We love our job, and we want to do the very best job possible for you and your dog. Do your part and we can both work together to make sure your dog gets the best care possible! Vet visits aren’t cheap so it makes sense to make the most of the time you have with us. Here are my suggestions for how to make your visit to your vet as enjoyable and productive as possible.

1. Be on time for your appointment. Although sometimes we are running late because of an unforeseen emergency, we do try and keep to our appointments as much as possible. If you’re late, you’ll possibly have to wait until we can fit you in, which is less convenient for you.

2. Please speak to my staff nicely. You may have had a bit of a wait, or you may be really stressed and anxious about your pet, but we’re all people too, and we’re doing the best we can for you. Nobody responds well to rudeness, and the tech staff are more likely to go that little bit out of their way for you if they’re spoken to with kindness.

3. Be in the moment. Leave your cell phone off. You’re here for our advice and help, and we’d like to be able to show you our findings and discuss options for treatment without interruption. You’ve got message bank.

4. Make a list. I love clients who come in with a list of details and questions. When we’re done, I run through the list and if everything has been discussed, I know that client will be happy that all their questions have been answered. If your dog is sick, and you may need to make decisions about his care, make sure those who control the family budget are there, so we can start with his treatment as soon as possible. Also, don’t send your dog along with someone else and hope you get the right information – it’ll be second hand and sometimes important things are forgotten.

5. Warn us if your dog is likely to bite. We’re not going to think badly of you, we’ll just pop a gentle muzzle on so we can safely examine him. If your dog bites us, we’ll still do a good job but we won’t be very happy. Dog bites can do severe damage, and I have seen veterinary staff have to take time off work to recuperate from a dog bite. It can be avoided.

6. Don’t keep secrets. You may be embarrassed to tell us that your dog with diarrhea was fed half a chocolate mud cake yesterday, but that sort of information can make it so much easier for us to diagnose what’s going on. Similarly, we’re quite familiar with dog’s body parts, even the private bits, so don’t be shy about telling us what’s happening with your dog’s testicles, or your bitch’s vulva. It’s all in a day’s work for us.

7. If you don’t understand, ask. I personally love drawing pictures to explain what I’m talking about. I don’t usually use technical jargon when speaking to dog owners, but sometimes the explanations can be a bit tricky to follow. Feel free to ask me to repeat myself, or explain it in a different way. I want you to fully understand what’s happening with your dog.

8. Lastly, remember that we’re dog lovers too. I own four dogs, and I love them dearly. I’ve also had to euthanize several of my own dogs. Don’t be scared or embarrassed to tell us you’re frightened your dog is dying. It’s okay. Part of my job is to inform you, to reassure you and to comfort you.

Dr. Susan Wright is a staff veterinarian for Dog Fence DIY.

Image via Flickr: Jacy80

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