Vet woes

[Brigitte Cowell]

LOL! Thanks for that, John

I agree on finding a new vet. For me, I want a vet that is GOOD but also one I feel comfortable with. I can't imagine with a vet that has such a negative opinion of my breed ever truly being able to trust their opinion and not feel that they've reacted to my cat with a bias. I likely would try a new vet, and when happy with that new vet write your current vet a letter clearly outlining why you have taken your business elsewhere and why you cannot recommend her to anyone, Savannah owner or otherwise. I would point out that you paid for a visit to clearly discuss this previously and got nowhere, and that that kind of resistant attitude and being unwilling to truly listen or change an opinion was unacceptable in your chosen vet.

I don't believe you need a cat-only vet or a vet that knows anything about Savannahs...all you need is a vet with an open mind! My vet sees cats and dogs, they also had never seen a Savannah before mine. But they didn't have any preconceived judgments about "wild hybrids" and they were willing to learn.

Although it is lovely to have a close option (and I do fortunately) I think I would be willing to drive further for the right vet. Of course in emergencies you might have to use a closer vet...

 

[John Popp]

I'd probably write the letter, although as I find myself doing so often never sending it. Just really need to figure out what good can come from it and most of the time it's just being able to vent.

 

[Mellenee]

Ohh. John...if you could see my 'Drafts' folder in my email account! I learned to address those vents to myself in the event they ever accidentally got sent. Of course, I learned the hard way, but that's a story for another day.

I haven't totally decided my tactics in this. I think it will be dependant on whether I find another vet who fits my criteria. Until I do, I will hold my tongue as this vet is helpful to me in many ways. The office called since my last post to check up on Dante after his vaccination. We had a very productive conversation about the things I had asked during my visit - shoring up my already healthy breeders' immunity, proactive ways to prevent pyo in my queens since I will have a few months before my new boy is ready, genetic testing to eliminate any possible factors I can control in my program, all general topics I have discussed with her in previous meetings that are just ongoing efforts on my part to be the most responsible breeder I can, and to make my cats as healthy and happy as possible. She took these questions one by one, and gave me valid recommendations that were well researched and considered. I tend to be Type A (ok totally anal) where my cats are involved so I appreciate the professional input. I will be looking for that same detail so I am prepared to press on in my search til I find the same level of professionalism with a more generous attitude about SV. Then I will have to decide if I confront the issue again, or just let my previous communications on the issue plus my absence speak for itself.

Bridgette you are spot on. If she says something negative about one of my cats I immediately suspect bias. I have already experienced that. Otherwise I think I could blow off her attitude. Example..in my last litter I held one male off my advertising to evaluate as a stud. I mentioned that to her at his 6 wk visit when she asked if the kittens had homes yet, and her comment was that he was much too timid to be a stud, I should pet him out. Turns out that I did place him in a wonderful home as a pet as he wouldn't fit here unless I added queens and I finally decided that wasn't the direction for me right now, but I thought the comment very odd in relation to a six week old kitten. Bottom line is that I didn't want to blow off her input if it had validity, but also don't want breed bias to play a role.

 

[Mellenee]

Brigitte autocorrect doesn't like me today. Sorry about giving you an extra letter and a virtual misspelling.

 

[Kristin]

Is she the only vet at this practice? I work at a vet, and it is dog and cat, with 4 regular vets, and we have an office manager to keep everyone in line. If a client has a problem with any particular vet, they go to her so she can work on the problem. If that is the case, I might try speaking to the office manager and let them know you are looking at different clinics because of her comments.
If the vet is the owner, seeing as you already addressed the problem to her directly I would definitely switch clinics.

 

[Mellenee]

Two vets. I'm not sure of the structure of ownership. The other vet doesn't see cats except in emergency or surgery.

 

[NikkiA]

I take our boys to one of the larger local vets in my area.

I picked the office I did before I brought our first SV home because they had a vet who specializes in exotic animals and he had cared for SV's before.

That particular vet is WONDERFUL with my boys. D is an angel at the vet, and Mickey is scared but harmless, but Jarvis has been known to turn into a hissing, scratching, biting ball of terrified fur. That behavior is a thing of the past, but while it did go on, the vet was very good about emphasizing that there are MANY cats who don't behave at the vet (even after my 8 week kitten took a chunk out of him and D, my normally well behaved lover of a cat, attacked him when Jarvis screamed).

The boys have seen other vets in the practice, and two of them said to me that they were concerned beforehand, but what a good boy D is and how sweet Mickey was after the fact.

I find it very frustrating when friends say that it is the Serval in them when our boys are running around and roughhousing, and I can't imagine how frustrated I would be if I was getting an attitude like you are from our vet.

It was my vet's office that suggested that I take D for therapy pet testing.

I hope you can find a vet you like and trust who likes your kitties.

 

[Per Lausund]

Your vet`s first responsibility is to look after the health and welfare of your cats when you ask. Snide comments on the suitability of the breed when she in all probability only has met yours and "survived" is very unprofessional, and I`m sorry to hear this has happened. The SV is a more than normally friendly, extrovert cattish cat, and does not deserve those comments at all. If your vet cannot adjust to your cats being SVs I`d advise a change of vet!
P

 

[Mellenee]

I had to take Ducky, the F5 Yorkie (he swears he is an F5 and I don't argue) to the vet because of arthritis in his back. Tried the new vet. Talked a bit about philosophies, breeding, etc. He knew right away that breeder/breed bias was why i was there as a new customer without me saying it. All i had to do was say 'breeder'. I won't be taking cats in for a bit so this will be a gradual change. I did like the vet at this initial visit. Seemed very professional. Down side is they don't do most of their own surgeries but refer to the 24 hr Pet ER. I'm taking all this in, processing it. Trying not to be discouraged and negative.

Thinking of taking Nerf bats and suggesting old vet and I hash it out like mature women.

 

[cbain]

Jack Hanna is the director of the Columbus Ohio zoo , one of our DVM is a grad from O.S.U and O.S.U. is in Columbus, while in college she also worked at the same zoo with the cheetahs, the Columbus zoo is a training ground for Ohio State vet students. We have become close with this Vet ,she has been to our home a keeps a picture of our male sv in one of her exam rooms. Our 2 F3 cats see a vet at least 3 times a year and we have 2 vets.