, she could get whatever she needed from one of them.
What I like about my vet is there is give and take. There is respect of my opinion and she listens- and she will also give her opinion. I don't feel patronized and I don't feel like just another customer. I also know that my vet is NEVER afraid to say she doesn't know- which can be so very very frustrating, but I'd rather an honest, "I don't know", then for a vet to keep throwing out things like 'this has to be it!' and having me pay for more and more testing and treatment when the vet isn't sure.
We used to have this one guy who was a holy terror- normal domestic short hair- and he needed to be gassed down in a tank before he could be touched. It was actually quite hilarious when you consider- it was just an 8 pound cat!For me- I love my vet. She has never dealt with Savannahs before she met my crew, but she handled my Sphynx with aplomb and actually has one of my Sphynx babies as her personal pets
She is respectful of the Savannahs- but I'm positive if need be, she could get whatever she needed from one of them.What I like about my vet is there is give and take. There is respect of my opinion and she listens- and she will also give her opinion. I don't feel patronized and I don't feel like just another customer. I also know that my vet is NEVER afraid to say she doesn't know- which can be so very very frustrating, but I'd rather an honest, "I don't know", then for a vet to keep throwing out things like 'this has to be it!' and having me pay for more and more testing and treatment when the vet isn't sure.
Rylie, that is a shame!!!! But really, savannah cats, IMO, should not be treated much differently than any other cat...unless they are EG cats...after all, a savannah is a cat...many cats act up at the vet - regardless of the breed.
So doesn't sound like this is a vet I would feel comfortable with...where are you located?
So doesn't sound like this is a vet I would feel comfortable with...where are you located?
Rylie
Diorcats
I think what I meant by being treated differently was more about the whole anesthesia thing. I do think any vet who is good with cats should be good with Nailah, I just haven't found one yet. We are taking a 4 hour trip to Minneapolis next week to see if we can find a good one.
We live in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
We live in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
I think what I meant by being treated differently was more about the whole anesthesia thing. I do think any vet who is good with cats should be good with Nailah, I just haven't found one yet. We are taking a 4 hour trip to Minneapolis next week to see if we can find a good one.
We live in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Ok - I see...I still don't buy the ketamine thing, but to each his own...I'm sure if you have raided 50 cats/kittens, you are bound to have an issue with any anesthetic along the way...
Rylie
Diorcats
I'm not sure if I buy it either, but I just can't take a chance with her. Plus, it is in my contract. I don't want to tell local vets to do anything differently and then risk them doing something they don't have experience with.. its a tough one.