TGIF! Weekend has arrived and they are expecting a heat wave here in San Francisco so we are going to be indoors quite a bit as to not overheat. We have had a cold summer with drizzles and suddenly it has decided to warm up and Mom is happy but I am not, too hot for me grrrr. Thank goodness I have my cooling vest which helps a lot.
As you all know two weeks ago Nili was sick and we went to the vet clinic that Mom has been going to for over 15 years. She always loved them but this time she got fed up. I am going to break down the story here which upsets me as it was one of the best clinics to go to but since it has become private, owned by the vets that work there, has all the modern day equipment, open 24/7 so much has gone wrong also and we have decided to move to another place, smaller but friendlier.
These are the reasons / red flag that made me do it :
- When Nili was sick, I made an appointment with our regular vet who knows Mom but was not there so we saw a new vet. A young guy, and during the exam he had another vet there too so we are wondering if he was a student or not, I have no issues with that but feel vets should listen to the dog Mom not force things on her. While checking her he said she needed fluid shots, nausea shots plus dog diet food to help her lose weight. I was astonished that he was deciding all this without discussing with me. Nili had just finished a cup of water so she was not dehydrated, she had been eating so I knew she was not nauseas. Telling me to buy diet food is not an option as I do not believe in them plus in a nutshell he was telling me to have her get a flu shot. I was in shock over it all but kept quiet as I did not want stress at the clinic for the sake of Nili. He also mentioned probiotic dog food which although I hate kibbles decided to give her instead of medications plus so much more. He wanted me to buy the cans but I put my foot down and got the kibble which I must admit helped her. In a nutshell I came home with no answers to my questions but being sold as such things I did not need.
- The final straw with this clinic was on Monday I called them to make an appointment for her Leptospirosis vaccine, I told them on the phone that I wanted a vet tech to do it as it is a lot cheaper and they told me they would call with time and date. By 6 that evening I had not heard from them so I called them back, the customer service told me the following : There is no vet tech appointments, He then had the audacity to tell me that for an extra $55 I could have it done with a vet and as I have credit there to cover it there would be no problem. That is when I got really angry and told him he has no right to tell me what to do with my credit, so his reply was well he would give me other places to go. I told him about an article I had read about vets thinking more of money than pets and felt that is what is happening at his clinic, he was not happy that I said that, I also told him I blogged and would talk about it here today, and then put the phone down.
- On Wednesday they called me again, LOL, telling me that they had place for a vet tech at the price they had quoted me $98 but I told them thanks as I had made an appointment at another clinic. I know the reason she called me was the other clinic had called them for all Nili’s files so that they would have everything before I went today.
This morning, Nili and I went to get her shot, what a difference, what a great family vet clinic, everyone was smiling, welcoming and the vet was fantastic. Did not push anything on me, discussed chunky monkey’s weight, what to do and in a nutshell I have found the place to go now. Actually, all my friends rave about this clinic and they are so right. I always say a first impression says it all.
Waiting for the bus to go to the ver, Nili
Mom can we go home please, it is nice and cool here but I do not like vets, Nili
One of the many reasons I am sharing this with everyone is I want pet parents to know there are always other options, and it is sad that some clinics are so money motivated, causing many pet parents to avoid them plus dumping their pets as they cannot afford the vet expenses. I am not wealthy, on a fixed income, am blessed to have certain coverage for Nili but I still must watch what I am spending as to not go over my annual budget for vets where possible and if a clinic is checking my finances as such I am not interested in working with them. Their loss not mine and Nili and my gain having found a fantastic new one.
As always Nili keeps me amused so am going to share our video of the week, as she is such a clown.
Please be safe and have a wonderful weekend, with lots of memories,
Love Nili aka chunky monkey and Mom