February 1, 2023
What Makes Great Veterinary Care?
Hello!
I have wonderful news: My sweet man Toki is doing great! In my last post, I shared with you a long progression of symptoms, veterinary visits, and medications as we tried to get to the bottom of his mysterious issues. He had a couple minor setbacks in the weeks since my last post: a day of GI illness flareup, then a day of obvious pain and discomfort in his back. But all in all, he is like a younger dog again! MY BABY!
I wanted to dedicate today’s blog post to the importance of choosing appropriate veterinary care for your pets – be they cats, dogs, horses, or dragons – at all ages. In my adult life I’ve had MANY cats. As you know, I currently have three dogs in different stages of life and 1 and ½ cats (see the “Team” page on this website to understand that detail) of different ages. Caring for these little guys changes throughout their lifetime, because their needs change.
It has always been a priority to me to make sure the professionals who care for my pets are top-notch. Not only in their knowledge and skill, but in the way they treat my pets (and me!). It has been thanks to great veterinarians that I learned about such things as the importance of positive reinforcement training for dogs when I was new to being a dog guardian. Helpful veterinary staff have made important observations during exams while helping me to understand a prognosis or even hugging me when bad news was given. And very importantly, a great vet will ensure that patients are handled in a gentle, compassionate way which helps to reduce stress in the exam room.
Which brings me to my fangirl writeup of the day: Dr. Sam’s Veterinary House Calls. Full disclosure, I used to work for Dr. Sam Ottinger. She was an integral part of my journey which lead me to become a dog trainer. I have a few vets on board who I respect and trust to care for my little dudes, but Dr. Sam is something special. Here’s why:
What really sets Dr. Sam’s practice apart in my mind is her dedication to creating a less fearful and often fun experience for her patients. Her staff is trained in low stress handling techniques and the appointments are much longer than the average vet appointment, allowing the doctors and nurses to take their time with each patient. There is no rushing to “just get it done”. Their compassionate care helps to set animals up for future stress-free appointments because the cutie critters are not forced into a “get it done and over with” situation (which can be terrifying for many animals and lead to increasingly miserable vet visits in the future). Keep in mind, in an emergency situation, you sometimes do need to “just get it done” – but I’m talking about everyday vet care. A personal example of success in the vet office is my own little Starla’s recent visit with Dr. Sam. Starla is often fearful of meeting new people and somewhat nervous in the exam room. However, at her recent wellness visit, her nurse greeted her slowly and appropriately and within minutes was on the floor with her feeding her cookies and giving belly rubs. I had my cat in the office at the same time and he was just chilling out on the couch eating treats like it was his house. The visit was so successful, my dudes were reluctant to leave, even though blood samples were taken and shots were given.
Dr. Sam is also continuously improving and updating her knowledge. She is open to trying new treatments and techniques which always impresses me. In my mind, a creative approach and flexibility of thought are hallmarks of a great doctor and veterinary staff. If I see that a doctor is stuck in a “well I’ve always done it this way, and I’m too busy to look into anything else” mindset, I am sure to jet on outta there. In fact, it was Dr. Sam herself who patiently worked with me to sort out all of Toki’s seemingly unrelated symptoms and think through solutions. I genuinely attribute my success with Toki to the incredible attentiveness from Dr. Sam and her entire staff.
Additionally – and this is huge in my mind – a practice should be aware of the basics of animal behavior and developmental stages. Handling animals of different ages, energy levels, personality types and with behavior issues takes patience and skill. It always makes me feel great when I see that my cats and dogs are treated like the little royal highnesses that I think they are.
Dr. Sam offers in-home care for your pets as well as in-office care. She runs a full-service practice which includes surgical procedures. She does everything a “regular” practice does, PLUS will come to your home. She has two other excellent doctors on staff (Dr. Beth and Dr. Angie) and a fantastic team of nurses and office staff. Honestly, even if I didn’t need vet care for my crew, I’d probably find a reason to head over to the office to say hi once in a while. I hope they’ll all agree to be my Valentine this year.
What is most import to you when you are choosing a veterinarian? Email me and let’s talk!